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Let's hear it — July 30, 2026
Millerton News
Jul 28, 2026
This Week
Some of the best places in our community aren’t the ones you’ll find on a map —they’re the quiet trails, family-owned businesses, scenic overlooks, and local favorites that residents know and love. This week, we want to celebrate the hidden gems that make our corner of the world unique.
What’s your favorite hidden gem in our community, and why should others check it out?
Send your responses to social@lakevillejournal.com by Monday, Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. or comment on Facebook or Instagram.
We’ll publish a selection in next week’s paper.
Last Week
What is one local issue or topic you wish you knew more about?
“Would love to know the status of the improvement plan for Century Bl. in Millerton - including parking and landscaping. AND, what is the status of getting sewer system along Main Street.”
— Lori Coats, Millerton
“More Millerton News, less CT news.”
— Judith O’Hara Balfe, Millerton
“I wish I knew more about the challenges, obstacles, and realities that leave the Webutuck school district with a subpar reputation.”
— Ed Stillman, Millerton
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1976: Meg Alexander departs The News
Millerton News
Jul 28, 2026
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
July 29, 1976
Alexander Leaves News, Garfield Takes Over
Meg Alexander, editor of The News for the past 3 years, has accepted a new job as a reporter on The Charlotte News, an afternoon daily newspaper in the largest city in North Carolina.
This is the last issue of The News in Millerton under her direction. In Charlotte she will be writing on local aspects of national affairs.
Her successor as editor of The News will be Kenneth Garfield, assistant editor for the past year. Mr. Garfield also expects to leave for a new post on a daily newspaper in the near future.
Editorial
Meg Confesses
I love Millerton and its people. This confession comes at the end of my 3 years as editor of The News. My work has been both a challenge and a joy. I wholeheartedly say that it’s been the happiest time of my life.
I admire the fierce pride of the citizens here; their devotion to the community, their love of the land. When they rally around a cause, whether it is saving a state park or celebrating a Centennial, their spirit shines, their strength inspires.
I’ve learned many things since I’ve been here — about truth, integrity, justice and about keeping a sense of humor. I remember the first paper I put out myself back in July, 1973. I worked frantically trying to put it together, to get everything right. I was a mad whirlwind of paper, scissors, and glue.
Well, everything turned out all right, except for one thing. I forgot to change the date from the previous week at the top of the front page. All of the news dealers had to cross it out and write the correct date at the top of every copy. Poor Phil Terni. I hope he forgave me. He was our largest dealer at the time, 350 papers.
There are so many people that make this town special, that make it an appealing place to live. I don’t like to start naming names because I know I will leave some out. But I find I just can’t leave my home here without publicly paying tribute to some of the people who have given me and The News their support and friendship.
Editor’s Note: Meg (Alexander) Downey returned to serve The News in 2024 as a member of the board of directors for LJMN Media, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit which publishes The Millerton News and The Lakeville Journal.
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Attempts to militarily overwhelm will fail
Peter Riva
Jul 28, 2026
Get a globe, use the CIA’s World Factbook. Start to relearn geography. You may ask why, but your fathers and mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers all learned the hard way when they and their kids had to go overseas to fight wars…. wars that came about because “over there” wasn’t initially seen as a threat to them at home. Ignorance is no excuse for your later complaints when leaders and politicians make bad geo-political decisions. Geographical knowledge gives immediate perspective into problems and consequences, allows you the only intelligent evaluation of participation – before it is too late.
Your participation? Yes, you participate when you vote, when you chose to support politicians, and when you affirm fealty to an American ideal or leader – however you define your patriotism.
Perspective is the basis of any evaluation. Get a globe and check online and check your perspective, your “I am damn sure I know about Iran” opinion. Did you know that Iran is two and a half times larger than Texas with a three times larger population? Iran has a population roughly a quarter of the USA, true, but that’s 93,000,000 people. Iran’s population compared to Germany’s population of 70,000,000 in 1939 should make you – and politicians – pause to think of a population’s capability.
Oh, and Afghanistan? About the size of Texas, but with 45,000,000 people, 15,000,000 more than Texas. Vietnam’s size was half the size of Texas and that didn’t end well, especially because the population of Vietnam was, like Iran today, over 90,000,000.
At play, in this moment are the following countries that we, as Americans, may soon be sending family and friends into conflict – “over there.” Iran, that’s obvious. Iran links to Afghanistan to the east, Pakistan (a nuclear power) to the southeast. To the west-north-west of Iran fall Iraq, Syria, Jordan and, of course, Israel. Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman lie to the west-south-west. In terms of size (area) we’re talking twice the size of the US. And a much larger population.
And geography – looking at a map, a globe – will point out obvious choke points like the Straits of Hormuz, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea. Heck, just look at a maritime chart of the region.
In the case of geo-politicians, most of whom have had insufficient geography study, whatever they want to plan, they will come to learn — sooner or later — that there will be no surgical strike, no quick military overwhelming advantage in that region. Recent history in Vietnam and Afghanistan should teach us that. Basic geography of the regions is irrefutable proof that wishing we could militarily overwhelm — no matter the reasons — does not make it likely we will.
Peter Riva, a former resident of Amenia Union, New York, now lives in Gila, New Mexico.
