Natacha (Nathalie) Kondratiev
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Millerton apartments expected to move forward despite parking noncompliance
Nathan Miller
Jul 14, 2026
MILLERTON — A proposed apartment renovation on South Center Street must now undergo a zoning board approval process over a lack of available parking space on the property.
Owner Alex Magalhaes appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday, July 7, after board chair Kelly Killmer said she requested the application come before the board, citing a Millerton News report on the proposal’s introduction to the Planning Board in June. Magalhaes plans to renovate an empty basement apartment to rehabilitate a currently-defunct fifth housing unit at 26-32 S. Center St., which sits across the street from the Dutchess County-owned parking lot used for access to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail.
“After I heard about the planning board meeting and read the article in the paper, I came here and requested that they come in front of us,” Killmer said. “Because the planning board doesn’t have the control of parking, the zoning board does.”
Board members voted to set a public hearing for the proposal on Tuesday, July 21.
Killmer opened the meeting by providing board members with a brief summary of the project and the approval process leading up to the Tuesday meeting. She explained the ZBA had to review the application because the property does not include enough space for parking at its current density, and could not support a fifth unit.
Under the Village of Millerton’s zoning laws, residential properties must provide at least 1.5 off-street parking spaces per housing unit. A five-unit property requires space for at least 7.5 cars, Killmer said. The property currently only has space for between three and four cars.
That means Magalhaes must seek a variance from the board, or at the least a determination that the property’s existing non-conforming status should be allowed to continue and expand despite its noncompliance with the village’s parking laws.
Board chair Killmer indicated the board is expected to deny the variance, citing village codes that stipulate variances cannot be granted if no off-street parking can be provided for an applicant. Instead, Killmer said the board’s refusal will likely acknowledge that Maghalaes’s proposal to rehabilitate the defunct fifth unit does not technically expand the existing nonconforming use, and therefore may move forward without a variance from the board because of its historic status.
In support of this idea, Magalhaes recounted the history of the property and his plans to renovate the empty apartment. He said a basement studio apartment was originally utilized and occupied but had been empty since he bought the apartment building in 2022. The apartment still has its original fixtures and cabinetry, he said.
“We’re not turning an old basement into an apartment,” Magalheas said. “It has a bathroom, it has a kitchen. The old cabinets are still in place, but it’s from the ‘50s and ‘60s.”
Killmer explained that the board has the authority to issue an opinion that acknowledges a site’s pre-existing conditions, allowing historic nonconforming properties that existed before the adoption of Millerton’s zoning code in the ‘70s to continue without issue. She and other board members acknowledged that Magalhaes’s property has historically hosted five housing units, and that the village has an express interest in promoting more housing development.
Board members said they didn’t believe the lack of parking onsite for the additional unit would place a significant burden on the village, citing the availability of street parking adjacent to the property and an understanding that many tenants in downtown Millerton do not own cars at all, including at least one of Magalhaes’s current tenants.
Amid the discussion over Magalhaes’s apartment building, board members recalled the effort at the end of 2025 and early 2026 to amend Millerton’s parking rules for properties in the general business district. In January 2026, the Village Board of Trustees adopted a local law that exempted properties along Main Street from having to find more parking if undergoing a change of use.
Magalhaes’s property is in the R10,000 residential district, which was not covered under the January 2026 local law. ZBA members indicated they would like to pursue similar legislation for the high-density residential district, to further ease approval processes that are often marred by debates over available off-street parking that sometimes stall proposals indefinitely.
Parking rules in the village have been hotly contested in recent years, with a growing number of people advocating for relaxing the rules to encourage more housing and business development in the village’s downtown. Killmer said on Tuesday that nearly 90% of the properties within the village are in violation of zoning regulations in some capacity, with most properties failing to provide adequate off-street parking.
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Touring Amenia’s gardens
Millerton News
Jul 14, 2026
The Amenia Garden Club’s 2026 Real Gardens of Amenia Tour attracted a steady stream of gardening enthusiasts to five local gardens on Saturday, July 11. Owner Maxine Paetro welcomed visitors to Broccoli Hall. Close examination of the photo shows local gardener Liz Faulkner about to pass through the same garden entrance.
