text:
Meet Gillibrand challenger Wendy Long page 18
Hoda Kotb helps Poughkeepsie mother page 22
Rhinebeck Jewish Center moves page 5 THIS WEEK'S WEATHER:
'70s ARE BACK
DECISION TIME ON FACILITIES RE-VOTE Where does your representative stand? BY JIM LANGAN On Tuesday, Hyde Park residents will again be asked to decide whether to spend $4.4 million to upgrade athletic facilities at FDR High School in Hyde Park. In December, voters rejected a similar proposal by 65 votes. Almost immediately, the Hyde Park Board of Education and concerned parents began a campaign for a re-vote, citing a number of reasons justifying it. The re-vote itself, combined with the financial ramifications, have been the primary topic of discussion around Hyde Park for weeks. Hudson Valley News decided to ask H Hyde Park's elected officials how they feel a about this important issue. We appreciate t fact they all took the time to respond. the
Pictured, clockwise from top: County Legislator Richard Perkins, Hyde Park Supervisor Aileen Rohr, Ward 1 Councilwoman Emily Svenson, Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Petito, Ward 4 Councilman Ken Schneider, Ward 3 Councilman William Truitt and County Legislator Sue Serino weigh in on the facilities re-vote. File photos.
The vote will take place on March 20 at Haviland Middle School between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. We urge everyone to make their voices heard and vote.
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County Legislator Richard Perkins: Each member of our community has to make a decision on Proposition 1. I > continued on next page
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feel it is extremely difficult to consider not giving our children everything that's available. Putting limits in place takes self-control and intestinal fortitude that still weighs heavy on the conscience. But the real question is how the facilities got into such poor condition. It didn't happen overnight. And that is closer to what really needs to be done. There are a number of the items in Proposition 1 that the community can do without. I ran on the current track 44 years ago, as have all of my children in a more recent decade. Surprisingly, it really hasn't changed much, except it appears a little more neglected. A few years ago, while doing some cardiac rehab, I wondered why it was not being maintained to a higher standard. I wondered when some of the bad boards on the bleachers were going to be replaced. I reminisced how we, on the track team, pulled a drag chain around the track by hand to get a uniform surface before we put the lime lines down for the track meet. We were pretty proud of our handy work. With four children, I spent a significant amount of time addressing the ever-present dilemma of wants vs. needs. They weren't always happy about the outcome of those discussions. I always hoped it would benefit them in the long run and believe it has. So, this is where you have to ask yourself to seriously consider, do we need or do we want a track and field with new synthetic surfaces? So, as an occasional user, yes, I would like (want) a nice synthetic surface to run on, but no, I do not need it. I want the state aid to the tune of 59%,
but we need to keep in mind that a halfoff sale on what we want is not a bargain if we really don't need it. The facilities do need some aggressive repairs for the bleachers and a program of consistent maintenance to raise the quality of the ground facilities. But maybe this can be done incrementally and consistently with a much smaller multi-year capital improvement plan. Another sticking point for many folks I have talked with is the re-vote. It has come so fast, it appears to have ignored the will of the voters. Maybe there was a deadline that I'm unaware of that required this quick turnaround. Regardless, some folks are seeing red. Finally, does the track need improvements and repair? Yes; I have believed that for years, and I would donate my time and equipment to assist a coordinated effort. Does the athletic field and track need artificial surfaces? In my opinion, in better times, maybe, but certainly not this year. But, I guess you, the voter, will decide … again. Supervisor Aileen Rohr: The wonderful thing about America is that we are all equal at the voting booth. My opinion on this matter is no more important then anyone else's. I encourage everyone to gather the facts and vote their conscience, just as I will be doing. Ward 1 Councilwoman Emily Svenson: The voters of the Hyde Park Central School District, within the Town of Hyde Park and neighboring towns, have an opportunity to decide whether they want to invest in safer athletic facilities for the community's children. Many are concerned with everrising tax bills, while others focus on
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safety needs and the value of improved facilities. I believe that once the vote has been taken, the wishes of the majority should be the final decision. Editor's note: When asked in a followup question if Svenson's belief in the majority being the final arbiter applies to the Dec. 6 vote, Svenson did not respond. Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Petito: I support investing in our town's infrastructure, especially when there is federal or state money involved. Ward 3 Councilman William Truitt: I am looking forward to the vote on this issue and will back the taxpayers' vote. Ward 4 Councilman Ken Schneider: Being the vice president of the FDR football program for many years made my vote an easy one. I voted "yes," as did the rest of my family. Like many residents here in Hyde Park, we were all very disappointed that the vote failed. We have serious safety issues with our athletic complex, from our falling-down bleachers to the stone track that we have in place today. Like a roof on a house, you can only put so many layers of shingles on before you have to do a total teardown and replacement. This is where we are at; we need to invest in our schools. I went to FDR, my wife went to FDR, my children went to FDR and now my granddaughter will be starting kindergarten at Violet Avenue Elementary School this coming fall. I hope that when Irelynn, my granddaughter, reaches FDR in 10 years that she can run track or cheer on the football team without standing or running on rocks or asphalt. I would love when we go to support our school or players that we could look up at a working scoreboard to see what
the score is or how much time is left in the game. The scoreboard has been broken for over three years now; it's so old that the maintenance department can't even find a company to repair it. I understand that this went up for a vote and some are upset that it is going up again. I understand the tax burdens we are all under. I hate this as much as you. I can think of a lot I could do with my money other then paying more taxes. But I can't turn my back on the children and the sports fields that are in such poor shape. My family will continue to invest in this community that we call home. County Legislator Sue Serino I was one of five people on the town board making a decision for 22,000 residents when it came to passing the horrific 19.95% tax increase, which I voted "no" on. I was responsible for my constituents. Now we have the vote for the athletic field and each resident gets the oppurtunity to make his or her own decision. I'm sure there are parents who feel the additional $15 per year is well worth it for their children's benefit. Then there are the senior citizens who cannot afford to feed their pets and are getting food from the SPCA; $15 means a lot to many people. I can tell you that I do not agree that this or anything else should come up for a re-vote. A vote is a vote. Can you imagine if we ran the political process voting like this? I feel as long as all of the residents were supplied with the information prior to voting day, then they had the oppurtunity to make the decision for themselves and the chance to vote. That's what we call a democracy.
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WILLOW CROSS ROAD TO BE CLOSED APRIL 2-6 BY HV NEWS STAFF The Town of Hyde Park Highway Department will repair a damaged storm drainage system on Willow Cross Road next month. The roadway will be closed while the work is being done. The portion of the roadway between Quaker Lane and Balsam Road will be closed to traffic April 2 through 6. Emergency vehicles will be under the
same restrictions because the roadway will be cut open, according to Highway Superintendent Walt Doyle. "We are doing this project this week due to the school being closed for recess," Doyle said. "That way we can leave the road closed for the week." Doyle said the drainage system was damaged during Hurricane Irene. For more information, call 845-229-9416.
50 FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO ALARM AT NDH BY CHRISTOPHER LENNON Smoke from an overheated computer that set off fire alarms at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck on Saturday triggered a response by 50 firefighters from three communities. While the firefighters – from the Rhinebeck Fire Department, Red Hook Fire Department and Ulster Hose Company – were prepared for the worst, the situation was ultimately resolved without any injuries or need to evacuate or close the hospital. "All in all, it wasn't that big of an incident," said Nate Plambeck, assistant chief of the Rhinebeck Fire Department, "but it was challenging due to the size of the building." Plambeck said the smoke originated from a computer in a pulmonary-function lab that is unused over the weekend and was sucked through the building's air handler, which spread the smoke through the building. Someone in another part of the building noticed the smoke and pulled a fire alarm, Plambeck said. Plambeck explained that because the lab where the smoke originated from did not have detector heads and because the smoke had traveled throughout the hospital, firefighters had to conduct a search of the entire building to locate the source. Hospital spokeswoman Theresa Mulkins said there is a smoke detector in proximity to the lab, but the overheated computer "worked exactly as it is supposed to" in such a situation and automatically shut itself down before activating the alarm. Once the source of the smoke was located, it was circulated out of the building by reversing the ventilation system and the area was closed off for the weekend, Plambeck said.
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HYDE PARK REVERTS TO PART-TIME POLICE CHIEF BY JIM LANGAN The Hyde Park Town Board went back to the future Monday when it voted 5-0 to make the position of police chief part-time once again. The chief's position has been vacant since the resignation of full-time Chief Charles Broe on Dec. 23. Broe had originally been hired on a part-time basis but submitted his resignation shortly thereafter, claiming it was impossible to run the department parttime. The then-town board reconsidered and hired Broe on a full-time basis.
Former town board member Bob Kampf told the board he believed it should contact Broe to determine why the parttime position was untenable. He argued any part-time position should have a finite duration, preferably in 2012. Another former town board member and former police liaison, Michael Taylor, told the board, "We tried a parttime chief and he couldn't stay under the hours. We had to re-instate the position as full-time." Taylor also pointed out the constant leadership changes at the police
department are compromising the positive morale that has been achieved with the new police and court facility. Taylor also suggested the board reach out to Broe for guidance. The board then voted 5-0 to make the position part-time. Hudson Valley News has also been told by multiple sources that the police chief's position has been offered to Marlborough Police Chief Eric Paolilli. We are also aware Paolilli has suffered a death in the family, so we have not contacted him at this time for confirmation.
Out-of-town cop witnesses drunken crash
New York State Police have arrested a Wingdale man who allegedly drove off Route 22 in Dover and crashed into a road sign while drunk. According to police, on March 10 at 5:25 p.m., troopers were dispatched to assist a City of Yonkers Police sergeant who reported witnessing a 2002 Ford F-350 pickup truck drive off Route 22 and crash into an earth embankment while he was working in Dutchess County on an unrelated matter. The driver of the truck – later identified as Mario L. Socci, 49, of Wingdale – then fled the scene, crashing into a milepost marker in the process, according to police. Troopers say the Yonkers sergeant, who was driving a marked car at the time, managed to detain Socci until state police arrived at the scene. Police say Socci's speech was slurred, there was a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and an open bottle of vodka was found under the driver's seat of his truck. He was not injured, police said. After failing field-sobriety tests, Socci was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, and his vehicle was impounded, according to police. Troopers say Socci refused to submit to a breath test after being transported to the state police barracks in Dover Plains, and it was also discovered that he had been convicted of DWI in 2005 in Pawling. As a result of the prior conviction, the DWI charge was upgraded to a felony. He was also charged with fleeing the scene of a property-damage accident, failing to remain in a designated travel lane and possession of an open container of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.
Socci was arraigned in Town of Dover Justice Court and remanded to Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond. He was scheduled to reappear in court on March 12.
Cops respond to fight
Law enforcement officials from three agencies were called in to break up what was reported as a 100-person fight at a wild party in Hyde Park last week. According to Lt. Robert Benson of the Hyde Park Police Department, officers from Hyde Park, Dutchess County Sheriff's deputies and New York State troopers responded to 167 East Dorsey Lane for "a report of a large party and possibly a fight with 100-plus people" on Friday night. Officers could not verify there had been a fight and the party was broken up, Benson said. No arrests were made but one nearby vehicle was ticketed and towed for parking on pavement.
was charged with assault in the third degree, a class-A misdemeanor; and endangering the welfare of a child, a class-A misdemeanor. • Matthew C. Sadownick, 22, of Rye Brook, was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, and speeding, a violation. • Princess S. Green, 31, of Hyde Park, was arrested on an active warrant for driving while intoxicated; she was turned over to the City of Newburgh Police Department.
{around town}
Recent arrests
The Hyde Park Police Department reports the following arrests. • Vincent Abbatiello, 52, of Hyde Park, was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor; and leaving the scene of an accident, a violation. • Santiago Villaveces-Hoyos, 23, of Poughkeepsie, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. • Crystal L. Masten, 29, of Poughkeepsie, was charged with petit larceny, a class-A misdemeanor. • Daniel S. Mendelson, 20, of Staatsburg, was charged with criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a class-A misdemeanor. • Kristopher R. Lee, 33, of Hyde Park,
Court is in session, again
Justice David Steinberg officially presides over the first court session at the new Hyde Park Justice Court. "This is the beginning of a new era for the Justice Court. We finally have a facility dedicated to the court and new offices that provide us with suitable space for court staff to do their important work," Steinberg said. Steinberg thanked residents John and Gloria Golden for their generosity and leadership in making the facility a reality. He also acknowledged former town board member Bob Kampf and Jim Langan, both of whom were in attendance. Photo by Jim Langan.
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HYDE PARK SUES TREE CONTRACTOR TO RECOVER FUNDS BY JIM LANGAN In a startling development, the Hyde Park Town Board announced it was commencing legal action to recover a $75,000 check issued to Steve Costa, a well-regarded owner of a tree service under contract to the town. As reported originally in the Hudson Valley News, Costa was given $75,000 by then-Supervisor Tom Martino in the days following Tropical Storm Irene to perform emergency tree work in the wake of the storm. According to sources, Martino cavalierly told Costa at the time to add an extra $25,000 to the retainer, saying, "I don't want you coming back for more." Martino acted illegally in issuing the check as it was not approved by the town board. The current administration has attempted to collect $55,000, conceding Costa performed $20,000 worth of services, but Costa has reportedly not responded to the inquires. Costa has long been a fixture in Hyde Park and has a contract with the town for tree service in 2012.
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FORMAN, SKARTADOS VIE FOR 100TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT SEAT BY CHRISTOPHER LENNON Voters in Dutchess County's two cities, Beacon and Poughkeepsie, as well as some communities in Ulster and Orange counties, will hit the polls March 20 to decide who will fill a vacancy in the 100th Assembly District. The Assembly seat was vacated after the death of longtime Republican Assemblyman Tom Kirwan, who succumbed to kidney failure on Nov. 28, 2011. The seat has been vacant since. Republican Dutchess County Legislator John Forman and former Assemblyman Frank Skartados, a Democrat, are both hoping to be elected to the seat and fill the vacancy through the end of this year. In addition to Beacon and Poughkeepsie, the 100th Assembly District includes the city and town of Newburgh in Orange County, as well as the Ulster County towns of Shawangunk, Marlborough and Lloyd.
