Massive ice floes inundated the village of Wassaic after a dam failed, flooding the village and making roads and rail tracks impassable. Industrious residents used tools and dynamite to break up the larger chunks of ice.
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
‘Wassaic Digging Its way From Under Avalanche of Ice After Disastrous Flood Which Inundated Village Sunday Night’;
Huge Ice Jam Collapses At High Bridge, Superstructure Of Dam Swept Away Inhabitants Driven From Homes
RAILROAD TRACKS, HIGHWAY BURIED
Thirty Mile An Hour Torrent Roars Through Business Section; Workers Surprised, Barely Escape Wall Of Water
The village of Wassaic was slowly digging its way out from under thousands of tons of ice today after a flood and veritable avalanche Sunday night had smashed its way through the business section creating untold havoc and driving inhabitants of the lower lands from their homes and places of business.
Monday morning residents of nearby towns awoke to find Wassaic in the headlines of all leading newspapers. Motorists from all sections of the county poured into the little village to view the wreckage left in the wake of the flood. They found three newsreel photographers and three cameramen from metropolitan papers already on the job.
‘Many Citizens Support Shopping Center Plan’;
Citizens voiced heavy support of the shopping center, proposed for the south side of Route 44, just east of the Village of Millerton at the Connecticut State line, at last week’s North East Planning Board meeting.
Village merchants and others questioned the proposal’s assets and directly criticized the intentions of the shopping center developers.
Harold Miller of General Development of Connecticut (GDC) and Architect Vincent Lombardi explained that the proposed 66,000 square foot shopping center would rest on the front 8.7 acres of land and the latter 5.7 acres would be put to a recreational use. Miller informed the public that his firm has already confirmed two tenants, if the rezoning is granted, for the supermarket and the department store. He said be could not divulge the names of the two businesses without their permission. He did admit that one tenant was now located in the area. He said later in the meeting that the department store was not a typical discount store.
Miller said that if all goes smoothly the shopping center could be complete in a year, allowing 7 to 8 months for construction. He said, “there is no question that the shopping center is the meat of the proposal” but that the rest of the land could not be developed for stores because a shopping center that large was not marketable in this area.
‘NE Gets New Truck’; NORTH EAST - The Town of North East Highway Department and Supervisor David Sherman were eager this week to show off the latest addition to the town’s mechanical arsenal.
Now sitting at the town highway garage on South Center Street is a spanking-new truck — a 64,000-pound International model 2500 combination sander, plow and dump truck.
‘Poet Coaches Would-be Bards’; WEBUTUCK — There’s a little bit of poet in all of us, or so says writer Jacqueline Sweeney, Webutuck’s sometimes poet-in-residence.
For the third year in a row, Ms. Sweeney spent five days at Millerton Elementary School earlier this month conducting poetry workshops in all the grades.
‘Moss Earns Navy Medal’; MILLERTON - Senior Airman Malcolm G. Moss received the Air Force Achievement Medal from the Department of the Air Force recently.
‘Ag Program Will Try 2nd Tractor Pull’; WEBUTUCK - Hot on the heels of a successful show last fall, organizers plan to put on another antique tractor pull to benefit Webutuck’s agricultural program.
At Monday’s School Board meeting, agriculture teacher Bruce Pecorella and transportation director Bob McGhee outlined plans for another tractor pull modeled after last November’s successful affair, which attracted 97 tractors and some 250 to 300 people.
PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains FFA Ag Fair brought a crowd to the high school on Church Street Saturday, Oct. 11.
Kicking off the day was the annual tractor pull, attracting a dedicated crowd that sat in bleachers and folding chairs for hours watching Allison-Chalmers, International Harvesters and John Deeres compete to pull the heaviest weights.
A large collection of food was on offer from the Pine Plains FFA and each one of the classes in the Pine Plains Central School District. The football team was selling pickles.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd enjoyed a dip in the dunk tank to raise money for the Pine Plains teachers’ union-sponsored scholarship.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd got dunked several times during his half-hour shift in the dunk tank. Proceeds from the throws benefitted the Photo by Nathan Miller
The Rev. AJ Stack, center right, blessing a chicken at the pet blessing event at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia on Saturday, Oct. 4.
