Enhancing educational opportunities for students in the Millbrook Central School District since 2001, the Millbrook Educational Foundation took part in the Millbrook Volunteer Fair on Saturday, May 16. Residents were invited to learn about volunteer opportunities with the foundation and a variety of other local and regional organizations. The event, now in its fifth year, was held at the Millbrook Library.
Nathan Miller
Temporary fencing blocks the entrance to Eddie Collins Memorial Park on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The park is closed until July 31, 2027.
MILLERTON — Village officials have closed Eddie Collins Memorial Park until July 31, 2027, as construction ramps up on multiple projects.
Two construction projects are currently underway at the park — a new pumphouse for the village’s second drinking well and a new public pool and poolhouse. The park closed on Aug. 31 and will remain entirely closed until construction is complete, Mayor Jenn Najdek said.
Najdek acknowledged construction timelines are often unpredictable, saying that the July 31, 2027, reopen date is a conservative estimate. She said pre-construction administrative work has moved on schedule, and crews will begin with general construction in the coming weeks.
“We’ve been meeting weekly to make sure everybody’s on track,” Najdek said. “I think we’re pretty close to smooth sailing, I hope.”
Workers are expected to wrap construction of the pumphouse this fall, clearing the way for village officials to move forward with building a new highway department building to house the village’s road equipment.
Construction crews are currently working on building a 200-square-foot structure to shelter the uncovered well. The well is one of two pumps that serve water to village residents. It has been offline since the fire, leaving the village to rely on a single pump that was unaffected by the fire.
Work on the long-awaited pool and poolhouse is also ramping up. In August, crews demolished an existing structure that served as a locker room and entrance for the old pool at the park. Village officials closed that pool 10 years ago when mounting structural damage became too expensive to repair.
Village groups have worked together for nearly a decade to bring a pool back to the park, culminating in this year’s groundbreaking ceremony during Millerton’s 175th celebration in July. Najdek said she hopes the new pool will be open by next August.
“I’d love to see someone swimming in that pool by the end of next summer,” Najdek said.
Nathan Miller
AMENIA — Town officials are seeking public comment on a proposed ban on smoking and vaping on town-owned property.
The Amenia Town Board will host its first public hearing on the proposed local law at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, at Town Hall on Route 22. Town Board members voted unanimously to move forward with the regulation in August.
The proposed law would prohibit smoking or vaping tobacco — as well as cannabis products — in town-owned parks and other public recreational areas. The ban would apply to Town Hall and its surrounding grounds and parking lots, the basketball court, Beekman Park, Fountain Square, the Mygatt, Leedsville and Bangall-Amenia Road cemeteries, and the town highway garage and salt shed.
If enacted, the law would impose a $50 fine for a first violation and fines ranging from $200 to $500 for subsequent violations.
Town Supervisor Rosanna Hamm said the town expects to enforce these new rules through a combination of existing Dutchess County Sheriff’s deputy patrols and by utilizing the town’s part-time constables. Amenia’s constables are part-time employees that have the authority to enforce local town laws such as policing parking in town in addition to typical duties managing the town’s courtroom.
The town will also install “no smoking” signs at the locations mentioned in the proposed local law.
“You have to start somewhere,” Hamm said. “I’m not really sure we even had a smoking law, but if we did it’s not as specific as this law.”
She said the inspiration for the law was new guidance from lung health associations on the negative health effects of nicotine vapes and the growing prevalence of public cannabis consumption following recreational legalization in New York. That guidance spurred Hamm and town officials to realize a formal smoking policy didn’t exist in the town code, leading to the proposed ban.
Following the public hearing, Town Board members will vote on the law itself. If approved, the regulations will be sent to the New York Secretary of State’s office for certification and go into effect immediately after state approval.
Alec Linden
A long-awaited bridge over Route 22 now connects the 25-mile Harlem Valley Rail Trail to a shorter section that runs through Copake into Hillsdale after crane operators dropped the structure into place in the final week of August.
A long-awaited bridge over Route 22 now connects the 25-mile Harlem Valley Rail Trail to a shorter section that runs through Copake into Hillsdale after crane operators dropped the structure into place in the final week of August.
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Millerton News
SHARON — Frank G. Hufner, 80, of Sharon, Connecticut, passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer on Sept. 6, 2026, at Sharon Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was the loving husband of Linda (Panelli) Hufner.
Frank was born on Sept. 23, 1945, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of the late Frank H. Hufner and Charlotte (Kaimer) Hufner. He was raised in Monroe, Connecticut and a graduate of Masuk High School.
Frank graduated from the University of Connecticut’s Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture with an associate degree. He was the founder of Cedar Hill Farm, a greenhouse growing operation and vegetable farm in Newtown, Connecticut. He and his wife operated a garden center and farm market there for more than 40 years.
