
An architect’s rendering of the Ancram Center for the Arts, which will allow for the expansion of the Ancram Opera house to include space for artist and intern housing as well as community programming. Photo submitted
ANCRAM — The name may be misleading; the Ancram Opera House (AOH) is not just about opera, nor even mostly about opera. It is a place of diversity, music, art and storytelling. Co-directors Jeff Mousseau and Paul Ricciardi are intent on bringing culture, high-caliber artists and programs of interest to this quiet corner of rural Columbia County.
This is not an easy endeavor, and as a nonprofit, the organization relies on program fees, of course, but also on donations and grants. As with most businesses in the past few years, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been detrimental, so the co-directors are extremely excited and grateful that AOH has recently been awarded grants that will help them to not only carry on, but to build on the successful venture they already have.
A grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) awarded AOH $70,000, $40,000 of which was for general organizational support; there is an added $20,000 in recovery assistance, and another $10,000 to develop a new musical piece by David Cale, Dael Orlandersmith and Matthew Dean Marsh, which will hopefully be presented in the upcoming season.
“We are thrilled with this funding from the state and thank NYSCA, the state legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul’s office for making it possible,” said Ricciardi.
“NYSCA’s support makes all the difference and allows us to bring high caliber performances and community programs to a rural, sparsely populated corner of NY State,” Mousseau added.
AOH also received an grant of $255,675 from the New York Main Street program of the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. This grant will be instrumental in aiding with the capital project, the Ancram Center for the Arts restoration project, including renovation of a neighboring building to allow housing for interns and performers as well as space for community programs and workshops. The project is also supported in part by Ancram Preservation Group, New York State Council on the Arts, and private donations.
Ricciardi and Mousseau said they were grateful that Assemblymember Didi Barrett helped them to secure an additional $125,000 in state funding. The support from the state will allow the theater to enlist top-notch performers, artists and programs that, the directors said, will further revitalize Ancram and the hamlet, which is listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
The NYSCA provides organizational and professional development, while also promoting the advancement of culture and the arts for all New Yorkers. Said Gov. Hochul, “As a cultural capital of the world, New York state is strengthened by our expansive coverage of the arts across all 62 counties. This year’s historic commitment to the arts sector will spur our continuing recovery from the pandemic and set the course for a stronger future.”
AOH is located at 1330 County Route 7 and was originally built in 1927 as Grange No. 955, a chapter of the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, which was founded to support and advance the methods and means of farmers just after the Civil War. The Grange in Ancram served its purpose until 1972, when it was converted into a theater for the performing arts, presenting mostly operatic programs. Today, AOH offers audiences, “A unique opportunity to directly engage, up close, with visionary theatre artists at the top of their field who are rarely seen in our region.”
Presenting a mix of contemporary theater, alternative cabaret and community programs, some of the programs presented in the recent past include “The Snow Queen,” “We’re Gonna Die,” “The Holler Sessions,” and “POOF.”
The directors are careful to acknowledge the historic significance of the area, noting that the Ancram Center is located on unceded ancestral lands of the Muh-he-con-ne-ok, the Peoples of the Waters That Are Never Still, and overlooks the Roeliff Jansen Kill, which was once called the Sonkippog (cooling water). They pay tribute to and honor the history of those who preceded them.
Spring has officially arrived with freezing night time temperatures forecast through the first week of April.
Victoria Kelly, Cary Institute Environmental Monitoring Program Manager and Senior Ecologist, prepared this report.
MILLBROOK — Since 1988 the weather station at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in the Town of Washington has been keeping track of our local weather — precipitation, temperature, wind, air quality, etc.
The News asked Cary’s Victoria Kelly what records showed about this winter. Were these months colder and snowier than last year? How do they compare to historic winters? Is this a normal winter?
December’s average temperature was 30.3 degrees Fahreneit, 1.3 degrees below the 1991-2020 average, which is what weather people refer to as “normal.” The January average temperature was 25.2 degrees, 1.1 degrees below normal, and the February average temperature was 28.4 degrees, 0.3 degrees below normal. So, it’s not your imagination, this has been a cold winter. Note that the 30-year average used to determine “normal” changes every 10 years and doesn’t include the warm winters of the last few years in the comparison.
The record high winter temperature was a balmy 78 degrees Fahrenheit on February 21, 2018, and the record low was a very chilly minus 27 degrees Fahrenheit on January 27, 1994.
