Rev. Geer to Retire from St. Philip's Haldane Academy Told to Vacate St. Basil
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
[FREE] Serving Philipstown and Beacon Snow Day Photos See Page 13 FEBRUARY 17, 2017 161 MAIN ST., COLD SPRING, N.Y. | highlandscurrent.com Rev. Geer to Retire from St. Philip’s Will step down in 2018 after 30 years By Alison Rooney DOG'S BEST FRIEND — Two loyal masters brave the elements on Feb. 9 on North Street in Cold Spring for a daily constitutional. For more snowy shots, see Page 13. Photo by Anita Peltonen Haldane Academy Told to Vacate St. Basil The Rev. Frank Geer Photo by Steve Basch n the first Sunday in August 1987, State says program cannot the Rev. Frank Geer gave his debut operate at private school Osermon at St. Philip’s-in-the-High- lands, an Episcopal church in Garrison outside district that was founded in the 1770s. Geer had just moved with his wife Sarah and their By Michael Turton two children into its stone rectory. Geer, taking note of that day 30 years tate education officials have told the ago, and noting he will turn 70 this year, Haldane Central School District it on Feb. 5 announced his retirement. He Scannot continue to operate its Hal- plans to leave in the spring of 2018, after dane Academy at St. Basil Academy in Easter. In the meantime he will assist in Alison Anthoine Dave Merandy File photos by Michael Turton Garrison after the current school year be- finding his successor and help plan the fu- cause the latter is a private school in an- ture of the church, which has about 350 other district. congregants. Haldane Academy, an alternative voca- Cold Spring Will Have Contested Election The method of matching rector to con- tional high school, opened in September Village residents go to polls Mar. 21, and three candidates will pursue gregation is much like matching employees on the campus of St. Basil, which is oper- two open village board seats. to companies, Geer explains. “I made an ated by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese on Mar. 21 Each candidate submitted nominating appointment to see the Bishop of New York, of America and located in the Garrison lison Anthoine, a lawyer and im- petitions to the Putnam County Board of and I told him I felt I was ready to be rec- Union Free School District. Nine Hal- mediate past president of the Cold Elections by the Feb. 14 deadline. tor of my own church. He had known me dane High School students attend morn- ASpring Area Chamber of Com- Marie Early and Frances Murphy, for some time — he had given the permis- ing classes at an administrative building merce, will challenge first-term Cold elected to the board in 2014, are seeking sion for me to enter the priesthood — and on the Cold Spring (Continued on Page 6) Spring Mayor Dave Merandy on Tuesday, re-election against challenger Margaret agreed with me.” (Continued on Page 8) (Continued on Page 7) 2 FEBRUARY 17, 2017 The Highlands Current highlandscurrent.com Cook On: 1 part chaos, 2 parts calm Choose Your Filling story behind it, this pastry owns rights. By Mary Ann Ebner “It’s the shape of hamantaschen that hen bullies strike, nothing like separates them from any other pastry,” fine pastry puts them in their explained Diane Botnick, a member of place. Sharing crumbly cakes Philipstown Reform Synagogue. “They’re W symbolic of the three-cornered hat of the may sweeten even the most obnoxious characters, but naming a [biblical] villain Haman.” In Hebrew the pocket- sweet treat after a villain “They’re symbolic of has given victims the last style cookies are called the three-cornered hat word — hamantaschen — oznei Haman or Haman’s along with the last bite. of the [biblical] villain ears. Whether named for ears or hats, or early on for Hamantaschen cookies Haman.” are the signature tri-cor- pockets of poppy seeds as in nered baked goods filled with surprises, the Yiddish montaschen, all long savored as part of the Jewish Purim sources seem to agree that hamantaschen festival. If there’s a cookie with a good were designed to remind the Jewish peo- ple of their victory over a despot. Hamantaschen Photos by M.A. Ebner In ancient Persia during the reign of King Ahasuerus, Ha- Purim begins the evening of Saturday, we learned a little about Haman and ha- man lobbied for all Jews to be March 11 and ends March 12, but you can mantaschen. The children were given killed. Mordechai helped stop bake hamantaschen anytime. I often see noisemakers called groggers. Each time the plot with reinforcement the treats at my favorite Rockland County the villainous Haman’s name was read, from his relative Esther. The bakery, but it took a trip to Austin, Texas the children made as much noise as pos- king was looking for a wife, to try them. Friends invited my family to sible. My sons recall this celebration as so Mordechai orchestrated a a Purim festival at their synagogue where a special day with friends to eat haman- beauty pageant of sorts that in- taschen together. cluded Esther. Hamantaschen The