Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns
Issue 29 | February 3, 2023
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Seeing Our Shadow
Yesterday, as tradition would have it, a groundhog was pulled from his burrow in Punxsutawney, PA, in order to predict whether we have six more weeks of winter ahead of us, or whether an early spring is on its way. Breaking News: the groundhog saw his shadow, so more winter abounds (the irony is not lost on me that we look to a marmot and a 19th century tradition to make predictions on the weather, but we continue to ignore the warnings of climate change coming from scientists).
Even with the climate crisis and fearsome groundhogs throwing us for a loop, one thing that cannot be predicted accurately by either marmot or scientist is the results of elections, especially local elections. We had such an election in the form of a Village Primary Election for Democratic candidates this past Tuesday and the results may have been something of a surprise to some. Since this is about as hyperlocal an election as one could get, there were no polls or cable news prognosticators giving us the skinny on who was favored to win. Instead we had to base any predictions on conversations with friends and neighbors and hunches about whether change was in the air.
The results favored the incumbents: Village Mayor Gary Bassett, Trustee Lydia Slaby and Trustee Ric Lewit all held off their challengers, Trustee Brant Neuneker, and Eleanor Pupko and Roger Quon. All six candidates identified themselves as Democrats, but displayed marked opposition to one another, especially during last weekend’s Candidate Forum co-sponsored by the Pilot.
This week we take a look at the election results and what they may reveal about the power of incumbency, as well as what it means to have a local split in a political party.
As always, we appreciate your support and that you are here with us each week. We encourage you to keep writing to us and engaging with the Pilot.
Eric Steinman
Executive Editor
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Analysis: Five Things We Can Say About the Democratic Primary Vote
The 439 ballots cast on Tuesday tell us several things about the state of the Democratic Party, which, at least for now, is in firm control of the levers of government in the Village of Rhinebeck.
The results clearly show that the local Dems are divided and support the view that the dissident Rhinebeck Democrats Club is a force in that Party.
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The Business Sense of Sustainable Scents
Angela Basile embraces the word small: small batch, small footprint, small business. She is proud to produce a brand that includes self-care products and to run a business that exhibits care to the environment.
In 2014, Tess & James started up with a homemade soak for bathing that Basile calls Bath Porridge. The line now includes all-natural bath and cosmetic goods, soy candles and dry goods. Many of the products are hand-poured in small batches and are created and packaged at Basile’s home studio workshop in Rhinebeck, where she has lived since 2011.
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The Village Came and Voted: Democratic Primary Results
After a short but relatively tense primary season for Rhinebeck Village Democrats, village residents came out in large numbers (439 ballots) to vote for Village Mayor and two Trustees.
The following results were confirmed at 10:35PM on Tuesday, January 31st, with the Rhinebeck Democratic Committee, which administered the election:
Mayor:
Gary Bassett 285
Brant Neuneker 164
Village Trustees (electing two):
Ric Lewit 219
Eleanor Pupko 188
Roger Quon 173
Lydia Slaby 276
Click the link to read more coverage of the results
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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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Have Ideas for the HV Pilot?
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"The Back Room"
Media critic and co-founder of Vox's Recode, Kara Swisher, joins Andy in the "Back Room" to chat about big tech, the media and its coverage of both politics and tech giants, as well as what a "beautiful town" Rhinebeck is.
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Social Media Extortion // For quite some time we have heard an overwhelming powerful narrative that social media is dangerous for children and teens. Now we may have proof, locally. According to the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, there have been multiple cases of local children and teens being extorted via social media.
The Sheriff's Office contacted local school districts in the area, including Rhinebeck, and explained the tactic these predators are using. "The extortion begins when the perpetrator befriends the child on social media, posing as someone their age then at some point asks the child to share explicit photos of themselves. Once the photos are shared, they then blackmail the child by telling them that the photos will be posted/shared with others unless money is paid." In some of the cases, the perpetrator has asked for money in the form of unspent gift cards. In at least one case, explicit photos of a child were posted by the perpetrator after not receiving the money they demanded. While any social media platform is susceptible to such activity, the most common extortion cases among youth are reported through Instagram and Snapchat. Perpetrators create and sustain accounts that look like real accounts of a young person. Additional cases have also emerged through connections made on gaming platforms.
