April 1, 2010 - Via: HV News Staff

After a chance meeting with conservative pundit Glenn Beck, local County Legislator Joel Tyner has decided to switch parties and become a Republican.

"Who knew Glenn Beck liked the bar at the Beekman Arms?" said a starstruck Tyner.

In a press release, Tyner said, "Over a couple of non-alcoholic beers, Glenn Beck showed me the error of my ways and after some serious soul-searching, I've decided to join my new pal Glenn and start standing up for the wealthy residents of Dutchess County, who are really going through some tough times with the plummeting stock market and dwindling 401(k) plans. And I'm worried sick about the weekenders. They've been hit very hard by the Obama recession."

In another press release, Tyner said his first order of business as a Republican would be to impose a 300% surcharge on riders of the LOOP bus system and use the money to build a new clubhouse at the Red Hook Country Club.

"I spent so much time and energy making those damn hybrid buses happen, and I never even got so much as a 'thank you' from those bottom-feeding bus riders," Tyner said. "And plus, according to Glenn, most of them don't even vote. How will I ever advance my political career if I keep pandering to these losers?"

During a press conference announcing his political transformation, Tyner and Beck appeared on the steps of the county office building in Poughkeepsie with the dead body of a horse. The horse's rotting corpse had the word "PROGRESSIVE" spray-painted on it.

At the close of the press conference, Tyner and Beck proceeded to beat the dead horse with Tyner's autographed copy of "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn.

In yet another press release, Tyner said he now believes the county's practice of incinerating trash should be continued, a stark contrast to the zero-waste initiative he pushed as a Democrat.

"I've been fighting for the environment for decades now, and where has it gotten me?" Tyner said. "Screw the environment."

Reached for comment at his home in New Canaan, Conn., Beck said he didn't know what to make of Tyner at first.

"So I was sitting at the bar, drinking my O'Doul's, when this excited, fast-talking guy from Clinton, N.Y. came in to yell at me for comparing Obama to Hitler," he said. "He continued talking and talking and talking all night, but I have no idea what he was saying. I don't really listen to people who disagree with me."

Beck says he did his best to ignore Tyner and let him continue talking until closing time while he shook hands with fans at the Beekman Arms.

"With a guy like Joel Tyner, it's kind of like going fishing," Beck said. "You've gotta let him fight until he gets tuckered out and gives up. Then you reel him in."

With Tyner exhausted and suffering a crippling case of cotton mouth, Beck wooed Tyner to the Republican party with tales of Ronald Reagan's political triumphs over freedom-hating liberals.

"I'm just a guy who cares an awful lot about his country," sobbed a weepy Beck.

"Having a guy like Tyner on our side simply makes America safer," he added. "Plus, we both have the same barber."

NEW PALTZ – A rally in New Paltz held Saturday afternoon in protest of the closure of state parks across New York, specifically Minnewaska, brought out nearly 200 concerned Hudson Valley residents.

Attendees heard from numerous local representatives and were then treated to an afternoon of music and culture.

According to Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, there are 90 state park facilities that are at risk for closure or a significant reduction in services and about 50 Department of Environmental Conservation sites that could possibly share the same fate.

“These parks are treasures,” he said before singling out Minnewaska State Park. “This is an amazingly important tourist attraction for this area.”

“Closing these parks would have a negative effect on the economy here,” said Congressman Maurice Hinchey. “Our analysis makes it very clear that for every dollar that is spent to maintain these national parks more than five dollars is generated to promote the economy and economic growth.”

According to Hinchey, the Governor’s plan to save $29 million by closing these park facilities would actually result in the loss of more than $145 million.

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FROM THE MID-HUDSON NEWS SERVICE:

KINGSTON – The Kingston Common Council approved two measures that could get a Kingston-Rhinebeck ferry up and running.  The council, Tuesday night, approved a ferry service feasibility study and an inter-municipal agreement with Rhinebeck

The feasibility study will assess the plausibility of bringing large scale ferry service to several locations along the Hudson River. Council President James Noble said the study will take a broad look at the possibility of implementing full-scale ferry service to locations all along the Hudson River such as Kingston, Rhinecliff, Hudson, and many other areas.

He said that the study will address everything from potential ridership to issues with docking at each location.

The study, according to Noble, could possibly cost as much as a few hundred thousand dollars but large scale ferry service would definitely be good for tourism because “it would get people here” to enjoy what the waterfront has to offer.

