
Latest News
Katie Cariello is cross endorsed by Democrats and Republicans in the June 17 election.
Photo by Aly Morrissey
MILLERTON — Katie Cariello, the uncontested Democratic candidate for one of two open seats on the Village Board, is becoming a familiar face around town. As the food programs coordinator for the North East Community Center, she helps lead the Millerton Farmers Market, which kicked off its 2025 outdoor season on May 17.
“I’m realizing I need to have something on me that says I’m staff,” Cariello jokes of her new role at the helm of the market. “I want people to know I’m there to help and not just peering into their bags asking what they’re getting.”
Jokes aside, Cariello says she has a big vision for the market — one that supports both vendors and shoppers. “I want to focus on the growth of the market,” she says. “And not only growing our vendors, but growing our audience.”
Raising awareness is her first order of business. “We see a lot of folks come in for the weekend, but we want to make sure that people who live here know it’s accessible to them, too.”
She emphasizes that prices at the Millerton Farmers Market are often comparable to — or even more affordable than — those at local grocery stores. The market also accepts SNAP benefits and credit cards. “Not only are you getting local, fresh food that’s coming from 20 minutes down the road,” she adds, “you’re supporting your neighbors.”
Cariello and her husband were among the many who relocated to Millerton during the pandemic. Arriving in 2022, they quickly decided to put down roots and bought a home in the Village the following year. A Long Island native, Cariello has lived and worked in New York City and Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, with experience spanning education, youth programming and food insecurity.
Her interest in food justice began with a chance encounter outside a Queens coffee shop. “There was a small farm stand outside, and I happened to start talking to these folks from Hellgate Farm in Astoria,” Cariello recalls, remembering how she bought figs grown in someone’s backyard. “I started volunteering with them, and that opened my eyes to urban farming, food insecurity, and what other professional and volunteer opportunities could look like.”
Later, while living in Pittsburgh, Cariello worked on youth initiatives at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. One program, “Weekend Meals,” provided pre-packaged food for students who relied on school lunches. “We would pack small bags that were discreetly placed in their lockers,” she says, noting how she also worked to reduce stigma by using inclusive language and ensuring easy access.
Her career also includes several roles in New York City government. She worked for a city council member, fundraised for the Queens Borough president, and helped launch the Department of Education’s Pre-K for All initiative in 2014.
Through those experiences, the concept of growing your own food became increasingly important to her. “It’s one of the reasons I’m so excited to be working for the NECC farmers market right here in Millerton,” she says.
Outside of work, Cariello brings that passion home. She tends to both a vegetable garden and a native garden designed to support the local ecosystem. “We’ve got pepper plants — Shishito, which I’m really excited about — winter squash, pepprocha, basil and radishes.”
As Cariello looks to shape Millerton’s future as a Village Trustee, her garden feels like a fitting metaphor for her political aspirations: bringing together local and outside elements in thoughtful harmony.
“I like to see the bigger picture,” she says. Her goal, she explains, is to make residents with diverse viewpoints feel heard. “I want to bring people back to politics. I know this is a little corny, but I do believe it: It takes a village. I believe in the idea that we need each other to survive and to grow. You have to learn things to grow. You have to change to grow. And it can be prickly, it can be uncomfortable, maybe. But at the end of the day, at least you can say you tried.”
In addition to her work at NECC, Cariello serves as secretary for the North East Planning Board and sits on the Dutchess County Youth Council Board — roles that helped spark her interest in running for office. She has received endorsements from both the Democratic and Republican caucuses.
Current Trustee David Sherman is also seeking reelection as he completes his second two-year term. Sherman is a Millerton native. “I grew up in Millerton and I’ve lived my adult life here,” he says, reflecting on how the village has evolved, especially on the commercial side.
Sherman points to infrastructure work, such as improving sidewalks on Main Street, as accomplishments he’s proud of. “Those of us at the local level are the ones who have to bang on the doors of the bigger agencies to get things done — things that can have a dramatic effect on our community,” he says.
He also emphasized the importance of participation, regardless of whether a race is contested. “I’m always appreciative of the support of residents in our community who come out and vote,” Sherman says. “Whether they think it’s a competitive race or not, it matters.”
Eections will take place on June 17. In addition to Cariello and Sherman’s uncontested bids for Village Board seats, current Mayor Jenn Najdek is also running unopposed for a third term after first being elected in 2021.
Sherman and Najdek also are endorsed by Democratic and Republican caucuses.
Keep ReadingShow less
Addy Farinaccio celebrates a triple while her exuberant onlooking teammates cheer her on.
Photo by Nathan Miller
NEWBURGH, N.Y. — The Pine Plains varsity softball team won the Section IX Softball Finals at Mount Saint Mary College 5-0 on Friday, May 30.
The Bombers were matched up against Tri-Valley High School of Neversink, New York.
The Pine Plains varsity softball team cheers on Addy Farinaccio from the dugout after she scored a triple.Photo by Nathan Miller
The Bombers picked up an early lead in the bottom of the first inning and played dominant defense to limit Tri-Valley’s attempts at runs.
Bombers pitcher Talia Durant threw heat at every batter, striking out 16 of the 21 at-bats Tri-Valley put up throughout the game.
Durant only allowed a single hit through the whole game, a line drive in the third inning hit by Tri-Valley’s Jenna Carmody, no. 13 and the team’s pitcher.
The Bombers have a winning record of 12-7 this season.
Keep ReadingShow less
Paul Hawken on ‘Carbon’ at AMP
Jun 04, 2025
Author Paul Hawken speaks with American Mural Project founder
Ellen Griesedieck about his latest book, “Carbon: The Book of Life.”
