PINE PLAINS — Ever since she started accompanying her mother in volunteering for the Pine Plains Community Food Locker last fall, Kaylee Dina, 10, a sixth-grader from the Marlboro Central School District, has been going the extra mile to give back to the pantry’s clientele. Given the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on its ability to distribute food to community members in need, she recently put together a fundraiser inviting people to share a little kindness with others by donating food and other essentials.
Having learned about the joys of volunteering from her mother, Kaylee began helping out with the food locker’s monthly distributions in the fall of 2019. Located at 3023 Church St. (Route 199), the pantry is located in the basement of the Pine Plains United Methodist Church and distributes food to all nine towns in the Pine Plains Central School District once a month, including Pine Plains, Stanford, Ancram, North East, Clermont, Clinton, Gallatin, Livingston and Milan.
As she became more familiar with the its operations, Kaylee went a step further by coming up with creative ways to brighten the clients’ day, from creating little gift bags for Christmas and individually wrapping cookies for Valentine’s Day to handing out chocolate coins and scratch-off tickets for St. Patrick’s Day.
“She absolutely loves not only being able to go there but just being able to put a smile on their faces totally brightens up her day,” said Melanie Dina, Kaylee’s mother. “She has one of the biggest, kindest hearts of anybody I’ve known for somebody at the age of 10.”
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaylee and her mother were rendered unable to drive food over to the clients’ homes. Yet instead of being deterred by the new normal, Kaylee came up with an idea to support the food locker and the people who rely on it.
“Because of COVID-19, I decided because I can’t go, I wanted to do something else,” Kaylee said, “and I decided to donate, and it’s amazing how many people want to help.”
At the start of June, Kaylee composed a letter inviting people to remember how much kindness matters and that “caring can change someone’s life.”
Her mother sent Kaylee’s message out to family and friends via text while her grandmother, Cynthia Roe, posted the letter on Facebook.
Much to their surprise, the letter went viral, resulting in an outpouring of donations from across the country and beyond. From family members and other donors living in California to a coworker of her mother’s from Ireland, word quickly spread about Kaylee’s fundraiser, which grew larger than she had anticipated.
Raising a total of $800, Kaylee explained in her fundraiser that all donations would go toward purchasing food for the Pine Plains Community Food Locker. Given her many months of volunteering, she already had an inkling about the kind of food needed, and she created a list of what to buy.
An accountant, Dina created a spreadsheet to determine what they could afford. With list in hand, Kaylee and her mother went price shopping at local grocery stores before choosing Price Chopper as the best bargain.
Between Kaylee, her mother, her grandmother and a family friend, Michelle Roe, they managed to fill three shopping carts with food. Since they only spent $500 of the $800 during their first shopping trip, Kaylee created a list of toiletries needed — including toothbrushes and toothpaste, bars of soap, toilet paper and hand sanitizer — and shopped for those items as well. On Friday, July 24, they made their sizeable donation to the food locker.
“It’s an absolutely amazing thing that she did and it kind of goes a long way in helping others,” Dina said, “and it’s just amazing in how big her heart is to do what she did and to be able to be a part of that.”
“It’s funny because she always says to me that she looks up to me as a role model,” said Pine Plains Food Locker Community Director Patricia Nannetti, “and I say to her, ‘Young people should look to you as a role model.’ You see so many horrible things in the newspapers and the television and you see this young girl go out of her way, and she did this all by herself.
“She just really has a big heart and a lot of compassion for a young girl,” Nannetti added. “Let me tell you, that’s commendable — you don’t see a lot of that. It really makes your heart feel good knowing there are so many people willing to donate to a cause.”
Though she originally didn’t plan on hosting another round for her fundraiser, Kaylee was excited to report that round two is now underway.
In the meantime, the 10-year-old is currently writing thank you notes to send to all of the people who donated during the first round.
As a special thanks to Nannetti for her contributions to the local community over many, many years, Kaylee added, “Thank you to Miss Nannetti for all her hard work, and I think it’s absolutely amazing how kindness can go a long way.”
To donate to round two of Kaylee’s fundraiser for the food locker, email melaniehdina@gmail.com.
Leila Hawken
Tiffany Zezula, deputy director of the Pace Land Use Law Center of White Plains, presents early results of a survey of Amenia residents on their desires for local parks and recreation during a forum at Webutuck High School on Saturday, June 13. Residents were invited to hear a preliminary report on the ongoing study sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Commission to assist with charting the future of recreation and parks in Amenia.
