Emily Kelderhouse, land projects manager, left, and Erin Hoagland, director of conservation, right, ask the Town of North East for a letter of support for a conservation easement on Indian Pond Farm, a 144-acre property on Indian Lake Road. The easement would limit future development.
This story has been updated.
MILLERTON — The North East Town Board voted unanimously to support the Dutchess Land Conservancy’s bid for a conservation easement on Indian Pond Farm, agreeing to provide a letter of endorsement to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. The vote took place during a Town Board meeting on Thursday, June 12.
Representatives from the conservancy said they are in the early stages of applying to the state for funding to purchase development rights on the 144-acre property, which sits on Indian Lake Road. The goal is to permanently protect the farmland by limiting future development.
“We really feel the protection of this property is worthwhile and would benefit the Town of North East,” said Emily Kelderhouse, land projects manager for the conservancy. “The proposed agricultural protection plan recognizes the strong role that agriculture has played in the history of the town, as well as the town's ongoing goal to protect farmland.”
The property is nestled in an area of already-protected lands by the Dutchess Land Conservancy. It is primarily used to grow a rotation of corn and soy beans, which are sold to other dairy farmers for feed. Half a mile of the Webutuck Creek runs through the property and it also contains Federal and State designated wetlands.
While supporting the effort, Councilwoman Meg Winkler raised the importance of balancing farmland preservation with local housing needs. She advocated for partnerships between land conservancies and affordable housing initiatives.
“There is a desire to not think of things as separate,” Winkler said. “Even just having a couple acres can make a big difference,” she added, citing the recent success of a Habitat for Humanity home built on a half-acre lot.
Town Supervisor Chris Kennan used the meeting as an opportunity to thank volunteers who have led recent town initiatives, including the completion of a comprehensive hazard mitigation plan submitted to Dutchess County and ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the former landfill.
Also on the agenda was the vote to appoint Mary Herms and Karen Pitcher as the newest members of the Town Board of Ethics following two recent resignations. The board voted unanimously in favor of the appointments. Kennan said he believes Herms and Pitcher will help “revitalize the Board of Ethics.” The town’s Code of Ethics and website materials will be reviewed at an upcoming meeting.
The board also approved a routine permit renewal for Housatonic Acquisitions, formerly known as Scenic View, a trailer park in town.
A special meeting was also held on June 12 to discuss the potential renewal of the town’s cable franchise agreement with Altice. Though Town Supervisor Chris Kennan acknowledged the town has limited flexibility in the terms of the license, he said the meeting laid the groundwork for a future session where a representative from Altice is expected to answer questions directly from residents.
Other items approved by the board included hiring a new cleaning company for Town Hall; renewing a contract with the Village of Millerton to provide a police officer in court at a 3% rate increase; and approving a contract with a professional film crew to film on Winchell Mountain Road on Wednesday, June 18. The shoot is expected to last up to two hours and may cause minor traffic modifications. The road will remain open, with two Dutchess County sheriff’s deputies on site.
The meeting concluded with a discussion about safety concerns along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. Board members emphasized the need for collaboration with Dutchess County officials to explore solutions for improving trail safety with a particular focus on the speed of electric bikes.
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.
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Harlem Valley area activity reportSept. 18 to Sept. 30.
Sept. 23 — Deputies responded to 1542 State Route 292 in the Town of Pawling for the report of a suspicious vehicle at that location. Investigation resulted in the arrest of Sebastian Quiroga, age 26, for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree. Quiroga to appear in the Town of Pawling court at a later date.
Sept. 30 — Deputies responded to Woodside Street in the Town of Pine Plains for a past-occurred verbal domestic dispute between a stepfather and stepson.Matter resolved without further police intervention.
PLEASE NOTE:All subjects arrested and charged are alleged to have committed the crime and are presumed innocent until proven guilty and are to appear in local courts later.
If you have any information relative to the aforementioned criminal cases, or any other suspected criminal activity please contact the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 845-605-CLUE (2583) or Emaildcsotips@gmail.com.All information will be kept confidential.
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.
