From left to right: Melvin Mathers, Maya and Emi Wakamatsu and Athena Burke, learning to use the Glowforge laser cutter which the NorthEast-Millerton Library was able to purchase with funds from The Webutuck QUEST for Excellence Fund.
As The Webutuck QUEST for Excellence celebrates its tenth anniversary by distributing funds totaling over $21,000 while fulfilling a record 20 grant requests to teachers and community programs, Webutuck school Superintendent Ray Castellanni lauds the group’s contributions.
He says, “I’d like to thank, for every student and staff member in the district, the foundation for their continued support of our academic programs, our teachers and most importantly our students. The opportunity they have provided for both our staff and students is immeasurable. Things that we would not be able to fund within our budget they have actually helped us fund, and that has made a tremendous impact on chlldren’s lives across our community, and we look forward to their partnership for many years to come.”
He adds the effect on teachers is “tremendous because there are certain times where they may have something that is specific to their classroom or their program for their students and the district is not able to fund it. So this allows them to take chances on innovative ideas and projects or some possible trips for our students that would not be funded otherwise. So it always has ... a positive impact.”
Castellani provides approval of grant applications for funds that are administered through the Berkshire Tacconic Community Foundation with the ultimate decision on the awards made by the QUEST board.
According to chairman Lynn Buckley, QUEST “Started around June, 2013 with current committee members Tim Bontecou, Murray Zimiles, Vicki Doyle, Elizabeth Murphy, and Buckley, as well as Jennifer Dowley, Chris Kennan, M.C. O’Connor, Lisa Straus, Janet Reagon and Rhoda Lubalin, who were “interested in cultivating an atmosphere of high expectations and achievement, as well as a love of learning.”
She notes that recognizing “the positive impact educators can have on student learning... we hoped by offering monetary resources; Webutuck educators and other community organizations could be energized to create innovative programs and projects to enrich the learning of students in the Webutuck School District.”
Buckley explained that as the initial donor of $25,000, the late art teacher Rhoda Lubalin of Amenia, was given the honor of giving the group its inspirational name.
While Lubalin’s original plan was to support the arts, Buckley said, “After more thorough discussions” which highlighted deficits in reading and writing at the third-grade level, the group decided to focus on those areas in grades K-3.
Buckley explained that as the years passed and the fund grew from it’s initial total of $95,000 supplied by committee members to its current $500,000 provided mainly by “friends of friends,” QUEST’S range of what could be supported also grew as it continued with it’s mission to “support projects and efforts that create a culture where academics are respected, that cultivate an atmosphere of high expectations of achievement, encourage student initiative, creative thinking and innovation.”
This year’s recipients and projects are: Taylor Chadwell, grade 1, Pete the Cat Literacy Project; Karen Thompson and Jordan Stroly, speech therapists in WES for the Kindness Kart; Tammy Nethercott and Alyssa Plastini, kindergarten, Creating a Serenity Space; Elizabeth Murphy, Elementary Librarian, Makerspace Supplies; Anastasia Demetros, grades 4-6, Establishing a School Store; Dan Hart, Grade 4, the Wild Robot Cross Curricular Study; Audrey Toonkel, grade 4, Creating a Safe Haven for Social-Emotional well being; April Whalen, grade 4, Colonial Times, Crafts and Trades; Colin Brannen & Tom Monteverde, HS, Using Physics and Calculus in an Amusement Park Outing; Danielle Fridstrom, HS, STEAM fair t-shirts; Christine Gillette & Kathleen Howard, middle school, Fun with Collision and Energy; Leah Sprague, HS, VR Technology in Makerspace; Leah Sprague, HS, Senior class trip to VT; Jonathan Scarinzi, 8th grade, Trip to Boston; Craig Wickwire, HS, Afterschool Art Club materials; Eric Wiener, HS, Play it Forward (purchase of musical instruments and help monetarily with the rental fees of instruments); NECC, creating a Book of Poems; Cary Institute of Ecosystems, Ashley Alred, Multi year educational partnership for middle schoolers; Wassaic Project, creating a student mural; and NE Millerton Library, Sustaining 3D Printing.
The current committee, which also includes Sam Busselle, is interested in adding additional members, particularly parents of Webutuck students. For information, call Buckley at 518-789-3082.
