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Isle of Klezbos
Millerton News
Mar 04, 2026
Provided
Isle of Klezbos brings its high-energy, all-women klezmer to the Stissing Center in Pine Plains on Saturday, March 7. Touring internationally since 1998, the ensemble blends neo-folkloric originals and reimagined Yiddish classics in a style dubbed “cutting-edge klezmer” by New York Magazine.
Webutuck discipline referrals drop by half after cellphone ban
Nathan Miller
Mar 04, 2026
Webutuck Central School District's campus is located on Haight Road in the Town of North East.
Archive photo
AMENIA — The Webutuck Central School District’s cellphone ban has led to a 50% drop in office discipline referrals compared with the same period last year, administrators said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul required school districts statewide to implement cellphone bans beginning with the 2025-26 school year. Implementation was left to individual districts, with Webutuck requiring students to store their phones in lockers during the school day. Supporters of the policy argued that cellphones created distractions and contributed to student conflicts.
New York State’s action is part of a nationwide movement that now includes 20 states with outright bans in schools. In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont announced in a press conference on Monday, March 2, a similar proposal to Hochul’s that would require schools to limit access to cellphones during school hours.
Webutuck Superintendent Ray Castellani said he initially doubted the ban would work.
“I would be the first to say that I thought it was going to be a complete nightmare,” Castellani said.
Instead, he said, he was proven wrong, and the school has seen measurable improvements in student behavior.
Lauren Marquis, the district’s Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology, provides reports on the school’s status to the board of education. She said early disciplinary data show office referrals — when teachers formally send students to administrators for discipline — fell by roughly 50% during the first half of the school year compared with the same period in 2024-25.
“That’s across everything, but it’s very telling,” Marquis said.
Castellani and Marquis said only a small number of students have faced discipline specifically for carrying a phone. Many students self-report or comply when reminded by teachers, they said.
Castellani acknowledged that a few students — a number, he said, he could count on one hand — have had phones confiscated for repeat violations. In those cases, he said, both students and parents were cooperative.
“I think having New York State do it as a whole helped,” Castellani said.
Castellani attributed the success to the strong relationships Webutuck administrators and staff have with students. He said there’s a trust within the school that’s unique.
“There has always been a trust of them with us, I believe, more so than any other school district I’ve worked in,” Castellani said. “Once in a while, you’re going to make a mistake. We’ll deal with it — we’re not going to throw the book at you.”
Marquis said the benefits extend beyond the drop in office referrals.
“They’re interacting,” Marquis said. “We’re like ‘there’s noise in the cafeteria, it’s loud again,’ which is a good sign.”
She also described the district’s digital hall pass system, which tracks students’ movements outside class during instructional time. Students are leaving classrooms less frequently and spending less time in hallways, she said.
Students offered a more measured view of the policy. Seniors Evan Bremmer, James Singleton and Evan Hood said they understood the reasoning behind the ban but felt its impact varied.
“It didn’t really change much for me,” Bremmer said. “I feel like it’s the same.”
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Millbrook Library kicks off ‘Garden Matters’ series with soil health
Leila Hawken
Mar 04, 2026
Alex Kohler, left, and Maggie Thomas of Stonewood Farm in Millbrook lead a talk on soil health at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, Feb. 21. The talk was the first in a series of lectures sponsored by the Millbrook Garden Club that is set to continue monthly through July.
Photo By Leila Hawken
MILLBROOK — An ambitious series of gardening talks under the umbrella title “Garden Matters” kicked off at the Millbrook Library with its first program, “Building Healthy Soil,” on Saturday, Feb. 21.
Gardeners of varied experience turned out for the opening session of what organizers describe as a year-long exploration of healthy, sustainable gardening practices.
The library’s adult program coordinator, Jen McCreery, introduced the event and said monthly talks are already planned through February 2027. The extended schedule, she noted, reflects strong community interest in topics ranging from soil health to practical techniques for home gardeners.
Among those attending was Denise Bauer, immediate past chair of the library’s Friends organization, who said the library’s pollinator garden project would not feel complete without a series on healthy gardening. Bauer added that Emma Sweeney, past president of the Millbrook Garden Club, was instrumental in planning the series alongside McCreery.
The program was presented by Stonewood Farm co-managers Alex Kohler and Maggie Thomas. They began with a brief history of the farm that has evolved since its founders Ken Holzberg and Tom Kopfensteiner first purchased the property. Over 13 years, the founders engaged in selective clearing, working carefully with the land’s topography and preserving natural features.
Today, a 1.5-acre plot holds the fruit and vegetable gardens.
Operating as a nonprofit since 2021, Stonewood Farm supports local food distribution programs, including the food pantry at Lyall Community Church and Meals on Wheels.
