Seven Candidates Want Skartados' Assembly Seat Garrison School
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[FREE] Serving Philipstown and Beacon Rock ’n Roll Fantasy Page 9 JULY 20, 2018 161 MAIN ST., COLD SPRING, N.Y. | highlandscurrent.com Seven Candidates Want Skartados’ Assembly Seat Five Democrats hope to fifth overall. He died on April 15 at age 62 of pancreatic cancer. succeed late legislator The victor in the Nov. 6 general elec- tion will be sworn in almost immedi- By Jeff Simms ately after the results are confirmed, said even candidates, including a member Christopher Whitson, Skartados’ former of the Beacon City Council, have filed community outreach coordinator, who is Sto run for the seat in the state As- manning the district office in Newburgh. sembly held by Frank Skartados, who died Usually the winner is sworn in on Jan. 1. in April. His seat represents the 104th Whitson said the district office is only District, which includes Beacon and New- addressing constituent concerns until the burgh. election. It can be reached at 845-562- A primary election on Sept. 13 will nar- 0888. row the field of five Democrats and two The Current will provide more informa- Republicans. Skartados had held the seat tion about the candidates and their posi- since 2012 in the solidly Democratic dis- tions closer to the election, but below are STAYING LOOSE — An umpire stretches between innings at the North Highlands field trict (in 2016 he won 81 percent of the vote) brief introductions to each. during a sectional Little League game on July 13 between Fishkill-Philipstown and and would have been up for re-election for Ralph Coates, a former Poughkeepsie Saugerties. The “Fishtown” team advanced, 12-3. See Page 20. Photo by Ross Corsair his fourth consecutive two-year term, and alderman and school (To Page 6) The Ocean Garrison School Board Passes at the Gates Climate-Change Resolution Concerns about Hudson as After debate, calls on elected warming qualifies — the Garrison Board of Education on July 11 unanimously ap- feds consider storm barriers officials to take action proved a resolution calling on elected officials to “implement concrete steps to By Brian PJ Cronin By Chip Rowe mitigate climate change.” The Hudson Krystal Ford, a Garrison parent, lobbied five-mile stretch of open water be- ollowing 25 minutes of debate at the board to adopt the resolution as part tween Sandy Hook in New Jersey an earlier meeting about whether following year to request funding. of a nascent national initiative organized and Breezy Point in Queens is all school boards should take stands A “We’re not proposing anything now,” F by Schools for Climate Action. Its website that separates New York Harbor and the on political issues — and whether global said Bryce Wisemiller, a project manager (Continued on Page 5) Hudson River from the Atlantic Ocean. for the Army Corp. “We’re only studying Now, in response to extreme storms things. It’s going to take a long time. It’s a such as Hurricane Sandy, the U.S. Army very involved process, and there’s going to Corp of Engineers is examining what be many steps through which the public would happen if that stretch was walled and municipalities will be able to give us off. their comments and input.” A five-mile barrier that would close to Daria Mazey, who is the project biolo- prevent flooding was one of six alterna- gist for the Army Corp, added that the tives — including doing nothing — that the initial study and hearings are “about fig- agency proposed as part of its New York/ uring out what are the right questions we New Jersey Harbor & Tributaries Focus need to be asking,” and how to find the Area Feasibility Study. Of the others, four answers. “We’re looking to local commu- involve floodgates and levees placed in the nities and stakeholders as keepers of valu- harbor, on the Hudson or on tributaries, able local knowledge that you have be- while the other consists of shoreline mea- cause you live in this community. This is sures that don’t block the flow of water. our opportunity to ask, what do we need The proposals were presented to the to look at? What are we missing? What public in three meetings, one of which are the information sources that are out took place in Poughkeepsie on July 11. The there that might help us as we move for- Army Corp is soliciting public comment ward in our analysis?” to winnow the field to two plans, which Nevertheless, the study has already would then be studied to determine envi- drawn concern from environmental LIVING ON THE RIVER — Lauren Benz prepares an outrigger for the shanty boat that ronmental impact, cost, benefits and fea- groups for both the impact a barrier could she and Wes Modes are sailing down the Hudson as part of a project called “A Secret sibility. A final