Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns
Issue 63 | June 6, 2023
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June in the Hudson Valley
Today there is an air quality alert for the Hudson Valley, largely because of wildfires in Nova Scotia that have sent smoke and haze to the Northeast. We are also contending with a dry spell and wild fluctuations in temperature over the last few days. All of this has made this June a fairly unpredictable month for weather and a wild ride towards the depths of summer.
Weather be damned, the Pilot continues to fly with nine months in the rear view. Last week we unveiled our first online survey, looking for input from you, our readers. Sure, many of you have been emailing us and talking to us out in the street about what you are loving and not loving about the Pilot, but we wanted to formalize the process, so we have put out a call for feedback. The results of the survey will be an important source of direction going forward, as we bring you more of what you value in a local news source. So, please, take the time (6 minutes) to sound off and tell us what you think of us.
In this issue of the Pilot we welcome the first local Pride event (this Sunday, June 11th) at The Church of the Messiah, as a joint effort between community members of both Red Hook and Rhinebeck. In addition, we visit with Joyce Doyle, the doyenne of the Rhinebeck Bank Parking Lot and find out her take on that little slice of Rhinebeck.
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to engage with us. We appreciate your support and your attention.
Eric Steinman
Executive Editor
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Rhinebeck & Red Hook Come Together for Pride
While the Hudson Valley is no stranger to Pride celebrations throughout the month of June, which has long been the internationally recognized Pride Month – Hudson, Kingston, Poughkeepsie, and New Paltz all have well-established Pride celebrations – Rhinebeck and Red Hook are relative latecomers to this celebration. This year all of that changes with the first annual celebration in Rhinebeck.
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Rhinefolk: Joyce Doyle on Parking
Anyone who has parked in one of the spaces reserved for Rhinebeck Bank customers in the lot at the back of the bank has, at least informally, met Joyce Doyle, the head of security for the lot. Doyle has much to say about parking, and the village, and what it means to be the eye of enforcement where parking is scarce.
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What Do You Think of the Pilot?
We have launched our first ever reader's survey to get a better idea of what you want and need in a local publication. Please take the survey and let us know how we could better connect with your interests. It is easy and will only take 6 minutes!
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Hanging on the Telephone // Rhinebeck is the (small) scene of a bit of communications history, right here in the village.
In May of 2022, the last operational public payphone was removed from a Seventh Avenue location in New York City and retired to the Museum of the City of New York, to be displayed alongside such relics from the past as typewriters, slide rules, and Linotype machines. But you don’t have to trek down to the city to make that call; the payphone lives on, at 6375 Mill St. (Rte. 9), between Market and South Streets.
There stands the last remaining payphone, not only in Rhinebeck, but apparently in New York State, according to Mayor Gary Bassett. The phone, which has been disfigured with a broken receiver handle for some weeks now, is set, not to be removed, but to be repaired in the next few weeks by Frontier Communications, which supplies service to the last standing telephonic guardian of the analog era. “They [Frontier] informed us that they were removing all the pay phones in NYS, except for this one!” Bassett said via email about the payphone on Mill. “They are leaving it there as part of the historic significance it has in the Village. It will be the only one left in NYS! They plan to keep it up and operating as long as possible.” The phone appears to be of limited vintage (maybe late ‘90s, early aughts), a singular piece of telecommunications nostalgia in a historic village.
Farmers' Market List: Cantaloupes and Cannabis // While recreational cannabis has been technically legal in New York State since 2021 (medical since 2014) the roll-out of commercially available cannabis in New York State has been plagued with all manner of bureaucratic red tape, and now farmers of the crop are sitting on a significant harvest with no legal channels for distribution. According to ABC News, last fall Gov. Kathy Hochul foresaw 20 new dispensaries opening each month in 2023. Instead, one store was open by the start of the year, and 11 more have opened since. Now a handful of NYS lawmakers are getting creative to address the cannabis glut and to assist the struggling retail cannabis market: their proposals include allowing last year’s crop to be sold at concert venues, fairs, and even at farmers’ markets.
New York regulators and legislators, under pressure to finish the legislative session, say that they are working to launch a pilot program to allow cannabis farmers’ markets, which could potentially start “within a month,” and officials with the state Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) said that marijuana farmers’ markets could help meet consumer demand while allowing growers to move stockpiled products grown last year in anticipation of the legal market. At this moment, there is no talk about any of our local farmers’ markets selling such surplus products, but you are welcome to call your state legislators to make this case, if you are highly motivated.
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LOCAL EVENTS!
The HV Pilot continues to grow and serve the community. Check out our new events page with local happenings updated continuously.
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Thank You for Signing Up
The response to our twice-weekly newsletter has been overwhelming and the engagement is beyond encouraging. We are proud to announce that we have crossed the 1580 newsletter subscriber mark! We encourage you to spread the word and tell your friends, family, neighbors and strangers alike to sign up here to expand our reach. The more people we have reading and engaging, the more of an active community we are.
Local news for local good.
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Are You a Writer?
The HV Pilot needs writers to cover local news, local business, local real estate issues, and all things local and interesting to our thriving community.
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"The Back Room"
Andy Ostroy sits down with actress and Emmy nominee J. Smith-Cameron, who just finished off a four-season run as Gerri Kellman on the HBO series Succession.
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What Do You Think of the Pilot?
We have launched our first ever reader's survey to get a better idea of what you want and need in a local publication. Please take the survey and let us know how we could better connect with your interests. It is easy and will only take 6 minutes!
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This Week
Get ready to baila!
