Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns
Issue 155 | April 26, 2024
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This Week(end)
In today’s newsletter:
- How Do We House Farm Workers and Keep Local Agriculture Thriving?
- Local Comments on Earth Day
- Rhinebeck School Budget Adopted: Set For a Public Hearing and Vote
- High School News
- Publisher’s Op Ed: The Origins of Earth Day
- And More
Eric Steinman
Executive Editor
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Local Farmers Have a Housing Problem – “High Rent”
Farmers in the Hudson Valley, whether maintaining legacy farms or just coming into farming recently, all are contending with one vexing and financially limiting problem - high rent.
Can this historically rich agricultural region proper, let alone survive, if farmers cannot house their workers?
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Does Earth Day Matter? Readers Say Yes!
With Earth Day just passed, and local celebrations on for tomorrow, we thought it would be a good time to evaluate whether, in this age of climate crisis, Earth Day still means anything.
We asked readers and anyone who cares to chime in. Read the responses in the link.
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On the Origins of Earth Day
Earth Day began 54 years ago as a grassroots effort to draw attention back to preserving a quickly industrializing planet that was quickly being overrun.
We take a look back at the history of Earth Day and the individuals that made it a movement.
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School District Update //
Last week the Board of Education of the Rhinebeck Central School District adopted their proposed $40.13 million 2024-25 budget, a 3.11% increase ($1.21 million) over the previous year. The budget will be the subject of a public hearing on Tuesday, May 14th, and a community-wide vote on Tuesday, May 21st. This proposed budget, if passed, would include a $34.08 million property tax levy representing a 3.7% increase of $1.22 million, which remains below the tax levy limit of 3.71%. Based on a 1.41% tax based growth factor, the average estimated homeowner impact is expected to be 2.29% average tax increase. The school budget planning process focused on endeavoring to create a more sustainable approach for future programs, and was an attempt to align with goals in the district's strategic plan adopted last year. The Pilot will be covering the school budget in greater depth in the coming weeks.
It is customary for the annual May budget vote to also include an election for two school board trustee positions. This year, the two incumbents, Mark Fleischhauer and Diane Lyons, both of whom have served multiple terms as RCSD trustees, will be running unopposed. The vote for trustees will also take place on Tuesday, May 21st, at Rhinebeck’s Bulkeley School cafeteria.
A new development, which has been in the works for some time, is the introduction of a Universal Pre-Kindergarten program, which will, at least in its initial year (2024-2025) offer up 18 available slots, to be selected by lottery, for students who will be four years old on or before December 1, 2024. The application needs to be filled out by May 17th and the lottery will be held on Wednesday, May 29th, at 4pm. It is anticipated that demand will far outweigh the availability, so get your application in on time.
And last but not least, the Rhinebeck High School graduation ceremony, set to be held on June 22nd, has run into a fair amount of controversy, as multiple high school seniors have provided significant pushback to Principal Edwin Davenport’s proposal to move the ceremony indoors to the Joseph Phelan Auditorium at the High School. Graduating seniors, who are assembling a petition, are requesting that the ceremony, weather permitting, be held outdoors, as it has in many prior years. They argue that an outdoor ceremony is more inclusive of family and friends – the principal’s proposal caps guests for each graduate at six, whereas an outdoor ceremony has no limit.
Senior student class president, Ezra Steinman (full disclosure– Ezra Steinman is the son of the Pilot’s executive editor), spoke in front of the school board on Tuesday and stressed the value of having graduation ceremonies outside. “It would just be a great way to have a more equitable and more … wholesome community-centered event, instead of one that is in an auditorium,” he said.
The Pilot reached out to Davenport, who cited multiple concerns. “Over the years I have become less satisfied with our school's approach to management of large crowds. In addition, an outdoor commencement is, quite candidly, not as comfortable as it could be for our guests, many of whom are senior citizens. The chairs are small and hard, the ground is uneven, and it is frequently hot. The visibility for spectators is poor. Students are usually seated on bleachers in front of the school, and they are looking into the sun in the current configuration.” Davenport added that he plans to meet with students to work on solutions to the problem. “The [senior class] officers asked if I would be able to meet with the class to discuss this decision, and I scheduled a Senior Class meeting to take place on May 1 for this purpose. I look forward to discussing commencement with our students and collaborating on our approach.” Stay tuned.
