Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns
Issue 151 | April 12, 2024
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This Week(end)
In today’s newsletter:
- 6 Mulberry Housing Proposal Moves to the Village Planning Board
- Rhinebeck Village Will Not Override the Tax Cap
- Rhinecliff’s Chronic Water Problem
- How the New EPA Guidelines on “Forever Chemicals” May Affect You
- A Vast Vinyl Records Archive Struggles in Staatsburg
- And More
Eric Steinman
Executive Editor
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Rhinecliff Has a Water Problem: Climate Change is Causing a Rising Tide in Yards and Basements
The hamlet of Rhinecliff is subject to increasing flooding, and not just after rain storms. A combination of subterranean water, runoff, and ever increasing rainfall has created a headache for residents, as well as a climate of mounting dread that things will only get worse.
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From Autographed Bowie to Historic Propaganda, 3 Million Records are Looking for a Future
The ARChive of Contemporary Music (the ARC) is one of the largest vinyl record collections in the world and it humbly exists, at least temporarily, in Staatsburg. While the collection searches for a new home in the Hudson Valley, over 3 million sound recordings reveal a varied and eclectic history in audio form.
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Village of Rhinebeck Budget Comes in $1 Under Having to Override the 2% Tax Cap //
The Village Board along with Mayor Gary Bassett voted back in March to start the process of overriding the 2% state property tax cap – just in case. This meant that if in a follow-up referendum 60% of Rhinebeck Village voters approved the budget, taxes could increase more than 2%. The measure was something the Village had not previously undertaken, and the Board, and Mayor Bassett, were not excited about it.
On Tuesday, Mayor Bassett seemed pretty pleased with himself when he announced that the proposed budget had a safety margin of $1 and therefore the board would not have to propose overriding the tax cap. He said that, after “many nights of lost sleep pondering lost revenues,” he and the board were able to balance the budget at $1,903,008.00 (click here to a link to the budget).
Bassett cited increased salaries, state budget cuts, demands related to climate change, a future water plant upgrade, and infrastructure improvements as factors in creating what proved to be a very, very tight budget for 2024/2025. And he cautioned that “We cannot rest on our success for this year. Next year might be just as difficult.”
6 Mulberry Housing Project Moves Forward //
After months of public hearings, environmental assessment reports, and multiple revisions, the Village Board’s review of the environmental assessment of the proposed multi-unit housing project at 6 Mulberry Street in the Village (formerly the Father Brogan Center) has resulted in a unanimous “negative declaration,” i.e., agreement that the project will have no adverse environmental impacts. This allows the project to move forward for review by the Village Planning Board. (Had the review revealed even one adverse environmental impact the board would’ve had to rule with a “positive declaration”).
According to Village attorney David Gordon, Dutchess County had made two recommendations (both of which he said the board was under no obligation to consider): to review the width of the sidewalks in front of the property and the use of bluestone as a sidewalk material. (Bluestone, which is prevalent throughout the Village’s historic district, is not currently an approved material for Village sidewalks.) In addition, the Pilot reached out to John Lyons, the attorney who has been representing several of the neighbors of the project, who said he had no comment until he had spoken with his clients.
Village Mayor Gary Bassett said of the months-long public process that led to the unanimous “neg dec” vote, “This has been an open process and working with the public has been a tremendous asset.” Village Trustee Ric Lewit concurred and said he was pleased with the approved draft as well as with the wealth of information and input they received from the public during the various public hearings, and added, “This hot potato will now be passed to the planning board.”
Fed EPA to Set New Standards for Getting Cancerous Chemicals Out of the Local Water Supply //
by Michael Frank
On April 10 the EPA said it would set new standards to restrict so-called “forever chemicals” in public drinking water. Collectively, the chemical compounds are grouped as Polyfluorinated Substances, or PFAS.
EWG suggests that there’s almost no amount of exposure that’s safe for this carcinogen. According to EWG, one PFAS, Perfluorooctanoic acid, occurred at the rate of .993 parts per trillion (PPT) in Red Hook’s water. The new federal guidelines will cap it at 4 PPT, meaning even when the regs go into effect Red Hook won’t have to make changes to its treatment to be in EPA compliance. New York State’s standard is comparatively lax, allowing 2.5 times as much of the carcinogen in drinking water. (To give you some perspective, the old federal standard used to be egregious: allowing 70 parts per trillion.)
Village of Rhinebeck mayor Gary Bassett said the new EPA rules will likely force the state to step into line. Both the Village and Town of Rhinebeck are part of the Hudson 7, which represents in total several towns and 100,000 citizens who rely on public water supplies in the Hudson Valley. Bassett thinks a lot of these communities can benefit from the $1 billion in grant funding provided by the EPA to address issues of water quality, not just PFAS, and a further $9 billion from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. “There will be considerable grant opportunities we should go after as the treatment for PFAS also removes most of all of the trace carcinogens that our facility does not remove.”
