Webutuck names top-ranked grads

Webutuck valedictorian Olivia Lopane Wickwire
Photo provided
Webutuck valedictorian Olivia Lopane Wickwire
AMENIA — Well-positioned to move into her college years, Olivia Lopane Wickwire, 17, of Millerton has earned top ranking as Valedictorian of the Webutuck High School Class of 2025. Her devotion to a well-rounded school experience began with her enrollment in Webutuck’s pre-K program.
“It means a lot being valedictorian, especially being best friends with your salutatorian,” Olivia said during an interview on Thursday, April 3. Her friend, Gissel Oros, had been named Salutatorian.
“You know your friend realizes how hard it was to get where you are today. It’s very important to me that other people don’t think it’s an easy thing. Gissel understands what it was like to get here and we did it together.”
Olivia has served as the president of the National Honor Society and co-president of the senior class.
“Good time management is important, along with persistence and dedication,” is Olivia’s advice to all students, but particularly those who will begin as high school freshmen in the fall.
Developing leadership skills has been an important focus for Olivia, exemplified by her service to the community.
“Ever since I was young, I never wanted to be a follower; I wanted to be a leader,” Olivia said. “I just love being able to lead people in the right way and I like being an example and good role model for people.”
Olivia appreciated the small school population at Webutuck and the helpfulness of the teaching staff and the students. Her advice to any entering freshman was to “advocate for yourself.”
Olivia has served as a member and current Treasurer of the high school Climate and Culture Club that works to build morale and nurture the school’s environment. The club organized a Wellness Day in 2024 and administers the program that selects Students of the Month.
Sports have also been a focus for Olivia. She competed on the varsity boys’ golf team and the varsity girls’ softball team, serving as softball team captain. She is a member of the Student Council and Environmental Club.
Outside of school, Olivia volunteers in both the food pantry and the Early Learning Program at the North East Community Center in Millerton.
Planning to study biochemistry at Marist University, Olivia described her relationship with her grandmother, Petrina S. Lopane, who lost her husband at a young age to cancer. Her grandmother’s story motivates her toward a career in medical research.
“She’s my everything; she has inspired me,” she said of her grandmother’s important influence.
Olivia is the daughter of Craig Wickwire and Petrina Lopane of Millerton.
Gissel OrosPhoto provided
AMENIA — Having attended the Webutuck school system since enrolling in Kindergarten, Gissel Oros, 18, of Amenia excelled in her studies from the start, serving as a role model for others, culminating in being named Salutatorian of the Webutuck High School Class of 2025.
“It means a lot to have my best friend, Olivia [Lopane Wickwire], as valedictorian because she understands we worked hard to get where we are now,” Gissel said during an interview on Thursday, April 3.
“Both girls are certainly representative of the school, more than just academically,” said Robert Knuschke, high school principal. “They are involved in many activities, clubs, community service and are very active in leadership roles. There is a reason why they’re the valedictorian and salutatorian; it’s because they’ve put the extra time in.”
Gissel has served as co-president of the senior class and vice president of the National Honor Society.
“Stay on top of your work and be sure to hand work in on time. Don’t wait until the last minute,” Gissel said when asked for her advice to young students just beginning their high school years.
Engaged with the community, Gissel volunteers in the food pantry and early learning program at the North East Community Center in Millerton. Her work has included food delivery for those unable to visit in person, re-stocking supplies and helping with the coat and clothing drive.
Gissel competed on the varsity boys’ golf team and as a member of the varsity girls’ softball team.She is also a member of the Student Council and environmental club.
About leadership, Gissel said, “I’ve always been a follower, but as I’ve grown, I’ve seen it’s more important to be a leader.”
Gissel plans to study Criminal Psychology and Law at the University of Albany. Her career goal was inspired by a criminal justice class she took with Webutuck teacher Douglas Matthews.
“I really enjoyed it. The further I got into the school year, the more I realized I wanted to do this,” she said.
“I’ve always had a passion for Criminal Psychology,” Gissel explained. “I just find it cool knowing how people’s brains work and function. With law, I want to help immigrants who don’t necessarily have someone to rely on. I want to be that person to help them through their legal issues.”
Gissel is the daughter of Arnulfo Oros and Elizabeth Martinez of Amenia.
“My parents have sacrificed so much for me,” Gissel said. “I want to be able to repay them and give them everything they still want.”
Long-term town employees were recognized at the Town Board meeting on Thursday, June 12. Honorees pictured with Town Supervisor Leo Blackman, were Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the Town Garage, center, for her 35 years of service to the town and Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent, for 20 years.
AMENIA — Acknowledging the many years of service accumulated by town employees, the Town Board paused to honor that service at its meeting on Thursday, June 12.
“Thank you for making a difference,” said Town Supervisor Leo Blackman in recognizing Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the town garage, for her 35 years of service.
“Megan’s job is not an easy one,” Blackman said, honoring Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent who has served the town for 20 years.
Also among those honored was Town Clerk Dawn Marie Klingner for 20 years of service as Court Clerk.
