Bethel Woods launches augmented reality adventure, “Meet me at Woodstock”
The Museum at Bethel Woods has announced a new augmented reality tour, “Meet Me at Woodstock.” The immersive tour gives guests the chance to experience the history of the festival first-hand as they listen to stories of those who were there, visualize the iconic stage, hear concert recordings and authentic announcements, and survey the grounds as a member of the 450,000 person crowd.
The tour is hosted on a tablet and led by the voices of Nick and Bobbi Ercoline — the couple featured on the cover of the Woodstock album who are also volunteers at Bethel Woods. Guests will walk the field that hosted the concert in 1969 to see a full-scale 3D model of the stage sitting where it was over 50 years ago. The tour is available for an additional $5 on top of a museum ticket or an $8 standalone rental fee during museum hours. Each until will be sanitized in between uses.
Tour developer Antenna International designed a fully-immersive augmented reality experience to reveal hidden stories around the site. “We’re thrilled to have been a part of this site tour,” said Mary Kostell, regional client manager of Antenna International. “It’s not just because it’s a top-of-the-line cool project, but because Woodstock was such an iconic American moment. We wanted to share that across generations.”
The Museum at Bethel Woods is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. Stringent protocols have been put into place in accordance with CDC guidelines. Masks are required for all guests within the building and some interactives and exhibits have been modified. For information, visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org.
U-Act voter drive-thru
Ulster Activists (U-Act) is conducting a voter drive-thru, where voters can pick up a voter registration form, application for an absentee ballot and information about the elections. The voter drive thru will be held every Saturday afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. at the New Paltz Community Center, 3 Veteran’s Drive. The dates are September 12, September 19, September 26, October 3, October 10 and October 17.
Volunteers will be masked and gloved. Voters are asked to remain in their cars, wear a mask and bring a pen to complete the requested form. Voters can return the completed form to volunteers for drop off at the Ulster County board of elections.
Two additional students test positive for COVID-19 at SUNY
SUNY New Paltz learned on Monday, September 7 that two additional students – one who lives on campus, and one who lives off campus – have tested positive for COVID-19.
Both students are known close contacts of previously reported positive cases and had been in quarantine prior to receiving these test results. The off-campus student has not been on campus since March.
A total of ten students have tested positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of the fall 2020 semester. Only eight of these students had been on campus during the 14 days prior to receiving their positive test result. Seven are currently classified as active cases (defined as confirmed positive tests among individuals who have been on campus and may have exposed others). One student has recovered and is no longer counted among active cases. Eleven students are in quarantine on campus, and eight more are in isolation on campus.
The Student Health Service will monitor these students’ health, and they will remain in isolation until cleared by Student Health Service (generally 14 days post-exposure or 10 days from onset of symptoms, per CDC guidelines).
According to the College’s Testing and Quarantine procedure for fall 2020, contact tracers have already been deployed to interview the students who tested positive about where they have been and with whom they have been in contact. Contact tracers will notify other individuals as appropriate, and will also notify Facilities Management if the students have been in common spaces on campus within the last seven days.
The College has not received reports of any employees testing positive since the semester began.
Double arrest for offense
On September 4 and again on September 5, Christine Diliberto, 41, of East Bridge Street in Saugerties, was charged with obstruction of governmental administration She was first arrested on September 4 after she called the police department repeatedly for hours in an allegedly intoxicated condition, tying up emergency phone lines. Diliberto berated the emergency dispatcher, screaming and spewing obscenities. Diliberto then began calling the Ulster County 911 center, tying up county 911 dispatchers.
On September 5 between the hours of 12:49 and 2:52 a.m., Diliberto again contacted the Saugerties police emergency number nine times and Ulster County 911 four times. The content of her phone calls was not of an emergency service request in nature.
Diliberto was issued a police appearance ticket. Due to a dangerous level of intoxication, she was transported to the Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley Broadway campus for further medical care.
Since June 2016, Saugerties Police say, they have arrested Diliberto 106 times, the majority of the arrests being under the NYS Mental Hygiene Law 9.41. This record, the police say, underscores the state’s failure to provide adequate and equitable mental=health care for those suffering from mental-health issues.
