Pine Plains begins journey toward new town hall

PINE PLAINS —  Discussion split between the Monday, May 15, monthly workshop meeting and the Thursday, May 18, town board meeting included dialogue on the potential costs, constraints, and a host of other non-binding ideas centered around the construction of a new town hall.

On Monday, July 10, at 7 p.m. at the community center of the Pine Plains Free Library community center, 7775 S. Main St., the town board will host a public information and comment session, where it will receive ideas and feedback from the community.

Citing the Stanford Free Library as a rough equivalent in terms of the desired size and look, Councilman Don Bartles noted that building costs have risen significantly in recent years, running as high as $500 per square foot. For a building that would meet the board’s minimum needs, costs would likely surpass $3.5 million for building alone.

Proposed by Councilman Matt Zick, the session will mark the true beginning of the plans, which are now in their most preliminary stages. Before the board makes anything concrete or even contacts architects for bids, it is intent on gathering community support for what it characterizes as a big project, with Councilwoman Sarah Jones stating “Ultimately, we’re going to be asking for them to vote in favor, so it’s very important that people be on board.”

Though some factors have been discussed in detail, such as the source of heating—geothermal was floated—and the fact that the building would likely have to be carbon-neutral, Bartles indicated that the board is very open minded: “I want ideas to come to us, not necessarily us dictating ideas to them.”

Latest News

Celebrating agriculture
Photo by Nathan Miller

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.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rev. AJ Stack of St. Thomas announces resignation

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.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

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.

Keep ReadingShow less
Local and County candidates to hold forum Oct. 24

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.

Keep ReadingShow less
Koi harvest
Photo by Leila Hawken

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.