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MILLERTON — A handful of residents attended the North East Town Board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14, to hear updates on the Altice/Optimum franchise agreement, up for renewal this fall, and proposed zoning amendments tied to a potential country inn and event venue. No action was taken on either matter.
Thursday marked the third public meeting on the Altice/Optimum franchise renewal, which applies only to cable services, not Wi-Fi or internet. An initial informational session was held June 12, and a representative from Altice attended the last two town board meetings — July 10 and Aug. 14 — to hear public comments. To clear up a common misconception, Town Supervisor Chris Kennan emphasized that the agreement is non-exclusive — other providers can offer service, though that remains unlikely.
The board is expected to vote on the renewal after a formal public hearing and contract negotiations proposed by Town Attorney Warren Replansky, who did not disclose his redline recommendations during Thursday’s meeting.
Also on the agenda was the ongoing discussion around a petition to amend the town’s zoning code to permit a country inn and event venue in the Agricultural District (A5A). The proposal, which involves changes to Code 180-40, is linked to a 36-acre parcel at Route 44/22 and Smithfield Road, where John and Kristen King hope to develop a winery, guest accommodations and event space.
Following last month’s board meeting, there was some expectation that the board might vote to approve the amendment during the Aug. 14 meeting. However, without written feedback from the Planning Board, the town planner or the Conservation Advisory Council, a vote was tabled for a later date.
Nevertheless, applicant John King addressed the board, acknowledging that in trying to avoid the risk of spot zoning, he and his team may have drafted the proposed amendment too broadly. He said he plans to ask his attorney to refine the language to better support agritourism and prevent the possibility of “hotels appearing along Route 22.” Supervisor Chris Kennan pointed out that if the proposal is amended, it has the potential to restart the feedback process, further delaying a vote.
Feedback from the Planning Board, which is not a governing body, and the town planner are expected by the Town Board this week to aid in decision making.
One vote that did occur resulted in the unanimous approval of a local law allowing the Town of North East to exceed the state tax cap, scheduling a public hearing for Sept. 11. This standard procedure takes place annually.
The meeting otherwise followed a typical agenda, including committee and department reports, approval of minutes and budget adjustments.
The highway department reported major road work, including 900 tons of asphalt poured and 4.5 miles of chip sealing, completed through a partnership with Amenia and Ancram based on reciprocal in-kind contributions. Recent improvements include Silver Mountain, Scribner, and Charlie Hill roads.
Town Clerk Tilly Strauss noted that hunting licenses are now available at Town Hall. She also informed the board that cyber security training will become mandatory in January, similar to required harassment training.
The Housing Committee reported progress on pro-housing filings, an effort to position the town for grants and developers to expand affordable housing. Chair Meg Winkler, praised by Supervisor Chris Kennan for leading the labor-intensive work, said required forms for 2019–2023 zoning and residential permits have been submitted. Certification could take up to 90 days, though she expects it sooner. The initiative has grown rapidly, from 75 certified communities when Winkler began to 342.
A newly formed public safety committee has developed an emergency action plan for residents. The initiative is spearheaded by Councilman Chris Mayville, who said the draft will be complete following feedback from fire and first responders. The committee plans to present the final document this fall.
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MILLBROOK — Millbrook Beef and Dairy, located at 1348 Shunpike — at the intersection of the Shunpike and U.S. Route 44 — is the latest venture for Keegan and Brian Donovan, farmers blending traditional agricultural values with a modern emphasis on the importance of local food and community connection.
Between production at their two farms in Verbank and Millbrook and their Millbrook retail location, the Donovans aim to offer a more transparent, higher quality alternative to the existing system of food distribution, Keegan said.
It has been common agricultural practice for products to travel large distances between the farms where they originate and the stores where they are sold. While this may make sense for specialized foods which only grow in certain climates, meat and dairy products — many of which are produced close to where they are sold — often get caught along for the ride unnecessarily, Keegan said.
“The supply chain disruptions during COVID were really the first time most people realized how complicated it was to get different types of food items from A to B,” Keegan said. Inspired to offer an alternative to the existing system, the Donovans expanded beyond their Verbank farm to additional agricultural and retail space at their location off the Shunpike.
The Donovans sell dairy products through Hudson Valley Fresh Dairy, a cooperation between 11 dairy farms in the region that share the Donovans’ goal of farming produce to be sold locally.
“The average gallon of milk travels 1,500 miles from the farm before somebody buys it,” Keegan said. “Our Hudson Valley Fresh milk comes from cows on the farm here, goes to Kingston to be bottled, and then comes back to be sold right here” — a journey of only about 60 miles.
Selling the products they produce has allowed the Donovans to learn more about the community they help to feed. “If we were just putting milk on a truck, I wouldn’t know where it was going — it could be shipped to the middle of the country to be turned into baby formula powder … who knows,” Keegan said. “This way, I feel a lot more connected to the work.”
The Donovans hope to restore the popularity of farm goods from the immediate area as an alternative to the familiar products of national brands — produce Brian referred to as “hyperlocal,” narrowing the disconnect between producer and consumer.
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SHARON — Marion J. (Cookingham) Pedersen of Sharon, Connecticut, passed peacefully on May 20, 2025, at the age of 91, and her loving husband of almost 75 years, Niels (Pete) Pedersen Sr. of Sharon, Connecticutpassed away peacefully on June 27, 2025, at the age of 94.
Calling hours for both will be held on Saturday, Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main St., Sharon, CT.Burials will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the donors choice.
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Edith L. Gaskin
Aug 20, 2025
LAKEVILLE — Edith L. Gaskin passed away peacefully on Aug. 18, 2025, at her home in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, at the age of 101. She was a longtime Lakeville/Salisbury resident until recently when she moved to Cape Cod to be closer to her daughter, 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Edith and her late husband Don moved to Lakeville in 1969 and she contributed to the community in innumerable ways, including as co-proprietor of the Unicorn Bookshop, positions with the Sharon Creative Arts Foundation (SCAF), in the business office and the library at Salisbury School, and as a classroom volunteer at Salisbury Central School.
Edith was born in Secaucus, New Jersey, on Aug. 5, 1924. She graduated from the New Jersey College for Women and did graduate work in Spanish literature at the University of Mexico in Mexico City. She later served on the Board of Education in Little Falls, New Jersey for five years, the first and only woman on the nine-person panel. She was also instrumental in getting a new library built in Little Falls, New Jersey. Edith was an avid reader and was a frequent visitor to the Scoville Library, but her happiest moments were spent with her family.
Edith is survived by her two daughters, Carol Gaskin and her husband Nick of Sarasota, Florida, and Debra Fails and her husband Robert of Mashpee, Massachusetts, three grandchildren, Sarah Jardine and her husband Andrew, Seth Fails and his wife Emily, and Mattie Menassa and her husband Joe and five great-grandchildren, Amelia and Eloise Jardine and Bodhi, Milo and Wyatt Fails.
Memorial contributions in Edith’s name, may be sent to the Save the Children organization or to The Native American Women’s College Fund.
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