John Forman Forman, a senior account executive with Antalek & Moore Insurance, was first elected as the City of Beacon's representative in the Dutchess County Legislature in 2001. He currently serves as vice chairman
MOLINARO APPOINTS DEPUTY EXEC BY HV NEWS STAFF Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has announced former Chief of Staff William F.X. O'Neil has been appointed to the recently created position of deputy county executive. According to Molinaro, O'Neil will take on additional responsibilities in this new position, which was created following the Dutchess County Legislature's adoption of a local law to amend the county charter to create the position. The law was signed by Molinaro March 8. Molinaro points out the new position will not impact the county's operating budget and will not increase county government's employee count. "The appointment of Bill O'Neil as deputy county executive is a logical approach to operating county government in a more practical way,"
said Molinaro. "County government has grown substantially more complex and demanding since the county charter was originally adopted in 1967. Our focus is on how we can most effectively administer county operations and ensure seamless continuity, and having a deputy county executive position allows us to do that." Molinaro said the move was necessary to allow a seamless transition in the event of Molinaro's absence. In the past, whenever the county executive left the county's boarders, even if only for a few hours, he had to appoint a department head to serve as "acting county executive" and file appropriate paperwork, according to Molinaro. Molinaro adds that prior to the adoption of the local law last week, Dutchess County was one of only two counties in the state without a deputy county executive or equivalent position.
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of the Dutchess County Legislature's Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee, and is a member of the Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, as well as a number of Forman subcommittees. He is also a member of the Benefit Assessment Review Board and Dutchess Community College Board of Trustees. Forman has received endorsements from County Executive Marc Molinaro and Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Rob Rolison, as well as some other local Republican lawmakers. Forman, a self-described fiscal conservative, says he hopes to "get our economy back on track by cutting the needless spending and red tape holding back job creation." Forman says he also wants to support law enforcement by providing police with "the tools they need to keep us safe." More information about Forman can be found at www.johnforman4ny.com.
Frank Skartados Skartados, a Newburgh resident, held the 100th District Assembly seat for two years, having defeated Kirwan in 2008
and losing re-election to Kirwan in 2010. Skartados is a former teacher of environmental studies and American history at New York Military Academy, and served as chairman of the Skartados New York Military Academy Health Department for eight years. Since leaving the academy in 2000, Skartados has restored and renovated a number of properties in the City of Poughkeepsie, including the Aegean Entertainment Center on Academy Street. He is the founder of the Academy Street Business Association and a member of the Poughkeepsie Partnership and the Mayor's Promotions and Events Committee. Skartados says he hopes to "make Albany realize the valuable natural resources the Valley has for potential business and agritourism." He says he will also create jobs, invest in technology and infrastructure and protect the environment. "I'm putting myself in the arena once again, and I ask you to bet on this horse – this workhorse – and you will not be disappointed," Skartados said in announcing his candidacy. More information on Skartados can be found at www.frankforassembly.com.
There are still questions about the safety issues surrounding the March 20 vote for the new athletic facilities at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School. Some ask why the facilities haven't been roped off if they are so unsafe. Voters should be aware that the almost-50-year-old bleachers (both indoors and out), the hazardous steel perimeter around the cinder track, the pole runway and landing and the high-jump area have all been flagged by the New York State Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR) report as safety issues that must be addressed by the school district. This report states that the district has 60 days to provide a written report indicating a plan of action to fix these potential hazards. For years, the district has been applying temporary fixes to the facility but, at this point, these fixes are no longer acceptable. If the vote on March 20 fails, these safety items, with an estimated cost of well over $400,000, will be moved to the operating budget. In this case, voters will have to pay 100% of the cost because there is no state aid. The state only gives aid to districts for capital improvements. So, the 59% state aid would NOT apply to the project if it is funded through the operating budget. Let's get it right this time. This issue alone should be enough to convince taxpayers to vote "yes" on March 20. It is the responsible thing to do. Denise Davino Staatsburg
The Rhinebeck Jewish Center's new building is located at 102 Montgomery St., directly across from the rear entrance of Northern Dutchess Hospital. Photo by Christopher Lennon.
Rhinebeck Jewish Center gets new digs Search for building took 3 years following alleged real estate scam BY CHRISTOPHER LENNON After an arduous three-year process, the Rhinebeck Jewish Center finally has a new, permanent home in the Village of Rhinebeck. The Jewish center's new building, located at 102 Montgomery St., across from the rear entrance of Northern Dutchess Hospital, is now the home of Rabbi Hanoch Hecht and his family and will serve as the hub of the Rhinebeck Jewish Center congregation. The site currently features a community garden and playground. Inside the building is the rabbi's residence, as well as a Jewish library and children's library. Hecht said he is currently working with an architect to create an approximately 2,000-square-foot community center on the property, which will be used for Shabbat dinners, services and other events. The purchase of the property means the Rhinebeck Jewish Center now has a permanent home in the village. Prior to the purchase, the center operated out of a rented building on West Chestnut Street. Hecht said the move would not have been possible without the dedicated congregants who donated to the project. "Everyone contributed what they could," Hecht said. "Everyone put energy and effort into it. We want to thank the community for all the support they've given us – both financial support and moral support." He added, "We see ourselves as a community organization, serving not only on a religious level but also on a social level."
The process of moving into a permanent home was nearly derailed in July of 2009, when former real estate agent Lance Lavender allegedly stole $8,500 given to him by the congregation as a down payment on a different property. The money was supposed to be placed in an escrow account, but apparently never was. When Lavender later filed for bankruptcy, Hecht was reportedly told to "Get in line with everybody else" if he wanted to get the congregation's money back. Lavender, who was in debt totaling nearly $1 million at the time, according to court papers, never returned the money. "Thank God, we put all that behind us and we've moved on," Hecht said. After learning of the congregation's troubles with Lavender, David Borenstein, a Red Hook-based architect who also holds a real estate license, offered his services to the Rhinebeck Jewish Center free of charge. "After Lance Lavender took our money, (Borenstein) called me up and said, 'I would be happy to represent you and donate back my commission,'" Hecht explained. "He kept his word," he added. "Something that was wrong inspired him to do good." Hecht says the new property is ideal because it includes undeveloped land that can be used to expand the center, and because it is in the heart of the village. He said the new property will be used primarily for the Rhinebeck Jewish Center's day-to-day needs. Large-scale events hosted by the center will likely be held elsewhere in Rhinebeck for the time being.
What's your definition of "progress?" Let us know if you'd like to be interviewed and/or work with Elaine Fernandez of WithePeople.com, Matt Verrilli of El Front and yours truly on our new project, "1972," a new video/ documentary/ website (find us on Facebook). Do you remember 1972 here in Dutchess County, back when property and sales taxes hadn't skyrocketed yet to pay for tax cuts for the rich? Millionaires here in New York used to pay a 15.5% state income tax rate then – they now pay less than 9% (they also paid a far higher federal income tax rate too). Back then, Hyde Park Elementary School wasn't on the chopping block, and Smith Elementary in Poughkeepsie and LaGrange Elementary hadn't yet closed their doors. Do you remember what Dutchess was like during decades with a truly robust manufacturing base (before NAFTA and IBM layoffs), and all the small businesses and hardware stores that thrived here before Walmart, Home Depot and Lowes? Do you remember all the family farms there used to be here in 1972, before being killed by agribusiness, and what it was like to be able to drink your tap water without wondering about MTBE? Do you remember what it was like before Dutchess air quality was rated "F" for three years in a row (as it has been for the last three years running by the American Lung Association of New York)? Do you remember what our communities were like in the '70s, before the current foreclosure crisis (when the banking industry was held accountable), and what pensions used to be like before corporate America began attacking them? Do you remember how a fulltime minimum wage job used to lift a family of three out of poverty, and what it was like before we started incarcerating more folks than anywhere else in world? Do you remember what politics was like before large campaign contributions started completely dominating it, and how our economy was before Wall Street was deregulated and Glass-Steagall ended, and what gas prices used to be like before speculation on Wall Street drove them through the roof? Terry Gipson, Brant Neuneker, Didi Barrett and Frank Skartados remember – they're the true conservatives and have the common sense to know like I do that our communities have lost far too much over the last four decades of what we used to have – and they have the proven ability to work across party lines to get results for us. Work now to get them elected and vote for them on March 20! Get involved at JoelforCongress.org, DutchessDemocracy.blogspot.com or DutchessDems.com; call into our WHVW 950 AM show Saturday mornings, 8-10 a.m., at 845-471-9500; contact us directly at 845-444-0599. County Legislator Joel Tyner Clinton/Rhinebeck
As chairman of the Rhinebeck Republican Committee, I feel obliged to address the subject of the current Rhinebeck village campaign, which will culminate with the election of two board of trustees members on March 20. There are some who believe that the two members of the board of trustees whose terms expire this year should not be opposed in an election. It appears that this belief is founded on the premise that the board, as it is presently constituted, works in harmony and has performed laudably. This may well be, but isn't that what they were elected to do in the first place? This belief however, overlooks one important fact, namely that this premise may not be shared by others who have a right to express their viewpoint through their choice of representatives on the board. For this reason and this reason only, the Republican caucus chose to respect this right and offer these voters a choice. As chairman, I have always sought to advance community over partisanship. As you have so often heard, political parties at the local level can hardly disagree on how best to fix a pothole or the most efficient way to pick up your garbage. At the same time, there are issues which divide public opinion and here, every resident of Rhinebeck is entitled to their point of view. It is in the exchange and debate of ideas that we hope to arrive at the best resolution. The fact that our incumbent trustees are being opposed appears to be dividing this community. We should be reminded that our citizens and candidates should be able to openly express their views without personal criticism or references such as "misguided" or "uninformed." Let us strive to bring this campaign to a conclusion in a manner befitting of the Rhinebeck electorate for in the final analysis; it is their voice that matters and their choice that will determine who will take these two seats on the board of trustees. Chairman John C. Wirth Jr. Rhinebeck Republican Committee Hudson valley news | firstname.lastname@example.com | March 14, 2012 {5}
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Voters in many local communities will hit the polls next Tuesday, March 20 to decide on a variety of issues. In the Village of Rhinebeck, Democratic incumbents Terry Gipson and Brant Neuneker are in a spirited contest with Republicans Homer "Knick" Staley and Brenda Klaproth. Some Republicans have been critical of Rhinebeck Mayor Jim Reardon and by extension, Gipson and Neuneker. Differing views on a new police station and a proposed events code have been central issues in the campaign. In Hyde Park, voters are being asked for the second time in less than four months to consider spending $4.4 million to upgrade athletic facilities at FDR High School. A similar measure was voted down on Dec. 6 by 65 votes. Proponents argue student safety and the likelihood of a 59% state aid reimbursement as justification of a "yes" vote. Opponents contend the Board of Education is ignoring the will of the people by not adhering to the December vote. They further contend this is not the economic environment to be increasing taxes, pointing to the recent 20% tax hike imposed by the former Hyde Park Town Board. There are also two special elections locally to fill vacancies in the New York State Assembly. In the 103rd Assembly District, Republican Rich Wager is being opposed by Democrat Didi Barrett. Both candidates are from Millbrook. Wager and Barrett break along traditional party lines. While neither is particularly well known, Wager has the support of County Executive Marc Molinaro, who held the seat previously. Barrett has been endorsed by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Sen. Chuck Schumer. In the 100th Assembly District, Republican Dutchess County Legislator John Forman is squaring off against Democrat and former Assemblyman Frank Skartados in what most observers see as a close race. Also locally, there are uncontested races for village trustee seats in the villages of Red Hook and Tivoli. In Red Hook, only one trustee seat, currently held by Jennifer Norris, is up for grabs, and in Tivoli, trustees Michael Leedy and Joel Griffith should have no trouble being re-elected. Whatever the outcomes of these contests, be sure to be part of the results by getting out and casting your ballot. We've seen many of examples in recent years of elections being decided by only a handful of votes. Your vote counts, so exercise your right to vote on Tuesday.
The people I never knew I knew
They say that you cannot know where you are going until you know where you've been. Recently, I've been finding that many of my own quirks have an interesting shared background with people I never knew that I knew. It all started with a phone call from my mother, who had just unearthed from my aunt's basement the photo album from my grandparents' wedding. My mother said it was the first time she had ever seen photos of her mother that young. It was also the first time she realized how many physical characteristics I share with my grandmother. As my journey into my past joined my mother's well-travelled one, I learned much more about what I have in common with my older and deceased relatives and that we carry down through the generations traits that are more than merely physically similar. Sunday mornings have brought us together at the home of my oldest living relative, my great uncle Neal. Our family roots have always been in Dutchess
On Tuesday, March 20, the residents of the Village of Rhinebeck have the opportunity to decide who will represent them on the village board for the next two years. I am the incumbent Republican mayor, am not running for office and my reason for writing is only because I care about my community. Over the last two years, I have worked with four other trustees with various political affiliations and I state without reservation that we have been an extremely hardworking, diligent board that has faced a multitude of challenges and has effectively dealt with all of them. Some are ongoing but the point is we are dealing with them. There is a campaign being waged against trustees Terry Gipson and Brant Neuneker and the entire focus of this opposition campaign has been to trash what we have done, not propose any meaningful ideas and then back that up with facts. My suggestion to the voters is, be sure of the facts before you cast your vote. Do not buy into political spin. If you would like to know the facts, I suggest you visit www.rhinebeck.wordpress.com, look for my blog, and there you will find an accurate rundown of the facts concerning the issues surrounding this campaign. Then, I believe, you will lend your support, as I am, to Terry Gipson and Brant Neuneker for trustee. Mayor Jim Reardon Rhinebeck {6} March 14, 2012 | email@example.com | Hudson valley news
Larissa Carson is a life-long resident of the Hudson Valley. To respond to this column, email editorial@ thehudsonvalleynews.com
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County and we are lucky enough to have good record of it. Neal, at 81, has an impeccable memory. He can recall almost instantly the name of a face in a photo or a story that goes with a trinket, and boy, do we have trinkets. What I've found most interesting is that the fact that we have so many items, so many photos, so many memories is the truest testament to how alike we ultimately are. Because of the digital age we live in, I have often taken for granted that we have so many photos. The fact that my family owned cameras at the time and were interested enough in photography to take candid shots of family and kittens tells more than a lot of stories can. So that even though my grandmother past away when I was 6 years old and my memories of her are foggy, I can still know her now in the traits we share. Our handwriting is similar. We have the same look when we are ill. I have discovered through the possessions that she left behind that we had mutual interests, interests that we share independently, that there is no way I could have learned them from her. So, as I spend more and more time digging into my past, I'm finding a much firmer hold in my present and discovering that sometimes, the apple doesn't even fall off of the tree.
