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Letters to the editor — Thursday, July 16
Millerton News
Jul 14, 2026
Signs, courtesy needed on Rail Trail
Those of us fortunate enough to live in the area benefit greatly from the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. Over the past thirty years, it has become a wonderful community asset.
While the trail is widely enjoyed by cyclists, joggers, dog walkers, and pedestrians, the mixture of users can occasionally create safety concerns. Specifically, there is an ongoing issue with cyclists traveling at high speeds who disregard others.
Common courtesy dictates that riders approaching from behind should slow down and announce themselves, but unfortunately, many do not. This is a frequent complaint among trail users and can have serious consequences; last year, a trail user startled by passing cyclists, fell, and fractured her neck. Recently, I was closely passed by an individual on an e-bike traveling at an estimated 20 MPH. While e-bikes themselves are not the issue, reckless riding poses a significant danger to everyone on the trail.
While it isn’t possible to monitor the entire trail, posting a set of rules at major entrances that reinforce acceptable trail use could help. Smaller signs posted along the trail requesting riders slow down while passing could also serve as a helpful reminder.
I can only hope this letter reaches the right people. Preventing just one unnecessary accident would be well worth the minimal cost for signage.
John Walters
Millerton
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Bones in Millbrook, theater cooling
Millerton News
Jul 14, 2026
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
July 18, 1935
Solve Mystery Of Bones Found At Millbrook
Owner Of Farm Says Skeleton Had Been Unearthed Before
Special to THE NEWS
MILLBROOK - The mystery of the box of human bones unearthed by a steam shovel on the Doyle farm near here recently was solved last week by Miles Kennedy of New York, owner of the property. The farm was formerly owned by Kate Doyle who died March 26, 1934, at the age of eighty years.
According to the story told by Kennedy, members of the Town of Washington highway department were permitted to dig gravel on the property several years ago by Miss Doyle, then owner of the farm. At that time the bones of a man, long dead, were unearthed. Investigation revealed that many years before a man who was a member of a destitute family living in a tenant house on the farm had been buried on the premises to save funeral and burial expenses.
Mr. Kennedy said that Miss Doyle was told the bones would be interred in a cemetery. He believes, however, that because of Miss Doyle’s advanced age the workmen took advantage of her and again buried the bones on the premises.
The latest discovery was made by workmen who were digging rock for the Shunpike reconstruction project. They uncovered a box containing the skull, leg and arm bones and part of the pelvic bones which were believed by the authorities to be those of a man dead many years. The box bore the trade mark of the Arm and Hammer Soda Company.
New Cooling System In Millerton Theatre
The Millerton Theatre has installed a North air cooling system which keeps the theatre at a comfortable temperature even though the heat may be extremely oppressive outside. The modern, new equipment circulates the air capacity of the theatre every three minutes.
Borden’s Milk Plant Closes Department
Bottling Operation Discontinued Monday At Wassaic
WASSAIC, July 17 - The Borden’s Farm Products Company discontinued its bottling operation at the Wassaic plant on Monday. In the future, the company will employ only two men here besides Superintendent Whitford.
The Wassaic factory was the first ever built and placed in operation by the late Gail Borden, and has been the main industry of this little village for many years. Some of the older residents can remember when the old factory was built.
Most of the men employed here have been transferred to other plants of the Borden’s Company. Samuel McKelvey to Pine Plains; Otto Rocholl to Cornwall Bridge, Conn.; Horton Buckley to an office position in New York City; Leon Fletcher to Chatham, and several others to Canaan, Conn., including William Wheeler, Peter Hansen, Chauncey Hyatt, Vernon Hendershot, Lewis Jennings and Walter Cribley.
Hawaiians, Yankees Tie At Millbrook
Game Called On Account Of Darkness With Score 9-9
MILLBROOK - The Hawaiian All-Stars and the New York Black Yankees, colored [sic] champions of the United States, battled to a 9-9 tie in an exciting game played before 1,500 fans on the Community Center diamond here Friday evening. The contest was called on account of darkness at the end of the ninth innings.
