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Members of the North East Town Board discuss proposed zoning code revisions during a meeting at North East Town Hall in Millerton on Monday, Jan. 19.
By Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — The North East Town Board on Monday, Jan. 19, adopted a series of detailed revisions to its proposed zoning code overhaul, incorporating feedback from county and local agencies as well as public comments.
Zoning Review Commission Chair Edie Greenwood and the town’s zoning consultant, Will Agresta, participated in the meeting as board members reviewed comments submitted by Dutchess County Planning, the North East Planning Board, the town’s Conservation Advisory Council, and residents who spoke or submitted written remarks during the initial public hearing on Jan. 8.
Board members addressed the comments line by line, approving changes that Greenwood described as largely technical in nature, including revisions to definitions that did not align with state regulations and clarifications intended to improve readability and consistency.
Greenwood said a red-line draft showing the approved changes alongside the original text will be prepared.
Among the more substantive revisions was the decision to impose an overall size cap on accessory dwelling units. The board voted to limit ADUs to a maximum of 1,200 square feet and specified that they must be accessed from an existing driveway on the property. Board members also discussed adding language to clarify how ownership through an LLC or trust would comply with the requirement that the property owner reside in the principal dwelling.
The board also approved allowing retail businesses and restaurants in the so-called Irondale District, a small commercial area encompassing seven parcels along Route 22 near Winchell Mountain Road and Irondale Road.
Other changes included:
– Replacing the term “farm” with “farm operation” for consistency with state law.
— Revising drive-through regulations to allow additional lanes for banks.
— Tying requirements for landscaped islands in parking lots to the size of the lot.
— Adding expiration dates for site plan approvals.
— Removing references to “cage-type poultry farms.”
— Requiring 10% of parking spaces in lots with 30 or more spaces to be “EV-ready,” meaning the necessary infrastructure must be installed, but not necessarily a charger itself.
— Standardizing safety and maintenance requirements across all parking regulations.
— Clarifying that parking structures may be built above or below grade.
— Allowing farm machinery sales and rentals.
Greenwood told The News she expects the red-line draft to be completed and submitted before the end of next week. The Town Board is set to continue the public hearing on the proposed zoning changes on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. at North East Town Hall.
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The college-age generation is grappling with inflation, increasing housing prices, climate change, and now mass corporate layoffs. In a world where geopolitical turmoil is increasing, the ground beneath their feet is shifting. Many believe their future is bleak.
My nephew, Joey, just got married. His wife lives with her parents, and he lives with his. While he makes good money as a pharmacy manager at a national chain drugstore, neither he nor his wife can afford even a down payment on a house in Long Island. They are moving in with the wife’s parents. Joey’s sister is also married with two children. They also live with their parents. Welcome to the American dream turned nightmare for almost 70 million young Americans.
The typical age range of Gen Z is 1997 to 2012. They are the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. They are the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in America, with 48% being non-white.
Almost all of this generation is highly active on social media. Almost 60% are planning to pursue a college education. They are just as likely to identify as Republicans, Democrats, or Independents. As such, the present populist upheaval the U.S. is undergoing takes an inordinate toll on them. It may be why 91% of Gen Zers report experiencing symptoms of stress and anxiety.
While Wall Street opened the year celebrating the promise of a bright future, thanks to AI. Opinion leaders predict that artificial intelligence, robots, and space, among other technological breakthroughs, will dramatically reshape the way the world works. For college grads, all they see is a no-fire, no-hire labor market where unemployment among workers ages 20 to 24 continues to rise. It is now to 5.3% and even worse for those younger than that.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers predict the entry-level hiring crisis will worsen this year, rating job prospects as poor or at best fair. At a recent gathering of employers at the Yale School of Management, 66% admitted they planned to cut jobs or freeze hiring.
With an economy that is expected to grow by 3% in 2026, one would have expected the opposite reaction, but then you would not be reckoning with the impact of artificial intelligence on the job market. Potential employers are concerned and uncertain about how AI might reshape the workforce over the next few years, and rightfully so.
Most analysts believe that many white-collar positions, especially at the entry level, will be replaced by technological advancement. Underscoring that concern, many corporate giants, including Amazon, UPS, Target, and Google, announced layoffs affecting more than 60,000 jobs. And to many, that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Faced with taking fast-food jobs at minimum wage and lacking work experience in their hoped-for professions, 3 in 5 Gen Z workers are looking elsewhere for a job with some kind of reasonable future. Almost half of these young workers believe the blue-collar jobs may offer better long-term security than corporate work in the technology fields. The top sectors pursued by Gen Z include plumbing, automotive repair, construction, and electrical work.
