Village lights up for Hanukkah

MILLBROOK — Community members gathered on the lawn of the Thorne Building to witness the lightening of the menorah in celebration of Hanukkah on Wednesday, Dec. 21. It was the third annual celebration here. Rabbi Hanoch Hecht from the Rhinebeck Jewish Center lit two candles on the public menorah for the second day of Hanukkah. Hecht followed the lighting by leading the attendees in Hebrew prayers and Jewish songs. The ceremony was followed by hot latkes, apple cider, doughnuts and singing at the Parish Hall of Grace Church. Hecht gave a brief history of why Hanukkah is celebrated.“Hanukkah is the celebration that Jewish people celebrate of the triumph of good over evil,” said Hecht. “As the Hellenistic Greeks went into Jerusalem and defiled the temple, they made certain laws forbidding Jewish people to follow the practice [of their religion]. The Maccabee Jewish warriors got together and were able to defeat the unbelievably huge Greek army. When this took place they went into the hidden temple and they only found one jug of oil left that still had the seal of the holy priest.”Hecht said the Jewish people went to light the oil for the one night but the oil burned for eight days and nights instead. From that year on, Jewish people started celebrating an eight-day festival of Hanukkah, everyday kindling one more light on the menorah. Hecht said that’s why Jewish people traditionally eat food fried in oil, such as doughnuts and latkes during the holiday, because it symbolizes the miracle of the oil.“It’s a great celebration, and it’s a celebration that shows a level of religious freedom because here the Hellenistic Greeks, headed by the king, wanted to abolish Jewish religions,” said Hecht. “Here we are able to live on and that’s a beautiful thing to stand here in Millbrook as well as other places that have Hanukkah and public menorah lightings to show that we are proud to celebrate this wonderful holiday.”The lighting of the Millbrook menorah was organized by the Millbrook Chanukah Committee, which includes Sheldon Lobel, Adele Lobel, Joan Blanksteen and Steven Peter. The pastor of Grace Church, Doug Fisher, came up with the idea of having the attendees come to the Grace Church Parish Hall after the ceremony for food and singing. Between 30 to 50 people attended.“We wanted the Jewish people to have something in the community, and this event commemorates the holidays,” said Sheldon Lobel. “They only had oil for one night but it lasted eight nights; it was like a miracle. Everyone can get involved in the festivities, with the singing of songs, eating latkes and doughnuts. It’s a fun time.”

Latest News

Barbara Meyers DelPrete

LAKEVILLE — Barbara Meyers DelPrete, 84, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at her home. She was the beloved wife of George R. DelPrete for 62 years.

Mrs. DelPrete was born in Burlington, Iowa, on May 31, 1941, daughter of the late George and Judy Meyers. She lived in California for a time and had been a Lakeville resident for the past 55 years.

Keep ReadingShow less
Shirley Anne Wilbur Perotti

SHARON — Shirley Anne Wilbur Perotti, daughter of George and Mabel (Johnson) Wilbur, the first girl born into the Wilbur family in 65 years, passed away on Oct. 5, 2025, at Noble Horizons.

Shirley was born on Aug. 19, 1948 at Sharon Hospital.

Keep ReadingShow less
Veronica Lee Silvernale

MILLERTON — Veronica Lee “Ronnie” Silvernale, 78, a lifelong area resident died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Connecticut. Mrs. Silvernale had a long career at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, where she served as a respected team leader in housekeeping and laundry services for over eighteen years. She retired in 2012.

Born Oct. 19, 1946, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Bradley C. and Sophie (Debrew) Hosier, Sr. Following her graduation from high school and attending college, she married Jack Gerard Silvernale on June 15, 1983 in Millerton, New York. Their marriage lasted thirty-five years until Jack’s passing on July 28, 2018.

Keep ReadingShow less
Crescendo launches 22nd season
Christine Gevert, artistic director of Crescendo
Steve Potter

Christine Gevert, Crescendo’s artistic director, is delighted to announce the start of this musical organization’s 22nd year of operation. The group’s first concert of the season will feature Latin American early chamber music, performed Oct. 18 and 19, on indigenous Andean instruments as well as the virginal, flute, viola and percussion. Gevert will perform at the keyboard, joined by Chilean musicians Gonzalo Cortes and Carlos Boltes on wind and stringed instruments.

This concert, the first in a series of nine, will be held on Oct. 18 at Saint James Place in Great Barrington, and Oct. 19 at Trinity Church in Lakeville.

Keep ReadingShow less