Some of the local volunteers who planted a native tree on Arbor Day, Friday, April 25, gathered around the tree for a photo to mark the occasion. Left to right are Ana Hajdak, Maryanne Pitts, Christy Gast, Leo Blackman, Ken Monteiro, and Vicky Doyle.
WASSAIC — Local tree enthusiasts assembled in Wassaic village center to plant a young tree at the entrance to the rail trail in observance of Arbor Day.
The event on Friday, April 25 was co-sponsored by the Amenia Conservation Advisory Council and the Amenia Town Enhancement Committee.
Volunteers were attracted to help with the project led by Maryanne Pitts, CAC member. Some set to work to accomplish the task, others advised, and still others photographed the progress.
Bringing a wheelbarrow to the session was Wassaic resident Edwin Erreyes who saw the group of volunteers and wanted to help.
The new tree, a bur oak donated by the Amenia Garden Club, replaced a non-native dogwood that had failed to thrive at the location.
Garden Club president Ken Monteiro noted that the bur oak, native to eastern North America, produces acorns, each sporting a tiny burr.
“Oaks are a key help to native species, including their tendency to host insect larvae that feed birds,” Pitts said before the work began. “Birds need to feed their young the caterpillars because very young birds do not eat seeds,” she added. “They need protein.”
Pitts said that the interval between the egg and the fledgling is only two weeks in duration.
“So, it is critical that they have native trees and shrubs available to them,” Pitts said, adding that she is a supporter of the Homegrown National Park program.
“The gardens of today are the natural world,” Pitts commented. “Everything else is choked with invasives.”
As Pitts is working toward earning a designation of being a “Tree City,” she said that 2025 is the first step in what will be an annual event.
“We’ll do it every year,” she said.
Nathan Miller
The scorched remnants of a Ford Econoline van that erupted into flames on Sharon Station Road near the intersection with Route 343 in Amenia just after 11 a.m. on Friday, April 10. Amenia Fire Chief Chris Howard said high winds spread the flames to brush along the road soon after the van fire broke out.
AMENIA — A fire that started with a van spread to brush along Sharon Station Road near the intersection with Route 343 in Amenia Friday, April 10.
The fire broke out just after 11 a.m., nearby residents who reported the fire to authorities said.
Fire Chief Chris Howard said crews from Amenia and Wassaic had contained and extinguished the fire by 11:50 a.m. The exact cause of the van fire was unknown and Howard said it was unlikely that investigators would be able to determine the cause due to heavy damage to the vehicle.
Howard said no one was injured in the fire, but one person was taken to the hospital as a precaution in case they experienced smoke inhalation.
The still-smoldering interior of the Ford Econoline van that erupted into flame just after on Sharon Station Road near the intersection with Route 343 in Amenia on Friday, April 10 just after 11 a.m.Photo by Nathan Miller
After the van erupted into flame, wind spread the fire to brush along the north side of the road, Howard said.
James Morse, who lives on Sharon Station Road near where the fire erupted, said he called 911 after he witnessed the van turn the corner from Route 343 onto the road just after 11 a.m. The vehicle was making a loud hissing noise, he said, and then erupted into flame just after the driver exited the vehicle.
"All the flames were up and billowing black smoke was pouring out," Morse said.
Fire crews were wrapping up and packing up their hoses by noon.
"They did a good job today," Howard said of the volunteer firefighters.
Firefighters douse burnt brush along Sharon Station Road near the intersection with Route 343 in Amenia that caught fire after wind spread flames from a burning Ford Econoline van.Photo by Nathan Miller
Millerton News
The annual Millerton Fire Company Easter egg hunt returned to Eddie Collins Memorial Park on Saturday, April 4.
Tyler Dehoff discovers a piece of chocolate in a plastic egg at the zero to two-year-old egg hunt area.Nathan Miller
Families crowd into hay wagons for a parade down Main Street to the park before the egg hunt.Nathan Miller
Debra A. Aleksinas
Packets of Blue Razz botanical extracts in pill form are among herbal remedies offered as an alternative to kratom at The Smoking Ape in North Canaan and Torrington.
MILLERTON — A new Connecticut ban on kratom — a substance with opioid-like effects linked to dependence and withdrawal — is reshaping border behavior, with some residents crossing into New York to obtain it.
