community

Show of American muscle convenes at Millerton’s restored Mobil station

Show of American muscle convenes at Millerton’s restored Mobil station

Front and center, a 1958 Chevy coupe with plenty of steel and chrome to go around.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — A decade ago, Pine Plains car enthusiast Alan Benson was on the hunt for a classic. He searched far and wide for an early 1960s Chevy Impala, unaware that the car of his dreams was parked just down the road.

A neighbor, known for building hot rods, happened to be clearing space in his garage and agreed to sell Benson his 1961 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe.

“It’s an iconic car,” Benson said of the Roman Red coupe, adding that he felt lucky to land such a rare collector’s item.

Alan Benson of Pine Plains shows off his 1961 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe.Photo by Aly Morrissey

Affectionately dubbed “The Survivor,” the Impala stands out for its originality. Unlike many restored classics, Benson’s car has remained largely untouched. According to the owner, the paint, interior, and drivetrain are all factory original, with just 27,000 miles on the odometer. Even the original spare tire still sits in the trunk. To keep the car in top condition, Benson drives it between 600 and 800 miles a year.

As rare as The Survivor is, it was just one of many standout vehicles on display Friday, June 20, at a local car show held at the retro Mobil gas station on Route 44. The event, hosted by owner Rob Cooper of Millerton, has quickly become a favorite among regional car lovers.

Without much formal promotion, the show continues to draw crowds from across the Tri-State area. Cooper credits the venue itself for much of the event’s success.

Cars filled the parking lot of the Mobil gas station on Route 44 and spilled into the adjoining property Friday, June 20.Photo by Aly Morrissey

“I think it’s the backdrop that draws people here,” he said, gesturing toward the vintage-style gas station he restored. “People are looking for uniqueness,” Cooper added. “They come to show off their cars and to check out everyone else’s. It’s really nice.”

Classic cars filled the Mobil lot and spilled into the adjacent property as collectors mingled, shared stories, and admired each other’s vehicles.

With sunshine gleaming off polished chrome, live music in the air, and the smell of grilled hot dogs wafting across the lot, the evening had all the makings of a perfect small-town summer afternoon.

community

Latest News

Speed cameras gain ground in Connecticut, stall in Dutchess County

Speed cameras gain ground in Connecticut, stall in Dutchess County

A speed enforcement camera in New York City.

Photo courtesy NYC DOT

Speed cameras remain a tough sell across northwest Connecticut — and are still absent from local roads in neighboring Dutchess County.

Town leaders across northwest Connecticut are moving cautiously on speed cameras, despite a state law passed in 2023 that allows municipalities to install them. In contrast, no towns or villages in Dutchess County currently operate local automated speed-camera programs, even as New York City has relied on the technology for years.

Keep ReadingShow less
law enforcement

In remembrance: Tim Prentice and the art of making the wind visible

In remembrance: Tim Prentice and the art of making the wind visible
In remembrance: Tim Prentice and the art of making the wind visible
In remembrance: Tim Prentice and the art of making the wind visible

There are artists who make objects, and then there are artists who alter the way we move through the world. Tim Prentice belonged to the latter. The kinetic sculptor, architect and longtime Cornwall resident died in November 2025 at age 95, leaving a legacy of what he called “toys for the wind,” work that did not simply occupy space but activated it, inviting viewers to slow down, look longer and feel more deeply the invisible forces that shape daily life.

Prentice received a master’s degree from the Yale School of Art and Architecture in 1960, where he studied with German-born American artist and educator Josef Albers, taking his course once as an undergraduate and again in graduate school.In “The Air Made Visible,” a 2024 short film by the Vision & Art Project produced by the American Macular Degeneration Fund, a nonprofit organization that documents artists working with vision loss, Prentice spoke of his admiration for Albers’ discipline and his ability to strip away everything but color. He recalled thinking, “If I could do that same thing with motion, I’d have a chance of finding a new form.”

Keep ReadingShow less
people
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Strategic partnership unites design, architecture and construction

Strategic partnership unites design, architecture and construction

Hyalite Builders is leading the structural rehabilitation of The Stissing Center in Pine Plains.

Provided

For homeowners overwhelmed by juggling designers, architects and contractors, a new Salisbury-based collaboration is offering a one-team approach from concept to construction. Casa Marcelo Interior Design Studio, based in Salisbury, has joined forces with Charles Matz Architect, led by Charles Matz, AIA RIBA, and Hyalite Builders, led by Matt Soleau. The alliance introduces an integrated design-build model that aims to streamline the sometimes-fragmented process of home renovation and new construction.

“The whole thing is based on integrated services,” said Marcelo, founder of Casa Marcelo. “Normally when clients come to us, they are coming to us for design. But there’s also some architecture and construction that needs to happen eventually. So, I thought, why don’t we just partner with people that we know we can work well with together?”

Keep ReadingShow less
architecture

‘The Dark’ turns midwinter into a weeklong arts celebration

‘The Dark’ turns midwinter into a weeklong arts celebration

Autumn Knight will perform as part of PS21’s “The Dark.”

Provided

This February, PS21: Center for Contemporary Performance in Chatham, New York, will transform the depths of midwinter into a radiant week of cutting-edge art, music, dance, theater and performance with its inaugural winter festival, The Dark. Running Feb. 16–22, the ambitious festival features more than 60 international artists and over 80 performances, making it one of the most expansive cultural events in the region.

Curated to explore winter as a season of extremes — community and solitude, fire and ice, darkness and light — The Dark will take place not only at PS21’s sprawling campus in Chatham, but in theaters, restaurants, libraries, saunas and outdoor spaces across Columbia County. Attendees can warm up between performances with complimentary sauna sessions, glide across a seasonal ice-skating rink or gather around nightly bonfires, making the festival as much a social winter experience as an artistic one.

Keep ReadingShow less
performances

Tanglewood Learning Institute expands year-round programming

Tanglewood Learning Institute expands year-round programming

Exterior of the Linde Center for Music and Learning.

Mike Meija, courtesy of the BSO

The Tanglewood Learning Institute (TLI), based at Tanglewood, the legendary summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is celebrating an expanded season of adventurous music and arts education programming, featuring star performers across genres, BSO musicians, and local collaborators.

Launched in the summer of 2019 in conjunction with the opening of the Linde Center for Music and Learning on the Tanglewood campus, TLI now fulfills its founding mission to welcome audiences year-round. The season includes a new jazz series, solo and chamber recitals, a film series, family programs, open rehearsals and master classes led by world-renowned musicians.

Keep ReadingShow less
education
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.