PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains Hose Co. is mourning the loss of one of its own this week, after the company’s chaplain, Larry Pariseau, died when his house at 41 Hoffman Road exploded on Wednesday, Oct. 13. His wife of roughly one month, Kim Dunn, was also injured in the blast.
“It’s tragic,” said Pine Plains town Councilman Matthew Zick, who heard Chaplain Larry speak at the town of Stanford’s 20th commemoration of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks this year. “He gave a very moving address. It’s heartbreaking — devastating. I know he also took in a family and that he’s a volunteer fireman.”
Chaplain Larry, 61, was among the many heroes who helped out at Ground Zero. He shared some of his gut-wrenching tales for the very first time at the Stanford 9-11 tribute this summer, of those who lost loved ones and those who made it through what was one of this nation’s darkest days. A first responder in NYC at that time, he later decided to become a chaplain after witnessing such horrors first-hand, he said.
He joined the Pine Plains Hose Co. as its chaplain and also as a volunteer firefighter when he and Dunn, 62, moved to town two years ago. Pine Plains Fire Chief Brian Walsh said Dunn just became certified as an EMT recently so she, too, could help contribute to the community.
“Together they were committed to serving the community,” he said.
Town Supervisor Darrah Cloud agreed on their benevolence as she described the couple, whom she considered friends, in the days after the explosion.
“He was a very eclectic man and a lot of fun and very funny,” she said. “He moved to town and he just volunteered for everything and came in and became a member of the church where I go. He just jumped right into town life. Not a lot of people do that but he and Kim, his wife, really did. We were grateful when he was alive for that. It was a real loss.”
The explosion
According to Walsh, the Hose Company got the call Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. from the 911 center. The emergency call was placed from a neighbor, said Walsh, and the “initial dispatch was there in less than one minute.
“When I arrived on scene the explosion had already happened and the fire had happened,” he said. “It hit third alarm right off the bat, which is not common. I’d never hit a third-alarm fire personally, and I’ve been in fire service for 15 years, and chief for the last six years. So far they’ve only gone up to second alarm. It was extremely intense, as well as throwing out the possible entrapment of four people who were trapped inside the structure.”
Walsh said that “it only ended up being two people who were in the residence.” They were Chaplain Larry and his wife.
Fortunately, the volunteer firefighters rescued Dunn with the help of a neighbor, but “the second unfortunately turned out to be a fatality,” said Walsh, who added “when we were called to the scene we didn’t know it was Larry’s home.”
Walsh described the multi-unit response as “larger than normal,” adding that “usually on third-alarm fires it is a bigger response.”
Fire companies from Copake, Ancram, Millerton, Millbrook, Milan and Stanfordville responded, with Tivoli on standby. Walsh said he believed Rhinebeck and Red Hook were there as well, and possibly a few others.
The Pine Plains Police Department also assisted, as did the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division, the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the New York State Police.
The two-story house was completely leveled as a result of the blast and resulting fire, said Walsh. He said the family that Chaplain Larry and his wife had welcomed into their home was living in the same single residence, splitting the living space.
“It was all one home; it was one structure,” said Walsh, who wouldn’t speculate if the ongoing construction contributed to the cause of the explosion.
The investigation is ongoing at this point. In fact, although the fire was extinguished in a matter of hours, Walsh and fire investigators stayed on scene for nearly 24 hours.
“We were there until 4 p.m. Thursday, and we got the call 7:30 p.m. Wednesday,” he said. “Fire burns as fast as it’s fed with a fuel source, and it had a fuel source that broke apart, so it spread fast. Along with that time on the scene was also the investigation, and the investigation was longer than normal due to the fact that there was a fatality involved.”
Phil Amelio also lives on Hoffman Road; he was in his recliner with his four Labradors when the explosion occurred. He said he stuck his head out the window, and there was dead silence. He described the scene as “absolutely eerie” at the time.
“It’s just a shame — it’s awful. I live two houses up. We lived in that house when I was a little kid,” said Amelio. “That house had been around a long time. They’re were fixing it up. They were doing a nice job. It was so nice to see someone working on it — it’s just a tragedy.”
Walsh said that losing Chaplain Larry has hit the entire fire company hard.
