pine plains town board

Pine Plains defends itself: Suits on solar and taxes

PINE PLAINS — An executive session with town attorney Warren Replansky, held during the first regular Town Board meeting Thursday, Jan. 18, dealt primarily with the Carson Power project.

Replansky began the session by asking the board to appoint him as attorney to defend the Planning Board in the suit attempting to scuttle the project, a Tier III solar array planned for Pulvers Corners.

The group bringing the suit, Preserve Pine Plains, consists of four residents of the Pulvers Corners hamlet. They are suing the town under Article 78, which calls on the state Supreme Court to overturn the Planning Board’s decision to grant a special use permit to Carson Power for the planned array. The suit claims that the permit does not adhere to the zoning code nor the town’s comprehensive plan, and challenges the board’s decision that the environmental impact of the project was so minimal that a full environmental review was not necessary.

The board voted to officially name Replansky council for the defense in the case.

So far, five judges have recused themselves, and the case is now in Putnam County.

Replansky then said that he’d like to have approval from the town to enter into a pilot agreement with Carson Power’s engineering firm, Bergmann Associates, of Albany, ahead of the next town board meeting on Feb. 15. To hash out the details of the agreement, Replansky is arranging a workshop meeting with the Bergmann Associates and probably one or two members of the Planning or Zoning Board and/or the Town Board.

Replansky also discussed an ongoing tax suit against the Town, its assessor and its assessment board, brought by Sunny River LLC, which, after four years of negotiation with no settlement, may go to trial. Replansky asked that he be allowed to retain attorney William Maker, who specializes in this area, at a fee of $250 per hour. The board approved the request.

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Amelia R. Wright

Amelia R. Wright

Falls Village – Amelia Rosalie (Betti) Wright, 91, of Falls Village died September 30, 2024 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late Robert Kenneth Wright.

Amelia was born September 6, 1933 in Torrington, CT, daughter of the late Benjamin and Mary Eliza (Passini) Betti. Amelia worked at Camp Isabella Freedman as the Head Housekeeper. She was employed there for 35 years. She attended the Falls Village Congregational Church and had been very active at the Senior Center in Falls Village. She enjoyed collecting. She also enjoyed the craft classes offered by Adult Ed at the Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She enjoyed traveling, especially to the Cape, Vermont and New Hampshire. An avid flower person, Amelia had traveled to the major flower shows in both Boston and Philadelphia.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan Osborn and her husband David of Falls Village, her son, Robert H. Wright of Falls Village and her son, Donald Wright and his wife Kate of Millbrook, NY; her sister, MaryAnn Betti of Falls Village; her grandchildren, Benjamin and Katie Osborn and Jacob Wright. Amelia is also survived by her great grandson, Gunner Osborn. Amelia was predeceased by her brother, Donald Betti.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2024 in the Mountain View Cemetery, Sand Road, North Canaan, CT. Calling hours will be held at the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home, 118 Main Street, North Canaan, CT 06018 on Friday, October 4, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Falls Village Volunteer Ambulance Association, 188 US-7 South, Falls Village, CT. 06031

Stissing Mountain faces tough challenge in Rhinebeck rematch

Stissing Mountain faces tough challenge in Rhinebeck rematch

Makayla Robinson, no. 3 of Pine Plains, dribbles the ball down midfield past Rhinebeck’s Ellie Firestone, no. 13, at a soccer match at Stissing Mountain High School in Pine Plains Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Photo by Nathan Miller


“Use your head,” is particularly good advice in soccer, and Pine Plains senior Madison Spann, no. 7, obviously takes the advice to heart to win the ball from Rhinebeck senior Maddy Santoro, no. 6, in a girls’ soccer match at Stissing Mountain High School Wednesday, Sept. 25. The game ended 6-1 Rhinebeck, marking Stissing Mountain's second loss to the team.Photo by Nathan Miller

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sports

Let’s talk about dirt: soil ecology hikes at the Cary Institute

Let’s talk about dirt: soil ecology hikes at the Cary Institute

Jane Lucas, who holds a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology, at right in all black, leads an educational hike through the woods at the Cary Institute in Millbrook Sunday, Sept. 29. The group followed Lucas down the trail to Wappingers Creek, where she explained the nitrogen cycle, the phosphorous cycle and the carbon cycle and the important role soil microbes play in each.

Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLBROOK — A crowd of nearly 30 went undeterred by cool rain for a hike and lecture on soil ecology at the Cary Institute Sunday morning, Sept. 29.

Jane Lucas, who holds a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology, led the group on a brief hike in the frigid mist and discussed her research focus: microbial communities.

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environment