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Next space tech will cost consumers
Oct 08, 2025
The big question facing Congress is this: Can we afford space exploration? And the bigger question they are shying away from is: Can we afford not to expand publicly funded space exploration?
Part of the question comes down to ill-informed members of Congress who have not educated themselves on the past benefits — benefits for all walks of life — that have been generated by past space exploration. Like that computer, your cell phone, weather forecasting, CAT scans, 50% of modern medicines, and, never least, the very industrial manufacturing processes which are 100% dependent on inventions made in developing past space exploration – simply put, there is nothing in any part of your life – from your car, to the heating system in your house, to every second you watch on TV that have not been generated because of inventions – innovation – brought about by past space exploration.
Okay, got it? Now stop and ask yourself if we should fund further space exploration? The answer is, everything you thought as being set in stone, every part of your day to day life, will change once again. How much change? Just as the horse and buggy changed to the car, the dial-up phone changed to that cell phone in your pocket, the coming change is greater, more potent. That’s science and innovation, not political ignorance.
Now, there is a problem. The current Administration is cutting basic science and NASA funding. They prefer to allow the commercial industries to spend money and reap the rewards, not for the people, but for the captains of industry and Wall Street. Will that mean the change will not come? No, it’ll come, but the benefits will come in a commercial sense only. 60% of the cost of that cell phone in your pocket came from taxpayer investment, causing no commercial amortization. The next spin-off from space technology will be fully commercial and cost accordingly.
On top of which, this Administration is shifting funds from NASA’s budget to the Space Force… $1,000,000,000,000 (yes, one trillion) in 2026. And we all know that trickle-down technology from the military takes a decade longer to reach public benefit. Think I’m kidding? The carbon fiber technology for the B-2 bomber of the mid-80s has not yet been realized in commercial aircraft – which would allow 50% greater range per fuel load per flight, cutting your plane ticket cost in half.
Meanwhile, China is out-spending us on space exploration and development, consistently increasing their budget 10% a year and, yes, they might well arrive back on the moon first and reap known and unknown benefits before us. Some possible good news? NASA’s plans for a return to Moon, commercial or national, is a top priority for the Acting Administrator… “We can’t waste a day,” Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said. Let’s see if Congress is listening.
Peter Riva, a former resident of Amenia Union, New York, now lives in Gila, New Mexico.
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Charlie Miller shows his work, shows up
There are eight people running for four positions on Amenia’s Town Board. And it may be confusing about who will actually work best for this Town.
But do you really know them and what they bring? They may claim to have done things that resonate with us but what’s our proof?What have they done specifically for the Town?Do we know how long they struggle to figure things out? Things that have a deadline?
I have seen proof for one of the candidates and I solidly endorse Charlie Miller for Town Board.
I was a member of both Wastewater and Affordable Housing Committees long enough to know how consistently and thoroughly Charlie Miller learns his stuff and is able to inform committee members on every relevant detail of a subject. He volunteered and chaired tirelessly and faithfully for years to better the Town.
Engineering reports, done, planning reports, done, surveys, done. Several community information sessions and engagements, done. Several detailed presentations, done. All for wastewater solutions and affordable housing, both of which we need.
Through endless research he did the heavy lifting for us all. He continues to get things done for us now and for future generations as the Chair of both committees and the Town’s current Budget Officer.
If you think that’s good enough, there’s more. Charlie has a brilliant and quick mind when it comes to numbers, math, calculations. I once needed a budget done for a grant I was applying for (A/C heat pumps in gym.) After being rebuffed by our contracted grant writers and facing a looming deadline, Charlie quickly calculated the budget with time to spare, as a volunteer who truly cares.
As Chairman of the Amenia Housing Board Charlie led the way to increase developer fees to $2.3 million from $610,000. Working with the Supervisor, he led the bidding process for a new Water Engineer, Highway Garage Engineer and Wastewater Engineer.
