African-American burial ground marker in New Paltz gets a refresh
Just in time for the July 4 holiday, members of the Village of New Paltz Historic Preservation Commission repainted the historic marker commemorating the African-American burial ground at the north end of Huguenot Street. Commission chair Thomas Olsen cleaned and prepared the two-sided sign, which was installed by the town and village in 2000, and he applied the distinctive blue base coat of paint. Deputy chair Kamilla Nagy then undertook the painstaking work of applying the yellow lettering by hand to both sides of the large roadside sign. Local business owner Chris Owens will be heading up a team for phase two of the project: adding new plantings to the site, which includes an evocative sculptural bench installed by Tanya Marquette and other community organizers in 2009.
“This was a real team effort,” said Olsen. “We had proactive commissioners who felt strongly that this site’s signage needed an update, a willing and supportive property owner in Janet Salt Frommer, help from her neighbors Stella Deen and Jason Taylor and from Bill and Valerie McAllister and a lot of encouragement and support from Chris Owens. It’s wonderful to see the community come together to remember New Paltz’s African-American heritage in this way. I cannot wait to see what Chris Owens and his team have in store for the plantings. In some modest way, our efforts should help advance historical understanding and keep the hard truths about our own past visible.”
More information on the African-American burial ground marker can be found at https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wm384M_Site_of_African_American_Burial_Ground and general information about New York historical markers at http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/research-collections/state-history/resources/historicalmarkers.
Questions can be directed to the Historic Preservation Commission of the Village of New Paltz at hpc@villageofnewpaltz.org.
Zero Place in New Paltz may soon open
Zero Place, the net-zero building going up on Route 32 in New Paltz, may still be opened in September despite pandemic-related construction delays according to developer David Shepler.
The coronavirus shutdown “hit us at a bad time,” Shepler said. The roof wasn’t on the building yet when the governor ordered all work to stop. However, exceptions to button down the structure were made, and the bare minimum to protect it from the elements was done in March under strict rules. Shepler praised local building inspectors for their cooperation. After that was completed, “It was harder to justify continuing, and we had to shut down like everybody else.”
Construction resumed when the mid-Hudson region was moved into phase one of the governor’s reopening plan, Shepler said He’s hopeful that Zero Place will be open in late September or early October. “It’s less about labor than it is about the supply chain,” he said.
The project was first proposed in 2015, with a planning process that was scrutinized by neighbors who feared it would negatively impact the nearby village historic district. In January 2019, Luis Martinez, principal of general contractor Lalo Group, was detained on immigration violations. After significant community activism, Martinez was welcomed home last June.
Shepler reports considerable interest in the 46 apartments and 8000 square feet of retail space. No agreements have been signed. Negotiations are ongoing with potential commercial tenants, he said, and the formal application process for the one- and two-bedroom apartments will be rolled out this month. Five of the units are designated as affordable, and can only be occupied from the village’s list of qualified tenants.
New Paltz no place for hate
The New Paltz High School and New Paltz Middle School have joined 1600 schools across the country who have met the requirements of the AntiDefamation League’s (ADL) No Place for Hate® program. In accordance with the school district’s initiatives on racial equity and the New York State Education Department’s continuum of well-being, both schools have been officially designated as “no places for hate” schools.
No Place for Hate’s goal is to create more harmonious communities and classrooms by reducing bias and increasing appreciation for the richness found within diversity.
“This designation is a result of our student body’s ongoing desire to prioritize social justice and equity,” said middle school principal Ann Sheldon. “They have been finding so many different ways to express their ideas about ending racism and biases. The students are concerned and want to be involved. They want to help their fellow classmates understand. They want to be a part of the solution. The banner illustrates their commitment to all that.”
“Each event we had brought our students closer to understanding more about our differences and how to regard them in ourselves and others,” said high school principal Mario Fernandez. The first step is awareness.
Road repairs in New Paltz
New Paltz’s highway department will be repairing Butterville Road, Gatehouse Road and North Ohioville Road from VanAlst north to the town line from July 21 to 23. Workers will be doing patch paving and the chip and fog seal. Motorists should avoid traveling these roads on those dates to avoid getting material on their vehicles. If they must travel on those roads, it is recommended that they travel at a very low rate of speed.
For information, call Dawn at the highway department at 255-5050.
