The best source for local news from Marbletown, Rochester & Rosendale
Published the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month | Vol. 26, Issue 16
Final public hearing for STRs
Schools to open amidst delta uptick
Wildlife help
RVSD sends survey, county gives schools guidance on mask wearing and protocols Jeff Slater BSP Reporter
Rochester makes changes to 'Airbnb law' Emily Reina Dindial BSP Reporter Last week the Town of Rochester held the fourth and last public hearing on the new law governing short-term rentals. The Town Board heard comments and made two amendments to the final proposed language. The first change was made with regards to outdoor fire use. Originally, the law required certain house rules to be put in place, including a prohibition against any outdoor fires during New York State Department of Environmental Conservation imposed burn bans. Multiple members of the public pointed out that outdoor fires are permitted in certain circumstances under the DEC burn ban. In response, the See STR law, page 5
August 20, 2021 | 75 cents
Late breaking: On Thursday, Aug. 19, the Rondout Valley School District received new guidance from the Ulster County Department of Health and the NYSED Health and Safety Guidance as follows: All individuals (faculty, staff, students and contractors) will be required to wear masks at all times inside school buildings regardless of vaccination status. Masks breaks will be offered to students throughout the day. More information will be forthcoming in the RVSD Re-Opening Plan that will be discussed at the next Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 24. Sarah York-Hornbeck is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, a mom of three boys, a wife, teacher, farmer, gardener and photographer. She said that her mission is “to keep the wild in the wild.” She works as quickly as possible to rehabilitate wildlife and get them back into the wild “where they belong.” Learn more about her work and fundraising efforts on page 16 in this issue. Sarah York-Hornbeck pictured here at Standing Rock Farm.
With the delta variant causing a rise in Covid-19 cases and school opening in three weeks, the Rondout Valley School District sent a survey to parents on Aug. 9 about their feelings toward mask wearing. The district used a new software called ThoughtExchange to aggregate the results. According to superintendent of schools Joseph Morgan, “This software allows
Temporary closure of some recreation areas at Shokan Reservoir for DEP field work The New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced two temporary closures of recreation areas at Ashokan Reservoir, allowing experts to gather information for design of future upgrades to the dam and dikes that form the reservoir. The work will focus on gathering soil, bedrock and structural information needed for the engineering and design of upgrades at several structures around the reservoir. These analyses are connected to the Ashokan Century Program, a comprehensive, multi-year capital program to upgrade the dam, dikes, chambers and other infrastructure at Ashokan Reservoir. DEP’s work will require sections of the
Rosendale Theatre reopens! Page 20
The Ashokan Promenade is a paved walkway atop the Olivebridge Dam. Photo courtesy of NYC Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Ashokan Promenade and Ashokan Rail Trail to be closed for short periods of time in August and September. The Ashokan Promenade is a paved walkway atop the Olivebridge Dam, West Dike and Middle Dike on the south side
of Ashokan Reservoir. The walkway is accessed through two parking lots off Route 28A. DEP will close the westernmost portion of the promenade, atop Olivebridge Dam, on weekdays from Monday, Aug. 23, until Tuesday, Aug. 31. The path will re-
Marbletown sets public hearing to discuss ambulance district Page 3
for all voices to be heard,” said Dr. Joseph Morgan, superintendent of schools. The results were discussed at a Board of Education meeting on Aug. 11. According to the results, more than 60% percent of the respondents felt that wearing masks in school should be mandatory for both vaccinated and unvaccinated students and staff. At the meeting, Morgan discussed some of the findings. More than 750 people responded, mostly parents but students and staff as well. Some of the important points made were that all students should be in session. Mask wearing should be mandatory in class. The majority of respondents felt strongly about this. It should be noted, however, that over a hundred of the respondents were against mandatory mask wearing. Other issues important to respondents were that students get frequent mask breaks during the school day, and that room temperatures should be monitored. “I know that when it’s hot, it’s difficult for me to wear a mask,” said Morgan. Respon-
See Schools, page 5
open for the weekend. Signs will be posted in the parking lot on Route 28A to make visitors aware of the temporary closure. The closure will allow a specially trained team of inspectors to rappel down the face of Olivebridge Dam to document its condition. This analysis will provide DEP with information necessary to rehabilitate the dam several years from now. Visitors are encouraged to access the promenade from the Frying Pan parking area off Route 28A, or utilize the Ashokan Rail Trail or Ashokan Quarry Trail for recreation while the dam is closed. The Ashokan Rail Trail is an 11.5-milelong trail that occupies a former railroad corridor on the north side of Ashokan Resevoir. That side of the reservoir includes three impoundments – West Hurley Dike, Woodstock Dike and Glenford Dike. A parking lot for the Ashokan Rail Trail is located alongside Woodstock Dike, and the trail itself runs atop Glenford Dike for approximately one-half mile.
See Reservoir, page 5
Krumville Schoolhouse aims to be a cultural center Page 7