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Joanna Zammiello of Sweet Lilly’s squeezes fresh lemons for her lemonade at Pine Plains Community Day on Saturday, June 13. The company is named for her cat.
Graham Corrigan
Pine Plains’ Beth McLiverty was on the event’s organizing committee. From her perch at the information table, she stressed the importance of moments like Community Day for the town’s overall well-being. “We’re going to make sure this happens every year,” McLiverty said. “Everybody missed it.”
A children’s animation workshop enlivened the Stissing Center on Church Street from 10 to 11 a.m., and a variety of vintage phonographs played wax cylinders on the Graham-Brush House lawn located behind Story Book Cafe on Church Street throughout the morning. Nearby, Bee Bee the Clown twisted balloon animals for a crowd of gleeful onlookers.
Free lunch bites were provided by local restaurants like Champêtre and Guacamole Grill, and the bounce house arrived in the early afternoon to an eager crowd of pint-sized participants. Community Day also doubled as part of the region-wide REV 250 celebrations ahead of America’s 250th birthday. Historic landmarks such as the Graham-Brush House and The Pines opened their doors for the revival, and local actor Thayer Durrell appeared as Revolutionary War soldier Major Ebenezer Husted in full regalia, complete with a powdered wig and musket. Stissing Center director and Air Force veteran Marie Stewart read the Declaration of Independence.
As the sun began to set, children’s activities gave way to more adult programming: live music, corn hole, and a beer garden rounded out the afternoon, and the free raffle drawing ended with gift certificates and fruit trees to some lucky winners.
Graham Corrigan
An animation workshop for kids was part of the free programming on offer at the Stissing Center.
“We really wanted to support the community,” said organizer McLiverty. “We were very determined to make it so that no matter what your situation is, you can come out and enjoy free food, you don’t have to pay for games.” When the crowds finally dispersed, Pine Plains Community Day had made a glorious return.
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Under the athletic field’s lights, the 60 members of the Millbrook High School Class of 2026 received their diplomas during a commencement ceremony on Friday, June 12.
Leila Hawken
Speeches offered advice and reflected on gratitude for teachers, administrators, staff and family, all contributing to the moment of transition from high school years to promising futures.
Principal Eric Seipp opened with welcoming remarks and thanks to all constituents within the school who had guided the Senior Class through their final year. He spoke of achievement and perseverance.
“Tonight is about transition,” Seipp told graduates. “The simplest message can be the most powerful,” he added. “You leave here with far more than a diploma. You will remember the people.”
“The world needs more people who choose kindness. How you treat others matters,” Seipp said.
Seipp noted that the Commencement would mark his final year as Principal of Millbrook High School, ending his eight-year tenure.
“It has been one of the greatest honors of my career to have served as your principal,” Seipp told the school community.
Confidently stepping into their futures, the 60 members of the Millbrook High School Class of 2026 received their diplomas during commencement exercises on Friday, June 12.Leila Hawken
Millbrook Superintendent Caroline Hernandez-Pidala advised graduates to show empathy for others.
“Read more; ask more questions,” she said.
Guidance Counselor Thomas Chanowsky said that he is often asked how he can stay so positive.
“I am just happy to be here,” was Chanowsky’s response. “I hope I made a difference.”
Salutatorian Lydia Kascsak had totaled the number of days she had spent at high school at 1,374.
“Work hard and never stop learning,” she told classmates, while thanking the school’s constituent teachers, administrators and staff, and her parents.
Valedictorian Dylan Vasquez spoke with assurance, urging graduates to “make sure you feel.” He went on to thank the school’s constituents and ended by reading a reflective poem written by his mother before he was born.
The ceremony ended with presentation of the Class of 2026 to the Board of Education, followed by recessional music performed by the high school band under the direction of Daniel Dunninger.
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