PINE PLAINS — The long table at the candidates event on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the Pine Plains Free Library held places for 12 candidates, starting with the two candidates for Dutchess County Legislature: incumbent Republican Gregg Pulver and Democrat Chris Drago.
Town Board candidates Jeanine Sisco and Kevin Walsh, both Democrats, were in line with Republican contenders Paul Murphy and Jim Smith. For the position of town justice, there was Democrat Stella Isaza and Republican Rich Brenner. Also present were Republican Lisa Ambrose and Democrat incumbent Carl Baden, who are running for highway superintendent; and Town Supervisor Brian Walsh and Town Clerk Madeline DaFoe, who are both running unopposed. The two Walshes are not related.
Over 100 people filled the library’s Community Room at the Pine Plains Library for the forum. The sponsors were The Millerton News and The New Pine Plains Herald. Ryan Orton of Stanford moderated the program.
Supervisor Walsh and DaFoe indicated that they are happy with their work, and will continue to do their jobs to the best of their abilities. The candidates had a brief time to introduce themselves; this was followed by questions from the audience and the forum ended with closing statements from each of the candidates.
Sisco and Kevin Walsh are longtime residents, and both have raised families in Pine Plans. They jointly agree that they will preserve the rural and historic character of the town; conserve open space; protect and promote agriculture; create housing options for young families and seniors in particular; and will promote employment, small business and transportation options. Also, they would like to relocate Town Hall to the center of town, and will look into the possibility of a central septic system.
Murphy is a 50-year resident of Pine Plains who wants to see programs for youth and seniors expanded. He’d also look into ways to help businesses thrive and grow, as well as into affordable housing. He would also preserve the rural aspect of the town.
Murphy and Smith are proponents of fiscal responsibility, believing government should be run as an any other business: with a budget, plans and long-range goals. Smith is pro-solar, believing that solar energy is what is in the future, and he sees the benefits in it, having faith that the zoning board will make sure everything is done appropriately.
Isaza has experience as a practicing attorney for more than 28 years, having served as a criminal defense attorney, and is a former assistant corporation counsel for the City of Poughkeepsie. Living in Pine Plains for more than 20 years, she is a member and former president of the Pine Plains Lions Club, and is a member of the New York Bar Association and the Dutchess County Bar Association.
As a defense attorney, she looked for fair sentencing including alternatives to incarceration when suitable. She has handled cases in housing, domestic violence, and matrimonial and family law, and speaks fluent Spanish.
Brenner is in real estate, but feels that one doesn’t need a law degree to be a town justice. His experience includes 25 years in law enforcement as a deputy sheriff and investigator, and working with the district attorney’s office.
Serving in the Pine Plains Hose Company as well as a member of the town and school boards have given him the experience to make good judgment calls. He’d rather see mistakes corrected than repeated, and rehabilitation rather than punishment.
“Pine Plains is my home and the community is my family,” said Baden. He has learned a lot over that past four years, has built up relationships, honed the skills of himself and his crews, and wants to continue to use that experience to make the roads in Pine Plains safer under all circumstances.
Ambrose has stated that she will give up her current job to be full-time at the highway department if elected. A 20-year Pine Plains resident, Ambrose is a volunteer firefighter, and said that she plans to work side by side with the maintenance crews, and will strive to work with surrounding areas and the New York State Department of Transportation in bad weather and emergency situations.
The majority of the questions were for Pulver and Drago. Pulver is serving his sixth one-year term as chairman, and has served in the Legislature since 2014. A farmer by trade, Pulver said he enjoys doing what he does, and helping people. When asked about an accomplishments in the Legislature, he mentioned the Dutchess County Stabilization Center in Poughkeepsie. He worked with Legislator Will Truitt to pass a countywide animal abuse registry law as well as passing an anti-tethering law. He worked with Assemblymember Didi Barrett and others on obtaining the Mobile Health Unit RV.