Overall, the winter of 2024-2025 has been colder with less snowfall than normal. It’s not over yet though. Remember the blizzard on March 14, 2017? Or the April Fool’s Day blizzard March 31-April 1, 1997? March has been known to go out like a lion before, it could very well do it again. Total snowfall this winter so far is 22 inches. Our last accumulating snow was February 15-16. As with many of our events this winter, it began as snow and changed to ice and then rain. We call that mixed precipitation. If we get no more accumulating snow this winter, it will be the fourth winter in a row with less than average snowfall. Our record low snowfall was 13 inches in the winter of 2015-2016. Our record high snowfall was 92 inches in the winter of 1994-1995.
Reports from the suppliers or heating oil and propane estimate that demand increased 15% to 30% so far this winter confirming the findings of the Cary Institute.
The North East Fire house on the south side of Century Boulevard.
MILLERTON — The commissioners of the North East Fire District recently held their monthly meeting at the firehouse to discuss their current needs and general business.
Discussion centered around the current work on the 2025 budget and proposed expenditures, which ranged from upgrading their heating/cooling system to the possibility of replacing car no. 3.
The possibility of obtaining a new vehicle, such as a pickup truck, was also considered. In the end, the discussion was put on hold with chair Dave McGhee saying, “We have time.”
Updates on planning and training were discussed. Fire chief Keith Roger reported that 15 calls for medical assistance came in for the previous month, two calls came in for motor vehicle accidents, one call for a fire and one call came in for a propane issue which was quickly resolved. There were 35 calls for downed wires.
Physicals were also a topic of conversation. The fire district currently has 47 members, some of whom still need physicals. The district’s plan is that all members will be caught up on physicals by autumn.
The Easter egg hunt to be held on April 19 was discussed in addition to the need to look into hay wagons for the event.
As part of the chief’s report, Roger discussed equipment. Hose-testing is scheduled to be conducted on April 9. He also stressed the need to order brush equipment and side mirrors. Roger stated he needs to figure out exactly what is needed to fill department needs, but “bib overalls, radios and wands,” are on his wish list as well as new labels for equipment.
The discussion then turned to two events. On March 27, assistant county executive Gregg Pulver will be holding a closed meeting to discuss EMS issues. On April 18, Kelly Roger will be utilizing the firehouse for an event. Building use was approved for both events.
The subject of air packs then came up as one had sustained damage. Chief Roger also reported he is looking into which responders are in need of new equipment. Additionally, he has been trying to meet with new vendors. He has also started a log book for recordkeeping purposes around equipment to enable the department to track its movement and usage throughout the department.
Responder Chris Reyes discussed his work on the annual dinner and requested that $15,000 be made available for associated expenses. A motion was made to allow, which was officially passed.
No new members have recently joined the fire department, but recruitment efforts remain ongoing with interested parties being encouraged to come to the fire district on Monday evenings at 6 p.m. to learn more.
The next meeting at the firehouse will be a workshop on April 1. A regular meeting will be held on April 15.
MILLBROOK — For the next two months beginning on April 1, the town will pick up brush placed streetside throughout the village, a free service for village residents. The service will continue until May 31. However, there are strict rules and prohibitions to follow.
Only brush is being picked up. The definition does not include leaves — leaf pickup begins on Oct. 1 — tree trunks, grass clippings or soil. Fines may be levied against property owners who attempt to discard these non-brush materials.
Definition of brush specifies that branches be less than 4 inches in diameter and shorter than 8 feet in length.
The brush pickup program is guided by additional specific instructions. For more information, go to www.villageofmillbrookny.com or phone the Public Works Department at 845-677-3022 before placing anything curbside.
MILLBROOK— Helping those in need in Dutchess County, the Village of Millbrook is teaming with the Millbrook Police Department collecting handbags and toiletries. Donated items can be dropped off at Village Hall until April 30.
The program is in collaboration with the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, or LEAD, program and the “Taking it to the Streets” national nonprofit initiative. The latter volunteer group provides hot meals, clothing and hygiene projects locally in Dutchess County, with other chapters serving communities throughout the U.S.
Collected handbags filled with toiletries and hygiene products will be distributed during the month of May.
In addition to the call for new or slightly used handbags or purses, unused/unopened products being collected are toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, feminine products, make-up remover, face wash and creams, shampoo needs and lotions.