
This photo of Katharine Coon Dunlop was used on the cover of the service bulletin for her funeral, having been chosen by Katharine’s son, Robert. Dunlop passed away on Monday, Aug. 22, at the age of 87. Photo submitted
AMENIA — Having touched innumerable lives during her 87 years, Katharine Coon Dunlop left a positive impression on those who knew her, all witnesses to her steadfast belief in community betterment and just plain getting things done. Known by most everyone in the area, Katharine died on Monday, Aug. 22.
Her funeral was held on Saturday, Aug. 27, filling Smithfield Church in Amenia to capacity in remembrance and celebration of her life and dedication to her community. A successful Realtor for 50 years, friends noted that she had often sold the same home to successive new owners over the course of her career.
“Katharine was known by everyone and everyone loved her,” Smithfield’s Pastor Douglas Grandgeorge said. “I have known Katharine for 14 years, and we have never had an argument.”
Grandgeorge noted that this was in spite of acknowledged distinct political differences.
“We had so much respect for one another. On my first Easter Sunday at Smithfield,” he noted and in keeping with the Midwestern Easter heritage of his youth, “I was wearing light colors.”
Katharine approached him to say, “In this part of the world, we wait until Memorial Day.”
“I’ve waited until Memorial Day ever since,” he said.
Katharine was a regular at Troutbeck in Amenia, Jim Flaherty recalled, when he and partner Bob Skibsted re-opened Troutbeck following extensive restoration 43 years ago. It would quickly become a preeminent conference center and retreat.
“She arrived within the first five minutes of our opening and we became friends in the first hour,” Flaherty reported. It was a friendship that lasted.
“She was, no she ‘is’ a great lady, not just in real estate, but also in local and national politics,” Flaherty said, promising to make her a “Bloody Mary” (her favorite) annually on her birthday.
“Kathy and I laughed a lot,” he added.
“Some people are here in church because of Katharine,” said Smithfield Choir Director Denise Jordan Finley.
“So, we can add evangelist to her accomplishments,” Grandgeorge interjected.
Realtor Robert Riemer, who knew her for 50 years, recalled meeting Katharine at the old DeLavergne Farms Hotel in Amenia. As a schoolteacher he was doing photography on the side, because in those days, teachers were not paid during summers.
Katharine was teaching third grade at that point and was a wedding guest at the hotel when she spotted Riemer and his camera. She asked him to take a photo of her with her young son, Bobby, both seated in a wingback chair.
Riemer made regular use of the dark room at the school to develop his film, enabling him to present her with the black and white photo.
Moving the story to the present day, Riemer recalled that two or three years ago, Katharine asked whether he could provide her with another copy of that photo.
Riemer recalled that Katharine ran for and was elected to the Amenia Town Board in the 1980s and was instrumental in moving ideas forward. For example, she was a proponent of the idea of converting the old school to what is now the Town Hall, and she was an important supporter of the Amenia Fire Company.
Riemer said that he went on to work part-time for Katharine summers as a real estate agent, when her office had six agents.
“Katharine was not one ever to give up,” Riemer said.
Carol Coon described Katharine as “bold and outspoken.”
Katharine’s niece, Sheila Hewitt, described her as “stylish and fashionable,” seldom without a hat and beads, and always with her hair done.
Kevin McEneaney, clerk of Smithfield’s Council, said, “Katharine was the most optimistic person I ever met,” citing her “can-do” spirit in all things. She served on the church’s governing body for two decades.
Darlene Riemer said, “Katharine could argue with you and still say it with a smile.”
She remembered Katharine’s organizing and assembling the volunteers for the annual Christmas Tea, now a community tradition.
Longtime Amenia dairy farmer Joe McEnroe went through four years of Amenia High School with Katharine.
“She was a wonderful girl,” he said. “I have a lot of fond memories.”
“An awesome mother,” her son Robert said.
Amenia resident Dan Brown called her “a cornerstone of Smithfield Valley, like a big sister to me.” He noted her 20 years of service on the town’s Republican Committee for Ward 1. She was consistently elected to the committee except for one election on a Tuesday, when Brown’s broken fan belt disabled his car in New York City. His wife, Nancy, and he were unable to drive to Amenia to cast their two votes for Katharine. She lost that election by one vote but won by wider margins in other elections that were to follow.
Katharine served as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1985 and attended the Inauguration of President Ronald Reagan, earning a box seat for the big parade and even attending the Inaugural Ball.
“She was a go-getter,” said Jim Murphy of Pine Plains, a friend of 30 years, adding “and how she loved her grandkids.”
Considering their grandmother, those “grandkids” Colby and Mackenzie Dunlop and Kaiden O’Brien agreed on descriptors such as “extremely supportive, helpful, very nice and very loving.”
