Party Patrol protects New Paltz
SUNY New Paltz staff and administrators have been volunteering time on evenings and weekends to meet directly with students on and off campus, providing masks, hand sanitizer and friendly reminders about the importance of the Pledge to Protect New Paltz during the Covid-19 pandemic. Each Friday and Saturday night of the fall semester, small groups of staff members have been walking and driving around campus and the surrounding community and stopping to introduce themselves to groups of students they encounter.
“When we see a gathering, whether it’s a group walking in the village or at a residence, we offer free masks and hand sanitizers in sort of a reverse trick-or-treat manner,” said Stephanie Blaisdell, vice president for student affairs. During the first few weeks of the semester, the Party Patrols have met with dozens of students. Blaisdell said the vast majority were already following necessary public health regulations.
While the primary goal of the patrols is to educate students and provide health supplies, they’ve had the additional benefit of allowing students and staff to enjoy meaningful connections at a time of heightened stress and isolation from others. “We want students to engage and have a good time; we just want them to do it safely,” Blaisdell said. “If you see us coming, don’t panic. We’re the Party Patrol and we’re here to help!”
Starry night virtual benefit
Join honorary chairs Rob Dyson and Lucy Waletzky and event hosts Michael Dupree, Ron Lane and Elizabeth Waldstein to support the Friends of the Walkway on Friday, October 2 at Starry Starry Night. This virtual event features the premiere of a Walkway-inspired video, plus entertainment by musicians with ties to the Hudson River including Herb Alpert, Happy Traum with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason and Dar Williams and an online auction of unique Hudson Valley experiences and products.
Connect to Walkway history and stories about why our park in the sky is so special via appearances by Mary Stuart Masterson and others recognizable to those that love the Walkway. The celebration pairs with the starry starry night party and gift box featuring a choice of wine from Millbrook Vineyards, whiskey from Tuthilltown Distillery or beer from Mill House Brewing Company, accompanied by local charcuterie and cheeses sourced by Main Course Catering, griddled bruschetta, smoked almonds, cake balls for dessert from Auntie Liana’s Baked With Love, plus Ma and Pa Kettle Corn, Hudson Valley-made artisanal products, Walkway souvenirs and more.
The party starts when you visit walkway.org/starrystarrynight.
Foundation offers youth training
The Maya Gold Foundation will offer teen mental-health first-aid training for teens in grades 10, 11 and 12 in a series of sessions. The first training program will be held in New Paltz in October. The program is designed to help teens help each other navigate the difficult waters of adolescence.
The training is offered at no cost. Teens may register online and must attend all three sessions to be certified Registration is limited to 17 teens due to Covid-19 protocols in place during the training. The training will take place on October 7, 14 and 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Town of New Paltz Community Center at 3 Veterans Drive in New Paltz.
Teens may register online at www.mayagoldfoundation.org/apply.
Fifth annual Art Walk Kingston
The fifth annual Art Walk Kingston will take place on September 26 and 27, from noon to 5 p.m. Visitors and residents are invited to explore Kingston and immerse themselves in a range of art and events. Paintings, photographs, textiles, drawings, and sculptures will be on display across the city at private exhibition spaces, galleries and an online virtual gallery for those who want to explore the art from the comfort of their homes.
This year many of Art Walk Kingston’s artists’ works are featured in the Fuller Building, an historic former shirt factory recently renovated by architect Scott Dutton. Over 20 artists featured in the space include Jane Bloodgood-Abrams, Kevin Frank, Patti Gibbons and Lynn Woods. Across the parking lot of the Fuller Building is the YMCA Farm Project, where Art Walk visitors can see the “Say Their Names” memorial.
A few blocks away is the new home of MAD, Midtown Arts District and the D.R.A.W., where visitors can see the exhibit by MariaElena Ferrer-Harrington, “Masking Identities: Rebuilding Deterritorialized Cultural Memories” and MAD’s Celebration of the Arts’ CommUNITY Clay Project. At the new multi-purpose space at the Cornell Creative Arts Center, MariaElena Ferrer-Harrington curated an exhibit “We’re All Human,” featuring 16 artists.
Artport in the historic Cornell Steamboat Building along the Rondout Creek will have a show.
