Little Chapel on the River

Event: Music Tracks Presents Bruce Molsky (guitar, fiddle, banjo) "An annual favorite of Music Tracks events at The Philipstown Depot Theatre" What: Concert Host: The Philipstown Depot Theatre Start Time: Saturday, January 17 at 7:30pm End Time: Saturday, January 17 at 10:30pm Where: The Philipstown Depot Theatre To see more details and RSVP via Facebook, follow this link. From Nancy Montgomery : "Bruce Molsky is a master. His performance on the intimate stage at the Depot Theatre brings audiences a thrilling and memorable night of traditional music."

The Hudson River Valley has a number of groups working to preserve its lands, and they all depend on donations big and small to do their work. We're lucky to have this land around us -- this gorgeous, mysterious shot looking at Osborn Castle by Christine Ashburn reminds us of that. One group is Scenic Hudson , which is working to protect 65,000 acres of what it dubs the most important land along the river -- the "must save" landscapes that meet New York State's highest standards for ecological, scenic and agricultural values. Another is the Hudson Highlands Land Trust , which has been working privately with landowners since 1989, when local residents united to form an organization that would provide conservation options for individuals. A third is Open Space Institute . OSI achieves its goals through land acquisition, conservation easements, regional loan programs, fiscal sponsorship, creative partnerships, and analytical research. Online donations are accepted for al...

Event: Uncle Wade @ Depot Theatre "More Simple Music for Complicated Times" What: Concert Host: Andy Revkin & the rest of Wade Start Time: Friday, January 16 at 8:00pm End Time: Friday, January 16 at 11:00pm Where: Philipstown Depot Theatre, Garrison's Landing, Garrison NY 10524 // View map here . Contact: membership@philipstowndepottheatre.org // 845.424.3900 Facebook RSVP: Click here (only if you're on Facebook.)

While reporting my book Little Chapel on the River, I spent most of 2003 at Guinan's Pub and Country Store. Since my "job" for that year was to spend time at the place I loved most, I occasionally helped out behind the counter and met most of the regulars passing through. This video I shot captures one morning I was there. Several faces are longer with us: Ken Anderson and his red car; Tip Dain , one of the Fearsome Foursome golf quartet Jim Guinan played with, and Jimmy Delaney whose two Bud Lights at lunch routine was more dependable than the Metro-North trains. You'll see what the Hudson River looks like coming awake, and how the commuters helped John Guinan carry papers inside at 5 a.m. You'll see John bust my chops in front of Murray Prescott , a long and loyal Guinan friend who has helped open the store for many years. These were the best days I've known.

Antipodean Books Maps & Prints in Garrison, run by David (a.k.a "The Bookman" in Little Chapel on the River) and Cathy Lilburn, has 75 items under $75 on sale for the holidays. Some of the suggested gifts include a first edition of Joseph H. Adams' "Harper's Outdoor Book for Boys" from 1907 ($45), a steel engraved plate of a trout with named trout flies shown below it from Bunney & Gold, 1801 ($75) and an 2008 updated version of Frances F. Dunwell's fantastic book, "The Hudson: America's River" ($29.95), which I may buy myself if no one beats me to it. Click here to see the entire list.

Neil Bloch sends these photos from last Saturday’s party and says thanks to Jennifer O'Toole, club manager, and to Eric Gabrynowicz , executive chef, at Highlands Country Club . Neil says highlights of the event included the playing of 13-year-old harpist Alexandra Dow and the singing of countertenor Nicholas Tamagna (both pictured here with Olivia Wade ) as well as the huge pile of gifts that were donated to Toys for Tots .

By johnmac It’s Irish Night at Guinan’s first Thursday after the full moon and the place is packed. And there is a harp And a badram And a few accordions And a whistle And a few guitars And a few fiddles And some singers And a lot of beer There are some writers And plumbers And a Governor (with a State Police Guard) And restaurateurs And real estate agents And professors And whoever else walks in. And there is much talk and gaiety until there is a hush when Jim is ready to sing “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” And we all listen Kelly’s behind the bar Jim’s in the kitchen And we all take turns putting the money on the deli register, Trust abounds, laughter is king, joy reigns, and we are friends with people we don’t even know. And then it ends And we all go home We are a funny people. Copyright 2006 John F. McMullen

While researching Little Chapel on the River, I spent hours at the Putnam County Historical Society museum researching Philipstown. Many towns leave their history stored in residents’ memories, and when these locals pass away, sadly, so do those tales. PCHS helps prevent that from happening. Here are a couple of interesting events on the organization's plate this month: This Saturday, Nov. 15th at 5 p.m., the group’s Young Associates will host an event called A Night of Historical Drama dedicated to the local villain (or misguided, misunderstood patriot depending on whom you ask) -- Benedict Arnold . According to an email from the group, Julie Heckert will lead a cast from the Philipstown Depot Theater in a dramatic reading of the play, "The General from America," which tells the notorious tale from the perspective of Arnold and his young British wife. The evening's bartender, Jim Young , will serve up the very same last drink that Arnold had before he fled West ...

