Latest News
Smithfield Church filled for Paula Pelosi memorial
Leila Hawken
Aug 05, 2026
A reception followed the Aug. 1 memorial service celebrating the life of Paula Pelosi at The Smithfield Church, drawing attendees from across the region. Friends and family gathered afterward to share memories.
Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — Friends, family and colleagues of Amenia resident Paula Pelosi filled Smithfield Church to capacity on Saturday, Aug. 1, to celebrate a life marked by generosity, creativity and compassion.
Through music and heartfelt remembrances from close friends representing the many chapters of her life, the memorial service painted a portrait of Pelosi’s deep ties to the contemporary art world, her unwavering kindness and her love for both people and animals.
Pelosi died in April at the age of 76 following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Although she was best known professionally for organizing exhibitions of the work of renowned contemporary artist Frank Stella, Pelosi found equal fulfillment in the rural life of Amenia. She lived on Separate Road in the Smithfield hamlet, just a short walk from Smithfield Church.
Community service was an important aspect of Pelosi’s life as she served 10 years as a member of the Amenia Zoning Board of Appeals.
A recurring theme throughout the memorial service was that of lifelong friendships, each speaker reflecting on a significant period of life experiences shared with Pelosi.
“She was unique and fabulous,” said the Rev. Douglas Grandgeorge of The Smithfield Church. “She made you feel liked right away,” he said, highlighting her unwavering spirit of generosity. “She contributed to every single thing we did.”
Noting that her death came too rapidly, he said that too few were able to say farewell, but he observed that months after her death, she could fill a church.
“Your presence here is a blessing,” Grandgeorge said, welcoming those gathered.
Friends from every stage of Pelosi’s life attended, including members of the art world, childhood friends from Ohio, classmates from West Virginia and friends from her decades in New York City. Amenia officials who served alongside Pelosi on town boards were also present.
Friend Hope Cohn continued the tributes, reading a letter provided by Pelosi’s lifelong friend Carol Ann Kucharski, who had been unable to attend in person.
The Hon. Norah McCann King, Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Ohio, recalled knowing Pelosi’s parents in Ohio, and said that she and Pelosi became friends during their West Virginia high school years. Pelosi’s plans at that time had been to pursue a career in law, she said.
“She wanted to change the world and she wanted to make it a better world,” Judge McCann said.
Lifelong friend Leslie Hannafey spoke next, picking up Pelosi’s life story from their meeting in 1967 during college years in New York City.
“She believed in doing the right thing,” Hannafey said, echoing the recurring theme of lifelong friendship and generosity.
“Do the right thing. Try to help your neighbors,” Hannafey said, which defined Pelosi’s actions in innumerable instances.
“She was always doing something for others,” said Nan Cassidy, recalling her friendship that began in 1980 in Amenia and highlighted Pelosi’s connectedness with animals.
Cassidy spoke of her dog.
“He was very naughty,” Cassidy said of Pelosi’s wire-haired dachshund, Dizzy, who tended to bite lots of people, including Pelosi. Cassidy said that she frequently accompanied Pelosi to the emergency room at Sharon Hospital, so often that they became known there. So known, in fact, that emergency personnel suggested that they might refer Dizzy to animal control.
Peter Stella shared memories of Pelosi’s years working with his father, artist Frank Stella, recalling stories from their time together in Amenia and on the family’s farm.
Music was provided by organist Simone Ehmann at the start of the service.
The memorial concluded with an original song, “From Afar,” written and performed by Nashville country artist Jack Schneider in tribute to Pelosi. Schneider said Pelosi’s generosity and encouragement helped sustain him during his years as a music student at New York University, when he frequently visited her in Amenia. He has since built a career as a recording artist and country music performer.
“Wherever you go, wherever you are, I’ll be loving you from afar,” Schneider sang.
Keep ReadingShow less
Tick risks rated high across Dutchess County
Graham Corrigan
Aug 05, 2026
A new tool for measuring tick activity shows that northern Dutchess County is a hotspot for the blood-sucking parasites.
According to daily risk scores compiled by TickZone, a free website and app built on public data, every municipality in Dutchess County falls into the platform’s “High” risk band.
TickZone assigns a score of 0-100 for each town to assess each area’s risk. Milan and Dover topped the county’s northeastern towns with a score of 96. While the town of North East is last on the list, its score of 85 is still high enough to inspire caution.
“Dutchess has no low-risk corner,” said TickZone founder Nathan Burnett.
A 2026 study by the Cary Institute in Millbrook found that more than 38% of the ticks tested were capable of spreading at least one disease-causing pathogen to people. In Dutchess County, those diseases include Lyme disease, Powassan disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. Short-term effects can include fever, chills, headache, and the tell-tale erythema migrans rash, better known as the bull’s-eye.
