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Articles by Leila Hawken
Amenia residents call for budget cuts
AMENIA — Concern about the current economic environment was evident as residents offered comments on the proposed 2027 budget during an Amenia Town Board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 5. The 2027 preliminary budget shows total appropriations of $3,769,844 for the General Fund and $1,577,643 for the Highway Fund, a total of $5,347,487, amounting to an increase in tax rate over 2026 of 23.31% for General Fund and a decrease of 0.34% for Highway Fund.
Planning Board hears public comment on Cascade Creek subdivision application
AMENIA — About 80 residents gathered in Town Hall for a public hearing on Cascade Creek, a 26-unit housing development being considered by the Planning Board. Holding the hearing open until Wednesday, Nov. 11, to allow for the gathering of any additional written comments, the Planning Board agreed to meet with the developer in the interim to discuss residents’ concerns.
Jazzed up
But at 21 she came to this country with just one friend. She once chased an intruder from our house, denting her clogs as she kicked him. In her 50s she did a solo skydive, which she claims was the second-best thing she ever did after raising her three children, though we suspect skydiving was first-best. In later life her life alert triggered accidentally and the local fire department arrived to see mom on a ladder pulling down ivy like it was a CrossFit event.
Amenia’s preliminary budget moves forward to public hearing
AMENIA — The town’s 2027 Preliminary Budget is set to move on to a public hearing on Thursday, Nov. 5, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall. At the public hearing, residents will be invited to comment on the proposed town budget that will take effect on the first day of the new fiscal year, Jan. 1, 2027. The date of the public hearing is established by law to be two days after the Tuesday, Nov. 3, election day.
Amenia Town Board authorizes more borrowing for new garage
AMENIA — The Town Board unanimously authorized an additional $2.1 million in borrowing for the new town garage and salt storage shed Thursday, Oct. 15, as construction nears. The town authorized $6.3 million in bonds in 2024 and another $3.9 million in July 2025, bringing total borrowing authorized for the project to $12.3 million. The latest authorization is subject to a “permissive referendum,” meaning it will take effect unless residents submit a valid petition requiring a townwide vote.
Millbrook Board of Trustees seeks clarity on local cop’s license plate readers
MILLBROOK — Millbrook Police Chief Keith Dworkin discussed license-plate readers and his department’s use of the technology at the Village Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 14. The chat was spurred on by recent action by Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi to dismantle the county’s network of stationary, pole-mounted license-plate reader cameras manufactured by Flock Safety.
Gershwin tunes to fill Smithfield Church on Oct. 24
AMENIA — The Pete Anderson Trio will perform a concert featuring the music of George Gershwin at The Smithfield Church on Saturday, Oct. 24, beginning at 3 p.m. The concert is presented as part of the Bang Family Concert Series.
Affordable housing subdivision set for public hearing on Oct. 28
AMENIA — A public hearing on the Cascade Creek subdivision application will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Amenia Town Hall on Route 22, beginning at 6 p.m. The hearing is convened by the Planning Board. Hudson River Housing is proposing the project as a conservation subdivision, defining 26 residential lots to be used for workforce housing and two conservation parcels on a 24-acre site located on Cascade Road, across Route 22 from the Freshtown Shopping Plaza.
Gift basket raffle underway at Amenia library
From left, Board Chair Dan Dwyer, Publisher and CEO James Clark, Estabrook Community Leadership Award recipient Dick Hermans, his daughter Suzanna Hermans and Jubilee co-chair Joan Osofsky at the annual gala Oct. 11. The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News, published by the nonprofit organization LJMN Media, held their annual Jubilee gala at the Sharon Playhouse Sunday, Oct. 11, to celebrate five years of nonprofit ownership and honor Dick Hermans with the Estabrook Community Leadership Award.
Fall wagon rides
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Amenia Harvest Festival returns for second year
Amenia’s annual Harvest Festival will celebrate its second year of family fun with expanded activities. The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. East Main Street (Route 343, east of the traffic light) between Fountain Square and Mechanic Street will be alive with food, music, and a variety of vendors. Watch for a magician roaming through the crowd to delight children, along with a Bounce House and face painting.
Playing koi
Fish selected during the koi harvest at Broccoli Hall Farm on Saturday, Oct. 10, are transferred to a holding tank by Liam Dugan, who assisted John Clark of Northeastern Aquatics of Rhinebeck, New York. The annual event at the home of Maxine Paetro sorts the fish to further her goal over the past twenty years to genetically encourage the “Elusive Kishusui” koi. In Japanese, “shusui” translates to “Autumn Sunset” and “ki” means “yellow,” a desirable coloration trait being pursued by Paetro.
