LAKEVILLE — The NBT Bank merger with Salisbury Bank is complete.
On Monday morning, Aug. 14, Rick Cantele, the erstwhile president of Salisbury Bank and Trust, was overseeing the transition with NBT President and CEO John Watt, Jr., and Andreas Kapetanopoulos, NBT’s Regional President for Connecticut.
Watt said the transition was going smoothly, and he had just fielded a call from a customer regarding online banking services.
The three executives stopped in at different branches over the weekend to check on things.
Watt said maintaining the same level of personal service Salisbury Bank customers are used to is a top priority.
The branch employees “are as valuable to us as they were to Rick and his team.”
Watt said NBT is “focused on community. It’s what gives us a competitive advantage over the big banks.”
NBT now has 153 branches in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut.
“We’re often the only bank in town,” said Watt.
NBT has earmarked $500,000 for Northwest Corner and Hudson Valley nonprofit organizations.
Cantele, who is now an executive vice-president of NBT and a member of the NBT board, said the donations to nonprofits will focus on affordable housing, food security, and family services.
The three executives were persuaded to take a short stroll to the new sign in front of the Lakeville branch.
The sign reads “NBT Bank of Lakeville.”
Watt said each branch’s sign is similar, with the name of that particular town.
This article has been updated to correct the identification of John Watt, Jr., President and CEO of NBT Bank.
Nathan Miller
August 24, 1814, Red Coats invaded Washington D.C., ravaging and burning the Capitol in retaliation for Americans looting and burning York (today’s Toronto) – The War of 1812. At the White House, dinner for 40 had been prepared for a social gathering – the Redcoats sat, ate the meal, drank the wine, burned down the White House. Dolley Madison had famously departed just prior to the Red Coats’ arrival taking with her documents, some furnishings and the 8-foot, unfurled Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington, a replica, to assure its not being fouled or brandished by the British.At the conclusion of the war, Congress debated moving the Capitol to Cincinnati but Washington DC and its buildings were renovated, the White House reopened in 1817, with Washington’s Portrait proudly displayed.Washington DC – the people’s city once again flourished.
211 years later, after the Red Coats, came Trump.In October 2025 the East Wing of the White House was demolished without advance public notice or approval of the National Capital Planning Commission or Congress.With private funding and speed the East Wing was torn down in weeks to make room for an elaborate, unreviewed, unapproved, out-of-portion 90,000 square foot State Ballroom. The speed of the demolition, privately funded by billionaires seeking favor, precluded court intervention - moot to sue the gaping hole where once stood the East Wing.57% of the public disapproved of the demolition at their White House.
Two weeks after President Kennedy’s assassination, Congress passed into law legislation renaming the in-development National Cultural Center – spearheaded by Eisenhower in his administration - to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a “living memorial” to Kennedy tragically assassinated in Dallas. Then in February 2025, shortly after his inauguration, Trump replaced the Kennedy Center’s Board with Trump allies naming himself Board chairman. In December, 2025, the Center’s newly elected Board voted to rename the “living memorial” to Kennedy, as legislated by Congress, to the Trump-Kennedy Center. Chaos ensued. February 1, 2026, after months of failures to retain performers, retain audiences, retain donors, the Board, with an unprofitable mess, voted to close the Center for two years while stripping it down to its core metal structure.The “living memorial” to Kennedy, an architectural icon, was now voted by Trump’s Board to be demolished. Several Court cases are pending
Housing the Vice President’s Office among Treasury and Department of Defense offices, what is next on the Trump raze and redo list is the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB).November 2025, on Laura Ingraham’s Fox TV show, Trump announced his intent to power wash, point and paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) opened in 1888 – a huge building of cut and polished Maine granite. Immediate court cases have been filed claiming any change to the EEOB’s exterior is subject to analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act and must comply with the National Historical Preservation Act.Trump wants EEOB painted white….painting and power washing is assessed as detrimental to the granite building.
Additionally, Trump has proposed a 250-fifty-tall triumphal arch – Independence Arch- to be constructed directly across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial.Officially the arch is said to mark the nation’s 250th celebration, though when asked who the monument would honor Trump replied “Me”.Of course, lawsuits have been filed as no congressional or agency approvals have been obtained.Concerns about the Arch and its location include that it sits along flight paths to Reagan Airport hindering low flying planes – an airport hazard - and that, so situated it, would dwarf the Lincoln Memorial as well as block the historic site line from Arlington Cemetery to the Memorial.Lawsuits are pending.