I happen to agree with that belief, but unfortunately, Gen Z applicants face the same barrier to entry in their white-collar arena—lack of experience. Many job applicants, regardless of industry, are now required to have at least 3 years of experience and up to 5 years before being considered.
The lure of six-figure salaries in the blue-collar area is attracting more Gen Zs to vocational schools. However, what many conveniently forget is that earning that kind of take-home pay requires years of experience, a substantial investment in personal tools and equipment, and serious wear and tear on the body.
As I write this, in the next room, a 65-year-old builder I’ll call Scott, who is going in for his second knee replacement next month, is building another room in our condo. Assisting him is a young GenZer. There is a constant stream of chatter as Scott talks through his drywalling process. His helper listens intently. They seem eager to learn and ask questions as they work. He did the same when he placed the struts and erected the wall.
For several years, Scott has been involved in a local high school program that teaches vocational school grads his business, while they gain on-the-job experience and a paycheck. Scott and others like him are providing a solution one day at a time. He is one answer to the dilemma facing this struggling generation. This country needs more Scotts to hire and teach a young workforce in need.
Next week, I will highlight one area where many Gen Xers have found an alternative to home ownership. It holds risks but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to get involved.
Bill Schmick is a founding partner of Onota Partners, Inc., in the Berkshires.Bill’s forecasts and opinions are purely his own and do not necessarily represent the views of Onota Partners, Inc. (OPI).
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Caroline Farr-Killmer wears her hunting bibs after being inducted into the historic Rounders’ Hunting Club in November 2025, becoming the first woman to join the club since it was founded by World War II veterans in 1954.
Photo by Aly Morrissey
MILLERTON — A lot has changed for Caroline Farr-Killmer over the last two decades, but the smell of campfire smoke and the familiar bark of an old blue alarm clock have stood the test of time at the hunting grounds of the historic Rounders club, a place that has served as a second home for her family for generations.
In November 2025, Farr-Killmer, 25, became the first adult woman to be unanimously voted into the hunting club, a group that’s known as much for its camaraderie and history as its dedication to safety, respect and the outdoors.
Founded in 1954 by WWII veterans, the group — originally named the Rounders of Riga — began as six men who wanted to step away from civilian life and gather around a shared love of hunting. Longtime member Larry Conklin has referred to the group as the “real-deal Band of Brothers,” which has expanded to include vetted family members and friends over time. Farr-Killmer is its newest member.
Today, the Rounders club is comprised of 10 adult members, along with several junior members.
Though she is defying gender stereotypes, Farr-Killmer approaches the milestone with gratitude, viewing it as a chance to learn from a community that has always felt like home.
During hunting season, which takes place between November and early winter, members take turns doing chores, which can include constructing the 16 x 32 military tent or preparing meals like venison tacos.
“I am grateful and excited,” Farr-Killmer said, adding that she appreciates the vote of confidence from the Rounders. “I think it will be fun to bring a female presence into the hunting world, especially as it is such a male-dominated sport.”
While a number of female junior members currently exist, Farr-Killmer hopes that her hands-on involvement will pave the way for other women to join in the future.
Farr-Killmer’s connection to the Rounders spans generations. Her grandfather, Bryant Killmer, was the first family member to join the Rounders in the 1990s and remained an active member until his death in 2020.
“As a kid, I would look forward to all the stories from the older gentlemen who had lived such interesting lives — many of whom were veterans,” Farr-Killmer said.
Today, she carries on her family’s legacy with her brother, a junior member, and her father.
“My family is excited, but especially my dad, Ray,” she said.
Ray Killmer — who taught her the culture, tactics and lifestyle — said he is proud of her.
“I look forward to the legacy being carried on,” he said.
When she received the official welcome into the club, Farr-Killmer said she was “ecstatic.” Though she has been attending camp since childhood for its social traditions, she has only been hunting for several years.
Induction into the Rounders marks another achievement for Farr-Killmer, who has been heading up the demolition and reconstruction of Millerton’s water department building since a fire destroyed it and all the equipment inside last year.
“I want to send the message that you can do what you set your mind to,” she said. “I think it is great that times have evolved and this sport has become one that is much more inclusive.”
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