Animals matter at the Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo
A visit to the Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo at Millbrook School brings home the importance of living responsibly in partnership with the natural world. There is a strong commitment to supporting conservation and protecting wildlife. Animals clearly matter. Now in his 36th year with the zoo, including 12 years as its director, Alan Tousignant embodies a lifelong commitment to animals and the workings of a modern zoo. He began as a young intern at what was then the Trevor Zoo — and stayed.
Animals matter at the Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo
A visit to the Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo at Millbrook School brings home the importance of living responsibly in partnership with the natural world. There is a strong commitment to supporting conservation and protecting wildlife. Animals clearly matter. Now in his 36th year with the zoo, including 12 years as its director, Alan Tousignant embodies a lifelong commitment to animals and the workings of a modern zoo. He began as a young intern at what was then the Trevor Zoo — and stayed.
A gentle touch at Rosie’s Grooming
Hand-scissoring is just one of the reasons discerning dogs choose Rosie’s Grooming for their beauty needs. Once they have experienced the care Rosie Urena provides, using only organic products, they and their owners tend to become regular customers. Urena has 35 years of experience in dog grooming. Her fully equipped salon accommodates small, medium and large dogs.
Planning underway for 2027 Troutbeck Symposium
AMENIA — Since it began in 2021, the Troutbeck Symposium has been true to its vision to connect schools, educators, artists, historians and cultural institutions throughout New York and Connecticut. Key to the program is helping students engage in primary-source research into a slice of history that excites their curiosity, telling forgotten local stories or piecing together those that were under-recorded. Symposium organizers held an interactive planning session for the 2027 event on Sunday, Oct.
Amenia Town Board to name a planning consultant
AMENIA — Town Board members are seeking a planning consultant to assist in drafting regulations for accessory dwelling units. Acting on a request by the Housing Board, the Town Board voted to begin the process of collecting proposals from professional town planners with an interest in taking on the assignment. The action was approved by unanimous vote of the town board at its regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Millbrook Toys for Tots taking donations
Windacre, a 25-acre property in Millerton will be the site of “Work in Progress,” an afternoon with acclaimed entomologist, New York Times bestselling author and Homegrown National Park co-founder Doug Tallamy. For nearly three decades, Doug Tallamy, a professor at the University of Delaware and co-founder of Homegrown National Park, has studied the intricate relationships between native plants, insects, birds and the ecosystems that sustain them.
Amenia residents voice concerns over rural character
AMENIA — More than 70 people gathered in the Town Hall auditorium Wednesday, Sept. 23, for a public hearing on the environmental impacts of a proposed 27-lot subdivision at the Keane Stud horse farm on Depot Hill Road. The hearing was part of the Planning Board’s environmental review of the proposed subdivision, which would divide 605 acres into 27 lots.
Millbrook library seeks $50,000 budget increase
MILLBROOK — A proposal to increase the Millbrook Library’s annual funding by $50,000 to support its daily operations was the subject of two information sessions, ahead of a vote on the resolution set for Tuesday, Nov. 3. The information sessions were held at the library on Wednesday, Sept. 23, and Friday, Sept. 25. If approved, the annual operating budget for the library would increase from a total of $349,000 to $399,000, the total that supports daily operations.
Amenia fair connects residents with cost-saving programs
AMENIA — Elected officials, community organizations and business representatives gathered at Amenia Town Hall on Thursday, Sept. 17, for an Affordability Fair highlighting programs and discounts intended to help residents reduce household expenses. The event was organized by Eric Alexander, D-25, Amenia’s representative in the Dutchess County Legislature. It included representatives from regional organizations and the offices of county, state and federal officials.
Building robots
The statewide funding package includes $46 million for four rural hospital systems and nearly $4 million for technical assistance. Sharon Hospital, part of Northwell Health, plans to combine its $13.1 million award with investments from the health system to support three initiatives: a healthy aging program, a staffed virtual health office and an off campus rehabilitation facility.
Pull out the stops
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Amenia opens bids for stalled sidewalk project
AMENIA — Town officials are moving forward with the bidding process for a long-delayed project to install new sidewalks along Route 44 to Beekman Park. The Town Board unanimously approved a resolution allowing officials to begin the bidding process at its regular meeting Thursday, Sept. 17. Work on the sidewalk project was halted last winter after the former contractor, Southern Industries, failed to complete the project in a timely manner, leading the town to terminate the contract.
Indian Rock Schoolhouse Community Day coming up Sunday
AMENIA — The annual Indian Rock Schoolhouse Community Day, celebrating local history and community, will be held Sunday, Sept. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities will include local craft vendors, children’s crafts, animals, games, live music, a pie-baking contest, Touch-a-Truck and a raffle featuring prizes donated by local businesses. Hamburgers and hot dogs will also be available.
