Concept of Linking Cold Spring, Fishkill and Beacon With ‘Fjord Trail’ Advances

May 1, 2013 Creating a hike-bike path By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong for more local news check out the papers website.

http://philipstown.info/2013/05/01/concept-of-linking-cold-spring-and-beacon-with-fjord-trail-advances/

The concept of a pedestrian path along the Hudson River between Cold Spring and Beacon took another small step forward last Saturday, April 27, when an ad hoc group gathered to get updates and outline goals.

Held in Garrison at Winter Hill, a former mansion turned into offices for nonprofit organizations, the session drew about 35 attendees, including two town supervisors, Philipstown’s Richard Shea and Fishkill’s Bob LaColla, and Cold Spring Trustee Stephanie Hawkins.

James Hartford displays his design for a shed for hikers at Little Stony Point, a stop on a planned ’Fjord Trail’ along the Hudson River. Photo by L.S. Armstrong

Known unofficially as the “Hudson Fjord Trail” or “Hudson River Hike-Bike Fjord Trail,” the path would parallel the river, Metro-North railroad tracks, and Route 9D, starting with a stretch between Cold Spring and Beacon. (Ultimately, it might extend south to the Bear Mountain Bridge, cross the Hudson, continue on the western side of the river to the Newburgh-Beacon bridge, and wind back through Beacon to Cold Spring.)

Since 2006, the trail has been pursued at the governmental and nonprofit level with growing momentum. Recent grants bring the amount available for preliminary work, such as drafting a master plan, to $26,000. Numerous difficulties remain, including finding a way to get hikers through or around the Breakneck highway tunnel. However, one potential problem, the need to acquire property from private owners, has apparently been averted. “We don’t see taking of anybody’s land, trespassing, or anything like that,” said Mark Wildonger, a professional planner with Scenic Hudson.

Michael McKee, chairperson of the Philipstown Greenway Committee, an offshoot of the Hudson River Valley Greenway (New York state partnership with towns and counties), said the trail idea evolved from concerns about pedestrians along Route 9D. On part of 9D, a narrow, two-lane, curving state highway, the speed limit is 55 miles per hour, although the road often teems with hikers using trailheads between Cold Spring and Beacon. One, Breakneck trail, is reportedly the most popular day-hiking destination in the country. With the trail, “the whole experience of the road will change from a sort of autobahn to a parkway” friendly to hikers, McKee said.

Participants took up numerous topics, including signage to direct visitors to hiking trails, use of the weekend trolley to reach trailheads, marketing, collaborating with local businesses, reducing the 9D speed limit, and parking, though no one seemed to want the latter overemphasized to the detriment of scenery and hiking.

“It’s not about cars. It’s about people. It’s about walking,” said James Hartford, a Cold Spring architect who, on a pro bono basis, provided a design for a hiking shelter at Little Stony Point, a trail stop, and, with Little Stony Point caretaker John Teagle, is undertaking other improvements.

“Car-free is carefree — that’s what we want” to foster as an attitude, said Dar Williams, another Cold Spring resident.

Funding came up, too. Shea, a long-time trail advocate, asked rhetorically, “Where can people write checks to? It’s been a persistent issue.” He urged creation of a distinct entity, with “a group name and an account set up” to receive contributions.

The group then spent some time discussing a formal name for the trail and an official organization to support it. Describing the trail as “a great thing,” LaColla, the Fishkill supervisor, advised against a title that sounds too Philipstown-oriented. “What I’d hate to see is any kind of parochialism,” he said. The river constitutes “a natural resource that is a regional asset,” he added, noting that another potential attraction, a rebuilt incline railroad up Mount Beacon, would likely increase the area’s attractiveness.

Participants decided to meet again in June and to meanwhile dig into the various topics raised. Hartford also sought assistance with the Little Stony Point shed and related upgrading. “This is something you can all volunteer to do right now — help us with this,” he said.

