Reverence Day/Day of The Dead
The New Paltz Rural Cemetery will be sponsoring its tenth annual Day of Reverence (also known as the Day of the Dead) on Sunday, November 1 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the cemetery. There will be flowers and decorations to be used to decorate the sites of your beloved family and friends or to bring home and decorate in their memory. Masks are required (and will be provided if needed) and participants will also be required to practice social distancing.
The Day of the Dead is celebrated throughout the Hispanic world and within many other countries worldwide. On this day, people of various cultures gather at the sites of their loved ones and remember them. The day is a national holiday for them.
The cemetery is located at 81 Plains Road in New Paltz.
College staffers test positive
Two employees at SUNY New Paltz have tested positive for Covid-19, according to data posted to an online university dashboard. Those are the first employees to test positive this semester. There is also one active student case and three students in quarantine.
University communications director Melissa Kaczmarek would not disclose if the affected employees are faculty or not, “to protect their privacy.”
Since August 24, 4011 tests have been administered and 16 students have been identified as carrying the virus, in addition to the two employees. Kaczmarek said the testing comes at a cost of $15 per test (not including shipping), or about $9000 per week. Other forms of testing can usually be covered by insurance. Testing, personal protective equipment and other pandemic-related protocols are being funded from university cash balances.
The positive rate on campus remains low, as it does in the surrounding area. Kaczmarek attributes “our community’s vigilance in adhering to campus protocols,” including the wearing of masks, maintaining of social distance and the washing of hands, for the low infection rate.
Should the cases on campus reach 100, New Paltz would become a designated orange or red zone, and all classes would be taught remotely for at least two weeks.
— Terence P Ward
New Paltz leaf pick up
The Village of New Paltz will begin its annual leaf pickup throughout the village on November 2 for a two-week period. The pick up will start on the north side November 2-6 and continue to the south side November 9 through 13.
If bagging leaves, only biodegradable bags will be accepted. Bagged or loose leaves only should be placed at curbside. Biodegradable bags can be purchased from the Village of New Paltz at 25 Plattekill Avenue on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the price of $2 per five pack.
Early dismissal test
Public schools in Ulster County will release students approximately 15 minutes early on Thursday, November 5. Students will be sent home early on this day as part of an annual drill that tests the evacuation procedures of each district’s Emergency Management/Disaster Preparedness Plan. The state has mandated that this drill be conducted annually in all public schools.
Local Ulster County schools ask that parents make appropriate arrangements for the early arrival of their children the afternoon of November 5. Each participating district may provide parents with district specific information regarding the evacuation drill’s impact on bussing and after school activities. All Ulster County public schools are participating in the drill.
Protecting the trees
The new Woodstock Library project is enhanced by the beautiful setting with its majestic trees and front library lawn. We are planning to conserve as many trees as possible. When I was first interviewed and hired to direct the delivery of the new Woodstock Library project, the building committee and the board of directors stressed to me the critical importance of protecting the trees and the front library lawn. Even before discussing the budget or the program, respecting the trees was at the very top of their concerns.
So how do I do that? How do I deliver this building while protecting the trees?
This starts with Tilly’s design which is enhanced by the large trees. I also love the site and the trees with all its challenges. Most of the trees are not impacted by the building’s footprint at all, so during the next round of architectural work I will prepare a project plan, working with an arborist, that identifies the tree or two that are in conflict with the building or are in poor health and should be removed. I will require that frames be constructed around the important remaining trees in close proximity to the construction and that all activities, all contractors, all workers will not damage and will take every effort to protect the trees. I will even put this in their contracts.
How the contractors mobilize, how they enter the work zone, the work flow itself and where materials are stored will all be specified in the project plan which I will prepare, all emphasizing tree and library lawn protection.
It is also important to understand the design does not have a basement. The below grade work is limited to removing the existing foundation (in terrible condition with significant water and erosion damage) in-filling in the area with suitable material and constructing a slab-on-grade at the required higher elevation, all without basement. This means we can be more “surgical” about our demolition and excavation work, opting for a slower process with smaller equipment if need be, again with an emphasis on protecting the trees.
It all requires special caring, planning and supervision and I can tell you, it is my responsibility to provide all three.