Photo By Leila Hawken
The Amenia Garden Club’s 2026 Real Gardens of Amenia Tour attracted a steady stream of gardening enthusiasts to five local gardens on Saturday, July 11. Owner Maxine Paetro welcomed visitors to Broccoli Hall. Close examination of the photo shows local gardener Liz Faulkner about to pass through the same garden entrance.
Classifieds - July 16, 2026
Millerton News
Jul 14, 2026
HELP WANTED
Home Help Needed. Part Time. Sharon. 407-620-7777.
REAL ESTATE
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: Equal Housing Opportunity. All real estate advertised in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1966 revised March 12, 1989 which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color religion, sex, handicap or familial status or national origin or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All residential property advertised in the State of Connecticut General Statutes 46a-64c which prohibit the making, printing or publishing or causing to be made, printed or published any notice, statement or advertisement with respect to the sale or:rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, physical or mental disability or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.
APARTMENTS FOR RENT
1Bd/1b apartment in Amenia. $900 a month. 860-309-4482.
HOUSE FOR RENT
2 Bedroom House. Millerton, NY. Quiet. 4 miles from town. $2500 monthly, plus utilities. 518-567-8277.
MT RIGA LAKEFRONT CABIN. Private beach, canoe, kayaks, fishing. $1,275/week. 585-355-5245
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Let's hear it — July 16, 2026
Millerton News
Jul 14, 2026
This Week
Millerton’s 175th anniversary celebration is officially underway—and this weekend was just the beginning. Throughout the week, the village is hosting parades, concerts, fairs, tournaments, and even a drone show to mark the milestone.
Which Millerton 175th festivities have you most enjoyed?
Send your responses to social@lakevillejournal.com by Monday, July 20 at 10 a.m. or comment on Facebook or Instagram.
We’ll publish a selection in next week’s paper.
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Letters to the editor — Thursday, July 16
Millerton News
Jul 14, 2026
Signs, courtesy needed on Rail Trail
Those of us fortunate enough to live in the area benefit greatly from the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. Over the past thirty years, it has become a wonderful community asset.
While the trail is widely enjoyed by cyclists, joggers, dog walkers, and pedestrians, the mixture of users can occasionally create safety concerns. Specifically, there is an ongoing issue with cyclists traveling at high speeds who disregard others.
Common courtesy dictates that riders approaching from behind should slow down and announce themselves, but unfortunately, many do not. This is a frequent complaint among trail users and can have serious consequences; last year, a trail user startled by passing cyclists, fell, and fractured her neck. Recently, I was closely passed by an individual on an e-bike traveling at an estimated 20 MPH. While e-bikes themselves are not the issue, reckless riding poses a significant danger to everyone on the trail.
While it isn’t possible to monitor the entire trail, posting a set of rules at major entrances that reinforce acceptable trail use could help. Smaller signs posted along the trail requesting riders slow down while passing could also serve as a helpful reminder.
I can only hope this letter reaches the right people. Preventing just one unnecessary accident would be well worth the minimal cost for signage.
John Walters
Millerton
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Bones in Millbrook, theater cooling
Millerton News
Jul 14, 2026
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
July 18, 1935
Solve Mystery Of Bones Found At Millbrook
Owner Of Farm Says Skeleton Had Been Unearthed Before
Special to THE NEWS
MILLBROOK - The mystery of the box of human bones unearthed by a steam shovel on the Doyle farm near here recently was solved last week by Miles Kennedy of New York, owner of the property. The farm was formerly owned by Kate Doyle who died March 26, 1934, at the age of eighty years.
According to the story told by Kennedy, members of the Town of Washington highway department were permitted to dig gravel on the property several years ago by Miss Doyle, then owner of the farm. At that time the bones of a man, long dead, were unearthed. Investigation revealed that many years before a man who was a member of a destitute family living in a tenant house on the farm had been buried on the premises to save funeral and burial expenses.
