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.
The former Presbyterian church on Main Street in Millerton, which Millerton resident Alex That has proposed converting into a private education center
MILLERTON — Millerton resident Alex That presented plans for the former Presbyterian church on Main Street to the Millerton Planning Board at a rescheduled meeting Tuesday, Dec. 16.
That is proposing to convert the church into a private education center offering classes in music, video production and DJing for people of all abilities.
The Millerton site would be the second location for Caffeine Academy, which opened its first location in West Babylon, N.Y., in 2013.
The meeting was marked by confusion over the village’s application approval process, with That and his architect repeatedly asking board members to clarify what steps were required and in what order they would occur.
During public comment, Zoning Board of Appeals Chair Kelly Kilmer explained there are two potential paths forward for the application.
One option would require That to apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a parking variance, a process that would involve a full environmental review and public hearings separate from those required by the Planning Board.
The second option would be to wait for a recently passed local law to take effect. The law exempts buildings in the village’s General Business District from additional parking requirements, which would eliminate the need for a parking variance.
“The Village of Millerton Board passed a local law amending the village code for the General Business District and parking variances, which, in all honesty, Alex, works in your favor,” Kilmer said.
Kilmer said Local Law C must be stamped and filed by the New York Secretary of State before it officially goes into effect. The process typically takes between 30 and 60 days and could be further delayed by the holiday season.
Until that approval is finalized, the Caffeine Academy proposal would require parking variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
“If you want to move forward, you would fill out an application,” Kilmer said. “I’ll make sure that we get a meeting together.”
Planning Board members recommended that the application move to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a parking variance. However, it remained unclear at the end of the meeting whether That would proceed with that option or wait until Local Law C is officially on the books.
The former agricultural weigh station at 7723 S. Main St. in Pine Plains, where the Planning Board approved plans for the proposed Upstate Pines cannabis dispensary.
PINE PLAINS — Planning Board members granted final approval Wednesday, Dec. 17, for two major commercial projects: the proposed Upstate Pines cannabis dispensary and a large lumber mill and showroom.
The site plan for the dispensary was approved by a 6–0 vote.
The proposed cannabis dispensary will be the second location of Red Hook-based dispensary business Upstate Pines, founded by Brian Seiler, Ben Abrahams and Ben Abrahams in 2024. Planning board members approved site plans that propose to utilize the former historic weigh station building at 7723 S. Main St. across from the Pine Plains Post Office.
The proposal, designed by architect Kristina Dousharm, underwent a lengthy approval process that included public comment earlier in the fall. Residents urged the board to be mindful of the building’s historic character — as the community’s former agricultural weighing station — and raised concerns about its proximity to the Pine Plains Firehouse on an adjacent parcel and the Post Office.
Although Pine Plains’ local law prohibits dispensaries within 300 feet of the firehouse or the Post Office, state law supersedes those restrictions. Planning Board members ruled in October that the local provisions are unenforceable, eliminating the need for a waiver.
Board members also approved the site plan and granted necessary waivers to The Hudson Co., which plans to build a 50,000-square-foot lumber mill, office building and showroom just south of Stewart's Shops gas station on Route 82 at the southern entrance to downtown Pine Plains.
Approval was unanimous with a 7-0 vote and no abstentions.
The lumber mill will produce wood beams, flooring and paneling.
Hudson Co. representatives proposed the large mill and expanded campus because the operation had outgrown a manufacturing facility it currently occupies at 2290 Route 199 in Pine Plains. LaBella Associates engineers designed the expanded campus.
The Upstate Pines cannabis dispensary first went before the board in August, and the Hudson Co. mill and showroom has been under review since May.
The Upstate Celtic Allstars perform celtic versions of holiday tunes at Amenia Town Hall on Dec. 15, 2024.
AMENIA — Fast becoming a local holiday tradition, the Amenia Town Recreation Department is presenting a free concert by the Upstate Celtic Allstars on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Amenia Town Hall Auditorium, beginning at 2 p.m.
The five-member Celtic Allstars ensemble will rouse the audience to holiday cheer with a varied program of holiday tunes and rhythmic dance numbers. Appearing in the ensemble are Vermont’s Claudine Langille, vocals and banjo; Dave Paton, hammer dulcimer and concertina, Isa Simon, fiddle and vocals; Joseph Sobol, contemporary cittern (related to guitar); and Ambrose Verdibello, fiddle and guitar.
Refreshments will be served during intermission. Bring the whole family to revel in the lively festivities.
AMENIA — Thomas Ford was elected to the Amenia Fire District no. 1 Board of Fire Commissioners at the district’s annual election on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Ford received 11 votes and will serve a five-year term on the five-member board.
The Board of Fire Commissioners serves as the governing body of the fire district, overseeing finances, personnel and operating policies. Each fire district is governed by an elected board of commissioners.
The Amenia Fire Company is a nonprofit organization of volunteer firefighters that provides fire protection and rescue services. The company owns and operates the Mechanic Street firehouse and the district’s ambulance.