From: Neil Bloch, Fleet Captain Garrison Yacht Club Dear GYC Members and Friends, ‘Twas the month before Christmas and down by the river The docks are now stacked, so it’s time to deliver This missive to you, be you friend or a member; Please join us this year for our fête in December. As change is in the air, we are going to do this a bit differently this year. Although many of you have already bookmarked this date (thank you), here are the particulars: Saturday, December 6, 2008 - 13:30 to 16:30 Highlands Country Club, 955 Route 9D, Garrison, NY 10524 $55 per person – checks should be made payable to Garrison Yacht Club Hors d’oeuvres, beverages and music Awards presentation Each attendee should bring a wrapped gift for our annual holiday gift exchange. As we’ll again be participating in the U. S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program , please bring an unwrapped gift as well for donation to this worthy cause. We need to get an accurate headcount (for which we will be billed) to Highlan...

Thank you all for your emails asking for a report on Team Guinan . We are all back safe and relatively sound, except for a few knocked up knees. It was a rain-soaked 3 days coming from Gettysburg to NYC -- a pretty far cry from last year and our sun-filled 275-mile Braking the Cycle ride. Everyone rode long and hard, despite the soggy conditions, and we were supported by Quinn Chastant in our Team Guinan sweep van. This photo was taken at the end of Day One, after a 92-mile stretch. We are sporting mustaches in honor of John Guinan -- they were given to us courtesy of Mary Ellen Yannitelli . That night, BlackWatch Productions played an emotional video tribute to John after dinner. BlackWatch's Monica Anderson and John Anderson also provided arm bands with John's photo for every rider. The leaders of Braking the Cycle designated John as the honorary Rider Number 1. From left to right are Team Guinan members: Chris Robinson, Dean Bradshaw, Kelly Guinan Preusser, Ed Preusser,...

View Larger Map Tomorrow morning at 5:30 a.m., Team Guinan will gather near the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pa. to mount our bikes and ride 275 miles to Manhattan. Forecasts say it will be raining with thunderstorms much of the three-day ride, but as they say, we'll ride on... until they won't let us. We're part of a larger group -- Braking the Cycle -- but the seven of us are riding for someone you all loved well: John Guinan who did this ride on behalf of his wife, Mary Jane , and brother-in-law Tommy . And we're riding with John's daughter, our team leader, Kelly Guinan Preusser . Other members include: Ed Preusser, Dean Bradshaw, Christine Ashburn, Chris Robinson, Lisa Bernhard and me. This map above shows you our terrain. (It's mostly uphill. Seriously. Or at least it feels that way.) We owe many of you in this community and in our larger out-of-Garrison community a great deal of thanks for all you did to help us raise funds; we each needed $3500 to r...

While Team Guinan is away on our 275-mile bike ride this weekend, alumni from around the country will gather to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Garrison Union Free School . Anita Prentice writes to say there will be people returning to Garrison for the festivities from California, Minnesota, and Colorado, as well as all over the East Coast. Organizers of the event have put together a pretty slick social networking Web site here on Ning that links alumni and hosts videos, photos, links to local businesses and community institutions as well as details about this weekend's events. Given the weather report, I expect we'll all be pedaling in the rain wishing we were there for Jeff's Dain's grilling Saturday night.

The board of the Garrison Station Plaza has rejected proposals for a new cafe or similar gathering spot at the building formerly known as Guinan's. Today's Journal-News story by Barbara Livingston Nackman quotes several board members, one of whom says the board is now considering proposals for offices and a rental apartment. People familiar with the board's plans say it is close to or has already signed a contract with at least one new tenant. The board's decision comes after several months of lobbying from many parts of the community for a general store or other enterprise that would serve the needs of commuters, tourists, cadets, boaters and residents. More than 1,000 people from this community and around the country signed a petition urging the board to "preserve our community's center and vitality and permit a new store." The board cited liability concerns but said little more. In the story, board member Hank Osborn , whose grandfather once owned t...

