Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

With North East’s EMS contract ending, looming issue is cost

MILLERTON — The Town of North East discussed the five-year contract EMS provider NDP Emergency Medical Services which ends in January, at a Town Board meeting on Thursday, July 11.

The EMS service has a three-town contract with the towns of North East, Amenia and Dover. The community is searching for providers willing to station ambulances for fewer than one emergency call per day as the contract is coming to an end.

“I met with the supervisors of Amenia and Dover and we all met with the representative of Empress,” said Chris Kennan, the Town of North East’s supervisor. “Empress is another ambulance provider. They operate in the southern and southwestern part of the county, basically Poughkeepsie on down.”

Kennan said Empress is larger than NPD, contracting with East Fishkill, Fishkill, Wappingers, Lagrange and more communities in the Hudson Valley. Empress is a union shop. The town will not know the specific costs of services until it is out to bid.

“We are bracing ourselves for a significant increase,” Kennan said.

“It’s important that we anticipate this as far ahead as possible, which is what we are doing and I will report back in August. I anticipate knowing a lot more … Any and all thoughts are welcomed because this is a huge item on our budget. It is more than ten percent of the town’s budget.”

Colleen Flynn

Latest News

Nearly 3,000 flags mark the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11

Nearly 3,000 flags mark the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11

Firefighters, veterans and color guards stand before a hillside covered with nearly 3,000 American flags during Stanford’s ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Photo by Graham Corrigan

STANFORD — Nearly 3,000 flags covered the hillside at Stanford Recreation Park as hundreds of people gathered for the town’s annual ceremony honoring those killed in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Residents from across the region attended the ceremony, along with veterans groups and fire and rescue crews from Stanford, Millbrook, Amenia, Pine Plains and West Clinton.

Keep ReadingShow less
events

Family taps into craft beer dream at Hopyard Brewery

Family taps into craft beer dream at Hopyard Brewery

The restored farmhouse at Hopyard Brewery.

Photo by Graham Corrigan

WASHINGTON HOLLOW — Craft beer fans in northern Dutchess County have a new local haunt to add to their rotation.

The 40-acre Hopyard Brewery at Washington Hollow opened its doors last month on Route 82, joining a small but growing cluster of farm breweries and distilleries that have reshaped the region’s rural crossroads. This month, the brewery is offering house-brewed Oktoberfest beers, Apple Cider Donut Hard Cider and Pumpkin Ale.

Keep ReadingShow less
businesses

Climber dies after 40-foot fall at St. Johns Ledges in Kent

Climber dies after 40-foot fall at St. Johns Ledges in Kent

St. Johns Ledges along the Appalachian Trail in Kent, where a 30-year-old Great Barrington man died Thursday, Sept. 10, after falling approximately 40 feet while rock climbing.

Photo by Graham Corrigan

KENT, Conn. — A 30-year-old Great Barrington man died Thursday, Sept. 10 after falling approximately 40 feet while rock climbing at St. Johns Ledges along the Appalachian Trail in Kent.

The man was identified as Collin Salmon, who previously lived in Warren.

Keep ReadingShow less
regional news
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Kent Tritle’s annual Smithfield organ concert coming up on Sept. 19

Kent Tritle’s annual Smithfield organ concert coming up on Sept. 19

Acclaimed organist and choral director Kent Tritle, pictured at the Smithfield Church organ at his 2024 concert, is returning for his annual recital on Saturday, Sept. 19 to benefit the Oratorio Society of New York.

Photo provided

AMENIA — New York Philharmonic organist and acclaimed choral director Kent Tritle will bring his lively, personable and intimate performance style to The Smithfield Church in Amenia on Saturday, Sept. 19. A highlight of the area’s performance season, the 3 p.m. concert will benefit the Oratorio Society of New York, where Tritle serves as Music Director.

This will be the 14th annual organ recital Tritle has performed on the Smithfield Church’s historic 1893 Johnson and Son tracker organ, meticulously restored and moved from its original location at the First Congregational Church in Kent, Conn.

Keep ReadingShow less
smithfield church concert

Propane delivery truck dispute continues in Pine Plains

Propane delivery truck dispute continues in Pine Plains

PINE PLAINS — A dispute between neighboring property owners at 2775 Church St. over equipment storage, drainage and driveway conditions continued before the Pine Plains Planning Board last week.

CEEN Properties owns the industrial lot behind Gallatin Barn Creations. Crown Energy employees use the CEEN property to store propane delivery trucks and reach the lot through a driveway easement across Gallatin’s property.

Keep ReadingShow less
pine plains planning board

Innisfree hosts fall bird walk Sept. 20

Innisfree hosts fall bird walk Sept. 20

Naturalist Dr. Loren Merrill will host his second early-morning walk of the month at Innisfree Garden on Sunday, Sept. 20, turning his focus to the peak of the autumn bird migration.

Merrill, a scientist, writer, and photographer who began leading popular programs at the 185-acre Millbrook garden earlier this season, will guide participants through the landscape during the quiet hours before the property opens to the public.

Keep ReadingShow less
events
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.