With Town Board authorization and to fulfill NYS requirement that Town’s have an investment policy, Charlie identified wasteful spending and through new investment opportunities, earned close to $190,000 for Amenia! As a fiscal conservative you can bet he will continue to do that. He is savvy, resourceful and tenacious. As a Town Board member,he will hit the ground running, he already has. We don’t have the luxury of voting in people who will waste our time for “on-the-job training” or “winging-it”. Charlie shows his work. He shows up. Look for him in the past few years of recorded Town Board meetings.
Please join me in voting for Charlie Miller for Town Board. I think he truly earned it.
Stacy Mantel
Amenia
Library is vital part of community
I have lived in Millerton for 86% of my life and during that time the NorthEast-Millerton library has always been there for me. They have offered amazing programs that have helped me learn and grow as a person. Not only do they offer books, but one can also take out CDs, games, and use spices. The library is a vital part of our community providing support and a space to grow. Come election, please support the library.
Jane Wood
Millerton
Drago’s achievements and focus are right for residents of District 19
As a senior citizen in District 19, I would like to thank Chris Drago for his effective work on the issue of emergency medical services, and to urge District 19 voters to re-elect him as our representative to the Dutchess County Legislature.
Chris’s efforts to improve EMS services for our region resulted in a $2 million appropriation for supplemental EMS coverage.While supporting the important efforts of our EMS volunteers, Chris is working toward a long-term plan to lower costs while ensuring more consistent and reliable service for everyone in Dutchess County – including Northern Dutchess, where response times are currently longer than in the southern part of the county.
Chris has also worked to secure a $6 million grant to support ADU housing, and to help fund a new mental health center in Rhinebeck.And he has helped to expose wasteful County spending and pushed for greater transparency and accountability in how the County spends our tax dollars.
Chris’s opponent, Tonya Pulver, is a school psychologist whose “big experience with politics” consists of her mother’s service on the Pine Plains Town Board and the experience of her husband, Gregg Pulver, on the Pine Plains Town Board, as Town Supervisor and in the County Legislature.(The New Pine Plains Herald, March 14, 2025).The Dutchess County Conservative Party, in endorsing Ms. Pulver, pointed to her “name recognition which plays a big part when running for political office . . . .” (id.).
As for her motivation in running for Legislator,Ms. Pulver said that she wishes to give back to her community and that “I have a little bit of extra time in my life, and it’s something worth trying.”(Id.)
In my opinion, Chris Drago’s focus and achievements in the areas of EMS, housing and mental health services in our district show a far more substantial drive and motivation for serving as District 19 Legislator than someone with extra time on her hands who wants to try something new.
Furthermore, the fact that Gregg Pulver currently serves in the appointed position of Deputy County Executive raises the question of whether Tonya Pulver would be a truly independent voice in the Legislature, particularly in view of the fact that her husband, after losing elections, has been favored with two appointments to County office.
We need a Legislator with no baggage, no political obligations and no interests other than those of us – the residents of District 19.
Amy Rothstein
Pine Plains
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Deeds, wages, zoning, vaccines
Oct 08, 2025
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
October 11, 1934
A deed dated July 10, 1720, was found Saturday in the files of County Clerk Frederic A. Smith’s office while workmen were removing old filing cabinets in connection with remodeling of the office.
Drawn on heavy paper resembling sheepskin in texture and thickness, the deed is three feet wide and five feet long. Written with pen and ink, it is unusually legible considering its age.
Grange Contemplates Appeal To State TERA For Revision Of Wages
A meeting of the Dutchess County Pomona Grange tax committee held at the Washington Grange Hall, Millbrook, Saturday night may result in an appeal by the county Grange to the New York State Temporary Emergency Relief Administration for a revision of the regulations governing prevailing wage scales in rural sections. Following an explanation of the rules by Harold R. Dean. executive director of the Dutchess TERA, and other county TERA officials, members of the Grange committee criticized the lack of farmers representative on the county prevailing wage rate committee and decided to lodge a protest with the state administration.
