Millerton shines under the stars

MILLERTON — Bodies twirled, feet shuffled and a few kids got balloon animals during “Dancing Under the Stars� July 24, a free dance event at Eddie Collins Field in Millerton.

The event was organized by Handy Boys Enterprise, a Lake- ville, Conn., based company. The event drew in many local business sponsors, a DJ, a balloon-animal maker and face-painter for children, a local musical collective and a dance instruction duo well versed in many styles and steps.

The main attraction of the night was the Esther and Ben Dance Academy, based out of Pleasant Valley. Ben Murtha, a rather silent man, was the perfect complement to Hungarian Esther Odescalchi, who played the role of sassy instructor as the duo moved through the tango, merengue and many other dances.

“Ladies, we have only four beats to go on, so will you get moving?� she asked sarcastically in a thick eastern European accent, to the delight of the crowd.

In all, there were perhaps 50 local residents who filled the pavilion at Eddie Collins Field, near the swimming pool. There was plenty of room for everyone, whatever the activity.

“It’s fabulous,� said Amy Baden, who was watching her 5-year-old daughter, Chloe, get a butterfly painted on her cheek. “The kids are having a great time.�

“Dancing Under the Stars� is the latest free community event put on by Handy Boys, which is run by Troy Ramcharran. He had been busy for the past few weeks, reaching out to the local newspapers and radio stations, advertising for the dancing event as well as two “Movie Under the Stars� planned for Aug. 14 (the movie is “Planet 51�) and Aug. 28 (“Astro Boy�). Both of those events are free as well, and will take place on Eddie Collins Field, starting when it’s dark enough to see the large projection screen.

“My thing is all about the kids,� Ramcharran said on Saturday. “They’ve got plenty to do, they’re having a good time. We want to make it fun from July to September, and it’s simple to be a part of.�

Local businesses in the area pitched in to help with everything from the cost of hiring Ben and Esther to providing free drinks and ice cream after dancers had worked up a sweat. And it was all provided free of charge, with maybe a few business cards handed out at the end of the night.

“A simple, ‘That was a great job,’ that’s all it takes to get me going,� Ramcharran said, smiling, about what motivates him to organize such special nights “under the stars.�

Latest News

Stanford home market sees nine sales in July and August

Built in 1820, 1168 Bangall Amenia Road sold for $875,000 on July 31 with the transfer recorded in August. It has a Millbrook post office and is located in the Webutuck school district.

Christine Bates

STANFORD — The Town of Stanford with nine transfers in two months reached a median price in August of $573,000 for single family homes, still below Stanford’s all-time median high in August 2024 of $640,000.

At the beginning of October there is a large inventory of single-family homes listed for sale with only six of the 18 homes listed for below the median price of $573,000 and seven above $1 million.

Keep ReadingShow less
Out on the trail
Nathan Miller

Hunt club members and friends gathered near Pugsley Hill at the historic Wethersfield Estate and Gardens in Amenia for the opening meet of the 2025-2026 Millbrook Hunt Club season on Saturday, Oct. 4. Foxhunters took off from Wethersfield’s hilltop gardens just after 8 a.m. for a hunting jaunt around Amenia’s countryside.

Millbrook Library dedicates pollinator pathway garden

Joining in the fun at the dedication of the new pollinator pathway garden at The Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4, local expert gardener Maryanne Snow Pitts provides information about a planting to Lorraine Mirabella of Poughkeepsie.

Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK — Participating in a patchwork of libraries that have planted pollinator pathway gardens to attract insects and birds to their native plantings was one of the accomplishments being celebrated at the dedication of a new pollinator garden at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4.

“A lot of work went into it,” said Emma Sweeney, past President of the Millbrook Garden Club, who started the local library’s initiative two years ago.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia Town Board continues discussing board alternates

Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.

Nathan Miller

AMENIA — After gathering comments from the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, as it considers adding alternate members to those boards, the Town Board discussed possible changes to local laws governing those boards at its meeting on Friday, Oct. 3. The meeting date, usually on a Thursday, had been changed to accommodate a holiday.

In recent weeks Town Board attorney Ian Lindars has been compiling comments from the affected boards along with comments from the Town Board. The new laws may bring the appointment of two alternate members to each board. Alternate members are likely to be required to attend all meetings and be prepared to be seated if needed and be familiar with the applications being discussed. They would also need to take training required of all board members.

Keep ReadingShow less