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Charles H. ‘Chip’ Collins
Dec 11, 2024
NORFOLK — Charles H. “Chip” Collins, 70, died peacefully on Nov. 29, 2024, after a long illness with dementia. He was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend. Chip was a visionary leader whose life and work left a lasting im pact in land and wildlife conservation.
Chip was born Oct. 20, 1954, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Francis H. Collins and Nancy C. Collins. He graduated from St. Mark’s School in 1973, and went on to study history at Colorado College, earning his bach elor’s degree in 1977. In 1992, Chip earned a master’s degree in environmental studies from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.
Chip’s job at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy marked the start of a distinguished 40-year career dedicated to protecting the natural world. He served in several influential roles, including Colorado State Director for The Nature Conservancy and Vice President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. In 1986, Chip was named the first Executive Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. After graduate school, Chip moved to Massachusetts to serve as Vice President of Winslow Management, an environmental investment management firm. In 1995, Chip co-founded The Forestland Group, LLC, a timberland investment management organization, where he served as Managing Director until his retirement in 2014.
Chip married Anne Childs in 1989, and together they raised three children, Teddy, Caroline, and Alice, in Watertown, Massachusetts. Being a dad was Chip’s most cherished role in life. In addition to his professional work, Chip served on the Board of Directors for the Land Trust Alliance, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the Institute for Ecosystem Studies, Great Mountain Forest, the Student Conservation Association, the Quebec-Labrador Foundation, Shady Hill School, and the Jane Coffin Childs Fund for Cancer Research.
Chip’s dedication to the environment was matched only by his deep love for wild places and the species that inhabit them. An avid outdoorsman, Chip traveled widely on fishing and hunting trips. He loved growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, calling waterfowl with his dad and two brothers, and spending his summers on Lake Muskoka and Deer Lake in Ontario. He loved exploring the mountains of Colorado and the woods of Northwestern Connecticut.
Chip received exceptional care from many compassionate caregivers as his health declined. He never lost his love for the outdoors. Chip is survived by his wife, three children, daughter-in-law, Tory Collins, his mother, and his siblings, Alice Collins, Francis “Pat” Collins, and Edison “Eddie” Collins, along with many loved family members. A service will be held at Story Chapel in Mount Auburn Cemetery , Cambridge, Mass., at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the conser vation organization of your choice.
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Traditional Christmas Concert and Tea heralded the season and the memory of Pine Plains organist Will Carter
Dec 11, 2024
The Smithfield Church’s traditional Christmas Concert and Tea drew an enthusiastic overflow audience on Saturday, Dec. 7, to hear a varied holiday program performed by the Smithfield Chamber Orchestra, the final concert of the Bang Family Concert Series. The orchestra acknowledged the standing ovation at the concert’s end.
Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — Long a tradition within the Smithfield Valley, the annual Smithfield Church Christmas Concert and Tea thrilled an overflow audience on Saturday, Dec. 7. In addition to offering a varied selection of music within its historically authentic sanctuary space, the concert was dedicated to the memory of celebrated organist Will Carter of Pine Plains.
Performing under the baton of conductor Milt Lee, the Smithfield Chamber Orchestra of 14 members played a varied program of seasonal holiday music, along with Brazilian jazz, folk, Broadway and as an encore, “Jingle Bell Rock.” The audience got into the act with a sing-along portion that proved to be so successful it will likely become part of the annual tradition.
This year’s concert carried additional importance with the dedication of a plaque to the memory of organist Will Carter who in 2008 was the first featured solo organist to perform at the Christmas Concert and Tea. He went on to become the church’s regular organist for Sunday services. The plaque will be permanently affixed near the 1893 Johnson and Sons tracker organ that Carter relished playing. Carter died in the spring of this year.
Matt Finley, Director of the Smithfield Chamber Orchestra and a Pine Plains resident, noted that he first met Carter in Pine Plains, having learned that Carter was the owner and proprietor of the Pine Plains Wine and Spirits Shop, just 200 feet from Finley’s home. The musical connection was made.
Carter had served as church organist at Riverside Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. He was twice decorated by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to church music. His celebrated tenure at The Smithfield Church provided the concluding chapter in his professional performing life.
To view the concert video, go to www.thesmithfieldchurch.org.
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POUGHKEEPSIE — Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino announced the preservation of the 143 acre Obercreek Farm in the Town of Wappinger, bringing the total land preserved by the county’s Partnership for Manageable Growth to over 5,000 acres.
The County’s Partnership for Manageable Growth is a program aimed at protecting agriculture and open space resources. It provides a local fund for purchases of land for preservation, covering up to 50% of the total cost. So far, the program has helped protect 5,722 acres of both farmland and open space, including awaiting projects, in Dutchess County.
Obercreek Farm marked the 29th farmland preservation that has been completed by the Partnership for Manageable Growth since 1999. However, through the program, the County has protected a total of 39 projects including both open space and farmland proposals, totaling over $42 million. Dutchess County’s Partnership for Manageable Growth program provided 25% of that funding, $481,981, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets contributed $1,442,378 and the Dutchess Land Conservancy gave $6,000.
Alongside the environmental benefits, the preservation of land through Partnership for Manageable Growth allows support of the agricultural industry’s economic viability. This allows farmers, who participate in the program, to protect their land and further benefit the community by farming for more generations to come.
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POUGHKEEPSIE — Starting in early 2025, public transit ridership in Dutchess County will see modifications to routes throughout the county.
Northern Dutchess riders will see changes to Route D service, which currently runs between Poughkeepsie and Dover. Its easternmost stop will now be in the village of Millbrook. Due to low ridership, Dover and Wassaic stops on Route D will be eliminated.
In addition to the route changes, Dutchess ridership will also see expanded service and greater exchanges of information with the public regarding improvements and updates coupled with web-based tracking and the creation of the new, enhanced SPOT app which replaced the DoubleMap app in October. Some of the features on SPOT include real-time updates and customization abilities.
According to county executive Sue Serino, the upcoming revisions are the result of public input and subsequent government response. “Over the past year, we have listened to our community’s concerns and input about bus service,” Serino said. “The team at Dutchess County Public Transit has worked tirelessly to fine-tune fixed-route changes, addressing the various concerns and ensuring efficiency in the bus system to keep it sustainable for the future.”
For more information, visit dutchessny.gov/publictransit or call (845) 473-8424.
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