MILLERTON — The village business community mourned the loss of a favorite shopkeeper when Barbara Walker, owner of the former long-time vintage store B.W. Eagle Eye, passed away on Saturday, April 11, from the coronavirus. She was 83 years old.
Regardless of how they met her or the extent of their acquaintance, many will remember Walker from her legendary sense of style, her lively sense of humor and the friendships she formed with shoppers and residents. Spanning 26 years, her store stood as one of the village’s oldest operating businesses. It was a place for Walker to channel her passion for the fashion industry and her retail experience into a successful Main Street business. Beyond the rows of fashion and home accessories, new and vintage clothing, antique jewelry and other treasures, customers could always count on finding Walker behind the counter with a welcoming smile and a discerning eye for selecting the perfect item.
Though Walker closed her shop’s doors for good back in December of 2017, her presence lingered in the minds of her fellow merchants, many of whom had the privilege of calling her a friend.
“She was a stylish character who was a Millerton icon,” said Kent Hunter, co-owner of Hunter Bee antiques in Millerton. “She had such a great history — she had great stories of fashion and the New York design industry.”
Having known Walker for almost a decade, Hunter said, “I will say we will always miss Barbara’s hourly visits to the shop. She would just pop in three or four times a day, and we always had fun seeing her. We’ve missed her, of course, for several years, but now there’s a big legend that’s gone.”
Combing through her memories of Walker, Jan Gilmor, co-owner of the now-closed Gilmor Glass Works at the corner of Main Street and Route 22, said she and Walker hit it off from the moment Walker stopped into her store to introduce herself. Calling Walker one of her close friends, Gilmor recounted how her late friend always dressed fashionably regardless of her surroundings and how she could always see the humor in others as well as in herself. Since she was always the first to know what was going on in the local region, Gilmor said she used to joke that Walker was “the town crier.
“She was a force of nature and she had a very, very powerful personality,” Gilmor said. “There were times when we disagreed and she wasn’t afraid of making her displeasure known, but in the end, she was always very supportive and very kind. We always patched it up.”
As a testament of the sincerity of their friendship, Gilmor shared the memory of Walker’s weekly visits when Gilmor was hospitalized for Guillain-Barré syndrome.
“She almost never missed a week,” Gilmor said, “and if she couldn’t come, we’d always talk on the phone. I can’t say enough for how supportive she was.”
Though the beloved former merchant has now passed away due to a health crisis that has all but brought the world to its knees, it’s clear memories of the fashionable Barbara Walker, with her trademark bob hairstyle and her dazzling smile, will remain in the hearts of Millertonites for many years to come.
PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains FFA Ag Fair brought a crowd to the high school on Church Street Saturday, Oct. 11.
Kicking off the day was the annual tractor pull, attracting a dedicated crowd that sat in bleachers and folding chairs for hours watching Allison-Chalmers, International Harvesters and John Deeres compete to pull the heaviest weights.
A large collection of food was on offer from the Pine Plains FFA and each one of the classes in the Pine Plains Central School District. The football team was selling pickles.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd enjoyed a dip in the dunk tank to raise money for the Pine Plains teachers’ union-sponsored scholarship.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd got dunked several times during his half-hour shift in the dunk tank. Proceeds from the throws benefitted the Photo by Nathan Miller
The Rev. AJ Stack, center right, blessing a chicken at the pet blessing event at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia on Saturday, Oct. 4.
AMENIA — After serving more than five years as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia, the Rev. AJ Stack announced Tuesday, Oct. 7, that he will resign from the church and Food of Life/Comida de Vida pantry. His last day at his current post will be Sunday, Nov. 2, the conclusion of the Feast of All Saints.
The news was shared in two emails from Stack — one to Food of Life pantry subscribers and volunteers, and another to parish members.
“I write tonight with difficult news, and I wanted you to hear it from me as soon as the Vestry and I had a chance to meet,” he wrote. “After much prayer and careful discernment, I have submitted my resignation to the Vestry as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas, and therefore as Executive Director of Food of Life/Comida de Vida.”
Stack provided few details about his departure. At time of publication, he had not announced his next steps but said the decision was “not sudden,” and followed careful consideration over a period of months. He will not be leaving the area or the diocese.
An announcement about his path forward and the transition process is expected soon. In the meantime, Stack said he remains “fully present” at the church, and the food pantry services will continue without interruption.
Stack expressed gratitude for the community and the growth of St. Thomas’ mission during his tenure. “Together we have welcomed new neighbors and strengthened our outreach in meaningful ways,” he said. “I trust that good work will continue.”
He joined St. Thomas in March 2020 and guided the church and community through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent interview with The News about the food pantry, Stack estimated that it serves 653 individuals from 156 households each week, highlighting a significant contribution to the community.
The announcement was met with messages of reassurance from pantry volunteers. Jolly Stewart, a Vestry member and volunteer, wrote to the community with words of reassurance following the announcement. “I have complete faith in the strength of the parish of St. Thomas,” she wrote. “Our history shows how we have done this time and again, each time becoming more than what we were before. We can, without a doubt, do this now.”
MILLERTON — Ten candidates for office in the Nov. 4 election will answer questions from Dutchess County voters at a candidate forum on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Annex at the NorthEast-Millerton Library located at 28 Century Blvd.
The forum, which is sponsored by the library, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Candidates for local and county offices will answer questions from residents in attendance or from residents who have submitted questions in advance.
“We’re excited to keep the tradition of the candidate forum going,” said Rhiannon Leo-Jameson, director of the library. “Some years we can’t always get candidates together.”
This year’s forum will include:
Rachele Grieco Cole, a Democrat, and Chris Mayville, a Republican, who both are running uncontested for the North East Town Council;
Casey McCabe, a Democrat, also running uncontested for North East Justice.
Among Dutchess County races:
Tracy MacKenzie, who is endorsed by Republicans and Democrats, is running uncontested for Dutchess County Family Court Judge;
Kara Gerry, a Democrat, and Ned McLoughlin, a Republican, are in a contest for a Dutchess County Court judgeship currently held by McLoughlin.
Chris Drago, D-19, and Tonya Pulver, a Republican, are competing to represent Dutchess County’s19th District seat currently held by Drago.
Democratic incumbent Dan Aymar-Blair and Will Truitt, the Republican chair of the county legislature, are competing for the Dutchess County Comptroller position currently held by Aymar-Blair.
Leo-Jameson is encouraging questions for the candidates to be submitted in advance, which will not be revealed to candidates beforehand. Dutchess County residents may pose questions during the forum. To submit a question on the library’s website, go to the calendar at nemillertonlibrary.org and find the link in the Oct. 24calendar entries.
The format calls for opening statements from the candidates, followed by questions from residents, and candidates will be able to stay after the forum to answer questions personally.
The “Elusive Ki Shusui” koi were temporarily relocated into a tub before being returned to their home pond at Maxine Pietro’s annual koi harvest at Broccoli Hall Farm in Amenia on Friday, Oct. 10. Speaking of their yellowish beauty, Pietro is pictured pointing out that the fish are scaleless but for scales that grow along the “zipper” on each fish’s dorsal ridge. The koi in the photo are estimated to be 6 or 7 years old.
