Two New Stars in Hidden Gems

If you don’t know Jessie Buckley and Julia Garner, you should introduce yourself immediately to these amazing actors. You will get to know them best via two fine films that never found the audience they deserved.
“Wild Rose”
You may have seen Jessie Buckley as the young mother in “The Lost Daughter,” which earned this 33-year-old Irish actress a 2022 Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. You will see all her thrilling talents displayed in “Wild Rose,” an acclaimed but little-known 2018 British film written by Nicole Taylor and directed by Tom Harper
Here she plays Rose-Lynn Harlan, just released from a Glasgow prison on a mistaken charge of drug smuggling and reunited with her two young children. She has lost her job with a band at Glasgow’s Grand Ole Opry but aspires to be a country singer in London or even Nashville. “Life is three chords and the truth,” is her mantra.
Some of these dreams are realized. She makes a recording that gets her to London and eventually travels to Nashville, where there is a stirring turning point on stage at the Ryman Auditorium. But it’s only a moment, and real life intrudes in the heartbreaking scenes that follow.
Buckley is a terrific singer who recently received the Laurence Olivier Award for her role as Sally Bowles in the West End revival of “Cabaret.” An important bonus here is the soundtrack, which includes several original songs plus covers of songs by country artists like Emmylou Harris, Wynonna Judd, and Hank Snow. My appreciation of country music runs no deeper than a few classic numbers by Johnny Cash and Hank Williams (“Settin’ the Woods on Fire”), but I loved this movie, and so will you. Stream on Hulu, rent on Amazon, Apple, others
“The Assistant”
Julia Garner is best known for her role as Ruth Langmore in the Netflix drama “Ozark,” which won her an Emmy for Best Supporting actress. She has a starring role in “The Assistant,” a 2019 film directed by Kitty Green.
She plays Jane, a recent college graduate who has been hired as executive assistant to the demanding Boss of a film production company. The film opens before dawn as Jane enters its downtown New York office, turns on lights, tidies up and makes coffee. The day goes on; the office fills with production assistants, and Jane continues with many stressful and demanding menial tasks. The Boss is seen and heard only through several angry intercom calls and emails.
When she realizes that the Boss has been having sex with young female visitors, Jane reports it to the HR director, played to perfection by Matthew Macfadyen (Tom in “Succession”), who offers a defining moment in gaslighting as he manipulates her into not filing a report.
I won’t reveal what happens next except to say it’s both surprising and inevitable. This is one of the most understated films I’ve seen, but it gains power from Garner’s performance as the victim of abuse inherent in her job.
The events and workplace depicted are obviously based on Miramax producer Harvey Weinstein, whose 30 years of sexual abuse finally ended with a conviction for sexual assault and rape in 2020. But there are many powerful men in Hollywood and TV who treated women in similar fashion. This critically acclaimed and important drama about the #MeToo movement did not receive one Oscar nomination. Stream on Hulu, rent on Amazon, Apple.
PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains FFA Ag Fair brought a crowd to the high school on Church Street Saturday, Oct. 11.
Kicking off the day was the annual tractor pull, attracting a dedicated crowd that sat in bleachers and folding chairs for hours watching Allison-Chalmers, International Harvesters and John Deeres compete to pull the heaviest weights.
A large collection of food was on offer from the Pine Plains FFA and each one of the classes in the Pine Plains Central School District. The football team was selling pickles.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd enjoyed a dip in the dunk tank to raise money for the Pine Plains teachers’ union-sponsored scholarship.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd got dunked several times during his half-hour shift in the dunk tank. Proceeds from the throws benefitted the Photo by Nathan Miller
The Rev. AJ Stack, center right, blessing a chicken at the pet blessing event at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia on Saturday, Oct. 4.
AMENIA — After serving more than five years as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia, the Rev. AJ Stack announced Tuesday, Oct. 7, that he will resign from the church and Food of Life/Comida de Vida pantry. His last day at his current post will be Sunday, Nov. 2, the conclusion of the Feast of All Saints.
The news was shared in two emails from Stack — one to Food of Life pantry subscribers and volunteers, and another to parish members.
