
Wildlife biologist Mike Fargione led a group hike across Cary’s campus, pointing out beaver dams and lodges along the way.
Photo By Nathan Miller
Wildlife biologist Mike Fargione led a group hike across Cary’s campus, pointing out beaver dams and lodges along the way.
AMENIA — Clear, sunny skies welcomed a group to the paved trails at the Cary Institute Saturday, Oct. 19, for an educational hike and lecture on beaver ecology led by wildlife biologist Mike Fargione.
The hike started at a small parking area on the north edge of the Cary campus, where Fargione presented a collection of beaver pelts to the group. He explained that beavers were almost totally eradicated from New England after fur traders hunted them to near-extinction in the 1600s. Until the 20th century, he said, beavers were absent from the New England landscape, a region that at one point hosted hundreds of millions of the semi-aquatic, dam-building rodents.
Now, as a result of careful mangement and reintroduction, Fargione said the beaver population has grown to about 2 million.
This brings challenges, but it also allows the landscape to return to the transitive nature it had prior to European settlement 400 years ago. Fargione said the modern, agricultural landscape that exists in Dutchess County is the result of human intervention and the removal of beavers. Before beavers were nearly eradicated, the rodents carefully redirected water, manipulating wetlands and low-lying forests and fields to create cyclical habitats. Human farmers responded by channelizing streams, drying swamps and driving out beavers to create more consistently dry farmlands.
Now, as beavers make their return, their incessant need to dam up streams and create beaver ponds is in direct conflict with human infrastructure.
Roads on Cary’s campus have started to show serious signs of damage from the beaver’s hydro-engineering. One path has been completely closed because erosion has created a sinkhole in the middle of the pavement. One group of beavers created a pond that was flooding the nearby New York State Police Troop K headquarters on Route 82. Fargione took the group by a low-lying brush pit to demonstrate the huge changes beavers can cause.
Before the beavers came in, the low-lying area was a dense forest full of alders, red maples and aspen trees, beavers’ preferred foods. Two streams came down the mountains from the south, feeding water into the low-lying area, and heavier-than-usual storms started to flood the patch. Noticing the new flooding and the tasty wood, beavers got to work damming up the edges of the patch, creating a 20 acre area of standing water five feet deep at its deepest point. In a matter of weeks the slightly-wet forest was transformed into a murky swamp, bringing different animals and vegetation. The day of the hike the pond was dry, but Fargione said the water didn’t just evaporate.
“A lot of that water goes back into the water table, recharging our aquifer,” Fargione said.
The habitats created by beavers are essential to local wildlife. “There’s lots of wildlife here just because beavers changed the ecology,” Fargione said.
Members of American Legion Post 178 and local veterans march in the Millerton Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26, 2025.
MILLERTON — The sun came out in full force for Millerton’s annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26 — a welcome change from the recent stretch of cold and rainy weather.
Sidewalks were filled with friends, families and furry companions as the community came together to honor fallen service members.
The Webutuck School Band plays patriotic tunes as they lead Webutuck Little League, elected officials, and fire and emergency vehicles through the Village toward Irondale Cemeter. Photo by Aly Morrissey
American Legion Post 178, the Webutuck School Band, Webutuck Little League and local fire and emergency vehicles marched down the flag-lined Main Street to cheers and applause.
The procession began at the Fire House on Century Boulevard, paused at Webutuck Creek Bridge to honor Navy and Merchant Marine veterans then continued across Route 22 to Irondale Cemetery for a prayer and moment of silence.
A woman pauses to pay respect at the grave of a United States veteran Photo by Aly Morrissey
Back at Veterans Park, ceremonies resumed as the American Legion’s New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Jenks introduced Dr. Julian Strauss, who offered a prayer honoring fallen soldiers, active service members, and their families.
Following the presentation of colors and the National Anthem by the Webutuck School Band, Jenks addressed the crowd.
He began with a quote by President Ronald Reagan: “Memorial Day is a day of ceremonies and speeches. Throughout America today, we honor the dead of our wars. We recall their valor and their sacrifices. We remember they gave their lives so that others might live.”
U.S. Army veteran Justin Dishart, currently a signal officer with the New York Army National Guard, delivers keynote remarks in Veteran’s Park during the Millerton Memorial Day Parad. Photo by Aly Morrissey
Jenks noted Memorial Day honors more than one million men and women who have died defending the United States, from the Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror.
“As Legionaries, we are pledged through the preamble of our constitution to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations of the great wars,” he said. “Yet, we do not remember our fallen brothers and sisters in arms because of an edict of ritual; we do so because we want to.”
A Battlefield Cross assembled in Veteran’s park to honor fallen soldiers.Photo by Aly Morrissey
Jenks then welcomed Millerton Mayor Jennifer Najdek, who read the 2025 Memorial Day Proclamation: “Memorial Day has been set aside to honor the memory of those military personnel who gave their lives for — and in the defense of — our country.”
U.S. Army Veteran Justin Dishart, currently a signal officer with the New York Army National Guard, of Clifton Park, New York, served as keynote speaker. Enlisting in 2009, Dishart has deployed multiple times to Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Syria, and now serves as the G-6 at Joint Forces Headquarters–New York.
