
More than 400 turned out for a HANDS OFF! protest rally in Salisbury Saturday, April 5.
Ruth Epstein
More than 400 turned out for a HANDS OFF! protest rally in Salisbury Saturday, April 5.
It was all hands on at two HANDS OFF! protest rallies Saturday, April 5, in the Northwest Corner.
Amid heavy rainfall, the lawn of the White Hart Inn in Salisbury was filled to the brim with citizens out to express their fear and anger with the Trump administration. This was one of legions of protests held around the United States that day.
Armed with signs proclaiming a wide range of messages, the more than 400 who turned out were passionate about the causes which they support.
“For me it’s the arts,” said Maura Wolf of Salisbury, noting specifically that such cultural institutions as PBS are at risk.
Sherie Berk worries about Social Security, the loss of grants and the loss of freedom.
Lisa Gold of Sharon said, “There is so much at risk. I can’t just stop at one thing,” while Mark Alexander of Falls Village said he’s focused, “on the whole nine yards being stolen. We’re losing our democracy if this continues. It was hard for me to decide what sign to make.” He eventually settled on one about Medicare.
In a poignant response, Jane Herold of Cornwall talked of her father who was a survivor of the Holocaust. “He didn’t ever think he’d see something like that twice in one lifetime. Fortunately, he didn’t live to see this, but I am seeing it. It’s very scary.”
Joanne Borduas, president and CEO of Community Health & Wellness Center, was among the speakers at Saturday’s HANDS OFF! protest rally in Salisbury April 5. She spoke about the impact the federal funding cuts are having on healthcare. Ruth Epstein
During a short program, which was introduced by Sophia deBoer, who helped organize the event, Joanne Borduas, president and CEO of Community Health & Wellness Center, a federally qualified health center, spoke about the cuts being made in the area of basic healthcare and the negative impacts, especially to those on Medicaid. She said those clients will not be able to afford to pay for insurance. “As an organization that receives federal funding, we’re having to make drastic changes. Already we have had to close our dental services.”
Borduas ended on a strong and foreboding note. “The cuts will result in a matter of life and death.”
A woman from Stanfordville, New York, said she is one of thousands of farmers who have been affected by the removal of promised grants. Her message to the Trump administration: “Hands off our environment.”
One of the region’s strong environmentalists, Tim Abbott, referring to the current administration as the “Trump regime,” said land is important and access to nature is vital. He encouraged those present to skill up, not to comply, not to capitulate and perform defections.
Teen Alex Wilbur, representing the youth of the community, urged the crowd to stand up and protect those in the trans and LGBTQIA+ communities, expressing fear for the future. Wilbur shared a quote from activist Marsha Johnson who said, “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.”
Lisa Gold of Sharon and Mark Alexander of Falls Village are among those who came out to Saturday’s HANDS OFF! protest rally in Salisbury. Ruth Epstein
State Rep, Maria Horn, D-64, spoke about her major concerns, including the loss of $1 to $2 billion of Medicaid funding, noting one in four Connecticut residents are covered by that program. She touched on other areas that are being cut, such as food. “We must protect our most vulnerable people. That’s part of our set of values.”
As a former federal prosecutor, Horn is extremely upset with the attempts being made to destroy the legal system.
Later in the day, a strong showing for HANDS OFF! was seen at the intersection of routes 4 and 7 in Cornwall Bridge. With an estimated crowd of 250, once again there was a sense of enthusiasm and commitment as signs were held high and waves to passing vehicles elicited much support.
Participants in Saturday’s HANDS OFF! rally in Cornwall Bridge wave to passersby.
Ruth Epstein
For Mike Nadeau, climate change is an important issue that needs to be addressed. “I’m concerned with what little democracy is left,” he said. Louise Riley of Kent runs Fishes and Loaves food pantry in Canaan, so it’s natural that food is of great concern to her. The pantry is receiving less food from governmental programs and is seeing increased demand, she said.
