Art in Alabama

For the month of October, the works of a 92-year-old artist are being publicly exhibited for the first time at LAAC (Lower Alabama Arts Coalition) in Andalusia, Alabama. The artist is Ethel Kipnes, the mother of famous fashion designer Vicky Tiel. This is of particular interest because Kipnes was born and raised here in Hudson.

Thanks to Serge De Vatedski for bringing this to Gossips' attention.

Seen on Warren Street

Was there that much reveling in Hudson last night?

Thanks to Amanda Henry and Max for bringing this to Gossips' attention.

Adios, Tortillaville

It has hardly been a secret that Brian Branigan and Allison Culbertson have been looking to sell the shiny taco truck we know and love as Tortillaville, and it's finally happened. After five years, 40,000 burritos, and 25,000 tacos, Hudson's first modern-day food truck is going to have new owners, Bruce and Deanna Gardom, and a new name: Once Upon a Taco.

Branigan calls the departure bittersweet. "We love Hudson and Tortillaville, but the time has come for us to move on. We just want to thank all of our customers. It has been a great pleasure to serve you." For those who love continuity and hate change, the word is that the new owners are planning to use some and perhaps eventually all of the Tortillaville recipes, and the screen door will remain.

Next weekend, October 17 through 20, will be Tortillaville's last, but once again, for the last time, Branigan and Culbertson are offering the winter stash of frozen burritos. If you want the taste of Tortillaville to carry you through the winter, place your orders now.

Saturday Night in Hudson

At around 5 p.m. yesterday, someone was stabbed in the neck at 348 Union Street during what was described in the Register-Star as a home invasion: "Police investigate Union Street stabbing."

Later, at around 10 p.m., the residents of the quiet cul-de-sacs of Bayley Boulevard and Jenkins Parkway experienced a different kind of invasion: the lights and cameras of a film crew.

It seems a permit had been issued by the mayor, but no one in the neighborhood had received any notification that this was going happen.

Another Appeal for Photographs

It worked in the case of 721 Warren Street, perhaps not in as timely a fashion as one had hoped, but eventually Gossips' appeal for a historic picture of the building yielded results.

Now, a historic image is needed of this house: 117 Warren Street.

The new owner of 117 Warren Street came to the Historic Preservation Commission on Friday morning, wanting to put a "retail size" window on the first floor. She explained that she wants the first floor to become an art gallery, but whenever she comes close to renting it as retail space, the prospective tenant always wants a display window. She proposed a great plate glass window between the two doors.

Studying a photograph of the building, HPC architect member Jack Alvarez observed, "The building has been very compromised over the years," and mused, "How do we hold the line on this if it has been so compromised?"

HPC member David Voorhees recalled being told by the previous owners that the building had once been a store, and it was decided that historic pictures were needed to guide the transformation of the building back to retail space. Voorhees and HPC chair Rick Rector offered to go to the History Room at the library to look for evidence of the building's past appearance, particularly what it looked like before the facade easement program that was part of Urban Renewal. They invited Gossips to come along.

Before the excursion to the library, Gossips found this photograph, probably taken in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The subject of the picture is the Seth Jenkins House at 115 Warren Street, but it also shows part of 117 Warren and its storefront.

At this library this morning, in a booklet called Historic Hudson, created during Urban Renewal, when the houses in 100 block of Warren Street were about the only buildings in Hudson deemed worthy of preservation, we discovered foldout drawings of the block's streetscape--south side and north side. Below is the section that includes 117 Warren Street and shows the storefront that existed then.

At the time this drawing was made, the ground floor of the building was Cordato's grocery store. The name "Cordato's" appears on the awning. Apparently, in the late 1970s or early 1980s, the owner of the building at that time decided to convert the first floor into an apartment. The doorway at the far left and the lower windows, which don't align with the upper windows, were added at that time.

Here are some miscellaneous facts about 117 Warren Street that have been uncovered thus far.

