With so many changes taking place in the world today, including in our local business communities, The Millerton News has been taking a closer look at how the village of Millerton has evolved in the years leading up to the present day. The paper has been running a multi-part series on the many alterations that have taken place in the Millerton business district since it was first established in the late 1800s. This is the third and last part in that series.
Part III
MILLERTON — Today, of course, the hip village of Millerton offers many amenities and resources for locals and visitors alike — from the scenic Harlem Valley Rail Trail (HVRT) just steps from the Main Street shopping district to the oodles of antiques shops to the trendy spots where one can pick up anything from a 100% natural Pyrenean Duck Down duvet cover for a mere $1,533 at Westerlind to an 8 oz. jar of Meyer Lemon Rosemary Jelly from Les Collines at The Dig for a more reasonable $16 to a catnip seed packet from the Hudson Valley Seed Co. at Oblong Books & Music for an affordable $3.99 — but the one thing shoppers won’t find in Millerton these days is a grocery store.
Sans supermarket & sewer
In 1971 brothers Skip and Robert Trotta, who own the Millerton Square Plaza on Route 44 heading east toward the Connecticut border, opened the Millerton Super grocery store at the plaza; it later became the Great American, then Grand Union, and lastly, the space was leased by the owners of the successful Sharon Farm Market in neighboring Connecticut who opened it as the Millerton Fresh Market in 2017. However, the store’s model did not do well in New York and it closed in 2019.
Millerton has been without a supermarket- ever since — creating a huge void in its ability to remain self sufficient and forcing local residents to rely on convenience stores, farmers markets, food delivery services, specialty shops and food pantries for sustenance. None of these are practical for a community that wants to be 100% independent and build up its reputation as a place where economic development can thrive.
The village is also without a sewer system, which the Village and Town Boards have been actively pursuing; the Millerton Business Alliance (MBA) just launched a petition drive during the weekend of April 17, “to build support for the creation of a wastewater disposal system” in the business district.
Oblong Books & Music co-owner and HVRT Association President Dick Hermans, who was recently tapped to be on the town’s Economic Development Committee, said he’s confident a “grocery store will be on the top of their agenda,” words the town supervisor has himself confirmed to this newspaper. Hermans, who is also active with the Millerton Business Alliance, said he firmly believes a wastewater solution is essential for future economic development.
“I would just like to see the septic water disposal happen because it really would inspire people to fix our properties a little more and to fix up older buildings in town,” he said.
Hermans owns the Oblong property at 26 Main St. and has invested in his building over the years, making regular repairs to the older structure and improving property values in the village’s business district as a result.
Other Main Street upgrades and additions
Improvements are also being made right now at The Moviehouse, which was just sold on March 15 by longtime owner Carol Sadlon. Sadlon founded the theater and arts space with her late husband, Robert, in 1978. She sold the iconic entertainment venue to Connecticut buyers David Maltby and Chelsea Altman. The pair has big plans, which will keep the theater as an anchor in the business district and as a draw for residents from around the Tri-state region.
It’s one of the many reasons why Gillian Osnato, who is also from over the border but now lives in Millerton, said she decided to open a confectionery and ice-cream shop on Main Street — smack in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Osnato named her shop Candy-O’s; it’s located at 28 Main St. She spoke of the village’s other attractions.
“I definitely think the Rail Trail is a really unique and exciting feature that draws people to the town, and then there’s The Moviehouse,” she said, “when it opens up again it will be a really fun and exciting thing to have, especially because as a kid that’s what we did, you would go to the movies and you would get excited to do that. Otherwise you had to travel so far.
“This really is a tourist town, even before the pandemic. You can’t go over the border to Lakeville or to Salisbury or Sharon even. The closest tourist hub is Great Barrington, Mass.,” she said. “This has become the spot, and it’s the kind of place where having grown up here and seeing it evolve is kind of amazing.”
Osnato’s father, Sal, owns the T-Shirt Farm, just a few stores down, at the corner of South Center Street and Main, where he sells all sorts of T-shirts that can be customized with graphic iron-on images along with sweatshirts and mugs and other novelty items. He’s been a Millerton merchant for years and encouraged his daughter to open, even though it was an unusual business climate. The risk was well worth it, she said.
