Softball season thrown open:
Webutuck and Millbrook field a joint varsity team

Continuing a practice regimen during spring break at Webutuck’s athletic field on Monday, March 25, the combined girls’ softball team is preparing for its 2024 season. The newly combined team has gained three members from Millbrook High School this year.

Leila Hawken

Softball season thrown open: Webutuck and Millbrook field a joint varsity team

AMENIA — Aligned with a growing trend toward schools combining sports programs to field viable teams, Webutuck High School has welcomed three players from Millbrook High School for the 2024 girls’ softball season, growing their team to 13.

Head coach Chris Osterman, now in his second season of coaching the girls’ softball team, was conducting an intensive practice session at Webutuck on Monday, March 25, despite the academic spring break; practice was scheduled throughout the school’s spring break to ensure that the team would be ready for the coming season.

Osterman has been coaching sports at Webutuck for 18 years of experience coaching sports at Webutuck.

Another team experiencing its first combined year is girls’ soccer, said Daniel Pietrafesa, a spokesperson for Webutuck Central School District. The boys’ football team has also joined forces with Millbrook’s team.

“It’s very beneficial, giving young athletes a chance to compete in the sport they love playing,” said Pietrafesa. “We’re all here to give the kids a chance to play.”

Overall, there are three combined teams participating in the spring sports season, Pietrafesa said. Those teams are track and field, softball and baseball.

“Millbrook brings a lot of talent,” said team member Grainne Williams, a Webutuck senior.

“I like to meet and have new people playing with me,” she added, predicting that her team will have a winning season. Williams praised the team’s potential as they are learning to work as a team and she spoke for her team that they have a good coach.

An experienced combined girls’ team soccer player (outside wing) in the fall sports roster, pitcher Madison Krueger of Millbrook, a junior, is no less enthusiastic about her softball team’s prospects this year.

Varsity softball opens its season on Wednesday, April 3 at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. The home opener and league opener will be against Dover on Wednesday, April 10.

The season will continue until mid-May.

Latest News

Wassaic names Citizen of the Year for 2024

Busy as he is these days, Santa took a bit of time to join in congratulating Wassaic’s Citizen of the Year, Ana Hajduk, following a presentation ceremony at the Wassaic Fire Department on Saturday, Dec. 14, all in conjunction with the 2024 Wassaic Parade of Lights.

Photo by Leila Hawken

WASSAIC — Wassaic residents turned out to celebrate the 2024 Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 14, enjoying the traditional parade and festivities with refreshments at the firehouse.

One of the highlights was the naming of Wassaic’s Citizen of the Year, Ana Hajduk, honoring her many contributions to the improvement of community life.

Keep ReadingShow less
Charity is a holiday season legacy at The Fountains

Mary Albasi, resident of The Fountains at Millbrook, knitting for one of the community’s donations.

Photo provided

MILLBROOK — A long-established tradition of giving to deserving community organizations is continuing throughout the holiday season at The Fountains at Millbrook.

Three area charities were selected for this year’s charitable giving. The Center for Compassion in Dover Plains has received 26 bags of food and several boxes of clothing collected by Fountains residents since the Thanksgiving season and continuing through the holidays. The extensive history of giving was described on Wednesday, Dec. 11, by Lisa Rieckermann, community life director at The Fountains.

Keep ReadingShow less
Welcoming the Macagnones
Photo by Krista A. Briggs

Dutchess County Legislator Chris Drago and Town of North East Councilwoman Meg Winkler help welcome Habitat for Humanity homeowners Anthony and Vanessa Macagnone (center) to their new home on Rudd Pond Road in Millerton, Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Participants at annual conference encouraged to ThinkDifferently by respecting evolving etiquette norms

Top row (left to right): Panelist Shadei Williams; Dana Hopkins, Dutchess County All Abilities Program Director; panelist Johnny Vacca; Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino. Bottom row: (left to right): Panelist Wayne Robinson; panelist Tracy Wallace; panelist Samantha Van Alstyne

Provided

HYDE PARK, N.Y. — On Thursday, Dec. 5, the annual ThinkDifferently conference was held at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Educational Center in Hyde Park, New York. The conference strived to enlighten participants on evolving protocols for addressing and collaborating with individuals with challenges.

Hosted by Dana Hopkins, program director of All Abilities at the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, ThinkDifferently is an initiative first launched in 2015 by former county executive Marc Molinaro with a goal to provide services to individuals with varying abilities and guidance for others such as businesses and communities to help create a more inclusive society.

Keep ReadingShow less