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Do a good deed, and learn something new daily
Larry Conklin
Jul 28, 2026
This year 3 generations of our family spent a week at a scenic, secluded Lake George accommodation owned by a generations old family dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Secluded, peaceful and quiet. No vehicles or noise, just an occasional marine vessel. A majestic view and waters abundant with game fish and migrating waterfowl especially the female hooded messenger and her comical brood which entertained us daily with their antics. The water is pristine and alive with numerous game fish, but cold. We were treated to calm, colorful majestic sunrises and sunsets. Mother Nature showing off her artwork. BEAUTIFUL! Waterfowl scurrying to and from their daily routines. We took a morning trip on the steam boat Mini Ha Ha (translated Laughing Waters). Our grandson Emari and I toured the engine room powering the paddle wheel. Very interesting as was the calliope (steam organ) player and the lively tunes he played.The thoughtful and accommodating caretaker told us largemouth bass would be coming into the shallows to spawn soon. Emari caught a 6 pound early arriving female which was immediately released as N.Y, bass season was not yet open. God willing we will return next year armed with the knowledge we learned this trip. New suitable fishing rods and lures. Lake George - a beautiful, pristine water with stunning views, soothing the soul and healthful, friendly locals, and nearby shopping. Take an educational trip on one of the Lake George steamboat Companies tours-very affordable and interesting. You’ll enjoy it. God bless you patriotic readers and your families. Enjoy the rest of summer and try to do a good deed and learn something new daily. Til next time.
Town of North East resident Larry Conklin is a Vietnam veteran and a member of both the Millerton American Legion Post 178 and the VFW Post 6851. in North Canaan.
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Letters to the editor — Thursday, July 30
Millerton News
Jul 28, 2026
Sever ties with Flock
Your recent reporting (July 16) regarding private landowner’s embrace of the artificial intelligence mass surveillance company Flock was informative and timely.
It is disheartening that property owners are welcoming the government’s spying machinery into our community. Historical and contemporary examples show that totalitarian and undemocratic governments have an insatiable appetite for information about its citizens, especially those with whom it disagrees. Using informants from within a community is a totalitarian specialty. Property owners who host Flock cameras become electronic informants, and volunteer the rest of us to surrender our privacy rights.
Safe, legal, and effective law enforcement does not require warrantless gathering of information. There are numerous examples nationwide where Flock information has been used unconstitutionally, violating citizen’s Fourth Amendment rights. Like all artificial intelligence models, Flock’s is not perfect. There are hundreds of cases where citizens have been falsely identified or accused based on Flock’s failures.
Our community should be Flock-free, and I encourage current and potential Flock partners to sever their ties with it.
Greg Swinehart
Millerton
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New and improved Thorne arts center expected to open by 2029
Eloise Pickering
Jul 28, 2026
The performance hall of the Thorne Building in Millbrook. The Thorne Building will be undergoing restorations to become a community center for Millbrook.
Photo by Eloise Pickering
MILLBROOK — Construction on the long-planned Thorne Center could begin this fall, with the new arts and community center expected to open in early 2029.
The empty Thorne Building will undergo extensive renovation over the next two years and become the Thorne Center, where residents can gather for events, classes and arts programming. The renovated building will feature a gallery, culinary center, digital arts center and other community spaces.
The building was originally constructed as a school for Millbrook in 1895 by Samuel Thorne, where it served as a high school until 1962. It later served a variety of community purposes but has remained largely vacant in recent decades. The Millbrook Community Partnership, a nonprofit organization formed to redevelop the building and oversee improvements at Bennett Park, bought the property from the Village of Millbrook in 2017.
Since purchasing the building, the partnership has spent years planning its redevelopment and hopes to complete the project’s plans by the end of July. Organization leaders expect to begin construction later this fall, with the project scheduled for completion by late 2028 or early 2029.
“It’s been a long haul but always forward motion,” said Ann Gifford, the secretary of the Millbrook Community Partnership.
Throughout the planning process, the partnership incorporated feedback from the community. Community-wide meetings provided opportunities for brainstorming and included suggestion boxes where Millbrook residents could participate in the process.
“They had a bunch of public sessions and then gathered all of the feedback. The resounding message was that it should be something for the community,” said Krista Fragos, special assistant to Oakleigh Thorne, president of the Millbrook Community Partnership and a descendant of Samuel Thorne. Fragos assists Thorne with the partnership’s projects.
The Thorne family has played a prominent role in the development of Millbrook since the early 1700s.
The building’s three floors and basement will all be renovated to accommodate a culinary center, digital arts center, small gallery space, community workspace, dance studio and visual arts studio. There will also be an elevator.
The footprint of the building will remain largely unchanged, with the only addition being an extension to the performance hall. This will allow for a catwalk and a loading dock behind the stage.
The renovation will preserve as much of the historic building as possible, including the exposed brick found throughout many of its rooms.
“We are very collaborative. We’re working with the library, working with the arts group,” Gifford said. “We’re working with anyone who’s around who wants to collaborate with us. We want to be very inclusive.”
The partnership has raised $28 million toward its $34 million fundraising goal through private donations and an initial grant from the Millbrook Tribute Garden.
The Tribute Garden was established in 1920 on land donated by the Thorne family to commemorate World War I veterans from Millbrook.
In November, there will be a public kickoff to launch the community fundraising campaign and provide an update on construction.
“The community is very enthusiastic, and whenever we’ve opened it up for an open house or a performance or a tour, we’ve gotten a lot of interest,” Gifford said.
The building has seen sporadic use over the past two decades, and the performance hall has hosted occasional events. On Sept. 6, the Knights Ensemble will perform in the Thorne Building for what organizers expect to be the final performance before construction begins. The Knights is an internationally acclaimed orchestra that has performed worldwide.
“They’ve put a really cool program together that I think will fit in the funkiness of the space and they’re really excited to come,” Fragos said.
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