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Rumors of immigration enforcement activity in Amenia began to flurry Tuesday, Jan. 28. "I want anyone who came to Amenia from Central America — or anywhere else — and has become part of the community to feel safe here," Amenia Town Supervisor Leo Blackmann said.
Photo by Krista A. Briggs
“Our local economy depends very much on the labor of recent immigrants — as America always has.”
— Leo Blackman,
Amenia town supervisor
AMENIA — On Tuesday, Jan. 28, rumblings of the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Northern Dutchess began making the rounds.
While their exact numbers are unknown, an immigrant population lives in Amenia and its surrounding communities, due in part to its rural character and, for some immigrants, the availability of work on local farms.
As the week progressed, the rumors remained unconfirmed. By Thursday, Jan. 30, Amenia town supervisor Leo Blackman had received three separate reports of concerning incidents involving immigrants — including one report of the verbal harassment of a group of migrants who were taunted by calls of “ICE, ICE, ICE” from unknown persons — but the incidents remained unverified as no police reports had been filed to Blackman’s knowledge as of Jan. 30.
On Friday, Jan. 31, a notice appeard on the Town of Amenia’s website seemingly confirming the rumors of raids, along with a pamphlet of directives for individuals and families who may be potential targets of ICE As part of the notice, a statement from Blackman was included which read, “I am aware that there have been at least two raids here in the last few days by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, I.C.E. Residents of Amenia should not be made to feel unsafe or threatened in our community. Rules that made churches and schools off-limits to I.C.E. have just been rescinded by the Federal government. For the sake of anyone who may be targeted, your rights are attached.”
The accompanying pamphlet, printed in English, Spanish and French, advises immigrants of their legal protections and directs them to contact the Office for New Americans hotline, the Immigrant Defense Project or the New York Immigration Coalition for further guidance. The pamphlet also cautions immigrants to beware of scams and to set up a safety plan for themselves and their families.
A link to the notice has since been removed.
While Blackman has yet to provide specifics regarding the raids in Amenia, he is an advocate of immigrant rights and believes in their value to the local community. “Our local economy depends very much on the labor of recent immigrants — as America always has,” he said, explaining his concerns over the motives of the Trump administration and immigration agents with respect to their targets. “Allegedly, these ICE visits are targeted at immigrants with a criminal record,” he said. “But I expect their mandate will expand. I want anyone who came to Amenia from Central America — or anywhere else — and has become part of the community to feel safe here.”
Maintaining a sense of safety and normalcy is what Webutuck Central School District superintendent Raymond Castellani has been doing while keeping an eye on any local developments involving immigrant students and their families. As with Leo Blackman, Castellani has heard ICE-related rumors in the area. Webutuck, which covers Amenia and North East, is made up of nearly 30% English language learners. Castellani noted that while he has not noticed any significant drops in attendance by immigrant students, he has been actively monitoring the situation and will continue working with his staff to ensure students continue to receive the education and in-school services they require. Castellani said the next few weeks will be critical as rumors continue to swirl, but he remains committed to keeping students on-task while advocating for their security. “Our goal is to keep students safe,” Castellani said. Castellani added that should any incidents involving immigration agents occur on school grounds, he has directed his staff to contact him immediately.
Town supervisor Gary Ciferri of the Town of Washington, however, has yet to notice any immigration enforcement activity in his township. Ciferri’s district, which includes Millbrook, is also a rural community which many immigrants call home. According to Ciferri, though, it’s business as usual in his township. “I haven’t heard of ICE agents in the area,” Ciferri said. “We’re not doing anything differently in Millbrook and the Town of Washington.”
On the county level, Dutchess Sheriff’s Officers reported on Jan. 31 that they, too, were unaware of any ICE presence in the area. “To my knowledge, we have not been contacted by federal authorities,” Captain John Watterson said. Watterson added that any requests for cooperation with Federal agencies by the county would be contingent on the nature of the request and whether a warrant had been issued for a target. “It is possible,” said Watterson, who reiterated he remained unaware of any ICE activity in Northern Dutchess.
Alleged immigration enforcement rumors have also reached Dutchess County Legislator Chris Drago, D-19, whose district covers the Towns of North East, Stanford and Pine Plains as well as the Village of Millerton. Drago has been urging concerned residents to remain calm and logical. Contacted by the News on Sunday, Feb. 1, Drago responded by saying, “I’ve been hearing from a lot of community members concerned about potential ICE activity in Dutchess County, and there are a lot of scary rumors circulating locally about raids. Right now it’s important to distinguish between rumors and verified reports through asking questions and checking sources. It’s also important to know your rights. Here in Dutchess County, we look out for our neighbors and community members because we know we are strongest and safest when we stand together. And our small businesses, farms, families and neighborhoods are better off because of it.”
While immigrants remain on alert in Amenia and Northern Dutchess, Leo Blackman has remained strong in his support for their plight by summing up the town’s history. “Amenia has been a welcoming place for many kinds of people for most of its history,” Blackman said. “I want families here to know we intend to continue that tradition.”