Leila Hawken
Tiffany Zezula, deputy director of the Pace Land Use Law Center of White Plains, presents early results of a survey of Amenia residents on their desires for local parks and recreation during a forum at Webutuck High School on Saturday, June 13. Residents were invited to hear a preliminary report on the ongoing study sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Commission to assist with charting the future of recreation and parks in Amenia.
AMENIA — Residents would like to see more amenities, programming and access at Amenia’s parks and recreational sites, according to preliminary results from a town recreation survey presented Saturday, June 13.
A status report was presented at the Webutuck High School auditorium on Saturday, June 13, by Engaging Amenia planning consultants from Pace Land Use Law Center of White Plains.
Reviewing highlights from the survey, Tiffany Zezula, deputy director of the Pace program, said 116 residents — about 3% of Amenia’s population — have completed the questionnaire to date. Full-time residents accounted for 88% of respondents, while 32% were age 65 or older.
Among respondents, 77% reported traveling to one of the town’s 12 recreational sites by car.
The most frequently visited destination was the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, prompting discussion about the need for additional parking. Residents also said that they would like to see the addition of benches along the rail trail.
Respondents also said they would also favor community gardens, more picnic areas, and provision for waterway access and even swimming throughout the area.
There are low-cost programs that might be easily implemented, such as birdwatching groups, historic walking tours, or walking/hiking clubs, Zezula said.
“This is going to facilitate the conversation,” said town councilmember Nicole Ahearn about the survey’s outcomes.
Zezula said the survey is intended to complement work already underway by the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee as it evaluates the future of parks and recreation in Amenia.
Residents can still participate in the survey through June 30. Judy Moran, chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, has arranged a display at the Amenia Library where residents can review planning materials and submit comments.
A final report is expected in July, Zezula said.
Preliminary results of the study can be viewed at www.engagingamenia.com.
Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — Plans for new apartments on South Center Street are facing uncertainty over parking regulations in the Village of Millerton.
The buildings have a total of four apartments located at 26-32 South Center St, though only three have been occupied in recent years. Owner Alex Magalhaes described plans to renovate the interior of the building and utilize the empty unit.
Planning Board members raised a concern over available parking. They noted that village code requires 1.5 off-street spaces per residential unit. The property currently has no off-street parking and owner Magalhaes said there’s no room to install additional parking.
Magalhaes explained that apartment residents would use the municipal parking lot across South Center Street.
“When we first purchased, it had in the lease that we can use the parking,” Magalhaes said.
Dutchess County owns that lot, prompting questions from Planning Board members about whether that’s permissible and under whose authority.
Board Chair Andrew Rebillard, along with board member Kevin Webb, doubted the Planning Board had the authority to permit parking in that lot.
“I would propose that we get guidance from counsel,” Webb said. “To see what our ability is here.”
Webb asked if the property could fit additional off-street spaces. Magalhaes said the property has space for a small driveway in the northwest corner, but there was not any additional space for cars.
Despite the uncertainty, board members voted to set a public hearing on the plans for their next meeting on Wednesday, July 8. That meeting is expected to happen barring news from the county that the lot can’t be used for residential parking.
“It doesn’t sound like it’s something that’s going to stop this project,” Rebillard said. “Rather just make it take longer.”
Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — The North East/Millerton Climate Smart Task Force is seeking participants for a community-wide flea market set to coincide with Millerton’s 175th celebration.
The community-wide flea market will run throughout Millerton, with Eddie Collins Memorial Park serving as a central hub. Spaces at the park are available or sellers can run a sale at their own homes.
The market effort is set to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week-long celebration’s first day on Saturday, July 11.
Task force member Kathy Chow described the flea market as an opportunity to rehome old possessions without sending them to a landfill, reducing waste and building a sense of community. She said the group is in need of interested sellers.
“The Climate Smart purpose for doing this is to help people repurpose stuff that they already have,” Chow said. “To cut down on waste and all the stuff that we throw away, and even the unnecessary storage that we have.”
For a $10 registration fee, sellers that sign up by June 30 either get a space at Eddie Collins Memorial Park to set up a display or a marker on the map of flea market vendors across town.
A third option is to give items away for free. Residents that aren’t interested in running a tag sale at home or a flea market space at the park are encouraged to place free items at the end of their driveways for passersby to take.
More information on the town-wide flea market is available online at villageofmillerton.gov/175th.
“It’s a terrific, feel-good activity,” Chow said. “Everybody loves getting rid of their stuff and finding new homes for it.”
Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
Graham Corrigan
PINE PLAINS — The Planning Board unanimously approved the environmental review for a proposed storage facility expansion and farm stand at 2818 Church St. during its meeting Wednesday, June 10.
The property, located across from the high school, would expand the neighboring Stissing Storage business. Steve Hobson of HTWO Properties presented updated site plans that include additional storage units at the rear of the lot and a free-standing farm stand near the road.
Since first presenting the project in January, Hobson has made several revisions to the proposal. A row of Green Giant Arborvitae have been planted on the property’s north side to screen the additional storage units. A fence will be replaced along the south side, and a right-of-way for pedestrian traffic to the school has been added from the dead end at Nine Partners Lane.
More parking spaces were also added to Hobson’s plans. The next phase will include the demolition of an existing structure on the property, which will be replaced by storage units. Hobson says pending final approval from the county and a site visit from the New York Department of Transportation, he hopes to have the demolition done and new concrete laid before year’s end.
Leila Hawken
Artistic talent is on display at the Fountains’ Summer Art Show, which opened Thursday, June 11. The exhibition features works by several residents and drew a strong turnout of artists and guests, who were welcomed on opening day by art instructor Ellen O’Shea.
MILLBROOK — There is no shortage of talent at The Fountains in Millbrook evidenced by the opening of the Summer Art Show on Thursday, June 11.
Works of several residents are on display in the Gallery for the coming weeks.
Resident Shirley Fernekes is one of the featured artists with several paintings on display, selected to show the breadth of her works over a lifetime. Included are depictions of wildlife, seascapes and New England scenes, reflective of her travels. She recalled beginning in acrylics before switching to her preference for oils and watercolors.
“I’ve always been painting…all my life,” Fernekes explained, having attended Wooster and Silvermine art academies for her studies.
Her work has brought several awards, including recognition by the Connecticut-based Kent Art Association.
“It’s almost like I can’t not do it,” said resident artist Gail Curcio whose father Theodore Wheldon was an accomplished artist, as was her grandfather.
“I’m thrilled with the art classes and Ellen’s encouragement,” Curcio said, speaking of Fountains art instructor Ellen O’Shea who mounted the exhibit.
“The talent is fantastic. Everyone is very interested in learning,” O’Shea said of the show, noting that all are welcome to join in art classes or work on their own. Several works were included that were by six resident artists who are improving with good results. They are Lucy Johnson, Margaret Cornell, Reiko Ramsey, Graham and Sheila Attlesey and Mary Kay Blasi.
The Fountains houses a significant presence of talent, including in the visual arts. The Summer Art Show that opened on Thursday, June 11, features the works of several residents, accomplished in interpreting the world around them. The opening was well-attended by residents and friends.Photo By Leila Hawken
Olivia Montoya
DOVER PLAINS — Francis “Butch” Lynehan, 75, a twenty-year resident of Dover Plains, New York, formerly of Sharon, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Vassar Bros. Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Born Aug. 29, 1950, in Sharon, he was the son of the late William W. and Nellie (Kluun) Lynehan.
Butch grew up in Sharon and attended Sharon Center School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the United States Army and is a Vietnam War Veteran.
After his military service of three years, he was employed at the Kimberly-Clark Corporation and later worked many years for the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation.
Butch was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the Chestnut Ridge Rod & Gun Club in Dover Plains, Millerton Gun Club and the Sharon Fish & Game. He was a longtime member of the V.F.W. Post 5444 in Dover Plains and the Sharon American Legion Post 126. He was a former member of the Sharon Fire Department.
Butch is survived by his devoted wife, Nancy (Stark), his former wife, Rosemarie (Marchi) Larosa and their two sons, Michael and Stephen. He was the proud grandfather of three grandsons, Mason, Noah and Tucker. He is also survived by his loving sisters, Pat of Sharon, and Yvonne of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, and several cousins and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother William “Billy” Lynehan and his niece Lisa Hoglen.
There will be no calling hours. A private burial will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Hillside Cemetery in Sharon, with Standard Military Honors, followed by a Celebration of Life at the Sharon Fire Department, 36 West Main Street, Sharon. All are invited to attend. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon American Legion Post 126, 15 New Street, Sharon, CT 06069 or Sharon Little League/NWCTSBLL, P.O. Box 569, N. Canaan, CT 06018. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Butch’s honor, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.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.