Derived from a Southeast Asian tree, kratom has been marketed across the country as a natural remedy for pain, anxiety and opioid withdrawal. But officials warn it can act like an opioid at higher doses, prompting Connecticut to classify it as a Schedule I controlled substance.
Some officials are also raising concerns about 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, a more potent compound derived from kratom that can also act like an opioid.
At gas stations and smoke shops in New York, kratom remains on shelves, drawing customers from Connecticut’s Northwest Corner.
Since the ban took effect March 25, retailers in Millerton and nearby Amenia report a noticeable uptick in cross-border traffic from towns where the once-common substance is now illegal.
The shift has created a stark divide: Connecticut classifies kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance, banning its sale and possession, while New York continues to allow regulated adult sales.
“It’s illegal,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in announcing the ruling and warning of strict enforcement. “You can’t buy it, you can’t sell it or possess it because it’s dangerous, unregulated and unsafe.”
Along Route 44 in Dutchess County, the change is subtle but visible.
Employees at Smokes 4 Less in Amenia and Cumberland Farms in Millerton said they have seen increased traffic from Connecticut customers, though none could estimate by how much.
For some residents of Connecticut’s Northwest Corner, the nearest New York retailer is just minutes away — a convenience now shaping behavior.
A similar dynamic is emerging to the north in Sheffield, Mass., where kratom also remains legal and available.
Empty shelves
in Connecticut
In Connecticut’s Northwest Corner, the ban’s impact was immediate.
At Smoker’s Choice and The Smoking Ape, two smoke shops located about a mile apart in the center of North Canaan, kratom has disappeared entirely from shelves. A once-stocked wall now sits bare.
“You can see the empty shelves,” a worker at Smoker’s Choice said, declining further comment.
At The Smoking Ape, owner Omar Nasser said the financial hit was significant at his two locations, including Torrington.
“I sold what I could,” Nasser said. The remainder of stock, he noted, was returned to his distributor at a loss.
In the days leading up to the ban, he said, demand surged as customers stocked up.
Withdrawal
concerns emerge
Clinicians say the early days following the ban represent a critical window.
New data from Mountainside Treatment Center in North Canaan shows kratom-related admissions have nearly tripled over the past year.
“With the ban taking effect, we are deeply concerned about what happens next,” said Jana Wu, director of clinical integration.
“Withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, insomnia, nausea and intense cravings,” she said. “When access disappears overnight, people may find themselves in crisis.”
Now, medical providers warn, some users may seek riskier alternatives.
Since the ban, Nasser said customers continue to seek replacements.
“They’re looking for something,” to ease the withdrawal, he said. His stores now offer botanical extracts in pill form, but he said the results are limited.
“I don’t think it does the same job as kratom. Not even close,” he said, describing withdrawal as “very serious.”
He fears some customers will turn elsewhere, to more powerful remedies.
“I think people will be going definitely to hardcore drugs.”
A national moment
At Mountainside, Wu said calls are rising — from Connecticut and beyond.
“People are getting nervous,” she said.
Connecticut is now the eighth state to enact a full kratom ban.
“We are being watched. All eyes are on Connecticut,” Wu said. “It’s a bold move — and a divisive move.”
Patients are asking what comes next.
Clinicians are responding with counseling and medications such as naltrexone and Vivitrol — even as cross-border purchasing becomes part of the conversation.
“People are definitely going into New York to buy kratom,” Wu said.
Before the ban, kratom was widely available across the Northwest Corner.
Now, access depends on geography.
In Connecticut, kratom is fully banned. In New York, it is legal for adults over the age of 21, and in Massachusetts, while there is no statewide ban, legislation is under consideration.
The result is a regional patchwork — one that places border towns like Millerton at the center of shifting consumer patterns.
Some users have asked whether online purchases offer a workaround.
Under Connecticut law, the ban applies to possession — meaning even out-of-state shipments could carry legal risk.
“It doesn’t matter where it comes from,” Nasser said. “It’s illegal here now.”
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Leila Hawken
AMENIA — The Town Board approved two resolutions by unanimous vote at its Wednesday, April 1, meeting, including one authorizing herbicide use at Troutbeck’s spa and hotel facility.
