PINE PLAINS — In celebrating the county’s rich agricultural identity, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced the appointment of the Dutchess County Agricultural Advisory Committee’s (AAC) first two youth leadership members at its annual Agriculture Breakfast this spring.
The Agricultural Advisory Committee is responsible for reporting to and advising the county executive on issues and policies regarding agriculture and agri-business in the county, and for facilitating “implementation of the programs outlined in the Dutchess County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan,” according to www.dutchessny.gov.
“We’ve discussed the possibility of adding youth to this board for almost a year now,” said Chair of the Dutchess County Legislature Gregg Pulver (R-19), himself a Pine Plains multi-generation farm owner and farmer who serves as a member of the AAC.
In seeing all of the FFA students who attended the committee’s annual meeting at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck in April, Pulver said the committee recognized it didn’t have any actual youth members to represent themselves on it.
With help from the entire committee, Pulver credited Mark Condon, a professor at Dutchess Community College and a member of the AAC, as the catalyst for installing the two student members.
Pulver said Condon came up with the criteria for seeking the new youth leadership members. He explained the committee wanted students involved in agriculture in some fashion, so they looked to the county’s FFA and 4-H students as potential candidates. It also looked for leadership skills and a commitment to attending AAC meetings. In the end, the committee decided to pick a junior and senior to give the it continuity going forward.
“All of the candidates were great,” Pulver said, adding, “The two that we picked we think will do a great job representing the youth of agriculture.”
The 2022 Agriculture Breakfast was held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck on Friday, April 22. It was with great excitement that Molinaro announced Stissing Mountain High School senior Cailin Halladay and John Jay High School junior Jenna Franco had been appointed to the Agricultural Advisory Committee and its Education Subcommittee.
According to Molinaro’s office, the Education Subcommittee’s role reports to and advises the county executive on issues and policies regarding agriculture and agri-business, and provides “organization and leadership in carrying out the vision of the agricultural plan.”
Cailin will serve a one-year term on the committee while Jenna will serve a two-year term.
“I think we have two great students that will represent Dutchess County’s interest in agriculture,” Pulver said.
As advisor to the Pine Plains FFA, ag teacher Stephanie Rhoades said the appointment to the AAC will be an exciting opportunity for Cailin.
“There is great value in having young adults get involved with local government,” Rhoades said. “This opportunity will allow Cailin to use her leadership skills gained through her FFA involvement and will help her learn more about agriculture in Dutchess County. FFA members like Cailin are the future leaders of agriculture and our community so it is very important to invest in youth and provide them with these opportunities.”
Rhoades also extended a shout out to Rebecca Cossa from the Dutchess County Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) FFA for encouraging Cailin to apply to the AAC.
“I’m really excited all about the appointment,” Cailin said. “I’m just really excited to advocate for the youth of Dutchess County because I think it’s very important that their voice is heard.”
An active member of the Pine Plains FFA for the last seven years, Cailin currently serves as an officer and a reporter with her school’s FFA chapter this year.
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.
A large collection of food was on offer from the Pine Plains FFA and each one of the classes in the Pine Plains Central School District. The football team was selling pickles.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd enjoyed a dip in the dunk tank to raise money for the Pine Plains teachers’ union-sponsored scholarship.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd got dunked several times during his half-hour shift in the dunk tank. Proceeds from the throws benefitted the Photo by Nathan Miller
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.
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.
“I write tonight with difficult news, and I wanted you to hear it from me as soon as the Vestry and I had a chance to meet,” he wrote. “After much prayer and careful discernment, I have submitted my resignation to the Vestry as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas, and therefore as Executive Director of Food of Life/Comida de Vida.”
Stack provided few details about his departure. At time of publication, he had not announced his next steps but said the decision was “not sudden,” and followed careful consideration over a period of months. He will not be leaving the area or the diocese.
An announcement about his path forward and the transition process is expected soon. In the meantime, Stack said he remains “fully present” at the church, and the food pantry services will continue without interruption.
Stack expressed gratitude for the community and the growth of St. Thomas’ mission during his tenure. “Together we have welcomed new neighbors and strengthened our outreach in meaningful ways,” he said. “I trust that good work will continue.”
He joined St. Thomas in March 2020 and guided the church and community through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent interview with The News about the food pantry, Stack estimated that it serves 653 individuals from 156 households each week, highlighting a significant contribution to the community.
The announcement was met with messages of reassurance from pantry volunteers. Jolly Stewart, a Vestry member and volunteer, wrote to the community with words of reassurance following the announcement. “I have complete faith in the strength of the parish of St. Thomas,” she wrote. “Our history shows how we have done this time and again, each time becoming more than what we were before. We can, without a doubt, do this now.”
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.
Candidates for local and county offices will answer questions from residents in attendance or from residents who have submitted questions in advance.
“We’re excited to keep the tradition of the candidate forum going,” said Rhiannon Leo-Jameson, director of the library. “Some years we can’t always get candidates together.”
This year’s forum will include:
Rachele Grieco Cole, a Democrat, and Chris Mayville, a Republican, who both are running uncontested for the North East Town Council;
Casey McCabe, a Democrat, also running uncontested for North East Justice.
Among Dutchess County races:
Tracy MacKenzie, who is endorsed by Republicans and Democrats, is running uncontested for Dutchess County Family Court Judge;
Kara Gerry, a Democrat, and Ned McLoughlin, a Republican, are in a contest for a Dutchess County Court judgeship currently held by McLoughlin.
Chris Drago, D-19, and Tonya Pulver, a Republican, are competing to represent Dutchess County’s19th District seat currently held by Drago.
Democratic incumbent Dan Aymar-Blair and Will Truitt, the Republican chair of the county legislature, are competing for the Dutchess County Comptroller position currently held by Aymar-Blair.
Leo-Jameson is encouraging questions for the candidates to be submitted in advance, which will not be revealed to candidates beforehand. Dutchess County residents may pose questions during the forum. To submit a question on the library’s website, go to the calendar at nemillertonlibrary.org and find the link in the Oct. 24calendar entries.
The format calls for opening statements from the candidates, followed by questions from residents, and candidates will be able to stay after the forum to answer questions personally.
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.