The current Rhinebeck Village Board is a perfect example of democratic bipartisanship in action. Those who attend meetings can't help but notice that all five trustees, regardless of party affiliation, listen respectfully to each others' positions, discuss the matter before them frankly but civilly and reach constructive conclusions acceptable to all. In other words, they all put the welfare of the village ahead of their own personal political affiliations. Two of the current board members are up for reelection: Terry Gipson and Brant Neuneker. They exemplify the spirit and hard work that has allowed the village board over the past two years to function more constructively and efficiently than ever before and to consistently seek out the opinions and desires of the public before making final decisions. Their two challengers, on the other hand, have not attended a single public board meeting or workshop during these two years. Their campaign literature reveals that they have no idea how the current board functions. It seems obvious that their commitment to village governance isn't very strong. This is in sharp contrast to the two incumbent trustees they are challenging. Gipson and Neuneker are pro-business, pro-bipartisanship and pro-fiscal responsibility. They care deeply about the financial health of the village and the wellbeing of all its citizens. They deserve your support. On March 20, vote for Gipson and Neuneker. You will never cast a better ballot. Clare and Carl Brandt Rhinebeck
They all failed because their message doesn't resonate with working people stuck in traffic and without the distorting filter of the mainstream media. The same was true OPINION of Downey. The media elites hated him and the show but the people loved it. So what happened to Downey? His personal and professional behavior started BY JIM LANGAN making the advertisers nervous. Think cheating on your wife and slugging ADVERTISERS KEY TO openly a gay activist. I remember sitting next to the LIMBAUGH'S FUTURE marketing chief of Domino's on a plane and Listening to the uproar surrounding asking her why they didn't advertise on our Rush Limbaugh's castigation of "gender show. She matter-of-factly said, "Because activist" Sandra Fluke on the issue of your guy is going to blow himself up and we federally mandated contraception policy don't want to be associated with him when took me back to my days producing "The he does, and we can advertise on a million Morton Downey Jr. Show." Like Limbaugh, other shows." As Downey's antics became more bizarre and Downey was famous offensive, advertisers for his conservative, Advertisers just began deserting the in-your-face social show in droves and that and political opinions. want to know you're was the end of Morton At one point in the late 1980s, Downey in control and can Downey Jr. Can the same consistently won his recognize a mistake. thing happen to Rush 11:30 p.m. timeslot, Limbaugh? Probably beating "The Tonight not, because he has a Show" and "Nightline." Everywhere Mort went, he was greeted by political constituency built into his audience. almost-hysterical fans. Washington Post TV They're used to ridicule and hostility critic Tom Shales called the show "A talk from the so-called elites. Rush is also a businessman and Mort wasn't. Limbaugh show with a hockey audience." Unlike Limbaugh, however, Mort's fame knows where the line and bottom line was relatively short-lived. It's interesting are. Did Limbaugh lose a few advertisers to note that Limbaugh's career began at a over the Sandra Fluke affair? Yes, but not Sacramento radio station as the replacement enough to really matter. Advertisers just for Morton Downey Jr. Mort had been fired want to know you're in control and can recognize a mistake. Limbaugh has proven for using an ethnic slur on the air. He was also fired from a Chicago radio to have that kind of self discipline over a station when he announced the death of 23-year career in radio. But Rush would be wise to keep a photo groundbreaking African American Mayor of Mort in the studio. I remember reading an Harold Washington on the air. Downey interview with Matt Lauer of "The Today assured listeners Washington was dead, Show" a few years ago as his star was saying, "Emergency personnel had waived rising. Matt had worked at Channel 9 in every known flavor of barbeque sauce under the mayor's nose and he hasn't responded." Secaucus, where we did the Downey show. Truth be told, Downey did that intentionally Matt had a morning talk show, but Downey to get out of his radio contract because his was the superstar in the building. Matt was TV career in New York was taking off. eventually fired and ended up working for a relative's tree service before getting the Horrifying, but very effective. To my knowledge, Limbaugh has call from "The Today Show." Lauer told the never been that offensive. He's obnoxious interviewer, "Anytime I start getting a big and in love with himself, but thus far, no head, I just think Morton Downey Jr." fireable offenses. His primary offense has Jim Langan can be reached at editorial@ been putting together the most successful and listened-to audience in the history thehudsonvalleynews.com. of talk radio. It drives the liberals crazy. Editor's note: "Evocateur: The Morton They hate to think there are 25 million people out there nodding their heads in Downey Jr. Movie" will premiere April 19 agreement with Rush Limbaugh five days at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York a week. Liberals have tried countering City. Go to www.mortondowneyjr.com to Limbaugh with left-wing talkers and even see the trailer and other details. Jim Langan tried starting their own leftie radio network. contributed to the film and is featured in it.
On March 20, I'm voting for Terry Gipson and Brant Neuneker for Rhinebeck Village Board. I urge my neighbors to look at the record and join me. Rhinebeck has something rare. At a time when ranting and raving seems more common than thoughtful discussion, our village board has focused on the issues. Brant and Terry have been critical to this atmosphere. By listening to all viewpoints and then calmly and thoughtfully pursuing the village's best interests, they have helped foster non-partisan cooperation and civility that has led to more progress than the village has seen in many years. If we don't re-elect Terry and Brant to the board, many initiatives will be at risk, including: • Efforts to ensure that back-up plans addressing safety, traffic, parking, etc. are in place when large events are held at the fairgrounds or elsewhere in the village; • Action on the recommendations of our Pedestrian Task Force; • Improved enforcement of the existing village plan; • Enhanced transparency, outreach and community involvement; • Ongoing and sensible planning for police and fire services; • Infrastructure maintenance and repair; and • Planning for shared services that will save money for the town and village. Please join me in voting for civility and good government. Let's re-elect Brant Neuneker and Terry Gipson. Debi Duke Rhinebeck
The adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is particularly relevant to the upcoming village election in Rhinebeck. Terry Gipson and Brant Neuneker are running for re-election as village trustees. As a Town of Rhinebeck board member for the past two years and as a member of other boards in the past, I know how important it is for good governance for board members to work cohesively together with mutual respect. I have attended a number of village trustee meetings and have spoken individually to trustees from both parties. The Rhinebeck Village Board of Trustees works very well as a unit – there is mutual respect for each other and open-mindedness, as evidenced by the recent withdrawal of the draft events code and the appointment of a public steering committee to further examine this issue. Such qualities are important as the Town and Village of Rhinebeck will examine the topic of whether there are cost savings in additional shared services. Therefore, I urge Village residents to re-elect Terry Gipson and Brant Neuneker. Councilman Joe Gelb Rhinebeck
I serve on Rhinebeck's Pedestrian Task Force, appointed in 2010 by the village trustees to study our sidewalk conditions with Dutchess County Planning and to develop a plan for improving them. Rhinebeck's economic vitality depends on good sidewalks. Our bipartisan citizen group, with expertise in architecture, business, planning, communication, law, finance, arbor culture and commercial design, sought input via a questionnaire and from merchants, the Chamber of Commerce and others. Together with county planning, we held well-attended open workshops. Property owners were also informed in a brochure of their responsibilities regarding sidewalks – and we're seeing results of our work. Now, Democrats Brant Neuneker and Terry Gipson seek re-election on March 20. They've done a terrific job and work well with the Republican trustees. But I find it disingenuous that their opponents seek greater public involvement. Our village website, email system, announcements in newspapers and flyers urge residents to participate, and many have come through. Meanwhile, we never heard from the two opponents on these issues. Moreover, they wish to spread sidewalk repair costs to all instead of "burdening only the few who own the walks." They ask those who already repaired or maintained safe sidewalks to pay twice! It would give benefit to just a few non-resident business owners who must, according to code, maintain their numerous properties. A big majority who answered the questionnaire or attended public meetings did not favor this option. Terry and Brant work on behalf of all Rhinebeck interests; I'm voting for them. John Halpern Rhinebeck Hudson valley news | firstname.lastname@example.com | March 14, 2012 {7}
On Sept. 15, 1998, the joint Rhinebeck Town/Village Technology Committee initiated a website for the town and village governments with the following goals: • Provide Rhinebeck residents with one source for government information. • Help overcome the confusion many have about the different roles of the village and town governments. • Have it be a truly shared service, funded by all Rhinebeck residents via their town taxes. The rhinebeck-ny.gov domain name was obtained to be used by both municipalities for the joint website and employee email addresses, with the .gov suffix indicating it is owned by an official governmental organization. Using volunteer help, the website grew to become a useful, user-friendly reference for the community. Subsequently, former Town Supervisor Steve Block instigated a redesign, using a new user interface and organization. The service-oriented user interface was replaced by a municipality- and departmental-oriented interface. After the switch to the new website, municipal employees, not volunteers, were to do the updating of the site. Then, the Rhinebeck Village decided to terminate its participation in the joint website and subcontracted out the development of a totally new website. Now, 14 years after the initial web site debuted, we find: • Village taxpayers now pay for two web sites, for the town and village. • The single source of information with one integrated interface is gone. Time to cut the waste! On March 20, elect Brenda Klaproth and Homer "Knick" Staley to the Rhinebeck Village Board. Paul E. Niedercorn Rhinebeck
For the past four years, I have attended every single Rhinebeck village meeting, often being the lone citizen there. I've observed how a collaborative relationship among the five trustees developed that has led to focused problem solving. Unlike the dysfunctional bickering in Albany and Washington, this bipartisan group (three Republicans, two Democrats) has tackled complex, long-overdue village issues. Through rigorous analysis and by involving experts, volunteers, the County Planning Department and state agencies in open workshops, public hearings and countless public meetings, they have grappled with parking problems, sidewalks, the fire department, the need to appropriately house the police department, drainage issues, trees, signage, trash pickup, long-term capital planning and instituted ethics and procurement policies, to name a few. They have done all of this by actually controlling spending! The two Democrats, Terry Gipson and Brant Neuneker, are seeking re-election on March 20. But, I am scratching my head in puzzlement when I read the literature of their opponents. Suggestions like moving the fire and police departments would incur huge tax hikes. Otherwise, they offer neither new plans nor ideas, but would continue current policies. That's a nice tribute to the incumbents. The current team is one of the hardest-working, most-dedicated groups serving all Rhinebeck's stakeholders. Terry Gipson and Brant Neuneker deserve another term to work with their Republican counterparts and ensure Rhinebeck's economic vitality. Heinz Sauer Rhinebeck
While reading about the candidates running for the Village of Rhinebeck Board of Trustees on March 20, I noticed Brant Neuneker wants to renegotiate the cable franchise with Time Warner. This is a very serious matter that all people in the villages and towns of Rhinebeck, Red Hook and Tivoli need to be aware of. Around 1998, the Northern Dutchess Cable Franchise Board was asked to review franchise agreements between the towns and villages of Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Tivoli and TCI Cable. TCI was negotiating with AT&T and Time Warner to swap franchises in America. Many municipalities, including Rhinebeck, refused to agree. The Village of Rhinebeck had the strongest contract, guaranteeing it remained in the top percent of technology, receive maximum franchise fees and TCI could not merge, sell or swap the franchise without permission. Out of hundreds of municipalities, the Village of Rhinebeck was able to stand up to these three giants. Rhinebeck, with the help of a well known D.C. law firm, successfully negotiated highspeed Internet 10 years before TCI planned to introduce it. The Village of Rhinebeck has one of the strongest franchise agreements in the United States. Time Warner has been trying to renegotiate the contract for years. I urge the village board not to be tempted to negotiate with one of the world's largest companies. The New York Public Service Commission automatically renews cable franchise agreements every sic months and does revenue audits free. Mike Collins Rhinebeck {8} March 14, 2012 | firstname.lastname@example.com | Hudson valley news
• Let's begin with every husband's dream, I mean tragic tale. Richard Fox, 39, constructed a homemade cannon in his garage in Potrero, Calif. He's apparently something of a weapons freak. After a night of heavy drinking and a particularly nasty dustup with the missus, Fox aimed the cannon into his wife's bedroom and fired, striking her in the chest. Alas, there is no siliconebreast-implant-miracle story here. Mrs. Fox is no more and Mr. Fox is in jail awaiting trial for murder. • In Hartford, Conn., a couple was startled to see their 3-year-old son on the 11 p.m. news as a missing person. It seems they had taken the boy to Chuck E. Cheese restaurant and taken separate cars. With each thinking the other had the boy, they returned home at different times and thought the other had put their son to bed. Instead, restaurant workers found him walking around at closing and called the cops. No charges were filed. • According to the Beaver County Times in Pennsylvania, a suspicious husband hid a listening device under his wife's bed to catch her having an affair. It worked, but the Raccoon Township man was charged with unlawful surveillance. The wife announced she was leaving him because she no longer trusts him. • We love this one. According to a Forbes magazine story, the recently released Bruce Springsteen album has been a sales disappointment. Forbes says fans of Springsteen are "too old" to download music. They suggest Sony consider simply sell CDs for the older (over-40) crowd. Yikes! • In Winthrop, Mass., a 42-year-old father was arrested for pointing a powerful laser at his daughter's opposing goalie in a high school hockey game. Kathryn Hamer said it was like looking into the sun during the game. Her team still managed a 3-1 win. • Media-hog Gloria Allred says Rush Limbaugh should be prosecuted under an 1883 Florida law making it a misdemeanor to question a woman's chastity. Limbaugh has been under fire for calling Sandra Fluke a prostitute for her opposition of President Obama's mandated contraception policy. Puleeze! Allred is a joke and Fluke is a self-described "gender activist" who only applied to Georgetown Law so she could sue the school. They both deserve a year locked in a room with blowhard Limbaugh.
