From left, Vincente Mercado, Ren Babcock, Leandra Costa, Coraline Dell’Amore, Jenna Martin and Elliot Campbell were each awarded $100 as first place winners in the 10th annual Friends of the Pine Plains Free Library Young Writers competition.
PINE PLAINS — Young writers have a step up in the world of communication thanks to the Pine Plains Friends of the Library, which recently announced winners of the 10th annual writing competition.
The group has distributed some $10,000 in prize money over the years and provides an important opportunity to have students’ writing acknowledged.
Friends’ board member and coordinator of the contest Victoria LoBrutto, says that the much of the credit goes to the teachers who encourage students in the sixth through 12th grades to enter.
In many cases, they provide a helpful push by assigning the competition as homework. Topics range from those assigned to those chosen by the young writers themselves.
LoBrutto, who contributes garden articles to the New Pine Plains Herald, judges the competition, this year reading all 75 of the entries. She says she “keeps in mind” the New York State writing standards, but is mainly focused on the creativity and imagination of the writers which, she notes “cannot be taught.”
Having watched the progress in students’ writing over the years, she says, “I’m pleasantly surprised. From sixth grade to eighth grade some of the writing is pretty sophisticated. And then when they get to high school, you can see there is a real development.”
LoBrutto is even hopeful that she will someday see the name of one of the competitors she has followed annually on a book.
Besides giving credit to the teachers, LoBrutto cites the Pine Plains Free Library’s teen writing program, which, according to Head Librarian Dee Ann Johnson, is run weekly each Friday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. with both virtual and in-person sessions.
Johnson, in the same spirit, lauds the Friends saying, “They are indispensable. They work so hard on our behalf, and we are grateful for all they do for us and for all the programs they run.
In addition to cash awards, winners of the writing program are acknowledged in the graduation program and each participant receives a certificate provided by Moore and More printing of Millerton which is known far and wide for its generous support of many local not-for-profits.
The winners of each category in this year’s competition receive prizes of $100 for first place, $50 for second and $25 for third with a number of others receiving recognition through honorable mention.
Top winners in order of their placement are: Grade 6 - Group 1 - fiction - Coraline Dell’Amore, Juliet Shiels, and William Galliher; Grade 6 - Group 2 - fiction - Jenna Martin, Amelia Anderson, and Christopher Spada; Grade 6 - Group 3 - fiction - Elliot Campbell, Madison Johnson, and Margaret Johnson; Grade 8 - poetry - Vincente Mercado; Grades 9 - 12 academic non-fiction - Leandra Costa, Joshua Dolansky, and Charlotte Phillips; Grades 9- 12 - creative non-fiction - Leandra Costa, Joshua Dolansky, and Estrella Ruano; Grade 9- fiction - Ren Babcock, Brianna Blackburn, Kaylei Murphy; and Grade 9 - 12 - poetry - Ren Babcock, Emma Henderson, and Kaylei Murphy.
Village of Millerton offices on Route 22
MILLERTON — On Monday, Feb. 10, a board meeting was held, largely centered on the impact of the Feb. 3 fire that destroyed the Village Water and Highway building located on Route 22. In addition to the loss of the building, vehicles, equipment and tools were also destroyed.
“If we go back to the cause, it is still undetermined,” said mayor Jenn Najdek, who stated foul play had been ruled out. She also confirmed the garage remained off-limits as the investigation is still ongoing.
Alongside the Mayor, village trustees expressed their concern regarding rumors as to the cause of the fire. According to trustee David Sherman, transparency with the public is key to distinguishing fact from fiction. “I think we should, through whatever releases we can make, make it abundantly clear what that status is so we can squelch these kinds of rumors that are oozing up in the community,” said Sherman.
The Village is working with Nordic Environment Finance Corporation, an independent cause and origin investigation company, to determine the cause of the blaze. According to Najdek, once the investigation is complete, investigators will greenlight the premises for entrance. Najdek also emphasized while investigators are working toward determining a cause, one may or may not be found, contingent on what the investigation yields.
According to Najdek, the Town of East Fishkill sent their engineer the morning of the fire to assist Village’s water operators in setting up a system to ensure drinking water would continue to flow. The village’s supply of drinking water has been continuously evaluated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as well as the Board of health to ensure fitness for human consumption.
With one of the wells being destroyed in the fire, the Village’s water will be conditioned as required and pumped from well no. 1, known as the “doghouse,” to a holding tank as a temporary solution.
“Well no. 2 that was in the building, we can selectively demo around it, secure it, get a semi permanent structure,” Najdek said. “We don’t know what that’s going to be. There’s one hundred different solutions for that, and we will know more after this week.”
The Village trustees showed interest in an acting structure which resembles a “plug and play” system, where all water operating equipment will be housed. “We will be meeting with the engineer, the water operator and Pete [Dellaghelfa, Village’s Superintendent of Public Works], this week on-site and we will start looking for the immediate, short-term solution,” said Najdek.
