HVNY News + Notes (10/2/23)

• THIS IS JUST A TEST: On Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 2pm, your phone, TV and radio will receive a test emergency alert as part of a nationwide test. Conducted by FEMA in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, the test “will help ensure that Wireless Emergency Alerts and the Emergency Alert System continue to be effective ways to warn the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.” Wireless providers will transmit the national test for 30-minutes, but your phone should only receive it once, according to officials. [ More info ]

• What do you think about the development of Woodstock with a members-only 18-hole golf course, 191 housing units including pricey townhouses, and a helipad along a currently-untouched 620-acres along the Sawkill Creek off Zena Road? The STOP Woodstock National Coalition and the Woodstock Land Conservancy will be hosting a virtual town hall event to discuss the proposed Woodstock National LLC project – the largest development in Woodstock’s history – on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 7pm via Zoom. According to reports, since there are boundaries to building near wetlands, developers have until the end of October to determine if the site is suitable for these plans. The developers behind the Woodstock National LLC? Eddie Greenberg and Evan Kleinberg, both formerly of the trendy WeWork community workspace venture.

• On Monday, Windham Mountain announced it is rebranding as the Windham Mountain Club, complete with a private members’ club with year-round amenities and four new restaurants onsite as part of a $70 million, multi-year investment project. Season passes and tickets will still be available to the public, with capacity limits in place.

• Last week, it was a moose that was the talk of several towns throughout the east side of the Hudson Valley, and this week? A zebra was spotted roaming backyards in the Town of Clinton over the weekend. The zebra, black and white stripes and all, escaped and was returned to the 13 Hands Equine Rescue in Clinton Corners. “Forget the police, call me if you see it, I’ll be father of the year for sure if my kids get home from school and there’s a zebra in the yard!,” one commenter wrote.

• The Public Service Commission announced it will hold several in-person public hearings on Central Hudson’s proposed rate increases (16-percent for electric, 19-percent for natural gas, to be effective July 1, 2024).

  • Catskill: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:30pm at the Robert Antonelli Senior Center, 15 Academy Street, Catskill

  • Newburgh: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 6pm at SUNY Orange-Newburgh Campus, Kaplan Hall Great Room #101, 73 First Street, Newburgh

  • Poughkeepsie: Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 1pm at Poughkeepsie Town Hall, One Overrocker Road, 2nd Floor, Poughkeepsie

  • Kingston: Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 6pm at the Restorative Justice Community Empowerment Center, 733 Broadway, Kingston

  For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing, comments can be submitted to the Commission via an online form or via mail. Comments should refer to “Case 23-E-0418 and Case 23-G-0419 – Central Hudson.” To submit a comment, go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search”, enter the case number (23-E-0418 or 23-G-0419) in the box labelled “Search by Case Number,” and then click on “Post Comments” located at the top right of the page. 

  Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching the case numbers, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab. 

• Village of Rhinebeck plans annual flushing of water mains – From the village clerk: “Flushing moves the water through the mains at such a high speed as to loosen the deposits of iron and manganese and remove them from the system.  However, flushing stirs up sediment and can result in discolored water in your home.  The discoloration is not harmful, and usually will clear up when you let your water run for awhile.  At times, homeowners also experience loss of water pressure during the operation because so much water is being diverted to the hydrant. You may need to flush your hot water tank after we have flushed the water mains. If your hot water continues to be discolored after your cold water has cleared up, flushing your hot water tank is often the answer. Simply attach a garden hose to the outlet at the bottom of your tank and let the water run outside, preferably into a white bucket, until it runs clear. Manufacturers recommend that we flush our hot water tanks twice a year to keep them free of sediment.” Call the Village Hall 876-7015 if you have any questions.

  • 2023 Rhinebeck Water Department flushing schedule:

    October 2-6: All areas on the north side of East and West Market Streets, plus Old Post Road, Mt. Rutsen Rd., Village Green Apartments, Wells Manor and The Woods. 

