Serving Philipstown and Beacon FREE! Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday Spring forward Friday, March 11, 2016 161 Main St., Cold Spring, N.Y. | philipstown.info Beacon Planning Council Sends Board Approves Zoning Petition Theater Project to Planning Board Other developments also Beacon neighbors want move forward “linkage” dropped By Jeff Simms By Jeff Simms he Beacon Planning Board has ap- s expected, the Beacon City Coun- proved redevelopment plans for the cil has referred a petition submit- Tcity’s historic Main Street Theater, Ated by a group of residents who while two new housing projects inched would like their neighborhood rezoned to closer to approval this week as well. the planning board for review. The coun- The theater has been a mainstay at 445 cil will hold a public hearing sometime be- Main Street since its opening in 1934. Af- fore April 16 before ruling on the request. ter a public hearing last month, the plan- Outgoing Haldane High School Principal Brian Alm speaks with a group of students. The parcels named in the petition — two ning board on Tuesday (March 8) granted Photo by M. Turton on the west side of South Avenue and five approval for the redevelopment of the 800- on the west side of Wolcott Avenue (Route seat theater. 9D) — are all within the “linkage zone” Architect Aryeh Siegel said Wednesday Haldane Principal to Leave established by the city in 2013 to support that reconstruction of the site could begin Brian Alm led high school nity for me, a very good match with my businesses on the west end of Main. The this summer. It will include 32 apartments, professional interests. There are a lot of seven parcels, however, as well as others many of them one bedroom, behind a ren- for nine years innovations happening there and a fluid, directly outside of the linkage zone, also ovated 195-seat performance space, which innovative environment is where I belong.” lie within the city’s Historic District and will sit on the building’s second floor, atop By Michael Turton Educators often move on to larger school Landmark Overlay, which requires own- a first floor lobby. Small retail spaces will districts after gaining experience in smaller ers to receive approval from the planning be incorporated as well, Siegel said. rincipal Brian Alm is leaving Haldane schools. Haldane tried to keep Alm and oth- board for exterior alterations. Three of the apartments will be afford- High School at the end of the school er senior administrators last summer when, The property owners presented their able housing. Resident parking, a minor Pyear to become director of second- in July, Bowers introduced a reorganization request to the city council last month, sticking point during the planning board’s ary teaching and learning for the Ossining plan, part of which included making Alm asking that it restore the single-family review, will be on Van Nydeck Avenue, School District. Haldane Superintendent assistant superintendent, a new position. residential zoning that existed prior to the behind the building. Van Nydeck will be Diana Bowers announced Alm’s resigna- The move was intended to help the approval of the linkage rezoning in 2013. striped for maximum parking efficiency, tion in a letter to the community on March district implement its strategic plan, but The catalyst for the residents’ request although Siegel said he hopes the smaller 8. He has been principal for nine years. it was also a pre-emptive strike aimed at were plans by Unicorn Contracting Corp. size of the apartments will attract renters “Everybody needs to grow,” Alm told keeping Haldane’s leadership team intact. to build a 70-unit development on the lots more inclined to (Continued on Page 6) The Paper. “This is a really good opportu- However, the community balked. Many next to the Reformed Church of Beacon on questioned the need for an assistant su- (Continued on Page 7) perintendent even though the proposed changes were budget-neutral. The fact that reorganization was proposed mid- summer and on a fast track also raised concerns. In the end, school board trust- ees, including those who initially sup- ported the idea, voted unanimously not to create the position. The process to choose Alm’s replace- ment has already begun. Bowers met with students and teachers this week and will soon sit down with parent fo- cus groups to discuss the characteristics they and the community feel candidates should possess. Alm’s successor will likely Beacon Police Chief Douglas Solomon introduced new officer, Trevor Wood. An artist’s rendition of The View, a development proposed in Beacon be selected by mid- to late-May, and his or her first day on (Continued