A surprisingly good time to start a business
“There wasn’t anything like it,” said Osnato of her candy store. “We knew it would be a good fit… having sweets and everybody loves ice cream… Go to any destination town and there will be a shop like mine.”
In fact, Osnato has been so successful since opening on March 19, mainly catering to families with children after 3 p.m. on weekends, that some days she serves 100 people or more.
“I think people are ready to just indulge, in the best sense of the word,” said the new businesswoman, who praised her fellow Main Street merchants for being so supportive.
She also said, while realizing that business today is not like in the old days when everybody knew their neighbors and shopkeepers, she is getting acquainted with her regulars.
“I know a lot of them… and track new and returning customers; I’m getting a lot of returning customers and have my regulars already,” she said. “I already know what they’re going to get before they walk in the door. I have one gentleman who gets two scoops of vanilla with hot fudge and whipped cream. It’s great, it’s kind of really cool to see them; you get to know your customer by what they like and what they’re excited about. If they like a special candy I’ll order it for them.”
Shopping local
Osnato said she also makes it a point to shop locally herself, and support her fellow merchants.
“I just bought a birthday present for my sister at Demitasse next door, then I went to The Dig. I love the bakery, and obviously I love my dad’s shop; I love shopping locally,” she said. “Obviously there are things you can’t get locally but people are starting to fill the void. You can go into The Dig or Demitasse and get a toothbrush made of wood or recycled materials that is eco-friendly, and that’s good. Then there’s the bookstore, which I love. The only thing we really need is a grocery store. I get my lunches all the time at Irving Farm or the diner, and get dinner take-out. It’s nice to get to know the people in the community.”
Part of the next generation, having just turned 32 on May 4, Osnato said shopping locally is incredibly important to her.
“The idea of supporting businesses locally that need our support is great; instead of shopping on Amazon I said I’ll go see what I can get in town and support merchants locally,” she said. “I think that empowered me in a way, and I saw how everyone was successful.”
One thing she would really like to see added to the business community besides a grocery store? A shoe store.
“Just the other day I thought I need a pair of shoes and wished we had a cool small shoe store,” said Osnato. “We need something like that. We need to bring back all those small merchants that you see in those busy popular towns because locals shop there as well as people visiting and people like to see that uniqueness.”’
Which is the ultimate balance long-time residents, business owners and their workers, as well as the newcomers who fall into those categories seemingly want to strike — to create a community that provides for everyone — all of whom seem to fall into the broad definition of “locals” and all of whom clearly feel an ownership and a love for the village of Millerton.
Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.
I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.
We make a left on Salmon Kill Road and begin the most beautiful five-mile section of the route through rolling hills and beautiful farm country spread out over the length of the scenic valley. Fortunately, the Salmon Kill Bridge has been reopened after a two-year reconstruction — its lengthy closure was a real bummer.
After a short climb and descent, Salmon Kill terminates at Lime Rock Road.
This is the busiest and least enjoyable section of the ride, but lasts only about a mile when we turn left at the Trinity Lime Rock Episcopal Church and follow Dugway Road, with its rolling hills along the south side of the Housatonic River.
We usually stop on the Falls River Bridge to check out the volume of water flowing over the Great Falls. We make a right off the bridge on to Water Street, pass the power plant and Appalachian Trail parking lot, and go under the railroad bridge with a sharp left up a steep but short hill north on Route 126 (Point of Rocks Road.)
Now we’re on a long, flat run that includes a slight right on Sand Road, which we follow all the way to Route 7 at the Canaan Country Club. A left here leaves you on a very busy state highway less than a mile before turning right onto Lower Road — be careful — but there’s plenty of shoulder.
Lower Road runs parallel to the Blackberry River and passes both modern and historic local industry: the impressive lime rock quarry operated by Specialty Minerals Inc., followed by the Beckley Iron Furnace State Park.
Next, we make a left on the appropriately named Furnace Road, across Route 44 — careful again — and face a steep but short climb up Allyndale Rd. Following it to the left begins a long stretch of beautiful farms and distant views of the Southfield and New Marlborough hills. We pick up a lot of speed downhill, zip past Sodom Road, and then a flat stretch to Clayton Road and into Massachusetts.
