Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns
Issue 73 | July 14, 2023
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A Busy Week
In an effort to mix things up a bit, we are going for brevity in our editor’s letter this time around. But I do have to mention a few noteworthy events.
The Trains are Running
The Moths are Still Eating
As we reported last week, the Spongy Moths are making a feast of our trees and filling the Rhinebeck skies with their version of ticker-tape. The Village of Rhinebeck posted an information page directing residents to methods of damage mitigation. The good news is that while the moths can do significant damage to our trees, the trees are showing signs that they could weather the worst of them.
The Compost Issue is Still Combustible
The Village Compost kerfuffle also continues. Earlier this week we reported on both the Town and Village’s efforts to find an agreed solution to the compost issue, and at a Town Board meeting Monday night tempers ignited once again when a small group of concerned residents who live adjacent to the formerly proposed site on the Village Highway Department property became rather vocal about their continued opposition to the compost plan on that site (which is effectively dead). One member of the group, John Cusick, asked the Town Board for a “100% guarantee” that the controversial plan would not be resurrected for that particular site, ever. Board trustee Josh Pulver refused to provide a sworn guarantee for “ever.” This proved to be deeply disappointing for Cusick, who informed the board that he has retained legal counsel and then re-upped his previous threat to “sue the town and village into bankruptcy.” He left the meeting yelling, “bring it on baby!”
And the Dutchess County Historical Society is Coming!
In this issue we stay close to home and go across the river. First, in an exclusive, we look at the big news that the Dutchess County Historical Society is planning a move from Poughkeepsie to the Village of Rhinebeck. Then we follow the ball to Kingston and take stock of the incredible season the Kingston Stockade Football Club has had this year and what their chances might be to win the championship on Saturday.
Thanks for all of your support and have a great weekend.
Eric Steinman
Executive Editor
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The Future of History: Dutchess County Historical Society Makes a Bold Move to Rhinebeck
The Dutchess County Historical Society, which has been located in Southern Dutchess County for over a century, is set to make a (dare we say) historic move north to the Village of Rhinebeck to a long-vacant space along Route 9 which has been a point of local curiosity.
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Kingston Stockade FC Brings Fighting Spirit to Lower Level Soccer and Eyes the Championship
It is cool having a semi-pro soccer team to root for in the Hudson Valley!
Kingston Stockade FC, which started a mere 7 years ago, have been proving themselves to be a force to reckon with. This weekend they go to the championships in Poughkeepsie and endeavor to become regional heroes.
[image courtesy of Terri McAleer Photography]
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We Got a Winner! // For those of you who play the lottery, it may be welcome news to find out that Rhinebeck had a New York State Lottery winner on July 5th for the Take 5 top prize winning amount – $36,229.50. The ticket was sold on July 5th to a regular customer at the Mobil Station at 142 E. Market Street by store employee Olivia Brandt. Brandt told the Pilot that the customer (who will remain anonymous for obvious reasons) “comes in every single day, plays Take 5, gets a coffee and a hard roll.” Upon learning the ticket was a winner, Brandt said the customer scanned the ticket in disbelief and asked her to look at it to make sure he wasn’t mistaken. Brandt said they both had tears in their eyes, and said she was “ecstatic,” as was he. She added that it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy; beyond being consistently kind, he has given her Christmas presents in the past, in the form of a mug and a plush Snoopy. When asked whether she was expecting another Snoopy after this, she said, “I certainly hope so, that would be nice.”
The Way of Water // Back in March we reported about the Bulkeley Middle School civics club and their intentions to bring fresh water to the village in the form of accessible water fountains between the school and the village center. Recently, the 7th and 8th graders in the club made a presentation to the Rhinebeck Village Board about the project, as part of their efforts to raise $27,000 to construct and operate two drinking fountains in the village. The reception from the Village Board and the community was overwhelmingly positive and the money flowed like water….
On Tuesday night, two representatives of the civics club, Piper Martin and Oscar Clark, presented a check for $13,056 to Village Mayor Gary Bassett to pay for the first of the two fountains. It will be installed at the Lions Mini Park on South Parsonage. The club had done their research and selected a fountain that would resist freezing temperatures and remain functional year round, but would also provide three water dispenser options (drinking spout, bottle filler and dog bowl filler). The hope is to obtain the fountain soon and have it installed in the Fall. Mayor Bassett promised a ribbon-cutting ceremony once the water fountain was fully functional.
You've Goat This! // For the fourth year munching, Rhinebeck has gifted New York City an invaluable resource – goats, courtesy of the Green Goats project, which has loaned goats to the Riverside Park Conservancy since 2019 for the purpose of clearing out weeds and invasive species from the steep western slopes of Riverside Park’s Forever Wild woodland between 119th and 122nd Sts. in Manhattan. The goats tackle poison ivy and other invasives and munch through aggressive growth nearly inaccessible to the city’s gardeners, making space for more ecologically suitable plantings in this crucial urban forested area. The four goats – Charlie, Cowgirl, Mallomar and Chico – will be in residence for the summer, and then will return to Rhinebeck in the Fall. “It’s a pleasure to welcome Manhattan’s newest four-legged residents, champions of composting and sustainability,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. You can follow their progress on Riverside Park’s website or on Instagram, where you can even vote for your favorite goat.
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LOCAL EVENTS!
The HV Pilot continues to grow and serve the community. Check out our new events page with local happenings updated continuously.
