![It was ‘so good to see you’: Rosey’s to close Aug. 14](https://millertonnews.com/media-library/roseys-at-2987-church-st-in-pine-plains-will-close-its-doors-on-monday-aug-14.jpg?id=48190266&width=980&quality=90)
Rosey’s, at 2987 Church St. in Pine Plains, will close its doors on Monday, Aug. 14.
Photo by Matt Petricone
PINE PLAINS — Come Monday, Aug. 14, the residents of Pine Plains will have one fewer place to land for coffee, breakfast and lunch. Announced over Instagram on June 21, the closure of Rosey’s will end a run of just under three years.
Jamie Gerber, Rosey’s owner and manager, came to the decision to close shop for a variety of reasons, but chief among them was the impending departure of Rosey’s chef, Brit Ko. Ko is off to Rutgers to get a master’s degree in poetry, and to Gerber, the departure of a chef who is “such a creative and thoughtful cook” and who meshed so perfectly with Rosey’s fit and feel presented an opportunity for reevaluation. “There’s a part of me that thinks that I don’t want to work with anyone else,” said Gerber.
“It has been such a great adventure, and I’m very pleased to know so many more people in town, and feel involved in Pine Plains. But to be honest, I don’t totally enjoy running a business. If you want to make it as a business owner, you have to want to make money, and I’m not motivated by that.”
What Gerber has been motivated by is the community they’ve found in town and at Rosey’s. Gerber first moved to Pine Plains from New York City to work at Chaseholm Farm. They had little to no experience farming, but Sarah Chase, co-owner of Chaseholm with her brother Rory, was an old college friend and took a chance on Gerber.
“Chase took a big risk in taking me on, and it was truly a lifesaving gesture. … [She was] so incredibly generous, in terms of bringing me into her community,” Gerber said.
While at Chaseholm, Gerber began to operate a food cart that offered coffee and pastries. Customers were mostly neighbors and friends visiting Chaseholm’s farm store, and Gerber described that first venture as a way, in part, to “trick friends into visiting us at the farm.”
From that food cart, Gerber eventually built toward a business, and in October 2021, they signed a lease on the space at 2987 Church St., marking the beginning of Rosey’s. That decision to open a cafe/restaurant arose from Gerber’s love of sharing food with people, but also a desire to “create a space where my friends and neighbors could share food that was also grown by our friends and neighbors.” Indeed, a hallmark of Rosey’s menu has been a wide variety of food produced at Chaseholm, from farm-fresh eggs to tender pork—and Gerber gave full credit for the delicious dishes that arose therefrom to Ko and the kitchen staff.
But another element of Gerber’s decision to start Rosey’s had to do with Rosey’s namesake and its motto. The store is named for Sarah Chase’s mother, Rosey, with whom Gerber has developed a strong connection.
“Rosey and her twin sister, Tully, are always saying, ‘So good to see you.’ I love that spirit [of] I’m so glad to see you, I’m so glad to connect, I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve always felt very seen and loved by Rosey, and I wanted to cultivate a space that had that feeling to it.”
And while Gerber was able to build that atmosphere at Rosey’s, over time, the demands of running a business began to take a toll: “You’re always working, there aren’t really any days off. At the beginning, there literally were no days where I wasn’t there. It’s really hard to step away, have a boundary, not answer a phone call, do orders, answer an email.”
For that reason, plus continual staffing difficulties—an issue plaguing many businesses in the region—Gerber came to the decision to wrap up the Rosey’s chapter of their life. And by way of reflection on that chapter, Gerber had nothing but positive things to say.
“I feel unbelievably grateful for the friends and community that I’ve got here. People have been so kind and generous to us. Whether that was my friends who were sanding the floors for weeks on end, or our neighbors bringing us pastries every week. I have just been struck by people’s openness and generosity.”
In terms of what’s on the horizon for Gerber, they’re heading back to Chaseholm Farm to work with Sarah. And while what they’re looking forward to most at the moment is a bit of rest and distance from managing a business, they hope to continue to do catering, pop-up food events, and maybe even bring the food cart back to life. The biggest project for Gerber after Aug. 14, however, will be making peace with an ending, even if the journey itself was successful.
“We really want things that we love to last forever. But they don’t, and it’s okay that things end. It’s okay that things change. I’m really excited for the next folks that go into that space and get to try something out. And I’m really excited for Brit’s next adventure. But it’s bittersweet for sure.”
From left, chef Brit Ko and owner Jamie Gerber of Rosey’s in Pine Plains, which will close on Aug. 14. Photo by Matt Petricone
CANAAN, Conn. — Virginia “Ginny” Cables, 81, passed away peacefully on Aug. 28, 2024, at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Canaan, surrounded by family. Born to the late Marie K. Negri and George Ralph on Dec. 7, 1942, Ginny lived a life full of love, laughter, and dedication to her family.
A devoted homemaker, Ginny took great pride in creating a warm and welcoming home. She had a deep love for gardening, cooking, baking, and thrifting. She took pride in nurturing flowers and plants that brought beauty to her surroundings. Animals always held a special place in her heart, and she was known for her kindness and care towards them.
Ginny’s greatest joy came from spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She cherished family gatherings, whether they were simple picnics or special events, where she could share stories, laughter, and love. Those who knew her will forever remember her quick wit, sense of humor, and the radiant smile that brightened every room she entered.
Ginny leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and warmth that will be cherished by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. She will be deeply missed, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of her family and friends. She will be remembered by her nicknames “Aunt Squeak” “Grandma Gin” “Ginny” to everyone she met.
Ginny leaves behind her daughter, Michele M. Cables Wilkinson of Sheffield, Massachusetts and her son Frederick E. Cables Jr. and his wife Anita Cables of Canaan; grandchildren, Chelsea Quenneville Brown (Joseph Brown), Blake Wilkinson, Logan and Miranda Cables; great grandchildren, Jade and Kristina Brown and Ethan Robles; her siblings, Richard Ralph (Cecelia), Stanley Ralph (Rosemary), David Ralph (Vicky) and Donna Roux (Ronald). She was also survived by her several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother, Marie K. Negri and father George Ralph, her husband, Fredrick Cables Sr., her siblings, Burt Veronesi and Valerie Poley.
Calling hours will be Friday, Sept. 13, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in Canaan, CT. A celebration of life will be held at the Canaan VFW on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 1-4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Litchfield County, Salisbury Branch, 30A Salmon Kill Road, Salisbury CT 06068 or The Little Guild of St. Francis in Ginny’s memory.
MILLERTON — Linda Kaplan, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, sister-in-law, cousin and friend, passed away Sept. 3, 2024. Linda will be remembered as a deeply kind woman guided by faith, family and love.
Linda was born to Francis Crawford and Lydia Johnson (nee Snyder) in Sharon, on Sept. 14, 1942. She attended Webutuck High School in Millerton, and then started her career in banking, where she worked until her retirement as a Vice President. Linda was a loving mother who raised her two sons and instilled in them her love of faith and family.
Linda met her future husband, Sanford (Sam) Kaplan, at a dance in Millerton, and they were blessed with 30 years of marriage during which they enjoyed their time on Simmons Street. Here, Linda enjoyed tending to her garden where she could be found picking green beans and tomatoes. She also enjoyed solving the daily crossword puzzle, knitting, and listening to Sam play his guitar. Together, Linda and Sam enjoyed hosting their family for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Passover celebrations. They especially enjoyed annual summer visits by their granddaughters which always included visits to their farm where they rode ATVs. Linda and Sam’s interest in dairy farming led them to travel to Europe where they toured dairy farms; a trip they fondly recounted to their family for years.
Linda’s faith was evident, not only through her family, but also through her involvement with the Millerton Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed community outreach, singing in the choir, working with children, teaching ESL classes, and helping to develop and implement programs.
Linda is predeceased by her husband, Sam Kaplan, her mother, father, and brother Thomas Crawford. She is survived by her two sons; Lorin Stapleton and his wife Mary Stapleton of Brewster, New York, and Brian Stapleton of Sandisfield, Massachusettds; her two granddaughters, Bridget Stapleton of Jersey City, New Jersey and Colleen Stapleton of Boston, Massachusetts; her sister-in-law, Susan Crawford; nephew David Keys and his wife Barbara; niece Susan Jenkins and her husband Rick Herring.
Calling hours will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. A Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10 a.m. at St. Martin of Tours Church of St. Mary in Lakeville, CT. Rev. Dennis Arambasick will officiate. Burial will follow at Irondale Cemetery in Millerton, NY. To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
David Colbert with one of his sculptures on the sculpture walk he has created over 35 years.
The Cornwall Open Studio took place on Saturday, Aug. 31. It is a Cornwall tradition and has been taking place for eighteen years.
