
Photo from IMDB
Here’s the thing about time travel: You have to be enormously careful because of the butterfly effect, which famously figured in Ray Bradbury’s story “The Sound of Thunder.” A careless hunter on a time safari steps off the designated path and crushes a butterfly; horrific changes in the future ensue. Let’s see how this plays out in two very different TV miniseries.
“11.22.63”
I still recall the voice of Walter Cronkite on that afternoon: “President Kennedy died at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time.”
The 2009 novel “11/22/63” by Stephen King is one of the great time travel stories of this or any era.
It was adapted into an eight-episode TV series (called “11.22.63”) in 2016, starring James Franco, who plays Jake Epping, an English teacher in Maine. The first episode opens as his friend Al Templeton (Chris Cooper) reveals an astonishing feature of his diner: a portal to a day in the past: Oct. 21, 1960.
His health failing, Al enlists Jake to take over his mission: Go through the portal to 1960, confirm that Lee Harvey Oswald was the killer and, if so, take him out and prevent the assassination of JFK. Jake, at loose ends after a divorce, agrees. Al is aware of the butterfly effect and also warns Jake that the past pushes back on attempts to change it.
Back in 1960, Jake travels to a small town near Dallas, where he finds a teaching job and begins a romance with the lovely school librarian, Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon).
He rents an apartment next to Oswald (played creepily by Daniel Webber) in order to observe him and confirm he’s the killer. The next episodes develop into a period drama in which Sadie learns of Jake’s plan and signs on to help. Their efforts are set back by a couple of devastating confrontations; is it the past pushing back?
What happens as the assassination time approaches and arrives is beyond surprising, and only Stephen King could fashion the finale, which turns a gateway to hell into a spin on a dance floor. This production is not flawless: The middle episodes sag slightly, and the romance seems overly sentimental, but it is never less than enormously entertaining.
Stream on Hulu, rent on Amazon, others.
“Shining Girls”
Perhaps it’s not fair to compare a masterpiece of time travel to this new miniseries based on a forgettable novel, but sometimes an adaptation works better than the book. In this case a spectacular performance by Elisabeth Moss overcomes a convoluted plot.
She plays Kirby, who works at the Chicago Sun-Times in 1990 and is struggling to overcome a near deadly attack by a serial killer. The high concept (read sci- fi) twist here is that the killer is a time traveling psychopath named Harper.
Harper (Jamie Bell), just released from service in World War I, discovers a house that offers a portal into the future. His rejection by a French dancer motivates him to travel to the future for the purpose of murdering a series of talented and attractive young women.
Back in 1990, Kirby and Dan, a colleague compellingly played by Wagner Moura, investigate a series of killings with the same brutal signature, some oddly separated by many decades. Kirby convinces Dan to join her in tracking down the killer. Since Harper can jump to any time period, this is like catching a circling shark with your bare hands.
As the story swings between Harper and Kirby, her life keeps shifting in dramatic and unexplained ways. Her cat becomes a dog; she is single in one episode, married in another. Since Harper’s future is in Kirby’s past, these shifts in her reality could be the butterfly effect, but I saw no sign that anyone connected with this show has heard of such a thing.
Are you following all this? My head was spinning at times, but the superior acting and production generate enough suspense, so that you will probably join me in staying with Kirby to the end and her violent confrontation with Harper.
Stream on Apple TV+.
With robust voter turnout throughout the region, proposed 2025-26 education budgets passed handily, along with their additional propositions, in the polling held on Tuesday, May 20.
By a margin of 173 to 103, voters approved the 2025-26 budget totaling $28,665,850, an increase of 5.96% over the current year. After expected revenues are factored in, the amount to be raised by local taxes is $19,403,307, a 5.27% increase over the current year.
Also approved by a margin of 185 to 92 was a vehicle purchase proposal totaling $249,190 to cover the cost of acquiring one 65-passenger school bus and two Chrysler Voyager vehicles to serve the students’ transportation needs.
Two School Board candidates seeking re-election were unopposed. Nichole Reyes received 260 votes and Anthony Robustelli, 234.
“Thanks to the community for supporting our children’s programs,” commented School Superintendent Raymond Castellani, immediately after the vote count was announced. “Thank you to the voters,” he added. “It makes the work so gratifying when you have the support of the voters.”
By a margin of 816 to 331, voters approved the proposed school budget for 2025-26. The budget totals $35,649,651, a 3.1% increase of $1,074,576over the current year. Of the total, the amount to be raised by taxes after expected revenues are deducted, is $27,782,136, a 2.61% increase over the current year.
Extensive repairs and renovations to maintain and improve the middle school and high school at a projected cost of $37,381,383, defined as Proposition 2, passed by a margin of 748 to 399.
Proposition 3 to cover upgrades to the elementary schools at a cost of $1,883,099, passed by a vote of 706 to 439.