Millerton Graduate On Honor List
William Pulver, 1934, Valedictorian, Eighteenth In Scholarship Group
By F. E. Wood, Principal
William Pulver, the valedictorian of the 1934 graduating class of Millerton High School, has just been informed by the State Department of Education that he stood eighteenth on the list of scholarship pupils, thus placing him in the second list of ten for Dutchess County.
Students Exempt
As another innovation we are going to exempt in the high school from final examinations students who have an average of 85 per cent for the five marks in the six weeks tests.
October 9, 1975
Restaurant Gets Go-Ahead From Town Zoning Board
The North East Zoning Board of Appeals has okayed a request for site plan approval for a restaurant to be opened on the north side of Route 44 in Millerton, owned by Robert and Joseph Trotta III.
Ray and Alta Decker have requested a special permit to build a 50-unit trailer park on Route 22, north of Millerton, opposite Suburban Propane. The Planning Board recommended approval. At the Zoning Board’s Public Hearing, some 10 residents who live near the area of the proposed trailer park spoke against the issuance of a permit.
Immunization Action
Governor Carey has designated October as “Immunization Action Month” in a proclamation cautioning parents that 1 out of 5 New York children entering school for the first time in September “was not fully immunized against the most serious of the childhood communicable diseases.”
October 12, 2000
NE Library Latest Recipient Of Saperstein’s Largess
Choking back tears amid a flood of recollections, a group of the couple’s closest friends and relatives gathered Saturday afternoon at the North East-Millerton Library to celebrate the generosity of the late Irving and Shirley Saperstein.
The occasion was the dedication of the library’s children’s room to Mr. and Mrs. Saperstein. The Sapersteins’ daughter Susan Rabin recently gave the library a piece of land from the Saperstein estate. The land will eventually be sold to benefit the library and its children’s programs.
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Rhys V. Bowen
Oct 08, 2025
Rhys V. Bowen
Rhys V. Bowen
LAKEVILLE — Rhys V. Bowen, 65, of Foxboro, Massachusetts, died unexpectedly in his sleep on Sept. 15, 2025. Rhys was born in Sharon, Connecticut, on April 9, 1960 to Anne H. Bowen and the late John G. Bowen. His brother, David, died in 1979.
Rhys grew up at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, where his father taught English. Attending Hotchkiss, Rhys excelled in academics and played soccer, basketball, and baseball. During these years, he also learned the challenges and joys of running, and continued to run at least 50 miles a week, until the day he died.
In 1982 after graduating summa cum laude from Harvard College, Rhys returned to Hotchkiss to teach biology, where he met his wife of 35 years, Rebecca (Becky) Snow. After two years of teaching, he worked at a research field site in Borneo, then went on to the University of California, Davis where he earned a PhD in Animal Behavior in 1995.
Rather than follow an academic tenure track, Rhys preferred the solitary focus of field ornithology, and he spent several decades researching the ecology of bird species in California and on Cape Cod and the Islands. Rhys believed passionately in supporting biodiversity through habitat preservation. His proudest achievements, therefore, came through his work for the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, in New Hampshire, where he served on committees and the Board of Trustees for twenty years, including three years as Chair.
Deeply intellectual and curious, Rhys learned Homeric Greek so he could read The Odyssey and The Iliad in their original language. An amateur Melville scholar, he would wax poetic about reading Moby-Dick for the umpteenth time.Rhys’s spirit was filled by the performing arts. Concerts by the Handel and Haydn Society and Boston Early Music Festival often brought tears to his eyes, while Boston Bluegrass Union shows delivered toe-tapping fidgetiness.
Rhys will be missed by his wife, Becky Snow, his mother, Anne Bowen, extended family, friends, and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
A service will be held at The Hotchkiss School chapel on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 at 1 p.m..
In honor of Rhys’s memory, donations can be made to the Lakes Region Conservation Trust.
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