Former Amenia bank finds new life as coffee shop
AMENIA — After an extensive renovation, Bean Bank Coffee has transformed the former Bank of Millbrook branch at Freshtown Plaza into a coffee shop and bakery serving Amenia and the surrounding community. The business began its gradual opening Monday, Aug. 24, serving coffee and tea through its drive-through window and drawing curiosity from passersby. By Monday, Sept. 7, Bean Bank Coffee was fully open for business.
Kent Tritle’s annual Smithfield organ concert coming up on Sept. 19
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.
Webutuck Elementary welcomes new principal
AMENIA — Students returning to Webutuck Elementary School this fall were greeted by a new principal, Audrey Feliciano, who said improving attendance and strengthening partnerships with families will be among her priorities. Feliciano, who replaces Amanda Coppola, began the job Tuesday, Sept. 1, and welcomed students for their first day of classes Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Millbrook receives $25,000 grant for LED lighting upgrades
Artist Eve Biddle and Tremaine Gallery Director Terri Moore. D.H. Callahan On Wednesday, Sept. 2, the Tremaine Gallery at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville opened its new show, “Field Notes,” with works by multidisciplinary artist Eve Biddle. Biddle is best known in the area as one of the founders of the iconic Wassaic Project in the hamlet of Wassaic, New York.
Millbrook Community Day returns Sept. 19
MILLBROOK — The annual Millbrook Community Day will return with a variety of family fun and neighborly celebration of a fall day in the village on Saturday, Sept. 19. Community Day 2026 will be held between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. along Franklin Avenue in the village center. Expect to see live music, the bubble bus, food trucks, sidewalk sales, the always popular scarecrow competition, and farmers and artisans selling their produce and creative wares.
Amenia officials approve settlement for stalled sidewalk construction
AMENIA — Town Board members are making progress on two projects in the town’s center after approving resolutions at their Thursday, Sept. 3, meeting. The long-stalled Route 44 sidewalk project near Beekman Park is headed toward a new round of bidding after the town reached a $150,000 settlement over the original contractor’s default.
Amenia library to offer free math tutoring
AMENIA — The Amenia Free Library is offering math homework help sessions for middle school students every Thursday from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. The initial session will be offered on Thursday, Sept. 10. Sessions will be led by Youth Programming Assistant Michelle Boynton. Her credentials include seven years as a private math tutor, more than 14 years as a high school and middle school math teacher, and a master’s degree in Education.
Millbrook highway department to buy new pickup truck
MILLBROOK — Village trustees approved the purchase of a new gasoline-powered option at a special meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, after officials determined an 18-year-old diesel-powered pickup truck was nearing the end of its useful life. At a July special meeting, Highway Supervisor Ethan Kelly outlined the need to replace the village’s 2008 Ford F550 truck where repair costs would have exceeded the truck’s actual value.
Burning beeswax
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Amenia set to ban smoking on town-owned property
AMENIA — The Town Board voted unanimously at its regular meeting Thursday, Aug. 20, to schedule a public hearing on a proposed law prohibiting smoking and vaping on all town-owned property. The hearing will be held Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The proposed law would prohibit smoking or vaping tobacco — as well as cannabis products — in town-owned parks and other public recreational areas.
Residents at The Fountains hear tips for preserving family records and photos
MILLBROOK — Residents of assisted living facility The Fountains received an education in archiving personal records on Monday, Aug. 17. Archivist Margaret Cornell, a resident at The Fountains of Millbrook, presented a program to assist fellow residents with the task of sifting through accumulated items, discarding what is irrelevant, and documenting what should be kept. An audience of 17 residents gathered.
Opera project draws inspiration from Amenia’s wetlands
AMENIA — Local bogs and fens have quietly supported the town’s environment for thousands of years, storing carbon, absorbing water and preserving records of ecological change. But these fragile wetlands can be damaged quickly. Christy Gast and other members of Opera Turbia joined the Amenia Conservation Advisory Council for a public meeting Wednesday, Aug. 19, as part of the group’s research for an opera about U.S. wetlands.
‘Amenia’s Spycatcher’ coming to Town Hall this weekend
AMENIA — The Amenia Town Hall Theater will host three performances of “Amenia’s Spycatcher,” scheduled for Friday, Aug. 21, Saturday, Aug. 22 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 23, at 2 p.m. Admission is free. Reservations are required. The historical drama has been written by local resident George Bistransin chronicling the lives of Revolutionary Era residents Ephraim and Mary Paine during the years between 1777 and 1785.
