Message from the Mayor: River Runs Both Ways, River Spirit Festival, Road Paving, Composting, & much more

 
Fellow residents;
 
We’re in a busy period and so I reach out sooner than I may typically do.  First, a reminder that school is back in session and children are afoot around us on all streets. Please drive accordingly. The Board last night changed the speed limit and expanded the school speed zone – this will take effect in a few weeks and signage will be put up to match. The speed will drop to 15mph from 7AM to 6PM during school days (this is the time period when students are showing up for early morning band practice or heading home after sports and club activities.) The zone will expand from just short of five corners to short of Merrill.
 
River Flows Both Ways, Thursday, Sept 6th
===================================
Tomorrow at the Municipal Building, we have the official opening of the results of the “River Flows Both Ways” curated showcase of artwork created to highlight the Hudson River. The opening reception runs from 6 to 8PM and gives you a chance to meet the artists and see the varied, vivid new works that constitute this competition (as well as enjoy live music and wine and cheese). It is beautiful. Very much worth a visit. (Fun fact: the Hudson does indeed flow both ways: at low tide it is largely fresh water descending from the Adirondacks, while at high tide, New York harbor saltwater backs up much of the way to Cold Spring, leaving us bordering, technically an estuary rather than a river.)
 
River Spirit Festival, Saturday, Sept 8th
===============================
The River Spirit Music and Arts Festival is this Saturday, September 8th in Draper Park (rain date the next day, though increasingly it looks like a gorgeous day).  It has a cornucopia of bands (19!) on 2 stages from noon to 8PM.  It features some cult favorites that ensure a good time (“Slambovian Circus of Dreams” and “Oak & Ash”), as well as many local favorites as well.  There’s an abundance of activities for kids, activities for adults and a full range of food vendors that you will be unable to exhaust in the time available.  There’s a wine garden and a beer tent as well.  A bargain at $35 a head (deep discounts for kids, with those below 6 for free).  This is the event you make a day of, with out-of-town friends..
 
Road Paving, week of Sept 10th
============================
The second year of our major catch-up on paving has been delayed by several months and will start, unfortunately, next week.  (The streets enjoying repaving are listed (HERE)   The first contractor completed the curbs on time, but then the repaving contractor did not show on time and, well, here we are.  We will have the exact schedule later this week, and will be in contact with the school as well to ameliorate impacts on bus schedules.  Not ideal, but that’s what we must deal with. Once it gets going, it should move quickly along. The County is also beginning work on repaving Warburton Avenue (which is their responsibility, along with Farragut Avenue)(a jurisdictional mess: New York State owns Broadway, 9A, and Farragut Parkway, to further complicate things)(why? History.) Warburton repaving will stretch over the next half year. First, they begin with tree trimming next week, then there will be sidewalk repair, and then ultimately, the repaving and associated re-striping for its full length within Hastings.
 
Primary Date, Thursday, Sept 13
===========================
New York State Primary season is upon us, with Democratic party primaries for a range of positions (Senator, Governor, Attorney General) next week. Due to the Jewish religious holiday on the normally scheduled Tuesday, the primary is being held THURSDAY, September 13th. 
 
Community Build, Saturday and Sunday,  Sept 15-16
=====================================================
The Village will engage in a Community Build to construct the new Uiontown playground on Saturday and Sunday, September 15-16, 9AM to 4PM.  If you are interested in participating in the community playground version of a barn raising, we will love your help (and it is fun too).  Come for an hour or the day: no experience needed. Builders must be 18 years of age or older.  Reach out to our Parks and Rec Director Aaron Podhurst (apodhurst@hastingsgov.org) and he will set you up . Click HERE for information.
 
Composting collection
====================
The Conservation Committee, in collaboration with the Village, collects your compostable garbage every day the Farmer’s Market is open down at the Zinnser parking lot from 8:30am to 1:30pm.  Drop it off on the way to the market, and you take rich organic matter out of the waste stream, and lower your carbon footprint. They accept food scraps, including meats, bones, veggies, fruits and leftovers (but do please remove produce stickers). (HERE) for more information.   You can drop food at the Greenburgh drop, available to residents every day from 8am to 8pm at 11 Olympic Lane, off Heatherdell Road (12 minutes away) (info HERE)
 
River Hardening
==============
The Army Corps of Engineers has extended the possibility of public comment on its various proposals to control flooding from Sandy-level events.  The Board of Trustees has registered its concern that all choices be examined carefully, especially those involving the creation of flood control dams at the Narrows to prevent storm surges.  Information and a link to the place where you can comment are (HERE).  This site is hosted by the Riverkeeper with a very specific point of view – but you can submit any comments you wish.
 
Finally, the Office of the Youth Advocate just won a $500,000 grant to educate and be a resource for parents and young people who are struggling with issues surrounding substance abuse. There’s an important story here longer than one blurb, and one we will return to in greater detail in a subsequent email.
 
All the best at this tail end of summer. See you at the River Spirit Music Festival.
 
Sincerely,
 
Peter Swiderski