9/11 salute to uniformed public service
The Town of Saugerties will not be conducting its annual 911 ceremony this year, but it will be placing a wreath at the site of the 9/11 memorial on Friday, September 11, 8:46 a.m., at the Cantine Veterans’ Complex on Moser Drive. The placement of the wreath will be completed by one representative from fire, EMS and police. There will be no formal public ceremony, however, all wishing to pay tribute are invited to visit the memorial anytime throughout the day on September 11.
Remember to be respectful of others that may be paying their respects by wearing your mask and practicing social distancing.
Big Ulster drug bust
The Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (Urgent) last week reported the arrest of Timothy L. Schleede, 29, of Kingston, after a narcotics investigation. Earlier this month, Urgent began an investigation into the sale of heroin and fentanyl at hotels and motels in the Town of Ulster. Schleede was identified as a person of interest. Last week, according to police, police saw Schleede engaging in several drug transactions at one of the hotels, including one to an undercover police officer. He was taken into custody shortly thereafter.
Following his arrest, a search warrant was executed on his hotel room, which resulted in the recovery of about 2500 bags of heroin and fentanyl. An additional search warrant was executed at another location that resulted in the recovery of an additional 7500 bags of heroin and fentanyl.
Schleede was arraigned and remanded to the Ulster County Jail without bail after violating the terms of release for a previous pending case in the Town of Ulster. The investigation is continuing, and additional charges are expected.
Stalin’s last days
The Louis and Mildred Resnick Institute for the Study of Modern Jewish Life will begin its lecture series via WebEx with Joshua Rubenstein’s “The Last Days of Stalin” on Wednesday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m. To join the lecture, use this link: https://newpaltz.webex.com/newpaltz/j.php?MTID=md17a1bd07e4252a62490ae9430fd981e
When you sign on, you will be asked to download the WebEx app. Please sign on at least five minutes before the scheduled lecture time. There is a possibility that you will need the following information: meeting number — 161 183 4728, password — GRwVHR4B64d.
The series is directed by Gerald Sorin. Upcoming lectures and dates include: September 16 — Esther Schor on Emma Lazarus and the immigration debate. September 23 — Nancy Sinkoff on Lucy S. Dawidowicz: East European immigrant daughter and Jewish New York intellectual. September 30 — Gerald Sorin on the early years of Saul Bellow. October 7 — Jonathan Rosen on Louis Brandeis and the “imbeciles” case. October 15 — Benjamin Taylor on his friendship with Philip Roth.
Marbletown first aid unit launches campaign for support — “We’re in This Together”
The Marbletown First Aid Unit (MFAU) has announced a campaign that urges residents to support long-term funding for the emergency medical and ambulance squad that has been serving the community 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the past 59 years. The public-support campaign kicked off last week with yard signs and a billboard on Route 209.
“We are at risk of losing our rescue ambulance service,” said Rebecca Horner, chair of the Marbletown First Aid Unit board. The coronavirus pandemic has shown that we all must work together. It’s time for the public and MFAU to join forces and make sure their ambulance squad is ready to go when you call 911.”
The pool of volunteer EMTs and drivers has been dwindling in Marbletown as well as across the country. Coverage has been expanded to 24/7 staffing through a combination of paid and volunteer personnel. A response rate of 60 percent in September 2019 has risen to between 99 percent and 100 since April.
“Although a core of volunteer EMTs and drivers remain committed to MFAU, recruiting paid EMS technicians has made all the difference,” said Horner. “Hiring qualified EMTs and drivers was a difficult financial decision, but a right choice in keeping with our mission.”
Openings in Gardiner
The Town of Gardiner has openings on its Parks & Recreation Committee and Ethics Board. All interested parties are asked to contact supervisor Majestic at Supervisor.tog@gmail.com.
New Paltz virtual races
The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce is holding a six-week virtual race series consisting of five separate events beginning September 15 and running through October 27. Each race has a photo challenge incorporated for you to share favorite race locations. Participants can sign up for one, a few or all five. Those who complete all five virtual races and upload the results will receive a commemorative patch. Each race has a two-week timeline to complete, providing six weeks to complete all five race challenges.