Although now beyond the reach of mortal touch and sight, her life dedicated to service will be remembered with love by her vast and grateful Amenia community.
LJMN Media, publisher of The Lakeville Journal (first published in 1897) and The Millerton News (first published in 1932) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization.
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Giana Dormi, no. 3 of Pine Plains, and Michelle Blackburn, no. 12 of Pine Plains, put the pressure on Juliana Manginelli, no. 11 of Tuckahoe, as she tries to find a pass during the second round of the regional tournament at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y. on Tuesday, March 11.
NEWBURGH, N.Y. — The Pine Plains Bombers were knocked out in second round of the Section IX regional tournament after a hard fought game against the Tuckahoe Tigers on Tuesday, March 11.
The Bombers won the tip and got off to an early lead, but the Tuckahoe Tigers outpaced them quickly and finished the game 59-25.
Giana Dormi, no. 3 of Pine Plains, and Neveah Rennie, no. 34 of Pine Plains, started the game strong, scoring six points for the Bombers in the first few minutes. Tuckahoe responed in kind by promptly running up the score, sending Cara Doherty, no. 5, to the backboard for four field goals before the end of the first quarter.
Tuckahoe's runaway lead started in the first quarter. Going into the second that team led the Bombers 19-8.
The lead was further cemented in the second quarter, when Tuckahoe sank another nine field goals — one a three-pointer from Grace Kern, no. 15 — adding up to an additional 19 points and putting the score at 38-13 going into the half.
Neveah Rennie, no. 34 of Pine Plains, attempts to drive a layup through a group of Tuckahoe defenders during the second round of the regional tournament at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y., on Tuesday, March 11.Photo by Nathan Miller
"Tuckahoe's a great team, they've got everything," girls varsity coach Les Funk said. "They're in shape, they run. Those kids out there didn't even look like they were breaking a sweat. That was a tough matchup for us."
The Bombers tried their hardest, but Tuckahoe's precision in defense was too much for the Pine Plains girls. Tuckahoe's fouls only sent Pine Plains players to the free throw line on five occasions. The Bombers couldn't make those free throw attempts count, with the team racking up a free-throw make percentage of just 20%.
Coach Funk is setting his sights on next season and another chance at the regional title. "They've got a taste of it now," Funk said. "I think if they work in the off-season they've got a chance."
The Bombers held their heads high after their loss to Tuckahoe in the second round of the regional tournament at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y., on Tuesday, March 11.Photo by Nathan Miller
Dan Aymar-Blair
POUGHKEEPSIE — Dutchess comptroller Dan Aymar-Blair released a special report early last week on federal monies and how they move through the county level, including the disbursement process in the county; how federal funding benefits Dutchess residents and whether any fiscal distribution issues have surfaced locally as a result of actions taken on behalf of the Trump administration.
According to Aymar-Blair’s report, federal programming represents roughly 10% of Dutchess expenditures, not including any COVID-19 assistance. As an illustration of federal- to county-level distribution and spending, in 2023, under the Biden administration, the county received approximately $65 million from the U.S. government with $25 million going toward direct aid in support of such programs as home energy assistance and food stamps. Federal monies were also disbursed — and continue to be directed — toward county-level agencies, programming and supports such as adoption, foster care and child care needs, emergency/disaster assistance, infrastructure development and maintenance, and workforce initiatives.
In addition to federal-to-county funding, Aymar-Blair noted an additional $1.9 billion annually is directly distributed to Dutchess residents from the U.S. government via Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. These entities are clearly not immune to the impact from the Trump administration as the Social Security office in Poughkeepsie, for example, has been poised for a reduction in office services. Whether Social Security benefits to individuals are reduced or cut entirely remains to be seen.
While data pertaining to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid recipients particular to Northeastern Dutchess was not readily available, data from the Social Security Administration provides some clues as to the number of individuals in Dutchess County who could potentially be impacted by benefit cuts. According to 2023 figures from the SSA, 4,730 Dutchess residents received Social Security benefits, 4,232 persons were categorized as blind/disabled and 2,904 persons were listed between the ages of 18 through 64. For adults 65 and over, 1,261 received Social Security benefits. The number of persons under the age of 18 receiving SSA benefits was listed at 565.
While cuts to Medicare and Medicaid have not been announced, it is possible under the circumstances. According to a Feb. 27 statement from Alan Morgan, chief executive officer of the National Rural Health Association, any disruption to these benefits, particularly Medicaid, would worsen an already challenging situation.” The Medicaid program is a lifeline for rural hospitals, providers and patients,” Morgan said. “Any cuts to the Medicaid program will disproportionately affect rural communities. Rural Americans rely on Medicaid coverage more so than their urban counterparts with about 20% of adults and 40% of children living in rural areas enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP,” the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Aymar-Blair agreed with the impact assessment as well as its potential outlier results, saying, “Dutchess County relies heavily upon this ... Cuts to Dutchess County’s federal funding could impact life-saving programs, and reduced consumer spending would be a likely side effect of reduced federal assistance like Medicaid.”
