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North East Town Board candidates selected

MILLERTON — At a caucus of the North East Democratic Committee on July 20, two candidates appeared seeking the party’s endorsement for the remaining one-year term for the seat vacated by Griffin Cooper.

Rachele Grieco Cole, a newcomer to town politics, was selected over Chris Mayville, a Republican, by a vote of 21 to 8.
Regardless of party affiliation any town resident can seek the Democratic endorsement. By the petition process Mayville was picked to appear on the Republican ticket in April. Consequently, Mayville and Grieco Cole will face off again in the November elections vying for the one-year seat. Currently Mayville is completing his first one-year term on the town board.

At the caucus Grieco Cole introduced herself to the caucus attendees. She is currently employed as a grants administrator for New York Law School and volunteers for Project Sage, formerly Women’s Support Services, a Salisbury, Conn., based nonprofit that assists victims of domestic violence. Her goals, according to a press release issued by the Democratic Party are, “Finding new grant opportunities, increasing community safety, particularly reducing speeding, renewing the ambulance contract at a reasonable cost, increasing government transparency and better protecting our environment.”

Early voting starts on October 26 this year.

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Median Washington home prices remains above $900K

The home at 44 Merritt Ave. was built in 1901 and renovated by Christopher Quinn. The 0.33 acre village property also included a small cottage. It sold on Aug. 31, 2026 for $1,117,500, 14% under its listing price of $1,295,000.

Photo by Christine Bates

WASHINGTON — The median sale price of a single-family home in the Town of Washington, which includes the Village of Millbrook, reached $905,000 for the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2026 — up 36% from a year earlier and just below the record set the previous month.

The median was slightly below the $907,500 recorded for the 12 months ending in August. It was up from $667,500 for the comparable period in 2025 and $550,750 in 2024, an increase of 64% over two years.

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Dutchess County Sheriff's Report — Thursday, October 22, 2026

Dutchess County Sheriff's Report — Thursday, October 22

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Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Harlem Valley area activity report Sept. 30 to Oct. 14.

Oct. 1 — Deputies responded to Shady Lane in the Town of Dover for a reported physical melee between cousins. Upon arrival, investigation revealed no active disturbance. Both parties were intoxicated and uncooperative with deputies.

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New York State's Office of Renewable Energy Siting denied an application from Chicago-based Hecate Energy LLC that would have resulted in a 42-megawatt solar farm across 700 acres in Craryville, a hamlet in the Town of Copake.

Photo by Nathan Miller

COPAKE — New York State denied Hecate Energy LLC’s application for a more than 700-acre solar project, pointing to two factors: floodplain and community protection issues, and identification of and protection of wetland resources in this rural hamlet.

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Lelah M. Somers

Lelah M. Somers

DOVER PLAINS — Lelah M. Somers, 97, a longtime Dover Plains, New York, resident, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck, New York. Lelah was born on July 3, 1929, in Pawling, New York, to the late Byron and Lelah (Watts) Brill. Lelah grew up in Pawling and on Nov. 22, 1946, in Pleasant Valley, New York, she married James F. Somers, Sr. Mr. Somers passed away on Sept. 3, 1970. Lelah worked for New York State as a therapy aide for thirty-years and as a senior companion for New York State for thirty-two-years, with specific care provided to the mentally disabled.

She enjoyed taking care of the mentally disabled, was a wonderful mother to her four children, always putting her family first. She is survived by her son, James F. Somers, Jr. and his wife Donna of Dover Plains; two daughters, Doreen Monica of Wingdale, and Frances “Fran” Horton of Dover Plains, who was also her caregiver for many years; seven grandchildren, Debbie, Margie, Leah, Stephanie, Deirdra, Benji and Jimmy and several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, and her step-son, Kenny Elliott. In addition to her parents and husband, Lelah was predeceased by her daughter and son-in-law, Carol “DeeDee” Maile and Gil Maile, her son-in-law, Stephen Monica, and her son-in-law, Benny Horton as well as her companion of over forty-years, Andrew “Mac” McAlravey and her siblings, Ferris Brill, Eleanor Barryann, Richard Brill, William Brill and Barney Brill.

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The art of getting into art school

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Hudson Valley Regional Portfolio Day returns to Poughkeepsie.

Provided

For a young artist considering college, the question isn’t simply whether the work is good enough. It’s which work to show, which school might be the right fit and even whether a creative life can lead to a sustainable career.

On Friday, Oct. 16, hundreds of aspiring artists will have the opportunity to explore those questions at Hudson Valley Regional Portfolio Day, presented by The Art Effect at the MJN Convention Center in Poughkeepsie.

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A colorful life together at Atelier Valla

Textile designer Justine Valla sits in her father’s chair, which she painted, alongside her husband, illustrator and muralist Victor Valla, in their Atelier Valla studio.

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I lost the ability to paint after the accident. I struggled to paint again.
— Justine Valla

Husband and wife Victor and Justine Valla share a lavender and pink studio, Atelier Valla, across the driveway from their pink house, nestled into a hillside in Salisbury. The colors, said Justine, “were inspired by Monet’s house at Giverny.”

Creating art has been a lifelong pursuit for both.

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