Over time, Lyme disease can cause facial palsy, arthritis, and a host of other painful maladies.
Avoiding ticks is a practice in vigilance — and know-how. “Ticks climb up from the ground,” said TickZone’s Burnett, “which is why treating shoes and pant cuffs with permethrin helps more than spraying your arms.”
It also helps to stay informed. In Dutchess County, that has meant increased attention to the lone star tick, a species that has steadily expanded northward over the past several decades.
“Dutchess is right at that line now,” Burnett said. “There have been reported sightings, but no established breeding population. Alpha-gal syndrome barely existed as a diagnosis 20 years ago.”
Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic condition linked to bites from lone star ticks. The condition can cause an allergic reaction to red meat and other mammalian products, including some dairy products. Reactions can range from hives and gastrointestinal symptoms to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
TickZone uses publicly available data from the CDC to score the towns. The first and most volatile determining factor is weather.
Ticks become active in warm, humid conditions with damp ground, and pull back during drier stretches. TickZone tracks each town’s temperature and the past week’s rainfall to model that behavior. A town’s live score can shift several points day to day, even though the underlying landscape hasn’t changed.
Dutchess County ranks 8th among New York’s 62 counties for reported Lyme disease incidence, with 376.9 cases per 100,000 residents, according to CDC data.
Keep ReadingShow less
Millbrook considers replacing aging Highway Dept. truck
Leila Hawken
Aug 05, 2026
MILLBROOK — An aging Highway Department truck used for fall leaf collection, spring brush pickup and as a backup snowplow must now be repaired, decommissioned or replaced, village Highway Supervisor Ethan Kelly said at a special Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, July 28.
Kelly said the village had three options for the aging 2008 Ford F550 that is nearing the end of its useful life. Possibilities are to buy a new truck at an estimated cost of $122,000, eliminating expensive future repairs; repair the 2008 truck for an estimated cost this year of $15,000, plus likely future repairs; or to retire the old truck without replacing it, resulting in adjustments in services due to reduction of the village fleet.
Another option would be to use grant funding to cover part of the cost of a new truck, although doing so could reduce funding currently allocated for scheduled road maintenance projects.
“At this point the estimated repair cost is more than the truck’s value,” Kelly said.
The 2008 truck has been used for fall leaf pick-up and spring brush pick-up throughout the village. During the winter, it serves as a backup plow truck when other vehicles break down or additional equipment is needed during major storms.
Kelly advocated for some form of replacement for the truck. “I don’t know of a highway department in the snow belt that does not have a back-up vehicle,” Kelly told the board.
Keep ReadingShow less
Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
Bennett Park restrooms, Woodland Trail near completion in Millbrook
Eloise Pickering
Aug 05, 2026
A sign in Bennett Park marks the future Woodland Trail, which builders expect to complete by fall.
Photo by Eloise Pickering
MILLBROOK — Two major additions to Bennett Park in Millbrook are expected to open in the coming weeks, with public restrooms scheduled to be completed by the end of August and a long-delayed Woodland Trail on track to open by early October.
Funded and organized by local nonprofit Millbrook Community Partnership, the 35 acre park opened on Oct. 5, 2025, after the demolition of Bennett College, which closed in 1970. Since then, the partnership has been in the process of building a public bathroom and completing a Woodland Trail, which have both been delayed.
Krista Fragos, special assistant to Oakleigh Thorne, president of the Millbrook Community Partnership, said work on the trail was pushed back after the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation approved the project later than anticipated.
The Woodland Trail will begin in the park and extend to the property line on Franklin Avenue.
“It’s going to be beautiful. There’s an upper loop that circles a natural waterfall, and then there are two bridges that go over the stream,” Fragos said. “That’ll be a really nice way for people to walk or hike from the village to the park.”
The trail will also be adorned with stone benches and signage. The partnership expects the trail to be completed by early October.
The public bathrooms will be open by the end of August. Construction on the building began after the opening, as the Millbrook Community Partnership negotiated a landswap with nearby condominiums. The building was at one time a poolhouse.
Fragos said that they’re waiting on a few materials, such as the countertops and stalls. The plumbing and tiling have been completed.
“We’re turning them into beautiful public restrooms for the park, and they’re coming along beautifully,” Fragos said. “They’re going to be elegant, simple restrooms.”
There will also be an additional parking lot near the restrooms.
Once the trail and bathrooms are complete, the partnership will begin to raise funds for a lookout tower and a new bandshell, although the park has already hosted live music and events.
The lookout tower will be constructed with stones preserved from Bennett College, and funding will come from community donations.
One Millbrook resident said she has used the park almost weekly since it opened.
“It’s a good place, it’s beautiful,” the resident said, adding that it’s very convenient to use particularly for seniors. “I love it.”