    October 9-13: All areas on the South side of East and West Market Streets, Route 308 East, Violet Hill Estates, Hilee Road and Closs Drive. 

    October 16-20: All areas in Rhinecliff will be done on Monday, Tuesday and possible on Wednesday, as well as Rhinecliff Road, River Road and the Gardens.

• Actress Lili Taylor, writer Nick Flynn, fashion photographer Nigel Barker, and model Cristen Barker of the Chin Twins are just some of the members of the committee for the Opus 40 first annual Fall Foliage Gala on October 21, 2023. The night at Harvey Fite’s dreamscape will include cocktails by the fountains, dinner with wine pairing, a lighting experience by Rob Ross, preview tours of the newly-acquired Fite House, and of course, a dance-party under the lights. Tickets are $250 and include a 2024 membership to Opus 40, or $2,000 for a table of ten. https://opus40.org/event/fall-foliage-gala/

• Comedian John Mulaney announced he will kick-off his new solo show on the stage at the Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 7pm as part of an 18-city tour. The show is a phone-free event. Upon arrival at the venue, all phones, smart watches and accessories will be secured in individual Yondr pouches that will be opened at the end of the event. Guests maintain possession of their devices at all times, and can access them throughout the event only in designated Phone Use Areas within the venue. More info: https://www.bardavon.org/show/john-mulaney-in-concert/

• The Hurley Heritage Society is seeking entires for the Hurley Scarecrow Invasion! Scarecrows will invade the Hurley Heritage Society on Main Street in Hurley from October 9 through November 1, 2023. Anyone is welcome to submit a scarecrow creation and be entered to win a prize. Scarecrows must be delivered to the museum front lawn on October 9 from 3-5pm. Each scarecrow must be on a post so it may be placed in the ground. Include a tag/sign with your name and contact number. To participate, call 845-338-7686 for more information and to reserve a spot.

• An East Fishkill smoke shop employee was arrested on Friday for selling cannabis to a minor. The Dutchess County Task Force arrested Vikasreddy Sumreddy, 25, of Poughkeepsie an employee of Sky High Smoke Shop for three counts of criminal sale of cannabis in the third degree, a misdemeanor.

• Starting October 4, applications for adult-use cannabis licenses open to the general public. Applications will be open for cultivator, processor, distributor, microbusiness and retail dispensary licenses will be available through the state’s online business portal. Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday, December 4, 2023. Application and license fees are reduced by 50-percent for all qualified Social and Economic Equity applicants, including “those disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of the prohibition of cannabis, minority and women-owned businesses, distressed farmers, and service disabled veteran-owned businesses.” https://cannabis.ny.gov/licensing

• Applications are now open for the 2023 New York Stage and Film Summer Season programs. Submissions for dance-centered musicals to be considrred for the 2024 summer season are open through October 22, 2023 at 11:59pm. More info: https://www.newyorkstageandfilm.org/storiesthatmove

• The Town of Germantown will hold a public hearing to regulate short term rentals on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 6pm at the Town Hall, 50 Palantine Park Road. Written public comments may be submitted prior to the meeting by emailing: townboard@germantownny.org. More info: https://germantownny.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Short-Term-Rental-Regulation-Draft_05242023.pdf

• The Dutchess County Office for the Aging will hold several Public Comment Forums so residents can speak directly, in person, to OFA leadership and members of the OFA Advisory Board, at the following dates and locations:

  • Wednesday, October 4, 10:30am at the OFA Friendship Center, 114 Delafield St., Poughkeepsie

  • Friday, October 6, 10:30am at the The Pavilion at Brookmeade 34 Brookmeade Dr., Rhinebeck

    If you are unable to attend a Public Comment Forum, you can mail written comments to the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 114 Delafield St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. You can also email comments to ofa@dutchessny.gov

• Share your Hudson Valley news, info and events to hello@hvny.info. 

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