Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns
Issue 23 | January 17, 2023
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Feedback
If you have lived in the area for a while, or even if you haven’t, you likely have formed an opinion about the demand for housing in the immediate area, as well as the rising housing prices. In casual conversation, chatty residents will both bemoan and then marvel at the exorbitant price of some piece of real estate which went for an unheard of price and the cultural and social implications of such a sale. How does living in a small town of less than 8000 people with a dearth of housing options reckon with frequent sales of multi-million dollar properties. Does it just broaden our identity as a community, or does it change it decisively?
The Red Hook Daily Catch published a piece last week looking at home sales over the last two years since the pandemic hit and Red Hook has seen an 18% drop in the fourth quarter of 2022 with a drop in median sales price for a Red Hook home going from $459,000 in 2021 to $404,000 in the fourth quarter of 2022. Just to the south, Rhinebeck has seen seemingly the opposite, with a similar curb in sales due possibly to lack of availability, but a sizable jump in the final quarter of 2022 in the median sales price from $462,000 to $863,000. This could be explained away by the sale of a few high-ticket pieces of property within Rhinebeck, and there generally seems to be more inventory at the higher end of the market. According to the article, in Rhinebeck, 10 properties are priced at more than $1 million, and the lowest price point is a home for $318,000. Whereas in Red Hook, during the last quarter of 2022, five homes sold between $200,000 and $299,000; four sold between $300,000 and $399,000; four sold between $400,000 and $499,000; and there was one sale over $1 million. As anyone who has played, or been played by, the real estate market knows that there are likely a myriad of contributing factors that play into this (including the often repeated “location, location, location”) of maybe life is chaos and real estate prices and the subsequent demand just reflect the arbitrary nature of human want and desire.
Again, we thank you for being a part of our readership and continuing to encourage us and make us a part of your communal conversation. We look forward to connecting with you each week and look forward to offering you more and more conversation in the coming weeks.
Eric Steinman
Executive Editor
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We Reached Our Goal!
With your support, the Pilot has taken the first steps toward bringing back independent news to our area. Your generosity has helped make this happen and ensured that our startup efforts will continue to grow into an essential resource for our community.
We hit our launch goal of $25,000!
Thank you to all who have contributed--local news will succeed only if we all work together.
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Always Present, Never Seen
The Hudson Valley Pilot is honored to share with our readers an ambitious and excellent series titled "Always Present, Never Seen." This lengthy story documenting the contributions of Black people in Dutchess County and the Hudson Valley, most of whom were enslaved during the 200 years before the institution was abolished in New York in 1827.
This five-part series is designed as an introduction to the Black history of the area and comes courtesy from the Highlands Current, a non-profit and independent news source in Cold Spring. The title of the article is borrowed from social historian Erica Armstrong Dunbar, who was referring to Black people during the time of the Revolutionary War, when Americans fought for white freedom: “They were always present, but never seen.”
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Rhinefolk: Kenneth Stippa of Rhinebeck Wine and Liquor
This week we visited with Village of Rhinebeck resident Kenneth Stippa, who is also the manager of Rhinebeck Wine and Liquor (41 E. Market Street) to talk about alcohol sales during “Dry January” what he rather be doing than drinking and why the floorboards creak and groan the way they do in the store.
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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 1300 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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Have Ideas for the HV Pilot?
If you have suggestions for the HV Pilot, as far as coverage or stories, or would be interested in being a contributor, please contact editor@hvpilot.com
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"The Back Room"
Andy Ostroy always finds guests with notable experiences and connections to current events. This past week he had former key lawyer to President Trump, Michael Cohen, who may have an opinion or two to share about the former president.
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Three Wheels and Filled with Books // Libraries have become increasingly more and more innovative in finding ways to reach out to residents. This likely has less to do with a search for relevance in the digital era, and has more to do with librarians understanding that the 21st century model is a less passive and distinctly more active enterprise. Starr Library has taken an active approach to such outreach and now boasts a new book bike thanks to funding from a Dutchess County Learn, Play, Create grant. The bookmobile is a three-wheeled operation with a cargo box in the front that can be filled with reading material, various media and virtually anything our public library may offer. The bookmobile's exterior was designed by Rowan Willigan and manufactured by Oregon-based company Icicle Tricycles.
Starr Library plans to use the book bike to deliver library programs and services to locations such as the Rhinebeck Farmers Market, the community garden and pool, special events, and more. The library will also share the bike with other Dutchess County libraries. Once the weather becomes more hospitable, the bookmobile will be peddled around town to engage and distribute. However, according to Starr Library, given the weight of the cargo (particularly when it's loaded down with books), the lack of bike lanes, and the steep hills around the library, Starr may choose to transport the bookmobile down the hills in a vehicle, and then ride it around town once it's on flat ground. Either way, it's an eye-catching, mobile outreach unit and its purpose will be fulfilled with or without riding it from point A to point B. You can stop by Starr Library to take a look at the bookmobile at rest, before it hits the streets.