Prayers for the healing
In honor of Fourth of July and going forward, weather permitting, through the summer, St. Andrew’s Church in New Paltz will be holding an in-person, outdoor gathering on Sundays from 5 to 5:30 p.m. led by the Rev. Allison Moore. Attendees will congregate six-feet apart, with masks, in front of the church at 163 Main Street in New Paltz. Prayers for the healing of the nation will be taken from the Book of Common Prayer and various sources, with silence and space for participants’ petitions. All are welcome.
Scenic byway audio tour
An audio tour of sites that demonstrate sustainable practices and renewable energy along Route 28 has just been released. Produced by Silver Hollow Audio of Chichester, it is the fourth in a series of free, downloadable tours highlighting environmental, historic, cultural and recreational aspects of the route through the central Catskills.
The sustainability tour showcases business practices, building designs and environmental protection efforts employed at several locations: the New York City water system, the Ashokan rail-trail, the Emerson Resort & Spa in Mt. Tremper, the Phoenicia Library, the Catskill Center’s Arkville headquarters and the Catskill Recreation Center are stops on the tour.
Visit sceniccatskills.com for more information or call the Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce at 586-3300.
Saugerties lighthouse stays closed
Saugerties Lighthouse keeper Patrick Landewe had hoped to have the lighthouse open for visitors, but with the coronavirus epidemic he has been unable to do so. In the meantime, many people are heading to the lighthouse, despite the notice on the website indicating it is closed.
Mayor Bill Murphy said at the village board meeting of June 15 that Landewe has asked that the village place a sign at Main and Mynderse stating that the lighthouse is closed, to prevent the many visitors from coming by and upsetting the neighbors. The board agreed to place the sign.
LGBTQ workplace protections
Following the nation’s Pride Month celebrations, Elting Memorial Library will present a program about the recent Supreme Court LGBTQ decision on July 13 at 7 p.m. New Paltz resident and Elting Library trustee Stephen Bergstein was on the legal team in one of the three cases consolidated by the court in Bostock v. Clayton County. He will give a presentation online about the case: how it came about, what happened along the way, how it reached the court, and what the court decided.
To register for this Zoom event, email Elting Memorial Library or call the library at 255-5030, extension 2.
Highland in-person graduation
After a survey, reviewing the Highland High School Class of 2020 survey results, the school district has decided to reschedule an in-person graduation on Thursday, July 30 at 7 p.m. The rain date will be July 31.
“Survey results suggested that it was overwhelmingly clear that our students wish to have an in-person ceremony and would prefer to wait until later in the summer in order to have the best chance of being able to share the experience with their classmates,” stated an announcement. Specific details will be provided at a later date.
Planting along Wallkill River
The Open Space Institute, in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Wallkill River Watershed Alliance, sponsored two weeks of a socially distanced tree planting at OSI’s river-to-ridge trail in New Paltz. Nearly 30 volunteers planted 110 trees and shrubs.
The goal was to improve water quality in the Wallkill River. Planting along the riverbank will increase the visual aesthetics along the trail, while helping filter runoff into the stream, preventing erosion of the land along the river, and providing additional wildlife habitat.
“OSI is grateful to our partners and our volunteers, who were able to adapt and accommodate a new methodology so that the planting could be conducted safely,” said Peter Karis, OSI’s capital project and design manager. “This project was truly a community effort.”
A variety of native, water-resistant and water-loving plant species were planted at the site including black willow, flowering dogwood, river birch, silver maple, black chokeberry, silky dogwood, swamp rose, and witchhazel. For local organizers, the project was a test run for how organizations can host outdoor volunteer planting events while still following Covid 19 public health and safety guidelines. Volunteers were limited to one person or family at a time for each two-hour slot. Prior to their arrival, OSI staff worked with DEC staff to prepare the site, using color-coded flags to indicate planting locations and species.
The planting site covered approximately 100 feet of Wallkill River frontage. Signage reminded volunteers to wear a mask or face covering, maintain social distance from each other and other trail users passing by, and stated that access to the site was limited to volunteers only.
Karis explained that the tree planting was the latest OSI initiative aimed at improving water quality in the Wallkill River, “Riparian buffer corridors were incorporated into the trail design between the river and active farm fields. These undisturbed corridors, of native vegetation and woodlands along streams, help to reduce pollution entering waterways by slowing down and filtering stormwater runoff.”
Preservation plan unveiled
A draft community preservation plan presented to the New Paltz town board in June and July identifies New Paltz’s open-space and historic-preservation priorities. It will be a tool to help guide these activities in the future. It combines and updates other town plans and surveys, and includes new geospatial information’
“Decades of conservation efforts by the town and conservation partners have really paid off,” said supervisor Neil Bettez. “Conservation has been a success story in New Paltz, but it isn’t done, and this plan gives us the ability to do more in the future.”
The New Paltz plan can be found at https://www.townofnewpaltz.org/community-preservation-plan-task-force/pages/3-community-preservation-plan.
A public hearing on the plan is planned for this month.
Play ball in Saugerties
Saugerties recreation and parks director Greg Chorvas said that the American Legion and Dutchmen baseball will play short seasons starting this month. As the teams return to play, the insurance carriers have forwarded a series of guidelines and policies that must be followed.
The Little League board had considered a season starting July 8, but with a number of coaches planning vacations and many players and parents still leery of gathering, the season was canceled. The league is still planning to run sandlot baseball for those interested, Chorvas said.
Chorvas is still waiting for information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and from New York State about reimbursement for the special precautions it has taken to deal with the coronavirus. While he hopes to get some reimbursement, Chorvas said, it will probably be less than the full cost the town has incurred.
New Paltz youth center reopens
The New Paltz Youth Center reopened on June 29. “As you can imagine, it will not be the same youth center as we will have many restrictions in place due to the state’s safety protocols,” said director Jim Tinger. “Everyone’s safety is paramount, so please bear with us as we attempt to start the program back up.”
Virtual classes in Gardiner
The Gardiner Library has begun a virtual four-week art class with Amy Coté on Tuesdays starting July 7 from 7 to 8 p.m. Join Coté virtually via Zoom in her Kingston studio exploring the method of gridding — a way to enlarge a doodle, photo or anything you’d like to turn into either a larger artwork or just to transfer to make something new and keep the original size.
The Gardiner Library summer session of story times has resumed virtually via Zoom this week. Summer story time for ages three and under will take place on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. beginning July 7. Fantastic fours and fives story time will resume on Thursdays at 10 a.m. beginning July 9. Join Miss Amy for stories and songs. Email her at alaber@rcls.org for the Zoom link and password to join.
The virtual Magic Tree House Summer Camp Book Club meets Thursdays July 9 through August 13 at 4 p.m. Activities and challenges will accompany each story. Fiction and non-fiction will be used during this program. Registration is required by contacting Carolyn Thorez at cthorenz@rcls.org for select or all dates
The Virtual Mr. Lemoncello Book Club meets Tuesdays. Children explore the world of author Chris Grabenstein, as participants discuss two of the books in this series along with games, rebus and puzzles.
The Gardiner Library will hold a virtual show and tell series for ages 3-6 beginning this Friday, July 10 at 10 a.m. Join Miss Amy and friends online to talk about and share some of your special treasures from home. There will be weekly themes including, a special stuffed animal (July 10), something you found (July 17), a gift you received (July 24) and a favorite book (July 31). Email alaber@rcls.org to register and receive Zoom link.
Gardiner Library launch its online literary magazine for teens virtually via Zoom this past Sunday. Middle and high school students who enjoy writing poetry, short stories and graphic novels can still join in. Submit work through email and fellow authors will share critiques, suggestions and compliments. Once there is enough material and a solid team has formed, the magazine will be formatted and published on the library website. For those interested in joining or for more information including the Zoom link to access the meeting, contact Carolyn Thorenz at cthorenz@rcls.org.
The Gardiner Library is offering a virtual summer children’s program from Page Turner Adventures premiering on July 13 entitled “Imagine Your Adventure Story.” Kids at home will join Page Turner and Kenny on an Indiana Jones-style adventure as they search for the elusive purple wish lion. On craft day, they’ll make their own paper-plate wish lions and toilet tube binoculars. Older kids will travel to Easter Island where they’ll make megaliths from laundry detergent bottles and masking tape, and tanzuku wishes in honor of Japan’s Tanabata Festival. Guest writer Donna Gephart is the winner of the Sid Fleishman Humor award and the author of seven middle grade novels. Viewers also meet Kelly Milner Halls, author of dozens of non-fiction books for kids.
Families are able to access this show from its premiere through Labor Day. Contact Amy Laber at alaber@rcls.org for password to access the programming and visit the Ulster County Library Association at uclib.org/srp-2020/events to access it on or after the premiere date. Another Page Turner show entitled “Imagine Your Underwater Story” premieres on August 10.
For more Gardiner Library programming, please visit the calendar/events page at GardinerLibrary.org.
Woodstock swimming crackdown
Those entering the recently closed Big Deep and Little Deep in Woodstock now face a trespassing charge due to recent enforcement efforts by the town. Crowding and piles of garbage forced the Town of Woodstock to close popular Big Deep swimming hole.
Now that closing includes Little Deep. The town-owned property has now posted No Trespassing. If caught by police patrolling the area, violators will be issued a warning the first time, then a court summons if seen again.
“The Town of Woodstock has not come to this decision lightly,” the town posted on its Facebook page. “We tried to keep Big Deep and Little Deep open to the public, but time and time again have found littering and messes left behind by visitors. Add to this the need to maintain safety during the pandemic, and the present situation is unworkable. We truly wish that it did not come down to this.”
The posting has prompted 633 comments and has been shared more than 1000 times. Most of the commenters are understanding and have suggested volunteer cleanups. Supervisor Bill McKenna said the June 26 post has reached 150,000 people.
McKenna said groups of sometimes 20 to 30 people were entering the property and some were using it as a restroom. “Garbage was one part of it,” McKenna said by phone.“The second part was having to send the employees to pick it up. It’s not likely you can get the virus off garbage, but I didn’t want to chance it.”
McKenna explained resources are already stretched thin. Maintenance staff is already trying to spend its time keeping town offices clean and safe for employees.
“It’s the most miserable thing I had to do as supervisor,” McKenna said of the closing.
McKenna noted a number of people have offered to do a cleanup. He is hopeful the town can assemble a volunteer corps so that the popular sites can reopen.
Last year, Woodstock approved a permit system so officials could keep track of people using the property and hold them accountable for trash left behind or other violations of rules. The board had to scrap the plan when state and county officials told them the town would be assume liability if it issued permits, requiring the expense of hiring a lifeguard.
McKenna said his door is always open to suggestions of workable solutions to keep the swimming holes open to the public.
Police reform
Saugerties will be convening a police reform commission in compliance with governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive order ‘New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative’. The governor’s executive order requires local police agencies to develop a plan that reinvents and modernizes police strategies and programs in their community based on community input. Each police agency’s reform plan must address policies, procedures, practices and deployment, including, but not limited to, the use of force. The executive order requires that any municipality that has its own police department must comply with the order and have a plan developed by April 1, 2021.
According to Saugerties town supervisor Fred Costello Jr., the Saugerties Police Department is an accredited police agency whose standards of policing are guided by the state. “We want to hear from our community members on their thoughts about our current style of policing here in Saugerties,” said Costello. “We will be identifying a task force of community members who will independently solicit community response and recommendations in August.”
Those interested in participating in this task force should apply and provide details on relevant background to the supervisor’s office at 4 High Street in Saugerties by July 17. “This task force will reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our Saugerties community,” he said. “If changes in our police department are warranted and the recommendations will significantly impact our community’s relationship with our officers in a positive manner, then the town board will take the necessary action, which may include the adoption of resolutions, local laws and policies and procedures that will guide our officers through the process. We all have the same goal here to ensure that everyone is treated equally, fairly and justly.”
New principal
This August, the Highland Middle School will welcome a familiar Highland face as its new principal. Ryan Judge, currently assistant principal at the high school, is replacing retiring middle school principal Daniel Wetzel.
Judge was born and raised in Highland. His parents, two of his siblings and many aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents are Highland High School graduates. Judge joined the Highland pack in 2018 when he discovered that William Zimmer, his former New Paltz High English teacher and the previous assistant principal of Highland High School, had become the building’s principal.
A teacher in Millbrook for eight years, Judge is looking forward to working with middle school students once again. “I absolutely love the complexity of the middle-level learner. Middle school is a unique time in a child’s development, and it takes a special kind of person to be a successful middle-level educator. Either you love it or you don’t. There is no in between. And I love it,” he said.
Judge said the Highland school has been making great strides in the areas of school culture and instructional strategies. “I am looking forward to working with their loving and caring staff to continue to move the building and the district forward,” he said.
Gardiner gets a charge
Local and county government, community and business leaders have cut the ribbon for the Town of Gardiner’s new electric vehicle (EV) charging station, installed in the library parking lot adjacent to the Wallkill Valley rail-trail.