Continue straight (north) on Polikoff Road, then make a left onto Hewins Road if you want to keep the ride short. Alternatively, you could turn right on Hewins Road and follow it to Maple and into Sheffield to add another 5 to 10 miles.
But, if you’re sticking with the 32-mile ride, turn left on Hewins and take it across Route 7, followed by a left on Main Street and into Ashley Falls’ bucolic town center.
The right turn on Rannapo Road takes us along and across the winding Housatonic River ,where we watch the corn grow from seedlings to more than six feet by late summer.
Next is a left on to the daunting Cooper Hill Road — the steepest and only tough climb of the route. The effort is rewarded by spectacular 360-degree views, including the mountains of the Taconic Ridge and Appalachian Trail to the west.
A left onto Silver Road leads to the payoff: two steep descents, a view of the Twin Lakes on the left, and arrival at stately Taconic Road, home to some of Salisbury’s grandest old estates. A left on Taconic Road offers more rolling farm hills and beautiful views of the Taconic Ridge.
It terminates at Route 44, where we make a right (west) and let the long, steep descent carry us all the way into Salisbury, past the White Hart Inn and back to our starting point at Town Hall.
That’s the route: a relatively flat 1,500 feet of climbing with minimal car traffic. We usually reward ourselves with post-ride refreshments on the White Hart lawn.
I hope you enjoy this local gem of a ride!
Kent Hiteshew is a Salisbury cyclist.
This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete.It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.
Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.
The ride starts and ends at The Farmer’s Wife Café in Ancramdale, a great place for lunch or refreshments after the ride.(The café is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays).Parking is usually available between the café and the Ancramdale post office.But be courteous — don’t monopolize parking needed by the café’s guests and staff!
Here are the coordinates for the ride:
Turn left out of the parking lot of the Farmer’s Wife onto County Road 8.
At .5 miles, turn left on Crest Lane
At 1.9 miles, turn left on East Ancram Road
At 6.8 miles, turn left on County Road 3
At 7.0 miles, turn right on Wiltsie Bridge Road
At 7.7 miles, turn right on Empire Road
At 10.7 miles, go straight through the village of Copake onto Main Street.
At 11.1 miles, bear left onto Farm Road
At 11.3 miles, turn left on Mountain View Road
At 12.1 miles turn right on County Road 7A
At 12.3 miles, turn left on Snyder Pond Road
At 13.0 miles turn left to stay on Snyder Pond Road
At 14.2 miles, turn right on County Road 7
At 14.8 miles turn left on County Road 27 (This is where there is short hill.)
At 15.5 miles, make a hairpin turn to the left on County Road 27A.(This can be easy to miss so be on the lookout for it).
At 17.5 miles, go straight across County Road 7 onto Four Corners Road.
At 18.7 miles, turn right on Wiltsie Bridge Road
At 19.0 miles, turn left on Snyder Road
At 20.3 miles, bear left onto Roche Drive
At 20.8 miles, turn right on County Road 3
Follow County Road 3 back to Ancramdale and the Farmer’s Wife.
Jeremy Koch is a Norfolk cyclist.
Chris Virtuoso reorganized parcel records in the North East Town Hall basement by parcel number during the process of scanning and digitizing the documents.
MILLERTON — Within the walls of the two-story Victorian housing the North East Town Hall lies a room-full of town records dating back to the late 19th century. Stored in labeled cardboard boxes and protected by dehumidifiers, the records are in the process of being dated, organized, and scanned into categorized online programs.
As the Town Hall works to relocate to 5603 Route 22 at the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, the consolidation and digitalization of records, as well as the disposal of those unneeded, is a time-sensitive project. Marcy Wheatley, the Deputy Town Clerk, emphasized their current heavy focus on organizing and scanning. “Now, when we move, we can get rid of a lot,” Wheatley stated.
The digitalization process in North East began in November of 2015, when the program LaserFiche was selected due to a grant shared with the nearby towns of Amenia, Dover Plains and Beekman. The program was shared until 2024 and now each town scans documents separately to their individual clouds.
