MILLERTON — After 20 years, the Harlem Valley Rail Trail (HVRT), one of the region’s most popular recreational resources, now allows cyclists, walkers, runners, skaters and other trail goers to head north on the new extension, which stretches from Main Street in Millerton to Beilke Road in Ancram.
The old Harlem line
It all started with the railroad. The Trail’s website, www.hvrt.org, explains that the New York & Harlem Railroad originated in the 1830s as an early commuter railroad, linking lower Manhattan to the suburb of Harlem.
In the 1840s, the railroad extended northward into Westchester County, and by 1845, the New York State Legislature authorized further extension northward to connect with Albany.
At the time, an inland route up the Harlem Valley was chosen because it was easier and less costly to construct compared to a route following the Hudson River, according to the website. By 1852, the railroad was built north to Chatham, completing a line more than 125 miles from Manhattan.
In subsequent years, the upper portion of the New York & Harlem Railroad would become a secondary line in the Vanderbilt New York Central Railroad empire, which would later merge with the Pennsylvania Railroad to form a mega-railroad known as the Penn Central Corporation.
Bankruptcy and entropy
In the wake of its bankruptcy, the railroad’s management began cutting costs and abandoning thousands of miles of low-profit branch and secondary lines, including the Upper Harlem Line between Millerton and Chatham.
The Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association (HVRTA) explains a federal plan reorganized Penn Central into a down-sized Conrail System and eliminated the Harlem Line north of Millerton in 1976. The line was cut back farther south to Wassaic and then Dover Plains.
With New York State’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) assuming responsibility for commuter services in 1972, the service district was extended back to Wassaic from Dover Plains in 2000; the Upper Harlem Line also received upgrades.
Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association Chairman Dick Hermans said it was during the 1970s that trucks were making a lot of the freight deliveries; the last items being delivered to Millerton via freight were pet food and propane.
With the trucks taking business away from the railroads and with the section leading to Millerton in poor condition, the railroad system abandoned the section extending to Millerton. By 1981, the track was officially removed between Wassaic and Millerton and northward to Chatham.
Why the rail bed was saved
Hermans said it was thought that making use of the linear corridor between the communities left behind from the railroads was a good idea so that, on some future date, a modern kind of train could perhaps return to the area. Once the corridor is gone, Hermans said, it would be hard to duplicate it.
Totaling 4.5 miles, the first section of the trail connects Amenia to Coleman Station and was completed in 1996; the trail was extended from Coleman Station to Millerton in 2000, adding another 3.6 miles.
More than just a place saver, the trail is also an enormously popular free recreational resource. Hermans said he believes it has proven its worth to the region. Eventually the trail will cover 23 miles, from the Metro-North Wassaic Train Station in Amenia to the Copake Falls area of Taconic State Park.
While there are still many miles to go before the project is completed in full, community members and leaders were excited nonetheless by the news of the northbound section opening for public use.
“Our patience will be rewarded,” said North East town Supervisor Chris Kennan in a recent newsletter. “It’s going to be a stunningly beautiful asset to our already very beautiful part of the world.”
Hermans said, “I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
When the project began in 2000, the HVRTA’s hope was always to extend it north.
“Little did anybody know it would take 20 years,” Hermans commented. “But here we are.”
The HVRTA is currently raising funds for a matching grant to build a trail linking Black Grocery Road in Copake and Orphan Farm Meadow in Copake Falls, totaling 4.9 miles at a likely cost of $2.4 million.
Hermans said the group is also working on a Bridge to Nature project over Webatuck Creek in Millerton, which will serve as an outdoor educational project to give trail visitors a deeper understanding of all they see when they’re on the trail and the impacts that humans have on the natural world.
Additionally, the HVRTA is still trying to raise funds to install a pedestrian bridge in Hillsdale; at this time, it has $75,000 pledged and is looking to match that with another $75,000.
Looking ahead, the HVRTA will seek bids for the construction of the bridge project in the spring. With any luck and no stumbling blocks, that section should be built next year.