AMENIA — Residents would like to see more amenities, programming and access at Amenia’s parks and recreational sites, according to preliminary results from a town recreation survey presented Saturday, June 13.
A status report was presented at the Webutuck High School auditorium on Saturday, June 13, by Engaging Amenia planning consultants from Pace Land Use Law Center of White Plains.
Reviewing highlights from the survey, Tiffany Zezula, deputy director of the Pace program, said 116 residents — about 3% of Amenia’s population — have completed the questionnaire to date. Full-time residents accounted for 88% of respondents, while 32% were age 65 or older.
Among respondents, 77% reported traveling to one of the town’s 12 recreational sites by car.
The most frequently visited destination was the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, prompting discussion about the need for additional parking. Residents also said that they would like to see the addition of benches along the rail trail.
Respondents also said they would also favor community gardens, more picnic areas, and provision for waterway access and even swimming throughout the area.
There are low-cost programs that might be easily implemented, such as birdwatching groups, historic walking tours, or walking/hiking clubs, Zezula said.
“This is going to facilitate the conversation,” said town councilmember Nicole Ahearn about the survey’s outcomes.
Zezula said the survey is intended to complement work already underway by the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee as it evaluates the future of parks and recreation in Amenia.
Residents can still participate in the survey through June 30. Judy Moran, chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, has arranged a display at the Amenia Library where residents can review planning materials and submit comments.
A final report is expected in July, Zezula said.
Preliminary results of the study can be viewed at www.engagingamenia.com.
Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — Plans for new apartments on South Center Street are facing uncertainty over parking regulations in the Village of Millerton.
The buildings have a total of four apartments located at 26-32 South Center St, though only three have been occupied in recent years. Owner Alex Magalhaes described plans to renovate the interior of the building and utilize the empty unit.
Planning Board members raised a concern over available parking. They noted that village code requires 1.5 off-street spaces per residential unit. The property currently has no off-street parking and owner Magalhaes said there’s no room to install additional parking.
Magalhaes explained that apartment residents would use the municipal parking lot across South Center Street.
“When we first purchased, it had in the lease that we can use the parking,” Magalhaes said.
Dutchess County owns that lot, prompting questions from Planning Board members about whether that’s permissible and under whose authority.
Board Chair Andrew Rebillard, along with board member Kevin Webb, doubted the Planning Board had the authority to permit parking in that lot.
“I would propose that we get guidance from counsel,” Webb said. “To see what our ability is here.”
Webb asked if the property could fit additional off-street spaces. Magalhaes said the property has space for a small driveway in the northwest corner, but there was not any additional space for cars.
Despite the uncertainty, board members voted to set a public hearing on the plans for their next meeting on Wednesday, July 8. That meeting is expected to happen barring news from the county that the lot can’t be used for residential parking.
“It doesn’t sound like it’s something that’s going to stop this project,” Rebillard said. “Rather just make it take longer.”
Nathan Miller
MILLERTON — The North East/Millerton Climate Smart Task Force is seeking participants for a community-wide flea market set to coincide with Millerton’s 175th celebration.
The community-wide flea market will run throughout Millerton, with Eddie Collins Memorial Park serving as a central hub. Spaces at the park are available or sellers can run a sale at their own homes.
The market effort is set to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week-long celebration’s first day on Saturday, July 11.
Task force member Kathy Chow described the flea market as an opportunity to rehome old possessions without sending them to a landfill, reducing waste and building a sense of community. She said the group is in need of interested sellers.
“The Climate Smart purpose for doing this is to help people repurpose stuff that they already have,” Chow said. “To cut down on waste and all the stuff that we throw away, and even the unnecessary storage that we have.”
For a $10 registration fee, sellers that sign up by June 30 either get a space at Eddie Collins Memorial Park to set up a display or a marker on the map of flea market vendors across town.
A third option is to give items away for free. Residents that aren’t interested in running a tag sale at home or a flea market space at the park are encouraged to place free items at the end of their driveways for passersby to take.
More information on the town-wide flea market is available online at villageofmillerton.gov/175th.
“It’s a terrific, feel-good activity,” Chow said. “Everybody loves getting rid of their stuff and finding new homes for it.”
