Post Office move prompts a stir; classroom ‘phone patch’, rail trail toilet idea gets flushed

April 12, 1934

‘Moving of Post Office Criticised by Leading Citizens of Millerton;’

That the action of the United States Post Office Department in removing the Millerton post office from the Shufelt building on Main Street to its present location in Center Street is meeting almost universal condemnation among the citizens of the village is indicated by protests arising from some of the leading citizens of the village when interviewed by a representative of THE NEWS during the past few days.

‘NOTICE’; I would respectfully inform my customers that I am continuing to deliver ice, and will give prompt service. I thank you for your past patronage.
Tel. 23-11.
RALPH BRIZZIE, Pine Plains.

‘Mrs. Rand Appears With Roosevelts In Picture’; A picture of Mrs. Ellen Emmet Rand, of Salisbury, Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Mrs. James Roosevelt, mother of the President, viewing the portrait of President Roosevelt painted by Mrs. Rand and now on exhibition in New York appeared in Tuesday’s New York Herald Tribune. Mrs. Rand’s painting is to be the official White House portrait of the President.

April 10, 1975

‘‘Phone Patch’ Brings Experts To Webutuck’; For the last several months teachers at Webutuck Junior-Senior High School have been using the telephone as an important instructional tool. “Recognizing that a textbook alone cannot fully bring instruction to life, teachers are now employing a ‘phone patch’ device to bring expert speakers directly into the classroom” said Principal Jerry Cramp, the initiator of the program at Webutuck.
The “phone patch” allows everyone in the classroom to hear the expert’s telephone voice and a microphone allows any student to speak directly to him. “This allows for total interaction between the speaker and the class, just as if he were right in the classroom,” said Cramp.

‘Eastern N.Y. Holstein Club Honors Benekes Of Millerton’; Mr. and Mrs. Joachim Beneke of Willowbrook Farm, Millerton, were the honored guests of the Eastern New York Holstein Club Saturday evening, April 5. The annual spring banquet was held at Bennett College in Millbrook.
Each year at the banquet the Holstein Club honors one of its members. The Benekes have been active in the organization since 1951 and began farming in this area in 1944. They have a total herd of 300 Holsteins and own 800 acres of crop land.

‘Editorial: Checkerboard Turn’; The checkerboard turn on Route 22 has been a curse to Millerton for too long. It is time that Village officials and concerned residents pressure the state highway department to erect emphatic warning signs before any more bad accidents occur.
Last weekend 4 teenagers barely escaped serious injury when their Volkswagen flipped over at the sharp right angle turn, just south of the Village Center.

April 13, 2000

‘Toilets on Trail: Don’t Hold Your Breath’; MILLERTON — Comfort stations and emergency telephones are not likely along the rail trail anytime soon, according to Dick Hermans, president of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association (HVRTA).
“They’re expensive and maintenance is problematic,” said Mr. Herman’s, who noted that there were toilet facilities available behind the North East Community Center. “I think people who use the trail a lot plan accordingly,” he said. He added that any facilities with doors tended to attract loiterers.
The comfort station issue has attracted some attention from business owners in the area, as there are not many known public toilets in Millerton. The one in the rear of the community center, for example, does not seem designed for high traffic and is not always open.

‘Merwin House Saved, Sold to Millerton Man’; MILLERTON — North East craftsman David Shapiro this week bought the old Merwin House from landowner Christof Hamm and will dismantle and move it to his own property on Indian Lake Road, where it will be reconstructed, Mr. Shapiro said.
According to the closing contract, finalized on April 10, the house on Merwin-Clark Road has to be off Mr. Hamm’s property by April 30. Deconstruction will begin April 12 or 13, according to Mr. Shapiro.

‘Easter Egg Hunt Is Saturday’; MILLERTON — The Millerton Fire Department, American Legion Post 178, and the Millerton Gun Club along with the Round Tuit will sponsor the seventh Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 15, at 11 a.m. at the Millerton Fire House. In addition to the Easter Egg Hunt, there will be a hayride from the Millerton Fire House on Century Boulevard to the Millerton Gun Club.

‘Webutuck Science Evening A Hot Ticket For All’; WEBUTUCK— Despite the threat of inclement weather, scores of people packed Webutuck High School Tuesday night for the district’s annual Science Night. And they weren’t disappointed. “This has been great,” said organizer Joanne Boyd. “This is our third year and it gets easier every year.”
Parents, students and friends of the Webutuck district attended almost a dozen different workshops with a wide range of topics, including Asian math and science, simple mechanics, liquids, “Computer Guts” and “Death Defying Physics.”