Sue Serino looks into the county’s not-so-distant future

County executive Sue Serino is prioritizing safety, community well-being and collaboration in Dutchess County government.
Photo by Krista A. Briggs
County executive Sue Serino is prioritizing safety, community well-being and collaboration in Dutchess County government.
POUGHKEEPSIE — Last December, the Dutchess County legislature passed its 2025 budget by a vote of 23-2.
While it wasn’t a unanimous decision, the bipartisan support of the $629 million-plus spending package reflected the collaborative inroads County Executive Sue Serino, R-Dutchess, has been striving toward over the past year.
While Serino didn’t win over lawmakers Chris Drago, whose district includes North East, Millerton and Pine Plains, and Brennan Kearney, D-11, she was not discouraged, saying, “I’ll just have to try harder next time around.”
Serino’s budgetary package includes a record $2 million in funding for EMS service.
The lack of EMS access was a concern Serino weighed in on last November prior to the budget’s passing.
“Emergency medical services are a vital lifeline for our residents,” Serino said. “This funding will not only improve EMS response times but [will] also reduce pressure on mutual aid services, ensuring each community has the coverage it needs.”
As part of Serino’s strategy to address emergency service deficiencies, a temporary supplemental ambulance coverage plan was launched at the beginning of 2025 to fill coverage gaps after the county entered into an agreement with Empress Ambulance Services.
A potential secondary provider, Ambulnz by DocGo, may eventually be added into the mix, contingent on contract negotiations.
DocGo, the proposed secondary supplemental ambulance transport provider, is probably best known as the organization which controversially partnered in 2023 with New York City mayor Eric Adams in a highly lucrative no-bid contract to fill immigrant needs such as housing and meal delivery to recent arrivals in the city despite its lack of expertise in these service areas.
While improved ambulance service rolls out, Serino has continued work on additional EMS-related goals including workforce development initiatives aimed at bumping up recruitment numbers for emergency responders and a social media campaign designed to raise awareness of EMS service in the county. Additionally, her budget is focused on community and public-safety programming.
Serino’s Real Time Crime Center, an initiative with a $200,000 price tag attached to its launch from the Community Benefit Fund, debuted at the end of 2024. It enables law enforcement to monitor events as they occur via video feeds and other technology. It also provides a rapid response to incidents in progress.
Real Time Crime Centers, which can be found throughout the United States, enable collaboration between law enforcement entities in the sharing of information through audio, video, cameras, license plate readers, and other methods.
The data collected is funneled into a cloud-based view to provide mutual access and awareness by law enforcement. While some may find its surveillance-heavy approach unsettling, Serino maintained Real Time Crime Centers are a valuable and effective tool in preventing and combating crime.
“[It’s] additional security and safety,” Serino said. “I’m all for it.”
Youth-based initiatives are also a target. As part of her youth advocacy, Serino has set up in the budget a new $250,000 grant for the establishment of YOU — Youth Opportunity Union — Drop-In Centers, which provide gathering spaces for young people to make connections and positive choices by engaging with peers and mentors.
Additionally, $75,000 is being provided for YOU mini-grants to establish recreation programs for Dutchess youth. An additional $400,000 has been allocated to an anti-vaping initiative and another $250,000 will go toward the preservation of children’s mental health, a program in partnership with Family Services, Inc.
Also included in the budget were community-based items supporting seniors, veterans, and individuals with challenges as well as food insecurity initiatives.
Serino remains committed to her current responsibilities, and was quick to shoot down rumors of a gubernatorial run. She confirmed she’s been asked to run on the Federal level, but higher office is not an ambition.
She was even quicker to quell any whispers of retirement and plans to remain active, one way or another. “I always keep busy,” she said, maintaining that her priorities outside the county executive’s office are her family and her dog.
She was also quick to dispense chatter about discord in local government, pointing out how much she enjoyed coming together recently with her fellow lawmakers at county comptroller Dan Aymar-Blair’s swearing-in ceremony in January. She maintains cooperation in politics tends to yield positive results which, in turn, benefits Dutchess residents. Said Serino, “That’s what it’s all about.”
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 residence at 35 Amenia Union Road in Sharon was damaged after being struck by the Jeep Grand Cherokee around 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.
SHARON, Conn. — Emergency crews were called Saturday, Oct. 11, to Amenia Union Road in Sharon for a report of a vehicle into a building with entrapment.
Connecticut State Police reported Charles Teti, 62, was driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Amenia Union Road when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle veered across the southbound land and exited the roadway where it struck a tree and home. Airbags deployed.
Teti and front seat passenger Aidan Cassidy, 63, sustained serious injuries. Teti was airlifted to Hartford Hospital and Cassidy was transported by ambulance to Sharon Hospital for treatment.
Back seat passenger Shea Cassidy-Teti, 17, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on scene. Cassidy-Teti was a senior at Kent School. He played on the football and tennis teams.
The residence that was struck is located at 35 Amenia Union Road.
The case remains under open investigation. Witnesses are asked to contact Trooper Lukas Gryniuk at Troop B 860-626-1821.