Letters to the Editor in May 2016

Read our letters to the editor, including our Where in the Hudson Valley “Groovy Giant” contest answer

Where in the Valley…?

Anchored to a telephone pole and protected by a “No Trespassing” sign, the Hippie Muffler Man statue exudes the laid-back vibe that his hometown of Bethel is known for. Before ditching the mainstream and sliding into his patched jeans, this circa-1960s statue flaunted lumberjack attire while portraying an axe-wielding Paul Bunyan at Connecticut’s Great Danbury Fair. Ever versatile, this groovy giant also once stood sentinel outside an Albany brake and muffler shop, and both a Jeep dealership and an ice cream joint in Monticello. Crafted from fiberglass by a California company, the Muffler Man originally brought a dose of advertising amusement to gas station customers. Kudos on a job well done to Kevin Healy from Hurley, who was the first to correctly identify the name and location of this cool colossus. Click here to identify a rocky phenomenon.

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I remember this guy from the Danbury Fair!
Donna Ruttan
Ormond Beach, FL

Some of my favorite shops are in Bethel. I remember hearing the locals talk about the statue during a visit to the town, and I just had to check it out for myself.
Angela Jeroloman
South Blooming Grove

Came across this guy after getting lost on my way home from a concert at the Bethel Woods Center. Such a fun find!
​Cathryn Steinhoff
Monroe

Ahoy!

In the March issue’s “Under Sail” story, we incorrectly identified the owners of the sloops Woody Guthrie and Clearwater. The Woody Guthrie is owned by the Beacon Sloop Club, while the Clearwater is owned by the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

Feeling Better

Whoops, we goofed. An ad that ran in the April issue for NewYork-Presbyterian’s Hudson Valley Hospital listed the wrong address and contact information. The hospital, which was renamed last year to reflect its affiliation with NewYork Presbyterian Hospital — the #1 ranked medical center in the state, according to U.S. News & World Report — is located at 1980 Crompond Road in Cortlandt Manor. Contact the hospital at 914-737-9000 or www.nyp.org/hudsonvalley.

hippie muffler man

Photograph courtesy of Wayne Magic

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