on Page 5) Photo by Kevin E. Foley March 15, VOTE for Neighbors you can Trust. Steve Voloto & Lynn Miller for Village Trustees PAID ADVERTISEMENT 2 March 11, 2016 The Paper philipstown.info Roots and Shoots Spring Fever Gardeners are oh-so-ready end of the month. They prefer nighttime temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees. Now is an ideal time to plant trees and By Pamela Doan shrubs. They can get settled before the hot he weather has been so warm and weather and won’t care if there’s another mild that trees are budding and cold spell. Watering is the key to success. flowers blooming early. A gardener Water daily or weekly, depending on rainfall. T Soil temperatures also affect grass seed. eager to get his or her hands dirty may well ask: Is it okay to start planting and, if Wait until it’s warmed up to 55 to 65 de- so, what should I start with? grees before re-seeding lawns. If fertiliz- Although the recent temperatures have ers are needed — which can only be de- felt more like May than March, the last termined by testing the pH balance of the frost date for our region is May 15. That soil — use Memorial Day and Labor Day means spring snowstorms or freezes are as bookends. not only possible, but likely, and new Soil thermometers are sold at garden plants could die or be damaged. Damage supply stores and landscape centers or on- could include not blooming or producing line at many big-box retailers. They range fruit, stalled growth and loss of leaves. in price from $5 to $50, depending on fea- Some plants will tolerate frost, but not tures. Most home gardeners just need a a heavy snow. The most important factor basic model. is soil temperature. The coolest tempera- Row covers will protect crops and warm ture at which some garden crops such as the soil faster, among other things. Made Spring flowers like crocus get us in the mood to garden. Photo by P. Doan lettuce, kale, spinach, peas, radishes and from fabric that allows the sun’s rays to parsnips will germinate is 40 degrees. penetrate, the cover will trap heat around Other crops such as onions, Swiss chard plants, block wind and warm the soil faster. cast and be ready to cover them if there’s Visit sunywcc.edu/about/npc to preview and leeks will germinate at 50 degrees. Mulch will also warm the soil and, alter- a frost warning. Hellebores are hardy and the offerings. You’ll notice these are primarily leafy natively, keep it cool in summer. Anything will bloom now. The Philipstown Garden Club annual greens and root vegetables. planted now will benefit from mulching and It’s not too late to plant some summer sale and fundraiser will be from 9 a.m. to After that, we get into the summer make the gardener’s job easier by suppress- blooming bulbs. Look for varieties of lily, 1 p.m. on May 7 at the North Highlands vegetables, which will grow at 60 and 70 ing weeds and maintaining moisture levels, dahlia and gladiolus, among others. Fire Station. It will include many native degrees. Tomatoes fall into the warmest which means fewer trips with the hose. There’s one more option to consider plants beneficial for pollinators. category; unless it’s a really warm May, For flowers, there are some that can be for spring planting — cover crops. Cor- The Cornell Cooperative Extension wait and put them in the ground at the planted now, but watch the weather fore- nell University’s guide lists medium red Master Gardener Plant Sale is scheduled clover, yellow mustard and buckwheat as for May 14 in Brewster. The sale includes possibilities that can be sown in March vegetables, herbs, native plants, annuals, and April to reap benefits for the summer perennials and garden supplies at very rea- growing season. Check the germination sonable prices. All varieties are chosen for and growing lengths on the seed before their viability in local conditions. The ex- you buy and plan according to what you tension will also offer free soil pH testing. intend to put into the garden. Clover is a The Hudson Highlands Nature Museum source of food for native pollinators and in Cornwall will hold its Native Plant Sale can be a sustainable resource, as well. on May 21. The museum is taking pre- Ready, set, plant sales orders; visit hhnm.org/index.php/native- Stonecrop Garden will host its an- plant-sale. nual Alpine Plant Sale on April 23 on its grounds in Cold Spring. The garden brings together nurseries from all over NY Alert the northeast. This is a good opportunity For the latest updates on to learn about alpine plants and discover new varieties. weather-related or other The Native Plant Center at Westchester emergencies, sign up at Community College in Valhalla will hold www.nyalert.gov.