The Arts Society of Kingston (ASK) collaborated with the Midtown Arts District during Art Walk Kingston to mount the Kingston annual art exhibit curated by Julie Hedrick. The exhibit features artworks of 25 artists, along with the work of guest artist Judy Pfaff, a pioneer of installation art.
Chalk the Walk location with volunteers and chalk art on sidewalk in front of ASK.
Arts Mid-Hudson is the presenting partner for Art Walk Kingston. Visit artwalkkingston.com for a complete list of artists and locations. A virtual gallery is located at https://tinyurl.com/artwalkkingstongallery.
Women’s suffrage in New York
A newly published collection of essays, edited and partially written by a collective of SUNY New Paltz faculty members, provides an interdisciplinary overview of women’s right to vote in New York State. Suffrage and Its Limits: The New York Story, published September 1, 2020, by SUNY Press, is co-edited by Kathleen Dowley, associate professor and chair of political science and international relations; Meg Devlin O’Sullivan, associate professor of history and women’s, gender & sexuality studies; and Susan I. Lewis, emerita professor of history.
“Suffrage and Its Limits” reflects on the legacy of suffrage in New York State, uses that history to understand present-day issues related to women’s social and political rights, and proposes ideas for future progress.
“The book, and the conference from which it derived, sought to move beyond ‘celebrating’ to commemorating and complicating the history and legacy of women’s suffrage in New York State,” Dowley said. “This meant taking seriously women’s mobilization and political achievements while simultaneously acknowledging uncomfortable truths about some of these movements and their leaders, including their nativism, classism and racism. As a result, ‘Suffrage and Its Limits’ takes a clear look at past and present struggles for justice and imagines a limitless future.”
For information, visit http://www.newpaltz.edu/news.
Ashokan watershed walk
Join the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program (AWSMP) for a watershed walk along the Ashokan Quarry Trail in Olivebridge on October 3. This program is open to anyone, but is designed for youth and families. Participants under the age of eight must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County educators will lead a hike along the trail to learn about the Ashokan watershed and the history of the Yale Quarry area. Participants will also spend time learning about the plants and animals along the trail. A focus point will be a panoramic view of the eastern section of the Ashokan Watershed in its fall splendor approximately one mile up the trail.
The walk will be limited to twelve individuals, and all participants must agree to follow public health policies outlined for the event. Meet at the Ashokan quarry trail parking lot a little before 9 a.m. for check-in. The group will spend approximately three hours on the trail and will walk about two miles round-trip at a leisurely pace.
For information about the hike, call 688-3047 or email Matt Savatgy at mjs593@cornell.edu.
Language of flowers
The Gardiner Library hosts the language of flowers workshop with Elissa Rinaldo on Saturday, September 26 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The class will meet at Majestic Park under the pavilion and costs $30, There is a $15 materials fee.
Pre-registration required by emailing Nicole at nlane@rcls.org. Each person will create their own delicate bouquet with a special meaning. These can be dried afterward as a keepsake. Tussie mussies are a Victorian tradition, also known as talking bouquets. “Tussie” refers to a knot of flowers and “mussie” refers to moss that was used to keep the stems moist.
Fresh flowers and other supplies will be provided.
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 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.
Lend a wheel
The YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County will offer a bike repair clinic on Wednesday, October 6 (rain date October 7) from 3 to 6 p.m. at the YMCA, located at 507 Broadway in Kingston. The clinic is free, but donations will be accepted.
No advance registration is required, but please wear a mask.
Walktoberfest and Essential Farmers’ Market on October 3-4
Sample the bounty of the Hudson Valley at Walktoberfest and the Essential Farmers’ Market on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4 from noon to 5 p.m. at Walkway over the Hudson’s western end at 87 Haviland Road in Highland. With more than 80 vendors, the event will feature food and drink tastings, cooking and cocktail demonstrations, farm-fresh products, artisan goods, art installations, a special area for children’s activities and more.
All vendors will exhibit their wares for both tasting and purchase as appropriate, allowing participants to support local agribusinesses, Walktoberfest is planned in compliance with state mandates for safety.