“Larry was the kindest individual you’ll ever meet,” he said. “He always cared for everyone he met. If you needed anything he was there, whether it was the community or the fire service. He was just the kindest person you’d ever meet. That’s who Larry was.”
On Thursday, Oct. 14, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro posted on social media his hopes and prayers for those affected by the fire and the entire community.
“Please pray and stand with our neighbors in Pine Plains. A family was displaced, life lost and fire company rocked. We are fortunate to have so many amazing emergency responders who worked tirelessly at this scene and so many others. Keep them all close to your heart, in your thoughts and center in your prayers.”
Dunn, who was initially transported to MidHudson Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, was later sent to Westchester Medical Center.
GoFundMe page
Meanwhile, Kaitlyn Weise, the 18-year-old daughter of the family that had been taken in by Chaplain Larry and his wife, has organized a fundraiser on GoFundMe, entitled, “The collapse of two families.” As of 6:08 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 18, $56,971 had been raised of the $20,000 goal.
According to Weise’s statement, “This family was the best, allowing me and my family to stay at their fixer-upper home they were making into a little home for us. In the fire was all of my two little brothers’, my mother’s and my belongings…
“This would of been the fifth time we have moved in a little over two years… Also inside were all the memories and belongings to the amazing family that let us call their home our home. We are very confused and unsure why bad things happen to such good people.”
She said the money that is raised through GoFundMe will go to her family and to help Dunn “get everything she needs after she recovers,” as well as to make sure Chaplain Larry “gets the send off he deserves.”
Walsh said on Friday, Oct. 15, as Dunn remained hospitalized at that time, arrangements had not yet been announced for the chaplain. While he had spoken with the family about arrangements, he said “everything is in the works” and “still being kept quiet.”
Millerton News
The annual Millerton Fire Company Easter egg hunt returned to Eddie Collins Memorial Park on Saturday, April 4.
Tyler Dehoff discovers a piece of chocolate in a plastic egg at the zero to two-year-old egg hunt area.Nathan Miller
Families crowd into hay wagons for a parade down Main Street to the park before the egg hunt.Nathan Miller
Debra A. Aleksinas
Packets of Blue Razz botanical extracts in pill form are among herbal remedies offered as an alternative to kratom at The Smoking Ape in North Canaan and Torrington.
MILLERTON — A new Connecticut ban on kratom — a substance with opioid-like effects linked to dependence and withdrawal — is reshaping border behavior, with some residents crossing into New York to obtain it.
Derived from a Southeast Asian tree, kratom has been marketed across the country as a natural remedy for pain, anxiety and opioid withdrawal. But officials warn it can act like an opioid at higher doses, prompting Connecticut to classify it as a Schedule I controlled substance.
Some officials are also raising concerns about 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, a more potent compound derived from kratom that can also act like an opioid.
At gas stations and smoke shops in New York, kratom remains on shelves, drawing customers from Connecticut’s Northwest Corner.
Since the ban took effect March 25, retailers in Millerton and nearby Amenia report a noticeable uptick in cross-border traffic from towns where the once-common substance is now illegal.
The shift has created a stark divide: Connecticut classifies kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance, banning its sale and possession, while New York continues to allow regulated adult sales.
“It’s illegal,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in announcing the ruling and warning of strict enforcement. “You can’t buy it, you can’t sell it or possess it because it’s dangerous, unregulated and unsafe.”
Along Route 44 in Dutchess County, the change is subtle but visible.
Employees at Smokes 4 Less in Amenia and Cumberland Farms in Millerton said they have seen increased traffic from Connecticut customers, though none could estimate by how much.
For some residents of Connecticut’s Northwest Corner, the nearest New York retailer is just minutes away — a convenience now shaping behavior.
A similar dynamic is emerging to the north in Sheffield, Mass., where kratom also remains legal and available.
Empty shelves
in Connecticut
In Connecticut’s Northwest Corner, the ban’s impact was immediate.
At Smoker’s Choice and The Smoking Ape, two smoke shops located about a mile apart in the center of North Canaan, kratom has disappeared entirely from shelves. A once-stocked wall now sits bare.
“You can see the empty shelves,” a worker at Smoker’s Choice said, declining further comment.
