MILLBROOK — The annual Millbrook Engine, Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 dinner is a serious event, with people singled out and praised for their service to the company and the residents of Millbrook, the Town of Washington and the surrounding area.
This was the 115th anniversary of the Millbrook Fire Department, and the 45th anniversary of the fire department auxiliary, so there was much to celebrate.
But the event also seems like the social event of the season, as it always draws a huge crowd, and when Fire Company President Matt Rochfort announces the dignitaries in the room, he announces just about everyone who serves the town or village in any capacity.
Mayor Tim Collopy was unable to attend but his wife, Ceil, was there, as was Deputy Mayor Vicky Contino, who took over the mayoral introductions and remarks for Collopy.
Also present were members of the village of board of trustees; village clerk Sarah Witt; Town of Washington Supervisor Gary Ciferri; councilmembers of the town board; and Deirdre Houston, Dutchess Countyounty legislator for District 25, with her husband, Brian. Witt was on hand as members officially signed in at the end of the evening.
Ted Bownas, who just stepped down as fire chief after having served in that office from April 2012 to April 2023, was feted for his 30 years of service. The Augustine Rotunno Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Michael Masserone.
The Lynn Karn Memorial Award went to Kelly Tomasulo. The Shawn Fimbel Rookie of the Year Award went to Trevor Gruntler, and the Bert Roberts Memorial Award was presented to Peggy Mulligan.
Other recognition went to Lynn Swart for 45 years of active service in the auxiliary. She is a charter and lifetime member.
Tributes were paid to past presidents and chiefs; service awards were presented to members who responded to 100 or more calls in the past year. Special mention was made of those who had passed in the last year: Reb Powell, Tim Russell, John Evangelista and Lew Keenher, as well as Donald Cady and Don Howe from the Pleasant Valley Fire Department.
An especially poignant mention was made by Rochfort of Bob Myers, who passed in January 2023 and his wife, Kathy, who died in January 2022. He said that they had always been together, and in the passing of Bob, were reunited. He presented to their family members a joint plaque, for their combined 89 years of service.
Outgoing officers were thanked: directors Allen Meyer and Robin Horan, and acting secretary Kara Granger.
Current officers are Deputy Chief Deputy Chief Kevin Granger, Assistant Chief Ken Walsh, Capt. Tim Race Jr. and First Lt. Roland Burlingame.
The current civil officers, along with President Rochfort, are Vice President Kara Granger, treasurer Shelley Hollingsworth and acting secretary Kelly Tomasulo.
Rescue squad officers are Assistant Chief Laurie Olson, Capt. Kim Bownas, First Lt. Kevin Duncan, treasurer Shelley Hollingsworth and secretary Kim Bownas.
Auxiliary officers are President Jodi Swart, Vice President Debbie Wheeler, secretary Lynn Swart and treasurer Allison Hults.
The board of directors are Chairperson Peggy Mulligan, Deputy Chair Jodi Swart, and Leo Arruza, Brian Hicks, Terry Donoghue and Rick Seaman.
The food was prepared by Millbrook Deli, and the nearly 200 people attending seemed to thoroughly enjoy the evening. The volunteers are a vital part of the community, and enjoyed a lively night of thanks and praise.
Nathan Miller
Stissing Storage on Church Street across from Stissing Mountain High School. Owner Steve Hobson met with the Pine Plains Planning Board on Wednesday, April 9, to further discuss his plans to expand the business onto adjacent parcels he recently purchased.
PINE PLAINS — Representatives of a vehicle storage facility appeared before the Planning Board seeking clarification after the town issued a violation order for parking propane trucks at a site not approved for that use.
Planning Board members said on Wednesday, April 8, the lot at 2775 Church St., used byCrown Energy employees, was originally approved only for seasonal storage of boats and campers — not commercial propane trucks. Planning Board attorney Warren Replansky explained that the discrepancy is problematic because the board never got the chance to review whether the site was appropriate or safe for propane trucks.