Coverage of Rhinebeck schools and educational issues is supported by the Fraleigh and Rakow Insurance Agency in Rhinebeck.
No Free Parking //
While upgrades to Rhinecliff Station remain in an apparently perpetual holding pattern, there has been some movement when it comes to parking rules in and around the station. New rules will include – get ready for it – an end to free parking at the lot adjacent to the station alongside the tracks. The lot, which is mostly unpaved and has been enjoyed by countless long-term parking opportunists, will eventually become a pay-to-park option, similar to the system at the Metro-North station in Poughkeepsie.
No word, as of yet, as to when these changes will take effect or what the parking will cost. However, starting on May 1st, parallel parking along the east rock bank of the southbound gravel lot, next to the now-shuttered Rhinecliff Hotel, and along the wall of the northbound lot will be prohibited. In addition, the Town of Rhinebeck is currently working on codified parking rules throughout the hamlet of Rhinecliff, with input from several local residents, with the intention of providing some parking relief for local residents, who are often inconvenienced by Amtrak passengers parking throughout the hamlet for days at a time.
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Looking Backward
Do you happen to have old or archival photos of places, people or events in the area from over the years? We are putting out a call to the community for scans of photos from over the last 100 or so years to help us look back at the people and times that made this community what it is. Please contact editor@hvpilot.com.
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"GynoCURIOUS"
Hosts Amy Novatt and Allison Chawla welcome Jessica, who is a single mom of two boys and works in the healthcare management field with a focus in pediatrics for their offshoot podcast, "Vulva Views."
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This Week
Moving Away from Us. vs. Them
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Friday, April 26th, 10:00AM - 5:00PM and Saturday, April 27th, 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Book Sale, Friends of Starr Library. At the library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Friday, April 26th, 7:00PM
On ZOOM. “Peter DeWitt’s Twisted Web: Money, Industry, and Power in Early Dutchess County,” a talk by Dutchess County Will Tatum. Presented by the Rhinebeck Historical Society.
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Friday, April 26th, 8:00PM
“Almost Queen: A Tribute to Queen.” Tickets $44-$90. At UPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston.
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Saturday, April 27th, Noon - 3:00PM
Earth Day Celebration, including hands-on gardening and crafts, Village compost update, electric alternatives to leaf and snow blowers, nature walks and a birds-of-prey demo! FREE. Co-sponsored by Rhinebeck Village’s Climate Smart Rhinebeck Task Force, local nonprofit Dirty Gaia, and the Town of Rhinebeck. Detailed schedule at climatesmartrhinebeck.org and click on Events.
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Sunday April 28th, Noon - 3:00PM
“Music of Latin America,” presented by the Mid-Hudson Classical Guitar Society. $10 at the door. At Morton Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.
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Sunday April 28th, 4:00PM
FREE concert celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month, with The Hudson Valley Youth Jazz Orchestra and The Roland Vasquez Band. Presented by La Voz and the Community Arts Collective at Bard College. At Olin Hall, Bard.
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Sunday, April 28th, 4:00PM
“Moving Away from Us vs. Them: Solutions and a Vision for the Future,” with Ken Kearney, Founder and President, The Kearney Realty & Development Group; and Christa Hines, Executive Director, Hudson River Housing. The last in a series of four Sunday meetings on “How Do We House Rhinebeck? The Past, Present, and Future of Our Community – A Series of Conversations about Affordable Housing.” Free potluck dinner at 5:30. Sponsored by the Episcopal Church of the Messiah, in collaboration with Starr Library and other members of the community. Registration requested but not required. For details, see starrlibrary.org or www.Rhinebeck-Episcopal.org. At the Parish Hall, Episcopal Church of the Messiah, 6436 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, April 30th, 4:30PM - 7:00PM
FREE film screening of documentary “Under the Gun,” and live presentation by survivor of gun violence. Organized by the Hudson Valley group Moms Demand Action for Gun Violence Protection. At Upstate Films, 6415 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Wednesday, May 1st, 5:00PM and 6:30PM
Taste of Rhinebeck, a local culinary adventure that supports the Rhinebeck Autism Community Committee and other Rhinebeck Chamber of Commerce initiatives. Featuring “over 23 of our finest eateries and their most tantalizing creations.” Tickets $75 online only.