From the City of Hudson Tap Record, we learn that prior to 1888, when the system of numbering lots and houses was changed, this house was 49 Warren Street. In 1875, Isaac Van Bergen lived in the house. In 1906, 117 Warren Street was the home of Mrs. Harvey Thomas. 

According to the Hudson city directory for 1912, Edward Eitleman lived at 117 Warren Street, as did Charles A. and Anna Rote.

This classified ad, which appeared in the Hudson Evening Register for October 12, 1917, indicates that Downing's Auction Rooms were located at 117 Warren Street in 1917.

This account of the wedding of Elizabeth Cordato, which appeared in the Hudson Register for April 26, 1941, provides evidence that the Cordato family lived and operated their grocery store at 117 Warren Street as early as 1940. What is interesting--at least for us in the 21st century--is that the newly married couple, after a honeymoon trip to New York City, took up residence at 117 Warren Street, the bride's family home.

Here is the appeal. If anyone has photographs of this building back when its storefront was still intact, or has any knowledge of the building's history, please let Gossips know. I will convey the information to the owner by way of the Historic Preservation Commission.

COPYRIGHT 2013 CAROLE OSTERINK 

Mea Culpa

In May, Gossips reported that the weekend suspension of alternate side of the street parking lasted until the end of October. I was reporting what had been said at a public meeting, and I accepted it as true. Since no one told me the information was incorrect--and I know The Gossips of Rivertown is read in City Hall, although not by the mayor--I continued to believe the truth of what I had reported and to act on it. As we moved into October, I kept parking in front of my house on both weekend nights and planned to warn readers as the end of October approached that the summer relaxation of the parking rules was about to end.

To my dismay, when William and I headed out this morning for our first walk of the day, I discovered a parking ticket on my car and worse on the cars of many of my neighbors. When an urgent email to Council president Don Moore, who I recall was the source of my information, yielded no response, I consulted the Hudson Police Department Facebook page to discover that indeed the weekend suspension of alternate side of the street parking came to an end at the end of September. Obviously, I need to visit that Facebook page more often.

Tonight in Hudson

It's the culminating weekend of ArtsWalk, and, appropriately, tonight offers an abundance of opportunities to experience visual art. There are exhibition openings at John Davis Gallery, McDaris Fine Art, BCB Art, Davis Orton Gallery, and the Third Floor Gallery, not to mention the artists' reception at the CCCA Members' Show at the Pocketbook Factory and an artist's reception at the Chamber of Commerce. If after all that visual stimulation you wish to feast your ears, the Hudson Opera House offers just the thing. 

At 8 p.m., Helena Baillie, who plays both violin and viola with rare ease, frequently switching between the two in recital, performs at the Hudson Opera House, accompanied by pianist Tanya Gabrielian. The program, which has an Italian theme, book-ended by neoclassical suites by Russian composers, includes the works of Alfred Schnittke, Giuseppe Tartini, Antonio Vivaldi, Pietro Locatelli, and Igor Stravinsky. Tickets for tonight's concert may be purchased online or at the door. 

Must Do This Weekend

Weather.com predicts that from 2 to 4 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, October 12, it will be sunny and the temperature will be 68 degrees. What better weather to be on the water enjoying the glories of autumn on the Hudson? For a mere $20, the Hudson Pride Foundation gives you the chance to do just that.

In addition to viewing the beauty that inspired the Hudson River School of landscape painters, there will be cookies from Trixie's oven, a cash bar, and a raffle of wine gift baskets provided by Clinton Vineyards. Order your tickets online and show up to claim them on the dock at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park at 1:30 p.m.--30 minutes before the cruise departs. The event, which supports the good work of the Hudson Pride Foundation, is sponsored by (p.m.) Wine Bar and Clinton Vineyards.