AMENIA — After serving more than five years as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia, the Rev. AJ Stack announced Tuesday, Oct. 7, that he will resign from the church and Food of Life/Comida de Vida pantry. His last day at his current post will be Sunday, Nov. 2, the conclusion of the Feast of All Saints.
The news was shared in two emails from Stack — one to Food of Life pantry subscribers and volunteers, and another to parish members.
“I write tonight with difficult news, and I wanted you to hear it from me as soon as the Vestry and I had a chance to meet,” he wrote. “After much prayer and careful discernment, I have submitted my resignation to the Vestry as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas, and therefore as Executive Director of Food of Life/Comida de Vida.”
Stack provided few details about his departure. At time of publication, he had not announced his next steps but said the decision was “not sudden,” and followed careful consideration over a period of months. He will not be leaving the area or the diocese.
An announcement about his path forward and the transition process is expected soon. In the meantime, Stack said he remains “fully present” at the church, and the food pantry services will continue without interruption.
Stack expressed gratitude for the community and the growth of St. Thomas’ mission during his tenure. “Together we have welcomed new neighbors and strengthened our outreach in meaningful ways,” he said. “I trust that good work will continue.”
He joined St. Thomas in March 2020 and guided the church and community through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent interview with The News about the food pantry, Stack estimated that it serves 653 individuals from 156 households each week, highlighting a significant contribution to the community.
The announcement was met with messages of reassurance from pantry volunteers. Jolly Stewart, a Vestry member and volunteer, wrote to the community with words of reassurance following the announcement. “I have complete faith in the strength of the parish of St. Thomas,” she wrote. “Our history shows how we have done this time and again, each time becoming more than what we were before. We can, without a doubt, do this now.”
MILLERTON — Ten candidates for office in the Nov. 4 election will answer questions from Dutchess County voters at a candidate forum on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Annex at the NorthEast-Millerton Library located at 28 Century Blvd.
The forum, which is sponsored by the library, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Candidates for local and county offices will answer questions from residents in attendance or from residents who have submitted questions in advance.
“We’re excited to keep the tradition of the candidate forum going,” said Rhiannon Leo-Jameson, director of the library. “Some years we can’t always get candidates together.”
This year’s forum will include:
Rachele Grieco Cole, a democrat, and Chris Mayville, a republican, who both are running uncontested for the North East Town Council;
Casey McCabe, a democrat, also running uncontested for North East Justice.
Among Dutchess County races:
Tracy MacKenzie, who is endorsed by Republicans and Democrats,is running uncontested for Dutchess County Family Court Judge;
Kara Gerry, a democrat, and Ned McLoughlin, a republican, are in a contest for a Dutchess County Court judgeship currently held by McLoughlin.
Chris Drago, D-19, and Tonya Pulver, a republican, are competing to represent Dutchess County’s19th District seat currently held by Drago.
Democratic incumbent Dan Aymar-Blair and Will Truitt, the republican chair of the county legislature, are competing for the Dutchess County Comptroller position currently held by Aymar-Blair.
Leo-Jameson is encouraging questions for the candidates to be submitted in advance, which will not be revealed to candidates beforehand. Dutchess County residents may pose questions during the forum. To submit a question on the library’s website, go to the calendar at nemillertonlibrary.org and find the link in the Oct. 24calendar entries.
The format calls for opening statements from the candidates, followed by questions from residents, and candidates will be able to stay after the forum to answer questions personally.
The residence at 35 Amenia Union Road in Sharon was damaged after being struck by the Jeep Grand Cherokee around 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.
SHARON, Conn. — Emergency crews were called Saturday, Oct. 11, to Amenia Union Road in Sharon for a report of a vehicle into a building with entrapment.
Connecticut State Police reported Charles Teti, 62, was driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Amenia Union Road when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle veered across the southbound land and exited the roadway where it struck a tree and home. Airbags deployed.
Teti and front seat passenger Aidan Cassidy, 63, sustained serious injuries. Teti was airlifted to Hartford Hospital and Cassidy was transported by ambulance to Sharon Hospital for treatment.
Back seat passenger Shea Cassidy-Teti, 17, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on scene. Cassidy-Teti was a senior at Kent School. He played on the football and tennis teams.
The residence that was struck is located at 35 Amenia Union Road.
The case remains under open investigation. Witnesses are asked to contact Trooper Lukas Gryniuk at Troop B 860-626-1821.