— Jean-Claude Alten, Construction Manager Agent, Woodstock Library Project
New Paltz Turkey Trot November 1-30
The Family of New Paltz Turkey Trot is an annual 5K run and walk event to support Family of New Paltz’s food pantry and crisis services. As we strive for a healthier and safer experience, runners from anywhere can now participate by using the RaceJoy app. This app will allow runners to:
1. Either run the route we would normally use (accessible through the app) or choose their own preferred route.
2. Complete this run on any given day/time during the entire month of November.
3. Persons are able to obtain their own sponsors and collect donations for the race directly through RaceJoy.
Family does not encourage large gatherings and everyone should be sure to follow the appropriate safety guidelines at the time of your run. Please be sure to download the RaceJoy app when you are ready to complete the race.
You can register online or in person at: www.newpaltzturkeytrot.com or 51 North Chestnut Street in New Paltz on Monday-Thursday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For anyone participating locally, shirts will be available from Family of New Paltz, with a pick up date to be determined.
The cost is $25 for persons (13-64 years), $15 for anyone below the age of 13 and over the age of 64. For additional information, call (845) 255-7957/392-3624.
Take-out chili sale
The Reformed Church of Saugerties will hold a take-out chili sale on Saturday, November 14. Pick up will be from 4 to 6 p.m. The cost is $8 per quart (meat or vegetarian). Pre-ordering is recommended by calling (845) 246-5035. Walk-ins are welcome, but the event is first come, first served. Masks are required.
The church is at 173 Main Street in Saugerties. For information, call 246-2867.
Huguenot Street tours
Historic Huguenot Street will host a “Night Boos and Brews” tour on Friday, October 30 at 8 p.m. Organizers are revamping the tour this year with new local legends, in addition to the classic spooky tales of New Paltz. Meet at the DuBois Fort Visitor Center at 6:30 p.m. for a glass of locally made hard cider or craft beer, then take an exterior walking tour to explore the mysterious tales of New Paltz. Each ticket comes with a glass of hard cider or beer and additional drinks and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
For additional information, call 255-1889 or email info@huguenotstreet.org.
Historic Huguenot Street is also offering a self-guided Haunted Huguenot Street walking tour. This debut app tour and scavenger hunt will take the place of the theatrical haunted tours that happen on site every October but were cancelled this year due to Covid-19. You can learn more about the walking tour app and how to download it at https://www.huguenotstreet.org/app.
Virtual Halloween spooktacular
The Elting Library Youth Group in New Paltz will hold a virtual Halloween spooktacular on Friday, October 30 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The festivities will include a decorated pumpkin contest, crafts, stories, a virtual escape room and a costume contest. To register, complete the form at https://forms.gle/TNkD4WSYgwiXBqDVA
Craft kits may be requested on the registration form and picked up at the library until October 29. For more information, check the Elting Library calendar at http://www.eltinglibrary.org/ or call the library at 255-5030.
Give blood to save lives
The American Red Cross is urging healthy donors of all blood types to give blood to ensure a strong blood supply for patients as the U.S. braces for flu season while in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. In thanks for making time to donate, the Red Cross will send those who come to give through November 11 a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email, courtesy of Suburban Propane. Plus, those who come to give in October are automatically entered for a chance to win a $1000 Amazon.com Gift Card. Five lucky people will win. Additional information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Unite.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities include:
• Kingston, October 28 from noon to 5 p.m., Best Western Plus Kingston Hotel, 503 Washington Avenue; November 9 from 1 to 6 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars, 708 East Chester Street;November 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Health Alliance Hospital, Mary’s Avenue Campus, 105 Marys Avenue.
• Marlboro, November 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pinnacle Learning Center, 1508 Route 9W.
• Saugerties, October 29 from noon to 5 p.m., Saugerties Knights of Columbus Council 4536, 19 Barclay Street.
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for Covid-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual developed Covid-19 symptoms. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from Covid-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the Red Cross blood donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-733-2767 or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Community fridges pop up to combat hunger
Two new “community fridges” were set up in Kingston last month following an online fundraiser. Located at the Clinton Avenue United Methodist Church (122 Clinton Avenue) and Beyond the 4 Walls community outreach organization (14 Van Buren Street), the refrigerators allow any member of the community to pick up or donate food without an appointment from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
The website kingstoncommunityfridges.com describes the effort, as a collaboration between Kingston Food Co-op and the people of Kingston, “born out of a desire to more deeply connect our community in a grassroots way while building food sovereignty — the power of the people to control their own food access, distribution and consumption. Community fridges are a way for people to share what they have, and to take what they need with dignity and without an intermediary — everyone is encouraged to give and take.”
