MILLBROOK — Paulina Porizkova was a supermodel; she was also the wife of the Cars singer Ric Ocasek for more than 30 years. An actress, model and writer, she would seem to have had it all. Coming from an anti-Soviet dissident parent, born in Russia, raised mostly in Sweden, Porizkova has had a life of ups and downs emotionally and, as she tells it in her book, “No Filter,” financially.
Porizkova arrived at Merritt Bookstore on Friday, Dec. 23, at about the same time that some very nasty weather took hold. But she showed the same perseverance she’s shown all of her life: She showed up and she conquered.
People braved the elements to meet her, talk with her and buy her new book, which has gotten some very good reviews. Kira Wizner, owner of the bookstore, said: “We had a really nice time with Paulina and posed for some photos. It was very nice to have her here signing books. She’s generous and sweet, and we had about 30 to 35 people here just for her.” At 57, Porizkova is still a beautiful woman.
Porizkova was married for over 30 years to Ric Ocasek, lead singer of the Cars, with whom she had two sons, Jonathan and Oliver. Although they were estranged at the time of his death, they remained close, and it was she who found him dead in his apartment in New York City on Sept. 15, 2019. He died following surgery.
Author Ann Patchett called No Filter “a book about a rare life, profound love, profound grief, anxiety, self-assurance, empowerment, aging, loss, and joy. It is nuanced, complex, insightful, helpful, and constantly surprising.”
The book is the story of Porizkova, and it touches the heart. It also shows the strength and resolve that is a very deep part of this woman. It’s the story of the peaks and valleys of a life, the fame and fortune but also the story of a woman who loved, a mother, and a survivor.
Appearing twice on the cover of Sports Illustrated, in 1984 and 1985, Porizkova is an also an actress, having been in over 33 movies, videos and television series, and she has directed as well.
The author of two previous books, the juvenile fiction tome “The Adventures of Ralphie the Roach,” written with Joanne Russell, and the novel “A Model Summer” in 2007, which was well-received and said by Amazon to be “beautifully written, exploring the world of the supermodel and the life that results from that experience.”
Meeting Ocasek in 1984 while making a music video for the Cars, Porizkova was 19 and he was around 40, married with children, which he neglected to mention when they started dating. They later married and were one of the more glamorous couples of the entertainment world during the 1980s.
She filed for divorce in 2018, feeling that he didn’t value her, didn’t listen to her, and made her feel worthless. Yet they were still living together when he died, although he had cut her out of his will because he said she had abandoned him.
After his death, she found herself in a strange place. As she described it in an interview with Jada Pinkett, she said: “I was a woman with assets. I had two mortgaged houses. And I had a pension plan that I can access in 10 years and zero cash, and no way to pay for anything. So, I was in a really, really peculiar position of being a woman with assets and no money.”
Porizkova’s financial situation worsened when the coronavirus pandemic struck in 2020. She remarked: “Property values in New York had just fallen off the cliff, and I had to sell my house immediately because I couldn’t pay. … I was asking my friends to buy our groceries for a little while.”
People who have read the book, and those who have met her, say very nice things about Porizkova. Now there are several more who met her at Merritt Books on a cold and nasty Friday afternoon in December, who bought her book, heard her story, and have become fans of the woman herself — not the supermodel or Ocasek’s wife — and wish her only the very best.
AMENIA — The first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School went smoothly, with teachers enthusiastically greeting the eager young students disembarking from buses. Excitement was measurable, with only a few tears from parents, but school began anyway.
Ready for her first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School, Liliana Cawley, 7, would soon join her second grade class, but first she posed for a photo to mark the occasion.Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — While the courage and perseverance of Revolutionary era patriots is well understood and celebrated, the stories of the fate of British loyalists in New York are not as clear.
Seen as the initial event in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Amenia Historical Society will present a talk titled, “The Plight of a Loyalist in Revolutionary New York,” examining the journal of Cadwallader Colden, Jr., spanning the period of 1777-1779. The speaker will be noted author, genealogist and historian Jay Campbell.
