Measles, Junior Prom Queen and King, and more Black bears

The following excerpts from The Millerton News were com- piled by Kathleen Spahn, Vivian Sukenik, Nancy Vialpando and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.

June 1, 1933

‘School Was Hard Hit by the Measles’:… last month was a record month in many respects. First, the Millerton school had the lowest monthly average that it has had in three years. Second, the yearly average is the lowest it has been in three years. Third, the first and second grades hit the lowest point that has been reached by any room in the past three years….The figures for the past month show how Old Man Measles laid the school low, and had it not been that it was closed for a week by the board of health, there is no telling where the monthly percentage would have been…

‘Goetchius to Make Double Appearance’: Ray Goetchius, of Millerton, national champion parachute jumper, will appear next Sunday at both Millerton and the Columbia County Airport near Hudson. At 2 o’clock he will give the performance postponed from Memorial Day at Spencer’s Corners near Millerton and at 5:30 will make a leap at the Columbia County Airport.

June 6, 1974

‘Canevari Cited as Top Player’: Dan Canevari, the son of Mr. Mrs. Charles Canevari of Millerton, has been a top ballplayer this season for the Webutuck Warriors.

On the mound he has compiled an impressive 1.86 E.R.A., posting a 4-2 record. In 56-one-third innings he struck out 75 batters and walked seven.

Dan has often played right field when not pitching, since his solid .400 bat has been quite an asset to the offense.

‘Her Highness’: Jane Crawford was crowned Junior Prom Queen at Webutuck High School by last year’s queen.

‘His Majesty’: Dave Runge, Webutuck High School’s Junior Prom King, is crowned by last year’s king, Jay Kain.

‘Merwin Chairs Bicentennial School Group’: Lori Merwin of Millerton, a sophomore at Webutuck High School, Amenia, has been chosen as chairman of high school activities throughout the county for the American Revolution bicentennial parades, fireworks and festivities committee.

Miss Merwin, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Merwin, Airport Rd, has an interest in history, but is majoring in mathematics at Webutuck in preparation for being a special education teacher…

June 3, 1999

‘It’s Bears, Bears Everywhere – Millerton’: A wandering bear was spotted last week off Rudd Pond Road in the town of North East, just at the edge of the village.

Todd Kitchen, his wife Martha and their children Hannah and Jacob were heading south on Rudd Pond Road May 24 around 7:45 p.m. The black bear darted in front of their car in a westerly direction somewhere between Belgo and Gay roads….

After about 15 minutes from the original sighting, the bear was seen by passersby walking down Stone Avenue, off Beilke Road. The bear trotted into a field and into someone’s backyard, before disappearing.

He said a friend who also saw the bear estimated it weighed about 250 pounds: “It was a big bear.”

But he was not afraid of the wild animal.

“He looked harmless,” Mr. Kitchen recalled.

Bear sightings in our area are becoming more commonplace. According to Dick Henry a big game biologist with the state Department of environmental Conservation…. “It’s not uncommon to have them show up in Dutchess County,” he said….

“People react out of fear, because they don’t know bears. They are vegetarians by and large,” he explained. “They are not a threat to people.”

‘Circus Will Be In Millerton Saturday’: The Russia Cossack Riders will be among those performers featured by the 1999 edition of Vidbel’s Olde Tyme Circus, which is coming to Millerton, Saturday, June 5. There will be performances at 2 pm. And 4:15 p.m. The red and white striped big top will be set up for the day at Eddie Collins Field, Route 22 in Millerton. The circus is one of the major fund-raisers of the year for the Millerton Lions Club….

Other feature acts with Vidbel’s Circus include hilarious clowns, trained goats, aerialists, horses, jugglers, a comedy dog review, and much more during the nearly two-hour performance.

‘Fund-raiser to Benefit Boston School Trip’: The fourth-grade class is having a Tupperware fund-raiser to build funds for next year’s trip to Boston. The students all look forward to this trip and need your help to get there. If anyone is interesting [sic] in buying Tupperware products or booking a Tupperware party, please call the Webutuck Elementary School.