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Graham Corrigan
PINE PLAINS — The Planning Board unanimously approved the environmental review for a proposed storage facility expansion and farm stand at 2818 Church St. during its meeting Wednesday, June 10.
The property, located across from the high school, would expand the neighboring Stissing Storage business. Steve Hobson of HTWO Properties presented updated site plans that include additional storage units at the rear of the lot and a free-standing farm stand near the road.
Since first presenting the project in January, Hobson has made several revisions to the proposal. A row of Green Giant Arborvitae have been planted on the property’s north side to screen the additional storage units. A fence will be replaced along the south side, and a right-of-way for pedestrian traffic to the school has been added from the dead end at Nine Partners Lane.
More parking spaces were also added to Hobson’s plans. The next phase will include the demolition of an existing structure on the property, which will be replaced by storage units. Hobson says pending final approval from the county and a site visit from the New York Department of Transportation, he hopes to have the demolition done and new concrete laid before year’s end.
Leila Hawken
Artistic talent is on display at the Fountains’ Summer Art Show, which opened Thursday, June 11. The exhibition features works by several residents and drew a strong turnout of artists and guests, who were welcomed on opening day by art instructor Ellen O’Shea.
MILLBROOK — There is no shortage of talent at The Fountains in Millbrook evidenced by the opening of the Summer Art Show on Thursday, June 11.
Works of several residents are on display in the Gallery for the coming weeks.
Resident Shirley Fernekes is one of the featured artists with several paintings on display, selected to show the breadth of her works over a lifetime. Included are depictions of wildlife, seascapes and New England scenes, reflective of her travels. She recalled beginning in acrylics before switching to her preference for oils and watercolors.
“I’ve always been painting…all my life,” Fernekes explained, having attended Wooster and Silvermine art academies for her studies.
Her work has brought several awards, including recognition by the Connecticut-based Kent Art Association.
“It’s almost like I can’t not do it,” said resident artist Gail Curcio whose father Theodore Wheldon was an accomplished artist, as was her grandfather.
“I’m thrilled with the art classes and Ellen’s encouragement,” Curcio said, speaking of Fountains art instructor Ellen O’Shea who mounted the exhibit.
“The talent is fantastic. Everyone is very interested in learning,” O’Shea said of the show, noting that all are welcome to join in art classes or work on their own. Several works were included that were by six resident artists who are improving with good results. They are Lucy Johnson, Margaret Cornell, Reiko Ramsey, Graham and Sheila Attlesey and Mary Kay Blasi.
The Fountains houses a significant presence of talent, including in the visual arts. The Summer Art Show that opened on Thursday, June 11, features the works of several residents, accomplished in interpreting the world around them. The opening was well-attended by residents and friends.Photo By Leila Hawken
Olivia Montoya
DOVER PLAINS — Francis “Butch” Lynehan, 75, a twenty-year resident of Dover Plains, New York, formerly of Sharon, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Vassar Bros. Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Born Aug. 29, 1950, in Sharon, he was the son of the late William W. and Nellie (Kluun) Lynehan.
Butch grew up in Sharon and attended Sharon Center School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the United States Army and is a Vietnam War Veteran.
After his military service of three years, he was employed at the Kimberly-Clark Corporation and later worked many years for the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation.
Butch was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the Chestnut Ridge Rod & Gun Club in Dover Plains, Millerton Gun Club and the Sharon Fish & Game. He was a longtime member of the V.F.W. Post 5444 in Dover Plains and the Sharon American Legion Post 126. He was a former member of the Sharon Fire Department.
Butch is survived by his devoted wife, Nancy (Stark), his former wife, Rosemarie (Marchi) Larosa and their two sons, Michael and Stephen. He was the proud grandfather of three grandsons, Mason, Noah and Tucker. He is also survived by his loving sisters, Pat of Sharon, and Yvonne of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, and several cousins and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother William “Billy” Lynehan and his niece Lisa Hoglen.
There will be no calling hours. A private burial will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Hillside Cemetery in Sharon, with Standard Military Honors, followed by a Celebration of Life at the Sharon Fire Department, 36 West Main Street, Sharon. All are invited to attend. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon American Legion Post 126, 15 New Street, Sharon, CT 06069 or Sharon Little League/NWCTSBLL, P.O. Box 569, N. Canaan, CT 06018. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Butch’s honor, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
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