A reception followed the Aug. 1 memorial service celebrating the life of Paula Pelosi at The Smithfield Church, drawing attendees from across the region. Friends and family gathered afterward to share memories.
AMENIA — Friends, family and colleagues of Amenia resident Paula Pelosi filled Smithfield Church to capacity on Saturday, Aug. 1, to celebrate a life marked by generosity, creativity and compassion.
Through music and heartfelt remembrances from close friends representing the many chapters of her life, the memorial service painted a portrait of Pelosi’s deep ties to the contemporary art world, her unwavering kindness and her love for both people and animals.
Pelosi died in April at the age of 76 following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Although she was best known professionally for organizing exhibitions of the work of renowned contemporary artist Frank Stella, Pelosi found equal fulfillment in the rural life of Amenia. She lived on Separate Road in the Smithfield hamlet, just a short walk from Smithfield Church.
Community service was an important aspect of Pelosi’s life as she served 10 years as a member of the Amenia Zoning Board of Appeals.
A recurring theme throughout the memorial service was that of lifelong friendships, each speaker reflecting on a significant period of life experiences shared with Pelosi.
“She was unique and fabulous,” said the Rev. Douglas Grandgeorge of The Smithfield Church. “She made you feel liked right away,” he said, highlighting her unwavering spirit of generosity. “She contributed to every single thing we did.”
Noting that her death came too rapidly, he said that too few were able to say farewell, but he observed that months after her death, she could fill a church.
“Your presence here is a blessing,” Grandgeorge said, welcoming those gathered.
Friends from every stage of Pelosi’s life attended, including members of the art world, childhood friends from Ohio, classmates from West Virginia and friends from her decades in New York City. Amenia officials who served alongside Pelosi on town boards were also present.
Friend Hope Cohn continued the tributes, reading a letter provided by Pelosi’s lifelong friend Carol Ann Kucharski, who had been unable to attend in person.
The Hon. Norah McCann King, Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Ohio, recalled knowing Pelosi’s parents in Ohio, and said that she and Pelosi became friends during their West Virginia high school years. Pelosi’s plans at that time had been to pursue a career in law, she said.
“She wanted to change the world and she wanted to make it a better world,” Judge McCann said.
Lifelong friend Leslie Hannafey spoke next, picking up Pelosi’s life story from their meeting in 1967 during college years in New York City.
“She believed in doing the right thing,” Hannafey said, echoing the recurring theme of lifelong friendship and generosity.
“Do the right thing. Try to help your neighbors,” Hannafey said, which defined Pelosi’s actions in innumerable instances.
“She was always doing something for others,” said Nan Cassidy, recalling her friendship that began in 1980 in Amenia and highlighted Pelosi’s connectedness with animals.
Cassidy spoke of her dog.
“He was very naughty,” Cassidy said of Pelosi’s wire-haired dachshund, Dizzy, who tended to bite lots of people, including Pelosi. Cassidy said that she frequently accompanied Pelosi to the emergency room at Sharon Hospital, so often that they became known there. So known, in fact, that emergency personnel suggested that they might refer Dizzy to animal control.
Peter Stella shared memories of Pelosi’s years working with his father, artist Frank Stella, recalling stories from their time together in Amenia and on the family’s farm.
Music was provided by organist Simone Ehmann at the start of the service.
The memorial concluded with an original song, “From Afar,” written and performed by Nashville country artist Jack Schneider in tribute to Pelosi. Schneider said Pelosi’s generosity and encouragement helped sustain him during his years as a music student at New York University, when he frequently visited her in Amenia. He has since built a career as a recording artist and country music performer.
“Wherever you go, wherever you are, I’ll be loving you from afar,” Schneider sang.
Graham Corrigan
Mourners assembled a collage of photographs of Olly Rea near the altar at Faith Bible Chapel on Monday.
MILLERTON — More than 150 family members, friends and neighbors gathered at Faith Bible Chapel on Monday to celebrate the life of 2-year-old Olly Rea, whose brief life was remembered through stories, laughter and faith just over a week since his tragic death.
The celebration took place at the same Silver Mountain Road church where Olly died July 25 after falling into a septic tank on the property following a wedding reception. Despite an extensive emergency response, he could not be saved. The accident stunned the close-knit community and prompted an outpouring of support for the Rea family.
The service reflected the family’s wish that the day focus on Olly’s happiness. Rather than wearing traditional black, most attendees came dressed in bright colors and casual clothing. People of all ages filled the chapel, exchanging hugs, condolences and memories before the service began.
