MILLERTON — Times are changing fast and furiously in the modern world, with new technology outpacing what had seemed new only days before. And while life here in the Harlem Valley is not quite the rat race the rest of the world seems to be, residents still have to stay up-to-date with the highs and lows of the economy and the job sector, the latest science and technology, the arts and entertainment world, and most importantly, the news of the day. That’s where we come into the picture. For more than 81 years The Millerton News has been keeping Harlem Valley residents informed about what’s going on in their towns and villages. As one of the few remaining independently owned community newspapers our mission is to report the news accurately and fairly while fostering democracy and an atmosphere of open communication each and every week.That continues to be our goal now and into the future. But one thing is changing — our appearance. Starting next Thursday, Aug. 2, The Millerton News will have a fresh new look, thanks to design changes that will make it easier for you, the reader, to peruse through its pages. While the award-winning editorial content will remain constant, the aesthetics of the paper will not. Production Coordinator James Clark has pored over every last design detail during the past few months with the goal of making the paper easier for all to read. The primary font, which is used for articles and most headlines, has changed from Cheltenham to Crimson, with Myriad Pro, a sans serif, used for contrast. The change will make reading easier and the overall impact cleaner. The leading, which is the space between the lines of type, will also be increased slightly for a better visual experience. The spacing between elements such as articles, headlines, photos, etc., will be more defined and more consistent, and the size of the borders on photos and lines used to divide spaces will be reduced. There will also be a clear story hierarchy on each and every page. There will be stronger visuals, from photographs to pullout quotes to special boxes used for area briefs. There will be more consistency among the various headlines, column tags and department heads. The front-page index and weather preview will be moved from the left column toward the bottom of the front page. Bylines will now have our reporters’ email addresses, so readers can contact them with followup information, questions or comments. The end goal, according to Clark, is “the design should be consistent throughout an issue and each issue should be consistent week to week. And, design should not get in the way of the content.” Equally important is that those who pick up The Millerton News know they’re getting the news that’s important to them and their communities. Regardless of where one stands on the issues, readers know they can depend on The Millerton News for fair and consistent coverage — that remains priority number one. Now, we’ll just look better delivering it.
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Artist Victor Cella with his recent painting “White Dog” in his studio and shop, Little Store Antiques in Great Barrington.
L. Tomaino
Cella greets visitors while talking with a fellow painter who comments about his work and Cella himself: “Eclectic, amazing! Victor is decidedly loved in the community and exhibits to everyone his completely open heart.” She added, “He inspires the rest of us who paint.”
Cella began devoting himself to painting about four and a half years ago. He remembers taking art classes in high school. He had finished all his credits early and was allowed, in his senior year, to take art for four hours a day. He credits his art teacher, Mr. Owen, with giving him a good foundation in art.
“Now that I paint, I rely on my teacher’s words: ‘To unify a painting, pick a color and wash it over the painting,’ or, ‘You need to mix the colors!’”
He won a scholarship to New York University to study art, but his parents said no.Instead, he attended North Adams State College, where he also took an art class at Williams College, repeating a pattern from high school in which he finished his required credits early and used the extra time to study art.
He earned a teaching degree in special education and ended up working in schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut for 37 years. He retired in 2019.
Then, four and a half years ago, he got the urge to paint, and the paintings flowed out of him.
He has sold 757 paintings, with 95 of those sold since May 7. “I am having bizarrely good luck with my paintings.” He estimates he has painted 2,000 paintings in four and a half years.
He modestly attributes his success to “I sell low and I have a built-in client base of 51 years,” he said, referring to recurring customers in his antique shop. “A billion people give me feedback.” He has two patrons who each have several of his paintings. “Unbelievably,” says Cella, “one person owns 32 and the other owns 27.”
His studio is in the back of the shop. He paints now on 16-by-20-inch canvases, some of which he recycles, finding them at Goodwill.
Cella’s paintings are tucked in almost every available space thoughout Little Store Antiques. L. Tomaino
To keep his painting fresh and himself interested because, as Cella explained, “I can’t stay with one idea for long,” he has gone through several phases: crazy dogs, grids, flowers with black backgrounds, a geometric phase and “weird people.” The “crazy dogs,” as he calls them, are popular now. One person bought eight, left to go to her car and came back for a ninth, spotted in the shop’s window — the one that brought her into the shop in the first place.
He may even illustrate a children’s book with the “crazy dogs.” A local author liked them so much she asked Cella if he’d illustrate a story about three dogs if she wrote one.
Cella was also approached recently by a person who said, “Do you know you were my favorite teacher?” She came into The Little Store, attracted by the paintings in the shop’s window. It turned out the former student owns Crystal Essence on Railroad Street in Great Barrington and has asked to sell Cella’s paintings there.
Cella, who will soon be selling the building where The Little Store is located and move it nearer to his Southfield home, was glad to be offered a new venue for his paintings.
An artist he knows, Scott Prior, a painter from Nantucket, bought one of Cella’s paintings and gave him this advice: “Never go to art school. You are an artist. Let it pour out of you.”
Cella said, “You have to follow your own path.” He mused, “If I taught art, I’d teach it in a different way. I could teach it as an awareness — how to free yourself up.”
To see more of Cella’s work, visit The Little Store (88 Main St.) or Crystal Essence (39 Railroad St.) in Great Barrington.
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The Allum Ridge Boys & Ashlee at Oldtone Music Festival in 2025
Jim Wright
But Oldtone wasn’t quite ready to disappear. With strong support from local and artist communities, a new nonprofit, Oldtone Arts Inc., was formed in 2023, and the festival returned to Cool Whisper Farm in 2024. Today, the festival is co-produced by Jim Wright and Trevor Roush and continues to operate with an emphasis on keeping its intimate, artist-driven character.
That spirit is reflected in Oldtone’s motto, “Participation is Preservation.” Rather than simply presenting traditional music onstage, the festival encourages audiences to take part through workshops, dancing, jams, contests and other opportunities for musicians and listeners to play and learn together.
Jerron Paxton & Nora Brown at Oldtone Music Festival in 2025.Reed Shuzts
This year’s lineup ranges across bluegrass, Cajun, country, folk, Latin and other roots traditions. Performers include Bella White, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Los Texmaniacs, Jerron Paxton, Linzay Young & Joel Savoy, Cajun Country Revival, Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra, Jesse Lége & Bayou Brew, Sammy Lind & Nadine Landry and The Ozark Highballers.
In addition to multiple stages, the weekend includes dancing, workshops and opportunities for musicians to join in. Campers have long made late-night music-making a central part of the experience, with informal jams continuing into the night.
Visitors can attend for a single day or camp on the property for the entire festival. Children 12 and younger are admitted free.
Oldtone Music Festival takes place Sept. 10 through 13 at Cool Whisper Farm, 1011 County Route 21 in Ghent, New York. For tickets, camping information and the complete schedule, visit oldtone.org.
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