Giving guidelines suggest donations of fruit and vegetables (fresh or frozen), milk, cheese, butter and yogurt, and healthy items, fresh and non-perishable unopened and still packaged. Expired or spoiled food and food that’s been opened or partly used cannot be accepted.
Community fridges have been popping up in cities across the country since the pandemic began, when food shortages and unemployment led to an increased focus on food insecurity. Each refrigerator is operated independently. For more info, including how to bring a fridge to your neighborhood, see kingstoncommunityfridges.com.
Fiesta at High Meadow
High Meadow School is producing Fiesta Latina, a free event celebrating Latin-American festival arts, returning for its fourth year (virtually).
High Meadow will host two series of workshops. The first series will be making giant festival masks and puppets. The second series will be creating miniature toy theatres. Both series are facilitated by puppeteer Roberto Rossi of Great Small Works and musician and teacher Roberto Rodriguez.
Each workshop session will open with an hour of structured, synchronized learning. Brief presentations with films and photographs from around the world will be followed by demonstrations of construction techniques.The second hour of the workshop will be unstructured — an opportunity for participants to develop a project and check back with instructors for individual consultations.
All the workshops take place on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. The mask and puppet workshops will be taking place on October 29, November 5 and November 12. The toy theatre workshops will take place on November 29, December 3 and December 10. All workshops will be taking place on Zoom.
Information about these free online workshops can be found at highmeadowschool.org. For planning purposes, pre-registration for the workshops is required. Materials created in the workshops will be featured in the virtual Fiesta Latina celebration online on Thursday, December 17 at 4 p.m. For information, call 687-4855.
Retired men meet November 2
Retired Men of the New Paltz Community invite retired men everywhere to the monthly breakfast meeting of Monday, November 2, 8 a.m., at the New Paltz Plaza Diner.
Ryan Trapani, director of forest services for the Catskill Forest Association, will speak about the white-tailed deer population in our area, their significant relationship with humans and forests, and their potential management.
Contact Rob Greene at rasjgreene@earthlink.net or 256-9003 for information.
Meet the contact tracers
Allison Lindsay and Bryan Lurie, athletic trainers in the Department of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation, are at the center of SUNY New Paltz’s process of contact tracing those who have been diagnosed with or possibly exposed to Covid-19.
There are common misconceptions about what sets athletic training apart from other forms of training, coaching and therapy that take place in collegiate sports. Athletic training is a healthcare profession that focuses on preventing, treating and rehabilitating athletes’ injuries and other medical conditions.
“If a student has an injury, we take their history, we do the evaluation and we manage their treatment, in coordination with the Health Center and orthopedists we partner with,” Lurie said.
Diagnostic interviewing is a key component of athletic training. That experience makes Lindsay and Lurie a natural fit for Covid-19 contact tracing, which similarly involves asking questions, consistent follow-ups, monitoring symptoms, creating documentation, and protecting confidentiality. Both processes also require professionals who can establish trust in situations when anxieties are running high.
“We’re used to working with athletes who are very motivated to compete and who may not want to say anything about an injury that would prevent them from competing,” Lindsay said. “We join them in that moment, create a rapport, educate them. and help them navigate their initial emotions, so they can move on to practical next steps and feel like it’s going to be okay.”
The process only works when those being traced adopt a community mindset and speak truthfully about where they’ve been and with whom. Lindsay and Lurie say the students they’ve worked with thus far this semester have been incredibly cooperative and upfront. Successful contact tracing has been one of the keys of the college’s relatively low incidence of coronavirus infection.
“We wouldn’t be getting the results we’re getting if students weren’t doing their part,” Lindsay said. Contact tracers at SUNY New Paltz serve as an important connecting hub between students and officials at the Ulster County Department of Health who have been tasked with reporting Covid-19 data to state and federal agencies. In some cases, they do “detective work” to track down students when all we have is a first name or hall of residence.
“This work is different from what we do as athletic trainers in some ways,” Lurie said, “but ultimately we just want to make sure everyone’s okay.” The new role comes with new pressures, but they’re doing their best to adapt to realities posed by the pandemic.
“Like anyone else, we wish we could be doing our normal thing, but no one is doing their normal thing right now,” Lindsay said. “This is what we do as athletic trainers all the time: We look at a dynamic situation, and we problem solve.”
To find information about SUNY New Paltz’s testing, tracing and quarantine policies, visit www.newpaltz.edu.