Mr. Kennedy said that Miss Doyle was told the bones would be interred in a cemetery. He believes, however, that because of Miss Doyle’s advanced age the workmen took advantage of her and again buried the bones on the premises.
The latest discovery was made by workmen who were digging rock for the Shunpike reconstruction project. They uncovered a box containing the skull, leg and arm bones and part of the pelvic bones which were believed by the authorities to be those of a man dead many years. The box bore the trade mark of the Arm and Hammer Soda Company.
New Cooling System In Millerton Theatre
The Millerton Theatre has installed a North air cooling system which keeps the theatre at a comfortable temperature even though the heat may be extremely oppressive outside. The modern, new equipment circulates the air capacity of the theatre every three minutes.
Borden’s Milk Plant Closes Department
Bottling Operation Discontinued Monday At Wassaic
WASSAIC, July 17 - The Borden’s Farm Products Company discontinued its bottling operation at the Wassaic plant on Monday. In the future, the company will employ only two men here besides Superintendent Whitford.
The Wassaic factory was the first ever built and placed in operation by the late Gail Borden, and has been the main industry of this little village for many years. Some of the older residents can remember when the old factory was built.
Most of the men employed here have been transferred to other plants of the Borden’s Company. Samuel McKelvey to Pine Plains; Otto Rocholl to Cornwall Bridge, Conn.; Horton Buckley to an office position in New York City; Leon Fletcher to Chatham, and several others to Canaan, Conn., including William Wheeler, Peter Hansen, Chauncey Hyatt, Vernon Hendershot, Lewis Jennings and Walter Cribley.
Hawaiians, Yankees Tie At Millbrook
Game Called On Account Of Darkness With Score 9-9
MILLBROOK - The Hawaiian All-Stars and the New York Black Yankees, colored [sic] champions of the United States, battled to a 9-9 tie in an exciting game played before 1,500 fans on the Community Center diamond here Friday evening. The contest was called on account of darkness at the end of the ninth innings.
Three home runs featured among the highlights. In the eighth inning Johnny Kerr, going in as a pinch hitter for the Hawaiians, blasted a homer down the alley in left field with two on bases to give his teammates a 7-5 lead. Second Baseman Yamada of the Hawaiians had previously clouted a circuit drive over the left field fence in the fifth to tie the count at 5-all. Coming up on the short end of a 9-7-score in the ninth, the Hawaiians again tied it up when Moniz, first baseman, lifted another four bagger over the fence with one on board.
The Hawaiians poled out a total of eleven hits off the serving of Connie Rector who hurled the first eight frames and collected two more off the slants of Hubbard who ascended the mound in the ninth. The Black Yankees touched Ed. Tamm, starting Hawaiian flinger, for ten blows. Al. Naula, who relieved Tamm in the ninth, set the Yankees down in one, two, three order.
July 15, 1976
Rent-A-Kid Jobs Open
The Rent-A-Kid coordinator for the Millerton area said this week he has jobs lined up for willing young workers but no one to fill them.
John Dorfman, 20, said, “I have 4 jobs at pretty good paying wages and no one to fill them. It’s getting kind of embarassing.” Dorman said the 4 jobs are working in yards and he added he is going to try to solicit kids for the program.
Rent-A-Kid, the County’s youth employment service, seeks to find work for people ages 14 to 17. Such jobs as mowing lawns, painting, baby sitting, house cleaning, yard work and light maintenance are available on a temporary basis for Millerton area youth.
Millerton Rent-A-Kid is located in North East Town Hall and is open Monday through Friday from 9 to 3:30p.m.
Most Webutuck Grads Going On To College
Fifty-one of the 93 Webutuck seniors who graduated the Central School last month will be going on to further education in one form or another.