“Tourism brings sales tax and sales tax helps the city, bottom line. So anything we can do to foster that we’ve in favor of it.”

The idea of doing a ferry feasibility study was proposed most recently in November 2009 and, as a result of the common council’s decision Tuesday evening, the city will now begin the process of engaging in the necessary research.

The other measure passed by the  Common Council gives the go-ahead for an inter-municipal cooperation agreement between the city and the Town of Rhinebeck to install and utilize a docking area on the Rhinebeck side of the Hudson River so that ferry service can be extended to communities in that region.

According Noble, Rhinebeck will be providing the funds and materials while the City of Kingston will provide the manpower to seasonally install a docking area on the opposite side of the river to generate local commuter and tourism traffic.

“Trying to alleviate traffic but at the same time if you don’t have a vehicle to be able to get back and forth and get to the city.”

Noble said commuters will have the ability to park in the Rondout area and take the ferry to the Rhinecliff Ferry Station where access to trains servicing New York City is readily available.

Noble added that the future ferry service to Rhinebeck will be seasonal and will consist of passenger boats that Kingston already has in place.

Join Drinking Liberally tonight as they mark the 4th gathering of Drinking Liberally Rhinecliff.

"Come out to toast the decade gone by & drink while discussing the decade to come with your local progressive social club.

While it's true the Farmers Almanac predicted a “numbing” winter, with below-average temperatures for at least two-thirds of the country, we can still warm ourselves with the company of fellow progressives.

Rhinecliff gatherings take place on the first Sunday of every month from 7:00pm - 9:00pm at The Rhinecliff Hotel. Last weeks regularly scheduled meeting was moved to tonight due to the holiday weekend.

Drinking Liberally Rhinecliff is the first and currently the only Dutchess county chapter of DL."

Click HERE to read previous articles on Drinking Liberally Rhinecliff or READ Drinking Liberally Rhinecliff's site.

(Tonight is also a Tweetup for Drinking Liberally Rhinecliff and rhinecliff.org. #DLrhinecliff http://twtvite.com/ih1awd)

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office reports the recent investigation into numerous residential and commercial burglaries throughout Dutchess County, as well as the arrests of two people in connection with them.

The investigations began in mid-November and quickly expanded as more burglaries were committed and reported to police. A total of 12 burglaries have been investigated and closed by these arrests so far with more suspected, and the burglaries span throughout the entire county of Dutchess and even into other jurisdictions including Ulster County and Connecticut. The arrests were followed by the execution of four (4) search warrants at various locations within Dutchess County, after which numerous stolen items were recovered. The recovered proceeds include electronic items such as large screen TV’s and computers as well as jewelry, all of which total in the many thousands of dollars.

The identity of the defendants is being withheld in order to protect the integrity of the investigation. The defendants will only be described at this time as being male and female, and they are charged at this time with Burglary in the 2nd Degree (Class C Felony). Both defendants were arraigned and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail. In addition to the burglary charges the male subject is also wanted on a NYS Parole warrant, and the female subject is wanted on a warrant in Connecticut.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the investigation by many other agencies including the New York State Police, Connecticut State Police, Town of Poughkeepsie Police, Town of Hyde Park Police, and the Town of New Paltz Police. The investigation is ongoing and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

Due to the New Years Holiday weekend tonight's meeting has been moved to next Sunday.

Drinking Liberally Rhinecliff normally meets at The Rhinecliff Hotel on the first Sunday of every month from 7:00pm - 9:00pm.

Click HERE to read previous articles on Drinking Liberally Rhinecliff or READ Drinking Liberally Rhinecliff's site.

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office is advising residents to be aware of burglaries this holiday season. The Sheriff’s Office has noticed a surge in burglaries that are occurring during the daytime hours when residents are typically not home.

Homeowners are encouraged to report any out of the ordinary or suspicious vehicles that are seen near their homes. If you come home to see an unfamiliar vehicle in your driveway, call the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office immediately at 845-486-3800.

It’s very important to memorize the vehicle’s license plate number, as well as any other identifying information, such as vehicle make and model, color, damage, aftermarket accessories, etc… If the vehicle flees, we need the description as well as the direction of travel. If you can get a description of the operator, including height, weight, sex, race, and dress, that is important as well.