The second resolution awarded a contract to paint the stage area in the Town Hall auditorium.
The herbicide approval follows a recommendation from the Housatonic Valley Association, which advised allowing controlled spot spraying and removal of small patches of invasive plant growth within the property’s conservation easement area. The organization assists the town by monitoring activities within Troutbeck’s easement acreage.
Larry Weaner Landscape Associates, based in Glenside, Pennsylvania, will perform the spot spraying work.
The painting project, initially suggested by resident George Bistransin, will apply black paint to the walls and ceiling surrounding the auditorium stage, enhancing the flexibility of the space to accommodate the needs of stage productions or other performances. Invitations to bid resulted in one bidder, Jaybird Painting of Wassaic, providing an estimate of $1,685 to complete the work.
The project will cover approximately 1,264 square feet and includes surface preparation, patching, application of matte black paint, protective masking and final cleanup.
During public comment, resident Ken Topolsky said his research into fair housing laws suggests the legislation may allow municipalities to prioritize local families for future affordable housing opportunities. He cited several regulations governing priority selection systems and urged the Town Board to review those provisions.
Topolsky said families of local workers could qualify for priority status under certain guidelines.
“All code elements have provisions for a point system as long as the system is not discriminatory,” Topolsky said.
People eligible to receive points are local volunteers in fire departments or EMTs, municipal or school employees and families with children in the local public school system.
“Unless it’s codified, it cannot happen,” Topolsky told the town board, urging them to study the legal citations and continue active discussion.
In other business, the board continued discussing how to allocate revenue generated from leasing its tower space to communication service providers.
“It should be used for a specific purpose,” said resident Judy Moran, urging that the revenue not be deposited into general funds.
The board agreed to discuss the issue further at its next meeting, allowing time for more research into how it has been used in the past and any restrictions on its use.
Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — The Board of Trustees approved the coming year’s budget Monday, April 6, following no public comment.
The village’s expenses increased 15.8% over last year’s adopted budget. Board members attributed those increased costs to unavoidable spikes in health insurance rates and retirement payments.
Mayor Jenn Najdek said property assessments are slated to increase, which would provide the village with additional revenue. Najdek estimated tax increases of about $11.48 per $250,000 of assessed property value.
Tentative budget documents available on the village’s website reflect that wage increases and newly filled staffing positions further drove increases to the budget. Expenses for the Clerk and Treasurer’s office, along with the building department, each increased by more than 40% over last year. Deputy Mayor Matt Hartzog emphasized the board’s desire to provide raises to village staff.
“We have not given ourselves a raise,” Hartzog said. “But we would like to give all of our employees a raise, so that they can keep up with inflation.”
Hartzog called attention to rising medical insurance rates. Medical insurance expenses rose 15% to $38,300, representing roughly 4% of the total budget.
“Health insurance has just gone through the roof,” he said. “Nobody’s going to be happy about that.”
The Village Clerk budget increased by more than $21,000, driven by the separation of the Clerk and Treasurer line items, with both receiving hikes. The 15.9% rise, bringing the total to $70,240, represents the largest share of this year’s overall budget increase.
A similar additional line item in the Building Department expenses drove the 44% increase in that department’s budget. In addition to the “Building sec salary” line receiving a small increase, a “Building sec” line lists $11,700, contributing much of the total $11,852 increase to that department’s overall budget.
Police salaries increased by a total of $5,000. Highway crew salaries increased by $4,210 total.
Overall, the village expects to spend $975,156 this year, an increase of $132,836 over last year’s budgeted expenses.
Increases to expenses are partially offset by a $70,000 increase in expected non-tax revenue. That’s 22% higher than in 2025, but not quite enough to make up for the increased costs.
Millerton News
MILLERTON — The NorthEast-Millerton Library is set to host a free repair café on Saturday, April 25, in the library’s annex on Century Boulevard.
Fixers will offer free repairs for small electronics, clothing and textiles, and minor bicycle repairs among other things such as lamps and knife sharpening.
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Repairs are limited to two items per person. Five knives count as one item.
The Millbrook Library will also be hosting a repair café on April 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. That event coincides with Millbrook’s community-wide yard sale.
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