Brian Gersten
On Saturday, May 31, the American Mural Project in Winsted, Connecticut hosted renowned environmentalist and best-selling author Paul Hawken for a free talk and book signing centered around his latest release, “Carbon: The Book of Life.” AMP founder, Ellen Griesedieck moderated the discussion, which drew a crowd of environmentally conscious attendees from across the region.
“We have made carbon the culprit,” Hawken said. Though, with his newest book, Hawken hopes readers “fall in love with who we are, where we are, and how much we are intricately, beautifully, exquisitely interconnected with the living world, as opposed to seeing it as something that you have to fix.”
Hawken, a pioneering voice in the global climate conversation, is widely known for his influential works “Drawdown” and “Regeneration.” In “Carbon,” he offers a poetic and profound exploration of the elemental force that binds all life on Earth. Moving beyond the typical doom-and-gloom framing of climate issues, Hawken reframes carbon not as an enemy but as the central thread of existence — present in every living being, tree, breath, and story. The book thus proposes a renewed relationship with our natural world.
Brian Gersten
During his talk, Hawken emphasized that climate solutions must be rooted not in fear, but in reverence and wonder. Hawken did not shy away from discussing our current environmental predicament with the audience in attendance. “The climate movement has failed,” he said. “It really has failed because [it] ignores the innate qualities of human beings and children that want to reimagine who they are, where they are, and how they create more life on Earth.” According to Hawken, “regeneration is the only path forward for the Earth.”
The American Mural Project, home to the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world, provided a fitting venue for an event focused on collective action and environmental imagination. Find Hawken’s book at Oblongbooks.com.
Keep ReadingShow less
Family members of Army PFC Charles R. Johnson attended a ceremony at Nine Partners Cemetery on Thursday, May 29, to dedicate a permanent marker attesting that Johnson was awarded the Medal of Honor for valor in battle during the Korean War.
Photo by Leila Hawken
MILLBROOK — Local and county officials, a military honor guard, friends and family gathered at Nine Partners Cemetery near the grave of Korean War Veteran Army PFC Charles Johnson on Thursday, May 29. The well-attended ceremony was to honor Johnson’s bravery and sacrifice in battle and to dedicate a permanent plaque and flag markers indicating that Johnson’s valor had earned the Medal of Honor.
In December 2024, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, officially presented at a White House ceremony on Friday, January 3, 2025, by President Joseph R. Biden.
Introductory remarks at the May 29 ceremony by Adam Roche, Director of the Dutchess County Office of Veterans Affairs honored Johnson, describing him as a “true American hero,” killed in battle at the age of 21, at Outpost Harry in Korea. Johnson’s heroic actions saved the lives of ten of his fellow infantrymen, including his captain.
An opening prayer by Deacon Duane Ware of Beulah Baptist Church spoke of Johnson’s legacy of patriotism, loyalty and brotherhood.
Participating in an official ceremony to honor the valorous service of Army PFC Charles R. Johnson during the Korean War and to dedicate a gravesite marker at Nine Partners Cemetery attesting that PFC Johnson was a recipient of the Medal of Honor were left to right County Executive Sue Serino, PFC Johnson’s nephew Kevin Johnson holding an official Proclamation presented during the ceremony, and Adam Roche, Director of the Office of Dutchess County’s Office of Veterans Affairs.Photo by Leila Hawken
The Rev. Dr. Matthew Calkins of Grace Episcopal Church, Millbrook, noted that the Johnson family had been members of the Millbrook church in the 1950s and that the church had attended to burial of Johnson’s remains in September 1953 at Nine Partners.
Drawings of three new stained glass window panels to be created and installed at Grace Church in the coming months were displayed and described by Rev. Calkins. One panel will honor Johnson’s memory, a second will honor Eleanor Roosevelt, and the third, in the middle, will depict Julian of Norwich, whose influential writings in the Middle Ages are the oldest discoveries of such writings to have been authored by a woman.
Vice Commander Dave Rogers of VFW Post 9008, Millbrook, announced that the VFW post is being renamed to honor Johnson. It will now be known as Charles R. Johnson Post 9008. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Johnson had been awarded the Purple Heart, the nation’s oldest medal, originally established by George Washington. Accordingly, Johnson’s grave will be adorned by a Purple Heart flag.
To mark Johnson’s gravesite, a flagpole has been erected at the cemetery by the Dutchess County Dept. of Public Works.
“We will always honor this grave,” said Brad Roeller, President of the Nine Partners Cemetery Association. He spoke of Johnson’s connections to Millbrook as “a rich story that will never be forgotten.”
“We thank you for recognizing Uncle Buddy,” said Johnson’s nephew, Kevin Johnson, on behalf of the Johnson family.
“For too long, Charles’ actions went unrecognized,” said Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino, citing Johnson’s courage and sacrifice that left a legacy. “His spirit and courage live on to inspire,” she added, praising the tireless efforts of many who pursued posthumous recognition for PFC Johnson’s bravery, to upgrade the Silver Star that had been awarded in 2011 to the Medal of Honor, a long campaign spanning decades.
In 2024, Congressman Pat Ryan joined in the effort by supporting the 20 years of regional efforts toward recognition.
A proclamation marking the long-awaited recognition was presented by Serino to Kevin Johnson.
“Charlie was older than I, but he was a friend of my brother’s,” said speaker Dominick Molella. “He was open and upbeat,” he added.
“He died for the soldiers he protected; his contributions and valor were ignored.” Molella said that his own involvement in the effort toward proper recognition began in early 2000, and he credited the Arlington High School for propelling the recognition campaign forward.
Keep ReadingShow less
loading
Village Trustees hear call to adopt law to limit local cooperation with ICE