It is a day when Cornwall artists invite the public into their studios to see what they are working on and how they do it. The artists work in various media, including painting, sculpture, photography and artistic shoes.
To participate, prospective tourists go to cornwallct.org/event/cornwall-open-studio-2024/ where a map and a list of the artists is available to download and print. The event is free, there is no registration, and so armed with the map, those taking the tour are set to explore not only artists’ studios, but the beautiful drive through Cornwall.
David Colbert, sculptor, is the initiator of the event. He said of his work, “I was smitten by the geometry and eventually the geometry led me to art.” Behind his studio in Cornwall Bridge he has a quarter mile sculpture path which he has been building for the past thirty-five years. Those on the tour could meander down the path and enjoy the beauty of the geometrically derived works.
Asked if there were any special artists and studios that should not be missed, he said, “I can’t help but mention Tim Prentice, whose shop, barn and whole place is pretty amazing.” At Prentice’s studio in West Cornwall, an old barn, mobiles, and other kinetic works of art hang from walls and ceilings and populate the surrounding fields. Across the road, another barn holds larger sculptures.
At 93, Prentice still works most days in the studio beside his house. He said he works on “small things.” He struggles with fading eyesight due to macular degeneration. He will be in a film by The Vision and Art Project, which seeks to bring awareness of macular degeneration by featuring artists like Tim Prentice. The film will be shown at the Cornwall Library sometime in the coming months.
In spite of his failing eye sight, he enjoys getting out to the studio and working and was welcoming visitors on the tour.
Another interesting studio is that of Lauren Brinkers Shoes in Cornwall Bridge. The shoes are hand painted and “one of a kind.” “I studied in London and went to shoe making school there,” Brinkers said. “I studied traditional men’s shoe making and transitioned into women’s.” She wanted to bring “more color and expression into shoes.” She learned how to work with leather dyes and paints the shoes to accomplish this goal.
A display of Lauren Brinkers handmade, one of a kind , hand paintied shoes on display at her Cornwall studio.Robin Roraback
Next to Lauren Brinkers’ studio is that of Stephan Sagmiller, who shows with his photographs that “The world is worth looking at closely. You’ve got to look at them up close. That’s my ethos as an artist.” His photos are large and colorful and invite you to do just that — look up close.
In West Cornwall, the abstract landscapes of Suzan Scott were on display at the Souterrain Gallery. Scott says of her work, “I’ve always had a strong connection with nature. I see everything, every blade of grass.” It was overwhelming for her. She began to paint still lives thinking they’d be easier, but in doing so she realized that still lives are similar to landscapes in that she could break down the parts as she did for still lives. “Why not go out and do landscapes and simplify them — abstract them?”
Her process is to layer tinted glazes, sometimes as many as thirty. She will work on a painting, let it rest, go back to it, work some more, and continue this until the painting is finished, which can take a week or months.
Scott paints scenes from the northwest corner and has “favorite spots” that she revisits. “The more I see it, the more I can interpret it, and it becomes mine.”
These are just a few of the artists on the tour. There were also Curt Hanson’s beautiful landscapes and the looser, colorful paintings of Magaly Ohika, Katherine Freygang and Sally Van Doren. Photographers Nick Jacobs and Bela Selendy also opened their studios. They use their cameras to explore life and nature.
If you missed the tour this year, be sure to keep an eye out for it next Labor Day Weekend. It is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday. To contact these artists or find out more about their work, go to: cornwallct.org/history-culture/arts-artists/ or go to the tour website to find links to their websites.
Fresh donuts by Hanna Rybolt at ILSE Coffee.
Something scrumptious is cooking beneath Colonial Theatre.
Pastries by Hanna was established in February of 2024 at 27 Railroad St. in North Canaan. The owner, Hanna Rybolt, is a resident of Canaan who studied in the pastry program at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Her interest in baking is rooted in fond memories with her family. The baked goods and pastry products are sold locally at ILSE Coffee just next door, as well as the Great Barrington farmer’s market. Her pastry kitchen is located below Colonial Theatre.
Rybolt aims to ensure the goods are produced with locally grown products and sold in community businesses. Pastries by Hanna’s best-selling product is brioche-style donuts.
The business is solely owned and operated by Rybolt, who stated she is looking forward to what the future will bring for the bakery and is hoping to collaborate with more companies in the area.
Customers can custom order goods online at pastriesbyhanna.com or check out her Instagram page @PastriesbyHanna.