Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns
Issue 17 | December 19, 2022
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Thank You
Thank you to our founding donors! We are a more robust and effective independent news source because of your support. You make it possible for us to reach our goals: not just more and better reporting, but a stronger local community. We can’t do it without you.
To date, this community has raised over $17,500 to help launch our own independent nonprofit local news--for that, we are grateful. Help us get to $25,000 by the end of the year! Please contribute and/or share our GoFundMe campaign.
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RhineBot
As we launched the Hudson Valley Pilot, we often heard that “this area really needs local journalism.” And we heard that “local journalism is dead (or close to dead). We followed the first advice given and hoped the second assessment was overly pessimistic. So far, I think, we have made the right bet. Even if it is an uphill climb, the initial response to our work has been very inspiring. Thank you to all who have sent your support.
But the one thing we completely underestimated is the difficulty of finding able and available writers (feel free to contact editor@hvpilot.com if you want to change that).
So the recent excitement around AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, piqued our curiosity. For those of you not yet in the know, AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, a web-based technology developed by tech firm OpenAI, automatically generates text based on written prompts in a way that has proven to be far more advanced than the various chatbots of the past. For instance, the bot can write essays, poems and even computer programs; you can type in a prompt such as “write me an argument in favor of the U.S. having open trade with China,” and the bot will scour the web for all manner of data and within seconds provide a cogent argument for open trade. As described by CNET, the tool seems “pretty knowledgeable if not omniscient. It can be creative, and its answers can sound downright authoritative.” However, it is hardly foolproof and it has its limitations, depending on the data set from which it is pulling. Despite its limitations, such chatbots have raised as much excitement as they have dread. We may be years if not decades off from this AI technology replacing journalists and writers alike, but this does not seem to have prevented anyone from predicting the imminent demise of college professors, programmers, journalists and the written word in general.
So, of course, we decided to give it a shot. We set up an account and started feeding the bot prompts about Rhinebeck. Some yielded dry and unimaginative results, and kept chattering about the Aerodrome. But we decided to hit it with a childlike prompt that seemed to yield an interesting result:
Q: What if Rhinebeck were a flavor of ice cream?
This was it’s answer:
"If Rhinebeck were a flavor of ice cream, it might be a blend of several different flavors that reflect the town's natural beauty, rich history, and local food and drink. Some potential flavors that might be included in a "Rhinebeck" ice cream could be:
Hudson Valley apple: The Hudson Valley is known for its delicious apples, and incorporating a sweet and slightly tart apple flavor could be a nod to the region's agricultural heritage.
Maple syrup: The Hudson Valley is also home to many maple syrup producers, and a hint of maple syrup in the ice cream could add a unique and slightly sweet flavor.
Blueberry: The Hudson Valley is home to many blueberry farms, and a blueberry flavor could be a refreshing and fruity addition to the ice cream.
Chai spice: Rhinebeck is home to a number of local cafes and coffee shops, and incorporating a chai spice flavor could add a warm and aromatic twist to the ice cream.Overall, a "Rhinebeck" ice cream might be a rich and complex blend of flavors that reflects the town's unique character and charm."
Not exactly exciting, and hardly virtuosic enough to keep us from searching for new writers.
In this issue of the Pilot newsletter, we cover the longstanding controversy over Central Hudson’s billing practices, which spelled trouble for the energy provider. We also introduce a new feature titled “Local Knowledge,” where we invite a local of some expertise to help guide us through a tricky or vexing situation. This week we feature Polly Kaplan, a local dog trainer with a unique and empathetic take on dog socialization.
We hope you will keep engaging with us, writing to us, talking with us, and your support keeps us independent and accessible to all.
Thank you again.
Eric Steinman
Executive Editor
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Big Guilty Energy: Central Hudson is Scolded by New York State
This past week was not great for the energy service company Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation. After years of controversy about inconsistent billing practices, which resulted in outsized bills for a great many Central Hudson customers, the company had their meter read by the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) and the results weren’t good. After six months of investigation prompted by thousands of customers complaints, the PSC determined that Central Hudson severely mismanaged the implementation of an $88 million billing system intended to promote transparency and simplify the billing process. The PSC concluded that Central Hudson routinely overcharged some customers and neglected to charge others, providing much confusion instead of transparency.
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Red Wing Mine Expansion Gets a Petition
The petition states that the expansion presents “substantial and significant long-term issues” and will be “dangerous, noisy, and environmentally unsound and will irrevocably alter the landscape as well as destroy the quality of life for the people living nearby.”
Written comments on the proposal will be accepted until January 11, 2023.
The Town of Rhinebeck has opposed the project but the DEC still has the power to grant a permit for the expansion.
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Local Knowledge: Out and About with Dogs
The next time you have the urge or are feeling pressure from others to take your dog to a dog park, parade, fireworks, outdoor concert, busy store or large family gathering, ask yourself: in whose best interest is this? Pride in dog ownership comes from doing your best to keep your dog feeling safe and secure.
If you create boundaries to protect your dog from strangers and other dogs, you are providing a world in which your dog feels safe, secure and confident to try new things. As dog owners, we need to become more comfortable with telling people that dogs need space.
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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 1100 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 sits down with legendary Democratic strategist, author and co-host of Showtime's The Circus, Jennifer Palmieri. She shares her early political influences, talks about the 2016 Clinton campaign, Trumpism, and the upcoming presidential race in 2024.