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Thursday, May 2nd, 4:00PM - 7:00PM
Spring Fling Fashion Sale to benefit Morton Library. Men’s and women’s clothes, shoes, and accessories, including vintage and designer items. Cash, check or Paypal only. At Morton, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.
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Saturday, May 4th, 9:00AM - 3:00PM
Outdoor Vintage Pop-Up Market, Furniture, tabletop, art, quilting supplies, and other interesting items. Rain or shine. At the Episcopal Church of the Messiah, 6436 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Saturday, May 4th, 10:00AM - 1:00PM
“Come Clean Your River,” river cleanup, site maintenance, and pollinator planting for the 13th Annual Riverkeeper Sweep. Wear sturdy shoes, bring sunscreen, a hat, work gloves and a water bottle. Elementary-school-age children are welcome with adult supervision. Sponsored by Morton Library, Rhinebeck Grange, Dirty Gaia, The Pollinator Patrol, Climate Smart Rhinebeck, and Riverkeeper. Preregistration required. At Rhinecliff Dock.
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Saturday, May 4th, 3:00PM - 5:00PM
Opening reception for “Changin’ Times; Photography by Harvey Silver,” featuring images of the music, streets, protests & counterculture in NYC and beyond.” Exhibit runs through May 26. At the Arts Society of Kingston, 97 Broadway.
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Saturday, May 4th, 6:00PM
Traditional German Dinner prepared by CIA students. $30/person eat-in or take-out. Reservations required: 845-876-3727 or office@rhinebeckreformed.org. At the Rhinebeck Reformed Church, 6368 Mill St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Saturday, May 4th, 7:30PM
“An Evening with Rachel Maddow,” Emmy award-winning broadcaster in conversation with Anthea Butler, professor of American Social Thought at University of Pennsylvania. Tickets $49, including a copy of Maddow’s new book, “PREQUEL: An American Fight Against Fascism.” Presented by Oblong Books and Bardavon. At UPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston.
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Sunday, May 5th, 10:00AM - 2:00PM
Opening Day at the Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market.
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Tuesday, May 7th, 6:30PM
“The East Village in Black and White: The 1970s and 1990s with Photographer Lowell Handler,” distinguished photographer, filmmaker, and author and local resident. Sponsored by Arts Mid-Hudson. At Starr Library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Thursday, May 9th, 5:30PM
Meet Your Supervisor – a Conversation with Rhinebeck Town Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia, who will talk and answer questions about town initiatives on issues such as short-term rentals, noise, the Community Preservation Fund, and the referendum to extend her term from two to four years. Sponsored by the Rhinebeck Democrats Club. All welcome. Seating is limited, so RSVP is recommended. At the Starr Library Community Room.
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Saturday, May 10th, 3:30PM - 5:30PM
Opening reception for “The Blue Line,” paintings by Wendy Sheasby. Show runs through June 2. At Art Gallery 71, 71 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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May 15th is the deadline for high school or college students to apply for two scholarships awarded by the Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market: the $2,000 John Honey Scholarship for agricultural and environmental sustainability and the $1,000 Jeff Scales Scholarship for community advocacy. For more information, rfmscholarships@gmail.com.
