* Winner: 13 Better Newspaper Contest Awards *New York Press Association, 2013 & 2014 The Winter’s Tale in summer at HVSF See page 7 FREE | FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015 69 MAIN ST., COLD SPRING, N.Y. | www.philipstown.info Town Board Withdraws Draft Law on Large Gatherings Intends to redraft controversial proposal By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong aced by a standing-room- only crowd and barrage of criticism, the Philipstown F Town officials open the paving forum; from left, consulting engineer Ron Gainer, Highway Town Board on July 9 scrapped a draft law requiring temporary Superintendent Roger Chirico, Councilors Robert Flaherty and Nancy Montgomery, permits for the holding of large Supervisor Richard Shea, Councilors John Van Tassel and Mike Leonard, Town Clerk Tina events – such as fundraising lawn Merando. At left, Theresa Orlandi opposes paving. Photos by L.S. Armstrong parties and barn dances – on pri- vate property and decided to revise the concept. Town Board Votes to Pave Part of South Mountain Pass The board pulled back after a public Opponents allege ‘under dog, approximately 50 residents filled the hearing on the measure, which also con- Recreation Center hall in Garrison for tained provisions regulating filmmak- the table’ acts and no ‘due the board session. Over similar dissent, ing. Board members had intended to diligence’ on June 10 the Town Board approved an vote on adopting the draft during their expanded drainage project, to be comple- mented and protected by the paving, for formal monthly meeting, which followed By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong the public hearing. At the hearing, nu- the troublesome stretch of South Moun- merous residents objected to all or part espite lengthy protests, irate dirt- tain Pass, leading uphill from Route 9D. of the proposal, citing its impact on ev- road advocates Tuesday night Twisting, with 10 to 15 percent grades, erything from family reunions to garden (July 14) failed to deter the Phil- South Mountain Pass reportedly dates D from colonial days and runs eastward club fetes to “250 people just hanging ipstown Town Board from unanimously around doing a whole lot of nothing” to voting to pave a 2,600-foot strip of South from Route 9D to Route 9 just beyond fire department operations. A modicum Mountain Pass. the Putnam County–Philipstown border Glenn Lebwohl-Steiner seeks more of support for some aspects of the draft Citing a need to ensure environmen- with Westchester County–Cortlandt. community unity. law – such as oversight of outdoor music tal and human safety — including emer- Acrimony and allegations sound systems – also was voiced. gency-vehicle access — the board acted Various audience members Tuesday avoid such interruptions, alleged that As drafted, the measure required a tem- at a workshop capping seven weeks of raised the political “pork barrel” spec- Town Board actions stemmed from porary permit for any “occasion on private intense public debate. Accompanied by ter, cut into board members’ remarks bribery and shouted angrily. Nearly all lands which do not have an approved site children of assorted ages and at least one and said, “You have to earn respect” to attendees denounced (To page 3) plan or equivalent approval for such use” — for example, those not established as restaurants or related venues — “and for ‘Roger Ailes Senior Center’? County Said ‘No’ to Such which a fee is charged,” either to attendees or as rent for the space. Likewise, it called for a permit for any event drawing 250 or Tributes in 2008 more attendees, even those charging no Legislature banned naming fee, and specified that for an event “held in a structure other than a tent, without facilities for those still alive sprinklers,” the organizers had to ensure By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong “that a manned pumper-tanker [fire] truck will be on-site during the event.” esires to affix Roger Ailes’ name Currently, no mechanism exists in the to Putnam County’s senior citi- town code for non-profit institutions or Dzens center in the Butterfield re- individuals with land or picturesque old development appear to conflict with a buildings to host occasional fundrais- 2008 county ban on naming any county ing dinners, picnics, dances, or lawn facility after anyone not dead for at least parties, or rent their meadows for wed- five years. dings. Lacking other recourse, the town Naming of the planned center after government issues parade permits, even Ailes, chairman and chief executive offi- when no parade occurs, for such events. cer of Fox News, was announced by Paul Supervisor Richard Shea explained that Guillaro of Butterfield LLC, the site own- the draft law was “intended to try to as- er, at the groundbreaking ceremony July sist these institutions and individuals. It’s 