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07/28/2010 07:13 PM

Rhinebeck Sidewalks Filled With Media, Onlookers

By: Tara Lynn Wagner

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Ahead of Chelsea Clinton's wedding in Rhinebeck, the town is seeing a lot of attention, and perhaps some jealousy from other towns in the Hudson Valley. NY1's Tara Lynn Wagner filed the following report.

The wedding is still a few days away, but the town of Rhinebeck is starting to see some signs. For one thing, the usually strollable sidewalks are suddenly dotted with camera crews -- and they're not the only unfamiliar faces in town.

"I think I just saw secret servicemen over at the Burts Bees corner of CVS," said Rhinebeck resident Cynthia Carlaw.

Men in black are just the beginning. The riverside village will soon be crowded by a guest list that's pretty A-list -- featuring notables from Washington D.C. to Hollywood, California.

"We get celebrities here all the time so it's not like...but this is blowing it all out of the water," said Rhinebeck resident Sean O'Brien.

There will be plenty of notables for gawkers to go gaga over should they spend the next few days people-watching. While some freely admit they'll be doing just that, others plan to remain level headed throughout the hoopla.

"I'm not going to say that it's nothing new to me because this definitely is new. With everything this wedding entails I can't believe what's going to happen this weekend. But I can say that I'll still treat it like a regular workday. A regular old day in the life of me," said Rhinebeck resident Dan Landa.

Meanwhile, some 50 miles south, the quiet town of Chappaqua remains, well, quiet.

Having lived with the Clintons as their neighbors for roughly a decade, residents there are no longer star struck. They don't seem to mind that the wedding is taking place so far away, even though its taking a few million dollars with it.

"I'm happy that it's in a more secluded location, they'll be able to have the privacy they deserve. And to be honest the Rhinebeck area probably needs the $3 million more than the Chappaqua area," said one Chappaqua resident.

And while Chappaqua business owners might not be displaying well wishes in their windows like the merchants of Rhinebeck, residents in both towns have similar thoughts for the happy couple.

"I think Chelsea's a lovely young lady and I wish them the best," said Rhinebeck resident Susan Cole.

"Lots of happiness and joy their privacy protected and that they have a real good life together," said one Chappaqua resident.