^{Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns}

Issue 197 | September 20, 2024

Water Under the Bridge //

Back in August of 2011, when Hurricane Irene battered the east coast, flooding was plentiful and evident in Rhinebeck, especially along Route 9, where flood waters crested over the Landsman Kill bridge and shut down traffic both ways along the state road for hours. While it has been well over a decade since the Landsman Kill flooded to such a degree in Rhinebeck, the New York Department of Transportation (DOT), along with Rhinebeck’s Village government, now wants to get ahead of such disasters, as well as whatever climate change has in store for us, and replace the existing Landsman Kill Bridge on Route 9 with something that will sustain the community, no matter what the weather. (Read more about our coverage of the state of Dutchess County bridges here.) 

On Wednesday evening, representatives of the DOT, along with Village Mayor Gary Bassett and Village Trustee Ric Lewit, hosted an open house to present to the public a conceptual plan for the proposed bridge and a project schedule. Stephanie Lewison, who is the DOT Design Environmental Coordinator for the project, stressed that because the new design (see photo rendering, which is not to scale) nearly doubles the breadth of the waterway under the bridge, from about 15’ to 30’, flooding would become far less of an issue. DOT Project Manager George CrimiVaroli confirmed that they were building for greater storm capacity and with climate change in mind.

The bridge was originally constructed in 1912, and while there has been an effort to preserve the historic nature of the bridge in the new design, the bridge has been modified so many times over the years that it does not, according to Lewison, retain enough of its original historical significance to preserve. The design proposal incorporates ornamental lighting and ornamental pillars, inspired by the original bridge, and incorporates a new pedestrian walkway with a five-foot wide, ADA-compliant, sidewalk, along with a five-foot brick buffer separating the roadway from pedestrians. 

The plan is to finalize the design in 2025, and start and finish construction in the course of “one season” in 2026. According to the DOT, at no point will the road ever be fully closed to traffic; instead they will stage construction with alternating lane traffic, and the pedestrian access will remain open throughout the process. When asked about the impact on traffic in and out of the village, Heather Pillsworth, Public Information Officer for the DOT, said she was confident that the DOT, along with coordination with the Village, could handle surges in traffic patterns due to events and holidays, as they have tackled much larger projects in the past. The design of the project has yet to be finalized, and the DOT is accepting written public comments through October 2nd (submit here).

Climate Solutions Week Kicks Off With Bill McKibben //

“We are only going to win this thing if we win it fast, if we achieve big changes fast,” author and environmental activist Bill McKibben told the roughly 100 people assembled for his talk on Tuesday afternoon at Upstate Films in Rhinebeck. McKibben, who broke into the environmental movement back in 1989 with his landmark book, “The End of Nature,” was sticking to what he knows best, addressing our mounting global environmental crisis. “The days of thinking we could solve climate [change] one Tesla at a time are over,” McKibben added, possibly alienating the handful of Tesla drivers in the theater that afternoon. 

But McKibben also veered into politics during his talk and stressed that national political choices are crucial and dramatic. McKibben said retaining Democratic control of the White House and Congress would continue to be the most decisive action to counter climate change, while loss of that control would feed trends that are already “deeply dangerous.” 

Unlike what some might have expected from McKibben, he took a fairly pragmatic approach to the crisis we currently find ourselves in, and compared it to his thinking decades ago. “My theory of change back then was: help people understand the truth and things will change. Now, decades later, I understand that the fight is not about science and truth, it’s about money and power.” McKibben also pleaded with young and old (because it was Rhinebeck, there were more old than young in the audience) and advised older people that it wasn’t enough to abdicate responsibility to young people. He called on seniors to use their impact, income and life experience to help tackle “the most important issue before us.”

This talk was part of Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week+, a two-week extravaganza of action-oriented education coordinated by Sustainable Hudson Valley with the theme “Climate, Democracy and You.” Events continue through September 29 in Rhinebeck and surrounding communities.

This Week

Dancin’ in the Streets

Friday, September 20th, 8:00PM - 10:00PM

Richard’s Acoustic Show with Dan Driscoll, Fire Dean, Cheryl and Kurt, Andy Jones, and Gary Kromirs. Donation suggested. More info at 845-876-7007. At Morton Library, Rhinecliff.

Saturday, September 21st, 9:00AM - 1:30PM

Farmers’ Market, with goodies from local farms and businesses; coffee & baked goods from NYC’s Balthazar Bakery; and Flavor Bandits food truck. At 108 Hunns Lake Rd., Bangall (Stanfordville).

Saturday, September 21st, 12:00PM - 7:00PM

Porchfest 2024 with music (12-5:15), a parade (5:30), and Finale (6-7). “Dance and sing in the streets,” mostly Livingston and Chestnut. Details at rbkporchfest.com. Village of Rhinebeck.