The talk covered a wide range of soil-related topics, including understanding soil health, managing fertility, pest and disease management, tillage, tool care, bed preparation and the importance of “closing the loop” to keep gardening local.
Successful gardening is rooted in science, Thomas explained.
“Farmers are scientists; everyone interested in growing things is a scientist,” Thomas said, noting that growing things involves relationship.
“Relationship is probably what matters,” Kohler agreed. “Soil, air and water co-exist; they can’t exist in isolation.”
Proponents of minimal soil disruption, both Thomas and Kohler emphasized that organic matter is the gardener’s best friend. For example, earthworms exist in a certain stratum within the soil layers, inhabiting and benefitting the top ten inches.
“The deeper you dig, the more disruptive you are,” Kohler said, recommending four inches or less.
“Avoid deep tillage,” Thomas said.
Compost provides vital nutrients to soil, so much so that it is termed “black gold” by gardeners, Kohler said. A thick layer of compost does wonders, but refrain from adding anything citrus to your compost.
Companion plantings are helpful in warding off insects and disease in plants. For example, Kohler said, team basil with tomatoes, Marigolds with peppers, Nasturtiums with squash and plant a few alliums. Beneficial insects should be encouraged, including green lacewing flies, lady bugs, and all manner of predator bugs.
“Most big bugs you want to encourage,” Kohler said, but acknowledged that some big bugs are bad.
“Soil is alive; bring nutrients together for a healthy garden,” both advised, while cautioning that the nutrients are finite. “Choose to replenish the soil.”
The Garden Matters series is presented by the Millbrook Garden Club in partnership with Stonewood Farm and the Friends of the Millbrook Library. The next library event in the series is “Grocery to Garden,” to be taught by Jessica Williams of Odd Duck Farm, Highland, New York, on Saturday, March 14, at 11 a.m. For more information on the Millbrook Library series, go to www.millbrooklibrary.org.
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Solar farm seeks exemption from Copake’s floodplain code
John Coston
Mar 04, 2026
Flooding along Route 7 in Craryville as seen in May 2021. Similar flooding occurred in May 2025.
Photo by T. Feeney
COPAKE — Hecate Energy LLC, the Chicago-based solar developer, is seeking an exemption from the town’s Floodplain Code, claiming that the 42-megawatt project is not located in a ‘floodway.’
The issue now is before an administrative law judge to decide if Hecate will need to seek a floodplain development permit from the town to proceed with its project.
Last month, the town’s attorney argued in a filing with the state that Hecate’s request should be denied.
In January, the state held four in-person hearings in Copake and two virtual hearings that aired public concern and support for the project, which has been debated since 2017 when it was first raised.
The hearings were attended by approximately 100 people and most of the testimony was opposed to Shepherd’s Run, the name of the more than 200-acre proposed solar farm near the intersection of Route 7 and 23 in Craryville.
State legislators and local public officials, as well as 10 town supervisors — including Copake Town Supervisor Richard Wolf — and the chair of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, lined up in opposition to the project. Many argued that Home Rule should be followed, allowing Copake to make the decision to build or not, not New York State.
Sensible Solar for Rural New York, a citizen group, issued a statement on Hecate’s request to be exempt from the local Floodplain Code: “If granted, not only could flood risks increase, but the Town’s participation in the federal Flood Insurance Program would be jeopardized, and the entire town would potentially be unable to get flood insurance,” says Sara Traberman of Sensible Solar.
The Town of Copake, in a brief filed with the state, argued that the town Floodplain Code is a federal requirement, and as such cannot be preempted by a state agency.
New York State Public Service Commission Adjudicatory Law Judge Maureen Leary, who conducted the January public hearings, is currently reviewing Hecate’s petition to be exempted from the town’s code.
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Schools close for multiple days amid winter storms
Aly Morrissey
Mar 04, 2026
Schools had three consecutive snow days in the last week of February.
Photo by Aly Morrissey
Winter has made its mark this year in the northeast, with local schools enduring record-long closures as crews have worked to manage cleanup efforts.
In Webutuck Central School District, seven snow days have already been used this academic year as of Tuesday, March 3, including a recent three-day stretch triggered by heavy snowfall, ice and wind. Superintendent Raymond Castellani said this season has been one of the more challenging in recent memory.
“Winter is winter in the northeast,” Castellani said. After consulting the Farmer’s Almanac and preparing for the unpredictable nature of the season in this region, he said he and his team had a feeling this winter could be “a tough one.”
While he said snowfall totals fluctuate year-to-year, the combination of heavy snow, icy conditions and unfortunate timing has made this winter particularly disruptive. Several storms hit just as buses were scheduled to be on the roads, forcing the district to err on the side of caution.
“For us, it’s about safety first,” Castellani said. “When buses are running and students are driving, that will always be my top priority.”