Organic Goods Arriving on Our Shores

Back in April, Gossips posted about the Vermont Sail Freight Project, the new farmer-owned, cooperative regional food distributor based on Lake Champlain that transports its goods, under sail, to Albany, the Hudson Valley, and New York City. Well, on Monday, October 14--Columbus Day--the Vermont Sail Freight Project will be arriving in Hudson aboard their sailing barge, Ceres, bringing with them organic consumables from Vermont and the Adirondacks.

The Hudson Sloop Club will be at Rick's Point on Monday to welcome them, with a barbecue and potluck. From 3 to 6 p.m., there will be food, music, and a market where you can buy maple and birch syrup, honey, potatoes, garlic, apples, fresh-milled flour and cornmeal, heirloom beans, handmade soap--more than a hundred special products from more than thirty-five different family producers.

Want the best of both worlds? Shop online at the VSFP webstand, and then pick up your goods at the dock on Monday. Just bring a tote bag to carry your purchases home.

Didi Barrett Weighs In

Yesterday, October 10, our representative in the New York State Assembly, Didi Barrett, sent the following letter on the topic of the proposed expansion of the safety zone at the Columbia County airport to Board of Supervisors chair Pat Grattan, with copies to all the supervisors, Ken Flood, and New York State comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Dear Mr. Grattan,

I have been following with much interest the plans for the proposed Columbia County Airport safety zone expansion. While I appreciate your recent effort to inform the public about this project, it is clear that many questions remain unanswered. I have heard from a number of constituents who have been seeking answers for some time regarding the need and the economics of this project

In an effort to demonstrate full transparency, I respectfully request that further county actions to expand the airport be suspended until such time as the public may be presented with information relative to the need of this project.

Given the uncertain financial times each level of government is currently faced with, I'm sure you agree that it is unwise to proceed with an expenditure of this magnitude until basic questions are answered and all options have been considered in the public arena. Once this project has been fully vetted then all parties can come to an informed and responsible decision about whether or not to move forward.

I look forward to partnering with the Board of Supervisors on this and other issues important to Columbia County residents.

Sincerely,

Didi Barrett

Member of Assembly, 106th District

The night before this letter was sent, the Board of Supervisors voted down Art Bassin's resolution to table temporarily eminent domain proceedings to acquire the land needed to expand the safety zone. The vote split along party lines, with Republicans voting against the resolution and Democrats voting for it. Bassin is a Democrat; Barrett is also a Democrat.

It's Back

Remember the Hudson River Exchange, the riverfront fair that celebrated all things handmade and locally sourced on an oppressively hot weekend in July? It's returning this weekend, in the form of a pop-up shop in the window of Sorted Creative at 357 Warren Street.

Goods ranging from fine art, photography, and sculpture to functional wares--"chairs to sit in, lamps by which to see, dishes on which to eat, and herb tincture sets to keep you healthy this winter"--can be viewed in the window today and purchased tomorrow and Sunday, when the shop will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Turbulent Hearing, Predictable Outcome

One gets the impression that Planning Commission chair Don Tillson would rather waive public hearings, and when a public hearing is unavoidable, he secretly wishes--as sometimes happens--that nobody will show up. On Wednesday night, at the public hearing on the Armory project (a.k.a., the Galvan Community Center), Tillson didn't get his wish. Although half the seats in City Hall were occupied by Galvan employees, consultants, and attorneys and almost all the members of the Hudson Area Library board, there was still room for people who had concerns about the project.

Predictably, parking was a big issue. Crawford & Associates had provided a parking study which concluded that "the on street parking far exceeds the needs of the project and should be considered adequate to waive any onsite parking requirements." The Planning Commission was satisfied with the findings of the study and willing to accept its recommendation. Members of the public, however, were not.

Linda Mussmann recalled that when she and Claudia Bruce located Time & Space Limited in Hudson, back in 1991, they were required to provide their own offstreet parking for the performance space. She complained that the parking requirements specified in the city code are now being relaxed for others. She characterized the future parking situation around the former Armory as "dumping a lot of new cars in a neighborhood that already has a lot of cars and traffic."