The church was decorated with tributes to Olly’s favorite movies and characters, including Toy Story, Bluey, Lightning McQueen and Mickey Mouse. A long buffet, made possible through donations from local restaurants, church members and other supporters, stretched along one side of the room.
Pastor Bill Mayhew led the service. Floral wreaths and photo collages featuring Olly and his family flanked the pulpit. Among those in attendance were Olly’s siblings– Cory, 7, and 10-month-old Levi — who remained by their parents’ side throughout the service.
“When you look at those pictures, you’ll notice three things about Olly,” Mayhew said. “Either he’s smiling, he’s eating, or he has a ponderous look on his face. Because as a two-year-old, there’s a lot to wonder about in the world.”
Mayhew shared Scripture and memories of a little boy who delighted in splashing in the water, eating the frosting off cupcakes and stopping whatever he was doing whenever he heard an airplane so he could search the sky.
“Although his life lasted only two short years,” Mayhew said, “Olly’s life was rich in laughter, adventures, faith and unconditional love.”
Following his remarks, Mayhew invited those gathered to share their own memories.
Olly’s mother, Darryl Sue Rea, thanked everyone who had supported the family.
“We all loved Olly, and while we will miss him in our lifetime, we gave him one heck of a lifetime while he lived,” she said. “You were all a part of making him this beautiful, happy, smiling boy.”
Olly’s father, Johnathan Rea, said becoming a parent had changed him and that his son inspired him every day “to be an example for all children.”
Throughout the service, speakers returned to the same theme: despite his brief life, Olly left an outsized impact on those who knew him through his curiosity, smile and joyful spirit.
Mayhew closed the celebration by asking those gathered to keep Olly in their hearts in the days and weeks to come.
Additional reporting by Eloise Pickering and Christian Murray.
Millerton News
Sisters Hill Farm manager David Hambleton drives a red Farmall tractor at the Stanfordville farm he has led for more than 25 years. Former apprentices reflected on the lifelong farmer’s impact as the property’s owner, the Sisters of Charity of New York, prepares to sell.
Sisters Hill Farm manager David Hambleton drives a red Farmall tractor at the Stanfordville farm he has led for more than 25 years. Former apprentices reflected on the lifelong farmer’s impact as the property’s owner, the Sisters of Charity of New York, prepares to sell. Read the full story.
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Nathan Miller
Millerton’s currently operating well is enclosed in a small structure known as the “dog house.”
MILLERTON — Construction is expected to begin this week on the village’s new drinking water pumphouse, more than a year and a half after a fire destroyed the original facility.
The new pumphouse is the first of two structures being built to replace Millerton’s Public Works Department building that was destroyed in a fire in February 2025. The original, fire-ravaged building housed both the village’s Water Department and Highway Department operations at Eddie Collins Memorial Park, and will ultimately be replaced with separate structures for each of these Public Works functions.
Fire project manager Caroline Farr-Killmer has been in charge of replacing the building since the fire destroyed it. She said construction crews were expected to begin work this week, but rainy weather could delay the project’s start.
“You don’t want to go out and start this in the pouring rain,” Farr-Killmer said.
The new pumphouse will house one of two municipal drinking water pumps. The pump has been offline since the February 2025 fire, leaving Millerton to rely on a single well for its drinking water for the past 18 months. The operable pump, located in what’s known as the “dog house” nearby the old structure, has had to supply all of Millerton’s drinking water.
Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek said the building’s construction should take between four and six weeks, but the pump won’t be switched on immediately. Following construction, the village’s water company and county health officials will conduct water quality tests to ensure contaminants haven’t entered the well while it was inoperable.
“It could take as long as three or four months until the Board of Health approves the well being up and running again,” Najdek said.
Najdek said she’s encouraged to see the project moving forward after months of planning and approvals. The mayor compared government projects to her day job at Millerton construction company EcoBuilders, saying village construction can often lag due to the complexity of bureaucratic processes.
“Municipal work is not that simple,” she said. “There’s always a wrench in there somewhere.”
Construction on the water department building was originally expected to start in July, but plans for the construction didn’t receive approval from the Dutchess County Board of Health until much later in the month.
Graham Corrigan
MILLERTON — The death of a 2-year-old Millerton boy who fell into a septic tank has renewed attention to the dangers associated with the wastewater and sewage storage systems that serve thousands of homes and properties across Dutchess County.
Septic tanks remain common throughout the county, where many homes, churches and businesses rely on private systems rather than municipal sewer lines.
On Saturday, July 25, 2-year-old Olly Rea fell into a septic tank located on the grounds of Faith Bible Chapel on Silver Mountain Road. His parents, Johnathan and Darryl Rea, said the boy wandered away while playing in the yard and fell through an unsecured tank cover.