The transportation sector accounts for the largest share of New York’s greenhouse gas emissions, the main cause of climate change. The towns are receiving funding through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Municipal Zero-emission Vehicle (ZEV) Rebate and Infrastructure Grant program, which continues to offer grants to municipalities for EV infrastructure as well as for municipal electric vehicles.
“I am thrilled to see this project come to fruition, and I encourage other towns and villages in our region to take advantage of this grant program and install public EV chargers in their communities,” said state senator Jennifer Metzger, who drives a fully electric Chevy Bolt. “It makes good climate sense and it makes good economic sense, because EV drivers will choose towns to visit and vacation that have the necessary infrastructure.”
Gardiner’s charging station will be free to the public for the first two years, thanks to sponsorship of the electricity by local businesses, including SkyDive the Ranch, Gardiner Liquid Mercantile, Majestic’s Hardware and Cafe Mio.
Supervisor Marybeth Majestic said, “Although it was over two years in the making, it was well worth the wait.”
The Well reopens in Saugerties
The Well Thrift Store in Saugerties was started in 1975 by the Saugerties Area Council of Churches to provide a way to assist individuals in the community. According to Jane Bird, chairperson of The Well’s advisory board, “Our goal is to work with people so they can help themselves.”
The current store on Partition Street houses the thrift store and “the free Store,” a storefront where everything is free. The thrift store at 80 Partition Street is an inexpensive used clothing and housewares store. “When we find individuals or families in extreme need, potentially following a fire or some other issue, we allow those families to take whatever they need from the thrift stop free of charge,” explained Bird.
The organization’s only expenses are rent, utilities, insurance, maintenance and miscellaneous items. Their net proceeds are given back to the community by supporting the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, the Christmas toy store, the town’s playground fund and other community needs, including financial assistance to help people pay their rent or utilities.
During the pandemic, the monthly rent and utilities continued, despite having no income from the store. “We were facing a near-empty bank account,” said Bird. “We did not qualify for any of the federal stimulus funds for small businesses because we have no paid staff. Instead, we sent out requests to several businesses and organization for any assistance they could provide to help us get back on a more solid financial footing so we could continue to support those in need in our community.”
Ulster Savings Bank made a donation to offset the majority of the overhead expenses for the three months The Well was closed. The Well is once again open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. The free store is also open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.
Maritime Museum reopens
As the mid-Hudson region enters phase 4 of re-opening, the Hudson River Maritime Museum on the Rondout Creek in Kingston will be open to the public on a new reduced schedule starting this Friday, July 11. Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., the museum galleries will operate at 25 percent capacity. Admission pricing remains the same as before the pandemic — $9 for adults, $6 for seniors and children.
Visitors must wear masks inside the museum building and adhere to social distancing whenever possible. If visitors do not have masks, masks will be provided by the museum. The museum will also operate with a unidirectional entrance and separate exit. All hands-on activities, touch screens and interactive displays will be closed. Bathrooms will be open and hand sanitizer stations available.
The Wooden Boat School will remain closed to the public. Boat rides aboard the 100% solar-powered tour boat Solaris are currently available for private charter only. Public rides will be available starting July 17. All passengers must wear masks while on board and each ride will be limited to ten passengers.
As always, the museum’s outdoor exhibits are open to the public. The museum’s docks are open to transient boaters, but shore facilities remain closed for the time being. For details, including Solaris charter and tour information, visit the website at www.hrmm.org or call 388-0071.
The Museum at Bethel Woods will reopen July 13
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts announced that The Museum at Bethel Woods will reopen on Monday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
In accordance with New York State’s reopening guidelines, stringent protocols have been put into place throughout the campus to help fight the spread of the virus. All ticketing transactions will be contactless and will occur at the exterior box office windows. All guests in the museum will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing guidelines.
“We’re greatly looking forward to welcoming guests back to Bethel Woods,” said Eric Frances, chief executive officer at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. “The community and our supporters have been extremely patient and encouraging while navigating the uniqueness of this situation. As we look to safely open the museum, the health and safety of guests as well as staff remains our top priority.”
Due to spatial restrictions, the 2020 special exhibit, “Lights, Color, Fashion: Psychedelic Posters and Patterns of 1960s San Francisco,” as well as the Crossroads Gallery exhibit, “Raising Our Voices: A Century of Women’s Rights in America,’’ will be postponed until 2021.