Owners reject new café at former Guinan's Barbara Livingston Nackman 746 words 23 September 2008 The Journal News (White Plains, NY) GWP-Westchester and Putnam 1A English (c) Copyright 2008, The Journal News. All Rights Reserved. GARRISON - Visions of a new café-bar at the former Guinan's Country Store and Pub were dashed this weekend when a property-owner group said it wants offices and housing instead. Garrison Station Plaza expects to replace the former Guinan's with something totally different. Mary Ellen Yannitelli, 42, a lifelong Garrison resident who knew and helped the Guinans run their family enterprise, had submitted plans for a café selling homestyle foods, drinks and convenience items at 7 Garrison Landing overlooking the Hudson River. Her plan was rejected, with the Station Plaza board citing liability concerns as the reason. Instead, board members are considering proposals from two "well-established local businesses" for offices and a rental apartmen...

Today marks seven years since the chain of events began unfolding to lead me to Garrison and to Guinan's. Each year on this day, I pull out Rev. Frank Geer's wonderful book -- Where Was God on September 11th? -- that he co-authored with John Horgan and turn to a specific passage. It reads: "... the disaster itself had a ripple effect. The pain and the horror and the tragedy of it spread through the world like ripples on a pond when a pebble's been thrown in. But the healing travels back the other way, like the same ripples coming back towards the center after they've reached the shore." A lot of healing of all sorts happened throughout the decades in a little green Irish pub nestled against the Hudson River. Later today I'll drive down to Garrison's Landing and stand on Frank's proverbial shores to give thanks in the spot where where the burning barrel once sat. It's there I can still hear the Little Chapel's heart beating strong.

Mike Koutsourades, who runs The Hudson River Shop , writes: "The Tugboat Roundup is September 5-7 at Waterford, NY. It's one of the largest tugboat gatherings in the Northeast. This year they are expecting over 30 tugs. What may be interesting to your readers is a lot of the tugs will be making their way up the Hudson the week of Sept. 1st. This is really a great event with historic boats, music, food and fireworks on the Erie Canal. Also, check out some great shots of tug parade." Thanks to Mike for this tip. I watched the promotional video above and in addition to tugboats (which you can ride) and fireworks, there is apparently a "line-throwing" contest. Presumably, this is the maritime equivalent of hitting the bell with a mallet at the state fair.

Garrison's own Uncle Wade band will play the fabulous Turning Point Cafe on Sept. 14th. If you haven't heard Uncle Wade before, this is a great venue to get your feet/ears wet as a listener. Details and to reserve tickets: Turning Point Cafe Piermont, N.Y. Sunday, Sept. 14th 7 p.m. Cost: $20 (845) 359-1089

Peter Collins of New Jersey is the winner of 4 tickets to see the Giants play the Patriots tomorrow night. His winning bid of $200 will go to Team Guinan . Many thanks to Peter -- and especially to Ed Ashton who donated these tickets for the 2nd year in a row to benefit our team and Braking the Cycle . Peter writes: "...We should probably leave out that I am a rabid-season-ticket-holding Pats fan who is married to a rabid won't-go-to-a-game-anymore-because-she-gets-too-stressed-out Giants fan and that we are trying to determine where the kids' alliances now lay football-wise...." Go Giants! (Sorry Peter)

UPDATE II: Bids will now close midnight Tuesday to give time to ship tickets. UPDATE: The highest bid is now at $200. Thanks to all! Here's your chance to support Team Guinan on our 2008 Ride in honor of John Guinan AND WIN 4 TICKETS TO SEE THE GIANTS PLAY THE PATRIOTS NEXT WEEK. Bidding starts at $150; that's a steal. It's a package valued at $390 -- thanks to the generosity of Ed Ashton -- and the game is between the teams that squared off in the last Super Bowl . Here are game details: NY Giants vs. Patriots August 28th 7 p.m. Game played in New York @ Giants Stadium Click Here to View the Actual Tickets and Seats. To place your bid, please email it to: email@gwendolynbounds.com. I'll let you know where bids stand at that point and you can raise if you like. New deadline for bids is midnight, Tuesday, August 26th. [changed from Wed.] Please be generous -- we're only a month away from the ride. THANK YOU!!!!

