Main Street News

Stissing Center kicks off 2025 with Fire & Ice
On Saturday, January 18, the Stissing Center in Pine Plains, NY, kicked off their 2025 season with an evening of Fire & Ice, which they dubbed a “cool party for a hot new season.” The show, in effect, was an evening’s glimpse into what one can expect from Stissing Center in 2025 – and what a year it will be!
The evening’s lineup
The evening kicked off with an hour-long cocktail reception, where guests mingled while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and drinks, all while listening to local Pine Plains resident and PPCSD music teacher, Alec Sisco on the piano. Promptly at 7pm, the evening’s events began with emcee and local Pine Plains resident Rachel Lenihan welcoming guests. Rachel entertained the crowd with a few jokes from her stand-up comedy act, which were well received. So much so, in fact, that one guest kept laughing after the crowd had quieted down after a particular joke, prompting all the guests, and Rachel herself, to begin laughing all over again.
Rachel then presented guests with a lineup of the evening’s performers and welcomed Long Steele Rail, a bluegrass and honky tonk band, to the stage. The duo performed a handful of songs and wowed the crowd with both an original song, as well as cover songs.

From left to right, Jorge Yajure, Catherine Tharun (Stissing Center Director of Dance), Eileen Yajure (board member), Patrick Trettenero (Executive Director), Didi Barrett, Gwen Greene (Board President)
Words of impact
The Stissing Center’s new executive director, Patrick Trettenero, followed after Long Steele Rail and welcomed guests while sharing exciting developments from Stissing Center, which included their newly launched website, newly attained grants, as well as speaking about their chock-full 2025 schedule. Patrick thanked all of the guests in attendance and gave specific thanks to a handful of people in attendance including but not limited to NY State Representative Didi Barrett, Chris Drago (Dutchess County Legislator), Dan Aymar-Blair (Dutchess County Comptroller), and Anthony Parisi (Dutchess County District Attorney).
Patrick’s speech was very poignant and heartfelt and his passion for what he and the folks behind Stissing Center do was easily felt. He implored guests that Stissing Center was hoping to help all of their guests “find their center at Stissing Center,” and I have to admit that it was a very special moment.
Speaking of special moments, when Heather Dell’Amore took the stage with her daughter Coraline, it was perhaps the most important moment of the evening. It was not necessarily the jokes and self-deprecating jabs at herself that Heather shared, or even Coraline sharing how she has literally grown up at Stissing Center, but it was when Heather shared the impact that Stissing Center has had on her life. It really put into perspective what a ripple effect that a local organization like Stissing Center can have on not just making an imprint on people’s lives, but how it can literally change someone’s life.
Heather shared that she graced the very stage she was standing on, for the first time, in her one-woman stand-up show in the spring of 2024. She shared, in a very raw way might I add, how that show went. But it was the ripple effect of that show that was so powerful. That first show of hers opened a number of doors that led to other shows and open mics, and ultimately has led to her receiving a grant from New York State. Heather was on the verge of tears when she shared this incredible story, and how none of it would have been possible had it not been for the Stissing Center.
And that right there puts it all into perspective: how very important our local organizations and the arts are.
Coraline emphasized this when she spoke of her own experiences and how she essentially grew up at Stissing Center, having seen everything there from puppet shows to movies to musical performances. And for Coraline, the impact and impression from the Center has led to her own road in performance arts, because in 2024 Coraline graced the stage while she played the lead in the school play.

Stissing Center, Director of programming Liz Raum with Local Produce playwright (and co-star of film Mr Marty Pants) Grace Angela Henry
More than stand-up and music
In between performances, Alec Sisco continued to entertain guests with pieces on the piano while acts readied themselves. Will Lawrence took the stage before Heather and Coraline and shared his phenomenal guitar skills and soulful voice when he performed a few folk songs with guests. The short comedy film, “Mr. Marty Pants,” which was written and directed by Patrick Trettenero was shown, much to the guests’ entertainment. It was both unique and entertaining with its own humor that at times had guests boisterously laughing out loud. And one must add that the entire film was shot right in Pine Plains.
And perhaps that’s another thing that stood out from the evening: the local connection and how Stissing Center brings all these facets of our community together. The talent assembled to entertain guests on this evening were locals and transplants and visitors alike, but all coming together in this wonderful place to share their passion and talent. Since the evening’s performances were just a snapshot of the 2025 season, Stissing Center will continue all year to bring people together in this one location.
The evening wrapped up with a performance from Erin Lindsey Krom doing “Anton in Show Business” by Jane Martin, followed by powerful words from Stissing Center board president Gwen Greene. The evening concluded with contemporary classical music from Sophia Zhou, who is no stranger to performing at Stissing Center.
If this is any indication of what 2025 will be like at Stissing Center, you might want to go to their website and add dates to your schedule because they have an amazing and chock-full lineup for all of us. And in that vein, Patrick shared with me, “Fire and Ice was an exciting season kick off event, previewing an incredible season of diverse programming at Stissing Center with music, theater, film, children’s programming, community events, and more. How gratifying to feel so much electricity in the air for our 2025 season. We are so grateful of the over 150 supporters who joined us for this special night.”
To learn more about the Stissing Center and their 2025 schedule of events, please visit their website at thestissingcenter.org.

From left to right, Jeanine Sisco (Pine Plains Town Board and Stissing Center board member), Chris Drago (Dutchess County Legislator), Dan Aymar-Blair (Dutchess County Comptroller), Didi Barrett (NY State Representative), Anthony Parisi (Dutchess County District Attorney).