New Tenant for Guinan's Building?

It looks like the old Guinan's building may be turned into a gathering spot for the public once again. Local Garrison residents Chris and Sharon Davis are pursuing permits to lease the building and turn it into a commuter retail store and restaurant, according to Chip Allemann, the general manager for two local establishments already owned by the Davis family: The Garrison and Highlands Country Club.

Chris Davis runs N.Y.-based investment fund and he and his wife Sharon are active in many facets of Philipstown's environmental and historical preservation.

Assuming all goes according to plan, Allemann, who would also help oversee this new venture, says they intend to open operations in the second quarter of 2013 after renovations are completed. There would be a commuter retail store open daily from early in the morning and a bar with light fare also open daily starting around midday.

The current Tavern restaurant located at the Highlands Country Club would be moved to the Guinan's building and serve a dinner menu Wednesday through Sunday, Allemann says. The Highlands Country Club facility on Route 9-D would continue to host weddings.

Chris Davis is mentioned in the chapter "Mornings" in Little Chapel on the River in a scene where John Guinan introduces me to commuters, dividing them into those who are in his opinion "good guys," and those who are not. (Chris made the cut.)

It looks to be a welcome turn of events for what has been a long running saga over what would become of this special, historic building - which until recently, was to become office space. There's no replacing Guinan's, but at least there's a chance for a heartbeat to return to the spot, which has been standing empty, decaying, since 2008. And better yet - for the resuscitation to take place under the hands of one of John's "good guys."

Two Members of Team Guinan Ride On

Please join me in supporting Kelly Guinan Preusser and her husband Ed Preusser as they make their way on bicycles from Boston to New York on Sept. 16-18 as part of "Braking the Cycle" in honor of Kelly's late father, John Guinan.

Any $$ amount will help them raise their ambitious goal. Time is running short! Here is the link to donate.

Many of you have supported this endeavor in the past by donating to me, or to other members of Team Guinan. I cannot ride this year, but hope that everyone who can give, will put their support toward Ed & Kelly's goal. This ride was extremely important to John and to his wife Mary Jane.

Thanks to all who have and continue to honor John with their generous gifts.

Highland Harper to Play New Fishkill Wine Bar

Candace Coates, the "Highland Harper," will play at Paula's Stone Cottage Wine Bar in June. Candace reports that the building was home to the Bloggett Memorial Library in the 1960's. Since then, she says, it has been a lawyer's office, and two beauty salons before becoming the wine bar.

Date: Sunday, June 12, 2011

Time: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Address: 2 Broad Street/1158 Main St. Fishkill, N.Y.

Phone: (845) 896-9563 (896-WINE)

Meet the Berkshire Book Club

Many belated thanks to the Berkshire Book Club in Boston for reading Little Chapel on the River for their book club. I recently spoke to the club by telephone during their meeting - you all were terrific! Always surprises me that readers still come up with new questions about the book, and BBC did not disappoint.

Back row L-R Amy, Danielle, Annie, Nuala, Becky, Tara.

Front row - Jennifer, Kelley, kaitlin, Liz.

(Lynne and Kris are not pictured).

Tearing Down Guinan's Pub?

UPDATE: 1/29/2011 - Spoke to a couple of people directly involved in the renovations who say the pub structure will remain in place, though it will require some renovations, shoring up, etc. That's great news. Hope this plan remains in place.

Heard today that the owners of #7 Garrison's Landing may be planning to dismantle what for many was the heart of Guinan's - the green pub in back - when they renovate the building into office space.

Don't know if it's true, but if so, this breaks my heart. Surely there are alternatives that could respect the history of this institution, and the people who loved and cared for it, while still making needed structural changes?

Call for Letters to NYDEC to Keep Guinan's Building a Public Space - DEADLINE DEC. 24

As the Garrison Station Plaza group, which owns the old Guinan's building, makes preparations to convert it into primarily office space, Garrison resident Mary Ellen Yannitelli has sent a letter to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation requesting they reject the project on the grounds that such a conversion will have a substantial impact on the environment and character of the surrounding area.

Mary Ellen asks that anyone supporting the effort to keep Guinan's old building as a pub, cafe, restaurant or other public gathering spot also email or mail NYDEC by Dec. 24th and says her letter may be used as a template. Here's who to direct it to:

Joseph R Murray
NYSDEC Region 3 Headquarters
21 South Putt Corners Rd
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845)256-3054
r3dep@gw.dec.state.ny.us

In her letter, Mary Ellen calls into question specific "no" answers provided by Garrison Station Plaza in its application to change the building's purpose:

19. Will Proposed Action affect the character of the existing community? {NO}

13. Will proposed Action affect the quantity or quality of existing or future open spaces or recreational opportunities? {NO}

20. Is there, or is there likely to be, public controversy related to potential adverse environment impacts? {NO}

Earlier this year, a proposal to turn the building into a restaurant & pub was rejected by the board of Garrison Station Plaza, which said financing was inadequate based on the rent and financial guarantees it need for such a project. This followed a wave of public controversy and media coverage about the community's concern related to potential adverse impact to the character of the existing community.

Guinan's "Cadet Brad" - Now "LT Brad" in Afghanistan

Here is an update on one of my favorite readers - a young man named Brad Hoelscher III who I met while he was still a West Point cadet. He wrote an email to me in 2005 after reading Little Chapel, and came to Guinan's for his first "legal" beer after turning 21. He was also quoted in the New York Times about religion and the military.

"Cadet Brad" is now "Lt Brad," and he left about a month ago for deployment in Afghanistan. Between graduation and deployment, he was married to Aleece Mihok. I asked Lt. Brad's father - also a West Point graduate, also named Brad - for an update and he wrote this on Halloween:

"Lt Brad left 27 days ago from Ft Polk LA, arrived in Manas, Kyrgyzstan on 7 Oct, spent a few days waiting for lift to Bagram AF in Afghanistan, making his way through Logar Province, finally making the final 15 miles from Altimur to COP Kherwar by road convoy in 9.5hrs!!??on Thursday afternoon, 14 Oct. LT Brad is in the advanced battalion force..readying all for the battalion's arrival.

He's settled in his post which is at 8500 feet and near the Pakistan Border. Their mission is the 'usual' - provide security for the local populace, training Afghan police and army forces, nation building.

Check out Delta Company 2-30 Facebook page. Includes new photos of COP Kherwar. Or as they refer to it..Fort Apache.

They had to change their unit patch from the Rock of the Marne w/the wild boar (apparently Afghans have don't understand it) to Dark Angel - designed by LT Brad.

Brad's birthday is Nov 2nd. Packages have been taking three weeks to reach him.

Just in case, his s-mail address:

LT Hoelscher WB
Delta Co/2-30IN/4BG/10MD
TF Storm
COP Kherwar
APO AE 09364