^{Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns}

Issue 180 | July 23, 2024

Central Hudson Gets Rate Increases //

The perennially embattled Central Hudson, which had angled for a proposed 31.9% increase in consumer electricity delivery rates and a 29.2% increase for gas, won permission from the Public Service Commission (PSC) to raise rates 7.85%(approximately $12.65 per month for the average electric customer) and 9.19% (approximately $12.25 per month for gas customers). Such increases only impact the delivery costs on the consumer bill, or about 45% of the total. The new rates will go into effect on August 1st and will be in place until June 30th, 2025.

New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey has been critical of Central Hudson and has joined with State Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha to propose a publicly-owned alternative to the energy delivery giant by the name of the Hudson Valley Power Authority (HVPA). Hinchey responded to the news of the increased rates by saying that utility providers like Central Hudson put “profits over people.” She said in a statement, “This is not the outcome we wanted, and it’s not what Hudson Valley residents deserve after years of suffering financial hardship and distress from Central Hudson’s corporate mismanagement.”

Shrestha effectively doubled down on her commitment to continue her efforts to establish the HVPA. She said, “...the state regulation of corporate monopolies is wholly inadequate to ensure fair rates and public well-being. We should be deeply concerned that not only are for-profit utilities ill-suited to provide energy as a service, they’re a huge impediment to a just energy transition that needs to happen quickly.” 

The PSC justified the increases by saying that it had engaged in a “transparent and thorough review of all cost drivers by staff and other parties,” according to its announcement last Thursday. The commission said it reviewed a detailed record that included testimony, judicial recommendations and more than 400 public comments sent directly to the commission and made at eight hearings, and the PSC stated that such increases are necessary to ensure Central Hudson “continues to provide safe and reliable service at just and reasonable rates, while advancing commission and state policies, including the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.”

School Lockdown Drills Will Be Less Realistic From Now On //

New York Public School lockdown drills will be different in the coming school year. State officials are now mandating that schools develop procedures to notify parents at least a week in advance of lockdown drills, thus limiting the element of surprise, and possible trauma, in the drills, which are intended to prepare students, staff and administrators for a theoretical violent attack on their school. Considering the element of trauma, the Board of Regents also approved a ban on “realistic drills” that simulate acts of violence and domestic terrorism, and had the potential to create traumatic experiences for students. Such drills can no longer “include props, actors, simulations, or other tactics intended to mimic a school shooting, incident of violence, or other emergency,” according to the new regulations, which require require that "drills and training be conducted in a trauma-informed, developmentally and age-appropriate manner.”

Many advocates have sought changes to such drills, saying they have the very real potential to create trauma and aggravate anxiety among students. The new regulations will go into effect this fall. New York state law requires that public schools conduct at least four lockdown drills each year, which critics argue was an arbitrarily chosen number. Earlier this year, some lawmakers introduced a bill that would lower the requirement to two drills, but it wasn’t adopted by the legislature.



Coverage of Rhinebeck schools and educational issues is supported by the Fraleigh and Rakow Insurance Agency in Rhinebeck.

This Week

The Livingston Family, Redefined

Tuesday, July 23rd, 6:30PM

Artist talk on “Kibbitz and Nosh; New York City’s Vanishing Cafeterias,” photographs by Marcia Bricker Halperin. Exhibit runs through August 20. At Morton Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.

Tuesday, July 24th, 8:15PM

“Barbie,” movie kicks off Movies Under the Starrs. FREE. Movies begin at dusk. At Rhinebeck Town Pool in Thompson-Mazzarella Park.

Thursday, July 25th, 6:30PM

Local Book Launch, Laura van den Berg talks about State of Paradise, a Novel, with Paul Yoon. Co-sponsored by Oblong Books and Morton Library. FREE; registration required. At the library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.

Friday, July 26th, and Saturday, July 27th

Book Sale, sponsored by the Friends of Starr Library. For hours and details, see starrlibrary.org. At the library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.

Saturday, July 27th, 11:00AM - Noon

Bollywood Dancing Workshop with Arobi Hanif. FREE. No experience necessary; all ages welcome. At the Beatrix Farrand Garden at the FDR National Historic Site, Rte. 9G, Hyde Park.

Saturday, July 27th, 11:30AM - 2:30PM

Northern Dutchess Democrats and Town of Clinton Democrats Party to raise funds for candidates. With “sips and snacks.” FREE but $50+ donors receive a “2024 Democracy Tour” T-shirt. Rain or shine (under a covered pavilion). At Fran Mark Park, 337 Clinton Hollow Rd., Salt Point.

Thursday, August 1st, 6:30PM

Local Book Launch – Carol Goodman talks about Return to Wyldcliffe Heights. Registration required. Co-sponsored by Oblong Books. At Morton Library. 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.

Friday, August 2nd, 5:30PM

Women’s Tennis Doubles Night. $75/person. Details at rhinebecktennis.com. At the Rhinebeck Tennis Club, 2 Salisbury St., Rhinebeck.

Saturday, August 3, 9:00AM - Noon

Edible Gardens Tour, including gardens that feed pollinators and people. Presented by Dirty Gaia. FREE but registration required to receive a map of participating gardens. Around Rhinebeck and Rhinecliff.

Tuesday, August 6, 4:00PM - 5:00PM

Make Your Own Ice Cream, Library Adventures for Kids. Registration requested. At Morton Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.

Thursday, August 15, 5:30PM - 7:00PM

Summer Speaker Series featuring State Sen. Michelle Hinchey and just added Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, presented by the Rhinebeck Democrats Club. Sen. Hinchey will discuss the bill to create a publicly owned power authority to replace Central Hudson; including Q&A and “meet and greet.” Registration suggested because seating is limited. At the Community Room at Starr Library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.

Now through August 2025: “Redefining the Family: The Livingstons and the Institution of Slavery in Early America,” a new exhibit recognizing the Black descendants of the Livingston family. Details at Friends of Clermont.org. At the historic site, Rte. 9G, Germantown.

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is now available for age- and income-qualifying seniors to support local farms. For details, contact the Dutchess County Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 or ofa@dutchessny.gov.

Rhinebeck Rotary is looking for host families, three to four months each starting December, for 16-year-old Turkish exchange student who will attend Rhinebeck High School. One family has already committed to host the student from the start of the school year to early December. If interested, contact michaelfrazier@earthlink.net.

Now through July 28th

“Just Drawing,” new works on paper by Catherine Haggarty. At Geary Contemporary Gallery, 34 Main St., Millerton.

Saturdays through July and August 1st, 13th, and 17th, 2:00 - 4:00PM

General Richard Montgomery House is open to the public. Also open by appointment. FREE. At 77 Livingston St., Rhinebeck.

Now through Sunday, August 11

“Guys and Dolls,” presented by the Center for Performing Arts. Fridays and Saturdays at 8; Sundays at 3. Tickets $29. At the Center. 661 Rte. 308, Rhinebeck.

Now through August 31st

"An Artist’s Alphabet,” an exhibit of the late artist Tom Blackwell, a painter in the photorealist genre. At Starr Library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.

Now through September 8th

“Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence,” showcasing a new form of bead art developed by a community of women in South Africa. Complemented by a small display of four beaded costumes. At The Loeb gallery, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie.