Schlock and awful August 2025

At long last, a good look at Bigfoot. That he looks like your basic rock band bass player matters not one whit.
Provided
At long last, a good look at Bigfoot. That he looks like your basic rock band bass player matters not one whit.
As you seek relief from the relentless summer heat by exploring the bottoms of various barrels, consider 1980’s“Night of the Demon,” a variation on the “Stupid People in the Jungle” genre that began with “King Kong.”
In this example, Professor Nugent wakes up in the hospital with half his face chewed off. The flick reconstructs the tragedy, very slowly.
Seems a Bigfoot has been terrorizing a remote mountain area for years. The prof decides to investigate with his anthropology students, three of whom just happen to be young attractive women.
At long last, a good look at Bigfoot. That he looks like your basic rock band bass player matters not one whit.Provided
The gang piles into a boat and heads down the river with a couple of tents, a coffee pot, and no backpacks. What could go wrong?
Along the way we meet Mr. Carlson, the gun-totin’ mountain hermit, and Crazy Wanda. And a backwoods demon cult. And flashbacks within the flashback of Bigfoot attacking nekkid people in vans.
We’ve got gratuitous jazz flute music. Gratuitous plaid shirts. Gratuitous Bigfoot attack flashbacks. Gratuitous science facts.
Plus a mutant Bigfoot baby that looks like a jumbo order of General Tso’s chicken.
Grocery and dollar stores often carry DVDs and Blu Rays and can be good sources of schlock. One particularly good score was a two-fer disc with “The Howling”, installments V and VI. Oddly enough, V’s release date is two years after VI.
VI has got most of what you want in this type of film, except gratuitous nekkidity.
Now I don’t expect great writing, but can’t we do a little better than this roster of stereotypes? Sheriff who is automatically suspicious of foreigners; peckerwood pol in polyester; preacher/weirdo; preacher’s daughter, anxious to get a little sinning in while she can; evil villain who might or might not be Satan and dresses like a member of the Hellfire Club.
We’re talking cat swinging. Supernaturally evil villain in charge of a circus. Tight pants and checked frock coats on same, which for some is the true horror. Alligator boy. Lycanthropic transformation scenes shot on a very tight budget. Werewolf who looks like the late Michael Jackson after a long night in the Magic Kingdom. Yokels. Guns. Some blood but not as much as you’d think for a werewolf flick.
The immortal Weng Weng, all two feet nine inches of him, had a brief but memorable career, starting with “For Your Height Only,” the flick that, in 1981, took the first ever Manila International Film Festival by storm (which annoyed festival organizer Imelda Marcos).
Weng Weng is Agent 00 and/or Agent 3 ½, depending on the dubbing and subtitles.
Either way, “For Your Height Only” is the greatest film ever made.
You can have your “Citizen Kane” and “Battleship Potemkin.” Spare me your “Rear Window” and “The Third Man.”
Why? Because none of these so-called great films has a tiny secret agent who escapes the bad guys by parachuting from a high balcony with a parasol.
Agent 00 (or 3 ½) is a big fan of the groin punch, the groin being the handiest area on the personal bodies of his assailants for a man of his stature.
“For Your Height Only” has many memorable scenes, but this one might be the best.Provided
And he’s proficient with the mini machine gun and the mini samurai sword.
The flick also features atrocious dubbing in a variety of dialects — Long Island Lockjaw, British dowager, Brooklyn hood.
And the main villain clearly studied at the Moammar Qaddafi Institute of Fashion.
We’ll wrap this up with 1991’s “Karate Cop.” Armed with his sawed-off shotgun and “Special Police” ballcap, John Travis is a post-apocalyptic knight errant, righting what wrongs he can in a hopelessly compromised world, which in this case is Stockton, California.
No nekkidity, for an automatic one-star deduction if Schlock and Awful gave out stars.
Mutant cat man with a speech impediment. Gratuitous police car destruction. Magic motorcycle that never needs refueling. Chain swinging. And the Crown Prince of Schlock, the late David Carradine, and his famous “jacky rabbit stew.”
