MILLERTON — An Amenia resident and the newest member of The Millerton News team, freelancer Emma Benardete, packs a lot of punch for a 19 year old.
A rising sophomore at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, she’s already the editor-in-chief of The Oberlin Review. The promotion from opinions editor to editor-in-chief was ground-breaking for someone so young.
“I floated the idea [of running for the position] by my current editors-in-chief, and they were very supportive,” recounted Benardete on Saturday, Aug. 27, while in Amenia for a brief break. “We discussed the pros and cons, talked it through and then I was like, ‘Why not?’”
Why not indeed. After a “contentious” election, she wound up tying for the position with her opponent. A run-off election followed and Benardete came out the victor. Now, as she begins her second year with The Review — her first foray into journalism — Benardete will help manage what is not only the college’s newspaper but the newspaper of record for the town of Oberlin. The political science and Latin major will do so along with a second editor-in-chief and the paper’s managing editor, overseeing a paid staff of students.
“The town paper closed several years back,” she explained, adding being the town’s official newspaper adds to the responsibility of producing a professional product.
A glance at her portfolio, filled with about a dozen-and-a-half samples of mostly editorials sprinkled with a couple of news stories, proves Benardete can easily stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any seasoned reporter.
Her first article for The Millerton News was published on Aug. 25, regarding grants from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation aimed to help Columbia and Putnam Counties create plans for the Hudson River, local estuaries and their general environs (at www.tricornernews.com).
During school, Benardete will continue to investigate, write and file her assignments from Ohio. As so many workplaces transitioned to functioning remotely during the COVID pandemic, she said doing so shouldn’t pose a problem.
“In terms of covering things remotely, I don’t think it will be too much of a challenge with all the brilliant technology — some phone calls, emails,” she said. “You can send someone an email to answer some questions… and later Zoom. Some stories, obviously, would be great to cover but you [might] only be able to cover [them in person], like a performance at the Sharon Playhouse.”
After attending Indian Mountain School in Salisbury, Conn., and then the Concord Academy in Concord, Mass., Benardete said she’s “excited to have the opportunity to reconnect with this community” as a reporter while attending Oberlin.
She said she also appreciates the chance to offer a younger person’s viewpoint for readers to consider.
“I’m really looking forward to being able to cover things in the area and I’m excited about being able to lend the perspective of someone who’s college-age and who has experienced this community for the last 20 years,” said Benardete. “It’s different than someone who grew up here, maybe, but did so 10 or 20 years before I did.”
She noted why she’s so drawn to journalism.
“This is the first time I found something I feel I really excel at in a way I haven’t experienced before,” said Benardete. “I feel I’ve been reasonably good at things but I didn’t have the level of skill and ability that I have at the newspaper. It provides me with a feeling of accomplishment and success, doing this thing I excel at more than I do at anything else.”
Though initially planning to study law, and now possibly politics, Benardete said while she’s “not super-certain what I want to do after I graduate, journalism is definitely a possibility.”
She described what appeals to her about the field.
“I like discourse, I like to have conversations, I like to debate, and this is sort of my way of debating in more civilized, control environment,” said Benardete. “I’m really excited to be working for The Millerton News… and I’m really looking forward also to not only working with The News but building relationships through this with a lot of local community members.”
Readers are encouraged to contact Benardete with story tips by emailing emmab@millertonnews.com.
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
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.
The North East Community Center's Early Learning Program uses the research-based Creative Curriculum, which features a flexible, play-based approach with lots of time outdoors.
MILLERTON — In its third year, the North East Community Center’s Early Learning Program has become a vibrant, nurturing space for children and an invaluable resource for families in Dutchess County, an area identified as a child care desert by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. There are openings in both the toddler and preschool rooms for children ages 18 months to five years.
The ELP follows what’s known as the Creative Curriculum, a research-based early childhood program that builds confidence, creativity and critical thinking through hands-on, project-based learning.
“Kids are natural explorers,” said Emily Redmond, Early Childhood Programs Director. “Oftentimes, they tell us what they need to learn, so we leave plenty of room to follow the child.”
Before joining NECC, Redmond spent 13 years at Washington Montessori School in Connecticut, working in both classroom and administrative roles.
She explained that the Creative Curriculum allows teachers to stay flexible and build on children’s natural curiosity. For instance, worms appearing on the playground after a rainstorm can spark endless questions, leading to unexpected learning opportunities in math, science and beyond.
Redmond noted that children in the ELP practice pre-writing skills, work with small manipulatives to build fine motor skills, immerse themselves in nature and hone social-emotional skills. All the while, NECC’s team of educators understand that play is central to early childhood development.
One thing that sets the ELP apart from other child care programs, Redmond said, is “the mythical Chef Lenny.” Lenny Sutton, NECC’s longtime food service coordinator, prepares multiple meals and snacks for the kids each day in the on-site commercial kitchen, often using locally sourced ingredients. Known for his colorful aprons and bubbly personality, he has even been spotted in the classroom playing a few songs on the guitar.
So beloved is Chef Lenny that some students incorporate his role into their own play at home, pretending to cook and serve just like him. “Not many child care programs have an on-site chef to prepare daily meals,” laughed Redmond.
The only thing more colorful or bubbly than Chef Lenny is the new classroom fish tank, a favorite feature that provides both a calming presence and learning opportunities. A lively mix of fish adds to the ambiance, including several types of goldfish, a student-favorite pictus catfish, one powder blue gourami, a halfmoon blue betta, two dalmatian mollies and more.
The ELP is fully licensed by New York State, allowing NECC to accept state subsidies and help families access financial assistance.
“We truly value all forms of diversity, including socioeconomic diversity, and as a hallmark of NECC’s mission we strive to eliminate barriers to accessing quality education,” said Redmond, noting that the organization’s Family Programs department can provide support throughout the application process, including bilingual assistance.
NECC’s Early Learning Program is a New York Office of Children and Family Services-licensed day care center located at 11 Park Street in Millerton. Contact emily@neccmillerton.org for more information.