At The Smoking Ape, owner Omar Nasser said the financial hit was significant at his two locations, including Torrington.
“I sold what I could,” Nasser said. The remainder of stock, he noted, was returned to his distributor at a loss.
In the days leading up to the ban, he said, demand surged as customers stocked up.
Withdrawal
concerns emerge
Clinicians say the early days following the ban represent a critical window.
New data from Mountainside Treatment Center in North Canaan shows kratom-related admissions have nearly tripled over the past year.
“With the ban taking effect, we are deeply concerned about what happens next,” said Jana Wu, director of clinical integration.
“Withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, insomnia, nausea and intense cravings,” she said. “When access disappears overnight, people may find themselves in crisis.”
Now, medical providers warn, some users may seek riskier alternatives.
Since the ban, Nasser said customers continue to seek replacements.
“They’re looking for something,” to ease the withdrawal, he said. His stores now offer botanical extracts in pill form, but he said the results are limited.
“I don’t think it does the same job as kratom. Not even close,” he said, describing withdrawal as “very serious.”
He fears some customers will turn elsewhere, to more powerful remedies.
“I think people will be going definitely to hardcore drugs.”
A national moment
At Mountainside, Wu said calls are rising — from Connecticut and beyond.
“People are getting nervous,” she said.
Connecticut is now the eighth state to enact a full kratom ban.
“We are being watched. All eyes are on Connecticut,” Wu said. “It’s a bold move — and a divisive move.”
Patients are asking what comes next.
Clinicians are responding with counseling and medications such as naltrexone and Vivitrol — even as cross-border purchasing becomes part of the conversation.
“People are definitely going into New York to buy kratom,” Wu said.
Before the ban, kratom was widely available across the Northwest Corner.
Now, access depends on geography.
In Connecticut, kratom is fully banned. In New York, it is legal for adults over the age of 21, and in Massachusetts, while there is no statewide ban, legislation is under consideration.
The result is a regional patchwork — one that places border towns like Millerton at the center of shifting consumer patterns.
Some users have asked whether online purchases offer a workaround.
Under Connecticut law, the ban applies to possession — meaning even out-of-state shipments could carry legal risk.
“It doesn’t matter where it comes from,” Nasser said. “It’s illegal here now.”
Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — The Board of Trustees approved the coming year’s budget Monday, April 6, following no public comment.
The village’s expenses increased 15.8% over last year’s adopted budget. Board members attributed those increased costs to unavoidable spikes in health insurance rates and retirement payments.
Mayor Jenn Najdek said property assessments are slated to increase, which would provide the village with additional revenue. Najdek estimated tax increases of about $11.48 per $250,000 of assessed property value.
Tentative budget documents available on the village’s website reflect that wage increases and newly filled staffing positions further drove increases to the budget. Expenses for the Clerk and Treasurer’s office, along with the building department, each increased by more than 40% over last year. Deputy Mayor Matt Hartzog emphasized the board’s desire to provide raises to village staff.
“We have not given ourselves a raise,” Hartzog said. “But we would like to give all of our employees a raise, so that they can keep up with inflation.”
Hartzog called attention to rising medical insurance rates. Medical insurance expenses rose 15% to $38,300, representing roughly 4% of the total budget.
“Health insurance has just gone through the roof,” he said. “Nobody’s going to be happy about that.”
The Village Clerk budget increased by more than $21,000, driven by the separation of the Clerk and Treasurer line items, with both receiving hikes. The 15.9% rise, bringing the total to $70,240, represents the largest share of this year’s overall budget increase.
A similar additional line item in the Building Department expenses drove the 44% increase in that department’s budget. In addition to the “Building sec salary” line receiving a small increase, a “Building sec” line lists $11,700, contributing much of the total $11,852 increase to that department’s overall budget.
Police salaries increased by a total of $5,000. Highway crew salaries increased by $4,210 total.
Overall, the village expects to spend $975,156 this year, an increase of $132,836 over last year’s budgeted expenses.
Increases to expenses are partially offset by a $70,000 increase in expected non-tax revenue. That’s 22% higher than in 2025, but not quite enough to make up for the increased costs.
Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
Millerton News
MILLERTON — The NorthEast-Millerton Library is set to host a free repair café on Saturday, April 25, in the library’s annex on Century Boulevard.
Fixers will offer free repairs for small electronics, clothing and textiles, and minor bicycle repairs among other things such as lamps and knife sharpening.
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Repairs are limited to two items per person. Five knives count as one item.
The Millbrook Library will also be hosting a repair café on April 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. That event coincides with Millbrook’s community-wide yard sale.
Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — The North East Town Board will add a workshop meeting to its regular monthly schedule after members said an additional meeting could help advance projects more efficiently.
Councilwoman Rachele Grieco Cole first proposed holding two meetings per month at the board’s March meeting. The discussion was continued at a workshop meeting on Wednesday, April 1, with council members agreeing to regularly hold a workshop meeting on the first Wednesday of every month at 5:30 p.m.
The additional meeting will provide time for discussion and planning, while the regular business meeting will continue on the second Thursday of each month. Council members supported the change, citing major projects and grant opportunities that would benefit from additional discussion.
Natalia Zukerman
Blues musician James Montgomery
When the Rock n’ Roll Circus rolls into Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk on Saturday, April 11, it will bring together an all-star lineup of musicians and a mission that reaches far beyond the stage.
Presented by Rockin’ 4 Vets, this concert will benefit the United Way of Northwest Connecticut’s “Stock the Shelves” program, which supports food pantries across the region. The United Way, part of a national network founded in the late 19th century, has long worked to mobilize communities in support of local health, education and financial stability initiatives, efforts that continue today through programs like Stock the Shelves, which helps ensure families have access to essential food resources.
It’s a dual mission that founder of Rockin’ 4 Vets Jim Tirabassi described simply: “We put on the show for a dual purpose — to make people happy and to support local causes.”
What began in 2015 as V is for Veterans has evolved into Rockin’ 4 Vets, a production company built around benefit concerts supporting veterans and community needs. Tirabassi, a former rock tour manager, said the work is less about music than mission. “I love building things and I love the idea of building these shows for a purpose.”
This year’s purpose has shifted a bit. “We are seeing that veterans and non-veterans have the same issues in terms of food access,” Tirabassi said. “So, we figured we’d make it a broad-based thing and do it for the food pantries throughout New England.”
The show itself promises to deliver on its “house party” promise with high-energy, high-octane rock and blues featuring Grammy-nominated guitarist Jon Butcher, former Epic Records artist Steve Gaspár and New England blues legend James Montgomery, along with a horn section and a rotating cast of accomplished players.
“It’s a bunch of people who actually like each other which is always a good starting point,” Montgomery said. “In the case of me and Jon Butcher, we’ve been playing together for something like 50 years.”
That chemistry extends beyond the stage. “We get together a few times a year and brush up,” Montgomery said. “We’ve been doing this long enough to understand how to put something together in sound check that’s actually gonna really gel.”
For Montgomery, who has performed with everyone from B.B. King to The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt and James Brown, the spirit of the event is as important as the music. “We have a superstar lineup and then the added feature is we raise money to put food on the shelves.”
The collaboration has a long history. Montgomery was an early supporter of Tirabassi’s effort to assist veterans; an effort rooted in Tirabassi’s own service. “I was in the Army in the early ’70s,” Tirabassi said, adding that his organization now focuses on issues like PTSD, addiction and homelessness.
“I am a very fortunate person,” Tirabassi said. “My wife and I live fairly well and don’t have to worry about where our next meal’s coming from, but we were on a trip through New England last fall and we saw so many food banks with police directing traffic. People just trying to get some food. It was so bad and it broke both our hearts,” he continued. That moment of clarity became a driving force for this year’s show.
“What we’re trying to do is help society in general,” he said. “And when people come to the show, they’re part of that.”
Montgomery, a lifelong road warrior and harmonica player known for his work with artists from Muddy Waters to Gregg Allman, still lights up when talking about the energy of live performance and the connection it creates.
“It’s a really, really great place to play,” he said of Infinity Hall. “It feels really intimate when you play there.”
And in that intimate setting, the Rock n’ Roll Circus aims to do what it does best: bring people together through music while helping make sure more families have food on their tables.
Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at infinityhall.com.
Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