king fell in love with Esther. Revealing her Jewish Yield: 20 faith, she alerted him to Ha- Dough 2 eggs man’s plan, and the villain was ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, 2 cups flour sent to the gallows. To com- softened 1 teaspoon baking powder memorate the thwarting of Ha- ½ cup sugar pinch of salt man’s plot, the Jewish people 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ cup jam or poppy seed filling established Purim to celebrate 1. Cream butter and sugar until blended. Stir in vanilla and eggs. Add dry their salvation. ingredients and mix thoroughly. Chill dough 30 minutes. During Purim, haman- 2. Divide dough into two sections. Lightly flour work surface. Roll dough about taschen pastries replace the ⅛-inch thick. Use circle cutter or glass to cut 2-inch rounds. Place dough breads typically shared after rounds on parchment-lined baking sheet. services. “Hamantaschen is ba- 3. Fill rounds with a dollop of jam. Pinch edges together to form three sides. sically made with a shortbread Leave a small center opening to let filling peek from triangles. (Optional: brush pastry,” Botnick said. “I’ve also egg wash over pastries before baking.) Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees until had them with a sour cream pastry turns light golden. base but it’s always a simple dough. Prune, poppy seed and Poppy seed filling apricot are traditional fillings,” 1 egg 1 teaspoon milk Prepare hamantaschen with your preferred fillings but they are also made with 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons crushed and pinch into triangular shapes. other fruits or chocolate. 1 teaspoon sugar poppy seeds Whisk egg in small bowl. Heat honey over low heat, stir in sugar until blended. Add egg and milk, stirring through about 3 minutes to thicken. Mix in crushed Seed-Sowing at Stonecrop Gardens poppy seeds. Cool completely. Please join us for our first workshop of the season... Part 1 - February 25, 9 am-1 pm (Snow date March 4) Learn the basic principles of seed propagation and seed-sowing techniques to sow a variety of annuals. Part 2 - April 8, 9 am-1 pm (Snow date April 15) Learn how to prick out the germinated seedlings into larger rounds to take home and grow in your garden. Space is limited to 12 participants. Participants must attend both workshops. Registration and pre-payment required. $50/$40 for members. To register, please call (845) 265-2000 or email us at [email protected] Support Groups For a full list of area support groups, visit: highlandscurrent.com/sg highlandscurrent.com The Highlands Current FEBRUARY 17, 2017 3 Beacon to Consider Major Changes on Affordable Housing Proposed law would available at below-market rates. The new come on housing costs, which include rent to deposit payments into an affordable law would adjust that requirement to 10 and utilities or a mortgage payment, utili- housing fund instead of including below- increase lower-income units percent of projects with 10 or more units. ties, insurance and taxes. If the Beacon market rate units in their projects. That in new projects Other major changes being considered Council approves the proposed change, el- provision would be replaced by regula- are modifications to the in- igible households would be tions allowing developers to provide af- By Jeff Simms come requirements for ... “a balanced mix able to rent or buy afford- fordable units in the same building, in a eligible households and able units at a cost not ex- separate building on the same property he Beacon City Council will hold a giving priority for afford- of housing types ceeding 30 percent of their or on a separate property no more than public hearing in March to discuss able “workforce” units to income. With utilities, that 1,000 feet away. sweeping changes that are being and sizes that are T households with emergen- works out for a four-person Although the city wanted to give devel- proposed for the city’s affordable housing affordable to a range cy responders, municipal family to $1,524 per month. opers some flexibility in how housing proj- regulations. The date will be set at its Feb. and school system employ- of incomes,” which are Housing projects already ects are laid out, council members have 20 meeting. ees and current and former approved will be grand- struggled with the perception that units The changes, which have been under “essential to ensuring members of the military. fathered in, which was a could be segregated by income. discussion since last summer, about the the long-term health of Under the proposed chang- sticking point developers The proposed law would also allow de- same time that advertisements began es, households that earn 70 the community,” argued for last year during velopers to build up to 10 “bonus” mar- circulating for Beacon’s first seven-figure percent or less of the area's a first round of public hear- ket-rate units if they meet the affordable condominiums, would fine-tune the city's median income (AMI) would be eligible for ings.