Three home runs featured among the highlights. In the eighth inning Johnny Kerr, going in as a pinch hitter for the Hawaiians, blasted a homer down the alley in left field with two on bases to give his teammates a 7-5 lead. Second Baseman Yamada of the Hawaiians had previously clouted a circuit drive over the left field fence in the fifth to tie the count at 5-all. Coming up on the short end of a 9-7-score in the ninth, the Hawaiians again tied it up when Moniz, first baseman, lifted another four bagger over the fence with one on board.
The Hawaiians poled out a total of eleven hits off the serving of Connie Rector who hurled the first eight frames and collected two more off the slants of Hubbard who ascended the mound in the ninth. The Black Yankees touched Ed. Tamm, starting Hawaiian flinger, for ten blows. Al. Naula, who relieved Tamm in the ninth, set the Yankees down in one, two, three order.
July 15, 1976
Rent-A-Kid Jobs Open
The Rent-A-Kid coordinator for the Millerton area said this week he has jobs lined up for willing young workers but no one to fill them.
John Dorfman, 20, said, “I have 4 jobs at pretty good paying wages and no one to fill them. It’s getting kind of embarassing.” Dorman said the 4 jobs are working in yards and he added he is going to try to solicit kids for the program.
Rent-A-Kid, the County’s youth employment service, seeks to find work for people ages 14 to 17. Such jobs as mowing lawns, painting, baby sitting, house cleaning, yard work and light maintenance are available on a temporary basis for Millerton area youth.
Millerton Rent-A-Kid is located in North East Town Hall and is open Monday through Friday from 9 to 3:30p.m.
Most Webutuck Grads Going On To College
Fifty-one of the 93 Webutuck seniors who graduated the Central School last month will be going on to further education in one form or another.
Webutuck’s Director of Guidance Alfred W. Cannon said this week that 44 Webutuck grads are going on to study at degree-granting institutions, mostly 2 and 4-year colleges. Three students have received military school contracts, 2 will be involved in 3-year registered nursing schools and 2 in 1-year vocational schools, making a total of 51.
Of the remaining 42 graduates, Cannon said, “We had 30 who were fully employed and who are working and 3 who are involved in company training programs.” “The remainder of the students, “ said Cannon, “were either working part-time or traveling.’
Cannon said most of the kids going to college are leaning to specific kinds of training programs instead of the liberal arts area. “Kids are more aware of specific kinds of training programs in schools. Less are going to liberal arts. I think that’s sensible,” said Cannon.
Cannon said it is difficult to compare the post-graduate plans of the 1976 grads to the 1975 grads but believes a few more ’76 grads are going to college.
Millerton Nips Canaan 5 6-5
The Millerton Babe Ruthers nipped Canaan Monday night by a score of 6 to 5. The game was played at Millerton and leaves the home-town boys with a record of 4 wins and 4 losses.
Relief pitcher Dean Summers, in for Butch Cornish, picked up the win. Millerton garnered 9 hits to Canaan’s 6. Cornish and Eric Schroder each had 2 hits for Millerton and Jeff Williams, Dave Shufelt, David Summers all had 1 hit apiece. Shaffer, Pat Doughty and Summers all had 1 hit apiece.
Book By Helck Covers Auto Races Since 1894
“Great Auto Races,” by Peter Helck, long-time resident of Boston Corners, N.Y., has just been released and is presently being distributed to book shops nation-wide.
As the title implies, the book reviews this highly dramatic sport from its beginnings in France in 1894 and our own adaptation the following year.
Its 13 chapters deal with many of the various phases of motor racing. These include the dirt tracks from 1900 to 1950; our first 2 major road racing classics, the Vanderbilt Cup and the Grand Prize, 1904-1916; the 24-Hour grands and the famed New York-Paris of 1908.
Follows [sic] the Indianapolis and other speedways, 1909-1965; the Land Speed Record and the foremost Hill Climbs from 1900 to 1970. Much space is given to Grand Prix racing in Europe, 1902-1951, and the always picturesque Italian road classics from 1906 to 1960.
