Demonstrating one of the ways to carry an injured animal or pet was Paul McNamara, DVM, Chief of Surgery at the Dutchess Highlands Veterinary Group in Hopewell Junction. The program on Pet First Aid drew a large audience to the Amenia Town Hall on Wednesday, June 5.
AMENIA — Pet First Aid is essential knowledge for any person who cares for an animal and it is best to know in advance what to do in a stressful emergency.
On Wednesday, June 5, a two-hour class detailed Pet First Aid applications described by Paul S. McNamara, DVM, Chief of Surgery at Dutchess Highlands Veterinary Group in Hopewell Junction.
“The informational class was designed to help pet owners be a bit better prepared,” Dr. McNamara said.
The program was sponsored by the Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County (MRC) and the Dutchess County Animal Response Team (DCART). In addition, the local Top Dog 4-H Club was collecting pet food for the Hudson Valley Animal Rescue. Representing the club was Maddie Santori, president.
While the program was free, the 150 participants who registered for the program were asked to donate pet food, and many did.
Speaking on behalf of the Medical Reserve Corps, Dr. McNamara said that the organization is full of people who serve during a crisis, working alongside EMS personnel. He added that DCART is now working with MRC at a community-wide level.
Dr. McNamara additionally provides training in tactical first aid for the canine partners in military or law enforcement applications where emergency first aid is often required.
Drug-sniffing dogs are at risk if they inhale substances, McNamara noted. Two milligrams of fentanyl, a tiny amount, is sufficient to kill the animal, he said.
“Every person should carry Naloxone,” he advised.
The class covered recognition and treatments including pet CPR, heat stroke, hypothermia, gastrointestinal issues, allergies, poisonings, burns, eye issues, injuries, wound care, and more.
“Never initiate CPR unless you determine first that no pulse exists,” Dr. McNamara said.
Awareness of your pet’s behaviors and personality is key to knowing when something is off, Dr. McNamara said.
“How does your pet act or look normally,” is a question to ask in determining the presence of a problem.
A first aid kit for your pet is an essential accessory to have on hand. Only include items that you know how to use, Dr. McNamara advised, adding that including the animal’s medical history is a great idea. Always include a muzzle, no matter how docile your pet is usually.
Never feed your pet chocolate, grapes, raisins, or chewing gum, toxic both to dogs and cats.
“Nine grapes will kill a standard poodle,” Dr. McNamara cautioned.
The program was organized by Wendy Cady, Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator for the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response. Volunteers are welcome to pursue medical or non-medical training to help in responding to a range of disasters. Pets and other animals are often victims needing attention.
Built in 1820, 1168 Bangall Amenia Road sold for $875,000 on July 31 with the transfer recorded in August. It has a Millbrook post office and is located in the Webutuck school district.
STANFORD — The Town of Stanford with nine transfers in two months reached a median price in August of $573,000 for single family homes, still below Stanford’s all-time median high in August 2024 of $640,000.
At the beginning of October there is a large inventory of single-family homes listed for sale with only six of the 18 homes listed for below the median price of $573,000 and seven above $1 million.
July transfers
79 Ernest Road — 4 bedroom/2.5 bath home on 6.87 acres in 2 parcels sold to Matthew C. Marinetti for $1,225,000.
29 Drake Road — 3 bedroom/3.5 bath home on 2 acres sold to Harper Montgomery for $850,000.
6042 Route 82 — 4 bedroom/2 bath home on 1.09 acres sold to Spencer Thompson for $795,000.
125 Tick Tock Way — 3 bedroom/2.5 bath ranch on 1.9 acres sold to Fleur Touchard for $475,000.
August transfers
102 Prospect Hill Road — 3 bedroom/2 bath home on 6.35 acres sold to Karl Creighton Pfister for $565,000.
252 Ernest Road — 2 bedroom/1 bath cottage on .85 acres sold to Meg Bumie for $465,000.
1196 Bangall Amenia Road — 4 bedroom/2.5 bath home on 2.16 acres sold to Roderick Alleyne for $875,000.
Hunns Lake Road (#759929) — 59.1 acres of residential land sold to Argos Farm LLC for $3,325,000.
* Town of Stanford recorded real estate transfers from July 1 to August 31 provided by Dutchess County Real Property Office monthly transfer reports. Details on each property from Dutchess Parcel Access - properties with an # indicate location on Dutchess Parcel Access. Market data from One Key MLS and Infosparks .Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Advisor with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in Connecticut and New York.
Hunt club members and friends gathered near Pugsley Hill at the historic Wethersfield Estate and Gardens in Amenia for the opening meet of the 2025-2026 Millbrook Hunt Club season on Saturday, Oct. 4. Foxhunters took off from Wethersfield’s hilltop gardens just after 8 a.m. for a hunting jaunt around Amenia’s countryside.
Joining in the fun at the dedication of the new pollinator pathway garden at The Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4, local expert gardener Maryanne Snow Pitts provides information about a planting to Lorraine Mirabella of Poughkeepsie.
MILLBROOK — Participating in a patchwork of libraries that have planted pollinator pathway gardens to attract insects and birds to their native plantings was one of the accomplishments being celebrated at the dedication of a new pollinator garden at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4.
“A lot of work went into it,” said Emma Sweeney, past President of the Millbrook Garden Club, who started the local library’s initiative two years ago.
The Pollinator Pathway program is a national effort to plant native plants that native insects depend upon for sustenance and preferred plants for their own seasonal reproduction.
Jana Hogan of Ridgefield, Connecticut, Executive Director of the Pollinator Pathway program, was on hand to present a plaque to the library for its successful participation.
“A garden is not just a garden,” said garden designer Andy Durbridge of Wassaic, designer of the library’s garden. “It may serve as a model for other gardens along the line.”
Speaking to the 50 visitors at the dedication, Durbridge said that the library’s garden has a mission, that it is a working garden, planned to serve insects and birds over their seasons. The earliest plants support pollinators, while the full range of plants continues to serve the needs of those they attract, offering habitat, shelter and food.
A pollinator garden is akin to a prairie, rather than a formalized European garden, Durbridge noted.
The garden project was supported by the library’s Friends group using funds raised during the Holiday Silent Auction and ongoing book sale. A grant from the Millbrook Garden Club also provided support.
Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.
AMENIA — After gathering comments from the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, as it considers adding alternate members to those boards, the Town Board discussed possible changes to local laws governing those boards at its meeting on Friday, Oct. 3. The meeting date, usually on a Thursday, had been changed to accommodate a holiday.
In recent weeks Town Board attorney Ian Lindars has been compiling comments from the affected boards along with comments from the Town Board. The new laws may bring the appointment of two alternate members to each board. Alternate members are likely to be required to attend all meetings and be prepared to be seated if needed and be familiar with the applications being discussed. They would also need to take training required of all board members.
Lindars will prepare a draft of the new local laws to be reviewed by the Town Board and the affected boards.
As the Town Board begins work on the town’s annual budget negotiation process and anticipating an increase in some budget lines to accommodate major projects, the board unanimously approved three resolutions. The first will override the tax levy limit imposed on municipalities by the state of New York, a limit generally tied to the rate of inflation.
A public hearing on the proposal to override the levy limit was set for Thursday, November 6, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.