"I'm hitchin a ride to redemption On this dark, hot July night The quarter moon's three nickels short The neon's not much light Townes and Zevon feed the engine Newbury's driving this old train I find myself smilin a bit As the sky begins to rain It seems the rails end up ahead But Mickey only smiles He's made this trip many a time His soul's walked evry mile So many times I needed an ace But only drew a seven Tonight's the night I win the pot Headin for the last bar in Heaven At the last bar in Heaven The shows they never end At the last bar in Heaven You can always find a friend At the last bar in Heaven There's no one getting stoned At the last bar in Heaven It always feels like home Seems the old friends always find me When the darkness fills my soul It doesn't take but a song or two And I'm feeling almost whole Forgiveness and redemption's What my old heart needs tonight This train I'm on will carry me From the darkness to the l...

The deadline has passed for proposals to start a new store/public venue at the old Guinan's spot. Many of you around the country who read Little Chapel have emailed asking about the status of Mary Ellen Yannitelli's bid to reopen a cafe in this historic space. Thanks for your continued interest. She says she has turned in her business plan and is hopeful the board of directors of Garrison Station Plaza will be receptive. (She's calling it Lou-Lou's Café after the chapel's most loyal 4-legged parishioner, pictured above.) Here are a few snippets: "...My café is in keeping with the Garrison’s Landing Association’s founder’s original mission of '…making Garrison a better place to live.' The cafe increases our community’s self-reliance, local empowerment and a continuation of the Landing’s original use as Garrison’s traditional commercial district, therefore the most visible indicator of our community pride, along with its economic and social health. It wil...

There are two more upcoming events at the Garrison Yacht Club docks. It's good to support the Landing, so check them out if you are in town. (Note: the above photo was shot by Christine Ashburn on the banks of Guinan's adjacent to the Yacht Club.) Friday, August 15, 2008 Peter Calo and Friends Carly Simon says, “Peter should be heard and appreciated. What a find!” GYC Dock 7:00 – 9:00 P.M.** Complimentary gift certificate for Cathryn’s Tuscan Grill. $15 per person Saturday, August 23, 2008 Ivey’s In My Kitchen Presentation, hors d’oeuvres and steak dinner with Ivey Levy of Boating on the Hudson fame. Magic oil too! Bring your choice of beverage. Headcount due by August 15th. GYC Dock 6:30 – 9:30 P.M. $20.00 per person * Payment may be made to Garrison Yacht Club, P.O. Box 176, Garrison, NY 10524 ** Whereas these are not potluck events, feel free to bring a picnic dinner if you like. Photo by Christine Ashburn. All Rights Reserved.

This story appeared last weekend by Tabitha Lucas in The Voice Ledger about the Highland Harper, Candace Coates . Candace was a regular at Irish Night at Guinan's. For anyone who wants to catch up with her and find out where she's playing next, the story is a good guide. The story notes how Candace taught herself to play from a book and a tape. Says the harpist in an email: "As of August of this year I have been playing that small harp for 15 years. Somehow it doesn't feel like it's been that long."

The eighth annual Great Hudson River Paddle (GHRP), a 144-mile kayaking and camping trip from Albany to Manhattan just finished up last weekend. You can read about it here and start thinking about next year. The paddle group passes right under our noses in Cold Spring/Garrison and keeps going all the way to the city. The event is held to celebrate the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail , the improvement of public access to the Hudson River, and the diversity and heritage of the riverside communities of the Hudson River Valley. There's a good blog at YackMan.com about the event.

This New York Post story today is amazing. It's about a dog returned to his owners 5 years -- yes FIVE years -- after getting lost. All because of a microchip. I was on the fence about this technology. But not long ago, I was driving down 9-D and saw a dog limping in the middle of the road near the field below Castle Rock . Cars were weaving dangerously around the pup, so my girlfriend Lisa and I got out and coaxed the pup to the side of the road. He looked dehydrated, had a cut on his paw and no tags on his collar. So we took him to our vet. The vet, after making sure the dog had no internal injuries, scanned the back of his neck for a microchip. Sure enough, there was one. They dialed in and located a shelter where the dog was registered. The shelter gave us the name of the new owner: Chip Marks , my friend and the protector of Osborn Castle. Chip and his dog, who'd wandered off playing, were soon reunited. Yesterday, because of this, my dog Dolly got chipped. If anyone is ...