“I don’t know what the rules and regulations for these trucks are, but that would have been explored in a site plan and special permit review process,” Replansky said.
Planning Board Chair Michael Stabile said board members were led to believe the property would only be used for boats and campers, referencing the November and December 2022 regular meetings of the board when the site plan was reviewed and conditionally approved.
Replansky also noted that a required driveway maintenance agreement remains outstanding— a condition tied to the 2022 approval because access to the property is via a driveway that crosses a neighboring parcel. He said the board needs to see that New York’s Department of Transportation has signed off on the driveway that accesses Church Street.
Stabile told an attorney representing property owners CEEN Properties LLC that they can return to the board with an amended site plan that outlines the intended use for the property. Replansky warned that the board could not issue any more permits while the property remains in violation.
“We want to see the driveway maintenance agreement,” Replansky said. “And DOT approval.”
Steve Hobson outlined plans to expand his Stissing Storage business on Church Street, including the addition of a small retail space near the road.
Hobson plans to convert 2814 and 2812 Church St. into an extension of the existing storage facility, which currently operates on an adjacent parcel. He is also seeking approval for a small retail store that he intends to rent to local farmers selling fresh produce and other agricultural goods.
Hobson first presented the proposal in January. At that time, he described the retail space as a “farm stand,” prompting questions from officials about how that term is defined in the town’s zoning code and whether it applies to the project. Since then, the board and Hobson have agreed to classify the structure as a “retail store,” a designation that allows broader use, including leasing the space to farmers or other businesses.
Board members identified several missing elements in the application, prompting them to delay setting a public hearing until those items are addressed. Among board members’ concerns were the lack of an exterior lighting plan, details on an electric vehicle charging station and a required stormwater plan.
The board’s final discussion Wednesday concerned a proposed wedding and event space at 7685 Route 82.
Angela Somma, who organizes concerts at a barn in Clermont, New York, said she is considering buying the property for use as a general event space with lodging for event guests.
The discussions prompted an exploration of Pine Plains’s zoning districts, leading board members and Somma to discover the property crosses over both the Main Street district and the restrictive Hamlet Residential district. That bifurcation complicated Somma’s plans for lodging, board members said, citing uncertainty on whether the town’s code addressed properties that are divided by multiple districts.
Town code states that regulations for the less restrictive district may extend up to 30 feet into the more restrictive portion of a divided property.
Board members suggested Somma may want to seek redistricting the parcel from the Town Board.
Leila Hawken
A springtime visit to the dormant pollinator garden he designed at the Millbrook Library provided landscape expert Andy Durbridge with the perfect setting to discuss the garden as a community of plants, as part of the Garden Matters monthly talk series..
MILLBROOK — Millbrook Garden Club members led a talk on gardens with a purpose beyond beauty in the April installment of the monthly Garden Matters series at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, April 11.
Expert garden designer Andy Durbridge of Wassaic gathered a rapt audience eager to get tips on selecting and nurturing plants attractive to birds and insects who serve as pollinators for area gardens and beyond.
About 25 attended the talk titled “Plant Communities in a Community Garden.”
“Gardening with a purpose” was a recurring theme, as Durbridge described how and why a garden is a community of plants, sometimes providing support for one another if well planned.
“Thousands of creatures work as pollinators,” Durbridge said, although most only think of birds and insects, the flying pollinators. Bats are major pollinators, as can be crawling insects.
Aim to have a garden that is not a monoculture was Durbridge’s advice. Native plants last longer, comfortable in the existing climate.
Done right, such a pollinator-friendly garden can look good, too, and no matter its size, whether grand or manageably tiny, it can contribute well to the Pollinator Pathway program being implemented throughout the region. Such gardens, dotted over the landscape, are beneficial to the passing pollinator, and remembered as a good place to visit.
“Change your gardening habits incrementally,” Durbridge said, noting that starting small is fine. “I don’t know if I could have a garden without ornamental grasses,” he added as a hint.
A proponent of no-till gardening, Durbridge urged gardeners to resist cultivating, and prepare the surface only.