Saturday, September 21st, 4:00PM - 7:00PM (rain date Sept. 22)

Annual Chili Cook-off, with field games and pie-baking contest (fruit pies, please), sponsored by Rhinecliff Volunteer Fire Company. At Firemen’s Field on Valley Rd., next to the Old Schoolhouse Condos, Rhinecliff.

Saturday, September 21st, 4:30PM - 5:30PM

Bard Chamber Music Trio, part of the Roger Phillips Concert Series. FREE. In the main reading room at Starr Library, Rhinebeck.

Sunday, September 22nd, 1:00PM - 3:00PM

Step by Step: A Workshop for getting involved in the Rhinebeck Village Community-Wide Climate Action Plan 2030. RSVP. At Starr Library, Downstairs Community Room.

Tuesday, September 24th, 5:00PM

“Making Law,” local author talk with Richard Cahn, who discusses his memoir, including six dramatic Constitutional law cases. Register at Starrlibrary.org. At the library, Rhinebeck.

Wednesday, September 25th, 10:00AM

Rhinebeck Garden Club Cyanotype Workshop led by photographer Yoram Gelman. “A process of creating art. ”FREE. For details call Hannah, 914-263-5298. At Rhinebeck Village Hall.

Thursday, September 26th, 6:30PM

Local Book Launch: Franz Nicolay talks with Joe Hagan about Nicolay’s new book, “Band People: Life and Work in Popular Music.” FREE. Registration requested. At Morton Library, Rhinecliff.

Friday, September 27th, 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Little Free Pride Library Opening & Tie-Dye Party, celebrating the new LFL and Banned Books Week. Bring your own t-shirt. Register at starrlibrary.org. At the library, Rhinebeck.

Friday, September 27th, 7:00PM

“A New Wave in Agriculture in the Hudson River Valley,” a talk by Pieter Estersohn based on his book, “Back to the Land.” Sponsored by the Rhinebeck Historical Society. At Starr Library Local History Room (enter at the rear of the building).

Saturday, September 28th, 10:00AM - 2:00PM

Annual Plant and Bake Sale, Rhinebeck Garden Club. Proceeds benefit the club’s good works. At Rhinebeck Reformed Church, 6368 Rte. 9, corner South St., Rhinebeck.

Saturday, September 28th, 5:00PM - 6:30PM

Flamenco Music and Dance Performance by Hudson Valley Flamenco Festival artists. FREE. At the Beatrix Farrand Garden at the FDR National Historic Site, Hyde Park.

Saturday, September 28th, 5:00PM and 7:00PM sit-down; 6:00PM take-out

Annual Surf and Turf Dinner, Clinton Volunteer Fire Dept. $22 regular; $32 super size. Reservations required – call 845-266-5485. At the East Clinton Firehouse, 9 Firehouse Lane, Clinton Corners.

Saturday, September 28th, 7:00PM

Hudson Valley Gospel Festival, featuring the Hudson Valley Gospel Festival Choir and the Hudson Lily of the Valley Praise Dance Team. Presale Tickets $20 adults; $15 students, seniors, and veterans; at the door $25 and $20. Children under five are free. At First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, 269 Mill St., Poughkeepsie.

Thursday, October 3rd, 4:00PM - 6:30PM

Reception (4:00) and Exhibition Opening and Conversation (5:30-6:30) for Reproductive: Health, Fertility, Agency – an exhibit that explores the psychological, physical, and emotional realities of women and people assigned female at birth. At Vassar College, Loeb Art Gallery, Poughkeepsie.

The Town of Clinton is looking for Hometown Heroes, honoring those who served in the military. Details at townofclinton.com or email heroes@townofclinton.com. Application includes a $250 fee for the banner to be put up in the town.

Starr Library is looking for volunteers for Board of Trustees (apply by Sept. 29). See Starrlibrary.org for details.

Morton Library is calling for fiber art – for an exhibit to open October 11. Deadline for submissions is October 4. Contact librarian Sandy Bartlett at sandy@mortonrhinecliff.org if interested.

October 15 is the deadline for submissions to the First Annual Photography Contest sponsored by the Friends of Rhinebeck Cemetery. Two categories: adult and under 18. Send digital entries to FRCPHOTOS12572@gmail.com. Details at friends of rhinebeck cemetery.org.

Now through August 2025: “Redefining the Family: The Livingstons and the Institution of Slavery in Early America,” a new exhibit recognizing the Black descendants of the Livingston family. FREE; no tickets required. At the Visitors Center (open Thursday-Sunday, 10:30-4:30), Clermont State Historic Site, Rte. 9G, Germantown.

Rhinebeck Rotary is looking for host families, three to four months each starting December, for a 16-year-old Turkish exchange student who will attend Rhinebeck High School. One family has already committed to host the student from the start of the school year to early December. If interested, contact michaelfrazier@earthlink.net.

Now through December 1st

“Carrie Weems: Remember to Dream,” an exhibit of the “seldom displayed and lesser-known works” of the distinguished photographer that “demonstrate the evolution of her pioneering, politically engaged practice.” At the Hessel Museum of Art, Bard College.