Rhinebeck moves closer to changing comprehensive plan-Monday, November 16th-4:30pm

RHINEBECK — The Town Board will meet on Monday to set a final public hearing on proposed changes to the town comprehensive plan.

The hearing must be scheduled before the board can adopt the revised plan, along with accompanying changes in zoning and wetlands laws.

The board will meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday in the Town Hall on East Market Street in the village.

Town Attorney Warren Replansky said the changes were made during a series of workshops after an initial public hearing was closed two months ago.

“We’re going to have our final public hearing just to make sure that everybody has gotten notice of the changes,” he said. “We want to make sure there is no dispute as to whether we’ve given the required notice of all the change. It’s conceivable it didn’t require another public hearing, but we decided to err on the side of caution.”

Read On: www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/11/15/news/doc4aff8be0b8f70962412536.txt

Mumbai victims to be remembered at vigil

RHINEBECK — The Rhinebeck Jewish Center will hold a candlelight vigil from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, November 18th  in memory of those slain by terrorists in Mumbai, India, a year ago.

The non-sectarian event outside Foster’s Coach House Tavern, 6411 Montgomery St., is open to the public.

Rhinebeck man charged in knife incident

RHINEBECK — A Rhinebeck man was arrested on Saturday after holding a knife to a female co-worker  Read On:

www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/11/15/blotter/doc4aff898508aee153606822.txt

Rhinecliff firefighters offer scholarship

RHINECLIFF — The Rhinecliff Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad has announced the criteria for the Rhinecliff Volunteer Fire Company Brian Butler Memorial Scholarship, offered to Rhinebeck High School seniors of the Class of 2010.

Read On: www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911140321

Lecture to be at hospital- November 18th 2009

RHINEBECK: Northern Dutchess Hospital will present a free lecture at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday called “Sexual Health in the Midlife and Beyond.” Guest speaker is Dr. Amy Novatt of Women’s Medical Care of Rhinebeck. Registration is required. Call 1-877-729-2444.

Sinterklaas reminder- Saturday, November 14th 2009

Hello All Friends of Sinterklaas !

This is a quick reminder that the Sinterklaas Celebration Space Opens
THIS Saturday, November 14th!

There are wonderful projects going on and it is time for you to help !

Just show up at 46 W. Market Street between the hours of 12 and 8 everyday and you will become part of a wonderful community event!

We hope to see you there–there is not much time left and there is MUCH TO DO–like make 50 Snow Geese ! 
Kids can come and make their Crowns and Branches !
1,000 Origami Cranes await your folding!

Bring sparkly things!   See you there ! 

Jeanne Fleming
Coordinator

Rhinebeck Central School District on Flu Precautions 2009

PARENTS, STAFF AND STUDENTS URGED TO REVIEW AND FOLLOW THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL’S GUIDELINES FOR INFLUENZA PRECAUTIONS

Read On:www.rhinebeckcsd.org/news.cfm?story=41321

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:  http://www.cdc.gov/

Summary of
New York State Executive Order 29
Declaring a Disaster Emergency in the State of New York

www.op.nysed.gov/exec-order29-h1n1.htm

Doctor: Swine flu is ‘here and severe’

Dr. Marc Habert, chairman of the medical committee at The Children’s Medical Group, sent his patients an e-mail Thursday that said “the mid-Hudson region is currently in the midst of a flu epidemic (H1N1).” In a telephone interview Friday, Habert said the increase in cases began Oct. 24. “An epidemic is local; a pandemic is global,” he said. “Locally, this looks like an epidemic.”

Read On:www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20091114/NEWS06/911140331/Doctor–Swine-flu-is–here-and-severe-

Man, mother arrested in road rage incident

Police said the arrests stemmed from an Aug. 26 road rage incident that began on U.S. Route 209 in the town of Wawarsing between the Speedlings and a woman, who was not identified. The Speedlings followed the woman to  Dutchess County where the woman entered the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, police said. After the woman entered the fair, the Speedlings

Read On: www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/11/13/blotter/doc4afcdd92a4299794552550.txt

France honors 102-year-old local veteran

RHINEBECK — In July 1944, Edward White, a 36-year-old soldier from Rhinebeck, landed at Omaha Beach with the U.S. Army’s 28th Division, 103rd Engineer Battalion.

Read On: www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/11/13/news/doc4afcd807d8871789105729.txt

Snow ordinance will resume in Rhinebeck

RHINEBECK — Motorists are reminded that a village snow ordinance prohibits overnight parking on Rhinebeck village streets between 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m. daily from Nov. 15 through March 31.

Offenders will be issued a ticket.

Independent consultant to audit Central Hudson

“The examination process will emphasize an assessment of Central Hudson’s effectiveness in meeting its mission, goal and objectives, particularly with respect to performance goals and will identify any opportunities for improvement,” the statement said.

Read On:www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20091112/BUSINESS/91112018/Independent-consultant-to-audit-Central-Hudson

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE

Please be advised that HOGS BRIDGE on OLD POST ROAD will be closed for repairs starting Monday, November 9, 2009.

