Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns
Issue 66 | June 16, 2023
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Youth Revolt
This week the first-ever trial in a constitutional climate lawsuit kicked off in Helena, Montana, and the plaintiffs are all young people. The case, Held v Montana, was brought in 2020 by 16 plaintiffs between the ages of five and 22 from around the state who allege that state officials violated their constitutional right to a healthy environment by enacting pro-fossil-fuel policies.
Montana’s constitution, written in 1972, enshrines the right to a healthy environment for Montana’s residents, and the attorneys for the plaintiffs assert that fossil fuel-based climate change is creating drought, wildfires, extreme heat and other environmental disasters throughout the state, taking a major toll on the young plaintiffs’ health and wellbeing.
This is just a week after New York, and much of the east coast, was blanketed by days of wildfire smoke originating in Canada and, as some people have observed, might have been our first significant experience of the major upheaval climate change and years of environmental neglect will yield.
While the Montana case may not ultimately be successful in the fight to preserve and repair the environment, it is notable that more protests and solutions are now coming from young people; they will be the changemakers. This is asking a lot of our youth and some would argue that this is not only shortsighted, but totally unfair.
In this issue, we stay focused on the youth of today with our advice to graduates, coming from various members of our community. In addition, we check in with CultureConnect and their efforts to celebrate Juneteenth as not only a Black holiday, but a local and national holiday as well.
We very much appreciate all of your support and feedback, especially the feedback we received from our recent readers’ survey. We are still reviewing and analyzing the results, and are very appreciative of all of your very thoughtful responses.
Eric Steinman
Executive Editor
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CultureConnect Supports and Celebrates Juneteenth with Rhinebeck
Up until just a few years ago, Juneteenth wasn’t widely celebrated, or even known, outside of the Black community.
In the Rhinebeck area, Juneteenth has become an annual celebration in large part because of the efforts of CultureConnect, a local community-based, non-profit organization focused on youth and families and devoted to “social justice, global engagement, and cultural competence.”
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Wherever You Go: Rhinebeck Offers Advice to Graduates
June is a month of transitions, moving-up ceremonies and graduations of all sorts. With such giant leaps forward come momentous commencement speeches, well wishes, and tons and tons of unsolicited advice.
Here is a collection of personal experience, wisdom gained over the years, and general optimism offered up from local residents to soon-to-be-graduates.
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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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Wanna Buy a Bridge? // As the repairs and renovations at the Rhinecliff station move slowly forward, a curious development occurred on Monday night at the Town Board meeting. The pedestrian bridge which spans both north- and southbound tracks at the southern end of the station was sold to Amtrak by the Town for $10. According to Town Attorney Warren Replansky, the sale was made to alleviate the town’s maintenance costs. Replansky told the Daily Freeman that “Amtrak is going to assume all obligations and responsibility for the care, maintenance, improvement and construction … of the passenger bridge in perpetuity.”
But Amtrak will not be under any obligation to conform any changes in the bridge to the historic character of the hamlet, which may or may not create controversy in the future, depending on whether Amtrak consults with Town residents over the form and function of the bridge. Earlier in the spring, Amtrak received a good deal of blowback from residents over the installation of a large sign at the entrance to the station, which many residents felt was grossly out of character with the hamlet. (Amtrak removed the sign within a few weeks.) Ownership of the bridge was taken over by the town in 1958 from Amtrak’s predecessor, the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company, which occurred as ferry service was terminated from the west side of the Hudson River when the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge was built in 1957.
Recomposition // At a Village Board meeting on Tuesday night, the issue that refuses to be buried was unearthed again: compost. Last month, the ambitious Village plan to create a permanent composting facility at the Village Highway Department off Violet Hill Road died a sudden death (read our story here). The issue very much divided the community; it was either a great idea without a clear plan or a great idea that collapsed under the weight of NIMBYism.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Village resident Polly Kaplan read into the record a statement endorsed by nearly 100 Village residents, thanking Trustee Vanessa Bertozzi and Climate Smart Rhinebeck for supporting development of a community compost site and emphasizing their commitment to further action: “We urge our elected leaders to strive to find a way to construct and operate a composting site serving the Village and Town of Rhinebeck.”
When reached for comment, Bertozzi said she was “grateful for the support” and added, “I know people don't want me to throw my hands up and I'm not!” The project had been awarded $300,000 in grant money, with $100,000 coming from Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley (PCA) and $200,000 coming from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Bertozzi stated that the funds from PCA would need to be returned as the grant stipulated that the facility had to be completed this year, which Bertozzi said would not likely happen. However, the funds from the DEC come with a bit more flexibility and can be applied to other composting efforts, yet to be worked out between the Town and Village. “I am trying to figure out a Plan B,” Bertozzi said.
