FFA banquet wraps up year

PINE PLAINS — Having grown too large for the school’s cafeteria, the Pine Plains FFA chapter hosted its annual banquet for the first time in the Stissing Mountain Middle School gymnasium last Friday, June 4.

The banquet is an opportunity for the chapter to look back on the past year and provide reports on the many FFA activities held throughout the school year. Awards, certificates and plaques were presented, and new officers were installed at the conclusion of the meeting.

The banquet, a celebration of the past FFA year, was a formal affair. Officers called the meeting to order and followed strict operating procedures. The banquet was technically the final meeting of the year, and a motion was needed just to postpone the program so that the 31 members and 171 guests in attendance could eat dinner.

Held concurrently with the banquet was a silent auction, which parent Ronda Murphy organized with the FFA. The members went door to door, visiting local businesses in the surrounding area in hopes of collecting donated raffle items.

“All the businesses are so excellent to our program,� Murphy said. “We have at least 50 businesses who participated and they’re all great with the kids.�

For FFA President Colleen Smith and Vice President Shannon Fletcher, both sophomores, being FFA officers has been a lot of work but a transforming experience.

“I absolutely loved it,� Shannon said during dinner.

“It’s a lot of work,� Colleen added. “You have to run every meeting and you try to set an example for other members. But I decided to run because I felt it was time to step up. I really like the organization.�

“I started out very shy,� remembered Shannon, “and the FFA has really made me come out of my shell. I became much more comfortable with public speaking and it’s really not such a big deal anymore.�

Student advisor Chris MacNeil said that the past year has been very busy compared to years in the past.

“But it’s been a very good year,� she said. “Considering the economy we were always wondering how our fundraisers were going to do, but the community has been really supportive.�

The guest speaker for the evening was Pine Plains graduate Rick Welsh, who said his experience in the FFA, which was a new program to the school 20 years ago, was a “crash course� that affected the rest of his life.

“I see a lot of people here tonight that I knew [from the FFA program],� he said, “which is a testament to the community. It shows that they really support what you have here.�

Near the conclusion of the meeting an installation of new officers was held. Jonny Weinberger became the new FFA student president, with Ashley Bartholf named vice president.

State Senator Vincent Leibell made his last official appearance at the banquet in that role (he’s put in his bid for Putnam County executive), but pledged that he would continue to attend in years to come.

“It’s a wonderful organization,� he said. “I’ve been very fortunate to know so many people that have been involved in the FFA, and I think it’s one of the greatest organizations in America for our young people.�

Latest News

Robin Lee Roy

FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.

She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marjorie A. Vreeland

SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.

At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rafael A. Porro

SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.

Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Roger D. Ovitt

TORRINGTON — Roger D. Ovitt, 91, of 35 Berry St. Torrington, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family.He was the husband of Barbara (Webb) Ovitt of Torrington.Roger was born June 28, 1934 in Amenia, New York, son of the late Ronald and Edna Lucy (King) Ovitt.

Roger had worked for 36 years as a crusher operator for the former Pfizer Corporation in Canaan. After retiring from Pfizer in 1992, Roger joined his brother, Brian, and began a new career as a house painter. Roger enjoyed this venture with his brother.He was an avid fisherman.Roger also loved to garden.He took great pride in the flowers and vegetables that he raised.

Keep ReadingShow less