
A coloring book produced by Sally Gifford O’Brien delighted children in Millbrook many years ago with pictures to color of many of Millbrook’s well known buildings. Photo submitted
MILLBROOK — After what seems a very long time, the Millbrook Library has curated an art exhibit featuring beloved artist and children’s book creator Sally Gifford O’Brien, born in 1927 and now living in North Carolina. Closed due to COVID-19 for several months, the library opened a short time ago with restrictions, but also with several programs for their patrons using technology and common sense. The art exhibited, provided by the Millbrook Historical Society, is especially poignant as it reminds one of the good old days when life was simpler and much gentler.
The Millbrook Historical Society hasn’t met since February due to the pandemic, but partnered with the library to get this limited exhibit up and running. The year 2020 has been designated the “Year of Women’s Voices & Talents,” so it is entirely appropriate to honor one of Millbrook’s most talented and beloved citizens, Sally Gifford O’Brien, whom some affectionately refer to as “SOB.”
O’Brien was the artist who put together an amazing coloring book for children, featuring many of the special sites and buildings of Millbrook. She was a very talented painter, did wonderful sketches and was adept at needlepoint. But O’Brien’s story goes much deeper than her artistic talents, it’s also a story of someone who loved and did much for her community, and always with a laugh, a smile, or, as one person noted, “…with a twinkle in her eye.”
O’Brien was born and raised in Millbrook. Her father was Herman Gifford Sr., who purchased a lovely Federalist house and 108 acres of land on the Sharon Turnpike in 1924. Chester White farmed that land, it was a dairy farm for 50 years, well into the 1960s. O’Brien grew up there, and was a member of Lyall Memorial Federated Church, which still has pieces of her needlework on its walls.
Always community minded, she allowed the Boy Scouts from Millbrook Troop 31 to use her land for camping. She and her husband, Bill, then decided to sell their property in 1975 to the Cary Arboretum after building a new home on a different plot of land.
Along with some of her work, including some of her needlework on pillows and footstools, there are written testaments as to what O’Brien meant to so many people and the community as a whole. Said Fussy Prisco, a close friend, “She and Bill had the greatest parties; she was always welcoming to those who newly had moved into the community so that they would feel comfortable.” Prisco also spoke of O’Brien’s penchant for recycling, greeting cards, wrapping paper, clothing, things she found beautiful and for interacting with people of all ages.
Stan Morse, who took up drawing and sketching when in his 70s, said, “Sally is a very special human being.” They were fellow residents of Bennett Condos in Millbrook. Morse went on to add, “Sally was starting her transition to the Carolinas to live with her sister. She invited me over and encouraged me to take whatever artwork, books and materials of hers I wanted. It was so typically Sally, open and generous, to do so. Her words of encouragement were, and remain, well remembered.”
The exhibit will introduce O’Brien’s work to viewers not already familiar with it; it will also introduce O’Brien as a humorist, author, artist and most of all, a beloved member of the Millbrook community.
The exhibit will run through the end of September. For hours, requirements and other library programs and resources, go to www.millbrooklibrary.org or call 845-677-3611.
For more information on the Millbrook Historical website, go to www.millbrookhistoricalsociety.org.
Michelle Blackburn, no. 12 of Pine Plains, helped lead the Bombers to victory over S.S. Seward Institute as point guard for most of the Section IX Class C tournament finals at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y., on Wednesday, March 5. The Bombers took home the title after winning the hard-fought game 55-42.
NEWBURGH, N.Y. — The Pine Plains girls varsity Bombers won the Section IX Class C girls tournament Wednesday, March 5, at Mount Saint Mary College.
The Bombers took an early lead against S.S. Seward's Spartans and didn't let off the throttle for the rest of the night, wining the game 55-42.
"We were here last year and we lost a tough one at the end," girls varsity coach Les Funk said after the game. "These kids never gave up. They had this in mind from last year. This was the goal."
"They had this in mind from last year," girls varsity head coach Les Funk of Pine Plains said. Funk said the young team wanted the sectional title and "never gave up," until they won it Wednesday, March 5, at Mount Saint Mary College.Photo by Nathan Miller
The Bombers hit the ground running in the finals matchup, winning the first possession and quickly racking up a 10 point lead before the end of the first quarter.
The squad was led in scoring by Neveah Rennie, no. 34, who scored 20 points, and Emma Brenner, no. 23, who scored 17 points.
Most of the Bombers points came from field goals in the first half. Pine Plains entered halftime with a 30-12 lead over Seward.
Naveah Rennie, no 34 of Pine Plains, was the Bombers' dominant scorer, racking up 20 points by the end of the matchup against S.S. Seward Institute during the Section IX Class C finals at Mount Saint Mary College on Wednesday, March 5.Photo by Nathan Miller
Seward caught on in the second half and fought hard to keep Rennie and Brenner from scoring, but only succeeded in sending the two shooters to the free-throw line where they both saw success.
Rennie made 75% of her free-throw attempts at the finals game. Brenner went to the line less often but came away with a higher make percentage of 83% — she made five out of six attempted free throws.
Ben Coon, 10, on the “mound,” practiced his pitching on Tuesday, March 4, in the Webutuck Elementary School gym, with Coach Colby Dunlop, left, giving pointers.
AMENIA — The 2025 Webutuck Little League season is around the corner and the League said players are still needed to fill out teams for games to be played in Millerton and Amenia.
Registration remains open for T-ball, majors, minors, seniors and girls’ softball teams. Some scholarships are available to cover costs.
League President Matt Deister said the League is planning tryouts to be held on Saturday, March 15, and on Thursday, March 20, at Webutuck high school and middle school gyms. Exact times will be announced but the expectation is that March 15 tryout will be in the morning and that the March 20 event will be in the early evening.