Sinterklaas! An Old Dutch Tradition Returns to Rhinebeck 2009

Sinterklaas arrives in Rhinecliff on November 28 with a wonderful procession in the hamlet. The big day-long Sinterklaas celebration is Saturday, December 5. It’s a day full of FREE events and workshops and entertainment with an incredible magical Children’s Starlight Parade and a wonderful pageant, too! Visit our website: http://www.SinterklaasRhinebeck.com

Don’t miss out on it this year! We’ll be sending email announcements and volunteer opportunities to you… and we encourage you to join us! Forward this note to your friends so they can get on our mailing list. sinterklaasrhinebeck@gmail.com

FRIDAY, 11/13  6:00 – 8:00 PM   Origami Crane Workshop
Crane Maker Extraordinaire Karen Hinderstein will be at Celebration Space to teach you how to make origami cranes! We need to make 1000 of them before our parade. We supply the paper. We’ll tell you the story behind the 1000 cranes as well.

MORE ABOUT CROWNS AND BRANCHES

We need your help!
Don’t throw away those beads, bows and trinkets!
Donate them to a Fantastic, Town-Wide, Kid-Centered, Spectacular Rhinebeck Event!
Please Bring Us Anything FUN and SHINY!!

Call for Materials – Needed:  beads, buttons, bows, trinkets, charms, lace, yarn, ribbon, glitter, oddities, shells, doo-dads, streamers, decorative papers, old ornaments, necklaces, artificial flowers, plastic jewels,  …

WHY do we need these goodies? For our Crowns and Branches Workshops, of course!

Revived and transformed to reflect the values of all our community members, a town-wide Winter Celebration is returning… Sinterklass! An Old Dutch Tradition … with a Rhinebeck twist!

Bring all your donations to our Celebration Space. You can see a collection of our puppets inside. Come inside with your children to make their Crowns and Branches! This is one of the many free workshops and events that are part of our Sinterklaas celebration. We’ll be announcing workshop hours soon, so read your emails!   If you come in before December 5th with your children to make their crowns and branches, then on Sinterklaas Day you will have more time to go to the many performances around town.  You can also plan a party at the Celebration Space where you and a bunch of friends and their families can come all together and make Crowns and Branches.  There is space to have a pizza party upstairs. Send us an email if you’re interested.
 
Community representatives from local government, business, education, civic, religious, and arts organizations and lots of private citizens are donating their time and energy to create this celebration of Rhinebeck’s rich cross-cultural past again this year.  Sinterklaas has been celebrated in Holland in one form or another for time immemorial. The Dutch, both a sea-faring and pastoral people, possessed a unique blend of adventurousness and open-mindedness coupled with a strong mythic imagination.  Like many winter-time celebrations, Sinterklaas focuses on the child as the symbol for faith in return and renewal and children play a vital role in these ritual events. 

On December 5, 2009, the Children of Rhinebeck will be called to help us celebrate themselves and our entire community.   Our children become kings and queens for the day, and they wear the crowns and carry the scepters (branches) that they create in our workshops now through December 5.

The Crowns and Branches need lots of joyful fittings!

See you soon!

Contact us with any questions!

Thank you!

Local blood drives

The blood shortage is continuing. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. A photo identification is usually required. Blood can be given every 56 days. Sixteen-year-olds may donate with a signed parental consent form.

Dec. 11: 12:30-5:30 p.m., Northern Dutchess Hospital, 6511 Springbrook Ave., Rhinebeck.

Those with Type-O blood and a negative RH factor are especially needed, as this blood type can be given to anyone.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is the primary supplier of blood products to Ulster, Dutchess and Putnam hospitals and is always in need of sponsors. To make a donation appointment, visit www.donatebloodnow.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543). Walk-in donors are always welcome. To sponsor a blood drive, call 845-471-0202, Ext. 315.

The list of area drives: www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911080345

112-acre Holy Cross campus to be sold in ‘absolute auction’

RHINECLIFF — The long-abandoned former Holy Cross campus is going on the auction block.

Steve Kutner, director of marketing for AuctionAmericaRealty.com, on Monday said the company has been hired to sell the 112-acre parcel at auction “regardless of the price.”

“This will be an ‘absolute auction’ which means there is no minimum (price),” said Kutner. The property will be sold to the highest bidder.”

Kutner said the property’s owner, New York City resident Jacob Selechnik only listed the Morton Road property with the auction house a few days ago. The property has not yet been posted on the company’s Web site and no auction date has been set.

The property was once site of the Holy Cross Campus of Pius XII Youth and Family Services, which ran a juvenile detention center for boys 13 to 18 years old. It has been abandoned since 2000, when amid allegations of inappropriate relationships between staff and residents, the state revoked the facility’s license and the campus was closed.

Since then, there have been a number of proposals for the property, including a summer camp, a school for abused and neglected teenagers, and a senior citizen housing complex.

Those proposals were all abandoned after residents in the surrounding hamlet voiced opposition to the plans.

Earlier this year, again in response to public outcry, town officials dropped a proposal to allow high density development on the property. The property is currently zoned for 5-acre residential development.

Kutner said the property, which contains a number of buildings, is in such deplorable condition that he won’t hold the auction on-site.

“It’s abandoned, it hasn’t been maintained in years, it’s been vandalized,” said Kutner. “It’s a beautiful property in Rhinebeck that has garbage on it.

“It doesn’t do the town proud,” he said.

By Patricia Doxsey
Freeman staff