“When you do big disturbances, you are making more work for yourself,” Durbridge advised.
He said the right selection of plants will lead to natural ground cover, reducing a need for mulch.
Next in the monthly series will be “Root to Flower: Honoring the Whole Plant,” on Saturday, May 9, beginning at 11 a.m.Presenting the program will be Kristen Essig of Stonewood Farm. The Garden Matters program is sponsored by the Millbrook Garden Club in partnership with Stonewood Farm and the Friends of the Millbrook Library.
Nathan Miller
Webutuck students Esvin Soto, Nelson Choc Coc, Anibal Cuc Coc, Emely Cordova and Mariana Martinez Reyes perform a heritage dance during the Webutuck PTA-sponsored talent show in the High School auditorium on Friday, April 10.
AMENIA — Webutuck students showed off their talents during a PTA-sponsored talent show in the High School auditorium on Friday, April 10.
The show featured singing, dancing, piano performances and even a presentation of mixed-media art over the course of an hour and a half.
Lois Musgrove performs a rendition of “Love Song” by Sara Bereilles.Photo by Nathan Miller
Giana Kall, left, performs carol of the bells on piano while Gabriella Artega sings.Photo by Nathan Miller
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Christine Bates
Located in the historic hamlet of Irondale built around the Millerton Iron Company, 21 Irondale Road dates from 1870 and was remodeled in 2020. The three-bedroom home sold for $255,000.
MILLERTON — The 12-month trailing median price for a residential property in the Town of North East was $415,000 for the period ending Feb. 28, 2026, representing a 7% jump from last year.
That figure includes all types of residences — from single-family homes and mobile homes to large estates — in both the Village of Millerton and the Town of North East, but excludes land and commercial sales. The median price for a home in the village alone was $388,000.
The townwide median was 7% higher than the $387,000 recorded for the 12 months ending Feb. 28, 2025, but both figures were below the 2023-24 median of $565,000. In contrast, village home prices steadily increased over the last three years from $320,000 in 2024 to $385,000 in 2025 to $388,000 as renovated homes came on the market.
The number of residential sales in North East, measured on a 12-month rolling basis, remains within its three-year range of 25 to 35 annually, including the village. A total of 26 residences were sold in the 12 months ending on Feb. 28, 2026, down from the 32 sales in the period ending Feb. 28, 2025, and 31 sales for the 12 months ending Feb. 28, 2024. As village prices rose, the number of sales declined from nine in 2024 and 11 in 2025 to seven in the last 12 months, roughly one in three sales in the town.
Inventory of all homes remains limited. As of early April, there were nine single-family homes on the market townwide. Three were listed above $1 million, with only one listed below the current median price of $415,000. In contrast, 10 parcels of land are listed for sale on the MLS, with listing prices ranging from $129,000 for a building lot to $3,000,000.
February transfers
21 Irondale Road — 3 bedroom/2.5 bath home on .44 acres sold to Victor Manual Molano for $255,000.
278 Sawchuck Road — 3 bedroom/2.5 bath home built in 1975 sold to Flor Maria Valle for $365,000.
5 Homestead Lane — 93.65 acres of vacant land sold to 5 Homestead Farm Lane LLC for $1.25 million
124 Cooper Road — 14.7 acres of vacant lane sold to Sheri Graham Trustee for $240,000.
* Town of North East and Village of Millerton property transfers for February 2026 are sourced from Dutchess County Real Property Office monthly reports. Property details are from Dutchess Parcel Access. Annual sales data is extracted from New York State Sales Web. Current market data is from OneKey MLS. Twelve-month median values and sales activity are from New York State Sales Web and include all residential property types, including single-family homes, multi-family properties, estates and mobile homes. Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Advisor with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in Connecticut and New York.
Millerton News
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Harlem Valley area activity report April 5 to April 11.
April 6 — Deputies responded to Hillside Village Road in the Town of Pine Plains to investigate a report of a verbal domestic dispute between a mother and daughter. Matter resolved without further police intervention.