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Conviction! // As we reported last week, there was a murder trial underway, in Dutchess County Court in Poughkeepsie, involving the accused, Rhinebeck resident William H. Dicke, and his former girlfriend, Danielle Distefano of Rhinebeck. Dicke was accused of fatally wounding Distefano with his car on January 21st, 2022 and then staging her body in her apartment to make it appear as if she had been assaulted by an intruder.
The jury, consisting of six women and six men, issued an unanimous ruling on Friday the 13th of second degree murder and manslaughter for fatally wounding Distefano with his vehicle and leaving her for dead. Dicke was not charged with intentionally killing Distefano, but rather “acting with a reckless disregard for her life when he ran her over and with a depraved indifference to human life by leaving her to die.” He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 21 and faces a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.
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Tuesdays and Thursdays:
THE SENIOR VAN IS BACK!! Rides will be available to Tops, Starr Library, or elsewhere in the Village. Pre-registration is required and those wishing to ride must be able to get on the van without assistance, must live in Rhinebeck, and must be a senior. For more information call Joan Winne, Town Clerk, at 845-876-3409, or download the application from the Town website at https://rhinebeckny.gov/over-60-and-thriving-in-rhinebeck.
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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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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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Starting Wednesday, January 4 through Wednesday, June 21, 7:30PM – 10:00PM:
Recreational volleyball. Drop in on the 11th for a free trial run; if you like it, you can register at Rhinebeckrec.com: create an account, register for volleyball. At Chancellor Livingston Elementary School, 48 Knollwood Rd., Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, Jan. 17th, 1:00PM
Online presentation on “Trails and Invasive Species” with Sarah Travalio, Invasive Species Project Coordinator at the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Sponsored by the Winnakee Land Trust. Free. RSVP to contact@winnakee.org.
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Tuesday, Jan. 17th, 1:00PM - 2:30PM
Mahjong at Starr Library. Join adult gamers as they click their tiles to victory. Every Monday and Thursday at Starr Library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Now through Jan. 19th
“Off the Market: Gift Economies and Art,” exhibition exploring gift exchanges and gifts of art from the point of view of an economist; Tuesdays through Sundays 10:00AM – 5:00PM and Thursdays 10:00AM – 9:00PM. Admission is free. At the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, 845-437-5632.
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Now through January 24: Applications for Absentee Ballots for the Rhinebeck Village Democratic Primary must be received by the Rhinebeck Democratic Committee, P.O. Box 635, Rhinebeck 12572. The ballot itself must be received at the same address by January 31 or dropped off at Rhinebeck Village Hall during the hours polls are open (Noon – 9:00PM) on Primary Election Day, January 31, 2023. More info here.
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Thursday, Jan. 26th, 6:00PM - 7:00PM
Seed Swap. Bring seeds to contribute if you can; a contribution is not necessary since there will be seeds for all. “A handful of seeds reaches many people.” Refreshments and homemade snacks will be served. At Morton Library & Community House, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.
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Saturday, Jan. 28th, 4:00PM - 6:00PM
Artist reception for Chuck Mishaan photographs, “Look At It This Way.” Exhibition runs through February 27. Upstairs at Montgomery Row, 6422-6423 Montgomery St. (Route 9), Rhinebeck.
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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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Tuesday, Jan. 17th
Rhinebeck Town Planning Board Meeting
Town Hall
6:00PM
Twice-monthly meeting of the Town of Rhinebeck Planning Board. On the agenda; discussion about the construction of a garage on Lower Ackert Hook Rd and discussion about the parking issue at the Rhinecliff Hotel.
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Tuesday, Jan. 17th
Village Planning Board Meeting
Rhinebeck Village Hall
7:00PM
Twice-monthly meeting of the Rhinebeck Village Planning Board. On the agenda: discussion about sign approval for new village business Café Con Leche and a proposed change to a site plan at 6376 Mill Street.
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Tuesday, Jan. 17th
Rhinebeck Republican Committee
Rhinebeck American Legion
7:00PM
On the agenda is a discussion of the changes to Rhinebeck's election district, the upcoming Village election as well as fundraising opportunities. The American Legion is at 6361 Mill Street in Rhinebeck.
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"Olive"
Olive lives in Rhinebeck and just celebrated her eleventh trip around the sun. She loves running through the woods, gifts wrapped in tissue paper and food of any kind. She dislikes thunderstorms, fireworks and trips to the vet.
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