Webutuck’s Director of Guidance Alfred W. Cannon said this week that 44 Webutuck grads are going on to study at degree-granting institutions, mostly 2 and 4-year colleges. Three students have received military school contracts, 2 will be involved in 3-year registered nursing schools and 2 in 1-year vocational schools, making a total of 51.
Of the remaining 42 graduates, Cannon said, “We had 30 who were fully employed and who are working and 3 who are involved in company training programs.” “The remainder of the students, “ said Cannon, “were either working part-time or traveling.’
Cannon said most of the kids going to college are leaning to specific kinds of training programs instead of the liberal arts area. “Kids are more aware of specific kinds of training programs in schools. Less are going to liberal arts. I think that’s sensible,” said Cannon.
Cannon said it is difficult to compare the post-graduate plans of the 1976 grads to the 1975 grads but believes a few more ’76 grads are going to college.
Millerton Nips Canaan 5 6-5
The Millerton Babe Ruthers nipped Canaan Monday night by a score of 6 to 5. The game was played at Millerton and leaves the home-town boys with a record of 4 wins and 4 losses.
Relief pitcher Dean Summers, in for Butch Cornish, picked up the win. Millerton garnered 9 hits to Canaan’s 6. Cornish and Eric Schroder each had 2 hits for Millerton and Jeff Williams, Dave Shufelt, David Summers all had 1 hit apiece. Shaffer, Pat Doughty and Summers all had 1 hit apiece.
Book By Helck Covers Auto Races Since 1894
“Great Auto Races,” by Peter Helck, long-time resident of Boston Corners, N.Y., has just been released and is presently being distributed to book shops nation-wide.
As the title implies, the book reviews this highly dramatic sport from its beginnings in France in 1894 and our own adaptation the following year.
Its 13 chapters deal with many of the various phases of motor racing. These include the dirt tracks from 1900 to 1950; our first 2 major road racing classics, the Vanderbilt Cup and the Grand Prize, 1904-1916; the 24-Hour grands and the famed New York-Paris of 1908.
Follows [sic] the Indianapolis and other speedways, 1909-1965; the Land Speed Record and the foremost Hill Climbs from 1900 to 1970. Much space is given to Grand Prix racing in Europe, 1902-1951, and the always picturesque Italian road classics from 1906 to 1960.
The text ends with Sports Car racing at Le Mans, France and our own at Watkins Glen and Sebring, 1930’s to 1955.
Although “Great Auto Races” is basically a picture book, having 215 illustrations of which 91 are in full color, the Introduction by Beverly Rae Kimes, Editor of Automobile Quarterly, offers a comprehensive assessment of racing’s contribution to the engineering development of the automobile as we know it today.
There are 266 pages including the Index. Its 13 x 12½ inch format was designed by Clarence P. Hornung and the printing was done by Japan’s foremost firm, Toppan of Tokyo. The publisher, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., has just completed its 26th year in the production of superfine books.
The artist-author saw his first race in 1906, the third running of the Vanderbilt Cup on Long Island. He has witnessed racing on the roads and speedways of the U.S., England, France, Italy and Germany. His work in this field has appeared in the publications of these and other countries.
Helck estimates that at least 700 of his racing paintings and graphics are in private collections, art museums and car museums, here and abroad.
July 19, 2001
Water Meters Studied
MILLERTON — The village of Millerton received a grant of roughly $4,955 from the county to purchase water meters. The water meters will need to be installed in homes which have no meters, or meters that are old. The grant will cover the cost of the meters, but not their installation.
The board met with Ray Jurkowski of the engineering firm Morris and Associates and with his suggestions, decided it would be up to the homeowner or parcel owner to install the new meters.
To implement this, Mr. Jurkowski recommended making the installation village law, and penalizing homeowners who didn’t comply by a certain date. The penalty would be tacked on to the regular water bill.
The board agreed that having the homeowner install the meter would be less expensive to homeowners, who could contract their own plumbers at their convenience.
Otherwise, the village would have to contract a large company, which would still tack on fees to the resident’s regular water bill.
According to Mr. Jurkowski, installing a water meter costs between $50 to $75.