Frank was also a founding member of the Bethel Farmers’ Market and remained actively involved for many years. His commitment to his community and to agriculture extended to his involvement with the Connecticut Farm Bureau, where he served as president of the Fairfield County chapter. His love of hunting and fishing led him to the Newtown Fish & Game Club, where he was a longtime member and served as president for several years.
Frank was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He truly valued the friendships he made throughout his life and made an effort to remain interested in the lives of those he cared about. He will be remembered for the relationships he built and the many years he spent working alongside his wife and serving his community.
He is survived by his two sons and daughter; David Robert Hufner and his wife, Kara Capone, of East Haddam, Connecticut, Frank Gary Hufner, of Sharon, Connecticut, and Sharon Burge and her husband, Craig W. Burge, of Nashua, New Hampshire. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Brooks R. Hufner, Brody D. Hufner, Craig James Burge, and Kara Maire Burge.
A memorial service will be held at Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, Connecticut, on Sept. 14, 2026, with calling hours from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, followed by burial at Ellsworth Cemetery in Sharon.
For those who wish to make a memorial contribution, donations may be made to the Fund for Smilow Cancer Hospital in Memory of Frank G. Hufner, via www.givetoynhh.org or mail to PO Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508.
Millerton News
GOSHEN — Frederick J. Bate III, 79, of Goshen, passed away peacefully on Aug. 28, 2026, at Candlewood Valley Health & Rehabilitation in New Milford. He was the loving husband of Marie (Savan) Bate.
Fred was born on Feb. 13, 1947, in Torrington, the son of the late Frederick J. Bate Jr. and Doris Bate.
He attended Cornwall Consolidated School and graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village.
Following high school, Fred proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman and combat medic during the Vietnam War, serving with the U.S. Marine Corps, 5th Division.
Following his military service, he continued his education and training, earning certificates through the State of Connecticut Office of Civil Preparedness in radiological monitoring, as well as through the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency Staff College in Battle Creek, Michigan. He also completed training in radiology through the Bureau of Radiological Health and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery of the United States Navy Basic Hospital Corps School.
Fred dedicated much of his life to serving his community and working in fields that allowed him to help others. He worked for Sharon Hospital as a radiology technician and taught EMT classes, becoming one of Connecticut’s first emergency medical technicians after serving our country.
He also worked for the State of Connecticut at Housatonic Meadows as a constable and park ranger at Kent Falls. Fred also served as superintendent of Trinity Conference Center and, later in his career, as manager of the Cornwall Transfer Station, where he worked until his retirement. In 2003, The State Department of Environmental Protection recognized the Cornwall Transfer Station for having one of the top 10 recycling programs in Connecticut.
A lifelong member of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, Fred was deeply committed to his community. In recognition of his dedication and service to the people of Cornwall, he received the Community Service Award from the VFW on Memorial Day in 1995.
Fred will be remembered for his commitment to his country, his community, and the many people he served throughout his life.
In addition to his wife, Marie, he is survived by his two children, Alexandra and John; 3 stepchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; his sister, Susan Williamson and her husband, David; his brother, James Bate; 2 nephews; 2 nieces; and 2 cousins.
A graveside service with military honors will be held on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. at The Cornwall Cemetery on Route 4 in Cornwall.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Make-A-Home Foundation, 199 Park Rd. Ext., Middlebury, CT 06762 or Off the Streets - Danbury, PO Box 591, Bethel, CT 06801.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
Leila Hawken
MILLBROOK — The annual Millbrook Community Day will return with a variety of family fun and neighborly celebration of a fall day in the village on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Community Day 2026 will be held between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. along Franklin Avenue in the village center.
Expect to see live music, the bubble bus, food trucks, sidewalk sales, the always popular scarecrow competition, and farmers and artisans selling their produce and creative wares.
In front of the Millbrook Deli, Major League Baseball’s Doc Gooden will be greeting passersby and signing autographs. Bring an item to be autographed or Gooden will have photos in uniform available. The appearance is sponsored by local auto dealer Ruge’s Chevrolet and VFW Post 9008. Hours are noon to 1:30 p.m.
Watch for four comedic musicians who will entertain along Franklin Avenue and throughout the village.
The lawn at the Millbrook Library will be alive with activities, including a chance for youngsters to explore a village police car, a bounce house and pumpkin decorating. Hatchet throwing will be offered between noon and 3 p.m.
Residents are invited to participate in the Great Millbrook Bake-off contest featuring all manner of desserts. Judging is scheduled for 1 p.m. Advance registration is required. Detailed information is provided on the following website.
For more information about specific events and registration rules and forms, go to www.millbrooknewyork.com and click on “Community Day.”
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