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North East Historical Society’s annual meeting set for Nov. 14

MILLERTON — The North East Historical Society will hold its 2026 annual meeting on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. with a business meeting to elect directors to the group’s board followed by the annual report to members. The three proposed directors up for election are Laura J. Conklin, John C. Hicks and Linda C. Orlando.

Ed Downey will then give a talk on local teacher and philanthropist Violet H. Simmons. Simmons grew up in Millerton, taught in its schools for 48 years, and inspired the creation of an annual scholarship to support Webutuck graduates. At her death she created endowments to support that scholarship and other important parts of our community.

Immediately following will be a reception with refreshments and a tour of a historical society exhibit at the NorthEast-Millerton Library.

“Historic Millerton — People, Places & Things,” is a reprise of the exhibit held this past July at the Millerton Methodist Church as part of Millerton’s 175th anniversary.

Millerton News
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Democrats earn big wins in 2026 elections

Democrats earn big wins in 2026 elections

Voters wait in a line that stretches out the door to receive their ballots at the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voting machines had recorded a total of more than 700 ballots cast in Millerton by 4:45 p.m.

Photo by Graham Corrigan

Democratic candidates in northeast Dutchess County scored wins alongside their state and federal counterparts.

Voters cited the rising cost of living and opposition to the Trump administration’s policies as reasons for turning out. In the Pine Plains town supervisor race, transparency and police surveillance were also concerns.

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elections

Climate Smart Millerton’s Pumpkin Smash draws biggest crowd yet

Climate Smart Millerton’s Pumpkin Smash draws biggest crowd yet

Zeke Diebboll uses one of the handmade wooden mallets at Pumpkin Smashto cave in a pumpkin at the former Millerton Elementary School on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLERTON — The third annual Pumpkin Smash drew the largest crowd yet for the Climate Smart Task Force’s composting promotional extravaganza.

About 50 people visited the field that used to house Millerton Elementary School’s playground equipment on Saturday, Nov. 7, braving a drizzling rain to join in bashing and flinging pumpkins. This year’s event marked the return of repeat partner McEnroe’s Organic Farm and a new collaboration with North East Community Center, which owns the former elementary school property.

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community

Is it a concert or a play? “Yes, Darling.” It is.

Is it a concert or a play? “Yes, Darling.” It is.

Ryan Montbleau and Hayley Jane bring “Yes, Darling” to the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield on Nov. 13.

Provided

On Friday, Nov. 13, a truly unique performance will hit the stage of the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. “Yes, Darling” is the musical culmination of a longtime collaboration between musicians Hayley Jane and Ryan Montbleau. What sets this performance apart from a traditional musical or a regular concert is that the writers of the songs are the actors and performers themselves.

Though “Yes, Darling” is their first official album and subsequent show together, Jane and Montbleau share a number of compatible traits that work together marvelously in this project.

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performances
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Local favorites among Destination Dutchess tourism award finalists

Local favorites among Destination Dutchess tourism award finalists

Tenmile Distillery in Wassaic is a finalist for a Destination Dutchess 2026 Tourism Award of Distinction for its Revolutionary Whisky.

D.H. Callahn

Three familiar names from eastern Dutchess County are among the finalists for Destination Dutchess’ 2026 Tourism Awards of Distinction, recognizing the people, businesses and organizations that make the county a vibrant destination for visitors.

House of Stefas in Millbrook is a finalist for the Newcomer Award of Distinction, which celebrates tourism-related businesses that opened in 2025 and have already made an impression on visitors and residents alike.

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business

Empress outlines EMS plans for northeast Dutchess

Empress outlines EMS plans for northeast Dutchess

MILLERTON — Empress Executive Director Robert Stuck provided details of a proposed regional emergency medical service system to North East Town Board members on Wednesday, Nov. 4. He said the changes would save participating towns hundreds of thousands of dollars in EMS costs by pooling resources with neighbors.

Stuck said the new so-called dynamic system would better use the company’s labor and equipment and would ultimately reduce the total number of ambulances servicing North East, Amenia, Washington and Stanford. Under the new agreement, the four towns would share three ambulances that would be placed strategically between each of the towns and repositioned to provide backup for occupied EMTs and paramedics. Stuck said the dynamic model would cut North East’s upcoming 2028 contract by $675,000, from $1.3 million to $625,000.

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emergency medical services

Grieving father advocates for septic system safety after toddler’s death

Grieving father advocates for septic system safety after toddler’s death

MILLERTON — A father’s grief has driven him to fight for stricter septic safety requirements after the death of his 2-year-old son who fell into an unsecured septic tank.

Jonathan Rea, whose son Olly died on July 25 after falling into a septic tank, has taken to advocacy in the months following the accident — fighting to reform rules regulating septic tank covers. The effort is in its early stages, with Board of Health staff responding to Olly’s death with new guidance in September that specifies all new septic lids must have the ability to lock, while county officials work out whether they have the authority to guarantee the covers are actually locked.

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safety
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