“Did you know that ocean waves arrive every eight seconds, on average, and generally match the speed of cars in moderate traffic?”
– Bob Berman, astronomer
Chess at Kingston & New Paltz libraries
My kids love to play chess at the library, but summer can mean a break from the organized meet-ups. So I am happy to report the news that during July and August, the Kingston Library and Elting Memorial Library say, “Game On!” If your local library offers summer chess, please send me the details.
The Kingston Library offers its 13th summer of free Chess Club for all levels of play for ages 7 through teens on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m. through August 20. Registration is required. The Kingston Library is located at 55 Franklin Street in Kingston. For more information or to register, call (845) 331-0507, extension 7, or visit https://kingstonlibrary.org.
The Elting Memorial Library invites youth chess players at all levels of play from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Mondays, July 21 and 28, August 4 and 11. Admission to these gatherings is free, and registration is not required. The Elting Memorial Library is located at 93 Main Street in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-5030 or visit www.eltinglibrary.org.
THURSDAY, JULY 17
Bubble Trouble at Saugerties Library
Bubble Trouble is the perfect all-ages show to entertain and also inspire your crew to step-up the bubblemania at home. On Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m., head over to the Saugerties Public Library for a free bubble extravaganza.
The Saugerties Public Library is located at 91 Washington Avenue in Saugerties. For more information, call (845) 246-4317 or visit https://saugertiespubliclibrary.org.
FRIDAY, JULY 18
New Genesis in West Shokan performs Twelfth Night
To swoon over classic Shakespearean lines like, “If music be the food of love, play on,” check out New Genesis Productions’ youth performances of Twelfth Night this weekend at 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 18 through 20. All shows take place at the Little Globe Outdoor Stage, located at 23 Vision Path in West Shokan. For more information, call (845) 657-5867 or visit www.newgenesisproductions.org.
Hudson Valley Chalk Festival in New Paltz
The third annual Hudson Valley Chalk Festival is such an engaging, personal way to experience art because of the immediateness of it. One minute, you’re in the Water Street Market parking lot, and the next thing you know, you’re gazing down at a collection of vibrant pieces. My family gets a kick out of observing the artists work, watching the diverse array of images emerge over the course of the weekend. Some of the artists display a thumbnail of the illustration, inviting the viewer to compare the final product with the work-in-progress.
The Chalk Festival takes place from 9:30 a.m. until dusk on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 18 through 20. Admission is free, and highlights include live music, an open chalk area for public doodles, a Chalk Car to draw on and more.
The Water Street Market is located at 10 Main Street in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 774-9705 or visit www.hudsonvalleychalkfestival.com.
Stream Walk for toddlers at Mohonk Preserve
To me, Mohonk Preserve’s Toddlers on the Trail excursions are not just about exploring the woodland trails; they’re about saying to my family, “Nature is important to us.” They’re about snippets of conversation along the walk with someone who becomes a new friend. They’re about moving my body in a gentle way that feels good, ambling down a path that I’ll return to with these sweet memories over the years.
On Friday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, join Mohonk Preserve volunteer Natasha Piatrunia for Toddlers on the Trail: Stream Walk. This 1.5-mile stroll is designed for families walking with children ages 2 to 6 years; no strollers or pets. Remember to bring water and snacks.
The walk is free for Mohonk Preserve members; non-members must pay a $12 adult hiking day-use fee. The meeting point is the Coxing Trailhead on Clove Road, and registration is required. For more information or to register, call (845) 255-0919 or visit https://mohonkpreserve.org.
SATURDAY, JULY 19
Kids’ yoga workshops
I never learned yoga as a child, but I get so much out of it that I delight in the idea of offering this pathway for children to be at home in their bodies. Kim Ellis offers free children’s yoga classes for ages 4 to 7 years at the Elting Memorial Library from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. on July 26, August 16 and August 30. The Elting Memorial Library is located at 93 Main Street in New Paltz. For more information or to register, call (845) 255-5030 or visit www.eltinglibrary.org.
Ellis leads two children’s yoga workshops at the Highland Cultural Arts Center for ages 8 to 12 years from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 19 and Saturday, August 9. Each workshop costs $12 advance registration, or $20 for both; $15 walk-in. The Highland Cultural Arts Studio is located at 437 New Paltz Road in Highland. For more information or to register, call (845) 706-5748 or visit www.highlandculturalartsstudio.com.
Join the family! 
