Little Chapel on the River

Dorothy M. Donnery - mother of Jim Donnery who christened Guinan's "Little Chapel" - died April 2, 2012. The night I first met Dorothy solidified my commitment to writing a book about Guinan's. She was as eclectic and smart and compelling a character as I've ever met. She loved the Hudson River - loved watching the tankers and the freighters go by. She worked along its shores at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point for 39 years. When Jim returned home to visit Guinan's on Friday nights, she'd always have a sandwich and vanilla milk shake ready for him. At Guinan's she'd sip the occasional Michelob Light, though gin and champagne were her drinks of choice. If she grew tired of the barroom banter, she'd slip out to the car where she kept a blanket and sleep. Dorothy suffered no fools; her smile was contagious. The family has asked that memorial donations may be made to a charity of one's choice. Photo courtesy Jim Donnery.

We lost one of our parishioners, John J. "Jack" McAndrew - a founder of "Irish Night" at Guinan's - after his fight with lymphoma. He was 72. Jack is featured in the chapter "The Rising of the Moon" in Little Chapel on the River and at other points in the book. He was a friend to many in Guinan's green walls, and a teacher to those new to Irish music. Without fail, he'd play your favorite song without being asked. For me, that was The Wild Rover . With a nod, and wink, he would always launch in just as my hands were wrapping around the first cold Coors Light. I'll remember his smile and generosity as it swelled out from the dark room, dancing on the music that carried his spirit throughout the bar and beyond. You can read Jack's "My Reflections as Session Leader" essay about his time at Guinan's. Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society www.lls.org Photo courtesy Christine Ashburn.

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

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.

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)

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 bat...

This is a recent email and photo, reprinted with permission from Jim Donnery , one of Guinan's regular parishioners and the man who inspired the name of the book: "Little Chapel on the River." The shot here is where the old bar and Coca-Cola beer cooler once stood. The proposal to create a new restaurant and store in the spot where Guinan's once operated was turned down by the board of the Garrison Station Plaza based on what it said was inadequate financing for the project. The board is planning to move ahead with renovations to include office space. From Jim Donnery: "I had been home this past weekend to attend a funeral for a family member and had some time for goofing off before a dinner engagement in Cold Spring, so I bought a few beers and went down to sit on the rocks by the Boat Club to admire the sun setting on "the river that flows both ways". Old memories brought me over to the Chapel entrance and I peeked inside the front door past the plyw...

In March, I wrote about a tribute bike ride for Jim Donnery , one of Guinan's most loyal parishioners and the inspiration for the title of the book "Little Chapel on the River." When Jim was diagnosed last year with prostate cancer, one of his dearest friends, Frank Hanes , began training to cycle 4,300 miles across the United States to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation . Frank recently completed his fantastic journey. He kept this inspiring blog along the way. Jim Donnery writes: "To all of you who were thinking of me, and praying for me, and made a generous donation to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, I am grateful from the bottom of my heart. Our friend Frank Hanes (of the Inn at Manchester ) has completed his monumental journey across the northern section of our country and has raised almost $22000 by last count. Here are a few pictures of his triumphant finish, with his wife, children and friends." Photos courtesy of Jim Donnery and Frank H...

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

Of all the nights I spent at Guinan's , the one that burns most clearly is still, perhaps, the first. It was the night I first met many of the parishioners -- including Jim Donnery , the man whose fierce love for the green-walled pub he fondly dubbed "The Chapel" inspired the title of the book. Anyone who knows Jim, knows loyalty is core to who he is: loyal to Guinan's, loyal to his family - including his mother Dorothy who he brought to Guinan's regularly - and to all his friends at the chapel. He is also loyal to another family-run joint in Vermont - the Inn at Manchester - where he and his wife Gail have spent many weekends and befriended the owners Julie and Frank Hanes . And when Jim was diagnosed last year with prostate cancer, Frank decided to return that loyalty. Frank is cycling solo across the United States starting June 1 in honor of Jim. He'll dip his bike's back wheel in the Pacific Ocean in Anacortes, Wash. and 4,500 miles and approximate...

These comments were just a few of the warm sentiments posted on Facebook by "parishioners" on St. Patrick's Day, 2010, in honor of Jim Guinan, his family and the Guinan's Pub & Country store. First posting was mine, the rest are responses. Cheers everyone. "Happy High Holy Day to all parishioners...and a toast to the late high priest himself, Jim Guinan. This day a year ago was the last time most of us saw you." Carolyn McDonough Smith , Sandra Souza-desimone , Missy Nibert Fescemyer and 15 others like this. Kristi Lafoon Still one of my favorite books ever. Thanks so much for the picture! Yesterday at 8:43am · Patti Anderson St. Patrick's Day is the day one just automatically thinks of the Guinan's! Yesterday at 8:48am · Brian Bosley I never met him, but your book made me feel I knew him. Happy St. Patrick's Day Yesterday at 8:53am · Elizabeth Weinstein McMahon hdgdnhdgfffftredrddddfdrff ffrfrrrrrrreeeeeeeee44 e4444444 Yesterday at 8:...

