The 17th annual Friends of the Millbrook Library Holiday Silent Auction closed bidding on the more than 120 tempting items with a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception on Saturday, Dec. 20. Enjoying the festivities were, at left, Denise Bauer, chair of the Library Friends organization, with Tom and Susie Stroup of Millbrook. Proceeds raised by the event totaled $12,000.
MILLBROOK — Millbrook residents are invited to gather with friends and neighbors to ring in the New Year at a community celebration held across two nearby venues — Lyall Community Church and Grace Church — on Wednesday, Dec. 31. The two churches are located just a few minutes’ walk from one another in the heart of the village.
The family-friendly festivities will run from 4 to 7 p.m., with activities taking place at both churches. Together, the venues will host a wide range of offerings for all ages, including live music, magic, interactive activities and opportunities to connect with neighbors in a welcoming, walkable setting.
The annual event is hosted by the Millbrook Rotary Club, Millbrook Arts Group, The Millbrook Library and the Village of Millbrook. Support services are provided by the Millbrook Police Department, and the celebration is made possible through the efforts of community sponsors and an extensive group of volunteers.
“New Year’s Eve Millbrook is about creating a space where everyone feels welcome,” said Michelle Del Valle, Millbrook Rotary Club Secretary, about the celebration.
“This year feels especially exciting because the evening offers something for every generation; from local live music that gets you moving, to magical storytelling that invites wonder, to the depth of community group collaboration and the shared moments that remind us how special it is to celebrate together,” she added.
Live music will set the tone throughout the evening, encouraging dancing and celebration. The Hammerhead Horns will perform blues, swing, boogie-woogie and gospel music. Miss Paula and The Twangbusters are billed as a full-tilt swing experience with upbeat, vintage-inspired sounds, while Nite Train will keep the energy high with rockin’ blues guaranteed to get people on their feet.
Additional family activities will include the Bubble Bus, a favorite among younger attendees, a live magic show, a puppet performance by the Grumbling Gryphons, balloon twisting and other community activities spread throughout both venues. Face painting will also be available.
Crêpes Royale, a longtime community favorite, will serve sweet crêpes throughout the event, and coffee from Spark will also be available.
Admission buttons, designed by Millbrook Central School District student Lydia Kascsak, are available for a suggested donation of $5. Buttons are available at a variety of merchants, including Merritt Bookstore, Reardon Briggs Hardware, Hunt and Harvest, Millbrook Antiques Center, and at the Thorne Center the night of the event.
For more information, go to www.millbrookrotary.org.
This year showed, once again, how essential The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News are to our communities. Throughout 2025, we heard from readers who told us our reporting helped them better understand the issues facing their towns. Local organizations shared that attendance at their events increased following coverage in our papers or features in our newsletter. Advertisers reported an increase in business after readers saw an ad or a story about them.
Our core mission remains unchanged – to deliver trusted local news. National policy shifts created significant uncertainty this year, and we focused on explaining their local consequences: from immigration enforcement and school funding to the loss of federal support for healthcare, the arts, and food access in our rural communities. But even amid heavier topics, there was much to celebrate – Sharon Playhouse’s launch of a program for emerging theater artists; community fundraisers for Project SAGE, the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon, and the North East Community Center; and countless examples of neighbors stepping up to meet needs.
This year was also one of important transitions in our newsroom. With John Coston’s retirement, we welcomed Christian Murray as Executive Editor. At The Millerton News, Nathan Miller became Managing Editor, and Aly Morrissey joined as a reporter. Along with a team of correspondents, they are reinvigorating coverage across eastern Dutchess County. With strong editorial teams in place across both papers, we are positioned for an ambitious reporting agenda in 2026.
We remain committed to building the next generation of editors, reporters, and readers. This year, we launched a journalism curriculum and student newspaper – HVRHS Today – at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, giving students professional guidance and a platform for their voices. Our competitive summer intern program continued to draw talented young journalists, and we established a new partnership with Marist University to broaden future opportunities. None of this would have been possible without the support of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the 21st Century Fund, the William and Mary Greve Foundation, along with generous private donors.
We look forward to the continued growth of our education program.
Like many community newspapers, we continue to navigate financial and operational challenges. With the help of national, local, and regional foundations — including the Foundation for Community Health, the MacArthur, Tow, and Barr foundations, and new grants from the DJ McManus and Anne and Rollin Bates foundations — we’ve been able to stabilize operations and invest in our newsroom. Combined with community support, this funding sustains essential reporting and helps us build the capacity we need for the future.
This spring we held the first Millerton Street Fair, modeled on our annual Salisbury Street Fair, convening nonprofits and community groups for a day of connection and shared purpose. And in November, we presented the Estabrook Community Leadership Award to Bunny Williams, recognizing her extraordinary contributions and bringing together supporters and neighbors in celebration of community leadership.
Looking ahead to 2026, our focus is on strengthening our reporting, deepening community engagement, and building a sustainable local news organization. None of this work is possible without you — our readers, subscribers, advertisers, donors, and partners.