Garrison's own " Uncle Wade " (rustic blues roots band) will play at the Garrison Yacht Club docks this Saturday (7/12) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The music is open to the public and the charge is a very reasonable $10 a head. Bring a picnic dinner if you like. Organizers (led by Neil C. Bloch ) will also have two grills going if you want to cook while you're down there. Attendees will receive a coupon redeemable at Riverview restaurant in Cold Spring. Band members include: Jerry Krenach (record producer, session drummer, arranger) on guitar, percussion, vocals. Art Labriola (Grammy-winning composer, keyboardist) on dobro, pedal steel, accordion. Andy Revkin (prize-winning NYTimes reporter by day) on fiddle, guitar, mandolin. Peter Rundquist (Clio winning composer) on banjo, guitar, harmonica, and vocals. The very cool video above of Uncle Wade playing was shot in June on board the Clearwater ship on the Hudson River.

One familiar face at Guinan's during its last few years was a West Point cadet named Brad Hoelscher . He came to Guinan's on his 21st birthday and continued to support the store both as a patron and as an extra pair of beer-slinging hands on several of the busiest nights during Guinan's final hours. Brad is quoted in this New York Times story yesterday about the controversy over what kind of role religion plays and should play at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and other service academies. It's an interesting piece, even if you don't know Brad. For those of you who do, he graduated on May 31st . I was lucky enough to attend the ceremony and spend time with his family and friends that day. They are an incredible bunch. As for Second Lieutenant Brad's next steps, I'll keep you posted here.

From Nancy Montgomery : This duo is on the Irish Echo's top 10 list. Their last recording - In Play - "one of the best Irish traditional recordings of the year" - Earle Hitchner, The Irish Echo . They play BIG venues, but because of a generous sponsorship from The Morton McGrath Group of RBC Wealth Management, they are playing at our tiny 1890's gem (the old stone train station at Garrison's Landing) on the Hudson - The Philipstown Depot Theatre : Philipstown Depot Theatre Music Tracks and Bull Hill Productions Presents: Liz Carroll & John Doyle Friday June 27th at 8:00pm $30 by calling 845-424-3900 Note: John Doyle has been named to Irish America's Top 100 for 2008. His profile appears in the April/May 2008 issue of Irish America magazine, now on newsstands.

The Poughkeepsie Journal published this nice tribute to John Guinan last week by Barbara Nackman . She talks a lot about his commitment to Braking the Cycle (aka, "The Ride") that he participated in every year -- and which his daughter Kelly now does in his stead with a group of us from Guinan's. We're approaching the three-month mark for the ride. All the rain has kept a lot of Team Guinan off the road, but training has to begin in earnest soon. (Or we'll all be sorry.) We're also entering into serious fund-raising mode. Please consider making a donation to help us meet our $50,000 goal at the Team Guinan link . It's a large amount in an economy that's got everyone watching their dollars. But it's for a very important cause that meant a lot to a man who meant so much to us. We're very appreciative of your help. Photo by Kelly Guinan titled "I am my father's daughter." All Rights Reserved.

Congratulations and thank you to all signers. We've just reached 1,000 names supporting a new store at #7 Garrison's Landing. Please continue to forward the link to your friends and family. Remember, your voices have been heard .

Your enthusiasm for and commitment toward seeing a new store at #7 Garrison's Landing is contagious. We're approaching 1,000 names on the petition now , and the wonderful comments keep coming. Here's to passing the thousand-name milestone today. Please encourage people in the area and who know about what Guinan's represented to this town and greater public good to read the mission statement and sign in support. Again, thank you for all who've already done so. Everyone has busy days, and we're extremely appreciative that you spared a few minutes for this.

Below, a letter from a U.S. officer recently wounded in Iraq: Dear Station Plaza Board Members, I would like you to consider Mary Ellen Yanitelli's proposal for the Guinan's Country Store and Pub. There is a great opportunity to keep "a warm and special place" in Garrison. I am a career military officer stationed at West Point and have been attending the Irish nights at Guinan's since 1995. I just recently returned from two years in Iraq after being critically wounded. I was more hurt by the news that Guinan's was closed than I was with my physical wounds. One of the "things" I clung to during my recovery were memories of Garrison and Guinan's. You can not imagine how important this was to my recovery. I believe there is something so very special about this community. This is an opportunity to keep the community together.... God Bless, LTC Kenny McDonald Deputy Commander US Army Corps of Engineers New York District Photo by Gwendolyn Boun...

