^{Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns}

Issue 189 | August 23, 2024

A Fair Amount of Traffic //

The annual Dutchess County Fair attracts anywhere from a quarter million to about 400,000 people to the Dutchess County fairgrounds during fair week, which equates to a lot of fun, and a lot of traffic nightmares for both the Town and Village of Rhinebeck. 

This past week, Town of Rhinebeck Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia attempted to address the many disruptions, and attempted traffic diversions, which create an annual nightmare for locals. Spinzia said there is a need to have large vehicles and fair traffic diverted to main roads like Route 9, Route 9G and State Route 199. “We should be stopping traffic from coming up Mount Rutsen…and keeping fair traffic on (routes) 9 and 199,” Spinzia said in a Town Board meeting last Monday. “It may entail us hiring police or working with the fairgrounds to do it.” 

Needless to say, one week before the fair descends on the area is not the ideal time to hatch an alternative traffic plan for the area, and the Town Board was certainly discussing a more long-ranging plan. In the meantime, the Pilot has been speaking to residents impacted by the fair traffic over the years and last year we compiled a short list of things to do and things to avoid during fair week, especially if you need to get behind the wheel. These include everything from driving in the dead of night, avoiding Tops at all costs, and leaning heavily on Route 308 to get in and out of town from the east. Read more here. 

Have fun!

This Week

It’s Fair Week!

Today through Sunday, August 25th

Dutchess County Fair. Animals, music, flowers and veggies, food, more food, and much, much more. At the Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck.

Saturday, August 24th - Sunday, August 25th

“Wallace & Gromit” shorts, next in the “Yes &” FREE Film Series for all ages. RSVP at upstatefilms.org. Please limit request to maximum of four tickets. Presented by J. Mak Hospitality, Saugerties Kiwanis, and Mighty Donuts. At Upstate Films in Saugerties on Saturday at 1:00PM and the Village of Rhinebeck Autism Supportive Community will sponsor a sensory-friendly, free screening of "Wallace & Gromit" shorts this Sunday, Aug 25th at 1:15PM at Upstate Films in Rhinebeck. 

Tuesday, August 27th, 4:00PM

Slime Workshop, a summer adventure. Registration requested. At Morton Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.

Saturday, September 14th, 7:00PM

A Reading & Conversation with Francine Prose about her new book, 1974; A Personal History. $15. Tickets and details at Kaatsbaan.org. At Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, 120 Broadway, Tivoli.

Volunteer drivers needed by FeedHV, the Hudson Valley’s food rescue and harvesting network, providing food to neighbors in need and mitigating the impacts of food waste. The volunteer crew transports food donations to recipient agencies on their own schedule; must be age 18 and over with reliable transportation and auto insurance. For more info, visit feedhv.org; to volunteer, visit tinyurl.com/feedhvvolunteer.

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.

The pond is now open for swimming at Fran Mark Park, 11AM-6PM. At the park, 337 Clinton Hollow Rd., Town of Clinton.

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. Details at Friends of Clermont.org. At the historic site, Rte. 9G, Germantown.

Rhinebeck Rotary is looking for host families, three to four months each starting December, for 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 August 31st

"An Artist’s Alphabet,” an exhibit of the work of the late artist Tom Blackwell, a painter in the photorealist genre. At Starr Library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.

Now through August 31

“All the Women You Once Were,” photos and accompanying cards by Leslie Hill telling her story. Closing party Friday, August 30, 6-8PM. At the RhineCellar, Rhinebeck.

Now through September 2nd “Ideas,” photographs by Yoram Gelman. At Gallery 71, 71 East Market St., Rhinebeck.

Now through September 8th

“Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence,” showcasing a new form of bead art developed by a community of women in South Africa. Complemented by a small display of four beaded costumes. At The Loeb gallery, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie.

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.