The Pilot reached out to Rhinebeck School Superintendent Albert Cousins via email to inquire about the alert, which was emailed to parents directly from Cousins, as well as about the enduring threat of such predatory behavior directed toward local children. Cousins said, “My note to families was intended to open the dialog at home about children’s behaviors with their devices, social media accounts, access to their devices and communication in general. We are a partner to families – but know that each household sets their own parameters with how their children use devices and social media.”Cousins went on to voice concern about possible connections with gaming networks and added, “I worry about students who may be fearful of being outed as LGBTQ being most vulnerable to these sorts of crimes.”
The Sheriff’s Department is urging families to share information related to any potential crimes that match the above descriptions. If anyone has any information about these cases, thinks they may be a victim, or knows someone who may be a victim, they are urged to contact Detective Cohen by phone at 845-486-3820 or via email at jcohen@dutchessny.gov. The Sheriff’s Office can also be contacted via the tip line at 845-605-CLUE (2583) or dcsotips@gmail.com, and all information will be kept confidential.
It's Not the End of the World // If you happened to be at Ferncliff Forest this past Saturday, January 28th, it is quite possible you may have encountered not the serene ambiance of a winter’s day, but the sound of multiple HAM radio transmissions buzzing through the forest giving off a distinctly apocalyptic vibe. For one day Ferncliff Forest was converted into an emergency command center by Overlook Mountain Amateur Radio Club for its twice-yearly Winter Field Day, a 24-hour emergency communications and preparedness exercise
During the day, Ferncliff was briefly converted into a major communications command center capable of conducting multi-mode communications without any help from standard sources of electricity, permanent locations, or antennas. This exercise set up a centralized communication hub and allowed those on the ground and with the gear to communicate with anyone around the world. Steve Bossart, vice president of Overlook Mountain Amateur Radio Club, told Spectrum News, “We could provide local, national, and international communications, since we could use multiple types of equipment and frequencies. As a result, we could cover local communities and connect with the rest of the world.” Visit Winter Field Day’s site to gain more information about the group and gather some information and some prepper energy.
Serino Rising // Former New York State Senator Sue Serino (R), who represented the 41st Senate District in the Hudson Valley from 2016 until last November, when she lost her seat to Michelle Hinchey (D) in the midterm elections, has announced her candidacy for Dutchess County Executive. This seat was vacated by Marc Molinaro when he was elected to Congress (NY-District 19). Serino filed her candidacy late last month with the NYS Board of Elections and is expected to “kick off her campaign” soon, according to the Albany Times Union.
Serino has some competition for the County Executive position in the form of Nicholas D’Alessandro (R), Town Supervisor of East Fishkill. The current Dutchess County Executive, BIll O’Neill, who had been serving as deputy county executive under Molinaro, stepped into the position to serve out the remainder of Molinaro’s term after he departed for the House of Representatives. No word yet on whether O’Neil intends to try to maintain the position or whether any Democrat or Independent may vie for the job.
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Saturday, February 4, 1:00PM and every first Saturday of the month – “Saturday Chill with Classical Guitarist Andrew Baffi.” “Come get cozy at the library.” Free and open to all. Starr Library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Saturday, February 4, 8:00PM
MODfest 2023: Welcome to Indian Country Concert, a celebration of Native culture through music and storytelling, with a world-class five-piece musical ensemble and Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest. Free. At Skinner Hall of Music, Vassar College. Follow the link for more information. There will be a pre-concert reception for Welcome to Indian Country with guests from Indigenous Performance Productions held at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center from 6:00 -7:30PM. People with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact the Office of Campus Activities at 845-437-5370.
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Now through Feb. 4th
Call for artists! Rhinecliff’s Morton Library Talent Show and Art Opening is seeking visual artists’ work to accompany this year’s talent show. Contact Sandy@mortonrhinecliff by February 4th if interested in participating.
