Unison’s Board of Directors will honor, roast and toast founder and retired artistic and executive director Stuart Bigley on Saturday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m., at the Terrace Restaurant on the SUNY New Paltz campus. Bigley founded Unison in 1975 with a group of friends who wanted children to have a more arts-related education. While the school was short-lived, Unison blossomed into a multi-arts performance center. “What can I say about Stuart that hasn’t already been said dozens of times?” said former board president Bruce Pileggi. “The man’s an invaluable asset to the community, quite literally a one-man show whose dogged determination has forged Unison into an institution that’s synonymous with the art scene in New Paltz.”
Current board president Tom Nolan will act as emcee for the evening and will introduce interim executive director Carol Robins and Unison’s new executive director, Christine Crawfis, formerly director of marketing and communications at the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce. The celebration will include food, wine and the magic of Mark Mitton.
Tickets are $35 for Unison members and $45 for non-members who reserve before Sept. 26. Tickets are $5 more for reservations made after Sept. 26. RSVP by calling 255-1559 or by reserving tickets online at www.unisonarts.org. Anyone wishing to contribute an ad, sponsorship, note, memory or photograph to the tribute journal to be presented to Bigley, is invited to contact Crawfis.
Join the family! 
