HVNY News + Notes (10/23/23)
Photo: Westchester County Police Department
Service is back to “near-normal” on Metro-North’s Hudson line after a mudslide shut down tracks on Saturday. Two morning and afternoon peak trains have been cancelled to bypass the area between Philipse Manor and Scarborough. The event follows “Herculean” efforts to restore the tracks after devastating rains in July. Link
Public input wanted on Kingston rail crossings: The Ulster County Transportation Council is undertaking a Rail Crossing Safety Study to evaluate and enhance safety along the regional West Shore Railroad Corridor in the City of Kingston. The study will focus on assessing existing street crossings, crashes, and trespass incidents along the rail corridor while considering the impact of surrounding land uses.Help identify areas of concerns, opportunities, and current conditions during a virtual open house on October 25, 2023 from 6-8pm. Join the meeting here.
Last week, the previously-elected Dutchess County Executive, Marc Molinaro, now a representative in Congress for the 19th District, was asked by CSPAN about what his constituents were saying about his support for Rep. Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House, he said: “As I told most people, I think most of the people I represent wouldn’t know the Speaker of the House if it backed over them with a pick-up truck, and I hope that they don’t.”
Dutchess County Comptroller Robin Lois released an audit of the former Dutchess Stadium/ Heritage Financial Park: According to the report, Dutchess County has “committed over $30 million in capital improvements to the Stadium beginning in 2018. Current construction of a new home team Clubhouse with a conference/event space and additional premium seating is underway with completion scheduled for use beginning in the 2024 season. The upgrades to the county-owned stadium stem from a $25 million last-minute amendment to the 2023 operating budget by the County Legislature after initial public backlash. Although the Stadium is budgeted and managed under the County Department of Public Works Parks Division, residents do not have free access to the stadium and its amenities as with a public park. The Stadium is not managed by the County as a public park but operated by a for-profit organization and should therefore be held to a different and higher standard for its tolerance of taxpayer funding.” The audit “continues to recommend that the administration, as stewards of taxpayer funds, renegotiate a more equitable lease arrangement with the tenant to ensure taxpayers are not subsidizing a for-profit entity.” Read the full report at: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/Comptroller/Docs/2023-Stadium-Audit-FINAL.pdf
Dutchess County Executive William FX O’Neil responded to the audit, calling it “a politically charged opinion.” The increased costs, he notes, “have been almost exclusively due to needed maintenance of the facility,” and added “There is no requirement for the stadium to show a profit, or even break-even.” https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYDUTCHESS/bulletins/376d5c5
Dutchess County libraries are collecting personal care items to help those in need: Through October, ring shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, alcohol free mouthwash, menstrual products, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, deoderant, razors, shaving cream, hairbrushes, etc. to your local Dutchess County library during open hours.
October 24 through 31 is Bat Week! Bats are the mammals of the night skies. Unfortunately, many species of bats have seen severe population declines over the past decade. Be considerate to bats in our midst and remember to help keep the night air clean, too.
As of October 16, all spent fuel at the Indian Point nuclear power plant has been moved to dry cask storage, “which means the risk of a catastrophic nuclear accident is now greatly reduced,” according to Riverkeeper. Holtec is still considering alternative disposal methods for the remaining radioactive wastewater at Indian Point after state legislation was enacted to halt discharge into the Hudson River, yet Riverkeeper says “leaks of untreated wastewater containing radioactive elements from Indian Point storage tanks continue to leach through the soil and groundwater underneath the plant, piloting their way into the Hudson.”
New York - New Jersey Trail Conference is conducting a visitor experience survey for 'formerly trail-less' Catskill high peaks: The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference to promote responsible recreation and sustainable use As a part of the project, through November 11, the Trail Conference is conducting a visitor experience survey on the formerly trail-less peaks over 3,500 feet in the Catskills , to help guide management actions on state lands in the region. Participate in the online visitor experience survey by visiting the NYNJ Trail Conference's website.
WANTED: Arbor Day Photo/Artwork: Submit your photo or artwork for the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest by December 31, 2023. Visit the NYS DEC website to find more details about the contest.
Artists working in all media are invited to submit proposals for the Dorsky Museum of Art’s annual exhibition of contemporary art made by artists in the Hudson Valley. Bibliography seeks to assemble an exhibition in which each artist contextualizes their work by positioning it in dialog with books.The deadline for artist submissions to Bibliography: Hudson Valley Artists 2024 is Sunday, November 19, at midnight. Submissions may be made online here. More information here.
