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Millerton nonprofit faces closure over tax exemption denial
Eloise Pickering
Jul 21, 2026
A sign along Kaye Road in the Town of North East marks the location of Taconic Plateau Foundation’s land along the Connecticut border.
Photo by Eloise Pickering
MILLERTON — The Taconic Plateau Foundation, an environmental nonprofit, plans to appeal to the Dutchess County Supreme Court for a property tax exemption after a third denial by the Town of North East. The foundation said it may be forced to close.
Established in 2022, the foundation is a nonprofit organization that oversees 175 acres of land along the New York/Connecticut border for conservation, research and educational work.
“Our charge is to maintain it as a pristine natural resource for posterity,” said Jed Marcus, a director of the foundation. He said the goal is to protect the species that call the property home.
In addition to maintaining the land, the foundation hosts public activities and scientific research. Marcus said nonprofit volunteers do not just passively maintain the land, but rather actively engage and educate the community through their work.
As a nonprofit, the Taconic Plateau Foundation has been deemed tax exempt by the IRS and the State of New York, but is seeking to be exempt from local property taxes. Currently, the foundation pays $6,643 in property and county taxes each year, Marcus said.
In 2025, the foundation recorded $8,800 in revenue from grant money.
Marcus said that the 2026 request for property tax exemption under New York State’s Real Property Tax Law was denied, as it was found by the Town of North East that the property is not used exclusively for nonprofit purposes.
“That statement is so troubling because it’s just emphatically not true,” Marcus said.
Marcus said the town did not elaborate as to why it concluded the property failed to qualify. He argues the land meets the statutory requirements and pointed to prior court decisions recognizing environmental conservation as a charitable purpose eligible for a property tax exemption.
The 1982 case of New York Botanical Garden v. Assessors of the Town of Washington established environmental conservation as a charitable activity that qualifies for real property tax exemption, he noted.
After the request was denied, the foundation appealed to the town’s Board of Assessment Review. Organization representatives received a determination letter on July 18 denying the appeal. Marcus said he was baffled by the denial.
“They just checked the box saying you’re not eligible for the request,” Marcus said.
Town of North East Assessor Katherine Johnson would not comment, citing an expectation of “continuing litigation,” but did not provide further details.
The Taconic Plateau Foundation plans to file an appeal by the end of July with the Dutchess County Supreme Court for a Real Property Law Article 7 hearing, which allows property owners to challenge property tax assessments in court. The court will review submitted documents, then decide whether to hold a hearing.
If the foundation is denied again, Marcus said it will likely go bankrupt.
“We have no assets, no money other than the land, and that will work well if we don’t have to pay taxes,” Marcus said. “If we have to pay taxes, basically, we’re going to go out of business. We just can’t raise that money.”
The foundation receives some donations that go directly toward taxes, and others that pay for conservation, charitable, or educational activities. Marcus said that there are less who contribute money for taxes than for other purposes, but the foundation can’t access the latter until the tax bill is paid.
The Taconic Plateau Foundation has set aside a $20,000 donation for litigation. If it didn’t go to court, that money would have gone towards programming and research.
The organization gets its funding through grants and donations, and the staff is made up of volunteers. Recently, the organization has had a challenging time receiving funding.
“We’ve gotten our money through grants, but we’ve kind of come to the end of the line because nobody wants to give a grant that’s simply going to go to the town to pay taxes,” Marcus said.
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On-Duty Pine Plains police officer resigns after Route 199 crash
Graham Corrigan
Jul 21, 2026
PINE PLAINS — An on-duty Pine Plains police officer who was involved in a July 6 crash has resigned from the department, Town Board members were told during their July 15 meeting.
Officer Brian Johnson's resignation comes after he struck a 2003 Lincoln while he was traveling on Route 199 on July 6. According to State Police, Johnson failed to stop in time, totaling the vehicle.
The two occupants of the Lincoln sustained minor injuries. Johnson and Officer Aaron L. Fantroy, who was riding in the passenger seat of the patrol vehicle, were transported to Northern Dutchess Hospital. Fantroy was later transferred to Albany Medical Center for additional treatment.
State Police determined the crash was non-criminal. Investigators cited driver inattention or distraction as the cause, though they found Johnson was not using a cell phone or the patrol car's in-car computer immediately before the collision.
During the meeting, Officer John L. Hughes confirmed Johnson's resignation from the Pine Plains Police Department. Johnson was a recent graduate of the New York State Police Academy. It is unclear whether his resignation was related to the crash.
EMS response data questioned
The board’s agenda also included an EMS update from Pine Plains Rescue Squad 2nd Lt. Nelson Zayas. Zayas noted that Dutchess County has yet to release any reports or analysis on EMS calls in 2026. The county had previously released quarterly reports in 2025 that detailed EMS response times and responding agencies. Zayas’ own statistics were pulled from raw data he has collected over the course of the past year.
As he did in April, Zayas said county data on response times and non-response rates does not account for situations in which volunteer EMTs respond directly to a scene without utilizing an ambulance.
Of the second quarter’s 65 emergency calls received by Pine Plains Rescue Squad, 12 categorized EMS as late — meaning the response took more than nine minutes — or unresponsive. Zayas argues that number is actually three, and gave an accounting of each specific call. In some cases, ambulances were beaten to the scene by EMS volunteers. In others, a vehicle was out of service for repairs.
“I’m trying to give the public a view of what’s going on behind the scenes,” Zayas said, “and that things are not actually as bad as they look on paper.”
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Webutuck school district invites comment on draft safety plan
Millerton News
Jul 21, 2026
Archive photo
AMENIA — The Webutuck Central School District Board of Education is set to hold a public hearing on the district’s 2026-2027 safety plan on Monday, July 27, at 6:30 p.m.
A draft copy of the safety plan will be available prior to the meeting as part of the agenda packet. Community members may also submit comments regarding the safety plan online at the district’s website, webutuckschools.org, following the meeting.
The public hearing is set to take place in the Webutuck High School library, where the board regularly conducts its meetings every other Monday.
The regular Board of Education meeting will continue following the public hearing.
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Dona Lee Alexander
Millerton News
Jul 21, 2026
SALISBURY — It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dona Lee (Chilcoat) Alexander, our beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend, on July 9, 2026.
Born on Dec. 20, 1955, in Sharon, Connecticut, Dona lived a life filled with love, kindness, and an unwavering dedication to helping others.
Dona was preceded in death by her father, William Chilcoat, but leaves behind her loving mother, Katherine Chilcoat. Her cherished family includes her daughter, Sarah Olinger Hadoulis and son-in-law, Michael; her granddaughter, Penelope Hadoulis; her sister, Susan Chilcoat Bucceri and brother-in-law, Louis; her brother, Richard Chilcoat and sister-in-law, Stacey; nieces Katherine and Elizabeth Bucceri; and nephews Will, Ben (Lauren), and Graham Chilcoat.
Dona grew up in Lakeville where she graduated from Salisbury Central School (1969), Housatonic Valley Regional High School (1973), and Gettysburg College (1977) where she earned a degree in English Literature. Her thirst for knowledge and service continued as she became certified in Grief Counseling and Thanatology, completed her Clinical Pastoral Education, received her Florida Certification for Volunteer Management, and was ordained as an Inter-Faith Minister.
Dona’s professional life was a testament to her commitment to service. After she and her daughter Sarah returned to Salisbury in 1988, she worked as store manager of Community Lumber & Hardware (now Herringtons) and as a tea blender and sales manager for Harney & Sons Fine Tea before beginning a career that was dedicated to helping others. Her roles included Director of Therapeutic Recreation, Volunteers and Pastoral Services at Noble Horizons; office administrator for Habitat for Humanity NW CT; Director of Programs at Harvest Food and Outreach in Vero Beach, Florida; and as an in-home senior care aid for Senior Helpers of the Palm Beaches in Florida.
