Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns
Issue 72 | July 11, 2023
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When it Rains…
I really had no intention of following up my editor’s letter from last week, about heat and excess ozone, with another weather-related missive, but the last 36 hours had other plans.
On Sunday afternoon, a storm system moved through the Hudson Valley, dumping an entire season’s worth of precipitation in just a few hours. At 1pm on Sunday, the Village of Rhinebeck sent out a flood-watch warning, informing Village residents that the water levels in Crystal Lake were being manually lowered in anticipation of flooding.
While Rhinebeck and the immediate area got drenched, the epicenter of the storm struck West Point, in Orange County, which received about eight inches of rain as of Sunday night. In addition, rail service was completely halted on Sunday and remained so throughout Monday for both Amtrak and Metro-North between Poughkeepsie and Croton, due to severe flooding on the tracks. According to reporting from The New York Times, one NYC-bound Amtrak train was headed into Poughkeepsie from Rhinecliff on Sunday night when it was stopped due to flooding on the southbound track, and then reversed back to Rhinecliff, where passengers were left to largely fend for themselves. Countless passengers were stranded throughout Dutchess County, unable to return to NYC or get to other intended destinations. But stranded passengers were not the worst of the day's news: many people in Putnam, Orange and Westchester Counties had to contend with severe flooding, property damage, and some were even put in dire situations where they needed rescuing (one person lost their life).
Multiple bridges and roads were compromised or washed away during the downpour, and waterways swelled and breached their banks. Yesterday, Gov. Hochul said state officials were working with the federal government on ways to fortify infrastructure, noting that 100-year floods now seem to come "every other year" because of climate change. “Sadly, because of mankind’s assault on Mother Nature that’s been going on for generations, it feels like it’s payback time. Mother Nature is taking revenge on all of us,” she said.
Whether it is “payback” or not, only time will tell. This week we look at a not unrelated event – how the unpredictable weather of the last six months left Hudson Valley fruit growers relatively fruitless. We also check in to see what may be stirring with the stalled Village Compost program, which might be getting a second chance at life.
Thank you to everyone who reads us, writes to us, and contributes in one way or another to our existence. We do appreciate you.
Eric Steinman
Executive Editor
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Fruitless: Local Fruit Farmers See Major Losses
Due to a harsh and unpredictable winter, local farms have seen their summer fruit crop dwindle to near nothing, with some exceptions.
We look at what happened and what you could expect from local summer (and fall) fruits.
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Rhinefolk: Photographer Lowell Handler
Rhinecliff resident Lowell Handler has seen a lot through the lens of his camera. He spoke candidly with us about his introduction to photography, his life with Tourette's and his collaboration with famed British neurologist Oliver Sacks.
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Leftovers Reheated? // The embattled Village Compost plan apparently will not die. Back in March, the plan to create a permanent site at the Village Highway Department met its bitter end after pushback from neighbors of the site, capped off with a withdrawal of support from the Town of Rhinebeck. The end was a bitter affair that seemed to dash hopes that a local compost facility would see the light of day in Rhinebeck.
Vanessa Bertozzi, Rhinebeck Village trustee and the coordinator of the Village Compost program, recently told the Pilot that plans are afoot to resurrect the plan, but decidedly not at the Village Highway Department site. While Bertozzi said nothing is certain yet, she noted that although the Town Transfer Station, at 376 Stone Church Road in the Town of Rhinebeck (a site that was promoted as a suitable option by the opposition to the initial plan), was under serious consideration, research indicated that the site was not a viable option. According to Bertozzi, there are a number of reasons why the Transfer Station would not be a successful location for a compost facility, including the fact that there is minimal staffing there and it would require hiring additional staff. In addition, the property “has a lot of wetlands, and the DEC requires a 200’ setback, making finding a spot for a composting site very challenging.”
Therefore, the Town Transfer Station option is effectively dead, but Bertozzi said there are still a few intriguing options. There is the option of continuing to pay the O Zone to haul compost scraps to Ulster County, which is what they were doing while the initial compost pilot project was active; or the option of partnering with a local farmer and using their land to set up a functioning Village composting facility on private land. Bertozzi said this latter option holds promise and talks are in the works to find a suitable location. We will continue to report on this story as it develops.
The Vanishing House on Chestnut Street // In the spring, the 1890’s house at 8-10 Chestnut Street in the Village of Rhinebeck – a “contributing" building within the Historic District Overlay – appeared to be undergoing major renovations: it had been reduced to its framing and was jacked up a few feet above its foundation. And there it stood for a few weeks, just hovering in space. Then just last week, the existing framing was almost entirely replaced by new framing.
As first reported in the Daily Catch, the home, which belongs to the Witmer family, had received limited permission from the Village Planning Board: to replace the foundation but preserve the historic exterior.
Village officials maintain that the owners violated the terms of their building permit and did not have a demolition permit. Since the property is within the Rhinebeck Historic District, it may not be demolished without a demolition permit, according to Chapter 64 of the Village Code. As noted in the Daily Catch article, under the Code, owners who demolish structures without permission may be subject to a $250 fine and a jail term of 15 days for each week of continued violation. In addition, the Code provides for civil fines of up to $1,000 a day for each day of violation and the Village can obtain an injunction preventing further construction. We will follow this story as it develops.
Gone Country // One of our very first Under the Radar features, back in October, posited the imminent closing of Pet Country, the pet supply store on Route 9. We had been told by a reliable but unnamed source that Sunflower Natural Market was set to move into the space, which had not yet been vacated by Pet Country. Well, that didn’t happen. Now comes definitive news that Pet Country is indeed closing, with a final date of operation on August 20. In the meantime, the store is clearing out all of the remaining merchandise, consisting of aquarium supplies, chew toys, and cat beds. Everything is 50% off, except animal food, which is 25% off. And what will follow Pet Country in that space? Well, it is definitively not Sunflower. According to a Pet Country employee, a dental office with a current presence in Poughkeepsie will be taking over the space in the fall.
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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"
This week’s guest came from Mississippi to the CIA, & manages Rhinebeck’s popular restaurant, The Amsterdam. He’s a seasoned hospitality pro and a super nice guy, Fletcher William Tingle, III.
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Thank You for Signing Up
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Local news for local good.
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This Week
“The Prom” fundraiser at the CENTER
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Tuesday, July 11th, 2:00PM
NY Statewide Senior Action Council Board Chair and Rhinebeck resident Helen Edelstein explains the services and activities of the Council. “Bring a friend!” Sponsored by Rhinebeck At Home. At The Pavilion at Brookmeade, 46 Brookmeade Dr. (off Rte. 308), Rhinebeck.
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Wednesday July 12th, 6:00PM - 7:30PM
First session of 7 FREE salsa lessons by David Salvatierra and Maia Martinez, for seven consecutive weeks, at Rhinebeck Reformed Church. Singles and couples are welcome. Sign up by email to RhinebeckReformed@frontier.net or on the bulletin board at Cordes Hall, Rhinebeck Reformed Church, 6368 Mill St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Wednesday, July 12th, 8:30PM
“Super Mario Bros.,” the first of seven FREE summer movies outdoors presented by the Rhinebeck Town Recreation Committee. Four are scheduled; the committee is seeking suggestions for the other three. See Town website to contact the committee. At Mazzarella Park, Rhinebeck.
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Thursday, July 13th, 6:30PM
Author’s Talk by Suzaan Boettger about “Inside the Spiral; The Passions of Robert Smithson.” Presented by Oblong Books in partnership with Starr Library. Registration required at https://tinyurl.com/YN3V8T57. At Morton Library, Rhinecliff.
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Friday, July 14th, 5:30PM - 7:30PM
The Steven Pague Trio: from ballad to reggae, folk and rock. Presented by Music on Market, a project of the Rhinebeck Chamber of Commerce. Free. At Rhinebeck Bank Plaza, Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Saturday, July 15th, 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Rhinebeck Art Walk. Stroll the village and visit galleries featuring a variety of works, including:
– Opening reception for the Plein Air Exhibition featuring works by renowned local artist Franc Palaia. At Montgomery Row Gallery, 6422 & 6423 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9); and
– Opening reception for show of works by Germantown artist Lee Rubenstein. At Art Gallery 71, 71 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Saturday, July 15th, 5:30PM
The CENTER for Performing Arts 25th Anniversary Gala Prom Night fundraiser, including cocktails, dinner and “The Prom,” an “inclusive, boundary-challenging, thought-provoking contemporary musical comedy.” Tickets $150 for one; $275 for two, and $1000 for a table of eight. See centerforperformingarts.org for details. At the CENTER, 661 Rte. 308, Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, July 18th, 1:00PM
Winnakee-Dutchess Trails Roundtable, Summer 2023 Forum, including presentation by Lori Robertson, new Director of the Walkway Over the Hudson, and a regional trails update. Free. Pre-registration required at winnakee.org/getinvolved.
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Friday, July 21st through Monday, July 24th
Upstate Art Weekend, “a connective annual event celebrating the cultural vibrancy of Upstate NY.” With 130+ participants, including ‘T’ Space in Rhinebeck, Olana, Arts Society of Kingston, the Loeb Gallery at Vassar, the Bard MFA Thesis Exhibition and Hessel Museum of Art, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, and much more throughout the Hudson Valley. See upstateartweekend.org for details and map.
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Saturday, July 29th, 10:00AM - Noon
Morning Tea at Clermont Gardens, a benefit for the Friends of Clermont. Not only tea: finger foods, pastries, and the “internationally recognized tea bag art” of Ruby Silvious, as well as a silent auction and visits to the newly restored formal gardens. Tickets $50; children under 12 free. See friendsofclermont.org. At Clermont State Historic Site, Rte. 9G, Germantown.
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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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Tuesday, July 11th
Rhinebeck Village Board
Village Hall
6:00PM
Agenda includes:
– presentation on Kingston Community Choice Aggregation program; and
– resolution authorizing the Village to prepare a letter of intent regarding the use by the Locust Hill housing development of the Village water and sewer system. See Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, July 11th
Town of Clinton Public Hearing
Clinton Town Hall
6:15PM
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Wednesday, July 12th
Rhinecliff Parking Workshop
Morton Library
6:00PM
Follow-up Workshop about codifying proposals re: Rhinecliff parking. At Morton Library, Rhinecliff.
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Thursday, July 13th
Village Comp Plan Committee
Village Hall
6:00PM
Agenda not yet available. See Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Monday, July 17th
Rhinebeck Town Planning Board
Town Hall
6:00PM
Agenda not yet available. See Town website. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Wednesday July 19th
Rhinebeck Town Zoning Board of Appeals
Town Hall
7:00PM
Agenda not yet available. See Town website. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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A new web page has been added to the Rhinebeck Village website, providing ongoing information about the development project at 6 Mulberry St., also known as the Brogan Center.
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"Max"
Max is a full-sized or “throwback” Pomeranian currently being fostered in Rhinebeck Village. A true huntsman, he is on the lookout for chipmunks and rabbits and recently a groundhog.
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