Leila Hawken
Celebrating the significant history of embroidery and its place within the fabric of the community, an exhibit opening was held on Thursday, April 9, at the Millbrook Library. Millbrook Historical Society secretary Alison Meyer, co-organizer of the event, provided welcoming remarks. The exhibit will continue until Saturday, May 2.
MILLBROOK — A new exhibit at the Millbrook Library tells the story of the Millbrook Needlework Guild, a storied group that has threaded its way through the past century of life in the village.
The exhibit opening was held on Thursday, April 9, attracting residents and visitors to view exquisite historic pieces of needlework art, all linked to today’s Millbrook due to their continuing importance as local works of art.
Assembled by the Millbrook Historical Society in a project that spanned two years, Society Secretary Alison Meyer, co-organizer of the event, welcomed a substantial turnout of residents and visitors. Meyer noted the contributions of her co-coordinator, Society board member Denise Bauer in bringing the event to life.
“It all began with the Millbrook Needlework Guild organized in 1954. The legacy has been preserved in churches, homes and the library,” Meyer said, noting that exhibit pieces have been loaned from throughout the village community.
“It’s gone from a local endeavor to the national scene and now back to local,” Meyer added. Also participating in the exhibit is the area’s Skyllkill Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America that was formed in 1974, continuing the tradition to the present day.
A highlight of the opening was the presentation of a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the Millbrook Historical Society to resident Anne Collins who had first suggested the idea for the exhibit.
When it was formed in 1954, the Millbrook Needlework Guild, whose members were local women devoted to the art, was gifted with a house donated by Margaret Thorne Parshall. The house still stands at the corner of Franklin and Maple Avenues. The imposing home also served as an academy for instruction in embroidery, under the tutelage of then Millbrook resident Erica Wilson who came to be known by many as “the first lady of stitchery.” Wilson’s shops still operate in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
In 1958, Parshall helped establish the American branch of the British Embroidery Guild, having traveled to England to meet with needleworkers. That organization became the Embroiderers’ Guild of America in 1958.
The exhibit will continue at the Millbrook Library until Saturday, May 2.
Leila Hawken
MILLBROOK — Among the many activities planned for the Millbrook Community-wide Yard Sale on Saturday, April 25, will be a repair café offered at the Millbrook Library between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The rain date will be Sunday, April 26.
Residents can bring up to two small items in need of attention to the library and find local experts willing to provide free repairs. The event is intended to keep such items from being discarded into landfills, when all that may be needed is a small fix.
Eligible for repair are broken lamps and small appliances, jewelry, wooden furniture, mending, and darning among sewing services. Local repair coaches will either fix the item or provide advice on where to take it next. The community is also invited to bring knives in need of sharpening.
Demonstrations of bicycle maintenance will be a feature. Bring plastic bags and batteries to the library for recycling during the event.
The Community-wide Yard Sale provides an opportunity for Millbrook neighbors to get together and share in finding treasures at yard sales throughout the village, enjoy music, get things repaired at the library, or simply socialize.
Leila Hawken
Sophia Zhou
AMENIA — The Bang Family Concert Series will feature New York-based pianist Sophia Zhou in performance at The Smithfield Church on Saturday, April 18, beginning at 3 p.m.
Zhou’s program “Into the Light” will include a rare treat — Beethoven’s grandest and most technically challenging piano sonata, “Waldstein,” along with works by Mozart, Chopin, and Debussy.
The concert is open to the public. A suggested donation of $20, payable at the door, will contribute toward funding more concerts. A reception with refreshments will follow the concert.
The Bang Family Concert Series has a tradition of hosting eclectic performances by gifted musicians from the Tri-Corner area. Known to area residents, Zhou has performed internationally as a soloist and chamber musician in New York, Washington, D.C., Amsterdam and Shanghai. She has played with chamber musicians in New York, Hong Kong and with faculty from The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute and Manhattan School of Music.
Currently, Zhou serves as Founder and Artistic Director of the Millbrook Music Salon.
The Smithfield Church is located at 656 Smithfield Valley Road in Amenia. The church is accessible for people with disabilities.
For more information, go to thesmithfieldchurch.org/concerts.
Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
Leila Hawken
MILLBROOK — The village Board of Trustees is considering allowing bingo and games of chance within Millbrook again, more than four years after officials repealed a local law and effectively banned the activities in 2021.