Maureen Moore, Court Clerk, was also honored in absentia for her 20 years of town service.
In anticipation of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution in 2026, new historic markers are appearing at each of the local cemeteries where Revolutionary War veterans are buried. Unveiling the new marker at Amenia Union Cemetery on Saturday, June 21, were left to right, Town Historian Betsy Strauss, Jim Middlebrook representing the regional chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Gail Seymour, President of the Union Cemetery Association.
AMENIA — One by one, new historic markers are appearing at local cemeteries where Revolutionary War dead are buried. On Saturday, June 21, community members gathered to see a new marker unveiled at Amenia Union Cemetery on Leedsville Road.
A tent provided welcome shade for the attendees and refreshments as about 30 residents gathered for the unveiling and to share stories of local history with one another.
As with the first historic market installation at the Old Amenia Burying Ground, held in April, Amenia Union Cemetery graves of Revolutionary War veterans had been marked with American flags in advance.
Jim Middlebrook, representing the Columbia Mid-Hudson chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, attended along with other members of his chapter. Speaking before the unveiling, Middlebrook said that the historic marker project had begun in August 2024, and included a detailed process to certify the names on the graves.
Middlebrook described the work of the William C. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse whose mission is to promote “pride of place” by providing grants in support of installing historic markers and plaques nationwide to honor patriots for their service. Active now in seven or eight states, Middlebrook said, the foundation will soon add Connecticut and Massachusetts to the list.
The new Amenia Union marker honors “at least five veterans of the American Revolution interred between 1787 and 1810,” although Town Historian Betsy Strauss lists six veterans buried in the cemetery. The sixth, Gerhard Winegar, whose burial had been in 1781 could not fully satisfy the certification standards.
Strauss provided the following listing of six names:
Col. Colbe Chamberlain, 1739-1796
Capt. William Chamberlain, 1745-1810
Lieut. Samuel Snyder, 1712-1808
Gerhard Winegar, 1750-1781
Ensign Henry Winegar, 1723-1787
Capt. William Young, 1747-1806
Bee Bee the clown, face painters and a community wide scavenger hunt are among the activities planned for the Millerton Street Fair in Downtown Millerton on Saturday, June 28.
MILLERTON — The Millerton News, in partnership with the North East Community Center (NECC) and the Millerton Business Alliance, is hosting its first Street Fair on Saturday in a celebration of the town.
Rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, the fair will bring together local nonprofits and businesses, with live music, entertainment, kids’ activities, local eats, and family fun in Veterans Park, in front of the Millerton Inn, and beyond.
“The Millerton Street Fair will celebrate everything we love about this community — its spirit, its dedication to service and its creative energy,” said James Clark, publisher and CEO of The Millerton News.
Local nonprofits will showcase their work and impact, including Climate Smart Millerton, Eddie Collins Memorial Park, North East Historical Society, Townscape, Tri-Corner FEED, Village of Millerton, and the Webutuck Elementary School.Participating businesses include Bes, Little Red Bird Studio, NBT, The Elephant’s Tusk, and many more.Local retail and dining establishments will be open with special promotions. NECC’s Farmer’s Market will run during the event.
Among the planned festivities are live music from John Stey and the Resilience Brass Band, performances from Bee Bee the Clown, face painting by students from Webutuck High School, and a community-wide scavenger hunt for kids.Other kids’ activities include egg and spoon races, and a “touch-a-truck” open house at the firehouse.The Irondale Schoolhouse will be hosting a special exhibit, and the North East-Millerton Library will be offering signups for the Summer Reading Program, a science show from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., lawn games, and a cookie cook-off.
For more information, go to millertonnews.com/street-fair.
The Nine Partners Road Quaker Meetinghouse, built in 1780, will be the site of two summer lectures sponsored by the Millbrook Historical Society.
MILLBROOK — Long in the planning, the Millbrook Historical Society has announced that it is sponsoring two lectures in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Both lectures relating to Quaker history are to be held in the historic Quaker Meeting House on Nine Partners Road.
For the first talk, scheduled for Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m., the historical society has invited Sarah Gronningsater, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, to talk on “Quakers, Anti-slavery, and the American Revolution.” The topic will explore the role that New York’s Quakers, especially in the Hudson Valley, played in the rise of the anti-slavery movement that followed the American Revolution.
The second talk, scheduled for Sunday, July 27, at 2 p.m., invites Carl Lounsbury of the College of William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg to speak on the architecture of the Nine Partners Meetinghouse. His talk is titled, “Nine Partners Meetinghouse Plan: A New Form in the Hudson Valley.” Expert in early American architecture, Lounsbury’s talk will compare Nine Partners with other later houses of worship in New York and New England.
Both lecture events will be held at the 1780 brick Nine Partners Quaker Meetinghouse in Millbrook. An earlier meetinghouse on the site had burned. The building has remained largely unchanged since the 18th century.
Given the age of the structure, handicapped access is limited and there are no rest room facilities.
Visitors should enter through the cemetery gate entrance.
The lectures are free and open to all, supported by a grant from the county and offered as part of Dutchess County’s participation in the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration.