Curbside service to be offered at Elting Memorial Library
Having been shuttered along with most other places where people gather back in March, patrons of Elting Memorial Library may be cheered to learn that the first steps toward reopening will be visible on June 23, when employees will begin offering curbside service. That isn’t to say that library services haven’t been available: according to longtime director John Giralico, the phones have been available six days a week to help resolve technical problems and guide people to content that’s available through the internet with a library card.
Giralico spoke with New Paltz Mayor Tim Rogers over Zoom on June 11 about the library’s history and plans to reopen the facility. While for-profit businesses are being given clearance for reopening (with new restrictions to minimize spread of this coronavirus) based on what phase the region is in, libraries are being reopened incrementally according to another parallel phased plan. Phase 2 doesn’t allow for any contact except over the internet or phone, but curbside pickup comes with phase 3. According to Giralico, patrons will have to call ahead with their requests, and let library staff know when they’re in the parking lot in a vehicle. The library card will be shown through the closed window, and then the staff member will drop the selections in the vehicle’s trunk.
In later phases, people will be allowed inside on a limited basis. That will entail scheduling time to use the children’s room, historical collection, or new arrivals, for example. Access to public computers will come later still, and will come with modifications to ensure distance between users. Study rooms will also become available along with the larger room, where careful measurements have been taken to ensure it’s used by only an appropriate number of people.
Giralico expects it to be well over a year before any kind of group events can be held at the library. “We won’t get back to normal until there’s a vaccine,” he said.
SUNY New Paltz will host retirement celebration for Gerald Benjamin
SUNY New Paltz president Donald Christian and The Benjamin Center for Public Policy Initiatives at SUNY New Paltz invite members of the public to attend a virtual celebration honoring Gerald Benjamin, on the occasion of his retirement after more than 50 years at the College.
The event will take place on Thursday, June 25 at 3 p.m. via Webex.
Please use https://t.e2ma.net/click/e4gejf/atlj4l/mqbrpfb and enter password Jerry to join the program. Download the Webex application in advance at webex.com. RSVPs are requested but not required.
“Dr. Gerald Benjamin is the foremost scholar and expert on local and state government in New York and is held in high esteem by his faculty and administrative colleagues, state and local government officials, other scholars, and thousands of students who have taken his courses,” said Christian. “He has contributed greatly to the campus community, the region and the state during his longstanding career at SUNY New Paltz.”
Benjamin will continue as Emeritus Founding Director of The Benjamin Center. He is succeeded as director by kt Tobin. To read more about Tobin’s appointment and background, visit https://t.e2ma.net/click/e4gejf/atlj4l/y3drpfb.
Virtual events at the Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library has announced a number of new virtual book clubs for the 2020 summer reading program including: Dragon Magic Book Club (ages 4+), Alternative Cinderella Book Club (ages 4+), Graphic Novel Book Club (ages 7+), Magic Tree House Summer Camp Book Club (ages 7+), Mr. Lemoncello Book Club (ages 9+), Mythology Book Club (ages 9+) and the young adult Book Club.
Summer reading program book clubs will be led by Gardiner Library’s Carolyn Thorenz who can be contacted at cthorenz@rcls.org. For more details on each book club, including the time line and specific titles to be read, visit the calendar/events page at GardinerLibrary.org.
The Gardiner Library invites crafters to showcase their handmade projects virtually via Zoom at the Virtual Textile Show and Share on Tuesday, June 23 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. To register for this event and receive the Zoom link or more information, contact Carolyn Thorenz at cthorenz@rcls.org.
Bring your favorite beverage, project to share and Zoom with your fellow crafters.
The Gardiner Library is providing a new virtual service entitled “Ask a Librarian” on Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m. Librarian Amy Cote will be available for live support via Zoom (video and/or audio). To make an appointment, contact Amy at acote@rcls.org. Amy will provide support to learn how to search and place holds on books and other items of interest using Novelist or the library catalog; on researching using the library’s vast databases and resources; using e-readers and other devices to access Overdrive, and more. This service is available for people of all ages. Zoom can be accessed through computers, hand-held devices and even landlines (audio only).