Hamilton Inn Update
Mr. Jurkowski also addressed the continuing issue of the Hamilton Inn, which continues to be renovated despite a stop-work order issued by the Department of Health (DOH).
He said that the Hamilton Inn needs a revised site plan as there have been modifications to the original plan. He will be in contact with them shortly.
As for Visions Cafe, Mr. Jurkowski said that the space has been inspected and will not be required to go before the planning board, as it is still in accordance with its original plan.
The cafe will undergo a cut in its proposed occupancy, though, under regulations imposed by the Department of Health. Water and sewage capacity is not enough to accommodate the number proposed. Mr. Jurkowski explained he will be overseeing this for the DOH.
Lou Simmons, owner of the space, retracted the request for permission to have a limousine service, which would have provided rides for patrons under the influence of alcohol.
Morris and Associates will provide a building inspector for the village on Thursdays, between 1 and 4 p.m. The inspector plans to organize the Village’s records, which are presently organiżed by name, not by parcel number.
Cat Problem Addressed
Reports of a cat nuisance, mainly by Gayle Hendrikson, whose cat was attacked by a stray, prompted the board to look into several solutions.
Mayor Najdek said that, since she’s been in office, she has received many complaints about the problem, which involves around 40 felines, some partly domestic and others feral.
Members of the board saw the issue as a potential health risk.
One of the options provided by Ms. Hendrikson was to enlist the help of the organization Animal Kind, which captures, spays/neuters, and administers rabies vaccination to stray felines for a fee of $25 per cat. The feline is then either found a home or re-entered into its former habitat.
The down side of the program is that it requires continuation, including providing winterized housing for the animals. The other concern was that a cat with an owner might be picked up and treated.
The alternative would be to enlist animal control, which might terminate the cat if homes weren’t found, and the fee for capture would be $75 per animal.
The board plans to meet with Mattie Chapin, a representative of Animal Kind on Aug. 21, to find out more about the program.
Meanwhile, the animal warden will be contacted about the aggressive stray cat, who apparently had a litter in recent weeks, to find out how to approach the problem without terminating the feline.
North East Studying Affordable Housing
NORTHEAST — The North East Housing Committee will conduct a survey of housing data. With this information, the committee will be able to determine what direction they will need to go in order to promote affordable housing.
On Monday evening, committee members met with Pat Sassaman, a consultant from the Rural Preservation Co. of Dutchess County (RPC), to discuss topics regarding affordable housing. This was the second meeting of the committee; the first was on May 24.
According to the Dutchess Housing Partnership and Planning Department, “Affordable housing is defined as the supply of housing available to households whose incomes are at or below the county median.” In 1990, the median for Dutchess County was $44,000.
The meeting began with a review of a mission statement proposed by Ms. Sassaman. Without getting too elaborate, members of the committee suggested the statement be more specific in regards to its mission of improving the affordability of housing stock. Town Supervisor Dave Sherman offered a revision which was agreed upon.
The establishment of a statement, originally proposed by Karl Stahovec, will serve as a reminder of the committee’s intentions.
The committee then reviewed several technical memos provided by the Housing Partnership from 1990. The memos included information on removing zoning barriers that might prevent affordable housing, and how not-for-profit corporations, like RPC, can aid a community in developing such housing.
The memos also provided information on occupancy preferencing, so that, for instance, teachers and town employees could be given priority for affordable housing, and the ECHO program, which stands for Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity.
Ms. Sassaman explained that, ideally, the maximum percentage of a household’s income going towards housing should be 30 percent. For instance, the maximum rent for a household with an income of $44,000 would be $1,100 per month. The purchase price for a new house would be $110,000.
She also pointed out that it is often the case that the candidate for affordable housing is already a resident of the community.
A “self analysis” test, provided by the Housing Partnership, was taken by the committee in order to determine the town’s present capacity to “moderate the high cost of housing.”
Questions focused on current zoning regulations, adopted community goals, and basic land, water and sewage concerns.
North East scored very well.
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