Town Board awards construction contracts for new town garage
AMENIA — Construction plans for a new town garage complex, including a salt shed, moved ahead as the Town Board awarded construction contracts to a number of companies at their regular meeting on Thursday, August 6. The vote was unanimous. Construction Manager for the project Palumbo Group recommended that contracts totaling $8 million be awarded to three companies. Mid-Hudson Construction Management is contracted for $6,353,470.
Smithfield Church filled for Paula Pelosi memorial
AMENIA — Friends, family and colleagues of Amenia resident Paula Pelosi filled Smithfield Church to capacity on Saturday, Aug. 1, to celebrate a life marked by generosity, creativity and compassion. Through music and heartfelt remembrances from close friends representing the many chapters of her life, the memorial service painted a portrait of Pelosi’s deep ties to the contemporary art world, her unwavering kindness and her love for both people and animals.
Millbrook considers replacing aging Highway Dept. truck
MILLBROOK — An aging Highway Department truck used for fall leaf collection, spring brush pickup and as a backup snowplow must now be repaired, decommissioned or replaced, village Highway Supervisor Ethan Kelly said at a special Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, July 28. Kelly said the village had three options for the aging 2008 Ford F550 that is nearing the end of its useful life.
Workforce housing subdivision impacts declared negligible
AMENIA — Months of deliberation over the environmental impacts of a proposed workforce housing subdivision concluded Thursday, July 23, when Planning Board members voted to move the project forward to site plan approval. The environmental impact analysis phase in connection with the Cascade Creek subdivision application was completed following the Planning Board’s unanimous vote for a “negative declaration” as part of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process.
Memorial service to honor local art curator
AMENIA — Friends and community members are invited to celebrate the life of local art curator Paula Pelosi at the Smithfield Church. A significant loss to the contemporary art world, as well as to her many local and area friends, the life of Pelosi will be celebrated at a memorial service set for the Smithfield Church on Saturday, Aug. 1. The service will begin at 2 p.m. Pelosi died this year in April after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. The memorial service will be led by the Rev.
Amenia resident to gift Westerly Ridge property to town
AMENIA — A Sharon resident has offered to donate a 27-acre parcel valued at more than $1 million to the Town of Amenia, proposing that the land be permanently preserved as conservation property to protect the final unprotected section of Westerly Ridge. Carol Flaton, owner of the property at 108 Westerly Ridge near the Connecticut border, presented the proposal to the Town Board during its regular meeting Thursday, July 23.
Millbrook’s summer brush pick-up kicks off in August
MILLBROOK — The summer brush pick-up program is continuing on the second Mondays in August and September. The next scheduled pick-up will be on Monday, Aug. 10. Residents may place brush at their curbside up to 10 days before the pick-up date, but it must be at the curb before the Monday morning of pick-up. The town will make one pass only through the village on each collection day. Only eligible brush will be collected.
Simultaneous Chess returns for a second year in Wassaic
WASSAIC — Chess master Bill Kroeger defeated 10 opponents in a simultaneous chess match on the Middle Meadow along Main Street on Saturday, July 11, as the community event returned for its second summer. Players of all ages and skill levels took seats at 10 chess boards, each competing against Kroeger. Once play began, the meadow grew quiet as participants concentrated on their moves. Kroeger ultimately won all 10 matches, though some proved more challenging than others.
‘Workers over billionaires’ banner draws scrutiny from Amenia Town Board
AMENIA — A banner used during weekly political demonstrations in downtown Amenia has sparked debate over whether protesters can attach signs to town-owned lightpoles and other municipal property. The issue came before the Town Board on Thursday, June 18, after protest organizer Kim Travis requested clarification on whether a banner reading “workers over billionaires” violates the town’s sign regulations.
Amenia Board delays subdivision project over water supply, town character concerns
AMENIA — Planning Board members have again delayed action on a proposed workforce housing subdivision, citing unresolved concerns over firefighting water capacity and the project’s potential impact on the town’s character.
Millbrook approves Thorne Building renovations
MILLBROOK — A long-vacant landmark in the center of the village is one step closer to a major transformation after the Planning Board unanimously approved renovation plans for the historic Thorne Building on Monday, May 18.
A tradition of lamb for Easter and Passover Original
Preparing lamb for the observance of Easter is a long-standing tradition in many cultures, symbolizing new life and purity. For Christians, Easter marks the end of Lenten fasting, allowing for a celebratory feast. A popular choice is roast lamb, often prepared with rosemary, garlic or lemon. It is traditional to serve mint sauce or mint jelly at the table.
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