Pine Plains Views in Video

A Day to Remember

But it's really about why we live here and, if you don't, why you should come for a visit!

Howe They Farmed — A Mother’s Memories

A shoebox of old film reels found in a closet preserved a story of farming from horse to tractor.

Learning History By Living It!

Students enrolled in Mr. Murray's Military History course are bringing their research and studies of the American Revolution to life. Through historic interpretation and documented analysis, students set out to...

This Old Mill

I often drove by an old building on the outskirts of Pine Plains and wondered about what it used to be. As it was beside a small pond, I assumed...

A Place for Everyone

In some communities it's called a plaza, a square, a commons... Here in Pine Plains it was Lia's Mountain View. It's a restaurant, an Italian one. But not only do...

A Global Pandemic, A Small Town, and A Pharmacist

Pine Plains, NY, with a population of about 1,500 located 100 miles due north of New York City could have been easily overlooked in the data and statistics about COVID-19....

A Father’s Story

As far as I know, Second Lieutenant John Williams never came to Pine Pine Plains in person. But his story has come to town through his daughter, Esther, who brought...

Riding High in Copake! The Antique Bicycle Auction

A whole world converged on Copake, NY, -- the world of antique bicycle collectors! Why neighboring Copake which, unlike Pine Plains, does not even have ONE traffic light? Because of...

It Takes a Community to Run a Railroad

Actually, this is not a railroad story. It is about, a group of people who decided to run a railroad. A real one, as you can see for yourself in...

A Master Class for the High School Jazz Band

When Wynton Marsalis gave the opening concert for the new Stising Center, he also opened some hearts and minds of the local high school Jazz Band in a Master Class.

Wynton in Pine Plains

I was not permitted to shoot any video of Wynton during his stay in Pine Plains. I was only granted permission to shoot the still photographs in this gallery of...

An Old Building Brings New Life to Pine Plains

This is Downton Pine Plains, New York. Well, some people might not call it a real downtown, but it's where our traffic light, bank, pharmacy, and a genuine French...

Making History

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" If an event happens in the past and is not,...

The High Schoolers Paint the Town!

We don't often get a chance to see what goes on in the schools because everything is tucked away in brick buildings. When I heard that the high school was...

Where We Come From and Where We Are Going…

For several years a tradition has been growing in Pine Plains: the annual Lantern Tour of the Evergreen Cemetery. As a fund-raiser for the Library, the historical society researches the...

Meet the Candidates Night, 2017

What I hope will become a tradition in the future, the Pine Plains Free Library hosted an evening for the community to hear candidates for local offices discuss the issues. ...

It’s Not Your Grandfather’s Shop Class!

Our youth are entering a new world, and the good news is that our schools are preparing them!

It Takes a Play to Make a Community: Backstage at The Music Man

Pine Plains has a lively history of live theatre -- a story in itself. And now, every year, like high schools all over the country, it puts on an annual...

So, Let’s Make a Knife!

A working conversation with Master Bladesmith Joseph Szilaski I heard that there was this guy who lived somewhere in Pine Plains and made knives -- great ones -- although no one had ever actually seen...

Sergeant, Make It Happen!

There was a touch of Revolutionary War and black powder smoke right in the middle of Pine Plains the other day as Neil Murray was giving his students of military...

What IS Community, Anyway?

It was a large red barn right by the side of the road. It was so well-known it was a landmark for directions. Then, on a Tuesday morning, if you...

The Man Who Made Pine Plains Tick

Once a week for many years Greg McEldowney would come and wind the Town Clock and keep it running. He passed on November 11, 2017. He was a keeper of...

When A Family Business is a Community Affair

It's sad to see any business close, but in a small rural town the only hardware store is a vital necessity.

Burger Night at the Farm

In a reverse of "farm to table", this is brings the table to the farm. People mixing with each other, eating with the cows. In Spain they run with the...

The Long Haul Home: The Library Returns!

Talk about returning overdue library books... In what we hope will be the resolution of a long and complex story, books are coming out of storage and the library will...

Candidates Night, 2025, Pine Plains, NY

Community meets candidates and candidates meet community. An unofficial video.

Pine Plains on Parade: The Parade of Lights, 2015

I thought I would do something different this year for the Parade of Lights. Instead of filming the parade itself, I would film Pine Plains FROM the parade.

Chads Don’t Hang in Pine Plains

The 2015 Town Board election was very close. Even for a small town like ours, only 3 votes separated the 2nd and 3rd place candidates. Absentee ballots could change the...

A Day for Honor

Veterans Day, 2015 I can't really say that it rained on our parade 'cause, well, it didn't really rain as such and we did not have any kind of parade...

It Was All Treats — Halloween 2015

I am sure that this goes on all over America in small towns, but I am so thrilled at how our community of Pine Plains celebrates Halloween with its children. No committees or...

Spinning Squash at the Ag Fair

It's a yearly tradition that I've been going to for years: the 2015 Ag Fair hosted by the Future Farmers of America at the high school in Pine Plains. This year I...

Soldiers’ Tales

Master Sergeant (Ret.) David A. Cookingham Jr. August 8, 1971 to May 4, 2015 This official obituary tells only part of the story: PINE PLAINS- David Cookingham Jr., 43, of Broadway,...

Power and Authority in a Rural School District: A Study

I met the author Carol Ascher at a social function where we were table mates. When I mentioned that I was from Pine Plains, I was surprised that she expressed...

Let’s Remember Sal….

Sal passed away in May, 2013, at the age of 77. Although I would run into Sal at one of his jobs in town, either at Deuel's hardware or at...

A Live South African Braai Right in Pine Plains!

For the second year, Will Carter, of Pine Plains Fine Wines and Spirits, hosted a tasting of South African wines and food to raise money for the Pine Plains Food Pantry....

Burgers with the Herd

Burgers with the cows at Chaseholm Farm. The first in what I hope will be an on-going event. We had a great time, hung out with our favorite herd of cows,...

Everyone Loves a Parade!

And this proves it! I was told that the Fire Department was going to hold a parade. Usually parades are held to honor, remember, or celebrate something. I'm not sure about...

The Next Chapter: The Library Moved. The Story Goes On…

You know you're from Pine Plains if you have an opinion about this library situation. And if you are wondering why I am covering this story as it drags on and...

You Know It’s Spring When…

It's time to shear the sheep! There are all sorts of signs of Spring, but I've picked this one to show on Pine Plains Views: the annual sheep shearing on...

“Going… Going…. Wait! It’s Coming Back!

So long known as "That" building", Memorial Hall -- or whatever you called it in the past -- now has a new future. And one that will help Pine Plains...