Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns
Issue 57 | May 16, 2023
| |
 | |
Tick, Tick...Bullseye
Like rats and crime are to New York City and earthquakes and fires are to California, ticks and tick-borne diseases are to the Hudson Valley. Residents learn to orient themselves around the threat, but that doesn’t mean we can avoid the consequences. May is officially Lyme Disease Awareness month, but considering the expanding parameters of tick season in the area, it may be a little too late.
I found a tick crawling on me this morning, and they have certainly been active for many weeks. Ticks were thought to be dormant in the winter months, but climate change has transformed the schedule almost to year-round. But as many locals know, there are ways to avoid ticks and the nastiness they deliver:
– Wear light-colored clothing and tuck your pants into your socks;
– Avoid tall grasses and stone walls;
– Use tick repellent containing permethrin or DEET on your skin and clothing; and
– Give yourself a nightly tick check.
Do you have any other successful strategies for avoiding ticks? Please send along your methods for surviving the season unscathed (never leaving your home doesn’t count).
In this issue of the Pilot, we provide some professional advice about how to deal with the death of our pets.
Thank you for joining us each week. We appreciate your support and look forward to hearing from you.
Eric Steinman
Executive Editor
|
|
In Sickness and Death: Coping with the Mortality of Your Pet
We all know it going in. We will almost certainly outlive the pets we bring into our lives. Dogs in the United States have an average life expectancy of 10-13 years, and cats slightly outpace dogs with a life expectancy of 10-15 years. When a pet starts to fail, the joy of carefree, day-to-day life with them becomes intense as we relish the tiny, precious moments. Caring for an ailing pet, preparing for the inevitable, struggling with if and when to euthanize, and dealing with the grief when that pet dies are acutely complex. But being prepared can help.
| |
Rhinebeck Central School District Election Today!
2pm - 9pm
Rhinebeck Central School District is holding their annual vote today, Tuesday, May 16th, at Rhinebeck High School from 2:00PM - 9PM.
| |
| | |
Freaky Fridays // Last Friday afternoon, May 12th, a sedan heading eastbound on the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge stalled out and caught fire in the center of the bridge. The vehicle was transporting propane canisters and those quickly caught fire and exploded, producing a dramatic black cloud rising from the center of the bridge and stopping traffic in both directions for over an hour. While the car was badly damaged, the driver was unharmed.
As we reported earlier this week, on the previous Friday, May 5th, a motorist struck the railing on Landsman Kill Bridge in the Village of Rhinebeck, doing damage to the bridge and stopping traffic in both directions for an hour or more. And a few Fridays back, also reported in the Pilot, an individual took off all his clothes and made a ruckus at a shop on East Market St. It seems that the start of our weekends may be inspiring some reckless behavior, or maybe just unfortunate results.
Local Bears // Anyone who is hooked into social media knows that there is often a lot of chatter about local wildlife sightings. Foxes, coyotes and even bears have been reported, but such disturbances are far more common in the rural stretches of the Town of Rhinebeck than in the Village.
However, this past week there were multiple nighttime sightings of a fully grown black bear in the Village of Rhinebeck, sniffing around and dispatching bird feeders. Chestnut Street resident Lou Tumolo, the veterinarian who runs the Rhinebeck Animal Hospital, told the Pilot that his backyard neighbor on Platt Ave. had his bird feeder destroyed by a curious (and likely hungry) bear. Tumolo then put up a trail camera and captured grainy video of the bear at another local bird feeder. The incident was reported to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, according to Tumolo.
– Close and, if possible, seal or lock all garbage containers; and
– After dark, keep pets inside.
If you find yourself wandering the streets of Rhinebeck after dark, create a bear deterrent by making a noise; a surprised bear is often a defensive and sometimes hostile bear.
Rhinebeck Pride // Rhinebeck’s first-ever Pride event, celebrating our local LGBTQ+ community, will be held on June 11th – during Pride month. Everyone is invited. Father Richard McKeon of the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Rhinebeck and a group of young people and their family members are organizing the event. Details are still being finalized, but the event will take place on the church grounds and will culminate in a celebration and picnic.
| |
LOCAL EVENTS!
The HV Pilot continues to grow and serve the community. Check out our new events page with local happenings updated continuously.
| |
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 1540 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.
| |
Have Ideas for the HV Pilot?
If you have suggestions for the HV Pilot, as far as coverage or stories, or even criticism, or maybe you might be interested in being a contributor, please contact editor@hvpilot.com
| | | |
"Correct Me If I'm Norm"
Local conversationalist Norm Magnusson sits down with local author, NEA fellow and Guggenheim recipient, and former Kentucky resident Fenton Johnson to get some talking done.
| |
Saturday, May 13th, 8:00PM
Tan Dun conducts the Bard Conservatory Orchestra in five works by Czech, French, Romanian, Japanese, and British composers who were inspired by the sound of oceans, rivers, and flowing waters. Limited ticketed seating and streaming. Visit fishercenter.bard.edu for more information. Virtual and at Fisher Center, Bard College.
| |
Tuesday, May 16th, 6:30PM
| |
Tuesday, May 16th, 7:30PM
Concert by Bard Symphonic Chorus, with voices from the local community and Bard. Singing Schubert’s “Mass in G.” Free. At Olin Hall, Bard College.