The chemical giant DuPont got the mess started in the 1940s by using PFAS (e.g., Teflon) as non-stick coatings for pans, and today anything from a microwave popcorn bag to a water-repellent jacket could have PFAS. According to the EWG, which tracks PFAS contamination at public water sources nationwide, PFAS are in the blood of 99% of all Americans—and they cause cancer, are linked to low-birth-weight-related infant deaths and, kidney and bladder cancers, as well as cardiovascular disease and increases in cholesterol.
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Looking Backward
Do you happen to have old or archival photos of places, people or events in the area from over the years? We are putting out a call to the community for scans of photos from over the last 100 or so years to help us look back at the people and times that made this community what it is. Please contact editor@hvpilot.com.
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"Correct Me If I'm Norm"
Norm Magnusson's guest this week teaches 7th grade social studies at BMS, started a cool Civics Club, leads CultureConnect’s Madagascar program & seems to have more hours in his day than most people - Mr. Henry Frischknecht.
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This Week
Can Market Forces be Tamed?
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Friday, April 12th, 6:00PM
LIVE taping of “The Back Room” with Andy Ostroy; a chat with TV film, and theater producer Jonathan Burkhart. Presented by Radiofreerhinecliff.org. At Morton Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.
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Saturday, April 13th, 11:00AM
“Tales of the Titanic,” at the Staatsburgh State Historic Site, home of Titanic ticket holders Ogden and Ruth Mills. Tour tickets $12, seniors $10, children 12 and under free. Reservations required. At the Staatsburgh SHS.
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Sunday, April 14th, 1:00PM
“The Dressing Room Diaries,” with Hilarie Burton Morgan, a fundraiser for the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. Tickets $200; VIP tickets $250. Details at centerforperformingarts.showare.com. At the Center, 661 Rte. 308, Rhinebeck.
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Sunday, April 14th, 4pm
“Environmental, Zoning, and Market Forces: Concerns and Opportunities,” with Steve Rosenberg, former Senior Vice President, Scenic Hudson; Deirdre Burns, Chair, Rhinebeck Village Comprehensive Plan Subcommittee on Housing; and Jonathan Mensch, Chair, Rhinebeck Town Workforce Housing Committee. The second in a series of four Sunday meetings through April 28 on “How Do We House Rhinebeck? The Past, Present, and Future of Our Community – A Series of Conversations about Affordable Housing.” Free potluck dinner at 5:30. Sponsored by the Episcopal Church of the Messiah, in collaboration with Starr Library and other members of the community. Registration requested but not required. For details, including topics and speakers, see starrlibrary.org or www.Rhinebeck-Episcopal.org. At the Parish Hall, Episcopal Church of the Messiah, 6436 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Wednesday, April 17th, 7:30PM
“Music Alive! Dynamic Women,” featuring student and faculty musicians performing recent works by women faculty composers. Curated by Joan Tower. FREE. At Bito Conservatory Building, Bard College.
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Thursday, April 18th, 7:00PM
“Slavery, Segregation & Staatsburgh,” new research on the transition from Black presence during the early 19th c. to total absence during the Gilded Age. ON ZOOM. FREE. Registration required. Presented by staff at the Staatsburgh State Historic Site.
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Friday, April 19th, 8:00PM
“Women are Doing it for Themselves," with women singers/songwriters – presented by Richard’s Rhinecliff Acoustic Show and featuring Lisa Dudley, Lynda Sales, Joann Chamberlain, and Bjanette & Danele. Donations suggested. At Morton Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.
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Saturday, April 20th, 10:00AM - 2:00PM
Blood Drive sponsored by East Clinton Fire District. Give blood and receive a $10 e-card to a merchant of your choice. Schedule to donate at redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code ECFD. New donors are needed. At 9 Firehouse Lane, Clinton Corners.
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Saturday, April 20th, 7:00PM
“Living,” with Bill Nighy, a movie about “a bureaucrat who decides to turn his hollow life into something wonderful.” Presented by Movies With Spirit. Donation $10 suggested for attendees over age 12. At the Episcopal Church of the Messiah, 6436 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Wednesday, April 24th, 10:00AM
“Think Outside the Window Box.” Master Gardener Donna Croshier gives a presentation about adding surprise in your garden. Sponsored by the Rhinebeck Garden Club. Visitors welcome. At Rhinebeck Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Thursday, April 25th, 12:30PM
“The Native History of the Catskills,” a Lunch & Learn presentation by Justin Wexler of Wild Hudson Valley. At the Clinton Community Library, 1215 Centre Rd., Town of Clinton.
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Thursday, April 25th, 6:00PM
A Rhinecliff Community Conversation about “events that affect our community.” At Morton Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.