For further information visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
SUNY New Paltz partners with the New Paltz Opioid Prevention and Response Team
SUNY New Paltz is working closely with the regional community on active drug and alcohol prevention measures during the pandemic, a time when added stress and uncertainty can create additional struggle for those living with a substance use disorder.
“We are determined to provide hope and support to those facing the challenges caused by a substance use disorder,” said Jaclyn Cirello, the college’s prevention coordinator. “Despite the restriction’s caused by COVID-19, we want to still be able to provide resources and offer opportunities for people to connect during this time.”
The University Police Department and NP SAFE, the coalition at SUNY New Paltz focusing on alcohol/substance use prevention, have partnered with The New Paltz Opioid Prevention and Response Team, a group of local, county, regional and state service providers and organizations who are working together to address the needs of the community.
To help those struggling with an opioid use disorder and provide better access to services that are available to them despite COVID-19, the New Paltz Opioid Prevention & Response Team has launched a new website with the goal of reaching people virtually.
This website offers virtual Narcan trainings (online training videos, over-the-phone trainings and live Zoom trainings), free at-home medication disposal bags, treatment resources and recovery support.
Those who live in the New Paltz area and complete the virtual trainings and/or need at home medication disposal bags have the option of picking them up at specific community locations, having it mailed to them or having it dropped off at their home. The free at-home medication disposal bags were made available through the NYS OASAS (Office of Addiction Services and Supports) grant.
Visit https://www.opioidpreventionnp.org/recovery-support for more information the New Paltz Opioid Prevention and Response Team.
Mountain Laurel Waldorf School is seeking board members
Mountain Laurel Waldorf School, located in the Village of New Paltz, is seeking new members for its board of trustees. Mountain Laurel Waldorf School is guided by the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner and inspires independent and insightful thinking, empathy for all beings and a love of meaningful work.
The current board of directors comprises leaders from the nonprofit and for-profit sector who are dedicated to the organization’s mission.
Interested individuals should email board@mountainlaurel.org.
Update regarding Moriello Pool opening
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the Town of New Paltz has been waiting to see if Moriello Pool will be able to open this summer. Due to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s newest directive stating that pools may now open at local governments’ discretion, the town is on track for opening Moriello Pool as soon as possible. There are still some staffing, maintenance and safety protocols to be put in place before it can do so, but the town will update the public as to the new opening date as soon as that can be determined.
Request to put sales tax negotiations on pause in New Paltz
At their joint meeting last week, New Paltz town and village officials got briefed on efforts from local county legislators to put sales-tax negotiations on hold for a year, extending the five-year-long agreement so as to allow for more information and fewer pandemic restrictions when the issue comes up again. The issue comes up every time the agreement between county and Kingston officials is up for renewal. State law allows for sales tax in cities to be collected directly therein, but that’s not the case in villages and towns. Instead, they’ve hammered out a revenue-sharing plan that reserves about 85% of all the tax sent to the county for county projects, provides 11% to Kingston and has everyone else split what’s left.
That arrangement rankles New Paltz leaders, as they feel they’re asking to provide services for the people making some $13 million in sales in the town, while only getting $300,000 of that back. They aren’t looking to take from the pocket of Kingston residents, according to deputy mayor KT Tobin; they want more from the county share instead.
Only time will tell how that discussion will pan out, but legislators Eve Walter and Jim Delaune are on board with kicking the can down the road due to the unusual circumstances, with social distance making meetings harder to hold and tremendous uncertainty around all forms of tax and fee revenue. Walter and Mayor Tim Rogers each claim the other had the idea, but regardless, it appears to be catching on; Delaune believes 13 legislators are now on board.
Walter urged caution, though, because she believes many legislators wish to confer with town supervisors first. The concern by supervisors, she believes, is that a one-year stopgap creates uncertainty when it comes time to budget, that a five-year agreement does not. She agrees, though, that “we need time to explore this.” The 85% county share is among the highest in the state and understanding different strategies used elsewhere would be helpful.
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