Previously, the Millerton Water Department housed two 10-inch diameter wells in an unconsolidated aquifer that allowed filtration through 50 feet of sand and gravel. The water then gets pumped into an elevated holding tank, where it is treated and chlorinated before being distributed to residents.
Currently, well no. 1 is being operated by a generator while the power lines to the building are in the midst of being fixed. The intent of these lines, according to Najdek, is to potentially serve electricity to both of the wells and the baseball field lighting.
With the loss of vehicles and equipment, the village is hoping to be indemnified once insurance claims are settled. “We’ve incurred a lot of expenses so far,” Najdek said, explaining her confidence in village insurer New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal. “I feel pretty good about them being able to handle our needs in a timely manner.”
The Village will have a three-month window to borrow vehicles or equipment as needed from the town, county or the state. “God forbid the county’s truck hits the bed, we can ask the state ‘Do you have any trucks that you could loan us?’” Najdek said.
The mayor requested the Highway and Police department compile a wish list of vehicles and equipment for immediate needs. The village hopes to avoid buying used trucks and equipment, hopefully avoiding any problems that come with them, said public works superintendent Dellaghelfa. “It’s not that I’m against used. I just want to see that the village is getting their money’s worth.”
Once Najdek has confirmation from the insurance company, the village will start moving forward with the “wish-lists” from both the Highway and Police Departments. At this time, patience is what’s needed most, explained Najdek. “For those who have never been through a fire, this is a marathon. It’s not a sprint,” she said. “Sometimes answers don’t come into the third mile or fourth mile. It’s not something where information comes quickly from insurance companies everyday, so there will potentially be no updates.”
The village’s state of emergency declaration, which went into effect the morning of the fire, remains in place.
During the meeting, trustee Sherman provided updates on where the village stands for the Community Development Block Grant. The village is planning to use this grant to replace a few sections of sidewalks which need improvement.
“Some things are going to require some engineering input to see how we can rebuild this area,” Sherman said. “The aim is to put some estimates together and have the board’s consideration for our next meeting to approve making a CDBG application for this 2025 year and keeping it with a total cost under the $200,000 level, which is the max.”
According to Sherman, the focus will be on the sidewalks near John Street, also known as Smith Court and North Center Street. The Village needs to submit its request for the grant by Monday, March 3, to be considered.
The Lakeville Journal and Millerton News are seeking young journalists for an educational internship program.
The six week program provides training in the everyday operations of a community weekly. Interns will learn the news-gatheringprocess from pitch to print through regular workshops with industry professionals on topics such as photography, libel and copy-editing.
Interns will also work closely with the papers’ staff. Editors will collaborate with interns to develop stories and provide feedback throughout the program. The papers’ reporters will take interns into the field for shadowing opportunities, teaching interviewing and photography in action.
By the end of the program, interns should be capable of reporting and writing a hard news story or feature fit for print, and should have an article clip and a photograph to start a reporting portfolio. Interns should finish the six-week program with an understanding of current community journalism best practices, interviewing techniques and news-writing skills.
Interested students can find the application online at lakevillejournal.com/education-internship-programs or on our social media accounts.
MILLERTON — On Monday, Feb. 10, a board meeting was held, largely centered on the impact of the Feb. 3 fire that destroyed the Village Water and Highway building located on Route 22. In addition to the loss of the building, vehicles, equipment and tools were also destroyed.
“If we go back to the cause, it is still undetermined,” said mayor Jenn Najdek, who stated foul play had been ruled out. She also confirmed the garage remained off-limits as the investigation is still ongoing.
Alongside the Mayor, village trustees expressed their concern regarding rumors as to the cause of the fire. According to trustee David Sherman, transparency with the public is key to distinguishing fact from fiction. “I think we should, through whatever releases we can make, make it abundantly clear what that status is so we can squelch these kinds of rumors that are oozing up in the community,” said Sherman.
The Village is working with Nordic Environment Finance Corporation, an independent cause and origin investigation company, to determine the cause of the blaze. According to Najdek, once the investigation is complete, investigators will greenlight the premises for entrance.Najdek also emphasized while investigators are working toward determining a cause, one may or may not be found, contingent on what the investigation yields.
According to Najdek, the Town of East Fishkill sent their engineer the morning of the fire to assist Village’s water operators in setting up a system to ensure drinking water would continue to flow. The village’s supply of drinking water has been continuously evaluated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as well as the Board of health to ensure fitness for human consumption.
With one of the wells being destroyed in the fire, the Village’s water will be conditioned as required and pumped from well no. 1, known as the “doghouse,” to a holding tank as a temporary solution.
“Well no. 2 that was in the building, we can selectively demo around it, secure it, get a semi permanent structure,” Najdek said. “We don’t know what that’s going to be. There’s one hundred different solutions for that, and we will know more after this week.”