Two local laws that, if passed, would allow bingo and other games of chance to be included in fundraising events were discussed by the Board of Trustees at its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 8.
The trustees voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing for Local Law No. 2 and No. 3 on Wednesday, April 22, beginning at 6 p.m. at Village Hall.
Bingo and games of chance are seen as significant highlights of the fire department’s annual carnival.
“We need a new local law,” Mayor Peter Doro said, explaining that it would provide the legal framework to allow the games.
Doro said that the village’s legal counsel is drafting resolutions to establish the local laws. Following the public hearing phase, the village would need to hold a special election to approve the new local laws.
The date for the special election was set by the Trustees for Tuesday, June 23, in time for the firemen’s summer carnival.
Doro explained that the special election could be administered locally, probably at the firehouse.
To limit costs, the town could print the ballots, but the Dutchess County Board of Elections has advised that four paid poll watchers would be needed to oversee the process. Because a small turnout of voters would be likely, votes could be hand-counted, rather than machine-counted, Doro added.
Nathan Miller
MILLBROOK — Millbrook’s Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution to adopt the 2026-27 town budget following a public hearing at its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 8.
The budget for the coming year totals $2,538,844, up 0.25% from $2,532,541 in the current year.
Mayor Peter Doro said the increase falls within the 2% property tax cap imposed on local governments by New York State since 2012. Budget lines showing anticipated increases include utilities, paid ambulance service and insurance.
“We’ve all worked hard in the past months,” Doro said, describing the budget review process that involves each of the village’s departments.
Separate unanimous approvals were adopted for the 2026-27 water and sewer budgets. The Water Department budget totals $425,500, up from the current year of $411,950. The Sewer Department budget totals $470,425, up from $435,100.
Although no public comment was offered during the hearing, one trustee suggested that the village should remain vigilant about rising costs.
“There are things we could do to mitigate costs,” said Trustee Shannon Mawson.
To view a copy of the budget as adopted, go to www.villageofmillbrookny.com.
Millerton News
MILLERTON — Robert E. Stapf Sr. (Bobbo), a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend to many, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2026, at the age of 77, happily at home surrounded by lots and lots of love and with the best care ever.
Bob was born Jan. 16, 1949, to the late Peter and Dorothy (Fountain) Stapf. He began working at an early age, met his forever love, Sandy, in 7th grade and later graduated from Pine Plains Central School.
Following graduation, Bob and Sandy (Snyder) were married on Sept. 18, 1971. Bob soon began as a diesel mechanic, working at H.O. Penn and then Dutchess County Diesel for most of his career. He also loved every minute at Orvis Sandanona and all the other clubs where he worked with his dogs for over 50 years.
While Bob was happy outdoors hunting, snowmobiling and playing golf whenever he could and spending a lot of time customizing his 1949 Chevy Pickup, winning a lot of trophies at car shows all around, he was happiest spending time with family and friends. He could be found almost every morning having coffee with his buddies at Talk of the Town where he was “the mayor.”
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 54 years and best nurse, Sandy, of Millerton, his four children; Michelle Cianfarani and her husband Vinnie, Robin Stapf and her husband Rob, Bobby Jr. and his wife Jean and Kristofer Stapf and his wife Lauren, his 7 grandchildren; Zachary, Adriana, Mackenzie, Addison, “Bobcat,” Audrey and Maddie and his 2 great grandchildren; Nevaeh and Leiana. Bob is also survived by his 3 sisters; Barbara Holdridge (Everett), Debbie Bryant (Terry) and Wendy Lind (George), his 2 brothers: Peter Stapf (Donna) and John Stapf (Jane) along with many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to send our love and sincere appreciation to all of the wonderful nurses and doctors at Vassar Brothers Medical Center along with the nurses from Hospice Care who always took such great care of Bob for us.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and offer condolences on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Peck & Peck Funeral Homes, 7749 South Main Street, Pine Plains, New York.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a small donation to Hospice Care for continued support to those who need it most. For directions, share a favorite memory or to leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.peckandpeck.net
Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
