Man sets powerlifting record, on track for world-wide record

Septuagenarian Mike Burch of Boston Corners set a powerlifting record on Sept. 3 in Oakville, Connecticut, when he deadlifted 500 pounds.
Photo by Michael Burch
BOSTON CORNERS — For Mike Burch, setting a powerlifting record is something that just had to happen.
On Sept. 3rd at the Steel Beach Gym in Oakville, Connecticut, Burch stepped up to the plate and deadlifted 500 lbs. — a record in his class at the World Powerlifting Association (WPA), which has been hosting competitions since 1989.
The thing about Mike: he’s 72 years old. Cutting a figure somewhere between a Viking and a fit Saint Nicholas, Burch’s accomplishment puts him among an elite class of lifters pushing the limits of possibility. Only ten other men have deadlifted over 500 lbs. in Mike’s category; most hover between 300-400 lbs.
Previously, Yuri Starkov had set the WPA-record for the Masters 70-74, 198 lb. category in April of 2019 by pulling 485 lbs. Worldwide, the record is held by Howard Myers who deadlifted 562.2 lbs. in November of 2018.
When asked what drives him to compete at such a high level, Burch cites his grandson, saying:
“My grandson got me out of the gym and back into competition. I started him out when he was two years old... he’s seventeen now, we’ve been lifting together for 15 years. He only weighs 125 and he’s pulling 300 lbs. deadlift. So he really inspires me.”
But powerlifting isn’t a recent passion for Mike Burch. He’s been in the game since 1956, when a childhood diagnosis of asthma drove him to find a way to improve his lung capacity — and from there, “it just kind of snowballed.”
Mike was a top-ranked powerlifter in the ’70s and ’80s, taking first place in the USPF Capital District Open in 1980 at the age of 29.
Forty-three years later, though his body may have aged, his drive has remained unchanged.
“It’s the same! I really haven’t changed. It’s the same mindset, I really haven’t changed! (laughter) I just get out there and do my thing.”
To stay healthy and pull off such astounding feats, Burch wakes up at 4 a.m., works out six-days a week, eats well, takes it slow, and is dedicated to good form. When asked how he keeps such a devoted schedule, Mike says:
“The key is I never stopped. That’s what the key is. I never stopped working out. I just kept going.”
As for what’s next, Burch plans to compete in the Nov. 12th American Powerlifting Association (APA) US Open Championships—and his goal is to pull 550 lbs., for which, “Everything’s on track. I just gotta stay healthy.”
Asked what motivates him to set these records, Mike answered: “I just have to do it.”
Built in 1820, 1168 Bangall Amenia Road sold for $875,000 on July 31 with the transfer recorded in August. It has a Millbrook post office and is located in the Webutuck school district.
STANFORD — The Town of Stanford with nine transfers in two months reached a median price in August of $573,000 for single family homes, still below Stanford’s all-time median high in August 2024 of $640,000.
At the beginning of October there is a large inventory of single-family homes listed for sale with only six of the 18 homes listed for below the median price of $573,000 and seven above $1 million.
July transfers
79 Ernest Road — 4 bedroom/2.5 bath home on 6.87 acres in 2 parcels sold to Matthew C. Marinetti for $1,225,000.
29 Drake Road — 3 bedroom/3.5 bath home on 2 acres sold to Harper Montgomery for $850,000.
6042 Route 82 — 4 bedroom/2 bath home on 1.09 acres sold to Spencer Thompson for $795,000.
125 Tick Tock Way — 3 bedroom/2.5 bath ranch on 1.9 acres sold to Fleur Touchard for $475,000.
August transfers
102 Prospect Hill Road — 3 bedroom/2 bath home on 6.35 acres sold to Karl Creighton Pfister for $565,000.
252 Ernest Road — 2 bedroom/1 bath cottage on .85 acres sold to Meg Bumie for $465,000.
1196 Bangall Amenia Road — 4 bedroom/2.5 bath home on 2.16 acres sold to Roderick Alleyne for $875,000.
Hunns Lake Road (#759929) — 59.1 acres of residential land sold to Argos Farm LLC for $3,325,000.
* Town of Stanford recorded real estate transfers from July 1 to August 31 provided by Dutchess County Real Property Office monthly transfer reports. Details on each property from Dutchess Parcel Access - properties with an # indicate location on Dutchess Parcel Access. Market data from One Key MLS and Infosparks .Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Advisor with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in Connecticut and New York.
Hunt club members and friends gathered near Pugsley Hill at the historic Wethersfield Estate and Gardens in Amenia for the opening meet of the 2025-2026 Millbrook Hunt Club season on Saturday, Oct. 4. Foxhunters took off from Wethersfield’s hilltop gardens just after 8 a.m. for a hunting jaunt around Amenia’s countryside.
Joining in the fun at the dedication of the new pollinator pathway garden at The Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4, local expert gardener Maryanne Snow Pitts provides information about a planting to Lorraine Mirabella of Poughkeepsie.
MILLBROOK — Participating in a patchwork of libraries that have planted pollinator pathway gardens to attract insects and birds to their native plantings was one of the accomplishments being celebrated at the dedication of a new pollinator garden at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4.
“A lot of work went into it,” said Emma Sweeney, past President of the Millbrook Garden Club, who started the local library’s initiative two years ago.
The Pollinator Pathway program is a national effort to plant native plants that native insects depend upon for sustenance and preferred plants for their own seasonal reproduction.
Jana Hogan of Ridgefield, Connecticut, Executive Director of the Pollinator Pathway program, was on hand to present a plaque to the library for its successful participation.
“A garden is not just a garden,” said garden designer Andy Durbridge of Wassaic, designer of the library’s garden. “It may serve as a model for other gardens along the line.”
Speaking to the 50 visitors at the dedication, Durbridge said that the library’s garden has a mission, that it is a working garden, planned to serve insects and birds over their seasons. The earliest plants support pollinators, while the full range of plants continues to serve the needs of those they attract, offering habitat, shelter and food.
A pollinator garden is akin to a prairie, rather than a formalized European garden, Durbridge noted.
The garden project was supported by the library’s Friends group using funds raised during the Holiday Silent Auction and ongoing book sale. A grant from the Millbrook Garden Club also provided support.
Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.
AMENIA — After gathering comments from the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, as it considers adding alternate members to those boards, the Town Board discussed possible changes to local laws governing those boards at its meeting on Friday, Oct. 3. The meeting date, usually on a Thursday, had been changed to accommodate a holiday.
In recent weeks Town Board attorney Ian Lindars has been compiling comments from the affected boards along with comments from the Town Board. The new laws may bring the appointment of two alternate members to each board. Alternate members are likely to be required to attend all meetings and be prepared to be seated if needed and be familiar with the applications being discussed. They would also need to take training required of all board members.
Lindars will prepare a draft of the new local laws to be reviewed by the Town Board and the affected boards.
As the Town Board begins work on the town’s annual budget negotiation process and anticipating an increase in some budget lines to accommodate major projects, the board unanimously approved three resolutions. The first will override the tax levy limit imposed on municipalities by the state of New York, a limit generally tied to the rate of inflation.
A public hearing on the proposal to override the levy limit was set for Thursday, November 6, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.