Ben York, operational coordinator, and Mark Clizbe, program director, of NEDIS discussing the program at the Millbrook Library Volunteer Day Oct. 14, 2023.
MILLBROOK — Grace Episcopal Church began its Grace Latino Outreach (GLO) program in 2005 under the auspices of Rev. Dr. Douglas J. Fisher and members of the church, who undertook to start the program in response to an access problem: many people in the immigrant community did not know what resources were available to them or how to access what was available.
Lack of transportation and a language barrier added to the feelings of isolation that came from being in a new country, far from home and family.
GLO began by offering two programs: English as a Second Language (ESL), and instruction in basic banking, such as opening checking accounts and obtaining and using debit cards.
By 2008, Evelyn Garzetta was named coordinator of GLO; in 2011, she was named executive director.
The program became an important interface with the local immigrant population. GLO coordinated with other area programs such as Community Action Partnership, MESA Episcopal Mission in Dover, and especially with St. Thomas Church in Amenia Union, which has a food pantry and community garden among other services. They’ve also partnered with Literacy Connection, Somos la Llave del Futro, Eastern Dutchess Rural Health Network, Hudson/Sun River Health, Northeast Community Center, and Cornell Cooperative Extension.
In a region that is underserved in health, transportation and other critical services, the partnerships have been invaluable.
But often the brunt of the coordination and work fell on GLO and Garzetta. In 2018, GLO became Grace Immigrant Outreach (GIO), with the intention of broadening their support beyond the Latino immigrant community.
As services expanded, so did the need for grants and manpower; in 2022, Garzetta initiated the transformation of the church’s outreach program into a 501(c)(3), Northeast Dutchess Immigrant Service (NEDIS).
Among its charges was getting together a panel of board members. Chosen were people who were known in the community for helping others; for being committed to community; for expertise in areas of medicine, law and education; those who can and will help clientele to navigate the often complicated aspects of starting life over again in a new environment, a new language and a new culture.
The first meeting of the board of directors, required for a 501(c)(3), took place Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at the Millerton Inn.
Present were Garzetta, and staff members Mark Clizbe, program director, and Freddie Gonzalez, and seven board members. Each of them is clear in their belief that this population deserves full membership in the community, a sense of ownership and belonging. What they give back to the community deserves no less.
Some of the areas people need help in are actually what other populations need assistance with as well, such as affordable housing and transportation. NEDIS distributes food bags from Food of Life Pantry to Mision Episcopal Santiago Apostol in Dover Plains; provides evening ESL classes in Dover, Millbrook and Pawling, and materials for students in tutoring programs; a social worker is available to help clients obtain physical and mental health services; and consultants are available to help navigate the legal system, particularly with regards to status change and asylum papers, visas, applications and other paperwork, and referrals to immigration attorneys; offers transportation to appointments at immigration court.
NEDIS’ Academic Mentoring Program provides academic instruction and educational advocacy, as well as teaching clients, among other skills, to organize their work and finances, communicate with school systems in which children are enrolled, and supports school-age clients in planning for the future, for example by making career goals or in applying to college.
NEDIS, which operates out of two offices — 12 Rymer Street in Dover, and at Grace Church, 3328 Franklin Ave., Millbrook — has been fortunate in acquiring generous donations from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Episcopal Charities, the Northeast Dutchess Fund and many others. But becoming a 501(c)(3) allows it to operate without being under the auspices of a religious order, and enables the group to apply for government grants and funding.
What will remain constant, from the first days of its start in 2008, is the caring and respect that is given, along with the expertise, to enable an immigrant population to become independent members of the community, working in partnership with a long-term population, to make this part of Dutchess County vibrant, alive, and prosperous.
Long-term town employees were recognized at the Town Board meeting on Thursday, June 12. Honorees pictured with Town Supervisor Leo Blackman, were Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the Town Garage, center, for her 35 years of service to the town and Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent, for 20 years.
AMENIA — Acknowledging the many years of service accumulated by town employees, the Town Board paused to honor that service at its meeting on Thursday, June 12.
“Thank you for making a difference,” said Town Supervisor Leo Blackman in recognizing Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the town garage, for her 35 years of service.
“Megan’s job is not an easy one,” Blackman said, honoring Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent who has served the town for 20 years.
Also among those honored was Town Clerk Dawn Marie Klingner for 20 years of service as Court Clerk.
Maureen Moore, Court Clerk, was also honored in absentia for her 20 years of town service.
In anticipation of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution in 2026, new historic markers are appearing at each of the local cemeteries where Revolutionary War veterans are buried. Unveiling the new marker at Amenia Union Cemetery on Saturday, June 21, were left to right, Town Historian Betsy Strauss, Jim Middlebrook representing the regional chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Gail Seymour, President of the Union Cemetery Association.