The virtual races include:
• The Winery, Brewery, Distillery 5K — take a picture of your favorite winery, brewery or distillery along your run. Registration ends September 28. To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=97425&eventId=426751
• The Wildlife 10K — Take a picture of the wildlife along your run. Registration ends October 5. To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/NY/NewPaltz/NewPaltzVirtualRaceSeries#event-426752
• The Farm or Barn 15K — Take a picture of a picturesque farm or a barn along your run. Registration ends October 12. To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=97425&eventId=426753
• The scenic half marathon — Take a picture of some eye-catching scenery along your run. Registration ends October 19. To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=97425&eventId=426754
• Climb-to-the-top race — Take a picture from the highest point, lookout or scenic vista along your run. Registration ends October 26. To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=97425&eventId=426755
The cost is $7 for each race ($5 race fee plus $2 sign-up fee). All prizes will be awarded in early November at the completion of the entire series. A winner in each category will receive a $200 gift card from the race sponsor, Majestic’s Hardware and Paint in Gardiner.
We Wear the Mask
The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz announces “We Wear the Mask: Race and Representation in the Dorsky Museum Permanent Collection,” a collection of artwork related to the presentation and perception of race, selected by Hudson Valley artist Jean-Marc Superville Sovak. “We Wear the Mask” will be on view from September 12 to November 22 in the Museum’s Seminar Room Gallery.
Taking its title from a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar, “We Wear the Mask” stages the contradictions inherent in representations of race and in American culture as a whole, as exemplified by the Dorsky Museum permanent collection. The exhibition juxtaposes 19 works and artifacts selected from among the more than 6000 objects in the permanent collection. These artworks span nearly 3000 years, from ancient Egyptian funerary figures to polaroid photographs by Andy Warhol, to produce a trans-historical, multi-cultural “remixing.”
For information, visit http://www.newpaltz.edu/news.
Honoring those touched by cancer
On Saturday, September 12 volunteer Sandi Cassese of Woodstock will be displaying Lights of Hope in her back yard to honor those who have been touched by cancer. Cassese’s son-in-law Jon lost his battle with cancer in 2015. Cassese is board chair of American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and chief operating officer of Hospice of Orange and Sullivan counties.
As a result of the pandemic, American Cancer Society volunteers will not gather for the annual Lights of Hope ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., where tens of thousands of bags are decorated and adorned with the names of cancer survivors. Instead, advocates will celebrate ten years of hope at home as part of a larger virtual event.
Cassese is asking people in our community to honor someone has been touched by cancer by donating $10. For information about Lights of Hope Across America and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, go to: https://www.fightcancer.org/2020-lights-hope-ceremony.
Olive library has reopened
The Olive Free Library has reopened to the public for limited in-person services with Covid 19 safety measures in place. Hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Patrons are encouraged to continue using the library’s digital resources and curbside service. Patrons can pre-order items such as books and DVDs using the library’s online catalog or by calling 657-2482. This will help limit in-person interactions and allow for more people to use in-library services in keeping with occupancy limits. Visit the library’s website for more details at www.olivefreelibrary.org.
A total of eight individuals and one family with children will be allowed in the library for a maximum of one hour. Patrons will need to take a number when entering the building. If no numbers are available, you will need to wait until another patron leaves before entering the building. eating for personal computer use will not be available at this time. Access to Wi-Fi is available from the parking lot and on the front lawn at the picnic tables.
Visit the website for information and the zoom links at olivefreelibrary.org. The library is at 4033 Route 28A in West Shokan.
Movie nights at Elting
Elting Memorial Library will be showing a series of movies on Thursday nights in their parking lot. The first film on September 10 will be Silver Linings Playbook (2012) starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Based on Matthew Quick’s 2008 novel The Silver Linings Playbook, director David O. Russell’s adaptation tackles mental illness, marital failure and the curative powers of football with bracingly sharp and satisfying results.
The name of this movie series is “Fiction into Film that Doesn’t Suck,” according to Jesse, the library’s manager of operations, because all the films are based on books and all were chosen and will be shown by Jesse. The titles he chose had to appear on the list of films the library is licensed to show publicly. The rest of the series will be as follows:
Thursday, September 17, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) with Will and Jaden Smith.
Thursday, September 24, Wonder (2017) with Jacob Tremblay, Owen Wilson and Julia Roberts.
Thursday, October 1, Lion (2016) with Dev Patel and Rooney Mara.
Thursday, October 8, The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)with Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller.
