By KAITLIN LYLE
Part II
HARLEM VALLEY — Last week The Millerton News reviewed the top stories of the first half of 2020, a year with challenges including a global health pandemic and a collapsing economy. In this week’s edition, the year in review will take a brief look the headlines between July and August.
July
As New York State and Dutchess County to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, summertime activities in the Harlem Valley continued — including summer camp, summer school, fundraisers and other area celebrations — altered to fit the new normal (or canceled) or a virtual platform.
Responding to the urgent call for police reform, local police agencies — including those in Millerton, Pine Plains and Millbrook — began to review their policing strategies, policies and procedures to develop plans to address community needs, promote community engagement and address “any racial bias and disproportionate policing of communities of color,” as mandated by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police also re-examined procedures through this and other months.
The town of North East created a Zoning Review Committee (ZRC) and appointed the nine-member board.
While the Stissing Mountain Class of 2020 celebrated its graduation at a ceremony held on Sunday, July 12, New York State Senator Sue Serino (R-41) officially announced her breast cancer diagnosis to the public in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining routine health screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, July 29, the town of Pine Plains officially closed on the sale of a property at 12 North Main St., bringing it a step closer to plans to revitalize its main hamlet area.
Having served the village of Millbrook since the start of 2017, Mayor Rodney Brown submitted his letter of resignation on Friday, July 31. Brown announced his intent on June 9; he gave no reason for his decision to leave office just months before his term was scheduled to end. Village Trustee Mike Herzog served as interim mayor until year’s end and was just re-elected to serve as village trustee again in 2021.
August
With the start of a new school year, Harlem Valley school districts began submitting their individual re-entry plans to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED) between the end of July and the start of August. The Webutuck, Pine Plains and Millbrook school boards held multiple virtual meetings to discuss the logistics and complications that could potentially arise once students and staff returned to campus.
New York residents Creek Iversen, Ben Schwartz, Monica Hunken and George Elliot each received one year probation on Monday, Aug. 3, for climbing the smokestack to protest the Cricket Valley Energy Center power plant in Dover on Nov. 16, 2019.
Hundreds of thousands of people lost power in the wake of Tropical Storm Isiais on Tuesday, Aug. 4, throughout the Tri-state region, with fallen trees and wires.
On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Pine Plains voters cast their ballots in a special election to authorize the Pine Plains Fire Company to issue $275,000 in bonds to finance the purchase of a new 2021 Class A pumper to replace an old firetruck. Out of 77 votes cast, 68 voted in favor of the purchase; nine votes were against the buy.
Though Election Day was still months away, Gov. Cuomo signed a new law into effect on Thursday, Aug. 20, to make absentee ballots permissible in the 2020 election.
In Millbrook, the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies received support in the amount of $11 million through its Campaign for Cary for a renovation project, with the hopes of raising the remaining $2 million.
After more than 20 years of planning and saving, the Amenia Free Library held a ground-breaking ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 29, to celebrate its long-awaited expansion, with an opening date for the new addition scheduled for Wednesday, June 30, 2021.
More than a dozen parents, business owners and local political leaders gather at the Pine Plains Free Library to discuss childcare challenges at a focus group on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
But local officials note that money can’t fix the system on its own. Childcare centers are still in short supply. With area representatives from town, county, state, and federal government in attendance — including State Senator Michelle Hinchey, Assemblymember Didi Barrett, County Legislator Chris Drago, and Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek — stakeholders gathered at the Pine Plains Free Library to discuss a path forward.
Drago opened the discussion by emphasizing the gravity of the situation. “Without childcare, folks can’t work,” he said in his opening remarks. “Student enrollment is down, and that has a trickle-down effect.”
After Drago’s introductory remarks, the focus group was split into two sections. Upstairs, business owners and politicians discussed the hurdles that make it difficult to operate a daycare in the area. Downstairs, parents talked about the day-to-day challenges they’ve encountered in finding childcare.
“Childcare is about economic development,” Barrett told parents. “I think the real issue here is, how do we get more childcare in the rural parts of Dutchess County?”
Dutchess County has seen a number of childcare centers close in recent years. Last November, the North East Community Center shuttered its free daycare program due to declining enrollment and rising costs. The center’s chair, Irene Banning, was on hand Wednesday to give her perspective. “It’s a tough business for a center-based approach,” Banning said. “It’s a brutally tough business from a money perspective.”
The lack of daycare has an impact on employers.
Jordan Schmidt of Chaseholm Farm and Rion LoBrutto of Harney & Sons cited the need to accommodate alternative schedules for their employees because of a lack of childcare.
“Building a continuous team becomes very challenging,” said Schmidt. LoBrutto added that Harney & Sons are “pretty flexible with our employees, but people have to leave early, or their kids get sick. We have a lot of families that work for us. A husband will work the day shift and his wife will work the night shift. That’s not exactly great for their family life.”
Millerton mayor Jenn Najdek added that the area once had robust childcare infrastructure, specifically referencing the Astor Head Start program. The Millerton location of the Astor Head Start Program closed in 2021 due to declining enrollment. NECC took over their space on South Center Street.
Banning also noted the number of unlicensed at-home providers that have sprung up to fill the gap. Several other meeting participants cited leaning on friends or family to provide ad hoc child care. “One of the things I’ve been trying to figure out is, why is that? And what can be done to change that?”
Banning questioned the lengthy training requirements and building certifications required by the state, as well as the fluctuating funding sources a childcare center relies on. “First it’s grants, then it’s reimbursements. And every time it changes, you have to change your business model.”
Several attendees said they had taken steps to open their own childcare centers, but were ultimately discouraged by the time, cost and rules. Chaseholm Farm’s Jordan Schmidt is one of them. She was ultimately discouraged, however, when rising insurance costs and demanding regulations outweighed the potential benefits. “I think we need to be really clear on what we’re asking home providers,” Schmidt said. “What does the lift look like financially and time-wise?”
Jennifer Mañón, who runs the Panorama Early Childhood center in Red Hook, said her organization was initially able to survive thanks in part to COVID stimulus money. But Panorama struggles with the stringent ratio guidelines set by New York’s Office of Children and Family Services. Under current regulations, centers must provide one caregiver for every four children ages 6 weeks to 18 months and one for every five children ages 18 months to 3 years. The requirements ease as children get older: one caregiver for every seven 3-year-olds, eight 4-year-olds, and nine 5-year-olds.
Schmidt and Mañón called out the OCFS saying it’s time for change.
Hinchey said the Legislature has given OCFS the authority to change the ratios. In December 2025, she supported Senate Bill S.278, which eased some of the state’s more stringent child care staffing requirements. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the measure into law, but it did not set a deadline for OCFS to revise its rules.
“That’s something I think we can push for,” Hinchey said. “That’s something that could change tomorrow and be helpful in adding seats.”
Despite the numerous grievances, the focus group ended on a positive note. The money is there, and the politicians encouraged any prospective caregivers to apply for grants through the county’s Child Care Assistance Program. “This is a solid commitment for three years,” said Didi Barrett’s Chief of Staff Gunnar Wordon. “It would be beneficial to figure out who can at least apply for this and take it from there.”
New York Assemblymember Didi Barrett attended Wednesday’s focus group to hear from local parents.Photo by Graham Corrigan
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