8. Ailes, himself a senior citizen, lives in not an attempt to overburden people or Garrison and has pledged $500,000 for put more regulation on,” he said. He also the center, expected to cost more than Left to right, Elizabeth Ailes, Roger Ailes, and developer Paul Guillaro said that “safety is one of the aspects of it” $3.4 million for inside construction, op- Photo by Michael Turton and that the town government wants “to erations and rent for 15 years. The center assist people holding large events while would occupy leased space in a commer- field will be named. “Two keystones of space and a new senior friendship and making sure that the events are going to cial-office building in the complex. the property will be Pataki Park as well nutrition center,” Odell said. be safe.” At the groundbreaking ceremony, Put- as the Roger Ailes Senior Center, both A July 10 news release from Odell re- “This is really geared for organizations nam County Executive MaryEllen Odell improving the quality of life for our resi- ferred to the event as not only “the that have a structure that doesn’t meet thanked Ailes and his wife, Beth, and dents in the western part of the county groundbreaking” of the redevelopment code presently because of the historic val- also lauded former Gov. George Pataki, and those in the Hudson Valley by pro- but as “the dedication of the Roger Ailes ue,” said Councilor Nancy Montgomery. another Garrison resident for whom a viding an opportunity to enjoy open Senior Center,” although no new building “We’d like to (Continued on page 4) one-acre, (non-county) park at Butter- (Continued on page 3) 2 July 17, 2015 The Paper www.philipstown.info | Philipstown.info Small, Good Things ly fleeting and as short-lived in season: It is said when you hear fireworks, you’d better come run- ning; blink and the cherries will be gone. We find Hello and Goodbye ourselves now at the end of that season. Thankfully, for some reason, the birds this year By Joe Dizney didn’t seem as interested in the better-than-aver- age crop, and even once the pies have been baked, “This life, I see, is but a cherry fair. the surplus harvest requires other solutions. All things pass and so must I, (always).” Again, we are “gifted” with an opportunity to ~ Charles d’Orleans, celebrate the fragility and passing of time — and “Farewell This World” a chance to preserve a bit of its essence. he older I get, the more it seems that this In their respective and essential fruit cook- life is an opportunity for the constant appre- books, both Jane Grigson and Alice Waters sug- Tciation of change — particularly when con- gest pickled sour cherries as one solution. In fronted with the dazzling and sensual play of time both their versions the preparation couldn’t be and the seasons over these Hudson Highlands. simpler — it is even suggested that the pickles A celebration of the ephemeral and fleeting benefit from the fruit not being pitted. Cerises passage of time is certainly not a tendency ac- à l’aigre-doux are prepared by placing washed corded cultural relevance in the modern world whole cherries in a sterile jar and covering them — certainly not in that city downriver trading as with a spiced, sweetened and boiled vinegar so- it does in the immediate gratifications and the lution. The seasoning options are variable and bright, shiny, superficial objects of technology endless (cloves, cinnamon, anise), but I settled on and fashion. a very simple combination of black pepper and Maybe it’s just this current season, this July bay leaves. Once cured (for at least a month), an that has seemed like a September on more-than- open jar will keep (refrigerated for up to a year) Pickled sour cherries Photos by J. Dizney one beautiful morning: cool, moist, abundant. for extended enjoyment along with a spread of The gardens are lush, almost British in their cornichon and charcuterie — verdancy. Friends of mine are by now weary of particularly pork or duck. my tentative Buddhist exhortations for a mind- As a more energy-intensive al- Pickled Sour Cherries ful and grateful appreciation of the present and ternative — and for immediate (Cerises à l’aigre-doux) a fundamental acceptance of life’s fragility, im- gratification, I suggest sour cher- Makes about two pints permanence and uncertainty. But really, there is ry chutney. This relish, in keep- ample cause to celebrate it all. ing with the previous “Small, ½ cup white vinegar 20 black peppercorns Idealistic thinking, maybe, and surely a bit Good Things” offerings, covers a 1/3 cup water 4 bay leaves strange and hopeful, considering that Western few more bases on the taste pal- 4 ounces sugar ½ pound sour cherries, rinsed, stems culture tends to hold in its highest regard those ette. Sweeter with the addition clipped in half things that are (seemingly) permanent and un- of currants (golden raisins might 1.