Organizing for 2011

MILLBROOK — Annual reorganization meetings in early January are required by New York state law to address a list of official items for all towns and villages. On Monday evening, Jan. 3, after the Comprehensive Plan Committee meeting, members of the Washington Town Board methodically went through the 2011 agenda largely based on the 2010 agenda.

There were a few changes. The Millerton News is now designated as one of the official papers of the town. There is a new vacancy on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals caused by Don Marshall leaving town. Don Hanson agreed to serve another seven-year term on the town’s Planning Board.  

All the other town appointments remain the same, including Van de Water and Van de Water as attorneys to the town and the Bank of Millbrook as the official depository. Even the 44 cents per mile for mileage reimbursement for employees and elected officials remains the same.

No date was proposed for the next public hearing on the wetlands legislation. This will probably be addressed at the next regular town meeting scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 13.

The reorganization meeting in the village of Millbrook on Wednesday, Jan. 5, was more emotional, especially when Mayor Laura Hurley gave the oath of office to her father, Raymond Meier, as acting village justice. After recognizing the devotion of the village’s five employees and Justice Louis “Mickey� Prisco’s 28 years service, Hurley laid out her vision for the village.

She reminded the audience that Millbrook government must be proactive and not just react to the substantial challenges it has had with the oil spill debt, the Thorne Building and the Bennett College development. In keeping with Hurley’s no-nonsense approach to government, after the approval of village committee liaisons and positions, attorneys, bank, an auditing firm and The Poughkeepsie Journal as the official newspaper, Hurley made clarifications to many of the village processes, such as meeting notification and rules of procedure.

No new appointments were made to the village Planning Board.

“I’m just not ready to do that,� observed Hurley.

Latest News

Rhys V. Bowen

LAKEVILLE — Rhys V. Bowen, 65, of Foxboro, Massachusetts, died unexpectedly in his sleep on Sept. 15, 2025. Rhys was born in Sharon, Connecticut, on April 9, 1960 to Anne H. Bowen and the late John G. Bowen. His brother, David, died in 1979.

Rhys grew up at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, where his father taught English. Attending Hotchkiss, Rhys excelled in academics and played soccer, basketball, and baseball. During these years, he also learned the challenges and joys of running, and continued to run at least 50 miles a week, until the day he died.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kelsey K. Horton

LAKEVILLE — Kelsey K. Horton, 43, a lifelong area resident, died peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut, following a courageous battle with cancer. Kelsey worked as a certified nursing assistant and administrative assistant at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, from 1999 until 2024, where she was a very respected and loved member of their nursing and administrative staff.

Born Oct. 4, 1981, in Sharon, she was the daughter of W. Craig Kellogg of Southern Pines, North Carolina, and JoAnne (Lukens) Tuncy and her husband Donald of Millerton, New York. Kelsey graduated with the class of 1999 from Webutuck High School in Amenia and from BOCES in 1999 with a certificate from the CNA program as well. She was a longtime member of the Lakeville United Methodist Church in Lakeville. On Oct. 11, 2003, in Poughkeepsie, New York, she married James Horton. Jimmy survives at home in Lakeville. Kelsey loved camping every summer at Waubeeka Family Campground in Copake, and she volunteered as a cheer coach for A.R.C. Cheerleading for many years. Kelsey also enjoyed hiking and gardening in her spare time and spending time with her loving family and many dear friends.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eliot Warren Brown

SHARON — On Sept. 27, Eliot Warren Brown was shot and killed at age 47 at his home in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a random act of violence by a young man in need of mental health services. Eliot was born and raised in Sharon, Connecticut, and attended Indian Mountain School and Concord Academy in Massachusetts. He graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He and his wife Brooke moved to New Orleans to answer the call for help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and fell in love with the city.

In addition to his wife Brooke, Eliot leaves behind his parents Malcolm and Louise Brown, his sisters Lucia (Thaddeus) and Carla (Ruairi), three nephews, and extended family and friends spread far and wide.

Keep ReadingShow less
Randall Osolin

SHARON — Randall “Randy” Osolin passed away on Sept. 25, 2025, at the age of 74. He was born on Feb. 6, 1951, in Sharon, Connecticut to the late Ramon (Sonny) and Barbara (Sandmeyer) Osolin.

He was a dedicated social worker, a natural athlete, a gentle friend of animals, an abiding parish verger, an inveterate reader, and an estimable friend and neighbor. He was a kind-hearted person whose greatest joy was in helping someone in need and sharing his time with his family and good friends.

Keep ReadingShow less