Arlo Guthrie to marry Woodstock local
Legendary singer and songwriter Arlo Guthrie has announced plans to marry his longtime girlfriend Marti Ladd, Woodstock local and owner of The Wild Rose Inn. In September 2016, Ladd sold the Inn and moved in with Guthrie at his home in Sebastian, Florida.
Guthrie has been with Ladd for almost a decade. It will be the second marriage for both of them.
The wedding plans are still in the early stages, but the couple plan to get married in Sebastian.
$33 million DEP project will replace two Route 28A bridges
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced on Friday, October 29 the start of a $33 million project to replace two bridges along Route 28A near the Ashokan Reservoir. The project, which will start in November, will also relocate about one-half mile of the roadway and expand the Boiceville Bridge Trailhead for the Ashokan Rail Trail.
“This construction project near Ashokan Reservoir underscores DEP’s commitment to maintaining the roads and bridges that New York City is responsible for in the watershed,” DEP commissioner Vincent Sapienza said. “Our water supply employees, local residents and visitors rely on our roadway infrastructure to be in a state of good repair, which is why DEP continues to invest in the 57 bridges and 99 miles that we are responsible for across the water supply. We also look forward to expanding the Boiceville Bridge Trailhead for the Ashokan Rail Trail, so that this popular recreation path can be accessible to more visitors during its peak seasons.”
The largest component of the project involves replacing the bridge that carries Route 28A over the Esopus Creek in Boiceville. The existing bridge, known locally as the Five Arches Bridge, was built during the original construction of the Ashokan Reservoir and put into service in 1913. A new bridge will be constructed just south of the existing bridge.
The 384-foot-long bridge will sit atop two new piers that will be driven into the bed of the creek. Engineers will use watertight barriers known as cofferdams to exclude the creek from the work area, build the piers’ footings in dry conditions and protect water quality. The existing bridge will remain open to the traveling public while the new one is built to ensure that there is no disruption to local traffic. The original bridge and its piers will be demolished once the new one is finished.
The project includes three additional upgrades to road and bridge infrastructure along this westernmost portion of Route 28A. DEP will replace a second, smaller bridge that carries Route 28A over the rail corridor that is owned by Ulster County. The new bridge will be 43 feet long and preserve access to the corridor.
The intersection of Route 28 and Route 28A will be reconfigured. That intersection is currently a Y intersection that controls traffic through a combination of yield and stop signs. The new intersection will be a more traditional T intersection with stop signs and turning lanes to organize the flow of traffic. Lastly, about one-half mile of Route 28A will be reconstructed to meet the new bridge alignments and straighten a severe S-curve in the roadway just west of the two bridges.
Once finished, the project will also include new or expanded recreation amenities that provide access to the Ashokan Rail Trail and the hamlet of Boiceville. The Boiceville Bridge Trailhead will be upgraded at the end of the project to include ten additional parking spaces for those who use the rail trail and fish at nearby access locations along the Esopus Creek.
The new bridge over the Esopus Creek will include a walking and biking path constructed by DEP to the end of City-owned property. The New York State Department of Transportation has coordinated with the City and local officials to extend that recreation path into the hamlet of Boiceville, providing a new link between the rail trail and the hamlet.
The project will start in November with the removal of trees in areas where the new bridges will be constructed, and where Route 28A will be reconstructed. About eight parking spaces will be temporarily removed from the Boiceville Bridge Trailhead to make room for construction materials and offices for the duration of the project. The project is expected to be completed by 2025. DEP does not anticipate any lane closures or traffic disruptions.
Phoenicia students learn about community-building
Students in Phoenicia Elementary School teacher Carly Hull’s Grade 2/3 class recently welcomed two special visitors from the local community: Onteora school resource officer (SRO) Thomas Sharon and officer George Neher of the Shandaken Police. The officers were among the guests invited by Hull to help her class celebrate “Community Weeks,” which took place in her classroom from October 11 to 30. “Our other guests have included members of the US military and members of our local Fire Department,” Hull reported.
Describing his recent visit, Deputy Sharon said, “I was invited to share with the class what a police officer’s job is and to show off our cars and equipment.” The students, who listened intently to both officers, were thrilled to sit in a patrol car and to try on a police vest.
In the coming weeks, Hull’s students will learn about the differences among rural, urban and suburban communities. “It is important to me that my students understand the communities in which they live, but also understand the function of communities and the importance of all community members,” she said. “Giving them opportunities to interact with members of our local community, such as Deputy Sharon, inspires, motivates and educates my students in a hands-on way. It is much more than trying on a vest or sounding the siren.”
Another important component to Community Weeks, Hull explained, involves building community within the school building, as well as within the classroom. The District’s Social and Emotional Curriculum encourages “community circles,” she said, in which every student is included as a valued participant. “During this tremendously difficult time of education, it is important to me that my students feel connected to their classmates, their school community, and ultimately the community in which they reside,” she explained.
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