Design session for bee project in New Paltz on November 14
The New Paltz Bee City Project, in collaboration with Future Fruits, is hosting a public landscaping and design session at the New Paltz Village Hall on November 14 from noon to 2 p.m. (the rain date is November 15). The event will be outdoors, so be sure to dress appropriately and bring a mask or face shield.
This session is an opportunity for community members to have their voices heard regarding the design of the project. Organizers hope to create a project with pollinator-friendly plants and wild edibles tailored to the interests of the community with the hope of improving the aesthetic of Village Hall and the environment around it. If you are interested in participating, please contact npbeecity@villageofnewpaltz.org. If you are interested in tuning in online instead, use this link: https://zoom.us/j/96601300950?pwd=RFIvNXFnbitzcXRpWDBRV3VITHFCQT09, which can also be found on the village website at villageofnewpaltz.org.
Attempted armed robbery at Imperial Jewelers
On November 2, at approximately 2:50 a.m., the New Paltz Police Department received a notification of a panic alarm at Imperial Jewelers, located in the New Paltz Plaza. When officers arrived, they observed two masked subjects inside the establishment that were armed with weapons.
The subjects then fled the area on foot. A loaded handgun was recovered from the scene.
The New Paltz Police Department was assisted at the scene by the New York State Police, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office and the SUNY New Paltz Police Department.
The investigation is being handled by the New Paltz Police Department detective division. Anyone with information is asked to call (845) 255-1357. Calls can be kept confidential.
Green brown leafy vegetation
Detectives from the Ulster County sheriff’s office report the arrest of Scott G. Chislett, 28, of Hurley, currently an inmate at the Ulster County Jail. On Thursday, October 22, at about 4:40 p.m., corrections staff searched Chislett’s cell and reported that they found green brown leafy vegetation, as well as clear plastic wrap containing an orange film. The orange film field tested positive for suboxone and the green brown leafy substance was positive for marijuana.
On Sunday, October 25, Chislett was charged with the felony of first-degree promoting prison contraband. He remains in the Ulster County Jail pending arraignment in Kingston City Court. Any person(s) charged with an offense or offenses are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Police make burglary arrest
The New Paltz Police Department detective division has been investigating a series of residential burglaries that occurred between September 13 and October 23 that involved the theft of copper piping from residences. Following a month-long investigation, probable cause was established to charge Eric J. Morgan, 30 of Modena, with several of the incidents.
Detectives from New Paltz, Plattekill and Lloyd located Morgan in the Town of Lloyd and placed him in custody without incident. He was charged with two counts of second degree burglary, a felony and two counts of second degree criminal mischief, also a felony.
He was arraigned in Plattekill court and sent to Ulster County Jail with no bail due to his previous felony convictions in New York State.
This was a joint investigation between the New Paltz, Plattekill, Lloyd and Marlborough police departments and the State Police in Highland.
Leaf pick-up in Town of New Paltz
Leaf pick up in the Town of New Paltz has begun. Please remember: no bags, simply blow or rake your leaves to the road’s edge without impinging on the road itself, and the highway department will be around to pick them up. Pickups will be done by plow route and they will continue to go around repeatedly until the first heavy snowfall. No brush or junk, only leaves.
For additional information, call Dawn at the highway department at 255-5050.
Saugerties ethics committee
The Town of Saugerties ethics committee will be holding a meeting on November 11, 6:30 p.m. at the town hall at 4 High Street. The meeting will take place in the building department conference room.
Noble to address Chamber
Kingston Mayor Steve Noble will be the featured speaker at the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce’s next virtual breakfast meeting on November 12 from 9 to 10 a.m. The event, sponsored by United Healthcare, will be broadcast live on the Chamber Facebook page from The Venue Uptown at Best Western Plus. The Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/Ulster.Chamber/
While the pandemic has been a difficult time for businesses, Noble said the city has been able to complete vital infrastructure work, such as paving, sidewalks and sewer projects. He will also discuss his proposed $43.2 million budget for 2021/
Noble also plans to update business leaders on The Kingstonian, a $60-million residential/commercial project. Noble said the economic impact of having 143 apartments full of people in Uptown “is really going to drive a lot of the small business growth that has struggled over the years.”