Opulent furnishings and decoration ranging from Asian statues and paintings to Gulf Oil gas station signs adorn the mansion at the Hitchcock Estate.
MILLBROOK — After decades of infamy and just over a year on the market, Millbrook’s Hitchcock Estate continues to exist in relative mystery.
After a notorious few years in the 1960s, little has been heard about the estate recently — a stealthy departure from its past. The appearance of last year’s listing provided the first glimpse inside the property in nearly a decade.
However, correct details about what had become of the house in recent years remained difficult to find. It remained clear, though, that the Hitchcock Estate was no ordinary house for sale.
Billy Hitchcock and his brother Tommy purchased the 2,087-acre property, which is roughly one-seventh the size of Manhattan, in 1963. Psychedelic pioneer Timothy Leary famously came to live in the house after being introduced to Billy through his sister Peggy Hitchcock.
There are so many rooms in the main house that some of the smaller ones lack a clearly-defined purpose.Photo by Charlie Greenberg
Following Leary’s time in the estate’s main house, it fell into disrepair and was boarded up. After undergoing some restoration by historian John Foreman, Tommy finished repairing the house to a liveable but not modernized state.
“My brother did a wonderful job fixing the big house and putting it back together,” Billy Hitchcock said. Tommy handled the maintenance of the estate and lived on it part time. However, upon his death in 2023, there was nobody to coordinate the property’s extensive maintenance needs, prompting the Hitchcock family to list the estate for sale, Billy said.
While the Hitchcock Estate is best known for its role in the psychedelic awakening, that period reflects only a small part of the broader segments of American society between which the estate serves as a nexus.
The estate has attracted numerous illustrious occupants throughout its history. The estate’s builder, Charles F. Dieterich, was a German-born industrialist who made his fortune in the acetylene gas business, building the estate to remind him of his native Bavaria; Charles Mingus wrote the song “Peggy’s Blue Skylight” about Peggy Hitchcock after visiting.
Old and new money, creators of and rebels against the establishment each have passed through the estate, leaving psychedelic artwork and Gulf Oil memorabilia testament to past times behind the open landscapes and ornate architecture.
Some of the smaller bedrooms in the main house are quite liveable and ordinary. TommyHitchcock III’s restoration efforts are visible in the newly-painted walls and trim.Photo by Charlie Greenberg
Often overshadowed by his involvement with Leary is Billy Hitchcock’s prominent lineage. Billy’s mother, Margaret Mellon Hitchcock, was the daughter of Gulf Oil founder William Larimer Mellon and the great-granddaughter of Mellon fortune founder Thomas Mellon.
Billy’s father, Tommy Hitchcock Jr. was referred to in 1956 by the New York Times as the greatest polo player in the history of the sport. Tommy Jr. was also F. Scott Fitzgerald’s inspiration for the character of Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby.
“My father was a pilot in the First World War. He was shot down by the Germans and escaped all by the time he was 19,” Billy said.
In World War II, too old to be a combat pilot, Billy said, Tommy Jr. was a test pilot for fighter planes when he was killed in an aircraft test.
The Hitchcock Estate has its own parallel history with that of the Village of Millbrook, with the scope of events and personalities it attracted seemingly beyond those that unfold on the other side of Route 44. But the estate today has a much quieter appeal about it.
Entering the estate from its far less conspicuous and more frequently used entrance on Valley Farm Road, it is not difficult to see what appealed to prominent people throughout the years looking for a getaway that existed apart from the rest of the world and their substantial places in it.
The main estate house on the Hitchcock estate in Millbrook was constructed in the late 19th century by German acetylene gas magnate Charles Dieterich.
At 14,000 square feet, the main house at the Hitchcock Estate was comparatively modest when architect James E. Ware added onto an existing farmhouse on several occasions to create the Bavarian-inspired building in the late 19th century. At 34 rooms, however, the scale of the house, and indeed the entire property, is not something that is commonly seen in Millbrook today.