Drago, feels that the current leadership is not working, mishandling tax dollars and not meeting basic needs of constituents in northern Dutchess County. He is particularly upset by the $25 million renovation of the Dutchess Stadium.
He will work toward obtaining better emergency and mental health services, and wants better cell coverage and a climate-ready infrastructure. A native son, Drago said he is a business leader, and has his finger on the pulse of what the county needs. He wants to keep Dutchess County affordable and keep young people here.
"They had this in mind from last year," girls varsity head coach Les Funk of Pine Plains said. Funk said the young team wanted the sectional title and "never gave up," until they won it Wednesday, March 5, at Mount Saint Mary College.Photo by Nathan Miller
Naveah Rennie, no 34 of Pine Plains, was the Bombers' dominant scorer, racking up 20 points by the end of the matchup against S.S. Seward Institute during the Section IX Class C finals at Mount Saint Mary College on Wednesday, March 5.Photo by Nathan Miller
Lent: Time to consider social gospel movement
We are entering the annual Christian season of Lent this week.With its 40 days of contemplation and “little Easter” Sundays, it is a time to remember the healing ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus.During this season, we are invited to think deeply about our role as agents of grace and love in our hurting world.
There is a long history of making sacrifices and commitments for Lent, modeling our discipleship and hopes for a more heavenly world. It is through this lens that I invite you to join us in considering what gifts and services the community needs that we can commit to bringing forth in the weeks leading up to Easter.While many lean into solitary introspection during Lent, it may be particularly advantageous to use our meditations and sacrifices for the greater good this year.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, advised his followers centuries ago that “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love is the length and depth and breadth and height of Christian perfection.”These words are connected to the firm belief of Wesley that a Methodist was fundamentally one who loved God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul, along with loving one’s neighbor as oneself.He believed that being in love with God naturally also required loving other people, as every person was a beloved soul coming from the same source of life that we are.
Consequently, Wesley stood against slavery long before it was a popular view, prioritized caring for those who were poor and imprisoned, and made a point to do good to as many as he could for as long as he was physically able.
Indeed, the Methodists are not the only Christians who believe such things.These thoughts are primary messages of the Christian faith.In more recent history, we can note that during the time of the Golden Age, at the end of the late 19th century, the Christians mobilized to counteract the abject poverty, child labor, dangerous working conditions, and lack of education of the time.Famous theologians such as Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, and W.E.B. DuBois began the Social Gospel movement, enacting with new verve the passion of Christ that empowers the community toward building the Kingdom of God.As Christians, they believed in uplifting the downtrodden and creating a community where all had a chance to thrive.Child labor laws were enacted, better working conditions were secured, Sunday School helped provide education, settlement houses were created, and the Salvation Army was born.
The social gospel movement continued in another wave of reforms and empowerment through the Civil Rights era.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his intellect, energy, and life to help secure the reforms that enabled persons of color to vote, go to non-segregated schools, and have the right to share public spaces without discrimination.Like Christ, he paid the ultimate price for his prophetic vision.However, his impact on our society was formidable, lasting far beyond his short lifetime.
As Christians, it is very clear what to do in times of hardship, crisis, or challenge.Throughout the centuries, our call has been to help heal the world, doing whatever we can to uplift and transform loneliness into community, reminding each one how precious they are and how important it is to unite for the sake of the whole.Individually, the challenges can be overwhelming, even too much to bear.Collectively, we can do all things through the One who strengthens us.As they say, “We have the receipts!” We can do it again.
This Lent, let us give up our pessimism and fear, replacing it with a commitment to community and hope.Yes, things can seem dreadful, but our souls are not served by allowing ourselves to descend into the dark.We are keepers of the light.Let us do all within our power to create brightness so that its warmth may strengthen all as we live into the Social Gospel movement for our time.Chin up, friends, we can do this.We simply must be willing to get serious about doing it together.
Rev. Dr. Anna Crews Camphouse is pastor of Canaan, Lakeville, Millerton, and Sharon United Methodist Churches
Lead Pastor of the Northwestern Hills Cooperative
Parish UMC