“With these results we will be able to ensure the safe and health upkeep of our facilities as we plan for the future of our district,” said Superintendent Caroline Hernandez-Pidala, commenting on the vote. She went on to thank the voters for having come out to vote.
Hernandez Pidala also thanked the students and constituents who helped share information within the community about their schools’ needs and the importance of voting.
Unopposed candidates for re-election for three-year terms as members of the school board were Dena Ghobashy and Jennifer Carnecchia. Voters also approved the election of Perry Hartswick, seeking to continue his service as Board President.
By a margin of 294 to 102, voters turned out to approve the proposed school budget totaling $38,712,336, a 2.71% increase of $1,022,592. The amount to be raised by taxes is $27,885,802, an increase of 3.2% over the current year.
A proposition that will create a Capital Reserve Fund to aid with future expenditures passed by a vote of 309 to 87, and another proposition to purchase two new 71-passenger school buses and an eight-passenger Chevy Suburban passed by a vote of 284 to 110.
Total cost for the two buses and the van is estimated at $396,369. The proposition also added $118,911 in anticipated tariff costs. The proposition costs are to be supported by the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund that had been approved by voters in 2022.
Re-elected to serve three-year terms on the school board were Fred “Chip” Couse with 333 votes and Amie Fredericks with 330 votes. There were 16 write-in votes.
“We greatly appreciate the support of our community and are looking forward to a successful 2025-26 school year,” said Superintendent Dr. Brian Timm, commenting on the positive vote result.
A traditional Memorial Day observance to honor the fallen was held Fountain Square on Monday, May 26. The ceremony included an Honor Guard from the Wassaic Fire Company standing by the Veterans’ Memorial Wall.
AMENIA — The community gathered at Fountain Square under sunny skies on Monday, May 26, for a Memorial Day ceremony to honor the fallen who bravely served their country. Remembrances, tributes, prayers and music combined to create the fitting annual tribute.
An Honor Guard from VFW Post #5444 of Dover Plains presented the colors at the start of the ceremony that began promptly at 11 a.m. with a welcome from VFW Commander Nick Woodard to the more than 100 who had gathered.
“Aware of the dangers but responding to the call of duty,” Woodard spoke of those who bravely served and ultimately sacrificed their lives. On behalf of those gathered, he extended deepest respects and “the highest tribute we can offer.”
VFW Post Chaplain Rick Butler offered a prayer asking for help in supporting families of those who gave their lives for their country.
“How far back are the losses,” said Town Supervisor Leo Blackman, reflecting on the losses over centuries of battle. He spoke of the ongoing historical society project to erect signs at each local historic cemetery where Revolutionary War veterans are buried.
The ceremony included donation of a defibrillator by former local Fire Chief Bob Boyles to VFW Post #5444, Auxiliary President Charlene Mayville.
Closing prayer was offered by Fr. Andrew O’Connor of Immaculate Conception Church who read Psalm 127.
In closing the ceremony, Commander Woodard thanked all who contributed to the ceremony, including the local fire departments, the Honor Guard of the Wassaic Fire Company, the Community Enhancement Committee for Fountain Square floral planting, Vicki Doyle, Leo Blackman and the Honor Guard and Auxiliary of Post #5444.
Jay Dacey of the United Kingdom’s Channel 4 took an unexpected detour to the Village of Millerton on Friday, May 23 to capture footage of a rural American town.
The stop was one of the last on a 10-day trip to the United States to film a piece on American politics.
Other filming locations included Washington, D.C., New Haven, and Shelter Island in eastern New York.
Red, white and blue Memorial Day planting by Townscape’s volunteers ahead of Memorial Day ceremonies.
The Townscape team was out in force in time for Memorial Day in its 25th year of flower planting.
Planting were place throughout the village, and they can be found at the War Memorial in Veterans Park, in the boxes and planters on the bridge on Main Street, and at the Rail Trail crossing. As always, Tracy Hanselman and Jim Lambertson gave Townscape assistance with their expert horticultural direction, and they will maintain and water the plants throughout the season.
This year, Paley’s Farm Market has supplied Townscape’s colorful assortment of flowers: red and white geraniums, blue salvia, Dusty Miller, yellow petunias and many others.
Over the summer, Townscape will be hosting a Raffle Tent on Saturdays at the Millerton Farmers’ Market on Dutchess Avenue from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Raffle tickets (5 for $20) to help raise funds - not only for flowers, but also for Townscape’s many other community beautification initiatives such as tree plantings, holiday lights, benches, park tables and chairs.
Townscape volunteers Catherine Fenn,left, Teri Goetz, center, and Claire Goodman,withstood the cool temperatureson W ednesday, May 21, in Millerton as they placed planters along Main Street in advance of Memorial Day activities.Photo by John Coston
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