April 10 — Deputies responded to 6 Sharon Station Road in Amenia to investigate a vehicle fire. Fire extinguished by members of the Amenia Fire Department.
April 11 — Deputies responded to South Quaker Hill Road in the Town of Pawling to investigate a fraud complaint of unauthorized charges to an AT&T account. Investigation on-going.
April 11 — Deputies responded to World Gym in the Town of Pawling for the report of a stolen cell phone. Investigation on-going.
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.
Peter Riva
The short answer is yes for urban areas. The longer answer – for the planet – no, not currently. Here’s why:
1. Oil fired powerplants generate electricity by burning fossil fuels in the form of oil. These are called thermal utility-scale oil-fired plants. They extract energy from the oil. The percentage of energy they extract run only 30% - 40% of the energy the fuel is capable of, so-called “contains.”
2. Gas fired powerplants generate electricity by burning gaseous forms of fossil fuels – mostly “natural gas” piped up from the ground reserves. These are called Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) systems. They extract energy from the gas using gas turbines. The percentage of energy they extract run only 33% - 60% of the energy the fuel is capable of -- depending on whether the newer plants have Heat Recovery Steam Generators added where they approach 60% efficiency.
3. Coal fired powerplants generate electricity by burning fossil fuels in the form of hard coal. The percentage of energy they extract runs only 30% - 45% - the 45% plants are ultra modern plants of which there are very few.
4. The USA overall average electricity production by powerplants using fossil fuels is an approximate fuel efficiency rating of 42%.
5. Atomic power plants, solar farms, and wind generation are hugely expensive to install and legislate but operate at between 85% and 92% efficiency based on input running costs. That does not include environmental post use or recycling costs for spend radioactive fuel rods which have a half-life of tens of thousands of years.
Putting aside the discussion of transportation (oil, coal, gas moving from mine or well to a powerplant), infrastructure (drilling, mining, pipelines), and never least the financing of refineries and powerplants by Wall Street, the comparison of efficiency for automobiles using either electric or gas/diesel modes, all rely on the overall efficiency of the energy consumption needed per mile. And energy consumption must take into account the efficiency of the engines using the fuel.
Now, it has to be said that electric cars cause less pollution, while running, than diesel or gasoline cars. That is why they are better for urban environments, just as catalytic converters were essential to stop smog related illness in tight urban environments. However, not causing as much pollution in situ does not take into account their consumption of fossil fuels in the production of that electricity and that resultant pollution globally. At best, therefore, electric cars are operating at 42% fuel efficiency and must face fair comparison to the most modern car engines in order to secure the label of “friendly to the environment.”
Mercedes Benz has a test program, as do several other manufacturers and engineering firms. It is called Formula 1 racing. MB produced a car engine that is so efficient it has an output of 50% of the fuel’s potential energy. Coupled with regenerative braking (hit the brakes and you are engaging a generator instead of disc brake coupled with inboard batteries to produce a hybrid system for more efficiency), overall most Formula 1 racing cars average between 60% - 72% efficiency overall depending on track conditions.
When you compare that new fossil fuel engine efficiency of 60%+ to electric cars using current electricity generation averaging 42% efficiency for the same amount of fossil fuels, electric cars have not, yet, reached parity or added benefit for the environment.
Of course, generation of electricity is an investment nightmare but with huge rewards for the whole planet. Electricity is easier to transport to where it is needed than fossil fuels. If you can build a more efficient powerplant, like the nuclear fusion reactors under development that produce no waste, then indeed electric power for cars and all means of transportation is the wiser choice longer term.
But, for the moment, when you see your neighbor’s car burning gasoline or diesel, and you drive an electric car, understand the choices you are making for your local pollution are worthwhile, but overall you may actually be polluting more. The hope is that soon electricity may be generated more efficiently to make your electric car actually environmentally friendly.
Peter Riva, a former resident of Amenia Union, New York, now lives in Gila, New Mexico.
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