New Highland committee
The Highland School District is seeking applicants for its new Climate & Culture/Racial Equity Committee, an ad-hoc advisory committee made up of representatives from various stakeholder groups within the school community. The committee will meet monthly beginning November 17, and members will also devote additional time throughout the month for research and reflection. Committee members will include:
• Up to one BOE member and one alternate BOE member
• Four community-at-large members (including one recent graduate from the last three years)
• One elementary, one middle and one high school parent
• One middle and one high school student
• One elementary, one middle and one high school instructional staff member
• One elementary, one middle and one high school non-instructional staff member
• One elementary, one middle and one high school administrator
• One central office administrator
• Superintendent as ex-officio member
The distruict strives to foster an environment of inclusivity for all students and members of the school community. Its goal is to build a district in which all students feel they belong, regardless of their actual or perceived color, disability, economic status, ethnic group, gender, national origin, race, religion, religious practice, sex, sexual orientation or weight. The committee’s initial charge is to evaluate and support the district’s evolving racial equity Initiative, with a strong focus on school climate, curriculum and teacher diversity.
Those interested in serving on this committee must complete a membership application, available on the district website at www.highland-k12.org and return it to the district clerk (please do not copy anyone else on the submission) on or before Wednesday, November 4. Submission instructions are located on the application.
Woodstock gets new fire engine
The Woodstock Fire Department has taken delivery of a new E-One Typhoon fire engine. The truck was delivered on October 14, concluding a five-year trial started in 2015 with the purchase of a used fire engine from the Hyde Park Fire Department. This new fire engine, a multipurpose apparatus that performs the duties of two trucks, will respond both as a primary engine and as a rescue truck to a wide range of incidents, including structural fires, motor-vehicle accidents, car fires, hazardous materials incidents and more.
According to assistant chief Patrick Rose, it’s estimated that this truck will save the fire district roughly $250,000 over the previous plan of having both a fire engine and a rescue truck. The new truck includes some of the newest features in performance and safety. Six firefighters can safely be transported to and from emergencies in a cab specially designed to keep responders safe in the event of a rollover or an accident. The truck features a 1000-gallon on-board water tank, as well as Class A foam capabilities, which makes water more effective in extinguishing fires in rural firefighting environments. The truck also has a 1500-gallon-per-minute pump, allowing the department to be better prepared for high-hazard buildings.
Firefighters have been training on the new apparatus since its arrival. “We would like to thank all members, officers and fire commissioners that were involved in acquiring this state-of-the-art apparatus for the department,” said Rose. “We would also like to thank the Woodstock Fire District taxpayers whose continual support allows us to make purchases like this to better protect our firefighters, residents and visitors.”
Highland company cleans air
Air Cleaning Blowers, LLC, of Highland, recently announced that it launched its “We Clean Air” line of protective air canopies. These protective air canopies are designed specifically to help protect people from contamination by pathogens when they are working in close contact with the public or their fellow workers. Models of different types serve to protect against heavy dust loads in heavy industry and agriculture (including pesticides), indoors and outdoors. Other models protect cashiers, bank tellers and government workers from Covid-19 viruses serving as a passive form of PPE.
The first product in its new We Clean Air line is the Safety Halo protective air canopy. These units first clean the air of more germs and other particles than an N95 mask. They flow clean air gently downward with a pressure sufficient to build a cone of air that flows both downward and outward around the person underneath and his or her work space. The benefits come when the public and fellow workers breathe germs toward the person under the protective cone of air. This protective cone of air also captures airborne particles exhaled by the person within the cone of air.
:What we have developed here at Air Cleaning Blowers are truly innovative technologies,” Air Cleaning Blowers, LLC’s CEO Edward Roston said, “The new protective air canopies will quickly and effectively limit the spread of airborne germs and protect many people working or volunteering in jobs where they cannot avoid frequent contact with the public or their colleagues, from librarians and fast-food counter staff to meat-packers and others working on production lines.”
For information, email Roston@WeCleanAir.com or call 244-3091.
Virtual read with dogs
The Gardiner Library will hold its read with dogs program virtually on Saturday, November 14 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Beginning and struggling readers sign up for a 15-minute time slot to read to certified therapy dogs via Zoom. Come read to “Fletcher” A relaxed, stress-free environment supports children’s learning. Please sign up ahead of time. Spaces are limited.
To sign up, email Amy at alaber@rcls.org with the name and age of your child. For information, visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Note of clarification
Bob Berman’s Night Sky article, which had to be delayed a week due to a backlog of election letters, was supposed to include a small change we neglected to make. The sentence: “there’s no moon this weekend” should not have appeared.
Our apologies.
Join the family! 
