Copake Grange readies 1,000 Cupcake Celebration

Cupcakes will be the order of the day with 1,000 of the goodies at The Fourth Annual Cupcake Celebation at the Copake Grange on Sunday, June 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Christine Bates

Cupcakes will be the order of the day with 1,000 of the goodies at The Fourth Annual Cupcake Celebation at the Copake Grange on Sunday, June 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
COPAKE — Copake Grange members throughout the hamlet are baking up a storm as they prepare for what Grange secretary Rita Jakubowski says is “the most fun activity of the year,” The Fourth Annual Cupcake Celebration to be held at the Grange from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 23.
Jakubowski says a record setting 1,000 cupcakes are expected for the fundraising event with everyone earning a prize as bakers — both amateur and professional — vie to win the title “Ultimate Copake Cupcake.”
The event is just one of a number held throughout the year as members work to provide the dollars required to make needed repairs on the historic 1903 building whose poor condition, she believes, was in part responsible for a collapse in membership some half dozen years ago.
With only seven members, the group failed to reach a quorum for meetings. That, in turn nearly led to the loss of the charter which would have caused the building to be ceded to the Grange parent organization which actually owns the building.
Determined to keep the structure, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Jakubowski reported, “That group got together and they started recruiting new people and built it up to 20 to 25 members.”
She said people joined because they “began to realize it’s a badly needed community organization that also happens to have building with a stage. It’s a place where people could gather socially and for entertainment and education and general community gathering.”
Despite a slow down when the Grange was closed in response to COVID, the non-partisan, non-political organization continued to grow and now boasts nearly 150 members.
The calendar of events, most of which are free and open to the public, features dances, plays, open mic nights and more including Copake Bicentential talks spotlighting “The Copake Pharmacy,” “Life on a Copake Farm,” and “Copake Falls and Copake Lake:A Retrospective.”
In addition to time honored favorites, the organization actively works to be responsive to the community’s needs and desires, even posting online a form for suggestions for future events.
The most recent example of innovation took place on Sunday, June 8, when a small group joined together for the first ever family meetup.
The gathering was brought about as many activities typically are by what Grange secretary Jakubowski labeled as an “organic” effort. As a member of the membership committee, she had a traditional welcome coffee with a young mother and professional woman who worked from home.
Jakubowski said the new Grange member mentioned that the town did seem to lack a place for children to gather and play and hoped the group might add some programming for the youngest residents.
Jakubowski encouraged her to submit a proposal for a new program with the result being the happy sounds of a few children and their parents gathered for no reason other than to have good time.
She said, “The family meetup is currently a one- time event. Future meetups will depend on local interest and whether enough people participate and continue to organize regular events.”
Noting a modest membership fee of $28 per person per year, Jakubowski emphasized,
For more information go to copakegrange.org.
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.

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 “Elusive Ki Shusui” koi were temporarily relocated into a tub before being returned to their home pond at Maxine Pietro’s annual koi harvest at Broccoli Hall Farm in Amenia on Friday, Oct. 10. Speaking of their yellowish beauty, Pietro is pictured pointing out that the fish are scaleless but for scales that grow along the “zipper” on each fish’s dorsal ridge. The koi in the photo are estimated to be 6 or 7 years old.