• Big turnout at Joseph's Steakhouse in Hyde Park for the town Republican Committee's annual St. Patrick's Day dinner last week (see page 18). Loved Young Republicans Chairman Steve Reverri thanking Hyde Park Republican Committee Chairwoman Jean McArthur for "driving the snakes out of Hyde Park." He was referring to the Republicans' refusal to nominate Tom Martino, Michael Taylor, Jim Monks and Michael Athanas for a second term. It brought down the house. • We hear Fosters in Rhinebeck is for sale in the $3-million-plus range. No word on whether the regulars come with the place! • Looks like Peyton Manning said "no way" to joining the Jets. Manning has much too much class to be part of Rex Ryan's bunch of show boaters and thugs. Loved the Jets trying to feign disinterest in Manning by extending Mark Sanchez's contract. Remember, they jumped at an aging Brett Favre. • Am I the only person uncomfortable with Oprah interviewing Whitney Houston's daughter? I know the kid's 19, but she's a train wreck. Can you say "exploitation for ratings?" It was also revealed she is her mother's sole heir. I'm guessing she's going to be seeing a lot more of dear old dad. • Speaking of the late Whitney Houston, reports indicate the casket photo of Whitney the National Enquirer put on its front page was secretly snapped by Bobby Brown's sister, who was paid six figures. What a surprise! • We hear former Supervisor Tom Martino is scheduled to go before the planning board for a site plan waiver on solar panels he plans to put up on his house. He neglected to get proper approval for the panels he put up last year when in office. • In last week's story on the fundraiser for little Thaddeus Harklerode, we got the date wrong. It's Friday night at the Poughkeepsie Grand beginning at 6 p.m. It's a great event for a wonderful little boy. We regret the error and hope you turn out. Tickets are available at the door for $65. • We hear Hyde Park Planning Board member Ann Dexter signed the final "plat" allowing Stop & Shop to begin construction in Hyde Park immediately. Time will tell. • Good to read in this month's Bon Appetit about the "exponentially better" chickens being raised by Andre Balazs at The Locusts in Staatsburg. But can someone do something to close down the illegal wedding factory he runs at the estate?
Dig into the New York State Maple Festival with super-local goodness PAGE 12 INSIDE: GOING GREEN – Local St. Patrick's Day events GROWING UP – Kickstarting a garden at Bard Powerhouse alums take the stage and screen PLUS: Art & entertainment events through April Hudson valley news | email@example.com | March 14, 2012 {9}
event listings throughout the Hudson Valley
Kilt-kickin' events for St. Patty's Day
e-mail us your events: email@example.com. Deadline is noon on Thursday. Listings are accurate as of press time but be sure to confirm details before you go.
THIS WEEK (MARCH. 14-20) Senior Citizen ID Cards; Wednesday, March 14; 9:30-11 a.m.; Dutchess County Division of Aging Services, First Floor Conference Room, 27 High St., Poughkeepsie; Residents over 60 can obtain identification; $2; 845-486-2555. Hip Hop Theater; Thursday, March 15; 7 p.m.; Bardavon 1869 Opera House, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie; Features performances by Yako 440, Mtume and Playback (NYC); $5; 845-4735288, ext. 106. Poetry Open Mic Night; Thursday, March 15; 7 p.m.; Adriance Memorial Library, 95 Market St., Poughkeepsie; Open forum for sharing of personal poetry; Free; 845-485-3445, ext. 3702. Morton's Acoustic Show; Friday, March 16; 8 p.m.; Morton Memorial Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff; Features performances by Little Creek, Todd Young, Grass Fed, Mike Aguirre and more; Donation suggested; 845-876-7007.
Friendship Center, First Lutheran Church, 325 Mill St., Poughkeepsie; Program will help participants understand the correlation between nutrition and diseases of the eye such as glaucoma and macular degeneration; Free; 845-486-2804. 'SOUL'; March 16-18; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m.; The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, 661 Route 308, Rhinebeck; Performance by Irish dance company Solas An Lae; $18-$20; 845-876-3080. Finnegan's Farewell; March 16-18; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.; The Beacon Theater, 445 Main St., Beacon; Interactive dinner/comedy event celebrates St. Patrick's Day weekend; $20; 845-226-8099. 'Waiting for Godot'; March 16-April 1; Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.; Cocoon Theatre, 6384 Mill St., Rhinebeck; Samuel Beckett's classic performed by two rotating casts; $25; 845-876-6470. Community Free Day at Dia:Beacon; Saturday, March 17; 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Dia:Beacon Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman St., Beacon; Family programs, public tours and more for Hudson Valley residents; Free; 845-440-0100.
'Little Shop of Horrors'; Friday, March 16; 7:30 p.m.; Bardavon 1869 Opera House, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie; Classic 1986 film shown on big screen; $5; 845-4735288, ext. 106.
Pine Plains FFA Farm Toy Show and Auction; Saturday, March 17; 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.; Stissing Mountain Middle/High School, Route 199, Pine Plains; Consignments and donations are welcome, vendor tables and more; $3; 845-868-7515.
How Nutrition Affects Your Vision; Friday, March 16; 11:15 a.m.; Poughkeepsie Senior
St. Patrick's Day Party; Saturday, March 17; 7-11 p.m.; Knights of Columbus Hall, 1278 Route 9G, Hyde Park; Corned beef and cabbage dinner, dancing and performances; $18; 845-505-5518.
Crossroads Pub
5 West Market Street, Hyde Park 229-7407 Now serving
Hand Tossed Pizza Lunch & Dinner Specials
Always Drink Responsibly
1 West Market St., Hyde Park, NY 12538 (845) 229-1957 • www.cranberrysattilleyhall.com
Leclerc's Martial Arts Celebrates Birthdays and Supports Cancer Society; Saturday, March 17; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Leclerc's Martial Arts, 3999 Albany Post Rd., Hyde Park; Open house featuring demonstrations and classes to raise funds for American Cancer Society; Free; 845-229-8004. Meet the Naturalist: Creating Your Own Natural History Journal; Saturday, March 17; 1 p.m.; Grinnell Library, 2642 East Main St., Wappingers Falls; Learn from Tom Lake how and why to start your own personal natural history journal; Free; 845-297-3428. 'Aqua Estuary' Opening; Saturday, March 17; 5-7 p.m.; Betsy Jacaruso Studio and Gallery, 43-2 E. Market St., Rhinebeck; Exhibit displayed through April 7; Free; 845-516-4435.
See green with several events celebrating St. Patrick's Day in the Hudson Valley this weekend
BY HVN WEEKEND STAFF Your eyes will be smiling, whether Irish or not, with 4th Wall Productions' first interactive comedy show, "Finnegan's Farewell," in Beacon this weekend. The dinner, dance and comedy event will take place on Friday and Saturday, March 16 and 17, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Concocted by the co-creator of "Tony and Tina's Wedding," the audience will say goodbye to Patrick James "Paddy" Finnegan, a mailman who won $2.5 million playing slot machines in Atlantic City before promptly dropping dead – and then goes missing. Enjoy a meal, complete with traditional Irish drinking songs, lively tap and step dancing during the antics of an authentic Irish-American wake. To order tickets, call 845-226-8099 or www.beacontheatre.org.
Step into "Soul," an all-new production from acclaimed American Irish Dance Company Solas An Lae at the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck for three performances March 16-18. Coming off last year's celebrated production of "The Celtic Soul of Van Morrison," directors Deirdre Lowry and Patrick Brown draw upon American and European neo-soul music through step work and choreography, outside the technical structure of traditional Irish dance. Tickets for "Soul" are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors/children. Friday and Saturday performances will begin at 8 p.m. and the Sunday matinee performance is at 3 p.m. For more information and tickets, call the Box Office at 845-876-3080 between 1 and 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays or visit www.centerforperformingarts.org. Go green with organic gardening at Olana State Historic Site in Hudson on Saturday, March 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. Sharon DiLorenzo, program manager from Capital District Community Gardens, will teach visitors about proper care and maintenance and how to make gardens flourish throughout the year. There is a $5 suggested donation and all ages are welcome. Register by Thursday, March 15 by calling 518-828-1872, ext. 109 or email shasbrook@ olana.org.
EZ Pass to Passover 101; Sunday, March 18; 9:30-11:30 a.m.; Vassar Temple, 140 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie; Help prepare macaroons and chocolate-covered matzoh; Free; 845-454-2570. 'Matters of Fact' Opening; Sunday, March 18; 1-4 p.m.; Bard College, CCS Bard Galleries, Annandale; Exhibition on display through May 27; Free; email@example.com. > continued on next page Email your event to firstname.lastname@example.com. Deadline for Wednesday publication is noon on Friday. {10} March 14, 2012 | firstname.lastname@example.com | Hudson valley news
Volunteers started their gardening tasks on Wednesday at Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill site, including taking on the pruning of the Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius) around the entrance and cutting back the Five Leaved Aralia (Eleutherococcus seiboldianus) along the factory wall (pictured).
e-mail us your events: firstname.lastname@example.com < continued from previous page Morton Book Club Meeting; Tuesday, March 20; 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Morton Memorial Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff; Group to discuss "Consumption" by Kevin Patterson; Free; 845-876-2903. Researching Your Irish Ancestors; Tuesday, March 20; 7:30 p.m.; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Spackenkill Road, Poughkeepsie; Presented by Mary Colbert, the Dutchess County Genealogical Society's librarian; Free; 845-229-9552. Fantasy & Fairy Tales: A Musical Exploration of Great Stories; Tuesday, March 20 and Wednesday, March 21; 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. both days; Bardavon 1869 Opera House, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie; $10; 845-473-5288, ext. 106.
Photo by Jen Kiaba.
BY HVN WEEKEND STAFF Half Moon Theatre will present "A Family Celebration of Broadway" next weekend only to benefit the launch of the company's School of the Arts classes, opening in Poughkeepsie this fall. "Since Half Moon Theatre's inception, we have been asked, 'When are you going to teach classes for kids?'" Half Moon Theatre Executive Director Molly Katz said. "Hudson Valley parents have been looking for a performing-arts school taught by professionals: actors who are still working – with contacts in the casting, legit theatre and commercial worlds. This fall we are answering the call. We are very proud and excited to be opening Half Moon Theatre's School of the Arts." The School of the Arts will offer acting and musical theater for children ages 7-17. "A Family Celebration of Broadway," running March 23-25, will be filled with selections from favorites such as "The Lion King," "Shrek," "Annie," "Avenue Q," "Mamma Mia" and more, showcasing the talent of local actors, some of whom are involved with the Actors' Equity Association. Tickets for the benefit are $30 adults, $20 seniors/students in advance; $35 adults, $25 seniors/students at the door. Tickets are available at www.halfmoontheatre.org or by calling 1-888-718-4253.
In the mood for American food? How about Italian? Moroccan? Or Turkish, Greek, Latin, Argentinean or French cuisine? Have your cake and eat it too with Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, running from March 18-31 with specially BY HVN WEEKEND STAFF priced lunches and dinners. For $20.95 for lunch or $29.95 for dinner, eat out and experience some of the culinary delights just down the road. The two-week event will feature three-course lunches and three-course, prix-fixe dinners at more than 200 of the region's top restaurants. Dutchess County restaurants, including the Culinary Institute of America's restaurants, Cinnamon Indian Cuisine in Rhinebeck, Farm to Table Bistro in Fishkill, La Puetra Azul in Millbrook and the Stissing House in Pine Plains, are just a few of this year's popular jaunts. While they weren't ready to open their doors for this year's Maple Festival, Dutchess County's Crown Maple syrup will be a highlight of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, with the Crown Maple Challenge testing participating restaurants' ability to match the sweet sap in a cocktail, entree or dessert. For details and to make reservations, visit www.hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com.
UPCOMING Medicare Orientation; Wednesday, March 21; 10 a.m.-noon; Poughkeepsie Galleria, Community Room, Route 9, Poughkeepsie; Training session for residents approaching age 65; Free; 845-486-2555.
Child Development Checkup; Thursday, March 22; 2-6:30 p.m.; Grinnell Library, 2642 East Main St., Wappingers Falls; Assess mental and social development in children ages 2 months to 5 years; Free; 845-297-3428 or 2-1-1. James F. Simon Author Talk; Thursday, March 22; 7 p.m.; Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center, Hyde Park; Author of "FDR and Chief Justice Hughes: The President, the Supreme Court, and the Epic Battle Over the New Deal" to discuss book; Free; 845-486-7745. Edgar Alan Poe Short Stories and Poems; Friday, March 23; 8 p.m.; Morton Memorial Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff; Rhinebeck Readers Theatre presents a staged reading of selected Poe short stories and poems; Free; email@example.com. Eight to the Bar Performance; Friday, March 23; 6:30-7:15 p.m. and 7:15- 8 p.m.; Poughkeepsie Tennis Club, 135 S. Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie; Band to perform at swing dance; $15-$20; 845454-2571. Clown Cake Breakfast; Saturday, March 24; 8-11:30 a.m.; Red Hook Firehouse, Fire House Lane, Red Hook; Fundraiser to support St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital; $5; 845-758-5959.
Morton Movie Night Presents: 'Metropolis'; Wednesday, March 21; 6:30 p.m.; Morton Memorial Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff; Classic Japanese anime film shown; Free; 845-876-2903.
