Food pantry open Tuesdays
The Saugerties Food Pantry is open on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Social distancing is practiced. The pantry is at 44 Livingston Street in Saugerties. For information, visit www.saugertiesfoodpantry.com.
School board and budget vote
Saugerties voters on June 9 will be asked to approve three candidates on the ballot running to fill three open seats on the Saugerties school board. The candidates are Susan Gage, Krista J Barringer and Timothy Wells.
Local school districts are sending paper ballots through the mail, with any vote returned by Tuesday, June 9 at 5 p.m. counting.
The school board adopted a $66.5-million proposed budget for the 2020-21 school year, an increase of $1.17-million, or 1.8 percent, over the 2019-20 spending plan. The budget proposal includes a local tax-levy increase of 2.18 percent, or $867,742, bringing the tax total to $40.6 million.
The ballots cannot be opened until after the June 9 deadline.
George Floyd protest in Saugerties
Demonstrations over the past several days have drawn thousands of people protesting the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. In Saugerties, about 30 residents gathered in front of the Reis parking lot on Main and Market streets carrying signs that read: “Justice Now for George Floyd,” “ # Love Thy Neighbor … No Exceptions” and “Again Yet Again.” A rotating group stood along Main Street for about three hours on Monday afternoon, June 1.
— David Gordon
New Saugerties principals
Saugerties will have two new principals when the 2020-2021 school year begins in September. On May 12, the school board appointed Tim Reid as the principal of Saugerties High School and Ginger Vail as the principal of the junior high school.
Superintendent of schools Kirk Reinhardt recommended Reid and Vail — who were two of twelve applicants — after a lengthy interview process that included review by two separate panels. Reinhardt said Reid’s interview is what assured him that the experienced educator and administrator was the right one for the 9-12 principal position. “He has a great understanding of education, special education, student struggles and the importance of rigorous academics,” Reinhardt said of Reid. “He is also a strong leader who is extremely student focused.”
Reid, currently the vice principal of Miller Middle School in the Kingston school district, said he was humbled and excited about coming to Saugerties. “The high school has a great reputation, and I am honored to have been chosen as its principal,” he said.
Reid has 27 years of public education experience as a teacher and an administrator. He said his top priority come July 1 will be to start thinking about how the district will begin to transition students back to school and how to create the most successful outcomes for students. “I’m not a one-size-fits-all kind of guy,” he explained. “A high-school path is different for everyone, and I want to help students make the best decisions they can for themselves.”
No stranger to Saugerties, Vail has served as the assistant principal of the junior high school for the last four years. “Vail is also student centered and has a great ability to connect with her student population,” Reinhardt said.
Vail has 24 years of experience in public education. Prior to being the assistant principal in Saugerties, she worked as a mathematics teacher and was the mathematics department chairperson for the junior/senior high school. “The Saugerties community and its children matter greatly to me and always will,” she said. “I call them my own, and in these virtual times I miss them very much.”
Reinhardt said he couldn’t be happier. “The qualities and experiences these two administrators possess closely align with the leadership profiles developed by their respective school communities,: he said.
Reid will succeed current principal Tom Averill, who is retiring effective June 30. Vail will begin under her new title on July 1.
District officials said opportunities will be made for members of the public to meet Reid as soon as conditions allow.
Burglary arrest in Saugerties
Saugerties police detectives culminated a burglary investigation on May 29 that was initiated on January 1, 2020. Police detectives arrested 35-year-old Jenna M. Litts of 725 First Street City of Kingston, charging her with a Class C-felony of burglary in the second degree.
On January 1, Saugerties police received a complaint from a resident of the Wenton Motel, reporting that while he was hospitalized at the Kingston Hospital someone had broken into his motel room and stole his personal belongings, medications, jewelry, credit card and $300.
Litts was released on an appearance ticket to return to the Town of Saugerties justice court on August 12.
Saugerties Farmers’ Market attracts masked Shoppers
The Saugerties Farmers’ Market, which opened its 2020 season on May 23, is now in full swing. Vendors from past years include fruit and vegetable growers such as Fiddlehead Farm, J&J Farm and Maynard Orchards. The new vendors are Hiddenview Farm (pasture-raised meat), Ram’s Valley (barbecue sauce, hot sauce and chutney) and Cooper’s Daughter Spirits at Olde York Farm (distilled spirits). The Green Palate food truck provides lunch to go and Our Daily Bread and Violet’s Bakery also have takeout lunch offerings. Maple syrup, honey, fresh-roasted coffee, cheese, eggs and blueberry wine are among the other products available.
The market’s new manager, Emily Motter — easily recognizable by a yellow safety jacket and distinctive hat — is presiding over an altered market scene, with widely spaced vendor tents and many other changes to keep marketgoers safe. “Most everyone complied with spatial distancing standards and wore masks,” Motter said after opening day.
Some high-risk customers are opting for parking-lot pickup, as long as they have ordered and paid in advance.
Information about how to pre-order can be found at www.saugertiesfarmersmarket.com. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through October 31 and is located at 115 Main Street.
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