AMENIA — One by one, new historic markers are appearing at local cemeteries where Revolutionary War dead are buried. On Saturday, June 21, community members gathered to see a new marker unveiled at Amenia Union Cemetery on Leedsville Road.
A tent provided welcome shade for the attendees and refreshments as about 30 residents gathered for the unveiling and to share stories of local history with one another.
As with the first historic market installation at the Old Amenia Burying Ground, held in April, Amenia Union Cemetery graves of Revolutionary War veterans had been marked with American flags in advance.
Jim Middlebrook, representing the Columbia Mid-Hudson chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, attended along with other members of his chapter. Speaking before the unveiling, Middlebrook said that the historic marker project had begun in August 2024, and included a detailed process to certify the names on the graves.
Middlebrook described the work of the William C. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse whose mission is to promote “pride of place” by providing grants in support of installing historic markers and plaques nationwide to honor patriots for their service. Active now in seven or eight states, Middlebrook said, the foundation will soon add Connecticut and Massachusetts to the list.
The new Amenia Union marker honors “at least five veterans of the American Revolution interred between 1787 and 1810,” although Town Historian Betsy Strauss lists six veterans buried in the cemetery. The sixth, Gerhard Winegar, whose burial had been in 1781 could not fully satisfy the certification standards.
Strauss provided the following listing of six names:
Col. Colbe Chamberlain, 1739-1796
Capt. William Chamberlain, 1745-1810
Lieut. Samuel Snyder, 1712-1808
Gerhard Winegar, 1750-1781
Ensign Henry Winegar, 1723-1787
Capt. William Young, 1747-1806
Bee Bee the clown, face painters and a community wide scavenger hunt are among the activities planned for the Millerton Street Fair in Downtown Millerton on Saturday, June 28.
MILLERTON — The Millerton News, in partnership with the North East Community Center (NECC) and the Millerton Business Alliance, is hosting its first Street Fair on Saturday in a celebration of the town.
Rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, the fair will bring together local nonprofits and businesses, with live music, entertainment, kids’ activities, local eats, and family fun in Veterans Park, in front of the Millerton Inn, and beyond.
“The Millerton Street Fair will celebrate everything we love about this community — its spirit, its dedication to service and its creative energy,” said James Clark, publisher and CEO of The Millerton News.
Local nonprofits will showcase their work and impact, including Climate Smart Millerton, Eddie Collins Memorial Park, North East Historical Society, Townscape, Tri-Corner FEED, Village of Millerton, and the Webutuck Elementary School.Participating businesses include Bes, Little Red Bird Studio, NBT, The Elephant’s Tusk, and many more.Local retail and dining establishments will be open with special promotions. NECC’s Farmer’s Market will run during the event.
Among the planned festivities are live music from John Stey and the Resilience Brass Band, performances from Bee Bee the Clown, face painting by students from Webutuck High School, and a community-wide scavenger hunt for kids.Other kids’ activities include egg and spoon races, and a “touch-a-truck” open house at the firehouse.The Irondale Schoolhouse will be hosting a special exhibit, and the North East-Millerton Library will be offering signups for the Summer Reading Program, a science show from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., lawn games, and a cookie cook-off.
For more information, go to millertonnews.com/street-fair.
The Nine Partners Road Quaker Meetinghouse, built in 1780, will be the site of two summer lectures sponsored by the Millbrook Historical Society.
MILLBROOK — Long in the planning, the Millbrook Historical Society has announced that it is sponsoring two lectures in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Both lectures relating to Quaker history are to be held in the historic Quaker Meeting House on Nine Partners Road.
For the first talk, scheduled for Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m., the historical society has invited Sarah Gronningsater, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, to talk on “Quakers, Anti-slavery, and the American Revolution.” The topic will explore the role that New York’s Quakers, especially in the Hudson Valley, played in the rise of the anti-slavery movement that followed the American Revolution.
The second talk, scheduled for Sunday, July 27, at 2 p.m., invites Carl Lounsbury of the College of William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg to speak on the architecture of the Nine Partners Meetinghouse. His talk is titled, “Nine Partners Meetinghouse Plan: A New Form in the Hudson Valley.” Expert in early American architecture, Lounsbury’s talk will compare Nine Partners with other later houses of worship in New York and New England.
Both lecture events will be held at the 1780 brick Nine Partners Quaker Meetinghouse in Millbrook. An earlier meetinghouse on the site had burned. The building has remained largely unchanged since the 18th century.
Given the age of the structure, handicapped access is limited and there are no rest room facilities.
Visitors should enter through the cemetery gate entrance.
The lectures are free and open to all, supported by a grant from the county and offered as part of Dutchess County’s participation in the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration.