Thank you for your trust and support. It’s a privilege to serve our communities.
James H. Clark
CEO/Publisher
Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly with questions, comments, concerns at 860-435-9873 x401 or jamesc@lakevillejournal.com.
News: Reach Executive Editor Christian Murray at christianm@lakevillejournal.com, Lakeville Journal Managing Editor Riley Klein at rileyk@lakevillejournal.com and Millerton News Managing Editor Nathan Miller at nathanm@millertonnews.com.
Letters to the Editor may be emailed to publisher@lakevillejournal.com or submitted via our websites.
Obituaries may be submitted to obituaries@lakevillejournal.com or via our websites.
Advertising inquiries can be directed to Roxanne Lee, roxannel@lakevillejournal.com, or Mary Wilbur, maryw@lakevillejournal.com. And for classified line ads, Lyndee Stalter at classified@lakevillejournal.com.
Legal Notices can be sent to Michelle Eisenman at legals@lakevillejournal.com.
Subscription questions including new subscriptions, renewals and address changes can be sent to circulation@lakevillejournal.com.
When so many other towns in Dutchess County openly embrace a collective spirit in public, why does Millerton put forth such a miserly and backward-thinking message about representation during the holidays? Millerton Village’s policy of “neutrality” towards religion regarding holiday decorations in the town is actually exclusivity wrapped in white lights. If a menorah or a dreidel were put up next to the tree and covered in white lights then it could also be considered “secular” and not religious. After all, Jewish people don’t worship a menorah any more than Christians worship a tree. However, the government of the town of Millerton has decided it just doesn’t want to get involved. This is sad, disappointing, and ultimately not sustainable.
Jane Morgan
Millerton
So, it is finally official, I am now the new council person for Amenia having won by one vote. I deeply appreciate the support I received throughout the election. For those who chose differently, please know that my commitment is to serve and support everyone equally. As promised before the election, I am committed to serving all Amenia residents—young or old, long-time residents or newcomers. We are one town, and my goal is for Amenia not only to endure but to thrive.
Charlie Miller, it was an honor to compete alongside you. You ran an excellent race and your commitment to Amenia is clear. I hope you continue your valuable work for our town, and you have my full support. It was effectively a tie and I recommend you take a seat on the board alongside the other elected officials.
Councilman Elect
Walter Dietrich
Amenia
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
A census of Dutchess and Columbia County farms will be made by the Federal Government in conjunction with a census of farms and farm populations throughout the nation, it has been disclosed. Dutchess County is to be included in a district with Putnam and Orange Counties, the census to be taken under the direction of a district supervisor. Counties will make recommendations on the designation of supervisors.
Christmas Sales Reach 1929 Level in Some Instances, Survey Shows - Other Firms Say Volume Compares Favorably With 1931 and 1932
Cadet George Randolph Culver, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. George R. Culver of Millerton, is home for the Christmas holidays from the New York Military Academy, Cornwall-on-Hudson, N. Y. Culver entered the academy last fall.
The Millerton Fire Department was summoned at about 10:30 o’clock this morning when a chimney fire broke out at the William Campbell home on the Rudd Pond Road. The fire was extinguished before the firemen arrived, however. No damage was done.
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Malyszka of 1133 Meadow Lane, Concord, Calif. are the proud parents of a new son, 7½ lbs. born Dec. 18. Mother and child are fine. Mrs. Malyszka is the former Susan Gross, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Gross of Wilton, Conn. They are former Millerton residents, who for many years have summered at Twin Lakes. Mrs. Gross is the sister of John Hager of Sharon.
Cathy and Patti Gordon were named the winners on Thursday, Dec. 18, of the North East Historical Society Christmas Tree Decoration Contest.
A tree bearing all the contest decorations has been on display at the Millerton branch of the Rhinebeck Savings Bank on Route 44. Contest judges were Louise Orton, Henrietta Terni, and Mrs. Everett Jones.
Two United States Savings Bonds were awarded to the Gordon sisters. Patti Gordon won in the age 6-10 group and Cathy Gordon won in the 10-14 group.
MILLERTON — Adults and children alike will be pleased to know that coming in January there will be one more winter attraction in Millerton.
Village trustee John Scutieri has been working diligently in conjunction with both the village and town boards for over a month now to receive funding for a new skating rink to be located at Eddie Collins Field. The persistence has paid off; both boards have approved funding for the rink, which should be in place by early January, Mr. Scutieri reported at Monday’s village board meeting.
Unlike much of the rest of Dutchess County, the northern Harlem Valley escaped major harm last weekend as strong winds and torrential rains caused minor flooding and road damage.
MILLERTON - After working at Saperstein’s for almost 30 years, Judith Burns has entered her last week on the job. A 40-year resident of Millerton, Ms. Burns’ face will be missed at Saperstein’s after her retirement on Friday, Dec. 22. But don’t worry Ms. Burns does not plan to go into hiding, she will “make some appearances.”