The organization and scanning process is a daunting one because the Town Hall keeps historic, business, judicial and assessors records. Town Clerk Elizabeth “Tilly” Strauss explained that it is a learning process to go through the records, organize and keep or destroy based on retention schedules of certain items.
There are two forms of scanning and storing documents that the town has utilized. The Town Clerk’s office uses the system BAS for scanning vital records, minutes, invoices and resolutions. This system is updated constantly as new information comes in, but Wheatley, along with other offices in the Town Hall, has been working backwards to digitize all of the old files as well. Wheatley scans documents for about an hour every afternoon. “That’s what it takes to keep up to date,” she said. There are currently 3324 files in the system.
The other mode of scanning and storing documents is through the IPS system, which gets records from planning, zoning, building and assessors. Chris Virtuoso, who started as a tax collector in 2021, stepped up to lead this half of the process beginning in 2022.
“He had a big task. He had boxes all over the place. He was spread out, he was intense and focused,” Wheatley said of Virtuoso. According to Wheatley and Strauss, the project did not only include scanning and reordering, but a complete reorganization.
“What happened was, a lot of files were under the names of farmers, but they then either got sold or were subdivided,” said Strauss. “Chris has been scanning and organizing into and by parcel number instead of name.”
Virtuoso first began this project by finding parcel locations on the assessors map and looking through files of names and addresses. He then sorted through boxes to find the parcel numbers, organizing them into new boxes based on zone and ordered by parcel number.
“If somebody buys a parcel now and they want to know the history, they can go down there with the number for the parcel and those folders are in there,” stated Virtuoso. “That was the end goal, to get everything from alphabetical order into parcel number order.”
Virtuoso had also found a log tracking all cases by number, which went back until 2005, and added blank pages for all of the newly-scanned files dating back to 1968. This book is now up to date, and current cases and pages are added every year.
“You become like Sherlock Holmes,” said Virtuoso. “What I always kept in mind was, when I’m not here anymore, will someone be able to figure this out?”
From his start in 2022 to March 2023 when both planning and zoning were completely up to date, Virtuoso would come to the Town Hall every morning to scan for two or three hours, five days a week, while still maintaining his career as a realtor.
As of March 2023, when Virtuoso wrote a report on his progress, 361 case files were scanned for the Zoning Board of Appeals. He had also deleted and destroyed any duplicates, removed any metal that may damage the documents, resecured the folders, and organized everything by parcel number with room for additional files.
“He went above and beyond,” Wheatley stated.
Virtuoso — and the Town Clerks — are eager to move to the new Town Hall property. “Look, this is an old home, it’s charming, but we need room for all those files, we need more space and offices,” said Virtuoso.
“I can’t wait,” Strauss stated. “We’re going to have new shelves and everything organized by departments. It’s going to be beautiful.” After condensing, destroying duplicates and scanning, all records will be brought to the new location, however, the digitized copies will serve as backup and for convenience.
Although the process is viewed as an overall success, there are still a few remaining hopes for the future. Virtuoso hopes for collaboration with other towns to buy or lease a large-format scanner for large-scale maps, blueprints, and other important documents that have yet to be scanned.
Virtuoso also hopes to make the Historical Society aware of the rich and unique history that he found within the basement boxes, opening the possibility for deeper understanding of the local area. “The files are important because they do have a certain chunk of history.”
The Thorne Building on Franklin Avenue in the village of Millbrook.
MILLBROOK — Summer fun is just around the corner, thanks to the fire department and the return of the Fire Department Carnival scheduled to open on Wednesday, July 9, and continue through Saturday, July 12, on the Thorne Building grounds on Franklin Avenue.
Opening night activities will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9. The Carnival will open each night at 7 p.m., remaining open until 11 p.m.
There will be fun for everyone. All activities are free. Visitors can enjoy Bingo, games of chance, rides and games, and a 50/50 raffle drawing each night. Food will be available.
Music will be a feature on Thursday through Saturday. From 8 to 11 p.m. enjoy the sounds of DJ Gourmet on Thursday, Heavy Gauge on Friday, and Rhythm and Blues on Saturday.
Also on Saturday plan to be on hand for one of the largest parades in Dutchess County, starting at 6 p.m., proceeding along Franklin Avenue.