| |
Thursday, May 18th - Sunday, May 21st
Clinton Community Library Annual Book Sale, plus Plant Sale on Saturday, May 20. See ClintonCommunityLibrary for details and times. At the library, 1215 Centre Rd., Rhinebeck.
| |
Friday, May 19th, 7PM
Presentation on Dutchess County Samplers: Schoolgirls’ Work in the Early 19th century, by Joanne Lukacher and Stacy Whittaker. At Starr Library Local History Room, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.
| |
Saturday, May 20th, 10AM
“Planting Perfect Purple Potatoes in Plastic Planters,” with Rhinebeck Grange and Morton Library. For “youth gardeners”; adults are also welcome. At 16 Valley Way (off Rhinecliff Rd.), Rhinecliff.
| |
Saturday, May 20th, 2PM
Hudson Valley Chamber Musicians Outdoor Concert, featuring works by women composers and composers of color. Register at StarrLibrary.org. At Starr, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.
| |
Saturday, May 20th, 5PM
Celebrate Morton Day in Rhinecliff. Fun for all ages. Community celebration in honor of Levi P. Morton’s birthday. Downtown Rhinecliff.
| |
Sunday, May 21st, 2PM
State Senator Michelle Hinchey talks about current issues. Sponsored by the Rhinebeck Democrats Club. Free. Register at rhinebeckdemocratsclub.org. At Starr Library Community Room, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck
| |
Tuesday, May 23rd, 11:30AM - 12:30PM
History and tour of the Beatrix Farrand Garden with horticulturist Karen Waltuch. REGISTRATION FULL BUT CHECK BACK at starrlibrary.org. Co-sponsored by Starr and Staatsburg libraries. At the Farrand Garden at the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Historic Site, Hyde Park.
| |
Wednesday, May 31st, 11:00AM - 11:30PM
Landscape and Birding Walk at Wilderstein Historic Site. Tickets are $12 with advance registration at Wilderstein.org. At the site, 330 Morton Rd., Rhinebeck.
| |
Friday, June 2nd - Sunday, June 18th
Kaatsbaan Spring Festival. Art, music, dance, cooking, nature walk, and more. See kaatsbaan.org for details. Tivoli, NY.
| |
Saturday, June 3rd - Sunday, June 4th
Friends & Family Weekend at Ramapo. Eat, Play, Give! All ages welcome at the 250-acre lakefront campus. Come for the day or stay overnight (lodging must be purchased separately). Rain or shine. Tickets $50 for ages 4-16; $75 for ages 17+. See ramapoforchildren.org for more information, registration, and sponsorships. At Ramapo, off Salisbury Tpke., Rhinebeck.
| |
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.
| |
Tuesday, May 16th
Rhinebeck Village Planning Board
Rhinebeck Village Hall
7PM
Agenda includes the request for demolition of a classified historic structure at 42 Mulberry St. See Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
| | | |
Wednesday, May 17th
Rhinebeck Village Tree Commission
Rhinebeck Village Hall
7PM
Agenda not yet available. See Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
| | | |
Wednesday, May 17th
Rhinebeck Town Zoning Board of Appeals
Rhinebeck Town Hall
7PM
Public Hearing and regular meeting. Public Hearing agenda includes Northside Autobody, 6847 Rte. 9, signage variances. See Town website. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
| | | |
Thursday, May 18th
Rhinebeck Village Zoning Board of Appeals
Rhinebeck Village Hall
7PM
Public Hearing ADJOURNED TO JUNE on appeal of determination of Village Building Inspector regarding vacant lot between 9 and 17 Prospect St. See Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
| | | |
Monday May 22nd
Rhinebeck Town Board Meeting
Rhinebeck Town Hall
6PM
Rhinebeck Town Board. Agenda not yet available. See Town website. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
| | | |
Monday May 22nd
Rhinebeck Town Public Q&A
Rhinebeck Town Hall
7PM
Rhinebeck Town Public Q&A re Community Choice Aggregate proposal. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
| | | |
The Town of Clinton Climate Smart Communities Task Force is conducting a Natural Resources Inventory and is seeking information and suggestions from residents. Send your ideas to townsupervisor@townofclinton.com.
| | | |
Rhinebeck town-wide property reassessments have been sent out. If you’re not happy with your number, you have the following opportunities to discuss it with the Town Assessor: ten-minute telephone appointments to ask questions about your reassessment are available at varying times on Saturday, May 20. You must schedule an appointment by calling 845-876-4805 or go to rhinebeckny.gov. The assessment roll books are also available for consultation.
In addition, Grievance Day is Wednesday, May 24. You must submit your grievance application prior to May 24 by mailing or dropping it off at Assessor, 80 E. Market St., Rhinebeck. Schedule your in-person May 24 grievance appointment by calling 845-876-4805 or go to rhinebeckny.gov.
| | | |
Volunteers Needed!
TOWN OF RHINEBECK IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS to join various town committees. For a list of town committees and an application form, see Town website.
| | | | |
|
"Duncan"
Duncan is a 4-year-old Golden Aussie Doodle who came to live in Rhinebeck in March. He loves exploring the Village and is enjoying meeting all our friendly neighbors!
| | | | |
