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.
Warriors left-fielder James Singleton, no. 4, made it to base on all four at-bats he had Tuesday at Beekman Park.
AMENIA — The Pine Plains boys baseball team travelled to Beekman Park in Amenia to face off against the Webutuck Warriors.
The game ended with a Pine Plains win of 13-7.
The Bombers' Austin Mielich, no. 35, only made one hit in three at-bats, but it was productive. Mielich secured two runners batted in and a run himself in a later play.Photo by Nathan Miller
The Bombers racked up an early lead in the first two innings, scoring four runs in the top of the first and a fifth in the top of the second before the Warriors managed to score two runs in the bottom of the second.
Webutuck defenders held back the Bombers in the third inning and scored another run, bringing the score to a manageable 5-3 Pine Plains lead going into the fourth inning.
Then the Bombers let it rip. Six more runs in the fourth inning brought the score to 11-4 Pine Plains going into the fifth.
Webutuck managed to score another three runs before the end of the game, but the Bombers nearly matched with two more of their own for a finishing score of 13-7.
Bombers catcher Matthew McGhee, no. 10, put out six batters, including Webutuck's Albert Bailey as he tries to cross home plate on Tuesday, May 13, at Beekman Park in Amenia.Photo by Nathan Miller
The Bombers’ pitchers — Warren Lounsbury, no. 11, and Luke Blackburn, no. 4, only gave up four hits to Warrior batters through the game. Between the two pitchers, the Bombers struck out 13 of Webutuck’s batters. The Warriors’ pitchers — Zach Latrell, no. 1, Gabe Domingez, no. 9, and Pearse Williams — managed to strikeout 11 of the Bombers’ batters.
Mickey Stringer of of North East, left, checks in with Chris Virtuoso, volunteering on Saturday, May 12 at the Old Town Garage on South Center Street as a Climate Smart Task Force member. Stringer’s loaded pickup was part of a long line of vehicles along South Center as residents used the opportunity to dispose of air conditioners, mattresses, lumber, and other bulk items. Town Supervisor Christopher Kennan said he didn’t recall seeing such a long line of vehicles in past years.
Elm Drive Elementary School in Millbrook.
MILLBROOK — Preparing for the village-wide vote on the proposed 2025-26 school budget scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, the Millbrook Central School District held a public hearing on Tuesday, May 6, to review the budget and hear residents’ comments.
The CSD proposed 2025-26 budget to be voted upon as Proposition 1, showed total expenditures of $35,649,651, an increase of $1,074,576 (3.11%) over the current year.
“We’re trying to trim as much as we can,” said Elliott Garcia, Assistant Superintendent for Business, during his budget summary.
Two additional propositions are included on the ballot, both anticipating a bond issue to fund repairs, renovations and improvements to school buildings.
Proposition 2 would bring repair to the Middle and High School buildings, with more work at the middle school estimated to cost $37,381,383. Work would include HVAC, electrical, window replacement, roof and ceiling repair, elevator service and doorway improvements.
The high school work would include HVAC at a total estimated cost of $1,883,099.
The total amount would, however, be reduced by $12 million in currently available funding, so that a bond issue would be needed to cover a total of $27,264,482, to be repaid over a number of years. Taxpayers would need to pay the annual interest on the bonds during the life of the bonds.
Separate funding of energy efficiency improvements at the middle school and high school would carry at total estimated cost of $3 million that would also need to be bond-financed, but that funding would return to the school budget in the form of energy cost savings.
Proposition 3 would bring HVAC, electrical and window replacement at the elementary schools at an estimated cost of $21,779,259, also to be financed by bond issue.
Students from the Middle School Student Council presented a report on a recent survey they conducted and analyzed. Their report was titled, “Repair Our School.”
For their building conditions study, the nine students conducted an in-school survey of students, teachers and staff, receiving 228 responses.
Interpreting the responses as percentages, the students reported that 90% indicated that the middle school does not look as good as it could; more than 80% said they were concerned about the state of the building; 67% had classes interrupted by roof leaks; 75% said it was difficult to learn because of the roof leaks; and 94% said that if the school were their home, they would not stay.
“Our student government never stops working,” said Principal Steven Cabello, adding that the students’ efforts have been invigorating.
School superintendent Caroline Hernandez-Pidala praised the students’ project, the time and care invested in their survey study and their reporting of the results.
“I’m super impressed,” Hernandez-Pidala told the students.
The May 20 polling location is at the Middle School, in the Band room adjacent to the auditorium. Polls will be open between noon and 9 p.m.
The proposed budget, details of the propositions and a copy of the ballot are posted on the CSD website at www.millbrookcsd.org.
Voters in two other school districts will decide on higher spending plans for the coming school year on Tuesday, May 20.
Webutuck Central School District and Pine Plains Central School District propose higher K-12 budgets for the 2025-2026 school year.
The proposed budget for Webutuck, with an enrollment of 637 students from K-12, shows a 5.96% increase from the previous year to $28,665,850. Pine Plains proposes spending $38,712,336, an increase of 2.71%.
Ray Nelson, Earthwise Architecture, requested two variances for 7-9 Main St., one to allow a 9-unit floorplan and another to waive the parking requirements for the building, at a public hearing held by the village Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday, May 6.
MILLERTON — Ray Nelson of Millerton presented two possible updated floorplans for the apartment building at 7-9 Main St. to the Zoning Board of Appeals at a public hearing on Tuesday, May 6.
Nelson, on behalf of the building’s owner, is seeking two variances for the property: one allowing a density increase and another waiving the parking requirements for the property.
Village code requires at least 5,000 square feet of lot space per unit for multi-unit properties and 1.5 parking spaces per unit.
The building was configured with 12 units under previous ownership, a non-conforming use.
Nelson submitted a 9-unit plan and a 6-unit plan. He argues the 9-unit plan, which would house one fewer total bedroom than the 6-unit layout, would not require additional parking because the smaller units attract tenants that use fewer parking spaces — young couples, single people and very small families.
“There’s a need for apartments that are in the village,” Nelson said.
The submitted 9-unit floorplan is a reduction from a previously declined 12-unit plan that sought to maintain the current number of units in the property.
Zoning board members concluded the public hearing after brief discussion with the three Millerton residents that attended the meeting.
Zoning board members could not reach a final decision on the variances that night, citing required further deliberation, but they indicated a positive attitude to Nelson’s new plans.
