A perennial problem plagues what some argue is one of the two most important government bodies in the Town of Red Hook. The Planning Board has been operating without a full complement of members for years. What’s more: several volunteers have stepped up to serve only to see their applications rejected, a Daily Catch review has found. “It’s a chronic problem,” Sam Phelan, Planning Board Chair, told The Daily Catch. “We haven’t had a crisis. But there’s no question that there have been vacancies.” From pool sheds to mansion greens, the Planning Board reviews dozens of projects each year, evaluating...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/red-hook-planning-board-stares-down-chronic-member-shortage-as-workload-grows/

Jeff Irish’s passion for electricity and clean energy is palpable. A proud owner of two electric vehicles and a self-installed solar energy system that’s two decades old, Irish lights up as he delves into how solar panels work, the future of the industry, and the transformative potential of solar battery technology. “There is a massive energy transformation happening,” Irish says. “People are moving away from fossil fuels towards solar electricity.” He eagerly talks about his current leisure read, The Grid: Biography of an American Technology (MIT Press, 2017), a book that chronicles the groundbreaking contributions of Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla,...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/game-over-rhinebeck-entrepreneur-says-fossil-fuels-have-no-chance-as-he-bets-his-new-company-on-solar-with-batteries/

  An anonymous individual posted a false Facebook message Friday implying that an employee of the legendary Beekman Arms Inn would gather details on any undocumented immigrants the hotel comes across so they could be shared with the federal government. The post came from a man who says in the post that he is the spouse of a member of the front desk staff at the hotel. He indicated he would take the information she provides to him and deploy it to make reports. Jonathan Torres, the general manager of the Beekman Arms, issued a statement late Friday disavowing the...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/facebook-member-falsely-implicates-beekman-arms-in-efforts-to-rid-rhinebeck-of-undocumented-immigrants-hotel-responds-swiftly/

  Irene G. Rock, 95, a Red Hook resident since 1992, died on Jan. 28, 2025, at Northern Dutchess Hospital. She was born on May 10, 1929, in New York City.  Irene worked as a waitress at the Isabella Nursing Home in Washington Heights, NY, for many years. She was a past communicant at St. Christopher's Church in Red Hook. She is survived by her children, John Rock Jr. and Joanne Rock; her five grandchildren, her three great-grandchildren; and her extended family. A note of gratitude to the men and women of the Red Hook Fire Company and the Red...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/irene-g-rock-st-christophers-member-dies-at-95/

Nancy Jane Haley, 72, died on Jan. 28, 2025, at Livingston Hills Nursing Home. She was born on July 4, 1952, in Poughkeepsie and was raised by her adoptive parents, the late Dr. Cornell and Mrs. Betty McFadden. Nancy earned her master's in Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a Special Education teacher with United Cerebral Palsy and at The Children's Annex in Kingston. Nancy raised and showed English Cocker Spaniels, running a well-regarded kennel that produced cherished companions and top-quality show dogs. Beyond the ribbons and accolades, Nancy’s joy was having her beloved dogs by her...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/nancy-jane-haley-teacher-and-dog-breeder-dies-at-72/

While President Donald Trump has instructed federal agents that they may conduct immigration enforcement actions at public schools, both Red Hook and Rhinebeck districts have informed parents and teachers they will not cooperate. The school district announcements, distributed as emails and in public statements in the last few days, come as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted an enforcement action at a work site in Cairo in Greene County on Tuesday. This was the first action confirmed in the mid-Hudson Valley. Two individuals were detained. Another action has been rumored in Poughkeepsie. Meanwhile, earlier this week, Assemblywoman Sarahana Shrestha...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/local-school-districts-say-they-will-not-cooperate-with-ice-agents-as-first-enforcement-action-unfolds-in-mid-hudson-valley/

A Germantown man was killed in a head-on collision on State Route 9G just north of the Tivoli/Broadway interchange Thursday afternoon when his northbound car veered into the southbound lane and struck a truck, Red Hook Police reported. William Dougher, 68, was driving a 2013 Hyundai near Peach Tree Court when the crash occurred just before 4 p.m. EMS officials arrived to find Dougher trapped in the vehicle. He was extricated using hydraulic rescue tools, commonly called the jaws of life, and pronounced dead at Northern Dutchess Hospital. Driving southbound in a 2021 Dodge Ram pick-up was Lazaro Salas, 60,...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/fatal-accident-on-route-9g-north-of-tivoli-intersection-late-thursday-afternoon/

A meticulously curated collection of candles, handbags, jewelry, and greeting cards unfolds like a vibrant tapestry at Paper Trail in the heart of Rhinebeck. An array of gloves and silky scarves adds a touch of sophistication, while colorful Australian glassware and Egyptian ceramics offer unique accents. It’s not just the items but the way they’re arranged, inviting customers to linger – and buy. “It’s a constant challenge to create visual excitement,” says co-owner Serine Hastings as she rearranges an item here and there about the store. Partner Maureen Missner concurs. “It’s challenging to always make it fresh. It’s easy to...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/two-friends-for-life-celebrate-the-20th-birthday-of-their-love-child-rhinebecks-paper-trail/

“Athletes in Action”: Red Hook v. Liberty Varsity Wrestling (Jan. 08, 2025) Beautiful photos, Tatiana! - Mindy Gardner The Case Against Rohan Patrick in the Death of Linh Nguyễn: A Q&A With the DA’s Office Recently, there was an article in the Daily Catch about a couple charged with a class E felony as a result of the death by drowning of their daughter. They were released on their own recognizance, which is typical for charges of class E felonies. Why wasn't Mr. Patrick released on his own recognizance, and why was bail denied? I would have thought the Daily...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/comments-to-the-catch-red-hook-architecture-paper-trail-water-districts-jan-14-28-2025/

As the Rhinecliff train station’s revitalization project stretches into its third year, there remains no clear end in sight. And not much of a beginning, either, at least not to the naked eye, a state of play that has left passengers, their advocates, and local politicians vexed, befuddled and dismayed.  Work on the station, Amtrak’s fourth busiest in New York State, had been expected to begin in due course after the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded the state million in August 2022 for the state’s role in the revitalization. Since then, there has been some minor preliminary work done...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/ready-for-an-update-on-the-rhinecliff-amtrak-overhaul-there-sadly-really-isnt-one/