Aymar-Blair’s report does not include information on federal awards to businesses or municipalities, nor does it address the controversies attached to impacted in-county federal entities such as the Castle Point Veterans Hospital in Wappingers Falls, New York, which — as with the Poughkeepsie Social Security office — is also reducing its services with the closing of its E2 Acute Inpatient Care Unit, which eliminated 20 inpatient beds. While calls have gone out from local officials and residents to sustain the offerings provided by the Poughkeepsie Social Security office and the Castle Point VA hospital, no action has been taken just yet on the part of the federal government.
While Aymar-Blair concedes there has been no disruption from the federal level at this time to Dutchess funding, he has received a sufficient number of phone calls and emails from constituents to spur him to continuously monitor the situation. He is also working in collaboration with county departments to determine any impacts future actions from the Trump administration could have on funding for Dutchess County agencies, services and programs with the situation remaining very fluid.
For more information or to read the comptroller’s report in its entirety, visit: www.dutchessny.gov, navigate to “Government,” click “County Comptroller”, and click on “News and Announcements”.
The Stissing Center was bustling just before the show on Sunday, March 9.
PINE PLAINS — The Stissing Center was packed on Sunday for an afternoon performance of podcast and NPR series “Selected Shorts.” The sold-out show, which was recorded for national broadcast at a later date, brought a lineup of four accomplished actors and storytellers to the Pine Plains stage to recite a selection of short stories from award-winning authors.
“Selected Shorts,” a product of Manhattan-based performing arts powerhouse Symphony Space, features prominent actors who recite works of short fiction. The full program usually revolves around a theme; Sunday afternoon’s focus was “transformations.”
Comedian, writer and actress Ophira Eisenberg — or “renaissance woman of storytelling,” as Stissing Center Executive Director Patrick Trettenero introduced her — assumed hosting duties, warming up the crowd with jokes about Brooklyn egg prices and doctors with self-esteem issues — “I want a megalomaniac with a god complex and no hobbies.”
Every seat in the large coffeehouse-style auditorium was filled, and the crowd was engaged. “For a 3 p.m. audience, you guys are amazing!” exclaimed Eisenberg.
Actor David Straithairn took the stage first, reading a short story by Pulitzer Prize winning author Steven Millhauser titled “Green.” Straithairn’s classic, almost antique delivery suited the small-town American ethos of the story well. A somewhat detached but observant narrator recounts the story of a sort of anti-plant mania that started “innocently enough” in his town, stripping public and private property alike of all greenery. Eventually, a few intrepid neighbors add shrubbery back to their yards, prompting a swing back in the other direction: “After a brief diversion, a playful experiment, things had returned to normal in our quiet town — or had they?”
Straithharn’s reading was followed by an animated performance from actor Lauren Ambrose, whose long resumé is most recently punctuated by her role in the popular television series “Yellowjackets.” Ambrose read “Quantum Voicemail” by novelist and short-story writer Kristen Iskandrian, a woozy tale from a particular and slightly neurotic narrator who describes voicemail in probably the most poetic language ever put to page about the messaging format. Voicemail is “a stirring three minute soliloquy,” and “like a photograph, it capture[s] a moment of attention,” says the rapt narrator.
A brief intermission enabled patrons to refuel with drinks or popcorn from the bar, or head outside to enjoy the early spring weather. For those who remained in the theater, the sunken lounge-like space in the center of the room facilitated easy conservation between neighbors as they reflected on the performances.
Eisenberg herself recited the third story, “Squirrels” by Israeli writer Etgar Kenet. The action opens with a description of a family myth — or was it? — about a grandfather being reincarnated as a giant squirrel after a battle with cancer, and which subsequently halts his widow’s next wedding by biting the groom-to-be’s thumb. The story does get sentimental, which Eisenberg’s mostly comic oration accented well.
The final performance was of New York City-raised writer Jamel Brinkley’s “Blessed Deliverance,” a coming-of-age story about a group of college-bound teenagers growing up and growing apart in gentrifying Brooklyn. New York stage and screen actor Teagle F. Bougere handled the tension and confusion of late childhood/young adulthood well in his recitation. The plot reaches a high point when an unhoused man releases a pack of rabbits from an animal rescue shelter into the street while the group of teens looks on, cheering but not entirely sure what for.
After a few closing remarks from Eisenberg, the show was complete. Satisfied attendees made their way back to their cars and released the streets of Pine Plains into Sunday quietude once again.