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Hands meet clay
Feb 05, 2025
Photo by Leila Hawken
Clay crafting was a feature of the day at the Amenia Free Library on Wednesday, Jan. 29, drawing a goodly number of area residents to try their hands at the craft. Getting underway with fashioning a credible piece of pie was Millerton’s Audrey Wagoner, 12, accompanied by Melissa Wagoner who had not yet decided on a clay shape.
Highland visit ends in Dover loss
Feb 05, 2025
Dover’s girls varsity quad defended valiantly against the onslaught of shots from Highland that ended in a 75-21 Highland win.
Photo by Nathan Miller
DOVER PLAINS — Dover High School hosted the girls varsity basketball squad from Highland on Thursday, Jan. 30.
The contest ended with a staggering Highland win of 75-21.
Despite the sizable deficit, Dover’s varsity squad played hard with solid fundamentals throughout the matchup. Highland’s effective plays and cunning at the rebound just outpaced Dover early on in the first half and continued to dominate in the second.
Dover was led in scoring by Julia Gashi, no. 33, with 6 points.
Dover will host Ellenville Friday, Feb. 8, for their senior night game honoring senior players on the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams.
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On Route 44 in Amenia, a series of signs has gone up indicating opposition to proposed housing measures.
Photo by Krista A. Briggs
AMENIA — Hudson River Housing representatives met with residents and neighboring property owners on Tuesday, Jan. 28, to hear residents’ views in advance of an upcoming workforce housing project site plan proposal for property on Cascade Road in Amenia. About 25 residents turned out to offer comments.
Representing Hudson River Housing, a Poughkeepsie non-profit in the early stages of planning for the conservation subdivision, were Mary Linge, Vice-president for real estate development, Project Engineer Peter Sander of Rennia Engineering and Jordan Schinella, community development manager.
Describing the information session as a courtesy to area residents, Linge emphasized that the meeting was not a part of the public hearing process on the subdivision. The present work at the housing nonprofit is to engage in land planning by defining acreage size and conservation and habitat study.
Comments heard from residents will receive consideration when drafting the site plan, Linge said.
Engineer Sander described the ongoing land conservation study phase now underway, estimating the acreage at about 24 acres although actual property boundary lines are still being determined. He noted that to comply with regulations governing land use, half of the acreage — 12 acres — must be conserved to be allowed to plan for 28 smaller hamlet lots sharing communal water and septic systems.
“Once the Planning Board approves the conservation plan, then we design the subdivision site plan showing proposed house lots and roads,” Sander said.
What has been done so far, Sander explained, is to hire the services of a biologist to review any habitats and wetlands, noting that no bog turtles have been discovered. An archeologist has searched for arrow points or evidence of burial grounds with none found.
A traffic study is underway, but so far has indicated no impact, Sander said, explaining that a finding of fewer than 100 trips per day is a finding of no impact. He said that he was conscious of neighbors’ concerns about potential for increased traffic.
To resident Kenny Merritt’s questioning the location of the leach field and its mapped location far to the rear of the development, Sander said that he could look into moving the feature to another location on the map.
Dutchess County regulations mandate that such septic features must handle all of the effluent generated by the development, Sander added.
“We will look into moving it,” Sander said.
To a resident’s question about what makes the site able to handle 28 homes, fearing that the septic feature will be saturated by water run-off, Sander replied that the site does support the needs of the development.
“How do you know if there is enough water?” Housing Board member Gaye Parise asked about water supply. Sander replied that 110 gallons per day per bedroom is the standard, or 440 gallons for four bedrooms. The rate of recharge is also calculated, allowing for storm water treatment and management systems to assist with recharge planning.
Modular homes of varying designs are planned for the development with a minimum of 20 feet between structures. To Merritt’s question about square footage and utilities, Sander replied that those details are yet to be established.
For those decisions, Hudson River Housing would prefer to have the homebuyers identified to allow them to make decisions on design options.
Fire department officer and Planning Board chairman Robert Boyles asked whether the homes will be outfitted with sprinkler systems and learned that home sprinklers would not be likely to be included.
Residents were concerned about the system for finding homebuyers for the development. Linge responded that a lottery system will be utilized to select the families who will be offered the opportunity.
Some residents doubted the need for affordable housing at all. Sander saw it as a moral issue facing many communities.
Wassaic resident Josh Frankel said it had been helpful to hear details.
“I know businesses in the area can’t find people to work locally,” Frankel said.
Other residents favored the plan, finding the location on Cascade Road to be a good addition to the neighborhood.
“We want to build something that’s needed in a way that people are comfortable with it,” Linge said, adding that construction would be planned in four phases, seven homes at a time.
“We are grateful that you’re here,” Merritt commented on behalf of residents, appreciative of Hudson River Housing’s willingness to engage in conversation. He suggested also that local contractors and workers be considered for hire whenever possible for aspects of the construction.
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