Mary Ellen Yannitelli's efforts to create a new public venue in the old Guinan's location at #7 Garrison's Landing has landed her a nomination to receive Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce’s Innovation in Business Award. The award recognizes the entrepreneurial contribution of a member of our community. The winner is determined by an online vote of the community, and there is no residency requirement for voting. Go to www.coldspringchamber.com to see all nominations and cast your vote. Voting concludes at 12PM on March 23rd. The winner will be announced at the Chamber’s Annual Awards Dinner, which will be held at the Chalet on the Hudson on March 25th.

Congratulations to Kelly Guinan Preusser and Ed Preusser for the birth of their daughter, Aurora Faye Preusser . She came into the world on February 9th at 8:20 p.m. weighing 6 lbs, 14 oz and stretching a full 20 inches. Aurora has the pleasure of slumbering in the same crib as her father, Ed, his father Ed , her uncle John and several cousins, Daddy reports. The history continues ...

Pledges from 16 different states have come in to support the history - and the future of #7 Garrison's Landing - better known as the former "Guinan's" building. That's a huge sign of support - thanks to all of you who have pitched in! The new fundraising deadline is Feb. 17th to keep a cafe/pub in the old Guinan's spot. If you are able to pledge, please email your tax-deductible pledge to Mary Ellen Yannitelli at landingcommunity@gmail.com. No monies will be collected unless the final goal amount is met - but these are serious pledges of intent. For more on the history of this effort, click here. Photo by Gwendolyn Bounds. All rights reserved. Please do not redistribute without permission.

From Betsy Hays : "Here is a painting I did of Guinan's back in the 70s (when I didn't know it was Guinan's or even that a bar was in the back of the country store where I used to occasionally stop on my way up to see friends who lived on a lake up in that general area. I fell in love with the look and feel of the building...little did I know that its fate would come back into my life decades later! ... The original is hanging in my kitchen and has been coveted by many but never given away."

How many times will I get to read a copy of " Little Chapel on the River" to a Bearded Dragon on camera for The Wall Street Journal ? Just one. Which is why I'm posting this video about composting here. Bearded Dragon cameo is midway through. Meantime, Walter -- my frugal neighbor from the book -- makes an appearance too!

Welcome Home Team Guinan ! ... Here are photos of this year's two fearless riders: Ed Preusser and Christine Ashburn . They braved cold and rain and what was universally agreed to be the HARDEST hill in the history of Braking the Cycle . With them on the ride was Team Guinan Captain, Kelly Guinan Preusse r , who couldn't saddle up this year because she and Ed are expecting a Baby Preusser in coming months. Her mom Mary Jane Guinan was there helping and cheering as well. In total, all the riders raised more than $273,000. Really fantastic in a tough economy so THANK YOU to all who generously donated. It means more than ever this year. You are champs! And John Guinan would have been so proud. Photos by Kelly Guinan Preusser. All rights reserved. If you are on Facebook and friends with Kelly, you can see more of her photographs from the ride here .

Local "tile guy," pro photographer and graphic designer Russ Cusick has graciously offered to give away free one of these Guinan's-inspired trivets to anyone making a final week $50 or larger donation to Team Guinan -- led by Kelly Guinan -- for Braking the Cycle. Russ designed the trivets and they were sold at the store during its final weeks of operation. After you've made your donation, simply forward your donation confirmation email to Russ at rvc845@yahoo.com along with your mailing address and your trivet will be on the way. A ND MOST IMPORTANT -- Here's the link to donate . Time is short. They ride next week. Please be generous and thank you to Russ for his generosity. If you need any more inspiration to donate, check out the short video tribute Russ put together of Team Guinan and John below.

Time, and the cold weather, is catching up with Team Guinan . The latter isn't so bad -- the former is harder because they still need your donations to ride. It's the Boston to New York leg, and if you've never ridden a bike from Boston to New York, think about how long it feels in a car. Now imagine it on a bike. (That's Kelly Guinan in 2007 pictured.) They really need your financial support to ride because any money they don't raise, they are responsible for paying themselves. And $3500 per person is not small change. So, please give a little, give a lot. Just give! PLEASE DONATE ONLINE HERE.

Happy Birthday to Ed Preusser and Christine Ashburn ! Everyone should look so stylish at 40...