This ad was published in this week's Putnam Country News & Recorder soliciting proposals for new businesses to operate at #7 Garrison's Landing. As the ad notes, "many people have expressed hope that at least some portion of that building ... will continue to be leased to a tenant whose business contributes to community interaction and convenience." Thank you to all who have signed the petition backing a new general store or similar venue in this spot. We're closing in on 1,000 signatures. Please continue to encourage new signers and throw your support behind those who might have a viable plan to serve our community in this space.

Barkeep a giving person right up to his own death Barbara Livingston Nackman 666 words 17 June 2008 Poughkeepsie Journal 1B English (c) Copyright 2008, Poughkeepsie Journal. All Rights Reserved. GARRISON - For a decade, Fishkill resident John Guinan each year rode his bike hundreds of miles to raise money to combat AIDS, the disease that took the life of his brother-in-law. Now, friends and relatives of the man whose family founded the legendary Guinan's pub will do the same to honor his memory this fall. Guinan, 56, died June 3 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie after a two-year battle with brain cancer. Guinan first realized some numbness in 2006 during his last ride for Braking the Cycle, which benefits health services at New York City's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Garrison resident Gwendolyn Bounds rode with Guinan. A columnist for the Wall Street Journal, she wrote "Little Chapel on the River," chronicling how Guinan...

Members of the Garrison Station Plaza board agreed this morning to revisit whether there should be a store or similar public venue housed in the building formerly known as “Guinan’s.” While this is a positive move to those of us supporting such an establishment, it remains unclear what direction the board will ultimately take. Edward N. Preusser , a shareholder who is not on the board, presented the results gathered so far on a public petition started this week that calls for preserving such a store on Garrison’s Landing. To date, 910 people have signed both from the New York region as well as around the country and overseas. The board discussed how and where they might solicit proposal for such use of the space. ( One such proposal has already been submitted and may still be considered despite earlier indications that it would not.) GSP board members agreed they would study the matter and make a decision about their direction in the near future. Those who have not signed the pet...

Your support for a new public venue or store at 7 Garrison's Landing (the building formerly known as "Guinan's") is overwhelming. As of this writing, there are 823 signatures to the online petition with page after page of heartfelt, eloquent comments accompanying them. Thank you. And thank you again. I'll keep everyone updated here -- as live as I can -- on the outcome of tomorrow morning's board meeting at 10 a.m. at the Desmond-Fish Library . There have also been many people who have emailed their stories and reasons for support. Here is one: My visits to Guinan's were primarily as a commuter getting coffee and a paper before jumping on the train for the last 15 years. That may not sound like a big deal, but when it comes with a friendly neighbor behind the counter sharing 15 seconds of the latest news, a joke or a commiseration about the weather or whatever, it is a big positive deal. You can understand why I, like most of the people who take that ...

A petition is now online strongly encouraging the shareholders of Garrison Station Plaza , which owns the building formerly-known as Guinan's , to include a new store in their renovation plans. While several members support this idea, the board is also considering converting the building into all office space and/or apartments or other configurations with no cafe or store, according to people familiar with the plans. The board already has turned down a proposal to build a new cafe from former Guinan's regular, Mary Ellen Yannitelli . No specific explanation was given. (See this Journal-News article by Barbara Nackman for more.) Many residents, myself included, and tourists who've visited Garrison's Landing feel that to not include a public gathering spot here would deprive the town of a much-needed resource in a critical location for commuters, Garrison Art Center patrons and talent, cadets, tourists, boaters, Landing businesses and other citizens. The petition i...

Garrison resident, friend to John Guinan and morning commuter Dwight Garner wrote this fine tribute to John Guinan today on his New York Times book blog, Paper Cuts . Last year Dwight posted about his commute from Garrison , and noted how Guinan's was one of the "Hudson Valley’s last great establishments." No argument here. In today's post, Dwight fittingly described Garrison's loss of John this way: "The town feels atomized without him." During John's battle with brain cancer, Dwight often sent John books he thought he'd shine to -- just another example of the small ways the morning commuters paid back the man behind the bar for his kinship. Dwight lives here with his wife, author Cree LeFavour , who writes this interesting, visual foodie blog called On the Plate .