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"Pilgrim's Progress with Kitty Pilgrim"
Breea Clark is a vivacious young woman with a law degree from Kansas. She moved to Oklahoma, where she joined every committee that crossed her path...the Tree Planting Committee, the Library board, and the City Council. Then she was asked to run for mayor! And she won!
Pilgrim speaks to Clark about being a woman of influence.
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Local news for local good.
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This Week
Rhinebeck Art Walk on Saturday
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Friday, July 14th
Bastille Day. Aux armes!!
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Friday, July 14th, 5:30PM - 7:30PM
The Steven Pague Trio: from ballad to reggae, folk and rock. Presented by Music on Market, a project of the Rhinebeck Chamber of Commerce. Free. At Rhinebeck Bank Plaza, Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Saturday, July 15th, 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Rhinebeck Art Walk. Stroll the village and visit galleries featuring a variety of works, including:
– Opening reception for the Plein Air Exhibition featuring works by renowned local artist Franc Palaia. At Montgomery Row Gallery, 6422 & 6423 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9)
– Opening reception for show of works by Germantown artist Lee Rubenstein. At Art Gallery 71, 71 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
– Opening reception and sale of work of 50+ artists, a benefit for nonprofit Southlands Farm. Show will run through August 31. At Montgomery Row Art Space, 6423 Montgomery St. (Rte. 9).
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Saturday, July 15th, 5:30PM
The CENTER for Performing Arts 25th Anniversary Gala Prom Night fundraiser, including cocktails, dinner and “The Prom,” an “inclusive, boundary-challenging, thought-provoking contemporary musical comedy.” Tickets $150 for one; $275 for two, and $1000 for a table of eight. See centerforperformingarts.org for details. At the CENTER, 661 Rte. 308, Rhinebeck.
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Tuesday, July 18th, 1:00PM
Winnakee-Dutchess Trails Roundtable, Summer 2023 Forum, including presentation by Lori Robertson, new Director of the Walkway Over the Hudson, and a regional trails update. Free. Pre-registration required at winnakee.org/getinvolved.
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Wednesday, July 20th, 8:25PM
“SHAZAM! Fury of the Gods,” the second of seven FREE summer movies outdoors presented by the Rhinebeck Town Recreation Committee. Four are scheduled; the committee is seeking suggestions for the other three. See Town website to contact the committee. At Mazzarella Park, Rhinebeck.
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Friday, July 21st through Monday, July 24th
Upstate Art Weekend, “a connective annual event celebrating the cultural vibrancy of Upstate NY.” With 130+ participants, including ‘T’ Space in Rhinebeck, Olana, Arts Society of Kingston, the Loeb Gallery at Vassar, the Bard MFA Thesis Exhibition and Hessel Museum of Art, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, and much more throughout the Hudson Valley. See upstateartweekend.org for details and map.
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Saturday, July 22nd, 10:00AM - 1:00PM
Dirty Gaia’s Edible Gardens Tour of Rhinebeck and Rhinecliff. Self-guided. Check out the gardens and meet the growers. FREE. Get tickets at dirtygaia.org.
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Saturday, July 29th, 10:00AM - Noon
Morning Tea at Clermont Gardens, a benefit for the Friends of Clermont. Not only tea: finger foods, pastries, and the “internationally recognized tea bag art” of Ruby Silvious, as well as a silent auction and visits to the newly restored formal gardens. Tickets $50; children under 12 free. See friendsofclermont.org. At Clermont State Historic Site, Rte. 9G, Germantown.
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Now through August 20 – “Apocalypse Sky,” works by artists whose lives were transformed by the HIV/AIDS crisis during the 1980s and 1990s, including Keith Haring, Nan Goldin, Robert Mapplethorpe, and others. Vassar.edu/theloeb. At Vassar’s Lehman Loeb Gallery, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie.
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Town of Clinton Food Drive, to restock the food pantry at Pleasant Plains Presbyterian Church. Drop off canned goods and non-perishables at the Town of Clinton Clerk’s office, 1215 Centre Rd., Rhinebeck, Mondays-Thursdays, 9AM - 4PM, or at the Church, 2 Fiddlers Bridge Rd., Staatsburg. | |
Call for submissions: artworks inspired by the Rhinecliff Train Station, to be exhibited at Morton Library, Rhinecliff, later in 2023. Contact Chadkleitsch@gmail.com to submit a piece.
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Monday, July 17th
Rhinebeck Town Planning Board
Town Hall
6:00PM
Agenda includes Public Hearings re:
– Verizon Site Plan and Special Use Permit for cell tower at 3866 Rte. 9G; and
– Rhinecliff Hotel, Amended Site Plan and Special Use Permit to add parking spaces. See Town website. At Town Hall, 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck.
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Wednesday July 19th
Rhinebeck Village Tree Commission
Village Hall
7:00PM
Agenda not yet available. See Village website. At Village Hall, 76 East Market St., Rhinebeck..
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Wednesday July 19th
Rhinebeck Town 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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Wednesday July 26th
Rhinecliff Parking Workshop
Morton Library
6:00PM
Another follow-up Workshop about codifying proposals re Rhinecliff parking. At Morton Library, Rhinecliff.
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A new web page has been added to the Rhinebeck Village website, providing ongoing information about the development project at 6 Mulberry St., also known as the Brogan Center.
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"Max"
Max is a full-sized or “throwback” Pomeranian currently being fostered in Rhinebeck Village. A true huntsman, he is on the lookout for chipmunks and rabbits and recently a groundhog.
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