5/1/2013 Fishkill town board meeting

This meeting was televised and available for review on the town's website.

http://fishkilltownny.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1074

Highlights:

Detective Gallo was recognized for his work on a car accident.

Senator Gipson spoke and stated he was interested in working with Fishkill on the Revolutionary War Burial Ground, the Fjord trail to Breakneck and hinted that he would not support a Hotel Tax. He also asked if any citizen had a question, feel free to contact him.

A highway employee spoke and asked about Lag Pay reimbursement and the supervisor stated that there was no money in the budget for this year.

The board also recognized Mr. Ron Greene for his research of the Zion Church on Baxtertown road that was part of the underground RR.

Dutchess Republicans take hops handout

As published in the 4/19/2013 issue of the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Recently the Poughkeepsie Journal covered a story involving Hop Farmers and a $100,000 handout from Sen. Charles Schumer (“Hops farms may aid microbrewers,” March 26). What the paper left out was that the benefactors were Dutchess County Republicans. One is a current elected official, another one a former elected official who was ousted because of scandal and the last was a high-ranking committee member.

What I don’t understand is how Dutchess County Republicans can ask for a handout, after they hosted two Tea Parties at Dutchess Stadium and supported candidates that decried the stimulus. This goes beyond logical reason and is hypocritical. While I am pro-hop and business, and wish the Republicans success in their enterprise, I wish they would do so without a taxpayer handout.

But this hypocrisy is a cornerstone of today’s “Republican Establishment.” Even Paul Ryan, the GOP’s vice presidential nominee, decried the stimulus while applying for aid. What’s even more amazing is that the “low information voter” continues to vote and support those who campaign against handouts while taking handouts for themselves.

Ozzy Albra

Fishkill

Fishkill man to be honored for uncovering story of Underground Railroad stop

For more free local news, check out www.midhudsonnews.com

FISHKILL – Fishkill resident Ronald Greene will be honored next month with the first Hudson River Heritage Award for his years of historical research to uncover the story of the Zion Pilgrim M.E. Church of Baxtertown, now confirmed to be a stop on the Underground Railroad.

The Fishkill Democratic Committee will present Greene with the honor at a dinner on Sunday, May 19.

Greene, is an ordained, licensed clinical social worker and president of Greene Resources Services Inc., a consulting firm.

His research, over a span of three years, led to historical documents on file at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The foundations of the church are on Greene's residential property. Prior to his research, there were a number of historical references, but many questions remained about Baxtertown as a vibrant African-American township during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Greene's research brought this story to light, with a focus on the church's role as being instrumental in facilitating the Freedom Seekers Movement. After courageous journeys north, formerly enslaved men and women finally made their way to freedom through Baxtertown.

Currently, Greene is working closely with the New York State Office of Historic Preservation on a National Register of Historic Places listing for the church site, and to further national recognition.

Greene's “enormous dedication has led to the recognition of a great chapter in our town's history,” said Fishkill Democratic Chairman Kevin McCarthy. “This is exciting not only for Fishkill, but for the entire Hudson River Valley, New York State and the nation.”

Jackson House safe for 6 months under Fishkill moratorium

Written by Nina Schutzman Poughkeepsie Journal. For more local news, check out the papers website or subscribe to it as I do.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013304040019&gcheck=1&nclick_check=1

FISHKILL — After protests over the possible demolition of the Jackson House, there is now a six-month demolition moratorium on structures that are or may be historic in the village.

“The big question for us is, what happens after six months,” said Alan Strauber, co-chairman of Friends of Jackson House, a community organization that supports reusing the home instead of demolishing it. “We have to be prepared.”

The law, enacted Monday, puts a six-month moratorium on “demolition of and the issuance of demolition permits for structures located within the Village of Fishkill Historic Preservation Overlay Zone or listed on or eligible for listing on the State or National Register of Historic Places.”

Jackson House, built in 1741 by Fishkill resident Evert Swart, was most famously the home of Dutchess County Judge Joseph Jackson, Dutchess County Historian William Tatum said.