Volunteers and parent coaches are also welcomed for teams that range from 4-6 years of age to seniors at 13-16 years.
The start of the season is targeted to be mid-April, though an exact date has not been set. Teams play in Millerton at the Eddie Collins Memorial Park field and at Beekman Park in Amenia.
The Webutuck Little League season is bookended with an Opening Day celebration that amounts to a party for players and parents and a celebration at the end of the season when play is wrapped up and players receive trophies and more hot dogs and hamburgers.
At an organizational meeting on Tuesday, March 4, at the Webutuck Elementary School gym, where pitching practice was underway for players already signed up, the Webutuck Little League Board discussed plans for sponsorships, tryouts, safety training for coaches and other events planned for the spring.
Besides Deister, other officers include Eric Eschbach, vice president; Judy Moran, treasurer; and Jessica Deister, secretary. The next Board meeting is March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Webutuck Elementary School gym.
For more information about registration or volunteering, email webutucklittleleague@gmail.com.
The League’s Facebook page is WebutuckLittleLeague.
POUGHKEEPSIE — In a letter directed to Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, on Feb. 27, New York State attorney general Letitia James emphasized the consequences of downsizing services at their Poughkeepsie office.
On the heels of the news at the Poughkeepsie location, the social security office in White Plains is scheduled to close. Westchester officials have been weighing a plan to offer a county-owned location in a bid to preserve the office.
The Trump administration has recently made a series of cuts affecting funding for various agencies and programs, but James maintained social security must be enshrined.
“Social Security is a sacred promise that this country makes to its citizens,” James said. “Seniors and people with disabilities throughout the Hudson Valley rely on the White Plains and Poughkeepsie offices to ensure they receive the support they deserve. Protecting access to Social Security and the rights of vulnerable New Yorkers must transcend politics and be a principle that all those in public service support.”
James pointed out anyone in need of services past what is currently offered at the Poughkeepsie location would be faced with extended travel times. For seniors and individuals with challenges who reside in Northern Dutchess, the reduction of service at Poughkeepsie and the closure at White Plains means traveling to the Hudson, Middletown or Peekskill locations — or further. It is feasible additional locations could face funding cuts or closures in the future.
“Shuttering our Poughkeepsie Social Security office and the pending closure in White Plains puts an unconscionable burden on our neighbors, from seniors to wounded veterans, and individuals with disabilities, who rely on these vital benefits and the convenience of local services,” Sen. Michelle Hinchey, D-41, said. “It’s the federal government’s job to administer Social Security. That job includes making sure no one is left behind or subject to delays and roadblocks. We need clarity from the SSA on their plans and a commitment to ensuring these facilities remain available locally.”
Lent: Time to consider social gospel movement
We are entering the annual Christian season of Lent this week.With its 40 days of contemplation and “little Easter” Sundays, it is a time to remember the healing ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus.During this season, we are invited to think deeply about our role as agents of grace and love in our hurting world.
There is a long history of making sacrifices and commitments for Lent, modeling our discipleship and hopes for a more heavenly world. It is through this lens that I invite you to join us in considering what gifts and services the community needs that we can commit to bringing forth in the weeks leading up to Easter.While many lean into solitary introspection during Lent, it may be particularly advantageous to use our meditations and sacrifices for the greater good this year.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, advised his followers centuries ago that “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love is the length and depth and breadth and height of Christian perfection.”These words are connected to the firm belief of Wesley that a Methodist was fundamentally one who loved God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul, along with loving one’s neighbor as oneself.He believed that being in love with God naturally also required loving other people, as every person was a beloved soul coming from the same source of life that we are.
Consequently, Wesley stood against slavery long before it was a popular view, prioritized caring for those who were poor and imprisoned, and made a point to do good to as many as he could for as long as he was physically able.
Indeed, the Methodists are not the only Christians who believe such things.These thoughts are primary messages of the Christian faith.In more recent history, we can note that during the time of the Golden Age, at the end of the late 19th century, the Christians mobilized to counteract the abject poverty, child labor, dangerous working conditions, and lack of education of the time.Famous theologians such as Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, and W.E.B. DuBois began the Social Gospel movement, enacting with new verve the passion of Christ that empowers the community toward building the Kingdom of God.As Christians, they believed in uplifting the downtrodden and creating a community where all had a chance to thrive.Child labor laws were enacted, better working conditions were secured, Sunday School helped provide education, settlement houses were created, and the Salvation Army was born.
The social gospel movement continued in another wave of reforms and empowerment through the Civil Rights era.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his intellect, energy, and life to help secure the reforms that enabled persons of color to vote, go to non-segregated schools, and have the right to share public spaces without discrimination.Like Christ, he paid the ultimate price for his prophetic vision.However, his impact on our society was formidable, lasting far beyond his short lifetime.
As Christians, it is very clear what to do in times of hardship, crisis, or challenge.Throughout the centuries, our call has been to help heal the world, doing whatever we can to uplift and transform loneliness into community, reminding each one how precious they are and how important it is to unite for the sake of the whole.Individually, the challenges can be overwhelming, even too much to bear.Collectively, we can do all things through the One who strengthens us.As they say, “We have the receipts!” We can do it again.
This Lent, let us give up our pessimism and fear, replacing it with a commitment to community and hope.Yes, things can seem dreadful, but our souls are not served by allowing ourselves to descend into the dark.We are keepers of the light.Let us do all within our power to create brightness so that its warmth may strengthen all as we live into the Social Gospel movement for our time.Chin up, friends, we can do this.We simply must be willing to get serious about doing it together.
Rev. Dr. Anna Crews Camphouse is pastor of Canaan, Lakeville, Millerton, and Sharon United Methodist Churches
Lead Pastor of the Northwestern Hills Cooperative
Parish UMC