The text ends with Sports Car racing at Le Mans, France and our own at Watkins Glen and Sebring, 1930’s to 1955.
Although “Great Auto Races” is basically a picture book, having 215 illustrations of which 91 are in full color, the Introduction by Beverly Rae Kimes, Editor of Automobile Quarterly, offers a comprehensive assessment of racing’s contribution to the engineering development of the automobile as we know it today.
There are 266 pages including the Index. Its 13 x 12½ inch format was designed by Clarence P. Hornung and the printing was done by Japan’s foremost firm, Toppan of Tokyo. The publisher, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., has just completed its 26th year in the production of superfine books.
The artist-author saw his first race in 1906, the third running of the Vanderbilt Cup on Long Island. He has witnessed racing on the roads and speedways of the U.S., England, France, Italy and Germany. His work in this field has appeared in the publications of these and other countries.
Helck estimates that at least 700 of his racing paintings and graphics are in private collections, art museums and car museums, here and abroad.
July 19, 2001
Water Meters Studied
MILLERTON — The village of Millerton received a grant of roughly $4,955 from the county to purchase water meters. The water meters will need to be installed in homes which have no meters, or meters that are old. The grant will cover the cost of the meters, but not their installation.
The board met with Ray Jurkowski of the engineering firm Morris and Associates and with his suggestions, decided it would be up to the homeowner or parcel owner to install the new meters.
To implement this, Mr. Jurkowski recommended making the installation village law, and penalizing homeowners who didn’t comply by a certain date. The penalty would be tacked on to the regular water bill.
The board agreed that having the homeowner install the meter would be less expensive to homeowners, who could contract their own plumbers at their convenience.
Otherwise, the village would have to contract a large company, which would still tack on fees to the resident’s regular water bill.
According to Mr. Jurkowski, installing a water meter costs between $50 to $75.
Hamilton Inn Update
Mr. Jurkowski also addressed the continuing issue of the Hamilton Inn, which continues to be renovated despite a stop-work order issued by the Department of Health (DOH).
He said that the Hamilton Inn needs a revised site plan as there have been modifications to the original plan. He will be in contact with them shortly.
As for Visions Cafe, Mr. Jurkowski said that the space has been inspected and will not be required to go before the planning board, as it is still in accordance with its original plan.
The cafe will undergo a cut in its proposed occupancy, though, under regulations imposed by the Department of Health. Water and sewage capacity is not enough to accommodate the number proposed. Mr. Jurkowski explained he will be overseeing this for the DOH.
Lou Simmons, owner of the space, retracted the request for permission to have a limousine service, which would have provided rides for patrons under the influence of alcohol.
Morris and Associates will provide a building inspector for the village on Thursdays, between 1 and 4 p.m. The inspector plans to organize the Village’s records, which are presently organiżed by name, not by parcel number.
Cat Problem Addressed
Reports of a cat nuisance, mainly by Gayle Hendrikson, whose cat was attacked by a stray, prompted the board to look into several solutions.
Mayor Najdek said that, since she’s been in office, she has received many complaints about the problem, which involves around 40 felines, some partly domestic and others feral.
Members of the board saw the issue as a potential health risk.
One of the options provided by Ms. Hendrikson was to enlist the help of the organization Animal Kind, which captures, spays/neuters, and administers rabies vaccination to stray felines for a fee of $25 per cat. The feline is then either found a home or re-entered into its former habitat.
The down side of the program is that it requires continuation, including providing winterized housing for the animals. The other concern was that a cat with an owner might be picked up and treated.
The alternative would be to enlist animal control, which might terminate the cat if homes weren’t found, and the fee for capture would be $75 per animal.
The board plans to meet with Mattie Chapin, a representative of Animal Kind on Aug. 21, to find out more about the program.
Meanwhile, the animal warden will be contacted about the aggressive stray cat, who apparently had a litter in recent weeks, to find out how to approach the problem without terminating the feline.
North East Studying Affordable Housing
NORTHEAST — The North East Housing Committee will conduct a survey of housing data. With this information, the committee will be able to determine what direction they will need to go in order to promote affordable housing.