The grounds, monument and Bindy Bazaar Trails will be open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masks are not required on the grounds so long as social distancing is possible. Outdoor exhibits include the following:
• Meet Me at Woodstock, a new augmented reality tour that gives guests the chance to experience the history of the Woodstock festival first-hand
• Earth in Focus: A Celebration of How our Dynamic Planet commemorates Earth Day, the environmental movement’s 50th anniversary and the many global strides made in preservation and sustainability.
• Crocheted Connections is an installation by artist Carol Hummel, who stitched together colorful crocheted shapes that organically wrap, hug and embrace the trunks and branches of trees along the walking path in Bindy Woods Trails, creating an ever-changing environment vibrating with color, light, shape and form.
In addition to a selection of outdoor exhibits, Bethel Woods has introduced a socially-distant outdoor dining experience — More Than a Meal: Dinner, Drinks and a Shpiel with Neal, beginning Thursday, July 9. The open-air market sheds are outfitted for a dinner curated with safety, comfort and taste in mind. Tickets are $45 and include a four-course prix fixe menu with a choice for entrees and starters, as well as “bite-sized” conversations exploring the ‘60s in 60 seconds with Neal Hitch, senior curator.
• Thursday, July 9 and Friday, July 10 — Zig Zag: The Art of Smoking.
• Thursday, July 16 and Friday, July 17 — The Many Hats of Woodstock.
The Center is also offering Bethel Woods @ Home — virtual programming for those unable to journey to the historic site. Beginning July 15, this once-a-month series brings the sense of exploration and curiosity of on-site programs to the comfort of one’s home. Interactive lectures and workshops explore Bethel Woods’ historic legacy.
For upcoming events, a full list of precautionary measures and to learn more, visit BethelWoodsCenter.org.
NYS breweries collaborate
Taking place on August 14-16, the 51st anniversary weekend of the original Woodstock event, the Peace, Love, Beer and Music Festival is a celebration of New York State craft beer and the extended community of musicians and artists. The festival will include three-days of programmed, live-streamed music taking place from breweries across New York State. In conjunction with the festival, New York breweries are brewing a collaboration beer titled “Summer of Love.”
Over the course of three days, more than 100 breweries and artists will broadcast live with brewery tours, musical performances, craft beer edutainment and industry folklore. Music lovers will also have the option to virtually tip musicians, who have been greatly impacted by the pandemic.
“This may be the only music festival that will take place this summer,” said Paul Leone, executive director of the New York State Brewers Association. “Within 19 hours of online programming, pass holders will enjoy the shared experience only music can provide while also helping to raise money for New York’s craft beer industry.”
Music on the patio
Lydia’s Cafe in Stone Ridge will present music on the patio on Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m. on the following dates: July 18 — Jimmy Madison & Friends, July 25 — Shiri Zorn/George Muscatello Quartet, August 1 — Chris Pasin Quartet, August 8 — Pete Levin Trio, August 15 — Soul Purpose.
The cafe is located at 7 Old US Route 209 in Stone Ridge. For information, call 687-6373 or visit lydias-cafe.com.
Call for submissions
The Arts Society of Kingston (ASK), in partnership with Rondout Savings Bank, is soliciting work for its 2021 calendar. Via Instagram and using the hashtag #ASK4Unity, people of all ages are invited to share their experience through a photograph. Photos can be of family, home, hobbies, art, etc.
To “submit,” simply post a photo on Instagram using the hashtag #ASK4unity in the caption. The selection of images for the calendar will be made by the ASK calendar committee: Alexandro Pacheco, Jamie Sanin, Michele Stopford, Francesca Szabadi and Robert Tonner. The deadline for submissions is August 1.
ASK is a multi-arts community and facility at 97 Broadway in Kingston. For information, call 338-0333.
Mark Gruber new location
The Mark Gruber Gallery has re-opened in a new location at #13 in the New Paltz Plaza — four doors up from its old spot and now next to the Royal King Dry Cleaners. That’s where you’ll find its debut exhibition, “Chasing Light.” Due to pandemic restrictions, the gallery has also implemented limited hours: Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment.
The gallery is also offering its museum-quality custom framing. Face masks are required.
Oils, pastels, watercolors and photography by Kevin Cook, Sue Barrasi, James Coe, James Cramer, Staats Fasoldt, Tarryl Gabel, Linda Puiatti, Hardie Truesdale, Marlene Wiedenbaum and others are on display.
For information, call 255-1241 or visit markgrubergallery.com.
Join the family! 