RHINEBECK — The Town Board expects to vote Dec. 21 on town comprehensive plan and zoning law updates that will require gun clubs to try to reduce noise, but won’t force them to make changes if the cost is prohibitive.

The meeting will be 6:45 p.m. in Town Hall, 80 E. Market St.

A Town Board meeting is also scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Monday, when officials expect to be given final versions of the comprehensive plan, zoning law, and wetlands regulations.

READ MORE at The Daily Freeman

The following update was provided by Rhinecliff resident John F. Lyons

The Town Board voted unanimously to abandon the proposed changes to the RA10 zone. Town Hall was packed and almost 30 citizens spoke in opposition. In addition, the Dutchess County Planning Department, the Rhinebeck Conservation Advisory Council, Hudson River Heritage and Scenic Hudson all came out in opposition to this proposal.
 
Thanks to all of you who wrote letters, attended the meetings and made your voices heard. This was a terrific community effort. And in the end the right thing was done for our community.
 
Our sincere thanks also go out to the members of the Town Board. They patiently listened to all of the public comment and, once again, took positive action in response. We commend them and appreciate their effort.
 
There is more good news. The new Comp Plan and zoning law are on track to be enacted by the end of this year. The Town Board will hold a special meeting on Monday, December 21 at 6:30 PM. At that time it is anticipated the Board will adopt: (1) the final SEQRA Findings Statement; the new Comprehensive Plan; the new zoning law; the local wetlands law; and the new subdivision regulations.
 
Thanks again to everyone for all your participation and effort.
 

The last scheduled public hearing concerning adoption of the Comprehensive Plan; Local Law No. 6 of 2009 entitled "A Local Law Amending the Town of Rhinebeck Zoning Law"; and Local Law No. 7 of 2009 entitled "Freshwater Wetlands Law of the Town of Rhinebeck" ("Proposed Actions") will be held  Monday, November 30, 6:30 PM at Rhinebeck Town Hall.

All residents of Rhinecliff and Rhinebeck are encouraged to attend.

There have been proposed last minute changes to the zoning that have concerned many area residents.

To view some of the letters from concerned residents CLICK HERE.

(Via Mid-Hudson News)

KINGSTON – The idea of running a ferry between Kingston and Rhinecliff, and possibly Tivoli and Saugerties, is very much alive.

The idea was first advanced years ago and discussion has been on and off.

Now, the City of Kingston is revving up the idea. City Economic Development Director Stephen Finkle told the Waterfront Advisory Committee Wednesday the city hopes to hire a consultant in the not too distant future to study the feasibility of making ferry service a reality.

“There’s a federal ferry discretionary program that is seeking applications for 2011 and I hope we have enough information to put in an application,” he said.

If the city hires the company it could have some answers by next spring.

In addition to the ferry feasibility study, Finkle noted the $1.4 million Walkway project that is currently underway to open up access to new areas of the waterfront should be substantially completed by the end of the year.

The National Climate Seminar at Bard CEP

The National Climate Seminar is a bi-weekly, national phone conversation featuring top climate scientists, political leaders, and policy analysts. Hosted by the Bard Center for Environmental Policy, the seminars are available live to educators, students and citizens, by telephone at no charge.

Click HERE for additional details:

Fall 2009 National Climate Seminar Schedule: The World Decides

ROAD CLOSING AND DETOUR ANNOUNCEMENT

Please be advised that the Dutchess County Department of Public Works

will be replacing the culvert on CR 101, a.k.a Violet Hill Road, in Rhinebeck. 

Beginning the week of June 1, 2009, CR101 will be closed between NYS Route 308 and Burger Road for construction activity.  A detour route will be posted.  It is anticipated that the project will be completed September 2009. 

Questions related to the project or the detour should be referred to the Dutchess County Department of Public Works at (845) 486-2925.

Memorial Day Observances in Rhinecliff May 25, 2009

Memorial day gun salute following the annual parade in Rhinecliff.

Rhinebeck Town Supervisor Tom Traudt, Board Member Dan Staley, Board Member Dod Crane, and Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner observe Memorial Day ceremony in Rhinecliff.

A Hudson River water taxi that will ferry people from Kingston to Rhinecliff and back will be launched today.

The official launching of the taxi, known as The Lark, will be at 5 p.m. from the Rondout Creek docks at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Downtown Kingston.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, the inaugural ride to the Rondout Lighthouse near Kingston Point will take place. That ride, too, will start at the Maritime Museum.

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