Seating will begin at 7:30 p.m. for the first movie in the series, but as it progressively gets darker out earlier, seating for later movies will start earlier. Masks must be worn until you are seated and social-distancing rules followed at all times. The films will be projected onto a screen on the book shed and seating areas will be measured out and designated to ensure safe distancing. The screen is large, and the sound will be broadcast via the library’s amplifier and speakers. Attendees are requested to bring lawn chairs, blankets or other seating.
Reservations are not necessary, but please call the library at 255-5030 to let them know you are coming so that they can get a rough idea how many people to expect. In the event of rain, the movie will be shown the following Tuesday.
Diana Balling elected president of LAFASNY
With no conventions or even in-person meetings being held due to Covid-19, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (LAFASNY) held meetings and an annual meeting via Zoom. It wasn’t quite the way that Saugerties resident Diana Balling expected to be installed as president of LAFASNY, but flexibility has become the word of the day. On August 19, LAFASNY past president Dianne Werner of Rockland County served as installing officer from her living room.
Balling did not grow up in a volunteer family. She married a volunteer firefighter — her husband of 51 years and firefighter of 56 years, John Balling. He was a firefighter of the Kiskatom Fire Department in Greene County when they married and transferred to the Saxton Fire Company.
Diana Balling joined the Kiskatom Ladies Auxiliary in the early Seventies before transferring to the Saxton Ladies Auxiliary where she has resided for over 50 years. Working her way to the state level, she joined the Hudson Valley VFA Ladies Auxiliary. This sectional auxiliary covers 16 counties from Westchester County in the south to Warren County in the north.
“The next two years will be challenging ones as Covid is still here and social distancing and wearing of masks must continue,” said Balling. “We are confident that eventually things will get back to normal. In the meantime, flexibility has been the key word. When something is normally done one way and no longer can be done, another way is found. I am proud to be part of this process for the next two years and to represent the Town of Saugerties and the County of Ulster at the state level.”
A graduate of Saugerties High School, Balling worked for more than 22 years at Adirondack Trailways in Kingston before retiring in 2012.
Hope Heals telethon
The first Facebook Live Hope Heals telethon will feature local radio personalities Bob Miller from WBPM 92.9 and 100.1 WDST morning DJ Greg Gattine, along with Saugerties” Bob Siracusano and Catskill Hudson Bank president, Kevin McLaren as guest emcees. The telethon benefits Hope Rocks Inc., a not-for-profit devoted toward addressing the death rate caused by addiction and suicide.
The telethon will be streamed live on the Hope Rocks events Facebook page on Wednesday, September 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. The event features musical acts, addiction and mental health experts, as well as testimony from persons in recovery. Presentations and performances will include local and national guests and artists.
The telethon was created to raise money in order to continue the expansion of the Hope Rocks mission. Its purpose is to reach people in ways intended to break down the many barriers which contribute to the hopelessness and despair which accompany addiction and mental illness. For information or to donate, visit www.hoperocksny.com.
New Paltz paint swap
The New Paltz paint-swap time and day have changed from the second Saturday of every month to the second Tuesday of every month from 4 to 6 p.m. To donate paint, drop off your unwanted paint at the paint swap station set up on the second floor of the village hall directly up the stairs just outside the large meeting room. A volunteer must be present for drop-off. All latex, acrylic and water-based products are accepted; no oil-based products.
Visit the same location during regular business hours to pick up paint. You do not need a volunteer to be present in order to pick up paint, but there is a binder with waivers in it that must be signed when picking up. Visit: https://www.villageofnewpaltz.org/new-paltz-paint-swap/
Saugerties Farmers’ Market will remain open through October 31
The Saugerties Farmers’ Market is adapting to life in an atmosphere of coronavirus, as are most businesses. All patrons must be masked, and the area between the parking spaces in the lot and the market stalls is marked with circles to indicate the “social distance” patrons must maintain while waiting to be served at the stalls. While the number of customers and vendors is considerably lower than in pre-virus days, people are still buying their fresh vegetables, baked goods, cooked dishes and wines.
Information about how to pre-order can be found at the market’s website, www.saugertiesfarmersmarket.com.
The market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through October 31, 115 Main Street, across from Cahill Elementary School.