Although Trump touted a landslide electoral victory in 2024, he did not receive a majority but a plurality of the vote - he tallied the smallest win since 1900.Amid a war, a massive Epstein scandal of which he may be a party, the questions of what his son-in-law, Jared, is doing officially negotiating peace in Ukraine, Gaza and now Iran while he is openly seeking massive investments from the Middle East for his own financial company.
Trump is pulling apart the people’s places, DC once again is under siege. History, historic significance, character are not in Trump’s preview – nor seemingly is the law.
Kathy Herald-Marlowe lives in Sharon.
Millerton News
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
A prize contest for the largest fish caught within twenty-five miles of Millerton has been announced by “Art” Terni. Rules of the contest provide that all fish must be caught with a rod and line and catches must be taken to Terni’s Store to be measured and weighed. The contest will close October 31.
The prizes offered: Speckled brook trout, Bill Vogt special fly rod No, 10; brown trout, English Stag Brand double tape fly line; rainbow trout, black bakelite trout reel; black bass, small mouth, Bill Vogt special bait casting rod No. 5; black bass, large mouth, Heddon bait casting reel; pickerel, 100 yards, blue ribbon bait casting line: lake trout, Bill Vogt trolling rod No. 5.
All faculty members of Millerton High School and the grades from the principal down have been re-engaged for another year, it was announced the first of the week by Elmer W. Simmons, president of the Board of Education. Mr. Simmons said that Principal Francis E. Wood and the entire staff of teachers have already signed their contracts.
The Dutchess County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $240,000 TERA road program for the county at last Friday’s meeting. Democratic members of the Board who had previously opposed the program united with the Republican majority to pass the resolutions without a dissenting vote, appropriating $65,000 as the county’s share of the 1935 Temporary Emergency Relief program. The Democratic supervisors, acting without Minority Leader James A. Townsend who was away, held an informal conference before the voting took place.
Stephen Terni was appointed Village Clerk at the organization meeting of the Village Board held Monday night. Mr. Terni succeeds John Shaughnasey who has held the office for the past eighteen years. No other changes were made in the personnel of the Board, Mayor Brewer and other incumbent officials whose terms expired this year having been reelected March 19.
The Village of Millerton continues to actively seek funds to help finance its water project, according to Mayor John Hermans.
The Village hopes to build a 30,000 gallon steel water tower to prevent pollution of its water system.
In mid-February, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) turned down the Village in its request for a $125,000 grant. The Village Board decided to reapply to HUD but “we were too late getting our reapplication in” said Hermans.
Hermans is soon to meet with David Edgerton of the Dutchess County Committee for Economic Opportunity and water project engineer Peter Andros to put together another application for HUD funds
Saturday, April 3, will be the last day that the regularly scheduled DART-LOOP bus service will be available to Millerton area residents. The route, which offered stops in Millerton and south along Routes 22 and 44 into Millbrook, will be discontinued due to insufficient patronage.
Although the regularly scheduled DART service will end, the DART dial-a-ride system will still provide transportation to and from the Millerton area for those people requiring such necessary services as medical visits, clinics, social services, unemployment services, educational facilities and work. This dial-a-ride bus service is available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but reservations are required and must be made 24 hours in advance. To make a reservation or obtain more information, call the DART office in Amenia at xxx-xxxx. DART (Dutchess Assisted Rural Transportation) began operation in 1973 as a service on-demand, door-to-door bus service operated by the Dutchess County Committee for Economic Opportunity, Inc. for the people of the Harlem Valley.
ALBANY - The Millerton News walked away with two awards in the prestigious Better Newspaper Contest at the New York Press Association’s annual convention held March 30 and 31 in Albany.
Compass, the News’s guide to arts and entertainment, won first place in its circulation category for coverage of the arts.
“Writers must grow out of the soil around this newspaper,” the judges wrote of Compass, published at The Lakeville Journal Company, which owns The Millerton News “Other newspapers have more articles and columns. Others have longer pieces and more calendar entries. But no newspaper in this group matches the writing of Compass.
“Its essays and articles beautifully complement the arts under discussion. This is thoughtful writing for a rich mix of community arts.”
The News also won second place honors for editorial writing in Division 1.
Of the three editorials submitted, the judges had high praise for one about the proposed sale of Sharon Hospital to Essent Healthcare, a for-profit company based in Tennessee.
“You bring up valid questions about the sale of Sharon Hospital and do a good job of holding off from jumping to conclusions,” the judges wrote of the editorial entitled, “Progress, Yes, But What Kind?”
MILLERTON — The Millerton Fire Department, American Legion Post#178, and the Millerton Gun Club will sponsor the eighth annual Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 14, at 11 a.m. at the Millerton Gun Club.