NDH Mothers' Club Annual Gala; Saturday, March 24; Call for time; The Beekman Arms, 6387 Mill St., Rhinebeck; Event honors NDH President Denise George, theme is "A '60s Celebration"; $85; 845-871-3503.
Bard Percussion Spring Concert ; Wednesday, March 21; 8 p.m.; Bard College, Sosnoff Theater, Annandale; Concert performed by the Bard Conservatory of Music's resident student percussion ensemble and members of Sō Percussion; Free; 845-758-7900.
Book Discussion with Robert Fitts; Saturday, March 24; 7:30 p.m.; Oblong Books & Music, 6422 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck; Author to discuss 'Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage, & Assassination during the 1934 Tour of Japan'; Free; 845-876-0500.
'Space, Time, and Narrative: Mapping Gothic France'; Thursday, March 22; 6-9 p.m.; Vassar College, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Poughkeepsie; Experience Gothic architecture through texts, large-scale digital projections and interactive virtual-reality images, on display through May 20; Free; 845-437-7745.
Dutchess Community College Foundation Gala; Saturday, March 24; 6 p.m.; The Grandview, 176 Rinaldi Blvd., Poughkeepsie; Event will honor five local individuals and raise funds for student scholarships; $150; 845-431-8403.
St. Francis Weight Loss Center Fashion Show; Thursday, March 22; 5:30 p.m.; The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, 40 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie; All models are patients of Weight Loss Center, reservations by March 9; $30; 845-483-5140.
Conservatory Sundays: Music Alive!; Sunday, March 25; 3 p.m.; Bard College, Sosnoff Theater, Annandale; Program of 20th- and 21stcentury music showcases works by Arvo Pärt, György Ligeti, John Adams and others; $5-$20; 845-758-7900. > continued on page 13
OLE CAROUSEL ANTIQUES CENTRE It's the
Sat & Sun, March 17th & 18th
WINTER HOURS: JAN-FEB-MAR Daily 10am to 6pm; Closed Tues. & Wed.
6208 Rt. 82 North, Stanfordville, NY • 845-868-1586 or email@example.com
Hudson valley news | email@example.com | March 14, 2012 {11}
Hudson Valley's tastiest trees tapped for Maple Weekend WEEKEND FEATURE
BY NICOLE DELAWDER Next weekend, tap into the annual New York State Maple Festival and get a taste of super-local sweetness with Staatsburg's own Hummingbird Ranch during two events celebrating the savory sap of New York. "We'll be tapping trees ahead of time and teaching people how to tap and make syrup," Hummingbird Ranch proprietor Rich Focht said. Hummingbird Ranch, a member of the New York State Maple Association, will take part in two all-you-can-eat maple pancake breakfasts in March at Muscoot Farm in Somers and Hahn Farm in Salt Point.
Hummingbird Ranch taps more than 3,000 trees around the Town of Clinton, leasing trees in the woods of other farmers' properties in the area. "We started by playing around, making for ourselves," Focht said. "We had one or two hives and then we tapped about five or six trees. We eventually got a little evaporator and wood fire." While Focht says Hummingbird Ranch produces about 700-800 gallons of syrup a year, the practice of maple sugaring comes with its challenges, both from the economy and the weather.
{12} March 14, 2012 | firstname.lastname@example.com | Hudson valley news
"It's farming," Focht said, "it depends on the weather and how good the plants are from the last year." Focht said this winter's unseasonably warm temperatures made for less-thandesirable syrup-producing conditions, adding, "It was a difficult year; everything turned so fast. Once the buds start to come out, they turn and the sap gets sour." The flow of sap from the trees is highly dependent on the weather. Proper extraction doesn't begin until after a hard freeze, followed by several sunny days with temperatures in the 40s. The peak flow occurs early in the sugaring season, when it freezes at night and is bright and sunny the next day. "We'd go evaporate for a day or two and then not have any sap for a couple days, then evaporate again, so it was a little difficult," Focht said. Despite the warmth, Focht estimates that Hummingbird Ranch evaporates 100 gallons of sap an hour, producing about two gallons of syrup each hour with a new steam-away system he installed last year. "And it's pretty expensive to make," he noted. "We have an oil burner that burns about 6 gallons of oil an hour and at $4 a gallon, that's $24 just to make a gallon of syrup. That's why everybody says it's so expensive, but it's an expensive thing to set up. For one sugar bush, if you have about 1,000 trees, it costs between $10,000 and $15,000." Luckily, we have a chance to indulge in the sweetness for only $8 for adults
Courtesy photos.
and $4 for children at two maple pancake breakfasts in coordination with the New York State Maple Festival this month. Hummingbird Ranch will bring its maple syrup and other goods made at the farm to the breakfast at Muscoot Farm, the only operating farm owned by Westchester County, in Somers, on March 17 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. "It's a people-friendly farm, where we'll be tapping trees and teaching people all about the process," Focht said. On March 24 and 25, fill your bellies at Hahn Farm from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with more all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage patties with homemade maple syrup. There will also be demonstrations on making maple syrup, yarn spinning, maple cotton candy, open line dancing, pony rides and hay rides throughout the day. Between 1 and 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, Nancy James will perform "Sweet Dreams of Patsy Cline," a music and history performance about the country singer. Hahn Farm is located off of Salt Point Turnpike, on Netherwood Road, in Salt Point. For more information on the pancake breakfasts or Hummingbird Ranch, call 845266-0084 or visit hummingbirdranch.biz.
WEEKEND GOODNESS e-mail us your events: email@example.com < continued from page 11 Craig Zammiello presents 'Printworks'; Monday, March 26; 6 p.m.; Vassar College, Taylor Hall, Poughkeepsie; Master printer to discuss collaborative projects with contemporary artists in printmaking; Free; 845-437-5370. Diversity and Inclusion: Paths to Increased Revenue and Collaboration; Tuesday, March 27; 12:30-2 p.m.; Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 9 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie; Presentation by Beverly L. Herbert, includes lunch; $10; 845-4523077. 'Mary McCarthy and Vassar' Exhibit and Lecture; Thursday, March 29; 5:30 p.m.; Vassar College, Taylor Hall, Room 203, Poughkeepsie; Lecture on famed writer and Vassar alumna by Meghan Daum, exhibit on display March 16-June 4; Free; 845-437-5370. The Freedom to Learn: Creating a Culture of 'Do' Instead of a Culture of 'Know'; Thursday, March 29; 5:30 p.m.; Vassar College, Students' Building, Poughkeepsie; Education writer and activist Sam Chaltain presents lecture; Free; 845-437-5370. Free Tax Preparation; Friday, March 30; 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Staatsburg Library, 70 Old Post Rd., Staatsburg; Tax preparation offered to older adults, individuals with disabilities and people with low-middle income; Free; 845-889-4683. > continued on page 15
A row of strawberries at the Bard College Community Garden. Photo from Bard College Farm Project's Kickstarter campaign site.
BY HVN WEEKEND STAFF Students and faculty at Bard College are coming together to develop a sustainable 1-acre farm on campus. Bard College Farm Project has taken to the online fundraising website Kickstarter to help fund the project. By April 1, the group hopes to raise $20,000, with Bard College pledging to match donations twofold. "The 1-acre farm that we are proposing will do this by allowing students to grow food in ways that are ecologically sound. It will demonstrate the methodologies for sustainable food production at a scale that matters, and it will be responsive to the latest scientific and agricultural practices for growing substantial crops. It will afford the type of hands-on learning that is necessary for so many academic classes, many of which belong to the expanding Environmental and Urban Studies Program, and it will help connect Bard to the rich community of farmers found in the Hudson Valley," the group says on Kickstarter. Pledges of $10 or more gets donors a personalized Bard College Farm postcard. For donations of $25 or more, participants will receive a pack of heirloom seeds from organic farmers in the Hudson Valley. Pledge $100 or more and receive a limitededition print of the farm created by a studio arts student at Bard, a Bard College Farm T-shirt printed on organic cotton, a pack of heirloom seeds from Hudson Valley farmers and a postcard. For more information, visit Bard College Farm on Kickstarter.com and at www. twitter.com/BardCollegeFarm.
Hudson valley news | email@example.com | March 14, 2012 {13}
Spring reading BY ANN LA FARGE
Springing ahead, with an extra reading hour in the evenings, nings, what could be more fun than a good old-fashioned novel about family secrets? Alicia Clifford's 'The Affair' (St. light Martin's Press, $25.99) is just such a novel, a true delight to devour on an early spring evening before settling down, wn, g. as one must, to more serious reading fare in the morning. nd Celia, family matriarch, married in 1944, has died, and the family has gathered. Also on the fringes is a young ng biographer, eager to sniff out family secrets and limn the he life of Celia, who, in addition to raising a family, was a much-published writer – first of "bodice rippers," laterr of more serious and well-received fiction. Her attic is stuffed full of memorabilia; the biographer can't wait to get her hands on it. Celia's children and grandchildren are not so sure. They have good reason. We meet the family – daughter Sarah, whose husband, appropriately nicknamed "Whoopee," is having an affair. The other daughter, Margaret, is unhappily married. There are children and grandchildren, each with a story, and there are Celia's two longtime friends, Bet and Priscilla. And then, in proper 21st-century fiction fashion, we flash back to Celia's wedding … Each chapter opens with a snippet from Celia's writing. When her first novel was published in1947, she held her new baby against her shoulder and told him, "Tomorrow I'm starting a diary. I'm going to describe exactly how strange and dangerous the world became … I'll be your eyes and ears, my darling, until you're old enough to remember everything for yourself." Oh, those diaries. The young biographer gets her hands on them and the past begins to unfold, bringing secrets piled upon secrets. Celia (surprised, reader?) was not the woman her family thought she was. Reading "The Affair" was pure fun, shoving the world aside for a few hours of indulgence and delight. Should do that more often! Next, I turned to two books about chimpanzees, one of which I had read (and reviewed in these pages) last year in hardcover. Now, 'The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore,' a novel (in the form of a memoir) by Benjamin Hale (Twelve, 592 pages, $14.99) is in paperback, so I went back and read much of it, again, captivated for the second time by the voice of Bruno, who tells his own story: "The first time I met Lydia (a university primatologist), I was so young and
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call or visit if interested • 845-452-7722 • www.dcspca.org {14} March 14, 2012 | email@example.com | Hudson valley news
uncontaminated by the world that I didn't even know I was participating in a scientific experiment." Whether or not you've followed the lives of famous chimpanzees – Washoe, Nim Chimpsky, to name a couple – you'll revel in Bruno's story. He's special from the g g – precocious, lovable, truly interesting. Lydia Littlemore snatches him away beginning from the lab laboratory, brings him home with her, and oversees his education (or is it the other way around?). It isn't always easy. Bruno is, after all, an animal, with animal urges and needs, and is prone to tantrums. Lydia, alas, loses her job, and she and B Bruno hit the road in a truly incredible journey. Sometimes the book is very ffunny; sometimes it will break your heart. Bruno's monologue-memoir will hhold you captive, as any great love story does, and will make you cry, too. Over and above all that, you will admire this memoir as testament to what means to be human, and you'll never forget that Bruno reads the Bible, and it m his favorite part of it – not surprisingly – is the Book of Job. Benjamin Hale received the annual Spring Award for Fiction at Bard College. Please don't rece miss this novel. And A if you want to follow it up with another truly interesting book about apes and language, la I recommend a new one, 'The Song of the Ape: Understanding the Languages of Chimpanzees,' by Andrew R. Halloran (St. Martin's Press, $25.99). Langu The author recommends that we study their language, "rather than trying to teach tthem ours." He goes back and discusses the experimental work in language up previous apes – Washoe, Koko (a gorilla), Nim and others – often with done upon attempt to teach them American Sign Language, and points out that "there is a attempts living le lexicon passed from generation to generation of chimps in the wild," and suggests t that we study that. He tells the story of five chimps who commandeered a rowboat and took off in it, pointing out that "the grunts, chirps, pants and hoots that I was constantly hearing were actually a complex system of learned calls with dialect, meaning and syntax – the language of chimpanzees." Halloran, a primatologist, explains how chimps learn their language from the group they live in (he worked as a zookeeper with a group of chimpanzees) and how they pass on their language to the next generation. Halloran traces the history of those five row-boating chimps and points out that "real" chimp language has gone unstudied as a result of all those experiments to teach apes to use our language. "Noam Chomsky was right," Halloran concludes. "The way humans understand and use language is not the way another species can understand and use language." Time for a little gravitas. Big biographies usually come out in the autumn, so it was a delight to have a new one land on the desk in March, alongside three new baseball books and three books about the sinking of "The Titanic" (yes, gulp, it was 100 years ago; more on those later in the month). 'Indomitable Will: LBJ in the Presidency' by Mark K. Updegrove (Crown, wondrously illustrated throughout, $27) is not so much a biography as an oral history, told in the voices of his colleagues, friends, family and others, a virtual cacophony of voices describing this "misunderstood, enigmatic" man, our 36th president, who died, at 64, in 1973. Bill Moyers asks, remembering Vietnam, "Why did a man as flawed as any human vessel … rouse a nation to reach beyond itself in such a time?" Share a phone call between LBJ and Ted Kennedy; hear from Billy Graham, McGeorge Bundy, Barry Goldwater, Carl Bernstein and scores of others. This big, history-rich book is a must for anyone who loves politics. It's turning out to be a good year for books! Ann La Farge left her longtime book publishing job to do freelance editing and writing. She divides her time between New York City and Millbrook, and can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
e-mail us your events: firstname.lastname@example.com < continued from page 13
NoJohnmore Mayer Mayer has canceled his upcoming spring
2012 tour, including a stop in West Point on April 19, due to the alleged return of a granuloma in his throat. Mayer was treated for the same condition and placed on vocal rest in 2011. "Nothing feels worse than having to break the stage down before the performance, and I mean nothing. I love this band you were going to hear, I love the guys and girls I work with, and the only thing that stops me from devolving into a puddle of tears is knowing that it's a long life, and the greatest gift in the world is being able to create music no matter what the circumstances," Mayer wrote last Friday on his website. For more information, visit the Eisenhower Hall Theatre website at ikehall.com.