Some people leave behind footprints. Others leave behind a way of seeing the world. Dona was one of those people. She found beauty in the smallest things, especially a quiet walk on the beach with her eyes searching for sea glass, always believing that what the waves returned had a story to tell. She followed her heart wherever it led, never worried about fitting into any else’s idea of how life should be lived. She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her dedication to helping others, her love for her new granddaughter, and her unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. She believed that acting on our better instincts reminds us, above everything, that we are all humans and that when we act with care and compassion, we can shape a more loving world. She was beautifully unconventional, deeply spiritual, and completely herself. There will never be another quite like her. We hope that wherever she is now, the shore is endless, the sea glass is abundant, and her spirit is as free as ever. She will be deeply missed.
Dona’s family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association, particularly Cyndi, Laurie, and Molly, and to Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Litchfield County for their compassionate care and support.
In memory of Dona, the family suggests donations be made to the Little Guild in Cornwall, CT or Salisbury Family Services.
A celebration of her life will be held in the fall.
All other services will be private.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
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Louise R. Black
Millerton News
Jul 21, 2026
MILLERTON — Louise R. Black, 86, born July 16, 1939, in Queens, New York, died on July 15, 2026, with her partner of 26 years, Mary Howard, by her side. She is also survived by her nephews David Black and Jason Black, and his wife, Kerri; and niece Tiffany Black and her husband, Shlomo Toledano.
After graduating from the University of North Carolina Women’s College and earning two master’s degrees, Louise taught physical education for 35 years at Scarsdale (NY) High School, chairing the department and serving as the first woman Athletic Director. An accomplished fencer, tennis player, and swimmer, Louise’s enduring fondness for sports included a love of the Brooklyn Dodgers, though she never quite recovered from their move to the West Coast.
Louise’s artistic talents came through in her knitting, her painting, and her gardens. A master knitter, for many years she and Mary hosted a weekly knitting group at their home. She was recognized for her Japanese watercolors and landscapes; her passion for flowers was expressed in the abundant roses bordering her property.
An avid traveler, she also found great joy spending summers at her family camp on an island in the Hudson River. Cars and jazz were perennial fascinations, and Doris Day was a favorite.
Louise dedicated much of her life to community service, first as an enthusiastic volunteer at Habitat for Humanity in Westchester County. Following retirement, she moved to Millerton, New York, and was soon immersed in the local library, developing a finders’ guide for the North East Historical Society; and the co-founding of Comida de Vida food pantry at St. Thomas EpiscopalChurch in Amenia, New York.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Food of Life / Comida de Vida Food Pantry St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 40 Leedsville Road, Amenia, NY 12501 (845) 373-9161 www.stthomasamenia.com or Habitat for Humanity: https://www.habitat.org/support
A celebration of Louise’s life will take place on BlackThursday, July 30, 2026 from 2pm to 4pm at the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
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Jane Lindsay
Millerton News
Jul 21, 2026
NORTH CANAAN — Jane Lindsay passed away suddenly on July 11, 2026, at Danbury Hospital. She was the longtime partner of Dennis Smalley.
Jane was born on Jan. 14, 1953, the daughter of Sally Hart and the late Raymond Hart.
She retired last year from Geer Village, where she entertained residents with her songs, poems, and wit, and, when not working, spread her music around town whenever she could.
Janey’s creativity was woven into every part of her life, from her love of music to her unmistakable artistic talent. Her unique style was recognizable, and each piece she created had a way of bringing a smile to those who experienced it—a reflection of the joy and imagination she shared so freely.
Jane is survived by her mother, Sally Hart; her sister, Diana Hart; her nieces, Allison Latulipe and Riley Hart; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is predeceased by her brother, Jonathan Hart.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 2:00 p.m. at the North Cornwall Church. A reception will follow at the Parish House, 8 Bolton Hill Rd., Cornwall Village.
Memorial donations may be made to any animal shelter of your choosing.
In honor of Janey’s vibrant spirit, the family kindly asks that guests leave the dress clothes at home and instead wear tie-dye, something with cats on it, or a fun hat or headband—anything that celebrates the joy and individuality she brought to the world. Informality is a plus!
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
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