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Thursday, May 16th, 6:00-8:30PM
The Rhinebeck Rotary Spirit of Service Awards honoring Samuel’s Sweet Shop’s John Traver. Featuring local brewery and wine offerings, silent auction, and live music by Austin Bonk and Account. Tickets $85 at Rhinebeckrotary.square.site. At the Horticulture Building, Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6636 Rte. 9, Rhinebeck.
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Tickets are now on sale for the June 8, 15, and 22 Hudson Valley Chamber Music Circle Concert Series, with music by Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven, Vaughan Williams, Karim Al-Zand, Joan Tower, and others. Tickets $5 for students; $44.50 each, or $110 for all three. At the Fisher Center, Bard College.
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Are you interested in becoming a volunteer tour guide at Blithewood, the historic house and Beaux Arts garden on the Bard College campus? Bard will provide training. Contact Amy Parrella at horticulture@bard.edu.
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Now through April 27th
“All the Things We Could Have Been,” art works by K.P. Devlin. Upstairs at Montgomery Row Art Space, 6423 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Now through April 30th
Works by Polly M. Law and William W. Underhill. Masks are requested when inside the galleries. At Shahinian Upstairs Galleries, 22 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Now through April 30th
“But Today is Different,” a collaborative art and poetry show by Mimi Graminski and Sarah Stern. At Starr Library, 68 West Market St., and The Little Gallery, 59 Chestnut St., Rhinebeck.
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Now through May 5th
“Out of Exile; the Photography of Fred Stein." At Mad Rose Gallery, 5916 North Elm Ave., Millerton.
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Now through June 2nd
“Making a Life in Photography: Rollie McKenna,” the first survey of the prolific career of an American photographer. Co-curated by Rhinebeck’s own Mary-Kay Lombino, Deputy Director and Emily Hargroves Fisher ‘57 and Richard B. Fisher Curator at the Art Center. The show is accompanied by an extensive catalog and runs through June 2. At Vassar’s Lehman Loeb Art Center, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie.
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Rhinebeck Village Comprehensive Plan Committee Proposed Plan is now available on the Village website. Public hearings are scheduled for Sunday, May 5, from 3-5:30PM and on Wednesday, May 8, from 7-9:30PM at Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Monday, April 30th
Special Meeting of Rhinebeck Town Board
Town Hall
6:00PM
Special meeting of Rhinebeck Town Board on Locust Hill Workforce Housing project. See Town website. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Monday, May 6th
Rhinebeck Town Planning Board
Town Hall
6:00PM
Agenda not yet available, but may include discussion of the Rock Ledge condominium development. See Town website. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Monday, May 13th
Rhinebeck Town Board
Town Hall
6:00PM
Rhinebeck Town Board continuation of public hearing on proposed short-term rental law. See Town website. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, May 14th
Rhinebeck Central School District Board Meeting
Bulkeley School cafeteria
7:00PM
Public hearing on the budget. See RCSD website. At Bulkeley School cafeteria, 45 North Rd., Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, May 21 – Community vote on the RCSD 2024-2025 budget. At Bulkeley School cafeteria, 45 North Rd., Rhinebeck.
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Beginning Monday, April 1 – Rhinebeck Village brush and yard waste removal pickup. See Village website for guidelines and detailed schedule.
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Town of Rhinebeck is seeking applicants for positions on the Planning Board, Conservation Advisory Board, and Board of Assessment Review. Applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent and resume to townclerk@rhinebeckny.gov. Applications are also available on the Town website.
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The following items have recently been posted on the 6 Mulberry St. page of the Rhinebeck Village website, under Committees & Projects/6 Mulberry: Neighbors’ letter regarding the proposed rezoning and Village attorney’s revised draft of the Bulkeley Schoolhouse Overlay District (BSO). A variety of materials, regarding the environmental assessment and the proposed rezoning, are also posted on the page.
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The following item was recently posted on the Town of Rhinebeck website: information about the proposed Community Preservation Fund.
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Grand Army of the Republic on Parade in Rhinebeck
Members of the Grand Army of the Republic are marching in the center of the Village of Rhinebeck circa 1880s.
Image courtesy of Rhinebeck Historical Society
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