Millbrook resident wins photo contest

Lucas “Luke” Kelly won Central Hudson’s ninth annual fall foliage photo contest with an early morning photo he took of the Catskills this November, shown here in all its glory. Photo submitted
MILLBROOK — Lucas “Luke” Kelly said he is proud to have won the ninth annual fall foliage photo contest sponsored by Central Hudson Gas and Electric, along with a $750 check and a framed print of his photo.
“I’ve known about Central Hudson’s fall foliage photo contest for years. It was a goal of mine to win it someday,” said Kelly. “I entered once, three or four years ago, and didn’t make it into the finalists. I hadn’t entered the contest in the last few years because I was traveling, so I decided to give it another shot this year.”
But he cut it close, he said.
‘The entry deadline was Nov. 5th, but by Nov. 3rd I still hadn’t taken any fall foliage photos.”
Driving to work on the Taconic State Parkway, Kelly said he saw two brilliant sunrises consecutively on the first and second days of November, and found his inspiration.
The day before the contest deadline, he woke up at 5 a.m. to take what turned out to be the winning photograph.
“I thought that if we had another morning like that, I might be able to get a good photo to submit for the contest,” said the Millbrook resident. “I drove up to Ferncliff Forest in Rhinebeck, climbed up the fire tower and waited for the sun to rise. It was freezing cold, but as I expected, there was a spectacular sunrise. The Catskills were glowing pink, and the first light of the day hitting the trees made their colors even more vibrant. That turned out to be the winning photo.”
Kelly added that he grew up in nearby Red Hook.
“Growing up in the Hudson Valley really fostered my love for the outdoors and nature,” he said.
A love of travel has kept him moving over the years. He even worked as a commercial fisherman in Alaska some summers to earn money to continue to travel.
A 2012 graduate of Ithaca College, Kelly discovered he also loves photography, which he practices while traveling.
“Throughout my early 20s, I worked in Alaska on a commercial salmon fishing boat in the summertime to pay for the next trip,” he said. “It was hard and sometimes dangerous work, but I loved it, and it allowed me to travel to some really incredible places like Patagonia, New Zealand, Nepal and Tanzania. I’ve been to six continents, 40-something countries and almost all of the states.”
After years of taking photos just to show people the places he’s visited, he realized that he had an aptitude for photography and decided to teach himself landscape photography.
He now has a business selling prints of his photos, and calendars.
“I share my work on Instagram, Facebook and Etsy under the name LukeKellyTravels,” he said, adding that before the pandemic he gave motivational speeches at area schools about his travels. “I’d really like to get back to doing that, but my business has been growing… my plan is to just keep working as hard as I can on photography, traveling when I can and seeing where it goes from here.”
Kelly and his fiancé, Victoria, recently moved to Millbrook.
“We really like the area so far,” he said. “We wanted to live in a small town that has a strong sense of community."
He said he “was happy” when he learned he won the contest.
“We’re lucky to live in such a scenic area,” said Kelly. “All of the finalists’ photos were awesome, and I want to congratulate them on their spectacular work. I also want to thank Central Hudson for putting this contest on every year. It’s a pretty cool thing to do.”
To view the finalists’ photos, go to www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=centralhudson.
Lucas “Luke” Kelly, shown here canoeing, won the photo contest sponsored by Central Hudson Gas & Electric. Photo submitted
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.