The cost is $25 for tasting tickets and $10 for non-tasting. Tickets will be limited to avoid crowding. All proceeds from Walktoberfest benefit the Friends of the Walkway and Hudson Valley rail-trail. Tickets are required for access to the Walktoberfest tasting and showcase area.
To see the current list of participants, visit walkway.org/walktoberfest. Vendor space and sponsorship opportunities are still available. For information, contact Jami Anson at 454-9649.
Town of New Paltz recreation updates
Town of New Paltz Recreation is co-sponsoring two youth sports programs which will run through October at the Field of Dreams park.
Skyhawks Sports Academy will be offering basketball and T-ball for ages 4-5 and 6-7. The first session will be held Saturday, October 3 through November 7 from 1230 to 1:25 p.m. for ages 4-5. Ages 6-7 will meet from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Visit the Skyhawks for further information at www.Skyhawks.com or call 800-804-3509.
Youth track has begun and will take on new registrants as the season progresses. Sessions are held on Monday and Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. and open to ages 6-18. For additional information, contact Tim Fulton at fulton.timmy@gmail.com.
If you would like your child (ages seven and up) to learn the fundamentals of pickleball, contact recreation@townofnewpaltz.org or call 255-2512. There is no charge for this program.
The New Paltz Community Center is open for business. Event and party rentals have resumed. The recreation department is seeking instructors for youth programs. If you have an idea for a youth program or are interested in instructing youth programs, contact recreation at the above address or phone.
Italian conversational class
The Gardiner Library is continuing to offer its free weekly Italian conversational class outdoors on Wednesdays through October 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. This weekly class is designed for people who have some knowledge of the Italian language and would like to improve their conversational skills.
Class will meet on the back patio, weather permitting, at the Gardiner Library. Masks and social distancing required. Classes will meet via Zoom during inclement weather and after October 22. Contact Nicole at nlane@rcls.org for the Zoom link and password.
BH buys Colucci Shand
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hudson Valley Properties (BH) recently acquired Colucci Shand Realty, a estate brokerage based in Gardiner. The two firms are combining forces in the company’s New Paltz office to add $25 million in sales volume and two percent Ulster County market share to the rankings of Hudson Valley Properties.
Associates joining Terri Colucci Shand in the move to the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand are Linda Majetich Hansen, Mon Dorris, Terry Jacobus, Julie Mazur, Monique McCutcheon and Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Whiston. Mary Johnson, long-time administrative manager with Colucci Shand Realty, will assume that position in the New Paltz office.
“Vets on Water” kayaking tour
The Hudson Valley Center for Veteran Reintegration (HVCVR) took a kayaking trip, led by veterans, down the Hudson River from Albany to New York City, totaling approximately 315 miles. The paddling veterans stopped in Kingston on Tuesday and were greeted by mayor Steve Noble and county executive Pat Ryan, among others.
The mission of the Vets on Water trip is to bring awareness to the needs of the veteran community in the battle against suicide and homelessness. To help HVCVR raise much-needed funding to continue its programs, the HVCVR hopes that many kayakers will join in on this adventure and help share its message of awareness.
To learn more, visit hvcvr.org or Facebook.com/HVCVR.
Bless all God’s creatures
A Blessing of the Animals will take place at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 163 Main Street in New Paltz on St. Francis Day, Sunday, October 4 at 4 p.m. This is a community event to be held on the front lawn on the church (postponed in the event of rain). All are invited to bring their pets for blessing by the Reverend Allison Moore. All pets should either be leashed or in a carrier. Masks and social distancing are required.
On October 4, the church celebrates the ministry of St. Francis of Assisi, who is often associated with care for animals as well as the poor. The blessing of pets in his name has a long history in the church. This is a joyful service of thanksgiving for the role our pets play in our lives.
For information, call the church office at 255-5098 or email standrewnp@hvi.net.
Caribbean-inspired eatery
Seasoned Delicious is opening its Caribbean-inspired cafe and market on September 26 at 11 a.m. at 10 Cedar Street in Kingston as part of the opening of the new Energy Square building in collaboration with Center for Creative Education,
The Seasoned Delicious store will be the first of its kind in the Hudson Valley. The mission is to create a wave of conscious spending amongst the community. Co-owner Martin Dunkley stated, “We do a considerable amount of research on economics, and there is a direct correlation between conscious spending and the health of the community.” The owners hope to create a new wave of empowerment for the underserved community through their affiliated nonprofit organization, Seasoned Gives, which provides mentorship, financial literacy, and education for those who want to advance their businesses.
