A Word from the Publishers

Spring 10 years ago was AboutTown's first spring issue and it was then it seemed to start taking on a life of its own. People were really starting to pay attention, we discovered we had a following of readers. I was doing much of the distribution and was delighted to find people asking for the new copy before I even put them in shops. I'd see people walking around Rhinebeck with a copy of AboutTown tucked under their arm, reading them in Schemmy's or at a table in one of the outdoor cafés. So many businesses have come and gone. I find myself rooting for many of the new businesses that open and love sharing some of the excitement with new owners. Over the years, many of the business owners have become friends.

I remember my bio on our first website mentioning my two teenagers. Now my two teenagers are young adults and our family has expanded to include my precious grandson Hunter. I realize how many changes have taken place when I think of my one-time neighbor Gale Fenn, who died of brain cancer two years ago. In her memory, her extraordinary daughter Kristen has taken on the daunting challenge of founding a camp for children whose parents have cancer. This summer the Saint Rose chapter of Camp Kesem will run its second session. Look for information on the second annual Race For Magic fundraiser to help send campers to Camp Kesem. See information in the calendar.

—Gail

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As editorial director, there are three stories and one calendar event I'd like to call special attention to in this issue. The first article is Ronnie Citron-Fink's "A Cool Day in School," the introduction to a series surveying our area's public, private, and home school opportunities. More disturbing is Evelyn Bartin's story about the looming disappearance of our local volunteer rescue squads. And Peter Klose's advice for local property owners who may be in danger of losing their recently-acquired homes reminds me that although the housing bust has treated our local area relatively kindly so far, we may well have seen only the first signs of approaching difficulties. As for the event: I'd like to encourage all of you to get to the first-ever Millbrook Book Festival this May 16 and 17, when the entire village is playing host to an ambitious program of author panels, receptions, and community meals.

Artistically, this issue of AboutTown features a family first: drawings from three of the four members of one of our area's most talented families. Liza Donnelly has contributed the cover art, Michael Maslin a cartoon in the Building & Home section, and we're especially proud to have as our Guest Artist their daughter Gretchen Maslin, who provides spot drawings used throughout the business listings. Gretchen is 17 and attends Oakwood Friends School.

—Paul