On Monday evening, committee members met with Pat Sassaman, a consultant from the Rural Preservation Co. of Dutchess County (RPC), to discuss topics regarding affordable housing. This was the second meeting of the committee; the first was on May 24.
According to the Dutchess Housing Partnership and Planning Department, “Affordable housing is defined as the supply of housing available to households whose incomes are at or below the county median.” In 1990, the median for Dutchess County was $44,000.
The meeting began with a review of a mission statement proposed by Ms. Sassaman. Without getting too elaborate, members of the committee suggested the statement be more specific in regards to its mission of improving the affordability of housing stock. Town Supervisor Dave Sherman offered a revision which was agreed upon.
The establishment of a statement, originally proposed by Karl Stahovec, will serve as a reminder of the committee’s intentions.
The committee then reviewed several technical memos provided by the Housing Partnership from 1990. The memos included information on removing zoning barriers that might prevent affordable housing, and how not-for-profit corporations, like RPC, can aid a community in developing such housing.
The memos also provided information on occupancy preferencing, so that, for instance, teachers and town employees could be given priority for affordable housing, and the ECHO program, which stands for Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity.
Ms. Sassaman explained that, ideally, the maximum percentage of a household’s income going towards housing should be 30 percent. For instance, the maximum rent for a household with an income of $44,000 would be $1,100 per month. The purchase price for a new house would be $110,000.
She also pointed out that it is often the case that the candidate for affordable housing is already a resident of the community.
A “self analysis” test, provided by the Housing Partnership, was taken by the committee in order to determine the town’s present capacity to “moderate the high cost of housing.”
Questions focused on current zoning regulations, adopted community goals, and basic land, water and sewage concerns.
North East scored very well.
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Lessons learned from Brexit
Bill Schmick
Jul 14, 2026
It has been ten years since Brexit took center stage in the politics of the Western world. The populist furor of an unhappy electorate triggered Great Britain’s exit from the European Union. How has that worked out for the Brits?
The populist rhetoric of a “Global Britain,” their answer to MAGA, was supposed to secure their borders by reducing immigration. Bureaucracy would be jettisoned; regulations and the budget would finally be restored after 14 years of Conservative Party mismanagement.
It would be the first populism-led attempt to overhaul one of the world’s oldest and wealthiest democracies. A decade later, it appears the nation is up to its ears in chaos. Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned this month after serving less than two years despite a landslide Labor Party victory. He was supposed to save the country from years of successive Conservative Party prime ministers.
Instead, the country is struggling with low growth, higher inflation, faltering public services and an electorate that is every bit as angry and partisan as our own. Over the past decade, the country has had six prime ministers. David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and now Keir Starmer are some of the names you may recognize. Brexit itself, scandal, market panic, immigration, and electoral rejection are just some of the factors that have sunk Britain’s leaders.
Back when, many economists were predicting an immediate recession if the country left the EU. It didn’t happen. What happened was that, over time, the British economy grew far less than it might have if it had stayed in the trade bloc. At the same time, business investment and productivity slumped as trade suffered. The typical family is worse off by thousands of pounds per year.
The pound dripped sharply after the Brexit vote, collapsing by 10%, the largest one-day drop in its history. That triggered a sharp increase in import prices, leading to an inflation shock that affected everyone across the board. The exit from the EU also involved erecting trade barriers that hit goods exports, since the EU was still the UK’s largest trading partner until last year.
The problem deepened since no one in government had a clear plan on what to do once the votes were counted. This led to years of political infighting and indecision. A weaker currency should have led to a surge in exports, but the uncertainty around Britain’s future clouded business judgment and investment. Investment is estimated to be almost 18% lower and productivity 4% lower than it would have been if a plan had been forthcoming.
The currency has never recovered.
The Office for Budget Responsibility, the independent watchdog of the UK Treasury, predicts that the UK is on track to suffer a 4% hit to national income over a 15-year period. A U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research report claims that the country’s GDP per head is between 6% and 8% lower than it would have been without Brexit.