MILLERTON — A former principal at Millerton Elementary School (MES) once introduced Denise Flint as “the school’s Band-Aid.” When asked why, he replied, “A Band-Aid — because she covers all.”
An employee at MES for nearly 14 years, Ms. Flint said, “Basically, I do cover all.” Ms. Flint spends the first half of every day assisting teachers, often working one-on-one with students. In the afternoon, she does a variety of things, such as monitor recess, complete clerical tasks, of fill in for absent teachers.
“Parents often dismiss elementary school as ‘playtime’; they don’t know that the kids are busy as beavers the second they step through that door,” said Ms. Flint.
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Aly Morrissey
Bulk items set for disposal at the town’s old highway garage on South Center Street.
MILLERTON — Residents of the Town of North East and Village of Millerton will have the opportunity to dispose of bulk household items during a scheduled bulk trash day on Saturday, April 18.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at the town’s old highway garage on South Center Street, at the corner of Fish Street.
Hosted by The Town of North East and the Millerton Climate Smart Task Force, the event allows residents to discard a range of bulky items, including furniture, carpeting, lawn equipment, tools, scrap metal and appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners.
Fees will vary depending on vehicle size and item type, with charges ranging from $15 to $60 for vehicles, $20 for items such as mattresses and couches, and $10 to $30 for most appliances. Units containing Freon will cost $30, and oversized items may be accepted at a fee of $50 at the discretion of staff. Tires will also be accepted for recycling at $15 each, with rims permitted.
Payments must be made by cash or check.
Electronics, paint cans, propane tanks, batteries and heavy construction debris will not be accepted. Box trucks are also prohibited.
Residents are encouraged to arrive early and review accepted materials in advance.
Leila Hawken
Michelle Boynton, who began last month as Youth Programming Assistant at the Amenia Free Library, plans to incorporate her puppetry talents into Story Hour and other upcoming children’s programs.
AMENIA — Settling into her duties at the Amenia Free Library, Michelle Boynton — who was hired last month — is already planning imaginative children’s programs in her role as Youth Programming Assistant.
“I am passionate about puppetry for everyone,” Boynton said during an interview last week. She is so passionate, in fact, that Boynton plans to add a tabletop puppet show to enliven the library’s popular story hour for kids.
“I make all of the puppets and adapt the stories to incorporate them,” Boynton explained, showing a collection of her bunny puppets that soon would be making their debut.
Appropriate for all ages, Boynton has planned a community puppet show to be held the first Saturday of each month. The first installment will be Saturday, April 4, at 10:30 a.m., with a second performance at 12:30 p.m.
“It is expected to grow from there,” Boynton said, envisioning a crafting group where she could offer instruction in needle-felting to create a variety of puppets.
“I believe that a library is a service-oriented community center, the heart of a community,” Boynton said. “I’m excited about that.”
Looking to the future, Boynton said she is gathering ideas to attract tweens into the library to experience and participate in the community space.
Boynton resides in Goshen, Conn., having moved there from New Paltz, New York. She has 18 years of experience as a Waldorf School handcrafts specialist within an arts-oriented curriculum. She has earned a Master of Education degree from San Diego State University in Education and Curriculum with an emphasis in instruction.
Leila Hawken
AMENIA — Citing recent Town Board action to subdivide a town-owned parcel for a Habitat for Humanity home, the Housing Board on Monday, March 23, applauded what members called a significant step toward creating the town’s first unit of affordable workforce housing.
The board also unanimously elected new officers. Juan Torres was named chairman, succeeding Charlie Miller, who remains on the board.Torres said he will recuse himself from any matters involving Silo Ridge or the Keane Stud development to comply with conflict-of-interest rules. Joshua Frankel was elected vice chairman, and Kenny Merritt was elected secretary.
The board agreed to shift its regular meeting schedule to the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. The next meeting is set for April 13.
Members highlighted recent progress by the Town Board in subdividing a parcel on Depot Hill Road, a move intended to allow Habitat for Humanity to purchase the site and construct a single-family home.
If completed, the project would mark Amenia’s first affordable housing unit, an effort several board members noted has been in development for roughly four years.
Miller said Habitat for Humanity has specific criteria for selecting a participating family, including having school-aged children enrolled in the Webutuck School District and a commitment to volunteer service.
Since February 2025, Amenia has been designated a pro-housing community, making it eligible to apply for state funding to support the development of affordable workforce housing.
Looking ahead, board members discussed the potential creation of a Housing Trust Fund and how it could be used to support initiatives such as accessory dwelling units, multi-generational housing, housing for volunteer firefighters, and rental assistance programs for tenants or landlords.
The board plans to further outline ideas for administering a housing trust fund at its April 13 meeting.
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