MILLBROOK — “When COVID-19 hit, Tiffany was the first caregiver to raise her hand and say she would care for our COVID-positive residents,” said Executive Director at The Inn at The Fountains Linda Lomangino. “During this time she signed up to live on our property and worked 12-hour shifts daily under difficult circumstances as residents were separated from their families and each other.”
That’s high praise indeed, for a young lady who is just barely 20 years old — especially since it came from her boss at The Inn at The Fountains in Millbrook, an independent-living retirement community not far from where Tiffany Becker herself lives in Salt Point.
Becker was only 17 when she began working part-time in the kitchen at The Inn, a job she said she loved because of her appreciation for the nurses and caregivers there.
She also loved the patients she served and got to know while working there. That’s the primary reason why she decided to continue on at The Inn, and was determined to become a nurse. Becker is now enrolled in the Dutchess BOCES School of Practical Nursing in Poughkeepsie.
Her direct manager at The Inn, Lomangino, BSN, RN, wrote a letter to the Empire State Association of Assisted Living, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening New York State’s assisted living sector. She nominating Becker for a nursing scholarship to help finance her studies.
In her letter, Lomangino stated the following:
“The pandemic year 2020 brought out the best and worst in people. I am sure you are aware of the staffing struggles that COVID-19 put upon the long-term care communities. Many assisted living associates were not up to the challenge of working in an environment with an unknown virus. The Inn at Millbrook was fortunate to employ people who not only rose to the expectations, but thrived during that time.
“Miss Tiffany Becker was one of those people. Tiffany is one of my caregivers who listened, observed protocols, and worked diligently to ensure the health and safety of our residents. She volunteered to work directly with our COVID-positive residents on a 12-hour shift. Tiffany lived on our campus for weeks to be available, even on her time off, if we found a shift that needed more staff. She always showed professionalism in her work. Tiffany’s demeanor and work ethic surprised me at times because she was still only a teenager.”
Becker is proud to be the recipient of the annual award, named in honor of Benay Phillips, a leader in the assisted living industry and an advocate for staff training. The program that allots $2,000 and is in its 14th year.
She is also very grateful to the nurses at The Inn, who often help with her studies. She thinks it’s their support that encouraged her to pursue nursing.
She will finish her studies this spring. While working during the worst of the pandemic might have deterred some people, it only strengthened Becker’s resolve to remain in the field.
“The Inn is small, and we were all very close; the patients had no access to their families or each other,” she said. “It must have been so hard for them, and they must have been scared; we wore masks, PPE, with face shields and long gowns. There was no community life, no activities, just full-out isolation.”
Becker added the staff did whatever it could to comfort patients, which for her included not going home to nearby Salt Point for six months for fear of bringing the COVID virus to her family. The Inn lost six of its residents to the disease, a loss keenly felt by all.
“It was like losing family members, we were that close,” said Becker sadly.
She added she loves working with the elderly, not just because she likes caring for them, but for practical reasons as well.
“You can learn so much from them,” said the enthusiastic nursing student. “Working with the elderly there are a variety of conditions that you need to learn about: How to treat wound care and diseases specific to the elderly, but also [those] found in younger patients.”
Although not certain of her plans after graduation, Becker knows the base foundation of knowledge she’s received at The Fountains has provided her with a well of information in the fields of nursing and healthcare that will prove invaluable as she moves through life. For that, she said, she will always be grateful.
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 “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.
