community

Skaters delight in open rink at Silo Ridge

Skaters delight in open rink at Silo Ridge

Sloane Oksenhendler, 4, of Clinton Corners, takes advantage of a skating assist as she ventures onto the ice at an open rink event sponsored by the Amenia Recreation Department in collaboration with Silo Ridge on Monday, Feb. 3.

Photo By Leila Hawken

AMENIA — A new Amenia recreation program kicked off on Monday, Feb. 3, with an invitation to enjoy winter skating at Silo Ridge’s outdoor rink on selected Mondays during February.

Skaters of all ages and varied experience on the ice came to the first session with more anticipated to participate as the word gets out. A warming fire was a popular feature.

The open skating community invitation will be repeated on Feb. 10 and 24. Each session will begin at 3:30 p.m. and continue until closing at 6 p.m. Advance registration is required . For more information, go to www.amenia.ny.gov, or to register, email the Recreation Department at pbogin@ameniany.gov.

“This is a good opportunity for Amenia and Silo Ridge to collaborate and bring events to the town,” said new Amenia Recreation Director Paul Bogin. “This will lead to more events for people to enjoy.”

“It’s been a long time coming,” added Mark Hussey, Director of VIBE at Silo Ridge, responsible for setting the mood of the field club’s atmosphere for its residents. He said he was pleased to see the town being able to use the ice.

New Amenia Recreation Supervisor Paul Bogin was on hand on Monday, Feb. 3, for the first of three Open Rink community events sponsored by the Recreation Department in collaboration with Silo Ridge where the rink is located. The free community skating will be repeated on Monday, Feb. 24, inviting local and area skaters to enjoy using the expansive rink. Registration required.Photo by Leila Hawken

Also attending to the details of the open skate day were Zachary Spencer, outdoor pursuits coordinator and outdoor pursuits attendant Maebal Spencer — no relation.

Their efforts kept the fire pit stoked with wood, and a variety of tasks to ensure the skating experience would be positive for all.

“The more the merrier,” said Zachary Spencer, noting that the open rink idea was under consideration for a long time. “It’s definitely something I support.”

He was pleasantly surprised, he said, to see the local visiting skaters had impressive skating talent, some even managing some figure skating moves.

“It’s good to see the public enjoying it, the town coming together,” Maebel Spencer observed.

“It’s a good vibe,” Hussey added, pleased by the evident sense of community brought about by the event.

Little Sloane Oksenhendler, 4, of Clinton Corners was fearlessly enthusiastic about the experience, not her first time on skates, nor her last.

Finding it fun, she managed to skate along and remain upright with the help of an ingenious “walker” box for use on ice.

“I’m going to invite all of my friends to come skating with me,” Sloane said, adding that she particularly loved how they — the other skaters — do tricks on the ice.

Local skaters enjoyed free skating at the Silo Ridge Ice Rink on Monday, Feb. 3, the first of three planned open rink days sponsored by the Amenia Recreation Department in collaboration with Silo Ridge. The Open Rink program will be repeated on Mondays, Feb. 10 and 24, inviting local and area skaters to enjoy community skating fellowship. Registration is required.Photo by Leila Hawken

community

Latest News

Millerton’s 175th committee advances plans for celebration, seeks vendors and sponsors

Millerton’s 175th committee advances plans for celebration, seeks vendors and sponsors

The Millerton 175th anniversary committee's tent during the village's trunk-or-treat event on Oct. 31, 2025.

Photo provided

MILLERTON — As Millerton officially enters its 175th year, the volunteer committee tasked with planning its milestone celebration is advancing plans and firming up its week-long schedule of events, which will include a large community fair at Eddie Collins Memorial Park and a drone light show. The events will take place this July 11 through 19.

Millerton’s 175th committee chair Lisa Hermann said she is excited for this next phase of planning.

Keep ReadingShow less
events

Why the focus on Greenland?

Why the focus on Greenland?

As I noted here in an article last spring entitled “Hands off Greenland”, the world’s largest island was at the center of a developing controversy. President Trump was telling all who would listen that, for national security reasons, the United States needed to take over Greenland, amicably if possible or by force if necessary. While many were shocked by Trump’s imperialistic statements, most people, at least in this country, took his words as ill-considered bluster. But he kept telling questioners that he had to have Greenland (oftenechoing the former King of France, Louis XIV who famously said, “L’État c’est moi!”.

Since 1951, the U.S. has had a security agreement with Denmark giving it near total freedom to install and operate whatever military facilities it wanted on Greenland. At one point there were sixteen small bases across the island, now there’s only one. Denmark’s Prime Minister has told President Trump that the U.S. should feel free to expand its installations if needed. As climate change is starting to allow a future passage from thePacific Ocean to the Arctic, many countries are showing interest in Greenland including Russia and China but this hardly indicates an international crisis as Trump and his subordinates insist.

Keep ReadingShow less
column

Military hardware as a signpost

Military hardware as a signpost

It is hard not to equate military spending and purchasing with diplomatic or strategic plans being made, for reasons otherwise unknown. Keeping an eye out for the physical stuff can often begin to shine a light on what’s coming – good and possibly very bad.

Without Congressional specific approval, the Pentagon has awarded a contract to Boeing for $8,600,000,000 (US taxpayer dollars) for another 25 F-15A attack fighters to be given to Israel. Oh, and there’s another 25 more of the F-15EX variant on option, free to Israel as well.

Keep ReadingShow less
column

Truth and evidence depend on the right to observe

Truth and evidence depend on the right to observe

A small group of protesters voice opposition to President Trump's administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Amenia's Fountain Square at the intersection of Route 44 and Route 22 on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025

Photo by Nathan Miller

The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, and before him Renée Good, by federal agents in Minnesota is not just a tragedy; it is a warning. In the aftermath, Trump administration officials released an account of events that directly contradicted citizen video recorded at the scene. Those recordings, made by ordinary people exercising their rights, showed circumstances sharply at odds with the official narrative. Once again, the public is asked to choose between the administration’s version of events and the evidence of its own eyes.

This moment underscores an essential truth: the right to record law enforcement is not a nuisance or a provocation; it is a safeguard. As New York Times columnist David French put it, “Citizen video has decisively rebutted the administration’s lies. The evidence of our eyes contradicts the dishonesty of the administration’s words.”

Keep ReadingShow less
editorial