Rounders of Riga

Veteran's Corner

This year marks the 70th year reunion of The Rounders of Riga on Nov. 16. A two-week outing we’ve awaited for the past fifty weeks. A tradition beginning in 1954 by retired WWII vets interested in deer hunting. Today veteran members have dwindled to four supplemented by carefully vetted family and friends. We erected our 16 x 32 military tent in early October to allow sufficient time for the numerous chores to follow. All preparation and readied for the Friday evening before the Saturday opener of Nov. 16th. Each member is assigned preparation of an evening meal of their choice. Usually high in calories but necessary after a long day afield.

Morning hunts followed by a brief late morning for a self prepared brunch of ham, sausage, bacon, eggs, cheese, pancakes, homefries or any combination thereof. Then back to the chase to return around 5/5:30 p.m. to warm ourselves before a drink or nap prior to the evening meal. A good deal of friendly banter follows: tales of the days hunt, past hunts and members missed, successes or lack of such and hopes for tomorrow. Perhaps a few hands of cards then lights out to await an annoying dog-barking alarm clock wake up at 4 a.m., which always entices immediate attention to silence. This signaling the beginning of another day followed by the robust odor of cowboy coffee perking on the stove. A cup or two while planning the days hunt and informing all of individual locations. Out the door between 5:30/6 a.m. with good lucks exchanged to experience whatever Mother Nature delivers.

I’m hoping one of our junior members connects with their first deer. A memorable event for our archives. Two weeks at deer camp — always enjoyable and cherished by we members and anxiously awaited for another 50 weeks until we reunite next year. God Bless you patriotic readers and your families. Enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving together, ensure the welfare of neighbors, treat yourselves and support the area winter American Legion and firehouse breakfasts available and please take time for a little prayer of thanks for our military, police officers and firefighters who protect you and your family each and every day so you may happily enjoy your holidays safely and without worry.

Town of North East resident Larry Conklin is a Vietnam veteran and a member of both the Millerton American Legion Post 178 and the VFW Post 6851 in North Canaan, Connecticut.

Latest News

Luigina A. Dzenutis

CANTON — Luigina A. Dzenutis, 91, of Canton, died peacefully on Jan. 16, 2025, in her home. She was the wife of the late Peter A. Dzenutis Sr.

Luigina was born in Bronx, New York, on May 17, 1933, the daughter of the late Jack and Medie (Tonelli) Grecco.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia approves pool at Troutbeck estate hotel

Troutbeck's sign at the intersection of Leedsville Road and Route 343 in Amenia.

Archive photo

AMENIA — Public hearings continued from the previous meeting concluded at the regular meeting of the Amenia Planning Board on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Having considered public comment, the board approved applications from Troutbeck for an indoor pool and from DaVinci Windows for a sign installation.

No public comment was heard in connection with the Troutbeck proposal to construct an outdoor pool as briefly described by project engineer Rich Rennia of Rennia Engineering of Dover Plains. The application is part of Phase 8 of Troutbeck’s adaptive reuse application, revised recently to reduce the environmental impact.

Keep ReadingShow less
Final grant of $675,000 awarded for Eddie Collins Memorial Park pool project
Eddie Collins Memorial Park in Millerton will the the site of a new community pool, with construction expected to begin by Spring 2025.
Archive photo

MILLERTON — Calling the ongoing revitalization of Eddie Collins Memorial Park “the largest project the village has taken on,” Mayor Jenn Najdek has disclosed additional funding has come through in support of its upgrade.

This past December, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation awarded the village a matching grant of up to $675,000 in support of the Eddie Collins Memorial Park Swimming Pool Project. With these monies, funding for Phase II of the project, which stems largely from a NY SWIMS capital grant, is now at $7.56 million.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pine Plains median home prices stay relatively steady at year's end

This 3 bedroom/2 bath renovated raised ranch at 7760 Main St. in Pine Plains sold for $590,000.

Photo by Christine Bates

PINE PLAINS — From August through November there were 14 sales in Pine Plains with only one on Lake Road selling for over a million dollars and two homes for over $500,000 — a midcentury modern in town closing for $590,000 and a historic house on 8.5 acres for $660,000.

Since September 2021 the median price for publicly listed properties in Pine Plains has hovered at around $350,000. Properties listed in mid-January include seven residences ranging in price from $150,000 to $8.95 million, six pieces of land and Harvest Homestead Farm on 343 acres with a fully functioning distillery formerly associated with 1930’s mobster Dutch Schultz.

Keep ReadingShow less