The Healthy Organization Workshop; Saturday, March 31; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wallace Center at FDR Presidential Library, 4079 Albany Post Rd., Hyde Park; Workshop will show business leaders how to promote unlimited growth and achieve success in today's environment; Free; 845-575-3225. Anti-Bullying Walk-a-Thon and Art Show; Saturday, March 31; 8-11 a.m.; Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie; Walk-a-Thon is an opportunity for community members to take a stand against bullying, with opening remarks from County Executive Marc Molinaro; Free; 845-471-7213. '1/2 Your Age' Member Show Opening; Saturday, March 31; 3-5 p.m.; Barrett Art Center, 55 Noxon St., Poughkeepsie; Reception celebrates art center members' work; Free; 845471-2550.
Nobel advice Liberian social worker,
women's right advocate, peace activist and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Leymah Gbowee will deliver the address at the 148th Vassar College commencement exercises on May 20. "We're thrilled that Leymah Gbowee has agreed to be this year's commencement speaker. Her life story of leading the struggle for peace, justice and human dignity in the most difficult circumstances is tremendously uplifting," said Vassar President Catharine Hill. "That story and her continuing advocacy for women's rights and the role of women in building just societies is one that inspires us across a wide range of interests and disciplines at Vassar. It will be our distinct honor to have her with us for this occasion." In recognition of Gbowee's work supporting young West African women in their pursuit of post-secondary education, Vassar will work with Gbowee to provide scholarships for two such young women to attend Vassar College. The scholarships will cover all expenses necessary for the students to study at Vassar for four years.
Third Annual Writer's Tea; Sunday, April 1; Call for time of event; The Links at Unionvale, 153 North Parliman Rd., Lagrangeville; Features authors Eamon Grennan, Sheila Isenberg, and Suzanne Vromen; $50; 845-297-9360. The Living Last Supper; Thursday, April 5; 7:30 p.m.; Poughkeepsie Reformed Church, 70 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie; Leonardo da Vinci's painting brought to life by actors; Donations accepted; 845-452-8110. Free Tax Preparation; Saturday, April 7; 10:30 a.m.-2:20 p.m.; Red Hook Public Library, 7444 S. Broadway, Red Hook; Tax preparation service offered to the public; Free; 1-800-899-1479. Read Local Red Hook; Saturday, April 14; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Red Hook Village Building, 7467 South Broadway, Red Hook; All-day reading festival features keynote speech by John Sayles; Free; 845-758-0824.
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Returning to Newburgh
"The Return," which was filmed at the 19th century Holden Home on Grand Street in Newburgh, will make its debut on the big screen at the Downing Film Center this weekend. The movie, which was also shot in Beacon, New Windsor and Cornwall, centers on a young woman struggling to adjust her life after coming home from war. Visit www.downingfilmcenter.com for additional information.
M ovies
Matinees (shows before 6pm): One late matinee daily and all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Rte. 9, Red Hook• 758-3311
John Carter in 3D (PG-13) Project X (R) Iron Lady (PG-13) The Lorax in 3D (PG) The Lorax in 2D (PG) A Thousand Words (PG-13) 21 Jump Street (R) The Hunger Games (PG-13)
NEW PALTZ CINEMA Rte. 99, New Paltz • 255-0420
Late matinee in parenthesis.
Rte. 9, Hyde Park • 229-2000
1:25 (4:15) 7:00 9:35 1:20 3:20(5:20) 7:30 9:30 1:15 (4:00) 7:05 9:25 1:00 3:05 (5:10) 7:15 9:20 1:45 (4:00) 6:00 8:00 1:15 3:15 (5:15) 7:25 9:30 1:30 (4:05) 7:05 9:25 Thurs. 3/22 midnight show
The Lorax in 3D (PG) Act of Valor (R) 21 Jump Street (R) Project X (R) John Carter in 3D (PG-13) A Thousand Words (PG-13) The Artist (PG-13) The Hunger Games (PG-13)
The Lorax in 3D (PG) Project X (R) John Carter in 3D (PG-13) 21 Jump Street (R) The Hunger Games (PG-13)
1:00 3:05 (5:10) 7:15 9:20 1:25 (4:15) 7:20 9:30 1:30 (4:05) 7:05 9:25 1:25 3:25(5:25) 7:25 9:25 1:15 (4:05) 7:00 9:35 1:15 3:15 (5:15) 7:25 9:30 1:20 (4:00) 7:05 9:15 Thurs. 3/22 midnight show
1:00 3:00 (5:00) 7:00 9:00 1:20 3:20 (5:20) 7:25 9:25 1:35 (4:15) 7:00 9:35 1:30 (4:00)7:15 9:30 Thurs. 3/22 midnight show
From the Powerhouse stage to the big screen
Powerhouse alum and Jon Hamm's right-hand lady, Jennifer Westfelt's latest project, "Friends with Kids," will open in theaters on March 9. The film, which was developed as a reading during 2010's Powerhouse Theater season, stars Maya Rudoulph, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Megan Fox, Westerfelt and Hamm. Hudson valley news | email@example.com | March 14, 2012 {15}
Director Moisés Kaufman and writer Steven Sater in rehearsal for "The Nightingale" during the 2011 Powerhouse season. © Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater / Buck Lewis.
Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's "The Nightingale," which was workshopped during the 2011 Powerhouse season at Vassar College, will test its strength on Broadway this summer. "The Nightingale" will follow in the footsteps of Sheik and Sater's Tony Awardwinning work, "Spring Awakening," with a run at La Jolla Playhouse July 10- Aug. 5.
Congratulations to this week's winner: ROBERT HENRIKSEN with his photo of Army tanks in the streets of Cornwall. Submit your photograph of the Hudson Valley each week to firstname.lastname@example.com. Original photographs only. Photos should be at least 3X4" and include your name and location.
Free art day BY HVN WEEKEND STAFF
Residents of Dutchess, Columbia, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties are invited to visit Dia:Beacon for free on Saturday, March 17 for Community Free Day. Family programs run throughout the day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., including origami workshops for children, teens and adults. Advanced registration is required for the 2 p.m. program, "Folds, Surface, Space: Sculptural Origami Lab," which will explore formal concerns of minimalism and advanced paper-folding techniques. There will also be public tours starting at noon, including an outdoor tour, "Site as Sculpture: Robert Irwin and Dia:Beacon," led by Naomi Sachs, who will discuss artist Robert Irwin's vision and process in transforming Dia:Beacon, the former Nabisco boxprinting factory site and building, into a world-class art museum. For directions and more information, visit www.diaart.org. Dia:Beacon Riggio Galleries is located at 3 Beekman St., Beacon, 845-440-0100.
"Rhinecliff Cove" by Betsy Jacaruso.
"Aqua Estuary" and new work by Cross River Artists opens at the Betsy Jacaruso Studio and Gallery this Saturday, March 17 through April 7. Opening Reception March 17, 5-7 p.m. at the new location. An official ribbon-cutting and grand-opening celebration will take place April 21, 2-5 p.m. Betsy Jacaruso Studio and Gallery, 43-2 E. Market St., Rhinebeck. 845-516-4435, www.betsyjacarusostudio.com
{16} March 14, 2012 | email@example.com | Hudson valley news
$35K in scholarships available through Dutchess Chamber
Staff members from Anesthesia Associates of St. Francis.
St. Francis to bestow honors at upcoming gala BY HV NEWS STAFF St. Francis Hospital has announced the recipients of this year's Franciscan Awards, the highest honor the hospital bestows on individuals and its community health partners. The awards will be presented during a black-tie gala celebration on April 21 at 6 p.m. at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie. This year's honorees include Sister Roberta Smith, Mary Law Moody and Anesthesia Associates of St. Francis. For Franciscan Gala ticket and sponsorship information, call the St. Francis Health Care Foundation at 845-431-8707.
BY HV NEWS STAFF Local students can apply for scholarships through the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which plans to award more than $35,000 in funding this year. Students can get information on all scholarship programs offered by the foundation and download applications at www.ChamberFDN.org. All applications must be postmarked by April 1. Scholarships are available for students studying culinary arts, nursing, music, athletics, engineering, manufacturing and trade, journalism and communications and other pursuits. Scholarships are awarded based on students' need for financial aid and merit. New this year is the James T. Hammond Athletic Leadership Scholarship, which honors the man whose vision and dedication led to the Empire State Games being held in the Hudson Valley in 2005. The scholarship will provide $2,000 per year to a student residing in Dutchess, Orange or Ulster counties who is pursuing a degree at a college located in New York State. For questions or clarification of the scholarship procedure, please contact Audra Gerty at 845-454-1700, ext. 1007 or email@example.com, or Karolyn Osborne at 845-454-1700, ext. 1026 or karolyn@ chamberfdn.org.
BY HV NEWS STAFF Thousands of service members and veterans, whose mortgages had been wrongfully foreclosed on since 2006 or who were improperly denied lower mortgage interest rates in the national housing crisis, will be eligible for significant relief. Under a $26 billion settlement, the nation's five largest mortgage lenders – Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Ally Financial (formerly GMAC) – have agreed to the following:
• A review of the records of every service member whose home was foreclosed upon since 2006;
Mary Law Moody
Sister Roberta Smith
Start with an internship at the
• Provide any who were wrongly foreclosed upon with compensation equal to a minimum of lost equity, plus interest, and at least $116,785; • A refund to service members' money lost because they were wrongfully denied the opportunity to reduce their mortgage payments through lower interest rates; • Relief for service members who are forced to sell their homes for less than the amount they owed on their mortgage due to permanent change in station orders;
• Contribute $10 million into a Veterans Affairs fund that guarantees loans on favorable terms for veterans; • And to extend certain foreclosure protections afforded under the Service Member Civil Relief Act to those serving in harm's way.
Hudson Valley News Local high school and college students, email email@example.com
Service members and veterans who believe they can take part in the settlement are encouraged to call the Justice Department at 1-800-896-7743. You can read more at www.defense. gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=67443. Hudson valley news | firstname.lastname@example.com | March 14, 2012 {17}
NYC ATTORNEY GAINS TRACTION FDR's ice yacht on display IN BID TO UNSEAT GILLIBRAND for one day only Molinaro: 'We need to send Wendy Long to Washington' BY CHRISTOPHER LENNON A growing number of Republican lawmakers in New York State, including the Dutchess County executive, are throwing their support behind Wendy Long, the woman who hopes to unseat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in November. Long, a litigation attorney and legal advisor to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, hails from New York City. She is a former clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and founder of the Judicial Confirmation Network, a conservative group that advocated against the confirmation of Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Long is poised to take on Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos in the September primary for the Republican Party's nomination. "This country is heading toward a debt crisis. America's credit has been downgraded, and it could happen again. Jobs, capital and most importantly our young people have been leaving upstate because of economic policies that are hostile to free enterprise," Long said in announcing a listening tour of upstate New York last month. She added, "Sen. Gillibrand is part of the Washington elite that keep running
up the tab and handing down their orders, expecting citizens, businesses and religious institutions to simply fall in line and obey." Since beginning her listening tour, Long has picked up endorsements from Republican and Conservative parties and chairmen from counties throughout the state. As of March 12, she had picked up more than 15 endorsements. One of those came from Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, the first county executive in the state to announce his support of Long, according to her campaign. "Our country is drowning in debt and it's threatening to undermine America's future," Molinaro, a Republican, said. "We need to send Wendy Long to Washington to rein in spending and reverse the anti-competitive policies that are choking jobs and investment." He added, "Wendy Long will make a difference in Washington, inspiring a renewed commitment to reducing our national debt, getting New Yorkers back to work and improving the quality and character of our shared community. I proudly endorse her for United States Senate." "Thank you, County Executive Molinaro, for your endorsement," Long responded. "I will work hard throughout this campaign to earn your support and advance the cause of smaller, less-intrusive government."
BY HV NEWS STAFF For one day only, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's ice yacht, "Hawk," will be on display in the lobby of the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. On Saturday, March 17, the ice yacht will be displayed before it is moved from storage on the lower level of the FDR Library to its final docking in the curatorial storage facility of the National Park Service. According to the FDR Library, Roosevelt's interest in ice yachting was piqued by his uncle, John Aspinwall Roosevelt, who competed in races on the Hudson River in the winter and won the prestigious Ice Yacht Challenge Pennant of America. John Roosevelt would go on to found the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club, which still exists today. The ice yacht "Hawk" was given to FDR as a Christmas gift by his mother, Sara, on Dec. 25, 1901, according to the FDR Library. From 1901 to 1904, FDR sailed and raced the "Hawk" on the Hudson River, during the years he was a student at Harvard.
FDR sails the ice yacht "Hawk" in Hyde Park. 1905. Photo from the FDR Presidential Library & Museum's Flickr site.
On March 17, each tour of the Roosevelt Home will begin beside the "Hawk," with a member of the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club presenting information about ice yachting. This is a unique opportunity for visitors to enjoy an FDR artifact that has not been exhibited for nearly two decades.
DYSON FOUNDATION LOOKS TO CREATE RIVERFRONT PARK City council to vote on $675K Upper Landing sale next week
Hyde Park Republicans' (corned) beef The Hyde Park Republican Committee
hosted its annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner at Joseph's Steakhouse in Hyde Park on Thursday, March 8. Pictured, clockwise from top: Shannon Varuzzo (left) and Erin Reverri (right) sell raffle tickets for the lavish gift bags during the event. Photo by Olivia Oberrieth; Deirdre Werner, Carolyn Morris, Tivoli Mayor Bryan Cranna and Leigh Wager; Republican County Chairman Mike McCormack and Dutchess County Sherriff "Butch" Anderson; County Legislator Sue Serino talks with Legislature Chairman Rob Rolison; Joe Kakish served as emcee for the evening. Photos by Nicole DeLawder.
