‘STOP ICE’ billboard turns heads in North East
A provocative new billboard on Route 22 in the Town of North East appears to bear a political message but is actually an ad for a local paving company.
Photo by Nathan Miller
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Marilyn Josephine Kay
Olivia Montoya
Jun 23, 2026
MILLERTON — Marilyn Josephine Kay (Masterson), 93, whose life was characterized by a quiet strength, graceful and cheerful presence, enduring athleticism and an abiding community spirit, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A long-time resident of Millerton, New York with her late husband and local veterinarian Kent Kay, DVM, Marilyn spent her final years surrounded by the love and care of her Minnesota family.
Born Feb.19, 1933, in New York City, Marilyn was the youngest of four daughters. Raised by a single mother, Marilyn learned early on the values of independence and determination—traits that would define her entire life. She excelled academically and athletically, attending Hunter College and channeling her passion for movement into work as a physical education teacher.
Marilyn’s life took a beautiful turn when she married her husband, Kent Kay, DVM, a young man she had grown up with in New York City. Together, they made the bold choice to leave the city for a quieter life in upstate New York. Settling in the small town of Millerton, they built a vibrant, full life together, including a successful small town veterinary practice serving the surrounding dairy farms. Kent attended to the animals while Marilyn served as office manager and ran the business, all while balancing raising four sons. The boys worked in the clinic at an early age, growing up in a lively household surrounded by animals, both large (Sweetheart, a St. Bernard) and small (Charlie, a stray chihuahua), that became fast friends.
Marilyn also believed in showing up for her community. She and Kent were pillars of their historic local church, St. John in the Wilderness in Copake Falls, New York. Whether she was lending her voice to the choir, serving on the vestry, or helping with church operations, Marilyn’s faith was always paired with action.
A PE teacher at heart until the very end, Marilyn was happiest when she was moving. She shared her love of the water by teaching swimming and lifesaving. She was an accomplished skier, an avid walker in her later years, and a fierce, competitive tennis player who could still command a court in her 80s. Additionally, according to family lore, she was a champion napper and could catch a few winks when needed, anytime and anywhere, including the New York subway where she never missed her stop.
Marilyn was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Kent, and her son Timothy. She is survived by sons Christopher Kay of New York, New York, Eugene (Jane) Kay of Plymouth, Minnesota, and Clinton Kay of Boulder, Colorado; daughter-in-law Melanie Kay of Millerton, wife of her late son Timothy. Grandchildren include Emily, Jessie, Alexander, Alycia, Gabrielle and Genevieve Kay, and a great-grandson, Atlas.
Arrangements are being made by Peck & Peck, Copake, N.Y. A memorial service is planned for the fall in Copake Falls, N.Y. Memorials may be given to Church of St. John in the Wilderness, P.O. Box 180, Copake Falls, N.Y. 12517, or to the Animal Humane Society.
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Natacha (Nathalie) Kondratiev
Millerton News
Jun 23, 2026
MILLBROOK — Natacha (Nathalie) Kondratiev was born on August 4 1960 in New York City. She grew up, with her five siblings, in Flushing, NY. Natacha went to school at the Lycée Français in New York City. She spent many summers in France with her family where she was able to indulge her love of horses daily, almost to the exclusion of all else. She loved horses from early childhood, and that love dominated her life until the very end.
Natacha went to NYU with the intention of studying for a degree in veterinary medicine but switched majors and received a BA in French. She continued her love for horses in her late teens by taking riding lessons from professionals at Waterfall Farm in Danbury, Connecticut. When Paul Okolowicz moved Waterfall Farm to North Mabbettsville Road in the Millbrook Hunt Country, Natacha followed him there, eventually becoming employed as groom and riding instructor.
When Waterfall Farm ceased operations after many years, Natacha’s reputation as a reliable and caring horsewoman was such that she had many offers to work in other Millbrook barns. She worked for Dr. David Hammond’s veterinary practice as a foal watcher as a supplement to her barn duties at the various stables in the area.
Natacha also gave her love to the beagles and bassets of the Sandanona Harehounds. She lived for many of her last years at the Thorndale kennels, feeding and looking after the fifty hounds that lived there two. She was quick to adopt old beagles from the pack, giving them a homeplace for the remainder of their days.
When not caring for horses and hounds, Natacha could be found immersed in the stories of fiction and fact that tantalized her curious mind. She was an avid reader and friends knew that a gift card at the local Merritt Book Shop was always welcome.
For the last decade of her life, Natacha was plagued with severe heart ailments and other health problems. She persevered with good humor and courage until her body could no longer keep her soul and spirit within. Natacha died in Vassar Hospital, with her siblings beside her, on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
A private burial service for the family was held at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Lithgow, Millbrook, NY, on June 24th, 2026.
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Jeremiah Joseph Larsen
Millerton News
Jun 23, 2026
HARWINTON — Jeremiah Joseph Larsen, 44, of 274 Litchfield Rd. died Sunday June 14, 2026 at the Yale New Haven Health Center in New Haven. Jeremiah was born May 9, 1982 in Bristol, CT. He was the son of Jeffrey L. and Ruth M. (Wilkinson) Larsen of Harwinton, CT
Jeremiah graduated from Lewis Mills High School in Burlington. He worked for several local landscapers in the Northwest Corner including Leno’s Lawn Service, Green Acres Landscaping and most recently Paul Kaminski Landscape Management in Harwinton. Jeremiah was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved spending time with his two sons, Hayden and Finn Larsen, of East Canaan, CT and extended family. He and his ex-wife Jessica Strattman continued to work closely to provide the best for Hayden and Finn. Jeremiah also was known for his love of cutting grass.