Large estates built around distinctive mansions were a more typical sight in Millbrook at the time the Hitchcock Estate was built, but years of structure fires and property subdivision have made them increasingly rare. Regardless, the estate was unmatched in scale even at the time of its building.
The Bavarian influences on the main house and property’s smaller buildings, stone walls and patios give the property a surreal feeling of being in an abandoned fairy tale. Few people see the property today beyond the farmers and caretakers who keep it up — Billy Hitchcock, now in his eighties, lives in Texas and other members do not visit often, he said.
Tommy Hitchcock III’s restoration work is evident. Freshly painted, the main house looks quite tidy with the exception of some overgrown trees around the veranda. Windows broken during the Leary years have been replaced, though the house’s more ornate leaded glass windows remained intact.
It is a one-mile drive, without leaving the Hitchcock property, from the main house to The Bungalow, a second mansion on the property constructed by architect Addison Mizner in 1912. At 10,000 square feet, The Bungalow is not as intimate as the name suggests. It was designed by Addison Mizner of Palm Beach, Florida fame and was the home of Tommy and Billy Hitchcock when they were in residence.
“We all love the property,” Billy Hitchcock said. “We’re sorry to be letting it go after 60 years.” Given the estate’s large size — 900 acres larger than the Village of Millbrook — Hitchcock understands the interest the community has in its sale. “It’s hard to say where this is going to come out,” Hitchcock said, though he is committed to selling the property to someone who understands its value to the community.
Granted, there few more knowledgeable than Mr. Hitchcock about the ways something personal to a small number of influential people can in turn become important to countless others beyond the inner circle.
A large group of Millerton and North East residents turned out for the Tuesday, July 29, meeting, causing a last-minute venue change to the NorthEast-Millerton Library annex on Century Boulevard.
MILLERTON — At their regular meeting on Tuesday, July 29, the Village Board of Trustees addressed two key issues that could affect village governance and planning. The meeting drew a crowd of more than 50 people, prompting a last-minute venue change to the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex to accommodate the turnout.
While much of the evening focused on public feedback regarding a proposal from village and Town of North East residents concerning cooperation between the Millerton Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, trustees also discussed several additional items with long-term implications.
One of those was a public hearing on “Local Law X,” a proposal that would allow members of the village’s Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals to reside anywhere in Dutchess County rather than within the village limits. The goal, according to board members, is to widen the pool of qualified candidates at a time when interest in these volunteer roles has been low.
Both boards have had vacancies for over six months. Mayor Najdek noted that with the village’s small population, there’s a limited number of potential applicants. She also clarified that, per legal counsel, the board could not limit eligibility to just the Town of North East. “It is not legal to only open it up to the town,” Najdek said. “You have to open it up to the entire county.”
Newly appointed Zoning Board Chair Kelly Kilmer addressed public concerns during the hearing, citing confusion circulating on Facebook. “This does not apply to the village board,” she said, explaining that the change would affect only appointed members of the planning and zoning boards. “It is very crucial that we get people on these boards.”
Kilmer acknowledged concerns about non-residents having influence over village matters but emphasized that limited participation has forced the board’s hand. “Unless village residents step up to the plate and want to have a say in what’s happening, this law has to go into effect,” she said. “Currently we only have four members on our zoning board. So we could have a tie at any point in a vote, and that’s not good. When people are trying to plan things to upgrade the village — whether it be their home, their business, or whatever — we need people who are going to be here and engaged in the village.”
One resident was in favor, urging people to think of the town and village as one community working toward the same goals, rather than separate entities. “We have to think that even though we might live in the town, we might also have businesses in the village, and we have to work together.”
Not everyone was in favor of the change. Ray Nelson, a village resident and architect, expressed skepticism. “It’s a shame we can’t get someone in the village to step up,” he said, adding, “I’m not particularly excited about this idea. Someone from outside might not understand the issues in the village or the nuances of our community.”