— David Gordon
Retired Men to meet
Retired Men of the New Paltz community invite retired men everywhere to their breakfast meeting on Monday, September 14, 8 a.m., at the New Paltz Plaza Diner. Ed Rogers will discuss his fall 2019 trip to Morocco.
For information, contact Rob Greene at rasjgreene@earthlink.net or 256-9003.
New Paltz school taxes
Due to Covid 19 safety protocols, New Paltz 2020 school-tax payments must be made by either mail or online. In-person payments are not being accepted due to health and safety protocols established by M&T Bank and the district.
Property owners should expect their annual tax bill to arrive via mail during the first week of September. Two payment options, by mail or online through MuniciPAY, are available. To pay by mail, taxpayers should send a check along with the payment stub located on the bottom portion of the tax bill to: School Tax Collector, P.O. Box 129, Buffalo, NY 14240-0129.
There are no fees associated with this option. The U.S. postmark is considered the date of payment.
To pay online, taxpayers can access the MuniciPAY portal through the district website: www.newpaltz.k12.ny.us
1. On the homepage, scroll down to “Quick Links” and click on the School Tax Information link to access the portal.
2. Select New Paltz CSD from the drop-down menu and search for the tax bill by owner name.
3. Click on “pay balance.”
MuniciPAY charges $1.50 for processing an electronic check or a 2.65% transaction fee for credit-card payments.
All school-tax payments are due by September 30, 2020. Payments made online on or after October 1, 2020 or by mail with a postmark date of October 1, 2020 or later will be assessed a two percent late fee.
For questions or information, please call the town tax collector at 256-4017.
Woodstock appreciates its volunteers
The annual Woodstock Appreciates its Volunteers picnic, concert and fireworks were cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the Woodstock Volunteers’ Day Committee still wanted to thank all the volunteers who do so much for the community, and part of that was a sign they installed at the entrance to Woodstock which said: “Volunteers’ Day will be Celebrated in our Hearts this Year.”
The mission of the Woodstock Volunteers’ Day Committee is “to honor all of our volunteers, to enhance the efforts of all our community organizations, to raise awareness about the wide circle of kindness and generosity in our community and to model for our children that our community values the volunteer spirit.”
Pet portrait workshop
The Gardiner Library will host a pet portrait workshop with Elissa Rinaldo on Saturday, September 12 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The class will meet at Majestic Park in the pavilion and costs $25. Pre-registration required by September 7 by emailing Nicole at nlane@rcls.org.
Masks will be required, and all social-distancing protocols will be followed. Attendees should bring an eight-by-ten-inch printed image of their pet,and will begin the workshop by tracing their pet’s image and transferring it to watercolor paper. Watercolor paints and materials will be provided. No experience is necessary.
Ashokan dialogues via Zoom
With its 2020 Fall Catskill Conversations, the Ashokan Center invites the community to experience four diverse and interconnected discussions on nature, history, music and art.
The first segment of this online Zoom series, Food Forests & Indigenous Leadership, will take place on September 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. Join Indigenous leaders Sachem Hawk Storm (US) and Sara Yawanawa (Brazil), together with mycologist and permaculture designer William Padilla Brown. The discussion will include a live question-and-answer with the audience.
Register in advance via https://ashokancenter.org/events/ to receive the Zoom link before the event. As a bonus, all participants will gain access to replay the event for a full year in the Ashokan video archive.
Student Psychological Resilience Project established at SUNY New Paltz
SUNY New Paltz has established a Student Psychological Resilience Project Fund, to provide students with the training and skills needed to cope with stress related to the pandemic and multiple other challenges. It’s a peer advocacy model.
“Mental-health issues, including the prevalence of sub-clinical stress and anxiety among students, have reached record levels,” said Amy Nitza, associate professor of psychology at SUNY New Paltz. “College students are currently living through multiple losses due to the pandemic. They also continue to grapple with issues such as institutionalized racism, financial challenges and an unrelenting news stream, much of it not positive. This is different from acute trauma. It’s a fluid situation that requires them to be flexible and adaptive on a day-to-day basis.”
Under the guidance of IDMH deputy director Karla Vermeulen and program coordinator Kelsey Valencia, the fund will support the activities of ten Student Resilience Advocates to provide psychological first-aid, education and stress management tools through programming and support. Follow the Student Resilience Advocates @np_resilience on Instagram and Twitter.
Join the family! 
