Washington median home price climbs to $712K
Millbrook Garden and Landscaping on Route 44 has been sold for $725,000 to Brian Kiernan in an off-market transaction.
Photo by Christine Bates
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AMENIA — Serving the area community with a variety of health needs, Sun River Health is hosting a Rural Health Fall Fest, inviting everyone to enjoy a selection of family activities on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 3 to 7 p.m.
The event will be held at the Sun River office location at 3360 Route 343 in Amenia. The free outdoor event will feature food, music and more. Kids can enjoy games and prizes, and face painting.
Adults can learn about the range of community-based resources. There will be Tai chi and a drumming circle, and health screenings including blood pressure checks, flu shots and information about cancer screening.
The event is presented by Sun River Health in partnership with the Eastern Dutchess County Rural Health Network.
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IGA store expected in Millerton
Oct 15, 2025
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
October 18, 1934
Grange Will Act On TERA Wage Rates
The Dutchess County Pomona Grange tax committee will take formal action in the direction of TERA wage rate revisions at the next committee meeting to be held at the Washington Grange Hall, Millbrook, Nov. 10, it was announced Saturday by Thomas E. Cross, chairman. Mr. Cross stated that he did not believe the classification of workers under the TERA was satisfactory for conditions in the rural districts.
October 16, 1975
IGA Store Expected In Millerton
An IGA food store will soon open in the vacant A&P building in Millerton, according to local officials.
At last Thursday’s North East Town Board meeting, Supervisor Frank Perotti said, “They (IGA) are definitely coming… within the next month or so.” Perotti said the owners of the building, Arthur Fried of Staatsburg and Frank Rotunno and of Millbrook, are presently negotiating with representatives on the terms of the agreement. Perotti also said it was his understanding that IGA planned on resurfacing the parking lot.
Village Board member Dick Weinstein reported to the Board at its Oct. 8 meeting that Fried had told him “he (Fried) hoped to see action there by the first of November.”
Non-Paying Residents Face Water Shutoff
Millerton residents who fail to pay their water bill within 90 days will have their water supply shut off, as a result of a decision made by the Village Board at its Wednesday, Oct. meeting. The action takes effect immediately.
North East Budget Goes To Hearing
The total appropriation for the Town’s 1975-76 budget is proposed at $251,350 and the amount to be raised by taxes is proposed at $157,722. Proposed salaries for Town officials are $3,200 for Supervisor; $4000 for Town Clerk: $2,300 for one Town Justice and $2,000 for another; $1,000 for 4 Councilmen; and $10,600 for the Highway Superintendent.
October 19, 2000
Crossing Guard Crisis May be Resolved
The position of crossing guard is typical of many others in a small community. You never really know how much you miss it until you have to go without it.
Near the end of an interview with a reporter in the deli, Mr. Cawley spied a potential candidate for a replacement guard.
“Felix!” the mayor shouted as he ran out onto Main Street. The mayor re-entered the eatery with Felix Cora — a Main Street fixture who can often be seen working at the Thriftique.
“There’s a flag in the shed and I’ll see you in the morning,” the mayor said with a smile.
Hospital Price Tag Is $16.4 million
SHARON The lawyers for Sharon Hospital this week sent a definitive letter of agreement to the state of Connecticut detailing the proposed deal in which the non-profit hospital is to be acquired by Essent Healthcare, a for-profit company based in Nashville, Tenn.
The story is as Byzantine as ever. A summary of the proposed transaction, released Wednesday, states Essent is to pay $16,390,000 for Sharon Hospital, with adjustments, up or down, depending on the hospital’s net working capital (its assets minus its liabilities) at the time of the closing.
This floating figure is significant, because the hospital’s accounts are already being managed by an executive with ties to Essent.
The final sale figures are to be “adjusted” significantly downward subject to Essent’s assumption of certain hospital retiree health benefits, the summary states, and, presumably, upward for capital expenditures made by the hospital dating from April 7 of this year.
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Open houses to learn about library funding
On November 4, the NorthEast-Millerton Library will be asking voters to vote on a proposition to increase library funding by $50,000. Like the members of our community, the library is also feeling the effect of increasing costs.We are pleased to report that library usage, as noted in our Annual Report to the community, continues to rise.For those two reasons, we find it necessary to approach our community this year asking for an increase.
The funding provided by the local voters is only used for operating expenses, which includes salaries, material and supplies, maintenance, and utilities. The library continues to offer free programming to all ages, as well as free access to computers, Internet and Hot Spots, food assistance, and of course books.
To answer any questions you may have regarding the proposition, the library trustees will be holding two Open Houses. The first is scheduled for Oct. 21, from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by another on Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to noon.Please join us in the library to hear more and see some of the wonderful things happening at the NorthEast-Millerton Library.
The proposition will be on the back of the ballot.
The staff and trustees of the NorthEast-Millerton Library appreciate your continued support.
Debbie Ruppel
President, Board of Trustees
Millerton
Town Board’s delay is a failure of leadership
The North East Town Board officially voted to delay our zoning amendments indefinitely. Their rationale was flimsy, inconsistent and deeply disappointing for anyone who cares about fairness, economic vitality and integrity.
We were not asking for sweeping changes. We sought a simple modification to the existing Country Inn code, allowing new construction in addition to the current allowance to convert existing structures. And a separate amendment to permit farm-related events.
These changes are essential for the success of our vineyard and winery project. Without them, the math simply doesn’t work.
For almost a year, the Town Board promised, repeatedly and publicly, that our amendments would be reviewed independently. Then, with no real explanation, they reneged. Now, our amendments are being rolled into the Ag District rezoning, which will take 4+ years, mirroring the glacial pace of the Boulevard District rezoning.
The stated reason? Concern over “spot zoning.” That claim doesn’t withstand even basic scrutiny. Our proposal modifies an existing allowance that already applies to 42 farms. By definition, code that applies broadly cannot be considered spot zoning.
What matters is that the amendment itself was carefully crafted to apply not to just one farm, but to 42 eligible properties. To dismiss that reality reflects a disregard for the facts.
The 2019 Comprehensive Plan, developed through community surveys, workshops, and hearings, exists precisely to guide decisions like this. It explicitly calls for supporting agriculture through farm diversification, agritourism, farm stays, and events. Our proposal mirrors that language almost word for word. Yet the Town Board has ignored its own blueprint, undermining the will of the residents who helped create it.
The economic cost of inaction is real. Moving forward with our amendments would unlock millions in private investment, creating local jobs for electricians, carpenters, farmers, and hospitality workers, while supporting local businesses. Delaying sends the opposite message: that North East is closed to growth.
We’ve followed every directive in good faith — hiring legal counsel at the Town’s request, paying over $30,000 in fees, plus escrow to cover town consultants and lawyers. For the Board to reverse course now, without a public hearing, is irresponsible governance.
The worst part is that I have no recourse. There is no way to appeal. The Town Board has given itself unchecked authority, while leaving residents and businesses powerless to respond. That lack of accountability should concern everyone in the community, regardless of how they feel about my project.
Deferring decisions may feel safe, but it’s not leadership. It’s avoidance. And it leaves North East poorer, both economically and culturally.
So where do we go from here? I am calling on the community for help, ideas, and advice on how to get this back on track. We followed the rules, invested in good faith, and proposed amendments that the Town’s own plan demands. The question is whether North East wants to support agriculture, jobs, and economic vitality, or whether we allow bureaucratic delays and broken promises to define our future.
John King
Millerton
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