report would be scheduled have on the ecological health of the Hud- History of the American River People.” They passed the Highlands on July 19. See for 2021 and presented to Congress the son River and (Continued on Page 18) Page 13. Photo by Ross Corsair 2 JULY 20, 2018 The Highlands Current highlandscurrent.com On the Spot By Michael Turton Five Questions: WESLEY MANN What’s your summer 5By Alison Rooney comfort food? esley Mann has performed in 13 seasons of the Hud- son Valley Shakespeare Festival. This summer he por- Wtrays the Earl of Northumberland in Richard II and the manservant Pierre in The Heart of Robin Hood. What are the challenges of performing under a tent? The space demands more of you. You have to navigate the tent masts, which means it’s important to move, because some seats have an obstructed view, and you want to be seen. The space de- mands that you separate yourself from the other actors to main- tain sightlines, and that you speak louder. Plus, we’re upstaged by the beauty. The first time I saw the view, I was gobsmacked. I always like to be here when members of the Conservatory Com- pany first arrive because they can’t believe what they’re seeing. Your Wikipedia entry says you have “a long-suffering, vaguely glib demeanor.” Would you agree? Well, let’s look up glib [silently reads definition]. Hmmm. I don’t think I’m “insincere or thoughtless.” Every moment onstage is specific and well-rehearsed. I don’t know who writes these Wikipedia things. I like what one reviewer called me: “goofily “Fresh cod on the grill and a glass of wily” and “delightfully weird.” I was going to get a T-shirt made, chilled white Greek wine.” with one on the front and one on the back. ~ Christine Zouzias, Philipstown What are your favorite Highlands haunts? I grew up in northern California and live in Los Angeles, but I’ve Wesley Mann in The Heart of Robin Hood HVSF always loved this community. Cathryn Fadde at Cathryn’s Tuscan Grill has been great to us and for us. My watering hole used to be Do you get recognized more in L.A. or Cold Spring? Whistling Willie’s, with the old owner. I love Riverview, too. Dur- In L.A., I get recognized because of my TV work. People usual- ing the 10 years I was here consistently I’d see businesses open ly say, “I know you, but I don’t know your name.” Here, they know and would wonder if they’d be there the next summer. my name — they call out to me — it just happened, in a music shop in Beacon. It’s sweet. I love talking to people about their HVSF history, what plays they’ve seen. What are you doing in the fall? It looks like I’ll be doing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in Pasadena. I have never done Stoppard. It begins in early September, right when we end here, so I’ll be getting in my little convertible and zooming out of town. “Crab cakes and a sparkling rosé on the Newburgh waterfront.” artful cooking / event planning ~ Chris Barczymski, Beacon 845-424-8204 www.freshcompany.net VISION FROM THE DARKNESS — The most foreboding character in the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival’s production of The Heart of Robin Hood is the Green Man, portrayed by Colleen Litchfield. For a behind-the- scenes video by The Current’s Mark “Ginger beer with gluten-free toast and Westin on how the puppet was created cashew cream-cheese butter spread.” and functions, see highlandscurrent. ~Hannah Schmollinger, Beacon com/green-man. HVSF highlandscurrent.com The Highlands Current JULY 20, 2018 3 Homeland Sues Nelsonville Over Cell-Tower Denial Two lawsuits now in federal the complaint], the more confident I feel tower “valueless and undevelopable,” and about our position.” thus was “an unconstitutional or oth- court, the other against The ZBA’s May 30 vote followed 10 erwise unlawful ‘taking’ of Homeland’s Philipstown months of scrutiny of the proposed 110- property without just compensation.” foot tower, which Homeland and Verizon The complaint cites suspicions that By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong say is needed to fill gaps in wireless cover- O’Neill and other community leaders and age but which many residents fiercely op- residents collaborated to pressure the omeland Towers and its partner, posed as intrusive and unnecessary. ZBA to reject the project. Further, without Verizon, have sued the Village of elaborating, it alleges the Village Board, Nelsonville, alleging its zoning H “The more I read [in the ZBA and Planning Board “conducted un- board made an “arbitrary and capricious” noticed and secret executive secessions decision to deny its application to build complaint], the more confident [sessions] to deliberate and discuss the a cell tower overlooking the Cold Spring I feel about our position.” application, in violation of the law.” Cemetery.