The Joint Chiefs: three decades of folk, harmony and community
The Joint Chiefs will perform at The Center on Main in Falls Village on Nov. 29
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By any other name, it’s still as sweet. Robin’s Candy in Great Barrington re-branded as Coco’s.
Elise Contarsy
Robin’s Candy, the iconic Main Street candy shop in Great Barrington, has a new name, a refreshed look and a new owner. Now rebranded as Coco’s Candy, the beloved destination continues to offer its signature mix of nostalgic favorites and modern sweets.
The new owner, Elise Contarsy, who purchased the store from founder Robin Helfand in June, said stepping into ownership felt natural after being a customer for more than 15 years. “I was excited about the shopping experience she had built and the possibilities for the shop going forward,” she said.
Coco’s Candy is named for Contarsy’s poodle, Uncle Coconut, affectionately called Coco. “He’s the uncle of Sammy and George, our friend’s poodles,” said Contarsy. “We call him Coco for short.”
While the shop has been updated with a fresh look and an evolving assortment of candy, Contarsy said the heart of the experience remains the same. Coco’s will continue its mix of nostalgic treats and contemporary confections, along with the local chocolates and imported licorice that have long made the shop a destination. “Would you be surprised if I said licorice is my favorite candy?” she added.
Holiday shoppers will find plenty to explore this season, from treats offered for a limited-time only and fun-size classics to stocking stuffers available only during the holidays. The store will also be open seven days a week from Nov. 20 through Dec. 24 for all your sweet tooth needs.
“Our goal is to continue being a joyful part of the community,” Contarsy said. “Whether it’s your first visit or you’re coming in to check out the new look, we’re excited to welcome you to Coco’s Candy.”
Coco’s Candy is located at 288 Main St. in Great Barrington. Visit www.cocoscandy.co.
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North East Town Hall
Maud Doyle
MILLERTON — After a brief, one-minute public hearing that drew no comments, the North East Town Board unanimously adopted its 2026 budget on Thursday, Nov. 13, incorporating two final adjustments totaling $20,000.
Supervisor Chris Kennan proposed the additions before the vote. The first was a $5,000 line item to support the Village of Millerton’s upcoming 175th anniversary celebration. The second was a $15,000 allocation to hire a grant writer to prepare a 2026 New York Forward Grant application to support the town-village wastewater project.
“The village is in the center of the town,” said Kennan, who called the village’s request for support toward the milestone anniversary “reasonable.” He acknowledged the overall cost of the celebration will be well above the $5,000 mark. In addition, the town has been asked to run a volunteer event and Kennan, an avid runner, will work to organize a “fun run.”
Efforts to apply for a New York Forward Grant, an unmatched grant from the state for $4.5 million awarded to communities in the mid-Hudson region, would significantly bolster the town and village’s long-term efforts to support the wastewater project. “I think we need some professional help,” said Kennan, adding that he believes the town stands a very good chance of being selected. If unused, the funds will revert back into the budget.
These adjustments were only introduced at the Nov. 13 meeting because state rules prohibit changes between the public hearing notice and the hearing itself. Both items passed unanimously, adding the combined $20,000 to the 2026 budget.
The preliminary spending plan totaled $5,043,192, an increase of about 2.7% over the 2025 budget. With the two additions, the final adopted budget stands at $5,063,192, a 3.2% increase over the 2025 budget.
Once again, Kennan highlighted the steep rise in emergency medical services (EMS) spending. The town’s ambulance line will climb from $511,558 to $696,345, a 36.1% increase and the largest year-over-year jump in the budget.
“This is the only choice we have,” Kennan said. “The alternative choice is we don’t have an ambulance and we let people figure it out.” Several towns in the region follow that model – they rely solely on volunteers and neighboring communities that pay for contracted services.
Kennan noted that North East has the smallest population of the three towns that share a contract with Empress EMS – along with Amenia and Dover Plains – yet pays the highest rate. Costs have escalated under the multi-year contract signed in 2024, though officials initially hoped that there would be ways to reduce costs.
After Empress acquired Northern Dutchess Paramedics (NDP) earlier this year, Kennan confirmed the incoming company committed to honoring the existing contract through 2026.
While a long-term solution remains elusive, Kennan said he and other elected officials are playing the long game and raising the issue at every level of government.
Kennan also said the town faced rising costs across several budget lines, including insurance, auto equipment, New York State Retirement, a 6.5% increase in health insurance, an additional $50,000 increase for the NorthEast-Millerton Library following its successful 414 funding referendum, and data processing expenses.
The town will continue its annual support of the North East Community Center with a $5,000 contract and a $500 contribution to the center’s transportation program.
“I think we’ve done the best we could to try to bring this down,” Kennan said of the adopted budget.
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Pine Plains approves 2026 budget
Nov 25, 2025
Town Supervisor Brian Walsh set a public forum to discuss the new Pine Plains Town Hall design for Dec. 10 at the Pine Plains Community Center above the Pine Plains Free Library on Route 82.
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PINE PLAINS — Members of the Town Board approved the 2026 Town Budget at the regular Thursday meeting on Nov. 20.
The increase to the Pine Plains Free Library revenue was the only change since the public hearing on Nov. 6.
Of the biggest line item increases was the sidewalk budget — which climbed to $30,000 from $4,000 in last year’s budget in anticipation of a sidewalk overhaul through downtown Pine Plains.
Overall, budgeted expenses for the town government increased 4% compared to the 2025 Town Budget.
Board members followed the budget approval with a discussion of the new Town Hall. LaBella engineers presented early conceptual drawings of the Town Hall at an October meeting of the Town Board. Board members expressed satisfaction with the preliminary plans, but board member Jeanine Sisco pressed for extended discussions of the interior plans.
“I think the outside design looks good,” Sisco said. “I think that the interior — there should be some discussion about space utilization.”
Supervisor Brian Walsh set a public forum for community feedback on the plans for Thursday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. The forum will be hosted at the Pine Plains Community Center on Route 82.
Town Attorney Warren Replansky led the meeting with a brief discussion of short-term rental laws. He said he sent members of the town board example local laws from Rhinebeck, New York, and Pleasant Valley, New York.
Highway Superintendent Carl Baden said in his report the town’s Kubota tractor was in disrepair and needed replacement. The Town Board voted to sell the old tractor and Supervisor Brian Walsh asked Baden to assemble specifications for a New Holland tractor to replace it. Baden estimated a purchase price of $200,000 for the tractor.
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Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.
Photo by Nathan Miller
AMENIA — Town Board members awarded a contract for improvements to the Lavelle Road water pump house at their regular meeting Thursday, Nov. 20.
The award is a significant step forward for upgrades to the town’s water district, which serves the central Amenia hamlet surrounding the intersection of Route 44, Route 343 and Route 22.
The successful bidder, Trinity Construction of Selkirk, New York, estimated that it will cost $1,298,633 to complete the work of upgrading the existing pump house and the well fields nearby. The bid, the lowest of four submitted, was approved by project engineers Delaware Engineering.
During public comment, resident Ken Topolsky read the letter he had presented to the Planning Board urging adoption of a moratorium on new development applications while the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee completes its work to revise the plan. Exempted from the moratorium, Topolsky suggested, could be any application that was initiated with the town two or more years ago.
Resident Judy Moran spoke in support of the proposed moratorium, finding it “reasonable.”
Planning Board member James Walsh spoke of the high volume of applications coming before his board, significantly adding to the daily workload of the board’s secretary. He asked the board to consider a remuneration increase in view of that load.
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