Selha Graham-Cora, who runs the Sip 'n' Sudz laundromat at 453 State Street, also had concerns about parking. She intimated that her experience of parking in the area was different from what was reported in the traffic study. She also questioned the basis of the information about the number of patrons who walk and drive provided in the parking study by the Hudson Area Library. "I go to the library all the time," said Graham-Cora, "sometimes on foot, sometimes on a bicycle, sometimes by car. I've never been asked how I got there."

Alana Hauptmann also expressed concern about parking around the Armory, predicting that "people who live in the neighborhood will no longer have places to park." She suggested that, instead of maximizing the available space by building a new addition where the 1950s garage now is, that the space along Short Street could be used for parking. She also suggested that the area along State Street, instead of being developed as a plaza, could be dedicated to offstreet parking.

Claudia Bruce summed up the situation by saying that "the more successful the building is, the harder it will be on the surrounding community in terms of parking."

Another issue of great concern was what Galvan attorney Joe Catalano called the "medical wing." Exactly what this is intended to be had never previously been revealed to the public. At the hearing, Mussmann was the first to mention it, saying that she had served for two years on a health committee that looked at ways to provide primary and preventive care for people not adequately served by Columbia Memorial Hospital. Mussmann spoke of the proposed facility as a "walk-in clinic that should work not only in the daytime but at night." 

Claire Parde, executive director of the Healthcare Consortium, took up the task of describing what was planned. She spoke of a feasibility study to address "unmet community health needs," which looked at public use data and surveyed a thousand people. What was proposed, she said, was a federally qualified health center. Although she indicated that the feasibility study had identified its ideal location as "below Seventh Street, to serve the concentration of under-served," she said the health center would serve not only Hudson but all of Columbia County and parts of Greene County.

Alderman John Friedman (Third Ward) objected to the location, saying it was less than a mile from the hospital, and expressed the opinion that locating a clinic in this neighborhood was bad public policy. He suggested that Galvan's motive for leasing to a healthcare provider was to get tax credits. "Where is your lawyer?" Friedman asked the commission, referring to city attorney Cheryl Roberts. "This is not a proper use for this part of the city. You are not qualified to decide this. This man [Catalano] is lobbying you. The city does not need it. You [gesturing toward Catalano] need it."

When Friedman alleged that a medical facility was not a permitted use in this part of the city, which is zoned R2H, Tillson asserted that what was proposed in the application were simply "professional offices"--a permitted conditional use. This prompted Mussmann to insist that the facility would be a place where health services will be delivered, not just an office. "Something is wrong with the application," she declared. "You are not being told the truth about what is going to happen in that space."

The whole contentious conversation might have been avoided if someone in the room had been familiar enough with the zoning regulations to be able to clarify that a walk-in clinic is a permitted conditional use in an R1 zone and hence in any residential district in Hudson. Paragraph 325-7 B of the city code states the following: 

The following conditional uses are permitted, subject to the approval of the Planning Commission in accordance with Article VIII hereof. These uses are subject to the regulations specified below and elsewhere in this chapter:

(1) Hospitals, sanitariums, philanthropic or eleemosynary institutions and convalescent or nursing homes or homes for the aged, provided that with respect to such uses:

(a) Such hospital, institution or home does not primarily care for patients suffering from alcoholism and is not a transitional service facility.

(b) No building intended for such use shall be erected nearer than 50 feet to any street or property line, nor shall any lot on which such building is erected have an area of less than five acres.

(c) No building shall exceed a height of 45 feet.

Based on this, it seems the proposed medical wing should have gone to the Zoning Board of Appeals for an area variance, but I can't recall that it did. Perhaps it was exempted because the new wing is being built on the footprint of the old garage that's being demolished to make way for it. Still, that would only have relevance for the setback requirement not the lot size requirement.