Richard Sears, who along with his wife, Brenda Singer, were among the organizers of the rally because they are witnessing the destruction of democracy in so many ways. “We need to stand up for the power of people,” he said. Gary Steinkohl said the administration is “imploding our society, democracy, economy, culture, beliefs — everything we’ve created — without reason.”
Looking around at the rally goers, Cornwall First Selectman Gordon M. Ridgway said, “These cuts impact everyone out here: veterans, farmers, people on Social Security. And they are made by someone not elected by anyone.”
Alice Quinn of Millerton joined the demonstrators at White Hart in Salisbury.Christine Bates
Webutuck's Olivia Lopane-Wickwire, no. 2, eyeing a pitch as she steps off first base.
FALLS VILLAGE, Conn. — Webutuck High School softball defeated Housatonic Valley Regional High School 14-9 on Thursday, May 15.
The non-league game was played in Falls Village, Connecticut, in what is a becoming an interstate rivalry. When these teams met last year, Housatonic won 16-3.
The match was paused in the second inning due to a lightning delay. At the time of the delay, Webutuck led 5-4.
Housatonic’s Madison Dewitt tied the game with a homer to center field once play resumed.
Webutuck pulled ahead as the game went on. Bella Milano led the team offensively. She drove in six runs for the Wildcats and hit 3 for 4 at the plate with a triple.
Pitcher Madison Krueger earned the win for Webutuck with 10 strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings. Her performance put the team total for strikeouts this season at 103.
For Housatonic, Kylie Leonard hit 3 for 5 with two RBI. Freshman Payton Wagner pitched six innings for the Mountaineers.
The annual Columbia County event draws hundreds of bargain hunters to Hillsdale’s Hamlet Park.
HILLSDALE —The town of Hillsdale’s flea market returns Saturday, May 24.
Dozens of vendors will be selling things at Hillsdale Hamlet Park, southwest of the intersection of routes 22 and 23 in Columbia County.
Items expected to be on sale range from the practical — kitchenware, furniture, toys, garden tools and clothing — to unique hand-made items, antiques and collectibles.
Vendor spaces are available. Spaces cost $50 for a 15-by-15 foot space or $30 for 10 feet by 10 feet. Vendors must bring their own tables.
“The Hillsdale Flea is a great excuse to gather up all those treasures you have laying around your house and give them a new home,” said Tim Stookesberry, a co-organizer of the event. “I’ve had a blast selling at the market the last couple of years — and have made some decent money, too.”
The market will open at 9 a.m. for early-bird shoppers during the first hour, with a suggested donation of $10 for the Hillsdale Fire Company no. 1. The market will continue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Fire Company will also be raising funds by serving breakfast sandwiches and coffee at the event. Other food vendors also are expected to be on hand.
As this is an outdoor event, a rain date for severe weather is set for Sunday, May 25, with the same times. Notice of a rain delay will be posted on Hillsdale’s various Facebook pages as well as the town website, hillsdaleny.com, and other social media outlets.
For more information on the event, contact the organizers at hillsdalenyparks@gmail.com.
Producing a blizzard of bubbles, the Bubble Bus delighted visitors to the annual Webutuck Community Day at the high school on Saturday, May 17.
AMENIA — Outdoor and indoor fun activities awaited area families who attended the Webutuck Community Day at the high school on Saturday, May 17. The popular annual event was co-sponsored by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and the Webutuck PTA.
In addition to outdoor displays including a car show, large trucks, a helicopter, a state police water rescue vehicle and a bubble bus producing blizzards of bubbles, the indoor displays numbered more than 60 local and area organizations, vendors, demonstrations and volunteer opportunities, nearly all giving things away for free.
Last-minute coaching was in order before the start of an old-fashioned sack race. Millerton Village Board member Matt Hartzog was ably coordinating each race and cheering all contestants onward at Webutuck Community Day on Saturday, May 17.Photo by Leila Hawken
Old-fashioned sack races for kids were a popular outdoor feature organized and managed by Millerton Village Board members Matt Hartzog and Lisa Hermann. They provided information about the upcoming 175th anniversary Millerton’s 1851 founding. A significant celebration is being planned for next year between July 11 and 19, 2026. Volunteers are being sought now.
