Little Chapel on the River

Long live the Chapel! A group of parishioners -- including family members Margaret Guinan, Kelly Guinan, Mary Jane Guinan & Ed Preusser -- gathered at the Chapel to celebrate the High Holy Day. Building might be shut, but you can't keep the community away. Everyone is very excited about the upcoming renovation and reopening . Helping organize the event was Jay Vitale , a friend of the late John Guinan , who in honor of John has started a very cool charity called "Guinan's Aurora" where he collects used bicycles bound for the landfill and partners with local bike shops to help refurbish and distribute them to under privileged children or children in remission from life-threatening illnesses. He's done incredible things so far. You can connect with Jay at www.guinansaurora.org or on here on Facebook . Address below: P.O. Box 208 Garrison NY 10524 845.424.6078

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)

Candace Coates , a.ka. the rat-affectionate "Highland Harper" from Irish Night at Guinan's, writes that she will be playing this Saturday, April 3rd for Easter at Maizie's Tea Room, which has opened in the village of Fishkill, N.Y. She'll be there performing from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. Maizie's Tea Room is located at 1129 Main Street Fishkill New York 12524. Their phone number is (845) 896-4103. Candaces notes that founders are a mother/daughter business team who are new to the area from California and trying to fulfill a dream with the new endeavor. Here's a link to a map for Maizie's

Sunday marked the 51st Annual Candlelight Thanksgiving Service for the Putnam County Historical Society & Foundry School Museum . Held in the non-denominational Chapel of Our Lady Restoration in Cold Spring, a dramatic piece of Greek Revival architecture perched on a rock bluff over the Hudson, the service paid tribute to past proclamations of thanks by various U.S. leaders. This one, read by Elliott Sumers , seems particularly timely: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1934 "... During the past year, we have been given courage and fortitude to meet the problems which have confronted us in our national life. Our sense of social justice has deepened. We have been given vision to make new provisions for human welfare and happiness, and in a spirit of mutual helpfulness we have cooperated to translate vision into reality. More greatly have we turned our hearts and minds to things spiritual. We can truly say, "What profiteth it a nation if it gain the whole world and lose it...

Price: Admission $8/adult Kids 12 & under free Start Time: Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 10:00am End Time: Sunday, August 16, 2009 at 5:00pm Location: Garrison Art Center Street: Garrison's Landing City/Town: Garrison, NY Phone: 845.424.3960 Email: info@garrisonartcenter.org On August 15th & 16th, 2009, the Garrison Art Center 40th Annual Fine Arts & Crafts Fair (FACF) will host this annual gathering for collectors of fine art and craft. Organized by the Garrison Art Center, a not-for-profit community cultural organization, the event is a longstanding community event and the Art Center's largest annual fundraiser. Some 90 regionally and nationally known artists with traditional and alternative crafts are expected. There will be free rides upon the sloop Woody Guthrie, regional food artisans and wineries, Acoustic Music Series live performances, a new Gourmet Food Court. More about the event on Facebook .

When: Saturday, August 15th, 2009 at 7:30 pm Where: Chapel of our Lady Restoration-Opposite Metro North in Cold Spring (Free Parking on Weekends) Why: To support Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Cost: Tickets are $60-seating is limited. for further information, contact Clearwater at (845) 454-7673

Many of the musicians who played at "Irish Night" at Guinan's will now be playing at "The Stadium" on Route 9 in Garrison, near Graymoor . Guitarist Jack McAndrew writes that the crew will be playing outdoors during the summer weather permitting. (Given Mother Nature's track record this June, don't hold your breath.) They will play on the same schedule as established at Guinan's, i.e, the Thursday of the full moon or the first Thursday following a Full Moon. For example, if the full moon is on a Saturday, they will have their seisiun on the following Thursday. Upcoming: July 9 Aug. 6 Sept. 10

This is kind of cool and unexpected. The story of Guinan's will fall into the hands of readers in Waco, Texas later this summer. Little Chapel on the River was picked as a summer read for the community's One Book, One Waco program. The book was selected for exploring "themes of family and friendship as well as the importance of building a strong community." Last summer's pick was "Marley: A Dog Like No Other." Clearly they hadn't heard of Lou-Lou yet.

Date: Saturday, June 27th, 2009 Location: McKenna Theater SUNY New Paltz campus Street: 1 Hawk Drive Town: New Paltz, NY Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cost: $25 At the door: $30 Phone: 8452573844 Email: amy@ecoartspace.org Cold Spring, N.Y.-based singer/songwriter Dar Williams and special guest Nick Panasevich will perform at the McKenna Theater/SUNY New Paltz to benefit the work of ecoartspace and Habitat for Artists , a collective of artists based in the Hudson Valley including: Chris Albert, Richard Bruce, Sharon L. Butler, E. Odin Cathcart, Ryan Cronin, Simon Draper, Kathy Feighery, Marnie Hillsley, Matthew Kinney, Grace Knowlton, Michael Natiello, Sara Mussen, Steven Rossi, Todd Sargood, Matthew Slaats, Lynn Stein, Dar Williams, Grey Zeien, Donald Kimmel and Flying Swine live Theater.

Photo taken May 24, 2008 by Roy Gumpel. All rights reserved.