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Friday, April 26th, 8:00PM
“Almost Queen: A Tribute to Queen.” Tickets $44-$90. At UPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston.
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Saturday, April 27th, Noon - 3:00PM
Earth Day Celebration, including hands-on gardening and crafts, Village compost update, electric alternatives to leaf and snow blowers, nature walks and a birds-of-prey demo! FREE. Co-sponsored by Rhinebeck Village’s Climate Smart Rhinebeck Task Force, local nonprofit Dirty Gaia, and the Town of Rhinebeck. Detailed schedule at climatesmartrhinebeck.org and click on Events.
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Saturday, May 4th, 7:30PM
“An Evening with Rachel Maddow,” Emmy award-winning broadcaster in conversation with Anthea Butler, professor of American Social Thought at University of Pennsylvania. Tickets $49, including a copy of Maddow’s new book, “PREQUEL: An American Fight Against Fascism.” Presented by Oblong Books and Bardavon. At UPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston.
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May 15th is the deadline for high school or college students to apply for two scholarships awarded by the Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market: the $2,000 John Honey Scholarship for agricultural and environmental sustainability and the $1,000 Jeff Scales Scholarship for community advocacy. For more information, rfmscholarships@gmail.com.
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Register now for the Sunday, May 19, 12K Walk-Bike-Run 2024 fundraising event for Camp Rising Sun, an international, full-scholarship leadership program for teens ages 14-16. Registration fee $25/person or $10 for youth under 18. Sponsored by the Louis August Jonas Foundation; for details, go to lajf.org/wbr2024 or call 845-266-4561. The event starts at the camp’s Red Hook campus, 150 Oriole Mills Rd., Rhinebeck.
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Are you interested in becoming a volunteer tour guide at Blithewood, the historic house and Beaux Arts garden on the Bard College campus? Bard will provide training. Contact Amy Parrella at horticulture@bard.edu.
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Now through April 27th
“All the Things We Could Have Been,” art works by K.P. Devlin. Upstairs at Montgomery Row Art Space, 6423 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9), Rhinebeck.
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Now through April 30th
Works by Polly M. Law and William W. Underhill. Masks are requested when inside the galleries. At Shahinian Upstairs Galleries, 22 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Now through April 30th
“But Today is Different,” a collaborative art and poetry show by Mimi Graminski and Sarah Stern. At Starr Library, 68 West Market St., and The Little Gallery, 59 Chestnut St., Rhinebeck.
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Now through May 5th
“Out of Exile; the Photography of Fred Stein." At Mad Rose Gallery, 5916 North Elm Ave., Millerton.
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Now through June 2nd
“Making a Life in Photography: Rollie McKenna,” the first survey of the prolific career of an American photographer. Co-curated by Rhinebeck’s own Mary-Kay Lombino, Deputy Director and Emily Hargroves Fisher ‘57 and Richard B. Fisher Curator at the Art Center. The show is accompanied by an extensive catalog and runs through June 2. At Vassar’s Lehman Loeb Art Center, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie.
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Monday, April 15th
Rhinebeck Town Planning Board
Town Hall
6:00PM
Agenda includes public hearing of Wireless Edge Cell Tower on Rte. 9; meeting agenda includes referral of Short-term Rental Law from Town Board. See Town website. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, April 16th
Rhinebeck Village Planning Board
Village Hall
7:00PM
Agenda not yet available. See Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, April 16th
Rhinebeck Central School District
Bulkeley School cafeteria
7:00PM
Agenda includes adoption of the budget. See RCSD website. At Bulkeley School cafeteria, 45 North Rd., Rhinebeck.
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Wednesday, April 17th
Town of Rhinebeck 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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Tuesday, April 23rd
Rhinebeck Village Board Special Meeting
Village Hall
3:30PM
Agenda not yet available. See Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Beginning Monday, April 1 – Rhinebeck Village brush and yard waste removal pickup. See Village website for guidelines and detailed schedule.
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Town of Rhinebeck is seeking applicants for positions on the Planning Board, Conservation Advisory Board, and Board of Assessment Review. Applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent and resume to townclerk@rhinebeckny.gov. Applications are also available on the Town website.
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The following items have recently been posted on the 6 Mulberry St. page of the Rhinebeck Village website, under Committees & Projects/6 Mulberry: Neighbors’ letter regarding the proposed rezoning and Village attorney’s revised draft of the Bulkeley Schoolhouse Overlay District (BSO). A variety of materials, regarding the environmental assessment and the proposed rezoning, are also posted on the page.
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Grand Army of the Republic on Parade in Rhinebeck
Members of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) are marching in the center of the Village of Rhinebeck circa 1880s. People are lined on the streets by the stores. A small dog is marching with the parade.
Image courtesy of Rhinebeck Historical Society
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