Helping Millbrook Fire Department celebrate its 115th anniversary

MILLBROOK — Rain showers put a slight damper on the first night of the Millbrook Fire Department’s (MFD) 2023 block party on Thursday, July 6, but Friday night was a fun night from start to finish, and clear skies for the Fireman’s Parade on Saturday, July 8, made attendees smile. After the parade there was food, karaoke, bingo, gambling and beer until midnight.

Thursday night featured music by the Rhythm and Blues Band from 7 to 11 p.m., with food, beer, games, a 50/50 raffle for adults as well as a bounce house, face painting and other events for children.

On Friday, July 7, the weather was better, and the crowds took advantage of that by strolling the area, playing bingo, gambling on wheel games, and having children’s faces painted, all while listening to the Jukebox Junkies band and cheering on their favorites for the cornhole tournament.

The final night included the Dutchess County Volunteer Firemen’s Convention dress parade, which started at 6 p.m. and went for almost a full hour.

MFD is celebrating its 115th anniversary this year, and the Auxiliary is 45 years old in 2023, so there was much to celebrate. Leading the parade was the MFD color guard, and the parade marshals, who were the past chiefs and past presidents. Included were Jon Wacker, Mike Massarone, Tony DeMarco, Chris Hawks, Jim Brownell, Ted Bownas, Laurie Olsen and Joan Van Tassell. They were followed by Village of Millbrook Mayor Tim Collopy, village trustees Mike Herzog and Peter Doro, and Town of Washington Supervisor Gary Ciferri.

After the VFW Post 9008 color guard came Dutchess County Volunteer Fire Association President Bob Boyles, Vice President John O’Brien and director Jack Schmidt.

The parade’s Division 1 included the New Hackensack, Amenia and Pleasant Valley fire departments; J.H. Ketcham Hose Company of Dover; Milan, Millerton, East Clinton and West Clinton, and Putnam Lake companies; and the Sharon, Connecticut, Pawling, Rhinebeck, Wassaic and Slater Chemical/Glenham fire departments.

Division 2 featured the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office color guard and a deputy with one of the K9 dogs. The Dutchess County Fire Investigation truck was followed by the City of Hudson, Stottville, Hughsonville and Montrose fire departments; the Chelsea, Roosevelt, Beekman, New Hamburg, Rombout, Union Vale and the Fair Chester Hose Haulers companies also participated. It is one of only two such parades still held in Dutchess County.

Following the parade, the block party continued with karaoke from 8 to 11 p.m. led by Let’s Jam Music out of LaGrangeville.  Many of those who participated in the parade met with friends, enjoyed the food and camaraderie, bet a few dollars, and participated in games and bingo in support of the Millbrook Fire Department.

The Patriots Marching Band from Rhinebeck, N.Y., marching with the Dutchess County Volunteer Firemen’s dress parade on Saturday, July 8, in Millbrook. Photo by Judith O’Hara Balfe

From left, Kathleen Marshall, Roland Burlingame, Tony DiBonis and Kathi Shanks at the beer tent at the Millbrook Fire Department’s block party on Thursday, July 6. Photo by Judith O’Hara Balfe

Food prepared and served at Amenia Tents included hot dogs, french fries, hamburgers and other party favorites at the Millerton Fire Department’s block party on Thursday, July 6. Photo by Judith O’Hara Balfe

The Patriots Marching Band from Rhinebeck, N.Y., marching with the Dutchess County Volunteer Firemen’s dress parade on Saturday, July 8, in Millbrook. Photo by Judith O’Hara Balfe

Latest News

Fallen trees injure man, destroy fences at dog shelter

Two uprooted locust trees still lie in the yard in front of Animal Farm Foundation’s original kennels where they fell on a fence during a storm on Thursday, June 19.

Nathan Miller

AMENIA — Fallen trees, uprooted and splintered during a thunderstorm, injured a man, destroyed fences and damaged a dog kennel at the Animal Farm Foundation facilities in Bangall.

Isaias Nunez was cleaning along a road on the property with Marco Ortiz, another employee of the dog shelter, when the storm rolled in on the afternoon of Thursday, June 19.

Keep ReadingShow less
Siglio Press: Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature

Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.

Richard Kraft

Siglio Press is a small, independent publishing house based in Egremont, Massachusetts, known for producing “uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.” Founded and run by editor and publisher Lisa Pearson, Siglio has, since 2008, designed books that challenge conventions of both form and content.

A visit to Pearson’s airy studio suggests uncommon work, to be sure. Each of four very large tables were covered with what looked to be thousands of miniature squares of inkjet-printed, kaleidoscopically colored pieces of paper. Another table was covered with dozens of book/illustration-size, abstracted images of deer, made up of colored dots. For the enchanted and the mystified, Pearson kindly explained that these pieces were to be collaged together as artworks by the artist Richard Kraft (a frequent contributor to the Siglio Press and Pearson’s husband). The works would be accompanied by writings by two poets, Elizabeth Zuba and Monica Torre, in an as-yet-to-be-named book, inspired by a found copy of a worn French children’s book from the 1930s called “Robin de Bois” (Robin Hood).

Keep ReadingShow less
Cycling season: A roundup of our region’s rentals and where to ride them

Cyclists head south on the rail trail from Copake Falls.

Alec Linden

After a shaky start, summer has well and truly descended upon the Litchfield, Berkshire and Taconic hills, and there is no better way to get out and enjoy long-awaited good weather than on two wheels. Below, find a brief guide for those who feel the pull of the rail trail, but have yet to purchase their own ten-speed. Temporary rides are available in the tri-corner region, and their purveyors are eager to get residents of all ages, abilities and inclinations out into the open road (or bike path).

For those lucky enough to already possess their own bike, perhaps the routes described will inspire a new way to spend a Sunday afternoon. For more, visit millertonnews.com/tag/bike-route to check out two ride-guides from local cyclists that will appeal to enthusiasts of many levels looking for a varied trip through the region’s stunning summer scenery.

Keep ReadingShow less