It’s on Jackson Street in the Fishkill Village District. The district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Jackson House is owned by developers Jackson Crossing LLC.

Jackson Crossing representatives could not be reached for comment.

“We’re consulting with members of the community to see what our options are, in the interest of preserving and restoring,” Strauber said. “I think it can be integrated into the modern community. We need the private and public levels working together for financial resources.”

Mayor Jim Miccio said the six months will be used to look into planning and zoning laws in the village code, but he’s not sure what will come after that.

“The language was not specific enough in our original law,” he said. “We have to make sure we don’t violate any owner’s rights, but we also want to maintain some control.”

Miccio said he doesn’t know what the developer’s plans are while the moratorium is in place.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to work with the developer to rehabilitate the house,” he said. “I can’t speak for the board but I don’t think they’d approve demolition without strong evidence that there’s no way to rehabilitate.”

Nina Schutzman: nschutzman@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-451-4518 Twitter:@pojonschutzman

4/3/2013 Fishkill Town Board Meeting

This meeting was televised and is available for review on the towns website.

http://fishkilltownny.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1072

I asked the board about escrow money at the 43 minute mark from a prior story that I posted on my blog.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Fishkill Project Back on Radar

For local Putnam County News, check out the papers website.

http://www.pcnr.com/news/2013-02-13/Front_Page/Fishkill_Project_Back_on_Radar.html

In a conversation with engineer Mark Day this week, the PCN&R was unable to confirm if any new plans are in place. “To my knowledge there are no plans,” Day said. Regarding the earlier trailer park development, he said, “Highland Valley has been pulled, if you will, from any agenda,” and added that the developer from that project was trying to retrieve the escrow money.

I asked how much money was owed and the board said that consultants said 0. I then asked what was the initial amount and the board responded that the escrow amount was $350,000. 

I anticipate legal action on this. 

Fishkill proposed Drainage Districts

For the last year, there have been discussions in Fishkill. To create “Special Drainage Districts” in the Town of Fishkill. These talks happened in Special Fishkill Town Board meetings that were not televised on August 29, 2012, September 26, 2012 and October 10 2012. The talks began as residents complained about the horrid conditions of Dutchess Park Lake. There seems to be some confusion as to what is going on, and I would like to explain the situation.

 

Dutchess Park Lake has not been properly maintained for years. Now the solution to the problem, according to the Republican members on the board. Is to create a “Special Drainage District”, to deal with the problem. What that means, is that they want to create a separate taxing entity. To pay for issues. That are already covered under the Highway budget, which you are already being taxed for. This issue is not only directed at residents of Dutchess Park. But residents that live in Beacon Hills and those who live in the McGrath area along Rt.82 are also being considered for a “Special Drainage District.”

 

What’s ironic, is that the Republican members of the board. Just last year did away with the developers “Downstream Fee’s” that could have been used to offset costs. But developers trump the taxpayer in Fishkill. After a 53% Property Tax increase, 78% water increase, 20% sewer increase to go along with a School Tax Bill Collection “Fee”. Republicans on the board now wish to add another tax line to the Fishkill taxpayer. Not to mention the fact that the GOP cost you money while botching the Flood Insurance issue. They are now also pushing for a Hotel Tax too boot.

 

Every Fishkill taxpayer should be against the creation of “Special Drainage Districts.” It goes against the principles of fiscal discipline and keeping government small. Every government survey shows. That these “Special Districts” are the root cause of  tax increases and inefficient government. Even this board is doing a analysis as we speak to consolidate our many water districts into one. If the Republican members on the board wish to proceed with creating another taxing entity in Fishkill. I ask them to notify the residents impacted by mail for the Public Hearing and if voted by the board with a yes. They then need to let the public vote on it with election machines. If the Republicans are against a Public Vote, this issue would be subject to a “Permissive Referendum.” This means if you collect about 100 names on a petition in the district impacted. The citizens can force a vote on the issue. I am sure that this act would be unnecessary. After all, the Republicans would surely be able to “sell” the public to vote yes on another tax increase.