“We’re looking for people and organizations interested in helping out,” Hartzog said, adding that organizations might contribute an event to be scheduled within that celebration week.
“We want to fill the week,” Hartzog said. “It’s a work in progress,” Hermann added.
For information about the celebration, go to www.villageofmillerton-ny.gov/175th.
Little Kinsley Kelly from Dover, who recently celebrated her first birthday, attended her first Webutuck Community Day on Saturday, May 17. Eager to try the sandwiches being prepared in the high school cafeteria, she found the burger held by her dad to be to her liking.Photo by Leila Hawken
The Millerton Fire Company was represented by members volunteering to hand out fire safety kits, plastic helmets and baked goods, while providing fire safety information.
Second Grade teacher Sydney Cipriano was looking after the PTA Book Fair display. The Book Fair is an ongoing PTA activity. Community Day organizer and PTA President, Anna Kall, busily came and went from the Book Fair display ensuring that the event ran smoothly.
Faith Bible Chapel offered information about their Vacation Bible School, scheduled for June 23 to 27. Pastor Bill Mayhew said that the free-of-charge program for kids 2 to 18 has steadily grown in numbers over the years.
Bee Bee the Clown of Milan, an area favorite, made balloon animals.
Delighting youngsters with balloon creations, Bee Bee the Clown paused for a photo with Third Grade teacher Sydney Cipriano in the PTA book booth.Photo by Leila Hawken
Local libraries were there. The Amenia Library’s program assistant Megan Marshall had been kept so busy, she said, she had given away all of her cookies, but still had a few handcrafted bookmarks made of recycled materials to give away. NorthEast-Millerton Library children’s librarian Naomi Schmidt was distributing stickers to children who shared a poem.
Outdoors, not far from the bubbles, the New York State Troopers had brought along an air boat used in underwater rescue or recovery emergencies.
“We get to give back to our communities,” said Recovery SCUBA team member Michael Polishuk, adding that they were there to talk to children about water safety.
Funding for repairs to the NorthEast-Millerton Library were secured Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-106).
MILLERTON — The NorthEast-Millerton Library is set to receive a facelift thanks to a $125,000 grant to support overdue repairs and necessary upgrades to the library’s Annex.
NorthEast-Millerton Library Director Rhiannon Leo-Jameson said the repairs are scheduled to begin around mid-June and conclude in early August. The grant will be used to repair structural and cosmetic damage, including rotting wood, chipping paint and damaged siding. Leo-Jameson said if there is any budget remaining, the library will replace an exterior door and window.
But it’s not just about paint and repairs. As outlined in the library’s strategic plan, which runs through the end of this year, a primary goal of the library is to “bridge the divide in our community” using the Annex to host events, meetups and offer the space to organizations looking for a place to gather.
“The Annex has become a community hub,” Leo-Jameson said. “The community deserves to have a place that is well-maintained and attractive.” The Annex is utilized by the library, community members and local organizations six days a week. It has also served as the polling location for the Town of North East.
This funding — secured by Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-106) — comes at a critical moment, as libraries across New York face uncertainty amid significant cuts to federal support. Barrett, a longtime supporter of public libraries, said the threats to funding streams from the federal government “will, without question, impact the libraries in our district.” She said libraries like the NorthEast-Millerton Library, which generally operate on shoestring budgets, will feel these funding cuts deeply.
“It’s a critical dynamic in our country right now,” Barrett said, adding that the public has a role to play in the sustainability of libraries. “I think now is the time for the community to step up and become members, look at ways to be supportive, teach kids about programs at the libraries and get involved.”
Barrett has visited the library over the years for meetings, political events and talks. “I love that the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex is a hub with energy and a sense of community and when it’s a newly refreshed building I know it will be super exciting for the community.”