Barriers block access to the Woodland Trail while crews complete construction.Photo by Eloise Pickering
Keep ReadingShow less
Former farm apprentices praise mentor as sale looms
Sophie Gardiner
Aug 05, 2026
STANFORDVILLE — Since 1999, Dave Hambleton has trained nearly 70 apprentices at Sisters Hill Farm, helping launch farming careers across the Hudson Valley and beyond. Now, the future of that apprenticeship program is uncertain after the Sisters of Charity of New York announced plans to sell their Stanfordville property as part of winding down the congregation.
The farm, owned by the Sisters of Charity of New York, was founded on the belief that agriculture and education go hand in hand.
“Our mission is to grow healthy food, which nurtures bodies, spirits, communities and the earth,” Hambleton said. “So it’s about food, but it’s also about bringing people together, and community, and connection, and all these wonderful things. Part of the farm’s mission also is to educate the next generation of sustainable farmers.”
The Sisters of Charity of New York announced about three weeks ago that it plans to sell the entire property that includes Sisters Hill Farm as part of the congregation’s wind-down, a process that began in 2023. While Sisters Hill Farm has said it intends to complete the current growing season, it has not announced what will become of its apprenticeship program beyond this year.
For the dozens of former apprentices who built careers under Hambleton’s guidance, he has been far more than a farmer. Over three decades, they have come to know him as a teacher, problem-solver, mentor and, perhaps most importantly, a coach.
John Crooke, who apprenticed under Hambleton in 2012 and now operates Tinicum CSA in Pennsylvania, describes him as more than a teacher.
“I often describe Dave as a coach,” Crooke said. “He had a background in athletics and he’s still really into running and biking. So some people get frustrated, because he pushes: ‘You’re doing it right, but let’s do it faster. Doing it right is doing it faster.’ If somebody’s not getting it, he’ll find a way to explain it efficiently.”
Crooke said he chose Sisters Hill after reading Hambleton’s promise on the farm’s website.
“One of the things that attracted me to the farm was that on the website, Dave said, ‘My goal is to help you start your own farm next year,’” Crooke said. “And I thought, ‘wow, I’ll definitely learn something from this guy.’”
Although Crooke didn’t expect to launch a farm so quickly, that’s exactly what happened. A former Sisters Hill apprentice had been farming land in Pennsylvania and was ready to move on after three seasons. He contacted Hambleton, who connected the opportunity with Crooke and fellow 2012 apprentice Stefan Streit. The pair took over the land and founded what became Tinicum CSA.
“I always think back on the Sisters Hill experience as foundational in my farming career,” Crooke said.
Erin Bullock, like Crooke, was an apprentice at Sisters Hill who founded her own farm – Mud Creek Farm CSA – just a year after apprenticing with Hambleton in 2008. She then founded additional farms over the following 10 years, including EquiCenter Farm in 2015 and Wild Hill Farm CSA in 2016.
“Dave was a true mentor and shared everything he knew,” Bullock said. “When I told him I wanted to have my own farm, he was so supportive and inspiring. He just believed in me when other people didn’t, and said, ‘you can do it’.”
Bullock, a first-generation farmer, also said that she’s found “real gender difficulties being a woman in this field.” While previous male mentors of hers sometimes believed that there were women-specific and male-specific roles on a farm, she said Hambleton never made her feel that way.
Since establishing three farms of her own, Bullock has gone on to mentor more than 30 apprentices. She said Hambleton’s guidance — from staying ahead of weeds to developing organized systems — gave her the foundation to build successful farms and, in turn, teach the next generation of growers.
“Dave has a golden heart, and it was such a joy to work with and learn from him,” Bullock said. “He’s had such a profound impact on my career and all my apprentices know who he is because I always talk about the lessons I learned from him with them.”
Ella Schwarzbaum was an apprentice at Sisters Hill Farm in 2019 and remained on staff for the following three years. Now, she said she brings her experience from Sisters Hill to Phillies Bridge Farm Project, where she is the Education and Food Justice Director.
“Sisters Hill entirely grounded my agricultural experience and knowledge,” Schwarzbaum said. “Dave loves to teach. There’s nothing that gives him more joy than passing on the knowledge he has.”
This depth of education is what compelled current apprentice Noemi Romero to apply to the program at Sisters Hill. Although the work is challenging, Romero said that it’s extremely rewarding to watch herself grow as a farmer.
While the future of the farm and its apprenticeship program is still unclear, Hambleton’s mark on the region’s agricultural community isn’t.
“I mean, if you add up all the apprentices Dave’s apprentices have trained, he’s probably spawned almost 1,000 farmers in the region,” Bullock said.
