Copake scores with inaugural pickleball tournament

Copake scores with inaugural pickleball tournament

Sixty-four teams competed on all four pickleball courts at Copake Memorial Park on Saturday, June 1.

John Coston

COPAKE — Teams of pickleball players converged in this rural hamlet on Saturday, June 1 for a daylong inaugural tournament.

Organized by the Copake Economic Development Advisory Committee (CEDAC), the tournament drew 64 teams that faced off in morning and afternoon play on four town courts in Copake Memorial Park.

Pickleball has been around for decades, starting with ping pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball in the 1960s, and by the 1990s was being played in all 50 states, according to USA Pickleball, its governing body.

Jayne McLaughlin, a USA Pickleball Volunteer Ambassador, was on hand Saturday to answer questions and advise on rules.

Players came from as far away as Lanesville, Massachusettes, north of Boston. Many others drove up to Columbia County from as far south as Poughkeepsie and from across the Hudson in Woodstock.

Pickleball’s popularity continues to grow, and credit is given to communities that support the sport, which also is popular among retirees.

Richard Wolfe, supervisor of the Town of Copake, pointed to the newly installed four courts the town built.

“In the winter we flood the courts and we have ice-skating,” he said.

Watching from the sidelines. Photo by John Coston

CEDAC steering committee spokesperson Vicki Sander said 18 volunteers helped organize and manage Saturday’s tournament, including other steering committee members Signe Adam, Art Boniati and Rob Lazarus, who thanked CEDAC member Bill Boris-Schacter for helping make the event a success. Ten local businesses also sponsored the event: Broadway Plumbing, Copake Boat and Ski, The Greens at Copake Country Club, Herrington’s Hardware, High Voltage, Inc., Hillsdale House, Key Bank, Kneller Insurance, Moore-Bridger Tree Service and Robert Patterson, CPA.

Strong sun and a light breeze made for a summery feel. Players dinked away and drove home some hard winners as family, friends and other players watched from lawn chairs. An Aloha Tacos truck provided a much needed food break in between matches.

Organizers fielded 32 teams in the morning and 32 in the afternoon. Winners announced in three divisions of play were:

Division One:
First Place Todd Proper, Hillsdale; Oliver Correa, Craryville
2nd Place Susan Kaiser, Red Hook; Laurie Vosburgh, Rhinebeck
3rd Place Ivan Taub, Claverack; Bruce Leder,Claverack

Division Two:
First Place Matt Jankowski, Olivebridge ;Tom Hubbel, Kingston
2nd Place Jennifer Carpino, Hurley; Ann Lord, Hurley
3rd Place Jesse Feldmus, Rhinebeck; Courtney Hannaford, Rhinebeck

Division Three:
First place Brad Quick, Staatsburg; Daniel Berthold,Rhinebeck
2nd Place Tuck Voller, Lee, MA; Norma Comalli, Lee
3rd Place Robert Coco, Pittsfield MA; Carolyn Coco, Pittsfield MA

Latest News

Webutuck Little League's season opener

Little leaguers run across Eddie Collins Memorial Park in Millerton for lunch, popcorn and ice cream at the pavilion during the Webutuck Little League season opening party on Sunday, April 12. The league has signed up 80 players for the 2026 season comprising six teams, including one tee-ball team, three baseball teams and two softball teams.

Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLERTON — The Webutuck Little League held its season opening party on Sunday, April 12, at Eddie Collins Memorial Park on Route 22.

Players enjoyed free food, popcorn and ice cream and a day of playing in inflatable castles and an obstacle course.

Keep ReadingShow less
Embroidery as a living local tradition celebrated in Millbrook Library exhibit

Celebrating the significant history of embroidery and its place within the fabric of the community, an exhibit opening was held on Thursday, April 9, at the Millbrook Library. Millbrook Historical Society secretary Alison Meyer, co-organizer of the event, provided welcoming remarks. The exhibit will continue until Saturday, May 2.

Photo by Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK — A new exhibit at the Millbrook Library tells the story of the Millbrook Needlework Guild, a storied group that has threaded its way through the past century of life in the village.

The exhibit opening was held on Thursday, April 9, attracting residents and visitors to view exquisite historic pieces of needlework art, all linked to today’s Millbrook due to their continuing importance as local works of art.

Keep ReadingShow less
Millbrook yard sale to feature repair café at library on April 25
The Millbrook Library on Franklin Avenue.
Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLBROOK — Among the many activities planned for the Millbrook Community-wide Yard Sale on Saturday, April 25, will be a repair café offered at the Millbrook Library between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The rain date will be Sunday, April 26.

Residents can bring up to two small items in need of attention to the library and find local experts willing to provide free repairs. The event is intended to keep such items from being discarded into landfills, when all that may be needed is a small fix.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Bang Family Series at Smithfield Church to present Sophia Zhou in concert

Sophia Zhou

Photo provided

AMENIA — The Bang Family Concert Series will feature New York-based pianist Sophia Zhou in performance at The Smithfield Church on Saturday, April 18, beginning at 3 p.m.

Zhou’s program “Into the Light” will include a rare treat — Beethoven’s grandest and most technically challenging piano sonata, “Waldstein,” along with works by Mozart, Chopin, and Debussy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Public hearing set for local law allowing bingo, games of chance in Village of Millbrook

MILLBROOK — The village Board of Trustees is considering allowing bingo and games of chance within Millbrook again, more than four years after officials repealed a local law and effectively banned the activities in 2021.

Two local laws that, if passed, would allow bingo and other games of chance to be included in fundraising events were discussed by the Board of Trustees at its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 8.

Keep ReadingShow less
Millbrook trustees adopt 2026-27 budget with 0.25% increase

MILLBROOK — Millbrook’s Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution to adopt the 2026-27 town budget following a public hearing at its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 8.

The budget for the coming year totals $2,538,844, up 0.25% from $2,532,541 in the current year.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.