Early-morning decisions
Snow days are rarely simple decisions, Castellani said. In the Webutuck Central School District, the process often begins the night before a storm, followed by a 4 a.m. check-in between town and county highway departments, school transportation staff and neighboring school districts. By 4:30 or 4:45 a.m., a final decision is typically made, and a mass notification is sent via text, email, phone and social media.
Throughout his 18 years serving as a school superintendent, Castellani said he has often been asked about the hardest part of his job. Spoiler alert: snow days are among his top challenges.
“It’s one of the most difficult parts of the job,” Castellani said. In a rural district like Webutuck, road conditions can vary dramatically across the region, he said, adding to the complexity of the decision. “You’re balancing safety, missed instructional time and the impact of families who may have to miss work.”
With Webutuck’s most recent closure — three days and two hours, to be exact — elementary school parent Jennifer Tiso-Garvey said she and her family felt the pressure.
“I understand the emphasis on safety,” Tiso-Garvey said. “But it’s not just the snow days. The pressure parents felt last week is indicative of a broader issue within the United States that forces working parents to make judgment calls when it comes to expensive childcare and crucial income.”
Tiso-Garvey, who is an English teacher and registrar at The Millbrook School, said she considers herself one of the luckier parents. “I’m thankful that I have a job where my kids can be with me at work, but the burden really falls on working parents.”
Asked how he manages the criticism, Castellani said he is guided by safety. “I learned a long time ago there’s no winning — so you err on the side of safety.”
Despite criticism, Castellani credited the district’s small but dedicated maintenance team for keeping school grounds accessible.
“The staff is amazing,” he said. “They’re in on Sundays and in early mornings moving snow and ice.”
Head of Buildings and Grounds Walter Kilmer leads a team that includes Bob Eastman, Jason Watson and Jim Schmeldelini. Castellani also offered special thanks to head driver Kathy Green, who is often out on the roads before dawn to check accessibility and safety for parents and teen drivers.
“She’s my eyes and ears in the morning,” he said.
Webutuck still within “snow day budget”
At this time, he does not anticipate extending the school year into the spring break or into late June.
“We’re in good standing,” Castellani said.
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Public hearing on Silo Ridge recreational facility extended amid lighting debate
Leila Hawken
AMENIA — A public hearing on proposed changes to the Siland Recreational Facility — the private tennis and skating complex associated with the Silo Ridge residential development — will continue Wednesday, March 11, after Planning Board members raised concerns about a potential outdoor lighting proposal.
The board extended the public hearing following low public attendance at the Feb. 25 session and the introduction of a proposal to add exterior lighting for the platform tennis courts to allow evening play.
The Siland Recreational Facility sits south of the Silo Ridge neighborhood along Route 22 near the Metro-North Wassaic train station. The acreage includes tennis and platform tennis facilities and a seasonal ice rink. It functions primarily as a private amenity for Silo Ridge members, though portions have periodically been opened to the broader community through coordination with the Recreation Commission.
Consultant Patrick O’Leary, representing the facility, outlined revisions to the site plan that include reconfiguring the parking area, upgrading drainage and adding landscaping at the site. He said those revisions have been described to the board multiple times at prior meetings.
The discussion centered largely on the possibility of outdoor lighting for the platform tennis courts.
O’Leary presented two options. The first would include no exterior lighting, resulting in no nighttime visual impact.
The second would permit seasonal lighting from November through March, with lights used three evenings per week. Under that scenario, the courts would be open to Silo Ridge members on Fridays and Saturdays, while Tuesday evenings would be made available to the broader community in coordination with the Recreation Commission. O’Leary said a similar arrangement is currently in place for use of the ice rink.
He emphasized that seasonal lighting is not the present intent of facility officials but described it as a potential opportunity to expand community access.
In recent weeks, the facility rewired the site and temporarily turned on the lights to allow the public to observe their effect, O’Leary said. Several board members suggested conducting a site visit.
Board member Nina Peek noted that zoning regulations do not permit exterior lighting for private facilities, a view supported by board member Ken Topolsky, who said the proposal would be contrary to current code. Topolsky asked whether shielding or “boxing” the lighting might reduce its impact.
“I did not intend this to be controversial, just a thought to get something for the community,” O’Leary said.
Board member Foz Bullock said she observed the lighting while driving north on Route 22 near the Wassaic station and found it to be quite bright. She said she would like to hear additional public input.
Topolsky also supported continuing the hearing to March 11 to allow for a site visit and further public comment.
If the site plan moves forward without the proposed lighting, the board could take up a resolution for discussion and possible action at its March 11 meeting. If Siland elects to pursue the lighting proposal, the hearing would likely be continued to March 25.
“We’ll be back on March 11,” O’Leary said.