James Guinan died last night at Tampa University Community Hospital following complications from a chest cold. He was 83 years old. Jim was with his daughters Christine and Margaret, his son-in-law Mike and some of his grandchildren. His friends and family in the Hudson Highlands were fortunate to have seen him here in "God's Country," as he called it, around St. Patrick's Day. The family is still working out details and timing of the memorial services, and I will update everything here when they are ready, but here is the information they have so far. They thank everyone for their thoughts, good wishes and prayers: Visitation: Monday, April 13th and Tuesday April 14th Clinton Funeral Home 21 Parrott Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516(845) 265-3333 2-4PM and 7-9PM (both days) Funeral and Mass: Wednesday, April 15th Our Lady of Loretto 24 Fair Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516(845) 265-3781 10AM Interment to follow at the Cold Spring Cemetery He was the Mayor of Garrison, he ...

Garrison Yacht Club will present The Eilen Jewell Band for its 2009 Spring Dinner. Details below: When: Sunday, April 5 Time: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: Dutchess Manor -- 263 Rte. 9D, Beacon, NY Cost: $75 per person including full dinner and beverages and music. Checks should be made payable to Garrison Yacht Club and sent to P.O. Box 176, Garrison NY 10524 Tickets are available on first come, first serve basis until Sunday, March 29th. No tickets will be available at the door. Contact info: fleetcaptain@garrisonyachtclub.com Sponsors: Polhemus Construction, Nick Roberti's Marine, Samalot Marine and Sea Tow Central Hudson . Photo by Jennifer Lucey-Brzoza @ eilenjewell.com

At last night's Philipstown Planning Board meeting, a public hearing was held, which included discussion on the new site plan approval for the old Guinan's building at #7 Garrison's Landing. The architect for the Garrison Station Plaza, which owns the building, presented his drawings and elaborated a bit more on last month's proposal , adding that the GSP was considering investing in an energy efficient geothermal heating and cooling system for the property. (This technology uses heat generated from the earth versus fossil fuels.) Currently the plans are to convert the space into residences and an office. However, there was a robust appeal from the public at the meeting to include some sort of a public space (ie, cafe) in the new plans. The question also was raised about whether the Guinan's building qualifies as a "historic property," which could affect rules around its change of use and structural alterations. There was also discussion about whether th...

Host: Town of Philipstown Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009 Time: 7:30pm - 10:30pm Location: VFW Hall Street: Kemble Ave. City/Town: Cold Spring, NY Facebook Event Link The Garrison Station Plaza Inc.(building owners) submitted plans to the town to change the use of #7 Garrison's Landing from a store and residence to offices and a residence. Is this a good use for this historic property? Should/could the building accomodate a small gathering spot for the public as well as offices and a residence? This event is a public hearing where you can share your thoughts. View Larger Map

A CELEBRATION FOR GUINAN'S: An evening of traditional Irish music, storytelling, and video March 11th, 2009, 7 p.m.: Philipstown Depot Theatre, Garrison, NY (directions below) COMMEMORATE Guinan’s, Garrison’s most renowned gathering place. LISTEN to Irish music, played by musicians who played during Irish NightsHEAR stories of favorite memories of the bar/country store and SHARE stories of your own SEE videos of life at Guinan’s CELEBRATE community, and the love of small places. Admission: $15 Adults; $12 Students/Seniors. Note: As this is a one-night only event, all reservations must be paid in advance. All proceeds will benefit the creation of an original play about Guinan’s that will be performed at the Depot Theatre in 2010. For tickets and info, call the Depot Theatre box office at (845) 424-3900. The Philipstown Depot Theatre is sponsored by Philipstown Recreation and Philipstown Performing Arts. Directions: By Car: Four miles north of the Bear Mountain Bridge off Route...

Message from the Committee to Preserve Community on Garrison's Landing: HELP SUPPORT A NEW STORE ON GARRISON’S LANDING Update: First, thank you all for expressing your support! The Board of the Garrison Station Plaza was presented with a print copy of the petition including all the signers and comments at the meeting on June 14. As a result, the members of the Board agreed to revisit whether there should be a store or similar public venue housed in the building formerly known as “Guinan’s.” In July, the Board solicited for proposals and received several including one from Mary Ellen Yannitelli that was in keeping with the spirit of Guinan’s . Ultimately they rejected all proposals for a new cafe or gathering spot similar to Guinan's. A 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 alread...

Here is a list of upcoming events and programs for families at the Desmond-Fish Library in Garrison. Math Homework Help with Laura Meiselman– resumes Jan.6, 4-5 p.m. for children in 4th through 6th grades. Ongoing except for school vacations. Kid's Craft Hour–Tues. Jan. 13, 4 p.m. Make some snowflakes and enjoy cocoa and marshmallows. Jan. 20, 4 p.m. Edible and non-edible snowmen Jan. 27, 4 p.m. Celebrate Chinese New Year with lanterns and Fortune Cookies. Feb. 3, 4 p.m. Sew some Warm Mittens. Feb. 10, 4p.m. Valentine Extravaganza. Cards and treats for all. Preschool Story Hour -Wednesdays 1:30 p.m. Stories and a related craft for children from 3 to 5 years old. Ongoing except for school holidays. Parent-Child Workshop Play Group Monday and Wednesday, 10:30-11:15 a.m. resumes Jan. 7 & 12. For toddlers and their caregivers. Free play with circle time, songs and a story. No PCW on Jan. 19th. To register for any of these programs, please call 424-3020 Jan 6 & 20 6-8 p.m.- Ba...

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."

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.)

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 .