New York Times "Our Towns" columnist Peter Applebome Friday penned this tribute to John Guinan and the Garrison's Landing store his family ran from 1959 until 2008. Peter has written two other stories about Guinans, one in 2007 and another this year. In his most recent post, Peter included a moving quote from John about what the store meant to him all these years: “I’m not sure exactly how, but we became a comfort zone for people,” [John] said, “a place that reminds people of a place they went to when they were young, something that makes them think good thoughts. People need a place like this, but the reward you get for the kindness you provide is worth much more than whatever you give out. It blows me away to be a part of it.” John also would have been blown away at the generosity of the community during his wake, funeral service and memorial reception at Garrison's Landing. One of his dear friends, Mary Ellen Yannitelli -- who has proposed opening a new store ...

Friends of the Guinan family gathered yesterday to celebrate the life of John Guinan at Our Lady of Loretto in Cold Spring, N.Y. and later on Garrison's Landing at a reception hosted by the Garrison Art Center . Bagpipers (from the Cold Spring Fire Co. Pipe & Drum Corps , I'm told) gave a wonderful farewell to him. Several riders from Braking the Cycle came by train from New York to commemorate John, who has pedaled with them since the ride's inception. The organizers of Braking the Cycle, among them Eric Epstein , Blake Strasser and Steve Bratton , have graciously made John honorary Rider Number 1 this year. This ride was enormously important to John. He rode every year to celebrat e the life of his late brother-in-law Tommy . His wife Mary Jane often crewed; now his daughter Kelly leads a team of us from Guinan's who ride in his stead. In lieu of flowers or other tributes to John, the family has asked that donations be made to Braking the Cycle and Team Gui...

This is the outside of now-closed Guinan's Pub & Country Store yesterday, where flowers, dolls, photos and even a bottle of Harp are being laid in honor of John Guinan who died Tuesday night. While the store has been gutted and is empty inside, it's still filled with the stories and souls of the people who loved it and the family who kept its doors open nearly 50 years. Today, we will gather to honor John Guinan both in church and later on the shores of the Hudson near the store where so many of us first came to know him. Photo by Christine Ashburn

"Garrison rocks." That's what 10 seventh-grade students have to say about their town. Today they launched their Spring edition of the "Cougar Times" online . [NOTE: I'm with them live-blogging from their classroom.] Included in the edition are book reviews, stories about summertime, articles on school issues, photos and community news about where the 8th graders are going to school next year. The students have been working for two months under Charlotte Rowe at the Garrison Union Free School District. Journalists working on the project include: Lianna Culp, Richard Stiehl, Eryn Kelly, Nicklas Clemente, Simon Close, Lindy Labriola, Robby Schartner, Olivia Mennillo, Madison Freeman and Chloe Wareham-Gordon . Congratulations to them all.

An obituary for John Guinan ran today in the Poughkeepsie Journal. Many people know John mostly from his days behind the counter at Guinan's Pub & Country Store. But reading this testimony to his life sheds light on the many other facets of his character. For details about the memorial services being held for John, as well as how to reach the family, please see this post .

Yearning for a new Guinan's, but Garrison owners say no Barbara Livingston Nackman 880 words 5 June 2008 The Journal News (White Plains, NY) GARRISON - It's been more than four months since Guinan's pub and country store closed - and pining for a reopening has become something of a local pastime. The old glass-fronted counters inside the Garrison Landing shop are gone, and the interior walls have been stripped bare and opened to the studs. No neon signs suggest beer varieties, and there is a clear view of the Hudson River from the front entrance. There is no final word from the building's owners, Garrison Station Plaza Inc., on what exactly will replace the beloved Irish pub begun by Jim Guinan in 1959. One resident, Mary Ellen Yannitelli, whose family is historically connected to the site, is hoping she can make it into Hudson Cafe. "I don't want to do this for melancholy sentimental reasons. I don't have a claim on it," she said from her home, a shor...

John Guinan died last night after a long, and extraordinarily brave fight with brain cancer. He is survived by his wife Mary Jane, children Sean, Kelly and Casey, granddaughter Zoe, his siblings Margaret, Christine and Jimmy and his father Jim. Your notes and calls to John over the past 18 months have meant more than you'll ever know. Rarely does someone hear such widespread affection from so many corners of the world. He deserved all of the love but took none of it for granted. And he changed many lives, my own included, in big and small ways. The family will hold a wake from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday: Clinton Funeral Home 21 Parrott Street Cold Spring, NY 10516 (845) 265-3333 John's funeral will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday: Our Lady of Loretto 24 Fair Street Cold Spring, NY 10516 (845) 265-3781 In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Braking the Cycle and Team Guinan. This link will take you directly to Team Guinan's donation...