Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

Town Board addresses issues other than Migdale at March meeting

WASHINGTON — The Town Board met on Thursday, March 11; it mainly discussed the Second Mountain project to redo Migdale Castle in Mabbettsville (for more on the Second Mountain project, go to www.tricornernews.com), but other issues were discussed as well.

Volunteer Katherine Briggs was appointed to the town’s Board of Assessment Review.  

The Village Board’s March/April budget meeting and public hearing schedule was announced, all of which led to the adoption of the budget (for more, read article at the top of this page).  

To watch the review of the final budget and the public hearing on the final budget, go to www.villageofmillbrookny/zoom; for more information, call 845-677-3939.

Tax Collector Mary Alex reported that payments have been made to the Dutchess County Commissioner of Finance in the amount of $2,145,000; to the Town of Washington (TOW) Highway Fund DB in the amount of $929.029; to the TOW General Fund A in the amount of $995,314; to the TOW General Fire Fund A in the amount of $563,500; and to the TOW General Fund B in the amount of $30,252. 

Alex reported that several town employees have been working at home because of fear of COVID exposure, and while some office procedures may have suffered, working with IT specialists have addressed most of the concerns. 

The Feb. 25 meeting did raise issues about the Zoom technology, as the audio was inaudible periodically during that meeting from the Town Hall’s end. Audio during subsequent town meetings has also been problematic, according to some of those who participated.

Alex said that the Transfer Station Report and the Electronic Waste Recycling Reports have been sent to the appropriate agencies. 

She also reported the town website is being updated as an ongoing project. 

Recreation Director Chelsea Edson has posted the 2021 park and pool hours on the town’s website.

The Justice Court reported that it resumed operations on Tuesday, March 16. 

A meeting was scheduled for the end of March to address contracts to purchase generators for the Town Hall and the Town Garage.

Latest News

Empress outlines EMS plans for northeast Dutchess

The former Northern Dutchess Paramedics substation, now owned by emergency medical service provider Empress, sits along Route 22 south of the Village of Millerton. The building would become one of a network of substations utilized by emergency medical technicians and paramedics as they roam North East, Amenia, Washington and Stanford in a proposed dynamic EMS model.

Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLERTON — Empress Executive Director Robert Stuck provided details of a proposed regional emergency medical service system to North East Town Board members on Wednesday, Nov. 4. He said the changes would save each town hundreds of thousands of dollars in EMS costs by pooling resources with neighbors.

Stuck said the new so-called dynamic system would better use the company's labor and equipment and would ultimately reduce the total number of ambulances servicing North East, Amenia, Washington and Stanford. Under the new agreement, the four towns would share three ambulances that, placed strategically between each of the towns and repositioned to provide backup for occupied EMTs and paramedics. Stuck said the dynamic model would cut North East's upcoming 2028 contract by $675,000.

Keep ReadingShow less

Democrats earn big wins in 2026 elections

Democrats earn big wins in 2026 elections

Voters wait in a line that stretch out the door to receive their ballots at the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voting machines had recorded a total of more than 700 ballots cast in Millerton by 4:45 p.m.

Photo by Graham Corrigan

Democratic candidates in northeast Dutchess County succeeded along with their counterparts in state and federal elections. Voters turned out to express dissatisfaction with a turbulent economy, the Trump administration and — in the case of Pine Plains's race for Town Supervisor — issues with transparency and police surveillance.

Pine Plains was the only town in northeast Dutchess County with a contested Town Supervisor race. Republican incumbent Brian Walsh, seeking his third reelection, lost to Democratic challenger Trevor Roush. Roush is a sitting Town Board member who was first elected to the board in November 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Eric Alexander wins County Legislature reelection campaign

Eric Alexander wins County Legislature reelection campaign

County Legislator Eric Alexander leads a meeting of the Dutchess County Legislature's Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Alexander represents the towns of Amenia, Washington, the Village of Millbrook and a portion of the Town of Pleasant Valley

Photo by Aly Morrissey

Democratic candidates made gains and held ground across Northern Dutchess County in elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

County Legislator Eric Alexander has retained his seat after winning against Republican challenger Stefanie Hubert. As of 10:15 p.m., Alexander had secured 56.8% of the vote.

Keep ReadingShow less
A Halloween scream with David Arquette

David Arquette, left, talks with moderator Victor Dandridge during “Behind the Scream” at the Warner Theatre in Torrington on Oct. 31.

D.H. Callahan

This December marks the 30th anniversary of Wes Craven’s “Scream,” one of the most influential movies in horror history. On Saturday, Oct. 31, David Arquette, one of the film’s stars, came to the Warner Theatre in Torrington for a Halloween screening and conversation billed as “Behind the Scream.”

“Scream” was met with critical praise when it premiered in 1996, with many noting its satirical, self-aware look at the horror genre without the usual trappings of camp or kitsch. Featuring a cast of mid-1990s A-listers including Drew Barrymoore, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Liev Schreiber, Neve Campbell and “Friends” star Courteney Cox, the movie was destined to be part of the cinematic zeitgeist.

Keep ReadingShow less
After 30 years, Dave Jones is shifting into lower gear


Now, 30 years later and in his late 60s, Jones is at the point in his life where he’s ‘figuring out how to land the plane.’

My husband and I first met Dave Jones in 2019, after we’d just moved into our house in Lakeville, a former auto repair garage with 14-foot-high ceilings that had been renovated into a residence. One day, when we woke up to a dead car battery, we called Lakeville Automotive, the nearest repair shop. Jones answered the phone a bit gruffly but then surprised us by showing up in half an hour to jump-start our car. We invited him inside for coffee, and looking around, he said with a grin that for 10 years, back in the day, he’d stored his Mazda Miata right in our living room.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.