Emily Sachar, Editor


Latest Articles:

Town Board Passes Development Moratorium, 3-2, After Fiery Two-Hour Hearing; Citizens Vow Push for a Voter Referendum

Following a fiery public hearing that attracted more than 70 residents, most opposed to a proposed nine-month moratorium on development in nearly half the town of Red Hook, the Town Board narrowly approved the measure, 3-2, Wednesday night. The nearly two-hour public hearing was so packed that visitors sat on the floor and looked on from the hallways of Town... READ MORE >

We’re Better Together: As Families Navigate Difficult Cancer Journeys, TeamNora Offers Love, Food, and Sometimes a Surprise (3rd in a Series)

Editor’s Note: This is the third in a monthly series for 2024, “We’re Better Together,” celebrating ways in which community organizations and citizens in Northern Dutchess County support one another. The series is sponsored by Rhinebeck Bank. Read more about the sponsorship. As a teaching assistant in Catskill, Melinda Lowe was already stretched thin caring for four kids—including 14-year-old triplets—and... READ MORE >

To Limit Development, Rhinebeck Eyes Creation of a Community Preservation Fund with a Tax on Some Home Sales

The Town of Rhinebeck is taking the first steps to create a Community Preservation Fund (CPF), which would allow the town to tax home sales and use the proceeds to purchase open or agricultural land. The goal is to limit new development. Carli Fraccarolli, the State Policy Manager at Scenic Hudson, a local conservation nonprofit that has helped other towns... READ MORE >

Rhinebeck Town Board Asks Voters to Approve Longer Terms for Supervisor and Highway Superintendent; Also Approves Noise Ordinance

Rhinebeck voters will decide whether to extend the term length for the Town Supervisor and Highway Superintendent from two to four years in a referendum this November, following a resolution passed at Monday night’s Town Board meeting. The two ballot measures, first proposed in February, would allow future officeholders to spend more time learning the intricacies of the roles, said... READ MORE >

Short Catch: Early Voting Moves to Brookmeade, Farmers Market Scholarships, Rally for State School Aid

Rhinebeck Early Voting Moves from Rhinebeck Town Hall to Brookmeade As a renovation project at Rhinebeck’s Town Hall gets ready to start, the Dutchess County Board of Elections has moved the Rhinebeck option for early voting to the Pavilion at Brookmeade off Route 308.  Early voting for the New York State Presidential primary is already underway and will continue through... READ MORE >

Comments to the Catch: Development Moratorium, AT&T Tower, Mighty Donuts and More (March 8-22, 2024)

AT&T Cell Tower Along Route 9G in Red Hook Now Slated for Public Hearing, but Planners Still Concerned It’s Ugly  Dear Editor: There is a dispute over a much-needed cell phone tower in northern Duchess County. The town of Rhinebeck is engaging Verizon Communications to build a cell phone tower in the area. However, unbeknownst to many residents in the... READ MORE >

Red Hook Villagers Show What Genuine “Chill” Kindness Can Bring: Tens of Thousands of YouTube Views

A social media influencer’s chance visit to the Village of Red Hook is trending Friday on YouTube, the handiwork of a media maven who shows up in towns unannounced, carrying tripods, a microphone, a clever wit, and an intrepid appetite for chit-chat. In the video, nearly 11 minutes long, Asif Khan (@tooapree), chances upon the village’s police sergeant, several shopkeepers,... READ MORE >

AT&T Cell Tower Along Route 9G in Red Hook Now Slated for Public Hearing, but Planners Still Concerned It’s Ugly 

AT&T has moved one step closer to establishing its 100-foot cell tower along Route 9G behind the former Ro-Lin Lanes bowling alley, with the Red Hook Planning Board setting an April 1 public hearing for the proposal. But that approval came with major pushback from the board, whose members continued to press the cell phone carrier for more clarity as... READ MORE >

Democrats Bertozzi and Pupko Coast to Victory in Rhinebeck Village Board Elections, Easily Beating Republican Sinon

As expected, the two Democratic candidates for Rhinebeck Village Board swept to victory Tuesday amid fairly light but expected voter turnout. Incumbent Vanessa Bertozzi secured 397 votes; political newcomer Eleanor Pupko garnered 385; and Republican challenger Derrick Sinon grabbed 83 votes. Voters were asked to select two candidates out of three. Roughly 80 percent of votes were cast in person... READ MORE >

Rhinebeck Village Board Elections Follow Precedent and Prediction with Wins by Democrats Bertozzi and Pupko

Editor’s Note: This story repeats the Rhinebeck Village Board election tallies reported Tuesday evening and adds more background and voter reaction. Following precedent and prediction, the two Democratic candidates for Rhinebeck Village Board clinched the two open Trustee positions in Tuesday’s election, capping off a contested but ultimately typical race that was largely decided in the Democratic primary. Democratic incumbent... READ MORE >