Sculptor shares journey behind Washington D.C. monument

A full house at Kent Community Center, July 6, heard from WWI monument sculptor Sabin Howard.
Gavin Marr
A full house at Kent Community Center, July 6, heard from WWI monument sculptor Sabin Howard.
KENT — Greeted by the skirl of bagpipes, eager veterans and townspeople gathered to hear Sabin Howard, the sculptor commissioned to create a new WWI monument in Washington D.C., speak about his creative process at the Kent Community Center Saturday, July 6.
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Roger Sherman Chapter provided food for the event and served beverages courtesy of Kent Wine and Spirit. Members of the Kent American Legion also assisted the operation.
Brent Kallstrom, manager of the Kent American legion drew the focus of the crowd to the front of the room to commence the presentation.
“We couldn’t do this without the Kent Art Association as well as the Kent Historical Society for putting together all of this great information,” said Kallstrom regarding artifacts accompanied by text about their historical significance placed around the perimeter room.
Kallstrom called upon descendants of WWI veterans to stand and be recognized. After applause rang through the building, Kallstrom regained attention from the crowd and Sabin Howard was introduced, “We’re honored tonight to host this extraordinary master sculptor, Americans, I give you Sabin Howard.”
Howard began by talking about his roots in both New York City and Italy. He explained how his multicultural background had profound implications on his artistic process during the project. He delved into his approach to sculpting the monument, drawing not only inspiration but cultural knowledge from his Italian identity.
“I have been in a battle in the fight against modernism since day one, I just didn’t know it,” Howard said, while speaking expressively about his relationship with the modernist path the art world and the world itself has been set on.
“This is the sculpture itself and is sixty feet long, weighs 25 tons and has 38 fingers in it. But those are just the facts. The important revolutionary thing here is a visual narrative that tells a story, and it’s a story about human beings,” said Howard, distilling the complexity of the project into a bite-sized summary.
Keeping the human element in artistic endeavors was a common theme throughout the presentation. His use of veterans as models for the monument captures the physical effects of war.
Following the end of the presentation, Howard invited audience members to ask him questions. Dozens of visibly elated attendees obliged and met him in the front of the room.
When asked about how spending years examining and replicating the horrors of war has changed him fundamentally, Howard said that he has become, “Very untrusting of bureaucracy and government.”
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.