Taking on More Crap // Also on Tuesday night at the Village Board meeting, results came back from an engineering study of whether the Village wastewater treatment plant has the capacity to handle sewage and wastewater from the proposed affordable housing project, Locust Hill (read our story here). The Village had contracted with environmental consulting firm Tighe & Bond to do the assessment, and the determination came back that, yes, the treatment plant could accommodate the wastewater needs of the 80-unit development. The Village is now moving ahead to draft an agreement for the Town's review (as the housing project will be built on Town property, not Village) that will state that the Locust Hill project can be hooked up to the Village wastewater treatment plant.
In addition, the Village is re-applying for a proposed upgrade to the plant, in the range of $3-5 million. The Village has been working with Delaware Engineering since June 2022 on the scope and schedule for the project. The plant was built in 1984, and the sewer collection system needs upgrading, according to Mayor Gary Bassett. If the grant money is awarded, construction will begin in 2025.
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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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"Correct Me If I'm Norm"
Norm Magnusson sits down to speak with Rhinebeck resident Ashley Manila, who is the creator of Baker by Nature, a popular food blog where she shares tons of tips about cooking, baking and cocktail creation.
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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 1600 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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This Week
Frances McDormand In Rhinebeck
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Friday, June 16th, 5:30PM - 7:30PM
Music on Market presents Erin Hobson on guitar and ukulele. Outdoor concert organized by the Rhinebeck Chamber of Commerce. At Rhinebeck Bank Plaza.
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Friday, June 16th, 8:00PM
Richard’s Rhinecliff Acoustic Show, featuring The Moonlighters. Donations suggested. At Morton Library, Rhinecliff.
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Saturday, June 17th, 7:30AM and 9:30AM sessions
Bird Walk with Dr. Alan Peterson, Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club. Sponsored by the Winnakee Land Trust. At Vlei Marsh, 186 Vlei Rd., 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 17th, 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Teen Tech Support; one-on-one technology instruction with tech-savvy teens. Bring your portable devices. At Starr Library, Rhinebeck.
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Saturday June 17th, 5:00PM - 7:00PM
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Monday June 19th
Juneteenth, a day to celebrate the emancipation of enslaved peoples in America. Rhinebeck and Dutchess County have a rich history associated with the African-American community. For details, see CultureConnectRbk.org.
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Monday June 19th, 1:30PM - 7:30PM
“A Pint for a Pint.” New York Blood Center conducts a blood drive at Foster’s Coach House Tavern. All donors will receive a coupon for a free pint at Foster’s effective June 20. Bring your donor ID card or ID with name and photo. Sign up at nybc.org. The restaurant is closed on June 19 for the event. At Foster’s, 6411 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Wednesday, June 21st, 6:30PM
Frances McDormand and Joel Coen in person to present their film, “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” with post-film discussion and reception for “Lux” members, free for “Helios” members. Tickets $200. A benefit for Upstate Films. At the theatre, 6415 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Friday, June 23rd, 7:00PM -9:00PM
Friday, June 23, 7PM - 9PM – Round the Bend Theatre presents “One Good Tree,” staged reading of new play by Robert Barnett; directed by Beth Ryan Troxell. Free. At Morton Library, Rhinecliff.
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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. Featuring Laurie Anderson, Diana Krall, Regina Spektor, Kaoru Watanabe, and Mark Morris, among others, including Baryshnikov himself. Go to kaatsbaan.org for tickets and more information. At Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Tivoli.
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Saturday, July 8th, 5:00PM
Summer House Party to benefit Wilderstein Historic Site. With food, libations, silent auction, house tours, and music. Tickets $150, $250, $500. At Wilderstein, 330 Morton Rd., Rhinebeck.
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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 20th
Rhinebeck Town Planning Board
Starr Library
6:00PM
Rhinebeck Town Planning Board Public Hearing and regular meeting. Hearing agenda includes application for special use permit relating to proposed interior and exterior changes to historic building at 22 Hutton St.; meeting agenda includes proposed cell tower at 3866 Rte. 9G. See Town website. NOTE MEETING LOCATION: At STARR LIBRARY LOWER LEVEL, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, June 20th
Rhinebeck Village Planning Board
Rhinebeck Village Hall
7:00PM
Tuesday, June 20, 7PM – Rhinebeck Village Planning Board. Agenda not yet available. See Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Wednesday, June 21st
Rhinebeck Town Zoning Board of Appeals
Rhinebeck Town Hall
7:00PM
Agenda includes application for tennis/basketball court at 335 Salisbury Turnpike. See Town website. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck..
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Thursday, June 22nd
Starr Library Board of Trustees Meeting
Starr Library
5:30PM
All community members are invited. At Starr Library, lower level, 68 West Market St., 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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"Alfy"
Alfy is a 13-year-old cockapoo who moved to Rhinebeck two years ago. You don’t often see her around the Village, as she thinks she is a sled dog and pulls on her human owner’s bad shoulder.
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