PINE PLAINS — While some fall traditions have changed this year due to COVID-19, the Pine Plains Free Library and The Little Nine Partners Historical Society have devised a safe way to still host the annual Evergreen Cemetery Lantern Tours, sharing ghoulish history while making sure tourists social distance.
An unfailing source of autumn amusement for residents, visitors and history buffs alike, the tours are one of the library’s most popular fundraisers, a night that draws attention to the town of Pine Plains and casts the spotlight on the people who helped shape its history. Given the crowds that have come in the past, fans might wonder what organizers have in mind during a global pandemic. Though they had originally planned on doing a video broadcast only, Little Nine Partners Historical Society President Dyan Wapnick said they received such an overwhelming response from people who wanted to see a live tour that they decided to do both a live version and a video broadcast and work with social distancing guidelines.
“We believe this will be one of the few live tours in the area this year,” Wapnick said, “and we are taking every precaution necessary to make it both safe and enjoyable. I think it shows that people are looking for some normalcy in their lives, and this is something that the town looks forward to every fall. It’s a fun and educational way to support the library.”
As far as adapting the tours to fit COVID-19 guidelines, Wapnick said they had to scale back the number of people allowed on each tour to 25. Meanwhile, Beth McLiverty, president of the Pine Plains Free Library Board of Trustees, said they’ll have staff on hand to ensure social distancing and face masks are enforced.
“It’s a completely contact-free event and outdoors, so we feel we can safely do this,” McLiverty said.
All tickets must be purchased in advance, check-in will be contactless, simply involving checking guests off a list. There will be an optional one-page tour program that guests can choose to pick up or not. To make sure they never exceed a capacity of about 35 to 40 people at the check-in area (including staff), McLiverty said guests won’t be allowed to linger after the shows. Hand sanitizer will be made available, and the staff will sanitize its hands every 20 to 30 minutes.
“We would never want to compromise our community’s safety,” McLiverty said, “so even though we won’t raise as much money as in the past, we believe this is a good compromise to have a smaller event for people to enjoy while following safety protocols.”
This year’s tours will be held on Friday, Oct. 30, with a rain date of Sunday, Nov. 1. With each tour timed at 60 minutes, the tours will be held at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Meeting at 19 Maple St. in Pine Plains, spectators will take the tour through the Evergreen Cemetery.
Tickets cost $15 for adults and $5 for students and seniors, and may be purchased either online at www.pineplains-ny.gov/evergreen-cemetery-lantern-tour-october-302020 or in-person at the Pine Plains Free Library, located at 7775 South Main St.
Should one prefer a virtual tour, McLiverty said it can be viewed on YouTube starting on Sunday, Nov. 1.
For more information, call the library at 518-398-1927 or go to www.pineplainslibrary.org.
Due to the incoming inclement weather, the Pine Plains Free Library and The Little Nine Partners Historical Society’s Evergreen Cemetery Lantern Tours planned for Friday, Oct. 30, will be moving to Sunday, Nov. 1. Please note that all tour times are already full.
Anyone who has already purchased a ticket but can no longer attend should let organizers know ASAP as they have a waiting list for the event.
AMENIA — The first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School went smoothly, with teachers enthusiastically greeting the eager young students disembarking from buses. Excitement was measurable, with only a few tears from parents, but school began anyway.
Ready for her first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School, Liliana Cawley, 7, would soon join her second grade class, but first she posed for a photo to mark the occasion.Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — While the courage and perseverance of Revolutionary era patriots is well understood and celebrated, the stories of the fate of British loyalists in New York are not as clear.
Seen as the initial event in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Amenia Historical Society will present a talk titled, “The Plight of a Loyalist in Revolutionary New York,” examining the journal of Cadwallader Colden, Jr., spanning the period of 1777-1779. The speaker will be noted author, genealogist and historian Jay Campbell.
The talk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Smithfield Presbyterian Church in Amenia. The handicapped-accessible church is located at 656 Smithfield Valley Road. Refreshments will be served.
Colden was the son of a New York Lieutenant Governor. He was a surveyor, farmer and mercantilist, serving as a judge in Ulster County. His fortunes changed dramatically with the dawn of the Revolutionary War when he remained loyal to the British Crown. His arrest came in 1776, just before the start of his journal.
Campbell is a historian specializing in Hudson Valley history, and the regional stories of Revolutionary era families.
Erin Rollins of Millbrook in the Fashion Feed booth, open year round, at the Millbrook Antiques Mall. All proceeds from Fashion Feeds go to the Food of Life Pantry. As an interior designer by trade, Rollins designed this booth to evoke a high-end department store to align with the designer brands she carries.
MILLERTON — The Townscape 50/50 raffle drawing has collected a pot of more than $7,000.
That raffle drawing will take place this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Veteran’s Park. The moment is not just about picking a winner, but also about reflecting on how far Townscape has come since its humble beginnings in 1998, when founder Catherine Fenn — alongside Renee Vollen and Jan Gilmor — first set out to beautify her beloved village.
Fenn’s connection to Millerton runs deep. “I moved here from the Bronx when I was eight years old and fell in love with the place, even as a child,” she recalled, remembering camping trips at Rudd Pond and enjoying the quiet pace of life.
At 15, her family relocated to southern Connecticut. “My dad didn’t think there was much here for us, so we moved. I left kicking and screaming, literally, and I said, ‘Someday I’m coming back.’”
Years later, after marrying, divorcing, and raising children, Fenn kept that promise. She returned to Millerton and married a childhood friend who was very involved in the fire department. After his passing, Fenn threw herself into her own way of giving back.
“I care about this village deeply. Townscape is my way of helping Millerton be the best it can be,” she said.
What began as an informal effort to gather volunteers and plant flowers eventually blossomed into something larger. “We started with flowers up and down Main Street — barrels of them everywhere. Then it grew into benches, tables, trees and even events. It was such a fun world, a really wonderful organization with so many people involved.”
Fenn’s service to the community extends beyond beautification. She spent roughly two decades on the Planning Board, served as Town Supervisor and worked with the county housing authority. Still, her passion for flowers, trees and landscapes has left the most visible mark on Millerton — shaping not only how the village looks, but how it feels.
In 2006, Townscape became a nonprofit organization. But beautification, Fenn admits, isn’t always the easiest cause to fund. “We’re just putting flowers out — and I shouldn’t say ‘just,’ because to me it’s really important. The trees, the benches, all of it matters. But it’s not high on most people’s list when they think about charitable donations. Still, people have been wonderfully generous over the years.”
This Saturday’s raffle drawing is one way neighbors can show their support. The winner does not have to be present to claim the prize, but those who stop by can enjoy cookies, lemonade and artwork by local creators on display in the park.
MILLBROOK — Local crows should prepare to become highly spooked as planners of Millbrook Community Day, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, have announced that a Scarecrow Contest will be part of the festivities.
Residents are invited to get creative and devise their own renditions of a scarecrow from traditional to whatever imagination might come up with.
Judging criteria will include creativity, including originality, new ideas, or perhaps whether the scarecrow tells a story. Design criteria include the creator’s technique, materials — recycled materials are emphatically a plus — and durability.
Rules include that scarecrows be free-standing, able to stand on their own or with minimal support. No scarecrow can be store-bought. Entries must be able to fit within a 6 x 6 foot space once assembled. A stand is available upon request. Scarecrows must be non-political, family friendly, and in a good-natured spirit.
Entrants are responsible for set-up, scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. on Sept. 20, location to be assigned the week before. Judging will begin at 1 p.m. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m.
For more information and to register to participate, email mba@millbrooknewyork.com or go to www.millbrooknewyork.com/community-day-2025