Tillson more than once identified the proposed lessee for the medical wing named in the application as "River Health Care Incorporated." Padre mentioned Hudson River Health Care and made reference to a "robust provider network." Hudson River Health Care, or HRHCare, is a not-for-profit healthcare provider, founded in 1975 in Peekskill. It started with an ambulatory clinic in an abandoned department store on the main street of Peekskill that provided services to a community whose only other option was a county hospital 19 miles away in Valhalla. It now has nineteen clinics in the Hudson Valley--primarily in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties--and on Long Island, the closest one being in Pine Plains. 

After the public hearing, which went on for more than an hour, the Planning Commission convened its regular meeting. After some discussion about requiring the project to return to the Planning Commission every two years to reassess parking (it was decided it was meaningless to impose such a condition if there was no intention to rescind site plan approval), Claudia DeStefano, Gail Grandinetti, Glenn Martin, Cappy Pierro, and Tillson voted unanimously to grant site plan approval. Cleveland Samuels and Laura Margolis recused themselves--Samuels because he works for Galvan; Margolis presumably because her theater company, StageWorks, received a $5,000 grant from the Galvan Foundation in 2012.
COPYRIGHT 2013 CAROLE OSTERINK

Photos of parking around the Armory were taken shortly after 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 10      

Not to Be Missed

Sam Pratt reports on last night's "informational" meeting about the Columbia County airport: "Sgt. Flood: 'I Know Nothing."'

Paving Update

DPW superintendent Rob Perry has provided this schedule for completing the repaving projects now going on in the city.

• First Street was completed yesterday--Wednesday, October 9
• City Hall Place, Fifth Street, and East Allen Street will be completed today--Thursday, October 10
• Sixth Street and McKinstry Place will be completed on Friday, October 11

He added the caveat "Weather/equipment cooperating."

Next week, Third Street will be repaved. It will be interesting to see what alternate routes will be taken by trucks normally heading into Hudson on Route 9G.

Let There Be Trees

In June, Basilica Hudson conducted a fundraising campaign to plant trees and make improvements to its cinema space. Now, in the autumn planting season, the trees are going in along the Basilica's perimeter--nine 25-foot maples and one honorary dogwood.

The trees being planted are the first phase of a long-term plan to bring trees, shade, and natural beauty to the Basilica site. The plan was developed with the help of landscape designer Wenonah Webster and Pondside Nursery and was inspired by Christabel Gough, who offered to buy the Basilica its first tree. 

On Saturday, October 12, at 4 p.m., tree lovers and supporters are invited to a tree planting ceremony, at which time the final tree in this phase will be planted. Come prepared to lend a hand. Shovels and dirt will be provided. Click here for more information about the project and the event.

Important Reminder

Friday, October 11, is the last day to register in order to vote on Tuesday, November 5. 

In Hudson, elections have been won or lost by a handful of votes. Your vote counts! If you're not already registered, do so this week at the Board of Elections, 401 State Street. If you're not sure if you're registered, call the Board of Elections at (518) 828-3115 to find out.    

Important Meetings Tonight

At 5 p.m.  The Columbia County Board of Supervisors holds a meeting on the subject of the controversial proposal to expand the Columbia County Airport. Ken Flood, commissioner for planning and economic development, and Thomas Lanphear, from the county sheriff's office and the Emergency Management Office, will be present to answer questions. The meeting takes place at 401 State Street.

At 6:30 p.m.  The City of Hudson Planning Commission holds a public hearing on the site plan proposed for the Galvan Community Center, a.k.a. the Armory, at State and Fifth streets. The documents relevant to this proposal--the parking study, the site plan, the application for site plan review, and the Environmental Assessment Form--can be viewed at the City of Hudson website. The hearing takes place at City Hall. It is expected that, following the public hearing, the Planning Commission will vote aye or nay on approving the site plan.

Repaving the Streets

In August, Gossips reported the list of streets to be repaved this fall. Today, the Register-Star reports on the progress of the repaving: "City rolls out road-paving projects." For those concerned about side streets not being available for parking this weekend, DPW superintendent Rob Perry predicts that the repaving of First Street, City Hall Place, and Fifth Street will be completed on Thursday.