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BY HV NEWS STAFF The Dyson Foundation has offered to buy the "historic but unutilized" Upper Landing in the City of Poughkeepsie and use the property to create a public waterfront park near the entrance of the planned Walkway Waterfront Elevator. Representatives of the foundation appeared before the city's common council on March 5 with their plans, and officials from Poughkeepsie stated the sale would be put to a vote at the next meeting on March 19. "The Dyson Foundation's project on the revitalization of Upper Landing is a true gift to the City of Poughkeepsie by creating a historic waterfront park and continues to build upon the foundation set by Walkway Over the Hudson," said Mayor John Tkazyik. The Dyson Foundation offered to purchase the 2.7-acre parcel from the
city for $675,000. If the sale is approved, the foundation says it will begin work immediately to preserve and improve the waterfront property, rendering it suitable for use as a public park. The foundation says the property is significant to the future development of the city's northern waterfront, which will soon be home to a 21-story elevator to transport visitors from Poughkeepsie's waterfront to the Walkway Over the Hudson. Construction of the elevator is expected to be complete next year. "The foundation hopes to be a catalyst for the creation of a public waterfront experience that will serve as a centerpiece for the City of Poughkeepsie's historic preservation, public recreation and economic revitalization," said Diana Gurieva, executive vice president of the Dyson Foundation.
Lifelong Hyde Parker to tell of town's past BY HV NEWS STAFF Lifelong Hyde Park resident John Golden Jr. will share stories of what Hyde Park was like when he was growing up in a presentation entitled "My Hometown: Hyde Park, N.Y." at the Hyde Park Historical Society's upcoming meeting. Golden and his wife, Gloria, are longtime supporters of a number of local causes and recently donated to the town the parcel of land upon which the new police and court facility was built.
The meeting will be held at the Hyde Park United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1 Church St., on Tuesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Anyone interested in local history is encouraged to attend. For information on the Hyde Park Historical Society, contact President Patsy Costello at 845-2292559. For information on joining the society, contact Julia Ahlquist at 845889-4521.
This good-looking young bulldog was among the many interested observers at the SPCA auction held at Great American Auctions in Hyde Park. The auction raised nearly $8,000. Photos by Jim Langan.
STOP JOKING ABOUT IT AND JUST DO IT BY CAROLINE CAREY March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and local doctors are trying to get the word out. Premier Medical Group, a large gastrointestinal and urology practice in Dutchess County, is offering free colonoscopies to those in need. Premier Medical Group's Dr. Salvatore Buffa said, "We care about our community and want to make sure everyone who needs a screening has the opportunity to get one. We don't want anyone neglecting their health in these tough economic times, which is why our physicians are donating a day of free colonoscopy screenings to those in need." To apply for the free screening, visit www.premiermedicalhv.com and click the "Tell Us Your Story" link. Although often thought to be a male disease, according to Buffa, "this affects men and women equally." Among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Every year, more than 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 people die from it. The chance of getting colorectal cancer increases with age and more than 90% of cases occur in people who are 50 or older. Colorectal screening saves lives, but many people are not being screened according to national guidelines. "When found in the early stage, colorectal cancer is highly treatable and in many cases can be prevented," said Buffa. Screening tests in those over 50 can save lives by finding precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer or by detecting it early, when treatment often leads to a cure. A colonoscopy is the main test used to screen for colorectal cancer. Individuals should begin screening for this soon after turning 50, and continue to get screened regularly (recommended every 10 years). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for colorectal cancer for all people until they turn 75 years old, and for some people when they are older than 75. Despite efforts to raise awareness to the importance of screening, "Only
Dr. Salvatore Buffa
50% in the designated age group get screened," said Buffa. Buffa also referenced a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine that showed that proper screening reduced mortality by 53%. To promote awareness last year, Premier Medical sponsored a luncheon, 5K race and an essay contest with 15 winners getting free colonoscopies. This year, it is sponsoring a bigger effort with the "Tell Us Your Story" free screenings and the first annual Challenge Your Colon Chili Festival on March 25. "The key is awareness," said Buffa. "This is going to be an event for you and your family and we want everyone to be involved. We want to encourage as many people as we can to get screened and not be afraid to talk about it."
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around town
Fire department soup sale
The East Clinton Fire Department is holding a soup sale fundraiser every Friday, March 16, 23, and 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the firehouse in Clinton Corners. There will be various types of homemade soups, stews and chili for sale at $7 for a 32-oz container. Soup is takeout only and there will be no servings of the soup in the firehouse. For more information, call Stephanie at 845-266-4299 or Maryann at 845-2665303. Stop by and pick up a homemade soup for the family to enjoy.
Maple syrup pancake breakfast
A maple syrup pancake breakfast will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 24 and 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hahn Farm at 1697 Salt Point Turnpike (Route 115, one-quarter mile west of Netherwood Road), near the Hamlet of Salt Point. The annual event is sponsored by Hummingbird Ranch, Hahn Farm and The New York State Maple Producers Association. The cost is $8for adults, $4 for children under 12 and free for kids under 2. Come and enjoy locally produced maple syrup and pancakes with sausage patties, all while helping to support local businesses. See how maple trees are tapped and how syrup is made. A local DJ will provide music on both days and on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m.,
Nancy James will perform "Sweet Dreams of Patsy Cline," the music and history of Patsy Cline. There also will be a yarn crawl and spinning demonstrations. Hay rides will be available at 10, and 11 a.m., noon, 1 and 2 p.m., at a cost of $3 per person. Watch maple cotton candy being made and try some. Maple syrup and candy, as well as honey products, will be available for purchase. For more information, call 845-2660084 or visit www.Hummingbirdranch.biz.
FFA does well in district competitions
The Pine Plains FFA (Future Farmers of America) rocked the competition at the District 2 leadership contests at Tri-Valley High School on March 3. FFA Leader Chris MacNeil congratulated the group for a job well done and acknowledged the courage and diligence in took to compete. Congratulations to: Shannon Fletcher, who placed third in extemporaneous speaking; Ethan Arsenault, who placed fourth in prepared public speaking; Clayton Stephens, who placed second in extemporaneous speaking; the Parliamentary Procedure team, composed of Colleen Smith, Kristin Pelletier, Ashley Bartholf, Sara Murphy, Monica Smith and Abby Arsenault, which placed second; Paige Walsh, who placed sixth in prepared public speaking; Kara Porell, who placed third in creed speaking and fifth in extemporaneous speaking; and Tarrah Region, who placed third in prepared public speaking and sixth in people in agriculture. All these students will move on to the sub-state competition at Oxford High
Angela Henry reads a selection of entertaining Irish stories to an approving audience at the Gordon Kidd Reading Room at St. James' Church on Saturday. Photo by Jim Langan. {20} March 14, 2012 | email@example.com | Hudson valley news
School on March 31. We wish them success in this next level of competition. This public speaking experience will prepare them to express themselves at public events in the future.
Luncheon for seniors
The Evangelical Free Church of Clinton Corners held its free luncheon on March 6 in the Church Hall. A beautiful, sunny day attracted an overflow crowd. The meal and overall theme of the event was a celebration of Irish heritage. Plastic green derbies were used as centerpieces at all the tables, with Irish flags and a Gaelic blessing stuck in the hat. The Gaelic blessing read: May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; The rains fall soft upon fields And, again until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand. Dee Hoiem welcomed the attendees and read from the Scriptures. A short blessing kicked off the luncheon. The meal included lime-crushed pineapple, cottage cheese mixed with lime Jello and whipped cream, as the appetizer. Homemade Irish bread was served, and the main meal consisted of sliced corned beef, boiled red potatoes, carrots and cabbage. Dessert was a selection of assorted cookies. After the meal, Janet Ludlow asked three questions from the Bible, and gave a prize to the first person who answered correctly. Upton Lake Christian School librarian Lynda Lee told the audience that there is a combined church/school library that shares space with the music room but shortly will be split into two rooms. She already loaded a library cart with books that the seniors could take home that day if they completed library registration cards. Books can be on loan for 30 days until the next senior luncheon. The Rev. Jim Long of the Lyall Memorial Federated Church in Millbrook introduced Donna Castaner, a Millbrook resident, as the guest speaker. She is also a member of the church's choir. Donna gave a very emotional testimonial of trying to find God and incorporated singing in her speech. She started by singing "The Lord's Prayer" a cappella, in a very clear voice, to a very quiet audience. Then, she gave some highlights of her life, leading to her recent immersion baptism. Donna noted that God always spoke to her in song when times were difficult.
Next, she sang "Over My Head I Hear Music in the Air," and spoke of her childhood growing up in the Christian Science faith – a religion that teaches humans are perfect and cannot be sinners. She spent 15 years as a Christian Science nurse, doing good work. Then came disillusionment, divorce and the closing of her nursing business. Donna left the church burned out and disappointed. She said the bottom dropped out several times, but God kept her safe. Her business was across the street from buildings destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001 and God kept her safe. The song "A Change Gonna Come" by Sam Cook foretold of her life on disability, living in terrific pain and unable to work for three years while God provided for needs, but Donna still did not think she was a sinner. The next song, "My Shepard Will Supply My Need," introduced her to Market America, an organizations she worked for from her home. She became friends with Ivie, a Christian coworker who started to pray for Donna, all the while Donna still felt she was not a sinner. Eventually, after some time praying together, Donna said God opened her eyes. After singing "Here I Am Lord," she married her current husband and they became members of the Lyall Church, began Bible study and eventually, she was able to say "I believe." Singing different words to the "Londonderry Air," she joined the choir and her husband became involved in church activities. Pastor Jim mentioned communion at a service and Donna took communion for the first time. "Jesus Loves Me" led to her learning about baptism and her decision to do an immersion baptism. The baptism day came on May 21, 2011 on the shoreline of the Wappingers Creek. "Precious Lord" led into the description of the baptism in the cold, rapid waters, which quickly focused her attention on the immersion baptism while her family, friends and other members of the congregation witnessed the event. The water washed away all her previous sins. "Endless Song" was followed by all attendees singing "Amazing Grace." Ken Krauer from Town of Clinton won the door prize, an Irish wreath to be hung on a door. A closing prayer ended the luncheon. Thanks are given to the church for providing the luncheon, the Church members and Upton Lake Christian School staff and students for cooking, serving, setup, and cleanup. The next luncheon will be held on April 3.
around town BY HEIDI JOHNSON
To anyone who missed Stissing Theatre Guild's production of "Legally Blonde, The Musical" this past weekend, you missed one really terrific show. The cast and crew have much to be proud of in putting on a production worthy of the stellar STG reputation. There was some apprehension as to how well this show would be received by audiences, as it is much more modern than the tried-and-true familiar shows that the guild has produced to date. But, on opening night, all of our fears were put to rest. Right from the opening number, the audience laughed and hooted at the humor and fast-paced dialog. The cast responded in kind and the show took on a whole new life at that point – soaring higher than even dress rehearsal the night before. Thank you to everyone who supported this show, whether you just were just in the audience or contributed as a volunteer or sponsor/advertiser. Stissing Theatre Guild is entirely self-supported, meaning other than the director's salary, all costs are funded by the guild. And if you saw the show, you know that the size and quality of this production was not insignificant. It takes a small army of volunteers and many very generous sponsors to make it all happen. Those of us who were heavily involved with the show are now feeling a little bit
sad to see it end, although we are also proud of our accomplishment. It was a top-notch production and the biggest kudos go out to the all-student cast and crew, which worked so very hard to make it such a wonderful show. We also thank director Mary Ward, musical director Ben Senterfit and orchestra director Joe Deveau for their artistic vision and guidance on this production. This was the last STG show for several members of the cast and crew because they will be graduating in June. Graduating seniors are: Austin Christensen, Devon DeJoode, Alex Delfino, Lithia Helmreich, Isaac Reath, Maxine Roberts, Kayla Steward, Olivia Stewart and Anna Woodward. We hope that they will continue to be involved in theater productions and wish them the very best in their future endeavors. Every year, I tell my family and friends that "this is my favorite cast ever," but this year's cast was really, truly the best bunch of young people I have ever worked with. They were very appreciative, independent and right on top of every aspect of the show. Plus, they're a bunch of truly funny, sweet kids. I cannot begin to say how much I enjoyed working with all of them. Congratulations again to everyone involved with "Legally Blonde, The Musical." All of your hard work paid off – the show was superb!
Zumba and yoga at Town Hall
a class to break even, so if you're still thinking about joining the Yoga class, do it now because without enough students, this class will be cancelled. Yoga class begins at 1:30 p.m. Fee for each class is $8 per session. Christina says, "Spring into a healthier you" and join Zumba or yoga this Saturday.
Stanford Library writers' program
Are you an aspiring writer? You might want to check out the newly formed writers group at the Stanford Library. The first two meetings will be Monday, March 19 and Monday, April 9 at 10 a.m. Future meetings will be held on the first Monday of every month. Call the library at 845-868-1341 to register.
Stanford Historical Society March program
The March Stanford Historical Society program, "I Attended a One-Room Schoolhouse," will be held next Saturday, March 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Town Hall. Be sure to catch this one. It should be a delightful presentation, full of tales and stories of life in Stanford back before we had our new, modern schools. Thank you all for reading. See you next week. Heidi Johnson can be reached at 845392-4348 or email@example.com.
Economic Development Cabinet outlines goals BY HV NEWS STAFF The first meeting of County Executive Marc Molinaro's newly created Economic Development Cabinet convened last week. The cabinet has been charged with finding efficiencies and realigning the institution of county government to enhance economic-development efforts. The cabinet, led by Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Planning & Economic Development Ron Hicks, consists of representatives of 15 county departments. "Economic growth is key to ensuring we can maintain the quality of life we so value here in Dutchess County," said Molinaro. "We must focus our attention and resources on helping businesses to grow and succeed." During last week's meetings, the cabinet set forth its basic goals, including: identifying ways to improve efficiencies in county government, assisting new and expanding businesses and assisting local municipalities in attracting economic growth. "We had a great first meeting today," said Hicks. "We have brought together many of the people who interact directly with businesses and we already have some ideas to move forward toward streamlining our processes and making it easier for businesses to succeed." The cabinet will meet monthly going forward.
