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The Millerton Village Offices on Route 22.
Photo by Aly Morrissey
MILLERTON — Village of Millerton Board members met on Sept. 9 for their monthly workshop, which included routine business, a public hearing on the Altice franchise agreement renewal and a presentation on the wastewater system.
The presentation on the wastewater project provided an optimistic look at the timeframe and funding. Construction could begin in early 2027 and wrap up by the spring of 2028, according to Erin Moore of Tighe & Bond, an engineering and environmental consulting firm.
During the public hearing regarding the renewal of the Altice/Optimum franchise agreement, it became clear that Millerton is last in line for major fiber optic upgrades intended to improve cable service.
Altice has committed to going 100% fiber but said the work could be several years away for Millerton and North East. A company representative explained that upgrades begin at “head ends” located in White Plains and Wappingers and progress outward, making Millerton a low priority. The representative added it would be extremely difficult to have crews “jump the line.”
The village attorney will review contract revisions with Altice, with a final draft potentially presented at the October meeting. Meanwhile, the Altice rep says the company is addressing individual customer issues on a case-by-case basis, meaning residents experiencing poor service can request replacement drops directly from the provider.
In routine business, trustees unanimously renewed a one-year contract at a 3% increase with the Village of Rhinebeck for utilizing the services of zoning administrator, code enforcer and assistant building inspector Justin Noyes, who splits his time between villages.
Deputy Mayor Matt Hartzog highlighted the upcoming Sept. 30 business forum to discuss plans for the village’s 175th Anniversary Celebration, scheduled for July 11–19 of next year.
Mayor Jenn Najdek announced that the engineer for the delayed Eddie Collins Park renovation will provide a status update at the October board meeting.
Najdek also requested approval to file an extension for the 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Veteran’s Park, citing difficulties locating CAD design files from the previous engineers. The project will include one remaining section of sidewalk on Main Street, from the bank to the library, completing the full stretch of the street that was not included in the earlier sidewalk project.
New trustee Katie Cariello said she will be available at the North-East Millerton Library Annex on October 16 and 23 from 4–6 p.m. to assist residents with the new online water payment system. Cariello said the sessions will provide tech support and give her a chance to connect with residents personally.
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William Sanford Kelsey
Sep 17, 2025
SHARON — William Sanford Kelsey, 81, of 397 Clayton Road, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. He was the loving husband of the late Patricia Kilby Fleming Kelsey, who died in 2020.
Born on Feb. 18, 1944, in Sharon, Bill was the son of the late William Samuel and Frances (Morehouse) Kelsey.
Following high school, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving proudly in the U.S. Naval Air Corps from 1965 to 1969. After returning home, he worked in a variety of occupations, including mechanic and welder, but found his greatest satisfaction as a tractor-trailer driver for Westchester Modular Homes.
Bill was deeply committed to his community, serving with the Sharon Fire Department, on the Sharon School Building Committee, and as a member of the Sharon Congregational Church. A gifted builder and creator, he lived off the grid for over 20 years — an accomplishment he was very proud of. He loved working with his hands and always enjoyed building and creating new things. In his free time, he enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, and golfing, and any activity that allowed him to spend time outdoors.
Above all, Bill valued family and deeply cherished his lifelong friends. He was always there to lend a helping hand to a friend in need and proudly shared the accomplishments of his children and grandkids. He is survived by his two children; Adam Kelsey and his wife Katy of Denver, Colorado, and Amy Wheeler and her husband Kevin of Woodstock, Vermont. He also leaves behind his two sisters, Patricia Beatty of Wakefield, Rhode Island, and Lin Peterson of Glastonbury, Connecticut; four grandchildren, Quinn and Violet Kelsey and Liam and Hannah Wheeler; as well as several cousins and extended family members who remained an important part of his life.
A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow at the Sharon Congregational Church, 25 Main Street, Sharon, CT 06069. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow at 2 p.m. at Salisbury Cemetery, Undermountain Road, Salisbury, CT 06068.
Arrangements are under the care of Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home, 118 Main Street, North Canaan, CT 06018.
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Bonnie Jean Stedt
Sep 17, 2025
PINE PLAINS — Bonnie Jean Stedt died peacefully at home on Sept. 5, 2025.
Her body was 81 years old. Her spirit was forever young.
Originally from Southern California, Bonnie began her business management career at I Magnin in San Francisco in 1967. By the early 1970’s, Bonnie had begun career-pathing up the ladder at Filene’s Department Store in Boston. She was promoted often, ultimately to Vice President, Stores and to Senior Vice President, Personnel and Labor Relations. In those early days, Bonnie was widely known as the ’glass ceiling breaker.’
In 1986, Bonnie briefly returned to California to Bullock’s Department Store as Senior Vice President, Operations, before being recruited to and joining the worldwide American Express Company, in 1988, headquartered in Lower Manhattan. She headed Human Resources for American Express for the next 13 years, as Executive Vice President. She met many world leaders and was connected to world events in this position. Her role in shepherding the employees of the AmEx headquarters site, a near neighbor to the Twin Towers, through the 9/11 tragedy, was particularly notable.
Bonnie was an avid equestrian. In her corporate retirement, she loved nothing more than rounding up her three dogs and loading two or three of her magnificent horses into their trailer and driving to horse competitions all over the East coast.
She was a highly successful competitive rider and supporter of the Eventing discipline, the triathlon of equestrian sports. She won many championships and in 2005 was first in the year-end awards for the Northeast Area (USEA Area 1) on her beloved horse Clancy Himself. Additionally she was Vice President of the Millbrook Hunt and foxhunted for over three decades. She owned Foxrace Farm, her personal horse farm. No one was more important to Bonnie than friend and Olympian Boyd Martin. She was an initial syndicate owner and sponsor of Otis Barbotiere, Boyd’s horse for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. This year, 2025, Boyd has many wins on Bonnie’s horse, Miss Lulu Herself, including the Millbrook Horse Trials in August. Her relationship with Boyd and his wife Silva was close to 20 years.
Colleagues and cohorts, described Bonnie in so many different words, but all netted to ‘superb friend,’ ‘wonderfully lively companion to travel the world with,’ ‘smart and funny — never a dull moment,’ ‘appropriately serious when she had to be,’ ‘always full of heart and courage.’
Preceded in death by her father, Arthur R. Stedt, her mother Antoinette Verbraggen Stedt and her brother, Larry Stedt, Bonnie is survived by her niece, Shannon Casey. In her illness she was wonderfully cared for by Carolyn Oakman in Aiken South Carolina.
Bonnie leaves her neighbors in mourning from Pine Plains, New York and in Aiken, South Carolina, her two home locations, as well as good friends from around the whole country.
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Celebration of Life; Scott Thornton
Sep 17, 2025
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