“I write tonight with difficult news, and I wanted you to hear it from me as soon as the Vestry and I had a chance to meet,” he wrote. “After much prayer and careful discernment, I have submitted my resignation to the Vestry as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas, and therefore as Executive Director of Food of Life/Comida de Vida.”
Stack provided few details about his departure. At time of publication, he had not announced his next steps but said the decision was “not sudden,” and followed careful consideration over a period of months. He will not be leaving the area or the diocese.
An announcement about his path forward and the transition process is expected soon. In the meantime, Stack said he remains “fully present” at the church, and the food pantry services will continue without interruption.
Stack expressed gratitude for the community and the growth of St. Thomas’ mission during his tenure. “Together we have welcomed new neighbors and strengthened our outreach in meaningful ways,” he said. “I trust that good work will continue.”
He joined St. Thomas in March 2020 and guided the church and community through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent interview with The News about the food pantry, Stack estimated that it serves 653 individuals from 156 households each week, highlighting a significant contribution to the community.
The announcement was met with messages of reassurance from pantry volunteers. Jolly Stewart, a Vestry member and volunteer, wrote to the community with words of reassurance following the announcement. “I have complete faith in the strength of the parish of St. Thomas,” she wrote. “Our history shows how we have done this time and again, each time becoming more than what we were before. We can, without a doubt, do this now.”
MILLERTON — Ten candidates for office in the Nov. 4 election will answer questions from Dutchess County voters at a candidate forum on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Annex at the NorthEast-Millerton Library located at 28 Century Blvd.
The forum, which is sponsored by the library, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Candidates for local and county offices will answer questions from residents in attendance or from residents who have submitted questions in advance.
“We’re excited to keep the tradition of the candidate forum going,” said Rhiannon Leo-Jameson, director of the library. “Some years we can’t always get candidates together.”
This year’s forum will include:
Rachele Grieco Cole, a Democrat, and Chris Mayville, a Republican, who both are running uncontested for the North East Town Council;
Casey McCabe, a Democrat, also running uncontested for North East Justice.
Among Dutchess County races:
Tracy MacKenzie, who is endorsed by Republicans and Democrats, is running uncontested for Dutchess County Family Court Judge;
Kara Gerry, a Democrat, and Ned McLoughlin, a Republican, are in a contest for a Dutchess County Court judgeship currently held by McLoughlin.
Chris Drago, D-19, and Tonya Pulver, a Republican, are competing to represent Dutchess County’s19th District seat currently held by Drago.
Democratic incumbent Dan Aymar-Blair and Will Truitt, the Republican chair of the county legislature, are competing for the Dutchess County Comptroller position currently held by Aymar-Blair.
Leo-Jameson is encouraging questions for the candidates to be submitted in advance, which will not be revealed to candidates beforehand. Dutchess County residents may pose questions during the forum. To submit a question on the library’s website, go to the calendar at nemillertonlibrary.org and find the link in the Oct. 24calendar entries.
The format calls for opening statements from the candidates, followed by questions from residents, and candidates will be able to stay after the forum to answer questions personally.
The residence at 35 Amenia Union Road in Sharon was damaged after being struck by the Jeep Grand Cherokee around 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.
SHARON, Conn. — Emergency crews were called Saturday, Oct. 11, to Amenia Union Road in Sharon for a report of a vehicle into a building with entrapment.
Connecticut State Police reported Charles Teti, 62, was driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Amenia Union Road when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle veered across the southbound land and exited the roadway where it struck a tree and home. Airbags deployed.
Teti and front seat passenger Aidan Cassidy, 63, sustained serious injuries. Teti was airlifted to Hartford Hospital and Cassidy was transported by ambulance to Sharon Hospital for treatment.
Back seat passenger Shea Cassidy-Teti, 17, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on scene. Cassidy-Teti was a senior at Kent School. He played on the football and tennis teams.
The residence that was struck is located at 35 Amenia Union Road.
The case remains under open investigation. Witnesses are asked to contact Trooper Lukas Gryniuk at Troop B 860-626-1821.