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Shrub-gate and Upset at Wells Manor // Wells Manor, a subsidized senior living community on Wells Manor Lane in the village of Rhinebeck, has become a community of concern over the last few months, when reports of disrepair, neglect and the unexplained removal of forty shrubs started filtering out of the community and grabbing local attention. As was recently reported in the Red Hook Daily Catch, Wells Manor, as Rhinebeck’s only federally subsidized housing complex for seniors and those with disabilities, has often frustrated and angered residents who reported declining living conditions and long delays for upgrades, and questioned whether the facility is meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In February 2022, the Wells Manor management began kitchen and bathroom renovations at many of the units, which had not been updated since construction in 1987. According to the Daily Catch article, the renovations were plagued by problems: “the newly installed sinks began to rust, and handles and knobs were not affixed to the freshly installed cabinets.” All of this makes daily living at the Manor difficult for many residents.
Judging from the lively comment thread following the posting of the Daily Catch article, there is some dispute over the validity of the claims and criticism, as well as support for those who are speaking up. Some comments dismissed the concerns of the residents who spoke out as “a group of chronic complainers,” while others applauded those who chose to bring such complaints to the attention of the public.
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Clemency // The power of presidential pardons, those “get-out-of-jail-free cards,” has been scrutinized and disputed for about as long as the presidential pardon has existed. President Bill Clinton infamously pardoned Susan McDougal, who was convicted because of her refusal to testify against Clinton about the Whitewater scandal, and President Donald Trump pardoned both Paul Manafort and Roger Stone in the last hours of his presidency. In addition to the presidential pardon, however, there is the governor’s pardon, or the power to grant clemency, which is the power of the governor to effectively pardon or commute the sentence of those convicted of crimes under New York State law. This often overlooked power has come up recently, as we are nearing the end of the year, when such clemency is granted, and one particular case has captured the attention, as well as the sympathy, of many.
Nicole “Nikki” Addimando of Poughkeepsie was sentenced to 19-years-to-life in 2019 for the murder of her boyfriend, the father to her children, after years of exploitation and both sexual and domestic abuse. The details of the case are upsetting, but the circumstances of her arrest and sentencing bring up a lot of valid questions pertaining to self defense, justice, and protection for survivors of domestic abuse. In 2021, the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, in a scathing rebuke of the trial judge’s failure to recognize unassailable facts and reliance on myths about domestic violence, ruled that Addimando had indeed been horribly abused by her partner and that domestic violence was a major cause of the crime for which she was convicted. There is a movement to petition the New York Governor for clemency in this case. Addimando has already served five years of her sentence, and her two children are growing up without a parent physically present in their lives. It is a case worth reading up on, and possibly urging Governor Hochul to address. Here is the petition, which has garnered vocal support, as well as many signatures.
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Vineyard Handoff // The enduring Clinton Vineyards, located in Clinton Corners, which was started in 1976 by Ben Feder, who was inspired by French vineyards. Feder grew a particular varietal of grape, Sevyal Blanc, which was versatile and better suited for the short growing season in the Hudson Valley. Feder was joined by his wife Phyllis in the 1980s and together they lived the dream of ex-urbanites running a 100-acre vineyard in the Hudson Valley. Feder died in 2009 and Phylis took over the operation and continued to run the vineyard and tasting room until recently. In a deal with Milea Estate Vineyards in Staatsburg, by which Phyllis is able to remain in the house on the property, Clinton Vineyards will continue operations and maintain the tasting room, while Phyllis lives out her years as grande dame of the vineyard. Here’s a toast to many more years of growing and tasting.
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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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Starting Friday, Dec. 16th
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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Monday, Dec. 26th, 11:30AM
Virtual Sound Meditation with Anna Kaselis. Start your week off with a relaxing sound meditation from your home. Email info@starrlibrary.org for Zoom information.
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Thursday, Jan. 5th, 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Sustainable Hudson Valley and Climate Smart Rhinebeck: Climate Action Toolkit Workshop, with Sustainable Hudson Valley’s Executive Director Melissa Everett, Ph.D. To break out of the climate crisis, there is work to be done. Some solutions are obvious; others will surprise you. Register at StarrLibrary.org.
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Saturday, Jan. 7th, 4:30PM - 7:00PM
Opening reception for “5x5 Photography Exhibit,” five subjects as seen by five photographers: Alison Vaccarino, Naomi Maxwell, Jessica Bard, Tracy Potter and Kim Cantine.. Admission is free; purchases of art and donations for the library are welcome. Exhibition will run Jan. 7-31 during library hours. Morton Library, Rhinecliff.
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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 (clo. Admission is free. At the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, 845-437-5632.
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Any time through January 15: The Rhinebeck Village Comprehensive Plan Committee wants to hear from you! Fill out the online Community Survey and tell the committee what’s most important to you and what you think our future might look like. Survey at https://bit.ly/VORsurvey. En Espanol at https://bit.ly/VORsurveyES.
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Tuesday, Dec. 20th
Town Planning Board Meeting
Rhinebeck Town Hall
6:15PM
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 6:15 PM, Rhinebeck Town Planning Board public hearing on application by Rhinecliff Hotel for Site Plan and Special Use Permit for the construction of new parking spaces at 4 Grinnell Street, Rhinecliff. For details, see Planning Board page of Rhinebeck Town website.
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"Cleo"
Cleo is a Norwich terrier and lives in Rhinebeck.
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