As for unemployment, that fell dramatically in the initial Brexit days to the lowest rates since the 1970s. However, Covid took its toll on the labor market. The employment rate has never really recovered and remains between 3% and 4% below what it would be under a “remain” decision.
Can I extrapolate from the Uk’s experiences to the present immigration, trade, and tariff policies of the Trump administration? Not really, at least in the short-term. Equity markets in both countries recovered quickly after the referendum and Trump’s Liberation Day. Both countries’ economists initially predicted a steep decline in economic activity, and both were wrong. However, over the long term (a decade in the UK), large trade policy shocks seem to lead to lower investment, productivity, and employment growth as supply chains and trade patterns unravel.
Not surprisingly, public support for Brexit has fallen since the 52% versus 48% leave vote. Today a majority of voters (56%) would back rejoining the EU, according to YouGov, and 70% of Britons support a closer relationship with the EU. Support is strongest among Labour and Green Party voters and weakest among Nigel Farage’s right-wing, Reform UK party. Reform UK members oppose rejoining the bloc by 83%. That party has gained support as immigration and affordability have become major issues for voters.
The next candidate for PM, at least among the Labour Party, is Andy Burnham, a Manchester mayor with authentic populist appeal. In a special election, Burnham beat the Reform Party, which pundits believe will clear the way for him to head his party and win the PM title in Britain. The question is how long he can last, given the issues and the populism in his country and around the world.
Readers may recall several of my past columns in which I have explained the populist wave of discontent in the U.S. and worldwide. I wrote that, here at home, over a twenty-plus-year period, no single president survived to serve a second term, except Richard Nixon (who was impeached without completing his second term).
Populist voters have a very short fuse. Promises are made, but unless real progress is made within four years, the electorate has no patience for incumbents who can’t or won’t deliver. Overseas, beyond the UK, France, Germany, and Hungary, several other countries are facing populist challenges to incumbent parties.
We are seeing this here in the U.S. as we head into the midterms. Promises made but not kept have sent President Trump’s approval ratings into the 30s. Within the Democrat Party primaries, a war is already brewing between a growing populist wing of the party and the more conservative incumbents. Established Democrats, their critics say, offer failed forty-year-old policy solutions that have been rejected out of hand by younger generations of disenfranchised voters.
Bill Schmick is a founding partner of Onota Partners, Inc., in the Berkshires. Bill’s forecasts and opinions are purely his own and do not necessarily represent the views of Onota Partners Inc.
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Millerton’s long-awaited pool marches closer to construction
Nathan Miller
Jul 14, 2026
Local, county and state officials ready themselves for a ceremonial groundbreaking commemorating the start of construction on the planned pool and poolhouse at Eddie Collins Memorial Park in Millerton on Saturday, July 11.
Photo by Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — Community leaders and residents gathered Saturday, July 11, for a ceremonial groundbreaking celebrating the long-awaited pool and poolhouse planned for Eddie Collins Memorial Park, marking a major milestone in a project years in the making.
The ceremony, which followed the kickoff parade for Millerton’s week-long 175th anniversary celebration, drew local, county and state officials and residents to commemorate a project more than five years in the making to replace the park’s long-defunct pool.
Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek served as host for the ceremony. She led remarks by recounting the years-long saga that led up to Saturday’s groundbreaking.
Following Najdek were addresses from North East Town Supervisor Chris Kennan, Dutchess County Legislator Chris Drago, New York State Assemblywoman Didi Barrett, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey and Robert Rodriguez, president of Dormitory Authority of the State of New York — a state agency which assists municipalities across New York with project funding and construction.
Stephen Waite, left, and Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek pick up the first shovelful of dirt dug up as part of plans to build a new pool at Millerton’s community park.Photo by Nathan Miller
The groundbreaking on Saturday was preceded by a private party at the park on Thursday, July 9, for donors and volunteers who have assisted in bringing a multi-stage renovation of the park’s facilities to fruition.
That gathering heard an address from lifelong Millerton resident Stephen Waite, whose advocacy has spearheaded the work to revitalize Eddie Collins Memorial Park for nearly 10 years.