The child was taken by ambulance to Sharon Hospital in Connecticut, where he was later pronounced dead.
The tragedy is grimly familiar to area residents. In 2023, a 2-year-old child in Pleasant Valley died in a similar accident after falling into a septic tank. While such incidents are uncommon, they underscore the potentially deadly risks posed by unsecured or deteriorating septic systems.
While falls and drowning are a serious concern, septic tanks also run the risk of releasing unhealthy gases. Hydrogen sulfide, methane, and ammonia are potential byproducts caused by the breakdown of waste. There’s also a chance of ground collapse after a heavy rain.
The septic tank is a French invention. Jean-Louis Mouras patented his “Automatic Scavenger” in 1881, and the devices soon spread to the United States. They replaced the leaky, brick-lined cesspools prevalent at the time, and became a popular choice as rural expansion increased through the mid-1900s.
The design has remained relatively unchanged over time: a tank made from plastic or concrete is buried in the ground next to a home. The tank allows solids to settle, and lighter liquid waste is released into an adjoining drain field.
Experts suggest pumping a septic tank every few years to clear out waste and scum that doesn’t break down naturally. Replacing the whole tank should happen every 20 years, though it depends on the materials used to make the tank. Concrete tanks last the longest.
Dutchess County’s Sanitary Code requires septic tank covers to remain accessible for inspection and maintenance, but any ground-level access cover must be secured.
The code states that septic covers “shall not be brought flush with the ground surface, unless the cover can be locked to prevent tampering.” The county also recommends periodic inspections, particularly for older systems where risers or covers may have deteriorated over time.
Dutchess County participates in New York’s Septic System Replacement Fund, which provides grants to eligible homeowners to replace failing septic systems that threaten groundwater and surface water quality. Poorly maintained or aging septic systems can allow disease-causing pathogens and other pollutants to contaminate nearby wells, streams and groundwater.
Further information about the Septic System Replacement Fund is available through New York State.
In Millerton, a long-awaited wastewater and sewer project will begin in early 2027. Estimated at $13 million, the first phase of the project will bring a sewer system to Main Street and its surrounding blocks. Properties within the proposed service area currently rely on individual septic systems, including tanks with leach fields, and outdated systems like seepage pits, cesspools and holding tanks.
But for more remote properties, like that of Olly Rea’s church, prospects of a wastewater system seem far off at best. Neighboring towns like Amenia are also on a septic system. Amenia has been debating the feasibility of a sewer system since 1995, but the project’s cost and complications have slowed progress. In 2024, Amenia selected Albany’s Laberge Group to submit a report on the potential system.
Graham Corrigan
PINE PLAINS — Parents, caregivers, business owners and childcare providers will have an opportunity later this month to speak directly with state and federal officials about the challenges of finding affordable childcare in rural Dutchess County.
The Child Care Council of Dutchess and Putnam will host a community focus group on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the Pine Plains Free Library. Representatives from the offices of Congressman Pat Ryan, Assemblymember Didi Barrett and State Senator Michelle Hinchey are expected to attend and hear directly from residents about barriers to accessing child care.
The focus group comes at a historic moment for childcare in New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2027 budget included $4.5 billion to expand universal Pre-K in the state, up $1.7 billion from 2026.
The central issue is affordability. Childcare costs have soared in recent years, with the Child Care Council of Dutchess County saying it reliably ranks among a family’s top four expenditures alongside housing, food and taxes. Average childcare expenditures, according to state data, range between $10,000 and $20,000 annually.
Democratic County Legislator Chris Drago, who represents Milan, Millerton, North East, Pine Plains, east Red Hook and Stanford, counts childcare as one of his constituents’ most pressing concerns. “Childcare is connected to so many things,” Drago said. “It’s become exceedingly difficult to live and work and raise a family in northeast Dutchess, and part of that is because there isn’t childcare available.”
In January, Dutchess County was selected as one of three rural New York counties to pilot universal daycare in 2027. The county will receive $20 million in state funding for a childcare program focused on infants and toddlers. Drago hopes the focus group serves as an opportunity to make sure that money is going to the right places.
“We need people to step forward,” he said. “It could be an individual who wants to open a home-based center, or it could be a municipality who has identified a space they can use. We need people who are willing to get certified, so that when money becomes available, there is a place to send the money. We need creative problem solving.”
Locally, childcare centers have been grappling with declining enrollment, high costs and facility closures. Millerton’s North East Community Center discontinued its daycare program last year, citing mounting financial concerns.
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