Keep ReadingShow less
Legal Notices - August 6, 2026
Millerton News
Aug 05, 2026
LEGAL NOTICE
Coldworks Mechanical LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/28/2026. Office location: Dutchess County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: P.O. Box 353, LaGrangeville, New York 12540-0353. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
07-23-26
07-30-26
08-06-23
08-13-26
08-20-26
08-27-26
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that an Application for Authority of Jones & Daughters Hudson Valley LLC, a foreign limited liability company, was filed with the Secretary of State of New York pursuant to Section 802 of the Limited Liability Company Law. The name of the limited liability company is Jones & Daughters Hudson Valley LLC. The jurisdiction of its formation is Connecticut. The date of its formation is January 28, 2026. The county within New York State in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is Dutchess County. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served, and the post office address to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process served upon the Secretary of State is Jones & Daughters, 34 Main Street, Millerton, NY 12546. The principal office address of the limited liability company is 34 Main Street, Millerton, NY 12546.
07-23-26
07-30-26
08-06-26
08-13-26
08-20-26
08-27-26
Legal Notice
Notice of Formation of Chapters & Charm LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on May 22nd 2026. Office location: Dutchess County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 16 Barton Street, Millerton NY 12546. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.
07-16-26
07-23-26
07-30-26
08-06-26
08-13-26
08-20-26
Legal Notice
Notice of Formation of GREEN VILLAGE CONTRACTORS LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the NYS Department of State (SSNY) on 05/15/2026. Office location: Dutchess County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: Tomas Tun Ico, 766 Old Route 22, Amenia, NY 12501. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
08-06-26
08-13-26
08-20-26
08-27-26
09-03-26
09-10-26
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC). Name: Garnet IT Consulting LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on [07/01/2026]. Office location: Dutchess County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 22 South Randolph Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
07-23-26
07-30-26
08-06-26
08-13-26
08-20-26
08-27-26
Legal Notice
Please take notice that the Town of Pine Plains Town Board will be accepting sealed bids for the purchase of the following materials for the year 2027:
1) Bituminous asphalt (various sizes) including cold mix asphalt using the most current posted price index.
2) Crushed stone (all sizes).
3) Ice control sand- all crushed stone shall meet Section 703 of the NYS-DOT 'Standard Specifications' and Natural and Processed Sands and Gravels, Crushed Stone, Aggregate, Run of Bank Gravel specifications of County of Dutchess. All stone and asphalt materials shall come from NYS-DOT approved plant. Bid prices on all of the above materials per ton, with the exception of asphalt should be for both F.O.B. and delivered.
4) Liquid calcium chloride for summer and winter.
5) Blended diesel fuel.
6) #2 Heating oil for garage, winter mix December through February for heating oil only.
7) Mid-Grade and Regular no lead gasoline.
8) Liquid Propane for garage and library.
All bids should use the Albany OPIS for the Friday immediately preceding the bid opening date. Bids will be accepted until 12:00 noon Friday August 14, 2026 at the Town Clerks Office, PO Box 955, 3284 Route 199 Pine Plains, NY 12567 at which time they will be opened and read aloud. In order for your bid to be considered complete, the following must be submitted as required by Section 103D of the Municipal Law:
Non-Collusive Bidding Certificate
Certificate of Insurance Naming Town of Pine Plains as Certificate Holder
All bids must be submitted in sealed envelopes with the following information on the outside:
1. Materials Bids 2027
2. August 14, 2026, 12:00PM
The Town Board reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. The F.O.B. plant price will be analyzed with full consideration given to the distance of the plant to the project location.
Any questions should be directed to the Highway Department at (518) 398-6662.
By order of The Town Board of the Town of Pine Plains
07-30-26
08-06-26
LEGAL NOTICE
TOWN OF AMENIA MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT BIDS
BIDS FOR THE PERIOD 9/17/26- 9/16/27
NOTICE is hereby given that sealed bids for the purchase of material and equipment used by the Town of Amenia during the year will be received until 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at the Town Clerk's Office, Town of Amenia, Town Hall, 4988 Route 22, Amenia, NY 12501 and opened and read at the Amenia Town Hall, 4988 Route 22, on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.
Bids are requested for the following road materials: Bank-run, sand, Item #4, crushed quarry stone and washed gravel, light, medium, and heavy stone fill, sub base NYS DOT Type #2, calcium chloride, bituminous mix hot and cold, road oils, concrete, catch basins and equipment rentals, Tree Work, Sweeping.
Detailed specifications may be obtained at the Highway office at 845-373-9922. All bids must include a notarized non-collusive statement and corporate bidders must file a corporate resolution with a corporate seal. All envelopes must be clearly marked "Bid 9/17/2026 to 9/16/2027".
The Town Board reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. Bids will be awarded at the next scheduled Town Board Meeting September 17, 2026.
Megan Chamberlin
Superintendent of Highways
Town of Amenia
07-30-26
08-06-26
Keep ReadingShow less
Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
loading