The Village trustees showed interest in an acting structure which resembles a “plug and play” system, where all water operating equipment will be housed. “We will be meeting with the engineer, the water operator and Pete [Dellaghelfa, Village’s Superintendent of Public Works], this week on-site and we will start looking for the immediate, short-term solution,” said Najdek.
Previously, the Millerton Water Department housed two 10-inch diameter wells in an unconsolidated aquifer that allowed filtration through 50 feet of sand and gravel. The water then gets pumped into an elevated holding tank, where it is treated and chlorinated before being distributed to residents.
Currently, well no. 1 is being operated by a generator while the power lines to the building are in the midst of being fixed. The intent of these lines, according to Najdek, is to potentially serve electricity to both of the wells and the baseball field lighting.
With the loss of vehicles and equipment, the village is hoping to be indemnified once insurance claims are settled. “We’ve incurred a lot of expenses so far,” Najdek said, explaining her confidence in village insurer New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal. “I feel pretty good about them being able to handle our needs in a timely manner.”
The Village will have a three-month window to borrow vehicles or equipment as needed from the town, county or the state. “God forbid the county’s truck hits the bed, we can ask the state ‘Do you have any trucks that you could loan us?’” Najdek said.
The mayor requested the Highway and Police department compile a wish list of vehicles and equipment for immediate needs. The village hopes to avoid buying used trucks and equipment, hopefully avoiding any problems that come with them, said public works superintendent Dellaghelfa. “It’s not that I’m against used. I just want to see that the village is getting their money’s worth.”
Once Najdek has confirmation from the insurance company, the village will start moving forward with the “wish-lists” from both the Highway and Police Departments. At this time, patience is what’s needed most, explained Najdek. “For those who have never been through a fire, this is a marathon. It’s not a sprint,” she said. “Sometimes answers don’t come into the third mile or fourth mile. It’s not something where information comes quickly from insurance companies everyday, so there will potentially be no updates.”
The village’s state of emergency declaration, which went into effect the morning of the fire, remains in place.
During the meeting, trustee Sherman provided updates on where the village stands for the Community Development Block Grant. The village is planning to use this grant to replace a few sections of sidewalks which need improvement.
“Some things are going to require some engineering input to see how we can rebuild this area,” Sherman said. “The aim is to put some estimates together and have the board’s consideration for our next meeting to approve making a CDBG application for this 2025 year and keeping it with a total cost under the $200,000 level, which is the max.”
According to Sherman, the focus will be on the sidewalks near John Street, also known as Smith Court and North Center Street. The Village needs to submit its request for the grant by Monday, March 3, to be considered.
Gretchen Mol and Campbell Scott in a reading of “Love Letters” at the Sharon Playhouse
The Sharon Playhouse held a one night showing of the play “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney on Saturday, Feb 15. The sold out, though only partially attended due to the weather, performance was held in the Bok Gallery and starred Gretchen Mol and Campbell Scott.
“Love Letters” is an epistolary play, meaning the story is conveyed through the letters exchanged between the two main characters: Melissa Gardener, played by Mol, and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, played by Scott. The play begins at childhood and lasts until the characters are about sixty years old. With the performers reading letters back and forth, the staging is minimal—intimate lighting casts a warm glow over the two actors seated at a single table, where they remain for the entire performance. The Bok Gallery’s cozy setting enhances the play’s simplicity, making for an intimate and engaging experience.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of “Love Letters” is its pacing and flow, which Mol and Scott brought out fantastically. For the majority of the play, the actors simply trade lines back and forth as they read their letters. This back and forth is broken up through occasional bits of quick, heated exchanges, long monologues and gut wrenching silence as, for one reason or another, a character goes five or six letters without writing back. This difference in pacing is extremely effective, and ensures that the audience does not feel any sort of stagnation.
Of course this pacing methodology would mean nothing if not brought out and explored by the performers, who both tackled their respective roles with gusto. Gardener, played by Mol, is a very highly spirited individual who is often finding herself in trouble and living loose. Ladd on the other hand, played by Scott, is an English major who is quickly established as a bit more rigid and only able to accurately speak his mind through writing. As their lives develop and life’s many joys and tragedies hit them through the years, both performers brought out their personality shifts and outbursts wonderfully while ensuring they remained true to their original selves.
Although Gardener finds herself weary and lost as her art career fades and addiction rears its ugly head, Mol preserves a hint of the character’s former free-spirited playfulness in her letters. Despite becoming a Senator, traveling abroad, and starting a family, Scott balanced Ladd’s rigid and stiff demeanor with moments of openness in some of Ladd’s longer and more heartfelt letters. With a play so exposed and minimalistic, it lives and dies with its performers, and Mol and Scott certainly gave it life.
“Love Letters” at the Sharon Playhouse was a one night only performance, though “Sylvia”, also by Gurney, is slated for performance at the Playhouse August 29 to Sept 7.
