PINE PLAINS — After celebrating victory after victory on the ball field these past few weeks, the Pine Plains softball 10 and under (10-u) Allstars softball team is now headed to the state championship tournament with their bats at the ready and the Pine Plains community cheering them on.
With Coach Andy Belanger guiding them, the 10-u team is currently comprised of 12 local players. It was only last year that the majority of the team held a softball for the first time, according to Pine Plains Little League Baseball and Softball Program President Rich Tamburrino — today, he said they’re performing at the top level.
“They have shown great skills and pure talent from the top of the line up to the bottom,” Tamburrino said in praise of the young athletes.
As for the coach, on top of all his hard work maintaining the town’s playing fields and helping the Little League Baseball and Softball Committee, Tamburrino spoke highly of Belanger’s excellence and dedication as a coach, saying the team is an extension of Belanger.
Tamburrino reported the team started its playoff run with an undefeated season, taking down teams from LaGrange, Poughkeepsie and Pawling in the process and finishing its regular softball season with a 17-0 record.
Moving into the Allstars games, the team beat Pawling/Dover on Monday, July 5, winning the District 17 Championship. The team then advanced to sectionals where they defeated Indian Valley, 23-3, and then Chatham with a score of 11-4.
As of today, Tamburrino said the team is “the number one seed in Section 2 South.”
It headed to Rochester for the week-long state finals, scheduled for Tuesday, July 20, through Sunday, July 25, with the first few days set aside for a round robin to determine seeding, followed by semifinal/final elimination rounds.
Praising each and every player on the team for their athleticism, talents and teamwork, Tamburrino said, “All of these girls are hard workers and you can see that at practice. They come early and, to the parents’ dismay, stay late. They are hungry for competition and look forward to playing good teams at the State Championship Tournament. They look at how hard it will be to win states and smile right back.”
The girls themselves said they were very excited about their success this season and the prospect of going to states.
Proud of their softball team for their feats on the field, the Pine Plains community rallied behind the girls to help them get to the states on a high note. Realizing the team was short of funds to get to Rochester to compete at the state level, The Stissing Center performing arts center launched a fundraiser to help raise the $10,000 needed to cover lodging costs during the tournament. The players’ parents and coaches paid to cover the costs of food and travel.
Any funds raised in excess of the lodging costs will go to the Pine Plains Recreation Department to help fund the construction of new softball dugouts.
As a credit to the community spirit of Pine Plains — not to mention the town’s love of all things softball and baseball — in two days, The Stissing Center announced it had reached its fundraising goal with local businesses collecting money in cash jars.
As posted in her recent town newsletter, Pine Plains town Supervisor and fervent cheerleader Darrah Cloud remarked it was the cash jar at the Platter that helped them reach the goal.
Thanking the town of its terrific support, Cloud wrote, “You continue to be the small town where people take care of each other. Play ball, Pine Plains!”
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.