In addition to his parents and sons Jeremiah is survived by his brother Zachariah W. Larsen and his fiancée, Marcie Perswald both of Bristol, CT and Zachariah’s daughter Skyla Larsen of Norfolk, CT along with numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday June 25, 2026 from 11:00 am until 12:30 pm in the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home 118 Main St. North Canaan, CT 06018. We will then process to Hillside Cemetery in East Canaan, CT for a graveside service 1:00 PM. Memorial donation may be sent to Hayden and Finn Fund 274 Litchfield Rd. Harwinton, CT 06791.
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Donald Harry Duncan
Millerton News
Jun 23, 2026
MILLERTON — Donald Harry Duncan, 78, a lifelong area resident died peacefully on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at his home in Millerton, NY, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Sharon E. (Drake) Duncan and loving father of Bruce, Alex and Steven Duncan, adored grandfather of Sydney, Chelsea, Bailey, Gabriel, Ariana, Braeden and Tony and caring brother of Patricia Flood and James Duncan.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday July 1, 2026 from 11am to 12pm at South Amenia Presbyterian Church, 229 South Amenia Road, Wassaic, NY 12592. A funeral service will begin at 12pm at South Amenia Presbyterian Church. Reverend Zora Cheatham will officiate. A communal reception in Don’s honor will be held immediately following the service in the fellowship hall next door to the church. Burial at Irondale Cemetery will take place in the future. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Don’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546.
Patchin’s Mill renovations move forward with foundation restoration
Graham Corrigan
Jun 23, 2026
Machinery still sits inside the grist mill.
Photo by Graham Corrigan
PINE PLAINS — Patchin’s Mill, a historic grist mill that played an important role in the region’s agricultural history, is undergoing its first major round of restoration work in years as preservationists work to stabilize the deteriorating structure and eventually return it to operation.
Restorative work to the foundation began last week under the supervision of Keith Sisco, Bill Hedges, and other members of the historic preservation association Friends of Stissing Landmarks.
“We would love to be able to restart the mill,” said Sisco, a FOSL board member, who said it stopped operating decades ago but still has what’s needed to get it up and running again. “The belts are still on the pulleys.”
The mill, however, still needs repairs from the ground up. FOSL took the first big step in 2023 by clearing out the debris and overgrown plant life that had surrounded Patchin’s Mill just north of downtown Pine Plains at the intersection of North Main Street and Silvernail Road.
The next phase started this month. The mill has twice been hit by vehicles, and one side of the foundation is badly damaged as a result. FOSL spent the first week stabilizing the structure and hauling out the collapsed foundation wall.
The project has been made possible by fundraising, and the non-profit FOSL raised the capital to hire a mason, Robert Koch. Koch has been overseeing the restoration and is building a bi-level foundation of stone and brick. After the mortar sets, a team from Syracuse will come to Pine Plains to replace the interior timber beams that have decayed over time.
FOSL is hoping to raise $150,000 for this first phase of the project, which will include the adjacent and over-stuffed mill house across the street. The previous owner used the space for storage, according to Bill Hedges, one of the FOSL members leading the restoration. “We want to return the mill to its former glory,” he said.
Patchin’s Mill’s origins date back to the 1740s, when surveyor Charles Clinton made a note in his field book about the Shekomeko Creek waterfall a half-mile north of Pine Plains. But it took 60 years for a mill to actually go up, and back then it was called Hoffman’s Mill. The Hoffmans bought the land from the Grahams (of Graham-Brush House fame), and built a grist mill. In turn, Mark Patchin bought the land — and the mill — from Hoffman’s grandson in 1873.
The grist mill is a simple yet ingenious device. Using the weight and force behind the water’s fall, two stones rise and fall to crush raw grain into usable flour. Wheat, rye, cornmeal, and buckwheat were some of the grains processed at the mill during the 19th century. The current structure was built in 1917 and known as Shekomeko Stream Mill. At one point, a second mill on the opposite bank — a sawmill — was also in operation.
But grain production moved elsewhere, and the mill ceased operating in 1945. Many of their relics and belongings are still onsite, and Sisco says they’ve hired a historian to catalogue the documents and photographs unearthed during renovations.
“We hope to have it resemble how it was when it was a working mill,” said Sisco.
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Dutchess County Sheriff’s Report - Thursday, June 25
Olivia Montoya
Jun 23, 2026
Dutchess County Sheriff's Report — Thursday, June 25
Archive photo
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Harlem Valley area activity report June 12 to June 18
June 12 — Deputies responded to Baxter Road in Pawling for a neighbor dispute. Both parties were served with trespass notices advising them to stay off of each other’s property.
June 12 — Deputies responded to the Wassaic Train station in the Town of Amenia and took custody of Tai Chopping, age 54, who was wanted by the Columbia County, New York, Sheriff’s Office on an active Bench Warrant for failing to appear in court in that jurisdiction. Chopping turned over to Deputies of Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for further.
June 12 — Deputies arrested William Ball, age 35, for driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree as a result of traffic enforcement on Winchell Mountain Road in the Town of North East. Ball to appear in the Town of North East Court at a later date.
June 15 — Deputies responded to High Meadows Trailer Park in the Town of Dover to investigate a domestic dispute at that location. Matter resolved without further police intervention.
PLEASE NOTE: All subjects arrested and charged are alleged to have committed the crime and are presumed innocent until proven guilty and are to appear in local courts later.
If you have any information relative to the aforementioned criminal cases, or any other suspected criminal activity please contact the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 845 605 CLUE (2583) or email dcsotips@gmail.com. All information will be kept confidential.
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