Children pitch in with schoolhouse plantings


AMENIA — "They’re going to grow up in a world that we hope we haven’t made too awful. It’s up to them to plant trees and respect the environment."

According to Ann Linden, president of the Indian Rock Schoolhouse Association, that was the focus Tuesday morning when students from Amenia Elementary School planted trees on the schoolhouse grounds.

On hand to help with the plantings was Pinecone Pete, also known as South Amenia resident Andy Durbridge.

The plantings were scheduled to celebrate Earth Day, which fell on this past Sunday and Arbor Day, which is celebrated tomorrow.

Before the plantings, Durbridge noted that Twin Brooks Nursery in Millbrook donated one tree to the association and sold three other trees at cost.

Corn was also planted this past Tuesday.

The plantings have taken place since April 2005.

"I was just the guy in line," Durbridge said when asked how Pinecone Pete came about.

Durbridge’s flannel shirt and bucket hat were adorned with authentic pinecones.

When asked how they were attached, he said it was a "trade secret."

When the day kicked off, one first- grade class helped Pete plant one of the four trees while another went into the schoolhouse to learn about the "olden days," Linden said.

"This is the lucky group," Durbridge said as he led the students to the tree. "Does anybody know what day it was last week? It was Earth Day and this Friday is Arbor Day. I’m going to take you all to a special place. We’re going to find your tree and plant it."

When the students asked how big the trees would get, he said he hopes they become "supersized."

"Just like the ones over there," Durbridge said as he pointed to tall pines in the distance.

All of the 19 students got a chance to shovel some dirt in the pre-dug hole.

Right before the students sat down for some lunch, Linden said the celebration went off without a hitch.

"We’re going to keep planting until we fill the whole thing up," she said, noting that the schoolhouse operated between the years of 1858 and 1927.

Latest News

Cornwall saxophone sensation goes viral

Donald Polk, right, performed “Flight of the Bumblebee” at Cornwall Consolidated School’s winter concert. A video posted online by his mother has garnered millions of views.

Photo by Tamara Polk

CORNWALL — Donald Polk, an eighth grader at Cornwall Consolidated School, had only been playing alto saxophone for two years when he performed the notoriously challenging “Flight of the Bumblebee” at his school’s Winter Holiday Concert. His mother, Tamara Polk, posted a recording of the performance to TikTok, not expecting that Donald’s audience would quickly come to outsize that of a school auditorium.

When The Lakeville Journal interviewed Polk Saturday, Dec. 21, the young musician’s scorching saxophone solo had accrued more than 1.7 million views, 360,000 likes, and 2,500 comments.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Terance Martin

NORTH CANAAN — Dr.f Donald Terance “Doc” Martin, 86, of North Canaan, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at his home in North Canaan, which was his last wish. Dr. Martin was a dentist in Canaan, retiring in 2014. He served the community and their needs whether they could pay or not, and at all hours of the day and night. They do not make men like Don “Doc” Martin anymore.

Born on Aug. 27, 1938 in Walla Walla, Washington, he was the youngest of George T. and Anna Mae (McGrath) Martin’s eight children. Don proudly served in the US Navy with the Seabees during the Vietnam War. He adopted the Seabee’s “Can Do” attitude that served him for the rest of his life. Don married Lynne Horner in 1964.

Keep ReadingShow less
Paul Winter to celebrate the winter solstice at Saint James Place

The Paul Winter Consort will perform at St. James Cathedral in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Saturday, Dec. 21.

Photo by Matthew Muise

Seven-time Grammy winning saxophonist Paul Winter, with the Paul Winter Consort, will return to celebrate the Winter Solstice on Saturday, Dec. 21, with sold out shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Saint James Place, 352 Main St., Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

A uniquely intimate solstice celebration, in contrast to the large-scale productions done for many years in the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York, it promises to deliver everything audiences have come to love and expect.

Keep ReadingShow less
Developers withdraw application to expand Wake Robin Inn

Wake Robin Inn is located on Sharon Road in Lakeville.

Photo by John Coston

LAKEVILLE — Aradev LLC has withdrawn its application to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a special permit to redevelop the Wake Robin Inn.

In a letter submitted to P&Z Chair Michael Klemens on the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 17, law outfit Mackey, Butts & Whalen LLP announced its client’s withdrawal.

Keep ReadingShow less