He recounted his history with the park, starting as a kid when the original pool provided an opportunity to learn to swim and socialize with friends.
“I’ve known this park in so many different ways,” Waite said. “As a child, and now as an adult watching my nieces and nephews enjoy it.”
Ann Sartori, left, and Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek make a splash despite a lack of water.Photo by Nathan Miller
Waite also urged guests at Thursday’s reception to support the pool and the park’s ongoing revitalization by contributing to an endowment fund. He said the fund would provide long-term financial support for Eddie Collins Memorial Park, helping cover maintenance of the new pool and the sports facilities installed during the project’s first phase.
The park’s revitalization committee has raised $1.7 million toward the endowment fund. Waite said organizers have set an overall fundraising goal of $3 million. The fund will be managed by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, a nonprofit that helps organizations and municipalities establish endowments to provide long-term financial support.
Construction is scheduled to begin in August, with the pool expected to open in August 2027.
The pool and poolhouse will feature a 75-foot short course olympic pool, with a ramped shallow section allowing people of all ages and abilities to take advantage of the water. Included in the plans is a poolhouse, set to feature a kitchen that will be available for events, a community gathering space indoors, and a patio surrounding the inground pool.
Efforts to revitalize the park kicked off nearly 10 years ago when Waite and a band of local volunteers started conceptualizing new sports facilities, a larger playground and a replacement for the defunct pool. Construction on phase one of the park project — which included improving the soccer field, revamping the baseball field, new basketball courts and the expanded playground — wrapped up in 2022. Phase two comprises the new pool and poolhouse. There are currently no future phases planned.
Red, white and blue paint mark the area of the planned pool and poolhouse at Eddie Collins Memorial Park.Photo by Nathan Miller
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New inn proposal advances to July 24 hearing
Lucia Iandolo
Jul 14, 2026
Dover-based developers Chippawalla Properties Inc. are proposing a new inn and event space on Lake Ellis Road.
Photo by Lucia Iandolo
DOVER PLAINS — A proposal to convert a lakeside residence into the Lake Ellis Country Inn will move to another public hearing on Thursday, July 24, at Dover Town Hall as the Planning Board continues reviewing the project.
The Lake Ellis Country Inn is proposed for a property on Lake Ellis that is currently used as a private residence. Rennia Engineering Design, PLLC, has proposed converting the property into a lodging facility with 18 guest rooms spread between the main lake house and the lake house annex.
The Lake Ellis Country Inn will be the first new Inn to open in Dover Plains since the restoration and re-opening of the Old Drovers Inn in 2014. The Old Drovers Inn has a rich history dating back to 1750 and serves as a historic landmark as well as a bed and breakfast. The Preston Barn was added to the property in 2017 and serves as a space to host large events in the community.
Similar to the Old Drovers Inn, The Lake Ellis Country Inn has deep historical roots linked to the town of Dover. According to the Dutchess County Historic Resource Survey, the site has existed since the 1850’s and was used as a summer camp before being sold and turned into private residential property by the late 1980s, according to Planning Board application documents.
The land is owned by Chippawalla Properties Inc., an entity that is planning the project in collaboration with Rennia Engineering Design PLLC. The Inn is intended to be used for events such as weddings, vacations, retreats and conferences, and will provide access to outdoor activities like hiking and fishing.
Peter Sander, senior planner for Rennia Engineering Design, shared updates from the fire department and the highway superintendent at the July 6 meeting. The fire department approved the current structure layout, and the highway superintendent confirmed that there were no issues with the existing driveway or approach leading to the site.
Sander voiced that he received a letter from the JHK Hose Co., and they will be meeting to address whether the roadways and pathways to the site are adequate. There are still discussions about the number of events that can be held per year, and how many guests are permitted on the property for events.
During the meeting, Rennia Engineering Design was urged to consider the planning board’s comments, including how many events would be held throughout the calendar year, how to alert neighbors to those events and parking near the site. The planning board requested an extension of the deadline, and member Villano moved to extend the project until July 24.
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