Construction equipment sits idle on Thursday evening, Oct. 15, at the site of a new pool and poolhouse in Eddie Collins Memorial Park in Millerton. Construction on the pool began in September and is in its early stages.
Construction equipment sits idle on Thursday evening, Oct. 15, at the site of a new pool and poolhouse in Eddie Collins Memorial Park in Millerton. Construction on the pool began in September and is in its early stages.
Leila Hawken
AMENIA — A public hearing on the Cascade Creek subdivision application will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Amenia Town Hall on Route 22, beginning at 6 p.m. The hearing is convened by the Planning Board.
Hudson River Housing is proposing the project as a conservation subdivision, defining 26 residential lots to be used for workforce housing and two conservation parcels on a 24-acre site located on Cascade Road, across Route 22 from the Freshtown Shopping Plaza.
Zoning for the site is designated as Suburban Residential and the parcel lies within an Aquifer Overlay District. A portion of the site is located within a stream corridor.
Preliminary site plans detail 26 homes, modular in design, on quarter-acre lots.
The long environmental impact analysis phase of the project, underway since 2024, was completed in July this year, indicating no significant effects posed by the subdivision plans.
Concerns voiced by members of the Planning Board during the review process have included the effect of the subdivision on the town’s character. Other concerns about water capacity and drainage plans have continued. The subdivision would be served by a common water supply.
During discussions prior to determination that the subdivision would not significantly impact the environment, Attorney Alec Gladd of Fishkill, New York, based Cuddy Feder LLP, representing the developer, indicated that the fire department is asking for water storage capacity data that could only be answered within the site plan phase.
During the environmental review, Planning Board attorney Cassandra Britton had indicated that the issue of firefighting capacity can be raised again later in the process once the site can be tested for water availability.
Leila Hawken
AMENIA — The Town Board unanimously authorized an additional $2.1 million in borrowing for the new town garage and salt storage shed Thursday, Oct. 15, as construction nears.
The town authorized $6.3 million in bonds in 2024 and another $3.9 million in July 2025, bringing total borrowing authorized for the project to $12.3 million.
The latest authorization is subject to a “permissive referendum,” meaning it will take effect unless residents submit a valid petition requiring a townwide vote.
The new town garage complex is being built on five acres of town-owned land located on the east side of Route 22 south of Sinpatch Road. Some clearing and grading work has already been done at the site.
Plans call for six double bays in the main building that will include an office and breakroom. The salt shed will include attached storage space with four enclosed bays and two open bays.
In other business, the Town Board voted unanimously to amend the town’s 2026 budget to provide $149,733 in interest for a bond anticipation note.
EMS proposal
County Legislator Chris Drago, D-19, presented a report on the work of the county Public Safety Committee where he serves as vice-chairman with County Legislator Eric Alexander, D-25.
In an effort to reduce EMS response times and lower annual costs for participating towns, Drago said that Town Supervisors of four area towns are meeting regularly to devise a new system of coverage. Area towns participating are Amenia, North East, Washington and Stanford.
“How can we provide better ambulance service at lower cost,” was the question being addressed by the Public Safety Committee, Drago said.
“If we have lower volume of calls, we must pay them more,” Drago said of the existing ambulance service.
The potential solution is a collaborative system called a “redirect model,” Drago said. Under that plan, the four towns would comprise a single service area with a shared pool of ambulances.
When one ambulance is called into service, the others in the pool would reposition themselves so that an ambulance is always available within a reasonable distance, Drago explained.
Seen as a short-term solution that could involve county-sponsored supplemental ambulances, Drago said that a longer-term solution could be devised by creating a plan model for the state Governor to consider.
Leila Hawken
AMENIA — The Pete Anderson Trio will perform a concert featuring the music of George Gershwin at The Smithfield Church on Saturday, Oct. 24, beginning at 3 p.m. The concert is presented as part of the Bang Family Concert Series.
Saxophonist Pete Anderson will provide a narrative on the life and music of George Gershwin along with live performance of a varied program ofGershwin classics.Joining him will be Matt Munisteri on guitar and Joe Boga on trumpet.Anderson’s credits include headlining at the Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and more.
The public is invited to this free concert, although a $20 donation is suggested at the door to support future concerts in the Bang Family Series. Children are free. Located at 656 Smithfield Valley Road (Route 83), the church is fully accessible.
A meet-the-artists reception will follow the concert. For more information, go to www.thesmithfieldchurch.org.
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Millerton News
DOVER PLAINS — Lelah M. Somers, 97, a longtime Dover Plains, New York, resident, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck, New York. Lelah was born on July 3, 1929, in Pawling, New York, to the late Byron and Lelah (Watts) Brill. Lelah grew up in Pawling and on Nov. 22, 1946, in Pleasant Valley, New York, she married James F. Somers, Sr. Mr. Somers passed away on Sept. 3, 1970. Lelah worked for New York State as a therapy aide for thirty-years and as a senior companion for New York State for thirty-two-years, with specific care provided to the mentally disabled.
She enjoyed taking care of the mentally disabled, was a wonderful mother to her four children, always putting her family first. She is survived by her son, James F. Somers, Jr. and his wife Donna of Dover Plains; two daughters, Doreen Monica of Wingdale, and Frances “Fran” Horton of Dover Plains, who was also her caregiver for many years; seven grandchildren, Debbie, Margie, Leah, Stephanie, Deirdra, Benji and Jimmy and several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, and her step-son, Kenny Elliott. In addition to her parents and husband, Lelah was predeceased by her daughter and son-in-law, Carol “DeeDee” Maile and Gil Maile, her son-in-law, Stephen Monica, and her son-in-law, Benny Horton as well as her companion of over forty-years, Andrew “Mac” McAlravey and her siblings, Ferris Brill, Eleanor Barryann, Richard Brill, William Brill and Barney Brill.
Lelah was a loving mother and a strong willed and hard-working woman. She was an avid NASCAR fan for many years and traveled with her companion “Mac” up and down the east coast following the sport. Her favorite track was the Daytona International Speedway in Florida that they went to every February to attend the Daytona 500 race. She loved her family so much and she will be dearly missed; she lived a long life and for that her family is deeply grateful.
Graveside services and burial will take place on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Valley View Cemetery in Dover Plains, NY. Pastor Rick Totten will officiate. A reception in Lelah’s honor will follow at the VFW Post # 5444, 3422 Route 22, Dover Plains, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Lelah’s honor, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546.
Millerton News
MILLERTON — It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Ronald Owen Decker Jr. of Millerton, New York on Oct. 6, 2026, at the age of 58.
Ronald was born on Oct. 29, 1967, in Sharon, Connecticut to the late Catherine Spaulding and Ronald Decker Sr.
Known affectionately as Ronnie, he was a beloved chef for many years at various private schools in the Millerton, and Connecticut areas. He enjoyed cooking for others and lending a helping hand to anyone in need. Ronnie cherished spending time with family and making people smile. His kindness always shined bright.
Ronnie and his brother Steve spent many years together driving tractor-trailers before Ronnie returned to the kitchen.
Those left to cherish his memory include his son, Christopher Johnson, and his partner, Sara LeBaron; two grandsons; his close cousin, John Wilson (JR); his niece, Tiffany Brown, and her spouse, Sean Brown; and his great-niece, Elianna Decker. Ronnie also leaves behind other cousins and great-nieces and great-nephews. His father, Ronald Decker Sr., had other children whom Ronnie leaves behind: Kevin Decker, Dawn Decker, and Heidi Piefer.
Ronald is also predeceased by his brother, Steven Decker; his late wife, Joanne Decker; and Timothy Decker.
He will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him.
A small celebration of life in Ronnie’s memory will be held at a date to be determined.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
Millerton News
LAKEVILLE — Carol McLaughlin (Fenn) Anderson of Brunswick, Maine, died on Sept. 11, 2026. Carol was the daughter of the late Ray and Carolyn Mary (Everhard) McLaughlin and was predeceased by her sister, Nancy Peck. She was born March 23, 1932, in Ohio and moved to Sharon, Connecticut with her family in 1942. She graduated from Bassick High School in Bridgeport and then attended Connecticut College for Women and completed her education at Connecticut Teachers College in New Britain, earning a Bachelor’s degree in education and Master’s degree in mathematics. She raised her family in Canton, Connecticut and lived in Lakeville, Connecticut until she moved to Maine in 1992.
Carol’s love of nature and being out of doors led her and first husband, Allyn Fenn, to downhill skiing as weekend volunteers for the Catamount Ski Patrol in Hillsdale, New York. She also loved to sail, learning at a girls’ camp on Moose Pond in Denmark, Maine and continuing throughout her life. She explored the waters of midcoast Maine with her late husband, Captain Robert Anderson, and Casco Bay with her family and close friend Bill Hetzel on sailboats big and small.
Carol was endlessly curious and loved to learn. She took classes, read books and articles, traveled, went to museums, and deeply listened to people. She shared her love of the world with others as a volunteer at the Maine Maritime Museum, a train host on the Downeaster, and both an elementary school and adult education teacher. An avid crossword puzzler and knitter, she always found a way to keep both her hands and her mind busy. She was active in her local churches, most recently St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brunswick.
Carol’s greatest joy, though, was her family. Carol is survived by her daughter, Deborah Driver, and her husband, Roy; her son, Christopher Fenn, and his wife, Liz; four grandchildren, Krystal Fenn, Dustin Fenn, Kate Driver, and Josh Driver; and two great-grandchildren, Evan and Aidan Miller.
Carol found great delight in little things: a nice cup of tea, a walk, watching the birds, a baked apple or a slice of fresh bread, the view from atop a parking garage in Portland, or a few minutes parked next to the ocean. She knew how to appreciate life’s small pleasures, remarking on one occasion while looking out over Casco Bay after a short cross country ski with her family, “aren’t we lucky.” She will be missed by many.
A private graveside service was held at Salisbury Cemetery in Salisbury, Connecticut on Oct. 14th. Memorial gifts can be made to the Maine Maritime Museum.
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