The talk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Smithfield Presbyterian Church in Amenia. The handicapped-accessible church is located at 656 Smithfield Valley Road. Refreshments will be served.
Colden was the son of a New York Lieutenant Governor. He was a surveyor, farmer and mercantilist, serving as a judge in Ulster County. His fortunes changed dramatically with the dawn of the Revolutionary War when he remained loyal to the British Crown. His arrest came in 1776, just before the start of his journal.
Campbell is a historian specializing in Hudson Valley history, and the regional stories of Revolutionary era families.
Erin Rollins of Millbrook in the Fashion Feed booth, open year round, at the Millbrook Antiques Mall. All proceeds from Fashion Feeds go to the Food of Life Pantry. As an interior designer by trade, Rollins designed this booth to evoke a high-end department store to align with the designer brands she carries.
MILLERTON — The Townscape 50/50 raffle drawing has collected a pot of more than $7,000.
That raffle drawing will take place this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Veteran’s Park. The moment is not just about picking a winner, but also about reflecting on how far Townscape has come since its humble beginnings in 1998, when founder Catherine Fenn — alongside Renee Vollen and Jan Gilmor — first set out to beautify her beloved village.
Fenn’s connection to Millerton runs deep. “I moved here from the Bronx when I was eight years old and fell in love with the place, even as a child,” she recalled, remembering camping trips at Rudd Pond and enjoying the quiet pace of life.
At 15, her family relocated to southern Connecticut. “My dad didn’t think there was much here for us, so we moved. I left kicking and screaming, literally, and I said, ‘Someday I’m coming back.’”
Years later, after marrying, divorcing, and raising children, Fenn kept that promise. She returned to Millerton and married a childhood friend who was very involved in the fire department. After his passing, Fenn threw herself into her own way of giving back.
“I care about this village deeply. Townscape is my way of helping Millerton be the best it can be,” she said.
What began as an informal effort to gather volunteers and plant flowers eventually blossomed into something larger. “We started with flowers up and down Main Street — barrels of them everywhere. Then it grew into benches, tables, trees and even events. It was such a fun world, a really wonderful organization with so many people involved.”
Fenn’s service to the community extends beyond beautification. She spent roughly two decades on the Planning Board, served as Town Supervisor and worked with the county housing authority. Still, her passion for flowers, trees and landscapes has left the most visible mark on Millerton — shaping not only how the village looks, but how it feels.
In 2006, Townscape became a nonprofit organization. But beautification, Fenn admits, isn’t always the easiest cause to fund. “We’re just putting flowers out — and I shouldn’t say ‘just,’ because to me it’s really important. The trees, the benches, all of it matters. But it’s not high on most people’s list when they think about charitable donations. Still, people have been wonderfully generous over the years.”
This Saturday’s raffle drawing is one way neighbors can show their support. The winner does not have to be present to claim the prize, but those who stop by can enjoy cookies, lemonade and artwork by local creators on display in the park.
MILLBROOK — Local crows should prepare to become highly spooked as planners of Millbrook Community Day, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, have announced that a Scarecrow Contest will be part of the festivities.
Residents are invited to get creative and devise their own renditions of a scarecrow from traditional to whatever imagination might come up with.
Judging criteria will include creativity, including originality, new ideas, or perhaps whether the scarecrow tells a story. Design criteria include the creator’s technique, materials — recycled materials are emphatically a plus — and durability.
Rules include that scarecrows be free-standing, able to stand on their own or with minimal support. No scarecrow can be store-bought. Entries must be able to fit within a 6 x 6 foot space once assembled. A stand is available upon request. Scarecrows must be non-political, family friendly, and in a good-natured spirit.
Entrants are responsible for set-up, scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. on Sept. 20, location to be assigned the week before. Judging will begin at 1 p.m. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m.
For more information and to register to participate, email mba@millbrooknewyork.com or go to www.millbrooknewyork.com/community-day-2025