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Friday, June 9th, 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Opening reception of “Self-Evident,” exhibit of paintings by Rhinebeck artist Thomas Cale. At CO, 6571 Springbrook Ave. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Friday, June 9th, 7:30PM
Rev-It-Up: Tales of a Truck Stop Chaplain; “Stories from the crossroads of saints and serial killers,” with author Sherry Blackman. At Morton Library, Rhinecliff.
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Friday, June 9th, 7:00PM - 10:00PM
CultureConnect Spring Fundraiser: Baila Conmigo! Ages 21+, DJ Uncle Rudy, guest set by El Michels Affair, cash bar, food truck. Tickets $75 (and up with additional donation). At Hudson Hollow Barn, 182 Schultz Hill Rd., Staatsburg.
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Saturday, June 10th, 2:00PM
Author’s talk with Jane Delury and Amy Parrella, Bard’s Director of Horticulture and Arboretum, about Delury’s new novel, Hedge, which takes place at modern-day Montgomery Place; followed by mansion walk-throughs with docents. Register at arboretum@bard.edu. At the Montgomery Place Visitor Center, River Rd., Bard College.
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Sunday, June 11th, 2:00PM - 5:00PM
Rhinebeck-Red Hook First Annual Pride Celebration, with food, resources, crafts, clothing swap, games, music, Trans Closet of the Hudson Valley, dancing. Free. Hosted by The Episcopal Church of the Messiah, 6436 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Sunday, June 11th, 3:00PM - 5:00PM
“Achieving Medicare for All in New York State,” talk with Q&A by Dr. Oliver Fein, MD, Professor Emeritus, Cornell Weill Medical School. Sponsored by the Rhinebeck Democrats Club. At Starr Library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Saturday June 17th, 10:30AM
Tommy Zurhellen talks about his memoir, “The Low Road: Walking the Walk for Veterans,” about his walk across America to raise awareness about veteran suicide and homelessness. At Clinton Community Library, 1215 Centre Rd., Rhinebeck.
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Saturday June 24th, 4:00PM - 7:00PM
“Mid-Century Modern in the Landscape,” annual benefit, including Innisfree Garden tour at 4PM followed by lecture by honoree Lynden B. Miller, public garden designer and esteemed horticulturist. Details at innisfree.org. At the garden, 362 Tyrrel Rd., Millbrook.
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Saturday June 24th, 6:30PM
Author talk by Lorrie Moore about her new novel, “I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home. Free, but registration is required. At Morton Library, Rhinecliff.
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Sunday, June 25th, 2:00PM
Mikhail Baryshnikov at 75: A Day of Music and Celebration. WILL HE ATTEND? Featuring Laurie Anderson, Diana Krall, Regina Spektor, Kaoru Watanabe, and Mark Morris, among others. Go to kaatsbaan.org for tickets and more information. At Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Tivoli.
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Friday, June 2nd - Sunday, June 18th
Kaatsbaan Spring Festival. Art, music, dance, cooking, nature walk, and more. See kaatsbaan.org for details. At Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Tivoli.
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Now through June 25 – Exhibition of works of Rhinebeck artist Audrey Francis, featuring her bird-centric paintings and drawings. At LabSpace Art, 2642 Rte. 23, Hillsdale, NY (45 minutes from Rhinebeck). You can also see an ever-changing selection of Francis’ smaller works at the Little Gallery box she has placed on the front lawn of her house on Chestnut St. between Beech and Parsonage in Rhinebeck.
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Now through August 20 – “Apocalypse Sky,” works by artists whose lives were transformed by the HIV/AIDS crisis during the 1980s and 1990s, including Keith Haring, Nan Goldin, Robert Mapplethorpe, and others. Vassar.edu/theloeb. At Vassar’s Lehman Loeb Gallery, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie.
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Town of Clinton Food Drive, to restock the food pantry at Pleasant Plains Presbyterian Church. Drop off canned goods and non-perishables at the Town of Clinton Clerk’s office, 1215 Centre Rd., Rhinebeck, Mondays-Thursdays, 9AM - 4PM, or at the Church, 2 Fiddlers Bridge Rd., Staatsburg. | |
Call for submissions: artworks inspired by the Rhinecliff Train Station, to be exhibited at Morton Library, Rhinecliff, later in 2023. Contact Chadkleitsch@gmail.com to submit a piece.
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Need support with substance abuse? Alcoholics Anonymous of Northeast New York sponsors several regular face-to-face and virtual meetings in our area – including in Rhinebeck and Red Hook – at various times of the day. For more information https://nenyaa.org/meetings.
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Tuesday, June 6th
Rhinebeck Village Planning Board
Rhinebeck Village Hall
7:00PM
Public hearing on application to demolish 42 Mulberry St., which is in the Historic District, followed by regular meeting. See Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Thursday, June 8th
Rhinebeck Village Comp Plan Committee
Rhinebeck Village Hall
6:00PM
Agenda not yet available. See Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Monday, June 11th
Rhinebeck Town Board
Rhinebeck Town Hall
6:00PM
Agenda not yet available. See Town website. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, June 13th
Rhinebeck Village Public Hearing
Rhinebeck Village Hall
6:00PM
Rhinebeck Village Public Hearing of Expansion of the Historic District Overlay; and Board of Trustees meeting. For Historic District materials and Board meeting agenda when available, see Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, June 13th
Rhinebeck CSD Board of Education Meeting
Rhinebeck High School Library
7:00PM
Agenda not yet available. See RCSD website. At Rhinebeck High School, 45 North Park Rd., Rhinebeck.
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Volunteers Needed!
TOWN OF RHINEBECK IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS to join various town committees. For a list of town committees and an application form, see Town website.
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"Groucho"
AKA "Groucho the Giant" is a full 97 pounds of "awesome snuggle bunny," as his owners attest.
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