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Saturday, Feb. 4, 4:00PM
Rhinebeck Grange #896 will host its 6th Annual Rhinecliff Winter Bonfire of discarded Christmas trees. S’mores will be available; bring your own stick to roast marshmallows. Trees free of decorations can be dropped off at the Firemen’s Field parking lot, Valley Way Rd. and Loftus Rd., Rhinecliff.
(The bonfire was originally scheduled for January 28 but was postponed to allow people to attend the memorial service for beloved Rhinecliff resident Jeff Miranda.)
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Wednesday, Feb. 8th, 7:00PM
Manhattan Phoenix: The Great Fire of 1835 and the Emergence of New York, lecture by author Daniel S. Levy. In-person at Hudson River Maritime Museum and Wooden Boat School, 86 Rondout Landing, Kingston, and virtual on Zoom. $7 per person; free to HRMM members. Register at hrmm.app.neoncrm.com.
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Friday, Feb 10th
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) has extended the public comment period for the White Schoolhouse Road [Red Wing] Mine proposal for an additional 30 days until February 10, 2023 at 5:00PM. The Complete application was previously noticed in the Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB) on November 2, 2022.
The Notice of Complete application is available at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/enb/20221102_reg3.html. Pursuant to this extension, written comments on this project must now be postmarked by Friday, February 10, 2023 and mailed to John Petronella, Regional Permit Administrator at NYSDEC, 21 South Putt Corners Rd, New Paltz, NY 14209 or emailed to John Petronella at john.petronella@dec.ny.gov by 5:00PM on Friday, February 10, 2023.
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Saturday, Feb 11th, 10AM - 2:00PM
Rhinebeck Repair Cafe. Get your “broken but beloved” stuff fixed FREE by a volunteer Repair Coach. Questions? Contact Timo at RhinebeckRepairCafe@gmail.com. NEW LOCATION: The Pavilion at Brookmeade, 34 Brookmeade Dr., Rhinebeck.
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Saturday, Feb 11th, 2:00PM
Bard Conservatory presents Piano Etudes Project: students performing works by Chopin, Debussy, Ligeti, Clara Schumann and others. Free and open to vaccinated members of the public. At Bito Conservatory Building, Bard College, bard.edu.
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Wednesday, Feb 15th, 6:00PM
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Amtrak has closed the Rhinecliff Station building for renovations. Ticket sales, restrooms, and waiting rooms will be relocated onsite. All train services will continue as before.
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Seven days a week, Red Hook Community Center presents programming for every age and interest, from tai chi to songwriting to woodcarving and much more. At the center, 59 Fisk St., Red Hook, see redhookcommunitycenter.org for schedule and registration information.
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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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Monday, Feb. 6th
Town Planning Board Meeting
Rhinebeck Town Hall
6:00PM
Meeting of Rhinebeck Town Planning Board. At Rhinebeck Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck. See Town of Rhinebeck for agenda prior to meeting.
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Tuesday, Feb. 7th
Rhinebeck Village Planning Board Meeting
Rhinebeck Village Hall
7:00PM
At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck. Agenda not yet available. See Village website.
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Thursday, Feb. 9th
Rhinebeck Village Comprehensive Plan Committee
Location TBD
7:00PM
Thursday, February 9, 7:00PM – Rhinebeck Village Comprehensive Plan Committee. Meeting location and agenda not yet available. See Village website.
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Monday, Feb. 13th
Rhinebeck Town Board
Rhinebeck Town Hall
6:00PM
Monday, February 13, 6:00PM – Rhinebeck Town Board public hearing of proposed Local Law Amendments to portion of Zoning Code to allow construction of solar farm by Community Solar
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"Lucy"
Lucy is an eleven-year-old Yorkshire terrier who moved to Rhinebeck from Westchester this past July. Lucy enjoys taking walks around the village and around the grounds of all the historic mansions in the area. What Lucy lacks in size she makes up for in personality.
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