The ‘Fish Lady’;  saving a house; surving 4,800 volts

The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn, Vivian Sukenik, Nancy Vialpando and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.

July 29, 1999

“The Fish Lady”; Vigilant shoppers may have noticed that fresh fish is once again available in Millerton. Merchant Joan Moriarty is parked next to the gazebo at Railroad Plaza three days a week.

She sells fresh fish and shellfish from her van Thursdays and Fridays from approximately noon to 6 p.m., as well as from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

“I ice ‘em down on the boat and keep ‘em that way until I get up here,” said Ms. Moriarty, a Poughkeepsie native whose sons have a commercial fishing operation near Montauk, Long Island.

Known as “The Fish Lady,” Ms. Moriarty has been a fish wholesaler to the Fulton Fish Market, but this is her first venture into retail. Her biggest-selling fish include tuna, swordfish, shark and Mahi Mahi (Hawaiian for “dolphin fish”). Those varieties are brought ashore by her sons on Tuesdays. She cleans and fillets the fish on Wednesdays and the fish arrive on ice Thursdays in Millerton. She also trades for clams, mussels and scallops – all of which are also available at her van.

‘Neighbors Spring Into Action To Save House’; Millerton — Some local residents came to the rescue of a neighbor in need last week, solidifying the reputation of Millerton as a community that cares.

According to Libby McClintock of Whippet Hill Road, the trouble started when she was out of town. During a routine site visit, a Central Hudson meter reader found water gushing from Ms. McClintock’s house. The Central Hudson employee quickly went to Ms. McClintock’s nearest neighbors, the Briggses, and asked for help….

“Apparently my utility room was billowing steam,” [Ms. McClintock] said later. “The hose clamp connection to the pump had sprung loose and water was hitting red hot pipes at the water heater.” (She still has to find out why those pipes got that hot.)
She said Mr. Milton and Mr. Briggs managed to get into the basement despite the flooding water and the steam. They were able to shut off the pump, according to Ms. McClintock. Mr. Milton then fixed the broken pipe. Mrs. Briggs even offered to put Ms. McClintock up for a night, considering the condition of her electrical system. The whole event underscored the importance of having caring neighbors, according to Ms. McClintock.

Miles Jenks and Mayor Brewer freed a number of young pheasants in this locality on Tuesday. The shipment was received from the State game farm, and the young birds were all in fine condition.

‘Morton Bloch Notes Sixth Birthday’; Morton J. Bloch celebrated his sixth birthday last Friday afternoon at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Irving Bloch.

Prizes were won by Donald Matthews, who won the potato race and peanut hunt, and by Shirley Achkert, who pinned the donkey’s tail.

Present were Dorothea Silvernail, Donald Matthews, William Brewer, Shirley Ackert, Reginald Clark, Jr., and Richard DeWitt.

August 1, 1974

‘Man Survives 4800-Volt Shock’; Gaspare Perrello of Millerton returned to work Wednesday after having survived a 4800-volt shock from a primary electrical distribution line Tuesday morning on a painting job at the Salisbury Town Hall. … His hose nozzle momentarily struck the electrical line and current surged through Perrello to the ground, knocking him unconscious but also probably saving his life, since the current then apparently grounded through the water hose…

‘Survey Finds Local Impeachment Backing’; An informal five-town survey this week found a majority of those interviewed now believe President Richard M. Nixon should be impeached and removed from office. But the same survey found only a minority who believe the Congress will carry out that action.

August 5, 1999

‘Drought Causes Concern Everywhere, Pataki Includes Dutchess in Federal Disaster List’; A lack of rain is starting to worry local farmers. And some relief could be on the way in form of help from the federal government. According to Dave Tetor of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Gov. George Pataki has added Dutchess to the list of counties he will ask President Clinton to declare eligible for federal disaster relief…The recent dry weather is the worst organic former Ray McEnroe has ever seen. Although the crops at the popular McEnroe Organic Farm are in good shape now due to irrigation, Mr. McEnroe fears for the water table. The ponds on his property are losing water faster than it is being replenished.