Kris Kudritz of Stafford Tree LLC in Ashley Falls, Mass., hovers with an electric plug in one hand as he strings lights in a tree near the Irondale Schoolhouse in Millerton on Wednesday, Nov. 8, in preparation for the Festival of Lights.
MILLERTON — Every year, the shops, restaurants, fire department, and other businesses that comprise the Millerton Business Alliance put on a weekend of holiday entertainment for all ages.
Hundreds of revelers are expected to participate again this year, with festivities kicking off on Friday, Nov. 24, and continuing through the weekend.
Throughout, festive tastings and treats, trunk shows, art shows, seasonal discounts and sales in participating shops, a Himmelli ornament workshop at the Irondale Schoolhouse, and a snowman scavenger hunt sponsored by the Millerton Business Alliance that will take children on a hunt through participating shops on Main Street to complete a snowman scene.
Friday, Nov. 24
10:30 a.m. Free screening of “The Grinch” at The Moviehouse. Seats are first come, first served and include popcorn and a soda. Doors open at 10 a.m.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Ice carving demonstration at Veteran’s Park with professional ice carver Jeff Scarpa, who will turn two 300-pound blocks of ice into translucent sculptures.
12:15 - 12:45 p.m. Children’s raffle at Veteran’s Park. Raffle prizes will include bicycles, gift baskets and gift certificates sponsored by local businesses. Raffle tickets will be given out after the movie or at the ice carving demo. Children must be present to win.
1 - 3 p.m. Cookie decorating and live music at North East Community Center. Create frosting masterworks while being serenaded by Roger & Lenny.
1 - 4 p.m. Hot cocoa, sweet treats and giveaways at Veteran’s Park during the raffle and ice-carving demo. By NBT Bank.
1 - 4 p.m. Hayrides will collect willing passengers at Veteran’s Park and Dutchess Avenue.
2:30 - 4:30 p.m. Salisbury Brass Band will perform holiday songs in Veteran’s Park before the Parade of Lights.
5 p.m. Festival of Lights parade and tree lighting (!!)
Saturday, Nov. 25
12 - 3 p.m. “Thankful for Reading” event at NorthEast-Millerton Library will include story hour, crafts for all ages, children’s book giveaway, and a books-by-the-bag sale.
For more information, visit millertonnewyork.com
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
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.
MILLERTON — The Village Zoning Board of Appeals was scheduled to hold a joint working session with the Planning Board on Tuesday, Oct. 7, and while village officials did not answer questions about the meeting’s purpose, public records indicate it was likely to address a possible merger of the two groups amid ongoing challenges to attract volunteers.
The idea of a merger, raised by ZBA Chair Kelly Kilmer at the Board’s Sept. 2 meeting, would likely help the Village operate more efficiently and address its apparent volunteer shortage. However, the session was canceled due to a lack of quorum — the minimum number of members needed to conduct business.
Officials say the workshop session will be rescheduled.
There is currently one open seat on the Zoning Board of Appeals, which comes with a five-year term starting in 2025. The Planning Board has two openings — one is a new five-year term beginning in 2025, and the other is to complete an existing term that runs through 2028.
Participation has been a challenge over the past year, raising concern among Village Board members. In response, the Board took action in July, unanimously passing a local law on July 29 to help address the issue. The new law, now part of the Village code (Articles 41-3 and 41-4), allows members of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals to serve even if they live outside the Village, as long as they reside within Dutchess County. Despite expanding the eligibility area, several seats remain unfilled.
Recently appointed Zoning Board Chair Kelly Kilmer spoke at the July 29 Village Board meeting in support of the local law and urged residents to get involved. “It is very crucial that we get people on these boards,” she said. “When people are trying to plan things to upgrade the Village — whether it be their home, their business or whatever — we need people who are going to be here and engaged.”