For additional information, email tamikaD@seasonedelicious.com.
Kingston chalks the walks
Several Kingston organizations are coming together to offer sidewalk activities on the Worldwide Day of Play on Saturday, September 26. Between September 23-27, each organization will decorate their sidewalk with temporary spray chalk and create an activity that adolescents, and those young at heart, can participate with at their own convenience and while socially distancing.
The inspiration for the project, organized by the Play Well Focus Team of the Live Well Kingston Commission, came from the Kingston Library, which created sidewalk activities around the building. The decoration has prompts for a hot-lava obstacle course, counting, jumping jacks, stomping and following the line.
More than a half-dozen organizations have now joined in, with each providing activities for the kids and the kids at heart. Participating are The AJ Williams-Myers African Roots Center, 261 Fearless, The Little Free Library, The Rondout Neighborhood Center, the YMCA of Kingston and Ulster, Artport, and the Arts Society of Kingston (ASK).
The community is invited to design a temporary decoration. Post pictures of your creations with the following tags to participate: #KingstonChalktheWalk #PlayWellKingston #WorldwideDayofPlay. For additional information, email eflynn@kingston-ny.gov.
Virtual tutoring at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library currently offers free tutoring services via Zoom. Free reading and writing tutoring with retired teacher, Leo Glaser, is available Thursdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. for 30- or 45-minute sessions. Free elementary math, science and English tutoring with Kristie Benel is available for 45-minute sessions with days and times to be scheduled between tutor and student.
For information, visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Olive feminist exhibition
The Olive Free Library Association will present an exhibition of works by five regional artists who incorporate feminist issues in their artworks. This will be the first exhibition in the Olive Library’s community gallery since all in-person events and shows were cancelled or postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The show “If Only” is curated by Nathalie Andrews and will run from September 26 through November 7, with the opening on Saturday, September 26 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Participating artists include Natali Bravo-Barbee, Jacinta Bunnell, Carole Kunstadt, Yvette Lewis and Katharine Umsted The Olive Free Library is located at 4033 Route 28A in West Shokan. For additional information, call 657-2482 or email: helpdesk@olivefreelibrary.org.
Resnick series continues
The Louis and Mildred Resnick Institute for the Study of Modern Jewish Life will continue its lecture series via WebEx with Nancy Sinkoff: Lucy S. Dawidowicz: East European immigrant daughter and New York Intellectual this Wednesday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m. To join the lecture, 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 — 161 853 7923, password: gMJPtTeQ222
The series is directed by Gerald Sorin. Upcoming lectures include: September 30 — Gerald Sorin on “The Early Years of Saul Bellow”; October 7 — Jonathan Rosen on “Louis Brandeis and the Imbeciles: A Closer Look at a Progressive Prophet”; and October 15 — Benjamin Taylor on “Here We Are: My Friendship with Philip Roth.”
Movie nights at Elting
Elting Memorial Library will be showing a series of movies on Thursday nights in their parking lot. The name of this movie series is “Fiction into Film that Doesn’t Suck,” according to Jesse Chance, the library’s manager of operations, because all the films are based on books and all were chosen and will be shown by Chance. 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 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., 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.
Kingston policing task force
Kingston mayor Steve Noble, along with Lester Strong and the Peaceful Guardians Project, have announced the selection of the Re-envision Public Safety Task Force members, made up of ten city residents, the chief of police Egidio Tinti, common council liaison Alderman Tony Davis, and police commission liaison Minya DeJohnette. The residents selected to serve on the task force are: Beetle Bailey, Jimmy Buff, Andrea Callan, Raquel Derrick, Daniel Gruner, Donald Mapes Jr., David McNamara, Naimah Muhammad, Manuel Blas Sánchez and Amy Shapiro.
The Re-envision Public Safety Task Force will hold two public forums where the community can offer input and feedback. The public forums will be held on October 28 and December 16 from 6 to 8 p.m., with ldetails to be announced at a later date.