Zumba classes will continue at Town Hall throughout March on every Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Yoga classes will also continue if enough people participate. The instructor needs a minimum of 10 in
Niall Johnson (son of columnist Heidi Johnson) portrays Elle's father, wearing loud golf pants provided by Hudson Valley News Editor Jim Langan. Photo by Kathleen Generelli.
Red Hook Rotary welcomes new member
The Red Hook Rotary Club welcomed new member Vicky Perry at its recent breakfast. Perry is deputy commissioner of the Dutchess County Board of Elections and is a longtime Red Hook resident. Shown in the photo are Perry's sponsor, Red Hook Town Councilman Harry Colgan, Perry and Rotary President Rob Latimer. Photo by Jonah Triebwasser. Hudson valley news | email@example.com | March 14, 2012 {21}
BY JIM LANGAN In a conversation with Hudson Valley News over the weekend, Linda Boucher said plans are being finalized for a visit by the commander and sailors from the USS Roosevelt during the Memorial Day holiday. Boucher is Hyde Park's liaison to the ship and is in Florida this week to meet with officers of the Roosevelt. Current plans call for a 25-person contingent from the ship to arrive by train the morning of the Memorial Day parade. They will be welcomed by a delegation from Hyde Park before being driven by bus to the parade staging area. The sailors will then march in the parade before attending the Memorial Day ceremony adjacent to Hyde Park Town Hall. From there, the sailors will go to the Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum and be given a tour of the site. A reception in their honor will take place at the Rogers Point Boat Club from 5 to 8 p.m. The event is open to the public as long as tickets last. Tickets are $25 and sponsors are looking to sell 275 tickets. To purchase a ticket, make checks out to: Dutchess County Fleet Week, 3 Pine Woods Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538. After the event, the sailors will be driven back to the Poughkeepsie train station and return to New York City and their ship. We'll keep you posted. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
You can't drive a car with a windmill on it. - Mitt Romney on green energy
Yearly subscriptions are only $42 in Dutchess County/$56 out of County Send a check to: P.O. Box 268, Hyde Park, NY 12538
BY DANIELLE BANTA As a "new" mom, even taking my 1-year-old Emelia and 2-year-old Sophie through Stop & Shop gives me hives, so I often resort to Peapod.com and Diaper.com to avoid the battles. Needless to say, I was beyond terrified at the thought of having to trek two hours to JFK, get through the airport and depart to North Carolina to take my daughters to visit my parents. My husband stayed behind with work obligations, but I was comforted when JetBlue assured me it had an escort service for mothers traveling alone with babies. A female (so she could assist with diaper changes) was lined up to meet us at the curb, take me through a "special, shorter" security line, get me to a family bathroom with a changing table and take us to the gate to board the plane. I was confident that once the three of us were on board, the girls and I could manage the one-hour-and-four-minute flight. Seemed like a plan. I was devastated when we arrived at JKF and only got very bizarre looks when I starting looking for the escort service. No one knew what family escort service I was taking about – my confirmation number and the fact that Sandy in Salt Lake arranged everything was pointless. It was too late to turn back. A few deep breaths later, I was solo with the girls in the 55-minute security line, encountering meltdown after meltdown and so consumed by the guilt that I was shoving lollipops in their mouths. Finally it's our turn. A nice man guided us to the international line because it was shorter. I got some help collapsing the stroller and loading up the three pairs of shoes and 30-pound diaper bag. Sophie led the way through the metal detector and I followed with Emelia in my arms, at which point every bell, whistle and light went off. I was informed that we were "randomly selected for the bombsniffing routine" and had to step aside to a special area. Are you kidding me? They took apart the entire diaper bag, frisked the three of us, tested our hand and feet surfaces, waved what looked liked light sabers all around and had a big dog standing by. It was a 25-minute drill. I was hopeful Ashton Kutcher was going to appear and save me by saying I had been "punked." No such luck. We were going to miss our flight. It was going to take me another 25 minutes to get everyone dressed, bribed
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Danielle Banta, Emilia Banta, Hoda Kotb and Sophie Banta at JFK airport. Photo submitted.
back in the stroller and back in the baby carrier and to put the diaper bag back together with some organization. I was fighting back my tears of violation and frustration as we rolled down the ramp. We were greeted by the huge arrival and departure board, which had one flashing flight in red saying, "DELAYED 90 MINUTES." It was our flight to Charlotte. I hung my head, the tears came and I probably said a word mothers shouldn't say in front of their babes (at least in public!). As I fiddled for my phone to text my mom and ask if she should just fly up, a soft, familiar voice commented on my cute, well-behaved girls (I guess the Benadryl kicked in) and asked if everything was OK.
I looked up and to my astonishment, it was Hoda Kotb as in the "Today Show" with Kathie Lee Gifford. I spend most mornings being inspired by her stories, efforts, beauty, spirit and grace. I consider her a friend and instinctively hugged her and told her how much I enjoy her. She obviously had no idea who I was but at that moment, it was just the warm hug and kind words. Hoda is just as lovely and beautiful in person as she is on TV and she insisted that Jay (her cute beau) take this photo of us. Ever since then, I have had a skip in my walk. I couldn't have ordered a better escort and if we hadn't been "randomly" selected, I would have missed this special moment. From that point on, the girls and I made it back and forth, no problem.
News for senior citizens BY MARY KAYE DOLAN
Last chance to nominate 'Seniors of the Year'
The last call for nominations has begun for the 2012 Dutchess County "Senior Citizens of the Year." Nominations are due by March 23 in the categories of senior male, senior female or the senior citizen couple of the year. The awards will be presented by County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro at the Celebration of Aging event held in May as part of Older Americans Month. The nomination form and more information are available by calling the office at 845-486-2555, or you can find a copy of the form online at www.co.dutchess. ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/ spotlightwinter1112.pdf. The Division of Aging Services will also be honoring anyone who will be turning 100 or older anytime during 2012, or celebrating their 70th or greater wedding anniversary. Please contact us if you know of any county resident who fits those categories at the number above or through email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Home Matters forum
Hudson Valley Home Matters has scheduled its annual Spring Forum for Thursday, April 26 at 1 p.m. at the Wallace Center, located at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library, 4079 Albany Post Rd. (Route 9), Hyde Park. The keynote speaker this year is Francine Russo, a noted author and journalist, who will speak on the topic "The Ultimate Family Reunion: How Boomer Siblings and Senior Parents Can Best Navigate Aging."
Hudson Valley Home Matters is an "aging-in-place" non-profit organization offering an array of services and social opportunities for residents over 50 who want to remain in their homes and stay engaged in the life of their communities. Reservations for the forum are required as space is limited. Call 845-452-4846 for more information.
'Healthy Eating for Seniors'
The topic for the March monthly Caregivers Seminar presented by St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is "Healthy Eating for Seniors." It will be held on Tuesday, March 20 from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis Home Care, 26 IBM Rd. in Poughkeepsie. The program will be hosted by Chef Heather Castro, a 2005 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Castro has honed her skills at a variety of five-star facilities, including the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. She prides herself in using her technical skills and extensive culinary and nutritional education to create heart-healthy cuisine that combines vibrant flavor and superior nutritional value. Her unique cooking methods and use of fresh elements enhances the wholesomeness of her dishes. The presentation is free and funded in part by the U.S. Administration on Aging, New York State Office for the Aging and Dutchess County Government. For reservations, call 845-483-5560. Mary Kaye Dolan is director of the Dutchess County Division of Aging Services, which prepares Golden Living. Aging Services can be reached at 845-4862555 or email@example.com.
Upcoming lectures focus on strokes, mental health
BY HV NEWS STAFF Northern Dutchess Hospital will begin its free Spring Community Lecture Series on various topics later this month. All lectures will be held in the hospital's lower-level conference room, near the cafeteria, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Attendees must register by calling 1-877-729-2444. Visit www.health-quest.org/ndh for more information. The upcoming lectures include: • Tuesday, March 21: Dr. Gerald Kufner, medical director of NDH Stroke Center, and Kingston Neurological Associates will present "Stroke Treatment
and Prevention." Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn how to decrease your risk and how to minimize the damage if one occurs. • Wednesday, March 22: Dr. Jodi Friedman, medical director of the Center for Healthy Aging at NDH, Health Quest Medical Practice: Division of Geriatrics, will present "Depression, Dementia and Anxiety: Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment." Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of these often-missed illnesses as well as the latest information on prevention and treatment.
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Name: Catskill Dutchess LLC ("LLC") Articles of Organization filed in the Department of State of New York on January 19, 2012 Office Location: Dutchess County Principal Business Location: 21 Skyview Drive, Po u g h k e e p s i e , New York 12603 Purpose: Any and all lawful business activities Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 21 Skyview Drive, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603 ALUMENS LLC Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company ("LLC"). Articles of Organization filed New York Sec. of State ("NYSS") 1/5/12. Office loc. Dutchess County. NYSS designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. NYSS shall mail a copy of any process to c/o The LLC, 15 Old Farm, Rhinebeck, New York 12572. There is no specific date set for dissolution. Purpose: to engage in any lawful activity or act. Name and Business Address of Organizer is Adeline P. Malone, Esq., 6369 Mill Street, P.O. Box 510, Rhinebeck, NY 12572.
CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK ADVERTISEMENT AND NOTICE TO VENDORS Beginning immediately the Proposal Documents including Requirements and Contract Documents may be obtained at The City of Poughkeepsie, 1st Floor, 62 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, New York. Official bid copies may be advertised and/or obtained on the following website: http:// www.hudsonvalleybidsystem.com. Sealed proposals for CCTV Revisions will be received by the Board of Contract and Supply, in the Office of the Purchasing Agent, prior to 2:30 p.m. on April 18, 2012 at City Hall. All proposals must be made upon and in accordance with the form of proposals and attached specifications and shall be submitted in sealed envelopes marked: PROPOSAL FOR RFB-COP-05-12: CCTV REVISIONS All proposals received pursuant to this notice will not be publicly opened and read. A tour of the locations that are outlined in this bid will be held at the Police Department located at City Hall Municipal Building , 62 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 on March 15, 2012 at 10:00 AM. It is strongly recommended that all prospective bid-
ders attend this tour. ALL BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO inspect each building that it submits a bid on immediately prior to submission of a bid. If a potential bidder is unable to attend the above scheduled tour, appointments for a tour must be made within 48 hours of the intended date of the tour. FAILURE TO INSPECT EACH BUILDING THAT A BID IS SUBMITTED ON WILL BE GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFYING THE BID. Specifications and Contract are subject to provisions of Chapter 605, Laws of the State of New York of 1959, Section 103-A of the General Municipal Law. Each bidder must deposit with his/her bid, security in the amount of not less than five percent (5%) of the base bid in the form of a certified check made payable to the City of Poughkeepsie or a bid bond subject to the conditions of this proposal. The successful bidder shall be required to provide a Performance Bond or 100% of the contract price. Such bond may be in the form of a surety from an insurance company licensed to do business in the State of New York, a certified check, cashier's check, money order or Irrevocable letter of credit drawn on a bank licensed to do business in the State of New York.
Checks must be payable to the City of Poughkeepsie, Commissioner of Finance. No bid will be accepted unless a signed Certificate of Non-Collusion is submitted with the Bid. Specifications, form of proposal and contract may be obtained at the office of the Purchasing Agent, City Hall, 62 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, New York. "The City of Poughkeepsie requires that any contractor or subcontractor have, prior to entering into a construction contract with the City of Poughkeepsie with a value in excess of $100,000.00, apprenticeship agreements appropriate for the type and scope of work to be performed, which have been registered with the NYS Commissioner of Labor in accordance with Article 23 of the Labor Law. Satisfactory evidence of such approved apprenticeship agreements must be provided prior to the award of any such construction contract." The City reserves the right to waive any informality in the proposals and to reject any or all proposals. email your legal notice to:
legalnotices@ thehudsonvalleynews.com
Joseph Meier, LLC Articles of Organization filed 2/21/12; SSNY; Dutchess County, New York; SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. Address for mailing copy of process: 14 Meadow Ridge Lane, LaGrangeville, NY 12540; Purpose: any lawful purpose; Perpetuity.
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Route 9 & Enterprise Drive P.O. Box 543 • Rhinebeck, NY 12572 845-876-2630 • Fax 876-5782 www.legrandrealty.com
RED HOOK – New to market charming 3 bedroom ranch in heart of village. Walk to schools, shops and restaurants. Many great features such as new kitchen, wood floors, fireplace in living area, large 1/2 acre lot and 1 car attached garage. Great house for a great price. Offered at $269,000.
RED HOOK – New to market Updated 3 BR, 2 bath high ranch in nice family neighborhood. House is immaculate and spacious, nicely landscaped and plenty of room. Large family room with wood stove, updated kitchen. Nicest house in its price class – Priced to sell at $269,000.
ELIZAVILLE – New to market former pizza restaurant and deli, high traffic location on Country 19 – 2400 square foot building on 1 acre. Commercial zoning and formerly had a mobile home that burned down. Zoning allows replacement within 1 year. Property is also zoned multi-family. All equipment is there and is available for sale. Ample parking and much road frontage. Price to sell at $110, 000 – worth a look!
ELIZAVILLE – New to market 2 story farm house, many upgrades, wood floors great living area and eatin kitchen, 1 pastoral acres great for dogs or kids. Unattached barn/garage and great location close to schools and minutes from village. Priced to sell at $249,000
Call today for a free consultation! 845-876-2630• firstname.lastname@example.com
'70s ARE BACK VOL. 3 | ISSUE 49 | firstname.lastname@example.com FIND US ONLINE: www.the HudsonValleyNews .com INSIDE: FIRE SCARE AT NORT...