As of now, the Zoning Board of Appeals has one open seat. The Planning Board has one vacancy and is expected to have a second seat open in September 2025. Those interested in learning more or applying should contact Village Clerk Lisa Cope at clerk@villageofmillerton-ny.gov
While Local Law X will open up the pool of applicants, the appointments are made by the mayor’s office and candidates would be fairly vetted prior to being invited to join a board.
A motion to adopt Local Law X passed unanimously by roll‑call vote.
In other business, the board unanimously voted to pursue a state designation as a Pro-Housing Community, following in the Town of North East’s footsteps. The certification, granted by New York State Homes and Community Renewal, recognizes municipalities that actively support housing growth and reduce development barriers. Trustees authorized Mayor Najdek to submit a letter of intent — the first formal step in the application process.
The board also voted unanimously in a roll-call vote to finalize two inter-municipal agreements with the Town of North East. The first was for a shared court officer, which the town approved with a 3% increase over last year. The second was for the joint parks and recreation program. While the village had requested a 3% increase for that contract as well, the town approved it with no increase, citing the cancellation of this year’s summer camp due to projected construction of the new community park. Both agreements will be revisited in September to allow more time for negotiation ahead of next year.
In other routine business, the board approved meeting minutes, voted on vouchers and village bills, and heard department and mayoral updates. During public comment, members of Townscape raised the issue of moving forward with tree replacements along South Center Street and Main Street.
Groundbreaking of the new pool planned for Eddie Collins Park is now scheduled to begin in 2026 after the Village of Millerton's 175th anniversary celebration next summer.
MILLERTON – During her mayor’s update at the Tuesday, July 29, trustees meeting, a visibly dejected Mayor Najdek shared a significant delay in the timeline for the community park project — specifically the long-awaited swimming pool.
“I’m sure you’ve all seen that construction has not started,” she began. After meeting recently with project engineers, Najdek said she was told that construction would not be feasible before April 2026.
“With that in mind, it was my recommendation that we wait until after the 175th celebration so that we actually have a physical place to host it,” she said. Najdek, who has championed the park project for years, acknowledged the frustration and added, “It will never be ready in time for our celebration regardless of how hard we push any permitting agencies, so we’ll be waiting on that.” The celebration of the Village’s anniversary is scheduled to take place from July 11-19, 2026.
Originally slated to begin this past spring, construction of the park has now been pushed back more than a year, largely due to a slow permitting process related to wetlands on the property, according to Najdek. Roughly a month ago, she warned of potential delays, though at the time, there was hope the setback would be measured in months — not a full year.
Najdek did not elaborate on the reason for the year-long delay during the meeting, but in July she noted that both the Dutchess County Board of Health and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation were still reviewing the project in connection to septic system placement and wetland buffer regulations.
July 25 — Deputies arrested Vicente A. Mejia, age 48, for Felony Driving While Intoxicated subsequent to a traffic stop on Route 55 in the Town of Dover. The subject is to appear in the Town of Dover Court at a later date.
July 26 — Deputies responded to Fairway Drive in the Town of Pawling for a mother-son domestic dispute. Matter resolved without further police intervention.
July 28 — Deputies report the arrest of Abigail C. Sprague (36) for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the third degree subsequent to a traffic stop in the Dover. Subject to appear in the Town of Dover Court at a later date
July 30 — Deputies report the arrest of Elizabeth J. Meuller, age 71, for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the third degree subsequent to a traffic stop in the Town of Pawling. Subject to appear in the Town of Pawling Court at a later date.
July 30 — Deputies responded to 7 Fish St. in Millerton for a father/daughter domestic dispute. Matter resolved without further police intervention.
PLEASE NOTE: All subjects arrested and charged are alleged to have committed the crime and are presumed innocent until proven guilty and are to appear in local courts later.
If you have any information relative to the aforementioned criminal cases, or any other suspected criminal activity please contact the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 845 605 CLUE (2583) or Email dcsotips@gmail.com. All information will be kept confidential.