The group will address law enforcement-community relations, use-of-force policies, procedural justice, systemic racial bias and practices that may contribute to racial disparity in the community. The task force will review current police force policies, procedures and practices and develop a plan for improvements, with a focus on the needs of the community and fostering trust. The task force will work to provide a comprehensive plan by April 1, 2021.
Attention water consumers in Saugerties
The Village of Saugerties water department, in conjunction with the town water department, will begin to flush hydrants and blow-offs. This may result in discolored water. The work will continue throughout the weeks starting October 5-16, with most of the work being done during evening hours. If you have a problem, call the town at 246-8671 or the village at 246-2321, ext. 5 depending on your provider.
Nancy Kassop to give 14th annual Dennis O’Keefe Lecture
The Friends of the Sojourner Truth Library at SUNY New Paltz will sponsor the 14th annual Dennis O’Keefe Lecture this Thursday, September 24, at 7 p.m. via Webex. Nancy Kassop, professor of political science and a nationally recognized expert in constitutional law and the U.S. presidency, will deliver a lecture titled “Looking Forward, Looking Backward: A Nation’s Expectations after Government Fails.”
This online event is free and open to the public. A live question-and-answer opportunity will follow Kassop’s talk.
The link to Kassop’s lecture will be live on September 24 a few moments before 7 p.m. To attend, log in at https://newpaltz.webex.com/newpaltz/j.php?MTID=m51df2ceef999f3e72b64b89b6ef32144. If prompted, enter meeting code 171 3662928 and meeting password 4FGf3XBXwJ7.
For information, contact professor Thomas Olsen at olsent@newpaltz.edu.
Chestnut Market Dunkin’open
Chestnut Market Dunkin’ officially opened last Wednesday on Route 9W in Marlboro with a ribbon-cutting. The Chestnut Market/Dunkin’ Donuts and Mobil gas station was built on the site of the former Dickey’s Diner.
“We were honored to have such a warm welcome,” said Mickey Jamal, CEO of the CPD Group. “And we are excited to be part of this great community of Marlboro at a key entry point to beautiful Ulster County …. We are thrilled to be creating many new jobs in our hometown, especially during these challenging times, and to serve this wonderful community. “
The spacious interior of the store leaves plenty of room for social distancing. There’s also a drive-through window for Dunkin’ products. “Safety has always been a top priority in all our stores,” Jamal said. “Today, that’s more important than ever to keep our employees and customers safe.”
Woodstock Arbor Day
The Woodstock Tree Committee will be celebrating Arbor Day this year in the month of October. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all spring activities were suspended. This year’s events will encourage tree plantings by local businesses and residents, as well as the clean up of the small town park next to the Chamber of Commerce office in Woodstock.
A memorial tree for former highway superintendent Bill Harder will be planted, and there is room for additional trees. If you would like to contribute to the memorial tree plantings, make your check out to the Town of Woodstock and put Memorial Tree T&A in the memo. Send it on to town clerk Jackie Early, 46 Comeau Drive Woodstock, NY 12498.
Anyone needing guidance on what to plant this fall can visit the town website.
New Paltz fall plant sale
The New Paltz Garden Club will hold its fall plant sale on Saturday, October 10 (rain date, October 11) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 222 Main Street in New Paltz. Mums, bulbs, shrubs, hostas, seeds, perennials, house plants and more will be available to purchase.
Best Buy at Hudson Valley Mall to close
The Hudson Valley Mall is losing another anchor store. Electronics chain store Best Buy announced last week that it would be closing its Hudson Valley Mall store, effective October 31.
“Unfortunately, retail in this area and at the nearby Hudson Valley Mall has been in decline for many years,” said spokesperson Claire Larson in an email. “Other anchor stores have left the area in recent years, including JC Penney, Macy’s and Sears, and that has led customers to shop other retail areas.” The stores Larson referred to all had locations in the Hudson Valley Mall. After Best Buy departs, the remaining anchor stores will only include Target and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
According to Larson, the store has approximately 50 employees, both full-time and part-time, and the company is trying to find positions for them at neighboring stores. Best Buy locations in Poughkeepsie and Middletown will remain open.
Join the family! 