Every House Has a History

At last Wednesday's Legal Committee meeting, the topic of 248 and 250 Columbia Street came up. The main focus of the conversation had to do with the interpretation of the bulk and area requirements and whether the project needed an area variance because the apartments would not be 1,500 square feet each or because the lot on which the proposed new building would be built was not 7,500 square feet, or 1,500 square feet per dwelling unit.

Alderman David Marston (First Ward) took the opportunity to ask Per Blomquist, who owns the buildings, why it was necessary to demolish two of the few remaining historic houses on that block of Columbia Street--indeed, two of the few survivors of Urban Renewal in the Second Ward. Blomquist, who, according to tax records, bought 248 Columbia in 2012 and 250 in 2011, said that the mayor and the code enforcement officer told him the buildings were unsafe, because the brick foundations were buckling, and intimated that he felt pressured to demolish them.

There is no doubt that these houses have been abused and neglected in recent decades, but what of their past? The house at the left--248--is very old. Evidence of its antiquity are the central fireplace and one remaining six over six window. Both houses appear on the map of the Second Ward in the Beers Atlas for 1873.

A bit of searching the old newspapers at Fulton History provides a sense of the people who lived in these houses a hundred years ago. (A reminder: What we now call Columbia Street had several different names in the 19th and early 20th centuries. From Front to Third streets, it was called Fulton Street; from Third to Sixth, it was Diamond Street; from Sixth to Park Place, it was known as Gifford Place; and beyond that, it was, as it is today, Columbia Street.)

In September 1913, the Hudson Evening Register announced that Cecilia Walton, who lived at 250 Fulton Street, was to be married to Charles E. Brown, who lived just up the street, at 323 Diamond Street. 

In August 1914, Paul Sirand announced his new entrepreneurial business, with a very grand name, to be headquartered at 248 Fulton Street.

In October 1914, the Hudson Evening Register reported an untimely death at 250 Fulton Street.

Dog Tales: William's Weekend

At 15 going on 16, William has his good days and his bad days. Saturday was a good day. He went to Christ Church to be blessed. Then we walked home along Warren Street, stopping for lunch at Tortillaville, treats at Hudson Wine Merchants, and chicken at Bruno's. It was before one o'clock, and LICK hadn't open yet, so we couldn't get ice cream. But when we got home, I fixed him my own version of a Betsy's Bow Wow, just so he would have the whole gamut of treats he's grown to expect on a walk from Fourth to Second on Warren Street.

Sunday was a bad day. William went out for only the shortest of potty walks--to the tree in front of the house and back in again. And he wouldn't eat. My favorite trick to encourage him to eat--grating Parmesan cheese on his food--wasn't working. I grated heaps of Parmesan cheese over Turkey Medley, over Chicken Stew, over Savory Beef Recipe. He would eat none of it. By evening, although offered breakfast, lunch, and dinner, William had eaten nothing at all. 

I thought of driving out to PetSmart to buy a brand of food that had been recommended to me, but I decided to go with a sure thing: Tortillaville chicken. It was after 6:30. I figured I had just enough time to get there before they closed. I didn't want to risk going to the cash machine and possibly getting there too late. I would just ask for as much chicken as the seven dollars in my wallet would buy, hoping it would be enough for one good meal.

Realizing the chicken was for William and William wasn't eating, Brian and Allison were beyond generous. They gave me enough chicken for several meals. Later, after I had called Brian to report that Tortillaville chicken had done the trick--William had scarfed it down!--Brian came to our house with even more chicken! 

Thanks to Brian and Allison, happiness and contentment reign at Gossips Central. William has been feasting lavishly on Tortillaville chicken. When I mix a little with his kibble, he eats the kibble, too. They've promised to give me the secret recipe for their chops lickin' good chicken, so the culinary delight can continue . . . until William's fickle taste changes.

COPYRIGHT 2013 CAROLE OSTERINK