“We are very fortunate to be here today, and of course Memorial Day is here every year … and it is our duty to be here rain or shine,” he said.
Dishart framed his remarks around the idea of happiness, pointing out that people often confuse Veterans Day — a celebration of those who have served — with Memorial Day, a more solemn occasion honoring those who died in service. Instead of criticizing the misunderstanding, he encouraged the crowd to find meaning — and even joy — in remembrance. “In our Declaration of Independence, it says ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,’” he said, noting that while life and liberty are guaranteed, happiness is not. “You have to pursue it.”
Members of Webutuck Little League marched in the Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26, 2025.Photo by Aly Morrissey
Dishart shared emotional stories from his service, expressing gratitude for those he knew, those he never met, and those he lost.
“Beneath all of that… all of us did it from a sense of duty that each of us feel as Americans deep in our hearts,” he said. “Each of us joined for the flag we bear on our shoulders.”
After the keynote, a bell was rung in remembrance of each Millerton veteran who died in service during the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Global War on Terror.
Dr. Strauss closed the ceremony with a benediction, and Sgt. Maj. Jenks acknowledged those who helped organize the day, including past commanders, the Sons of The American Legion, Ladies Auxiliary, NorthEast Fire District and Millerton Fire Company, Chief Olenik and the Millerton Police Department, New York State Police, Webutuck School Band, and Townscape for designing and planting the patriotic memorial.
Svend Lindbaek is creating a giant wooden chair at his workshop at 2 Main St. in preparation for a May 29 special event.
MILLERTON — On the Day of Ascension, observed this year by the Catholic Church on May 29, a mass celebrating Christ rising into heaven will take place outside in the burial ground at St. Patrick’s Church at noon.
To prepare for this special event, artist Svend Lindbaek is creating a giant wooden chair at his workshop at 2 Main St. The sculpture — designed by Father Andrew O’Connor, the new priest at the Immaculate Conception in Amenia — is based on a Bernini sculpture in the Vatican. O’Connor’s goal, like Bernini’s, is to create a sacred space for worship.
“Since St. Patrick’s was closed 10 years ago I am restricted to celebrating mass outside,” explained Father O’Connor. “It is quite appropriate to celebrate a mass about Jesus ascending into heaven in a churchyard in communion with the dead who also anticipate rising again. Being outside, the chair’s monumental size makes all that cannot be seen somehow present.” The mass will be conducted in Spanish and English.
Elyse Harney, who is urging the Arch Diocese of New York to reopen the church, has upgraded the entrance to the church and is supporting the creation of the “Chair.”
Webutuck's Olivia Lopane-Wickwire, no. 2, eyeing a pitch as she steps off first base.
FALLS VILLAGE, Conn. — Webutuck High School softball defeated Housatonic Valley Regional High School 14-9 on Thursday, May 15.
The non-league game was played in Falls Village, Connecticut, in what is a becoming an interstate rivalry. When these teams met last year, Housatonic won 16-3.
The match was paused in the second inning due to a lightning delay. At the time of the delay, Webutuck led 5-4.
Housatonic’s Madison Dewitt tied the game with a homer to center field once play resumed.
Webutuck pulled ahead as the game went on. Bella Milano led the team offensively. She drove in six runs for the Wildcats and hit 3 for 4 at the plate with a triple.
Pitcher Madison Krueger earned the win for Webutuck with 10 strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings. Her performance put the team total for strikeouts this season at 103.
For Housatonic, Kylie Leonard hit 3 for 5 with two RBI. Freshman Payton Wagner pitched six innings for the Mountaineers.
The annual Columbia County event draws hundreds of bargain hunters to Hillsdale’s Hamlet Park.
HILLSDALE —The town of Hillsdale’s flea market returns Saturday, May 24.
Dozens of vendors will be selling things at Hillsdale Hamlet Park, southwest of the intersection of routes 22 and 23 in Columbia County.
Items expected to be on sale range from the practical — kitchenware, furniture, toys, garden tools and clothing — to unique hand-made items, antiques and collectibles.
Vendor spaces are available. Spaces cost $50 for a 15-by-15 foot space or $30 for 10 feet by 10 feet. Vendors must bring their own tables.
“The Hillsdale Flea is a great excuse to gather up all those treasures you have laying around your house and give them a new home,” said Tim Stookesberry, a co-organizer of the event. “I’ve had a blast selling at the market the last couple of years — and have made some decent money, too.”
The market will open at 9 a.m. for early-bird shoppers during the first hour, with a suggested donation of $10 for the Hillsdale Fire Company no. 1. The market will continue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Fire Company will also be raising funds by serving breakfast sandwiches and coffee at the event. Other food vendors also are expected to be on hand.
As this is an outdoor event, a rain date for severe weather is set for Sunday, May 25, with the same times. Notice of a rain delay will be posted on Hillsdale’s various Facebook pages as well as the town website, hillsdaleny.com, and other social media outlets.
For more information on the event, contact the organizers at hillsdalenyparks@gmail.com.