Maya Gold Foundation certifies 27 teens
The Maya Gold Foundation recently completed its first two teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) trainings, which were led by board members Jesse Sarrubi, Elise Gold and Mathew Swerdloff. Fifteen members of the Maya Gold Foundation Youth Action Team and twelve area teens are now certified in teen Mental Health First Aid.
One teen said that the highlight of the program for them was “the intriguing discussions and realization [and] clarity I gained from the program, for myself and others. Trauma, mental health challenges [and] crises and getting help are misunderstood, but I found that it made so much more sense and I realized a lot of new things about my mental health and that of my friends after the program.” Another teen added, “I learned the connection between mental health challenges and substance use.” The Maya Gold Foundation believes this training is an invaluable resource for teens.
The first public training began on October 7, and additional trainings are planned for the Hudson Valley to be held in the near future. For more information go to www.mayagoldfoundation.org.
Lara Hope to receive Kingston Distinguished Artist Award
Musician Lara Hope will be the second recipient of Kingston’s bi-annual Distinguished Artist Award. The award will be presented Thursday, November 12 at 5:30 p.m. in a live-streamed ceremony on various Facebook pages. “We are proud to celebrate Kingston’s own Lara Hope for this much-deserved award,” said mayor Steve Noble. “I would like to thank the arts commission for organizing the wonderful award and for all their support of arts and culture in the City of Kingston. Awards like this help our creative community thrive.”
Hope is the front woman of Lara Hope and the Ark-Tones. She has spent much of the past few years on the road, both in Europe and in the U.S.,She and her band were invited to perform at the original site of the Woodstock Festival, Bethel Woods, for the 50th anniversary celebration. Hope also plays with her husband, Matt Goldpaugh, as “The Gold Hope Duo,” and self-released a very topical album called Songs in the Key of Quarantine. She is dedicated to Kingston’s many not-for-profit organizations for which she donates much of her time, performing at fundraisers and other events in support of their causes.
For information about the event, contact 334-3929 or kingstonart@kingston-ny.gov.
Saugerties police reform
The Saugerties Police Reform and Reinvention Committee has launched its public outreach campaign with a Facebook page, a dedicated email and phone line. The SPRRC requests community members to share their experiences interacting with local law enforcement, particularly as it relates to racial bias or unequal policing, and their ideas about public safety to help the committee develop recommendations to improve police services.
The SPRRC Facebook page (@SaugertiesPoliceReformReinvention) will include an anonymous and confidential survey in both English and Spanish and ongoing notifications. For those not on social media, email SaugertiesPoliceReformReinvent@yahoo.com or call (845) 328-1426 to provide input and receive updates. The Facebook page, survey, email and phone line are beginning steps to include the public in this process of enhancing the relationship between the police and the community.
SPRRC will formulate recommendations to meet the governor’s challenge and submit them to the town board for approval. The town board must ratify or adopt a plan no later than April 1, 2021.
Registration at SUNY Ulster
SUNY Ulster will begin registering new students for the spring 2021 semester on November 9. For those who have not yet applied, applications are available on the college website. One-on-one virtual meetings with an enrollment counselor are available for those who are ready to register or want to learn more about programs, the admissions process, financial aid, scholarships and more.
Classes for the spring 2021 semester begin on January 25, 2021 and will be conducted in a variety of methods that range from fully online, remote, hybrid and face-to-face.
SUNY Ulster offers over 60 credit programs that ready students for transfer to a four-year institution or entry into the workforce. To learn more about becoming a student at SUNY Ulster, visit http://www.sunyulster.edu/admissions.
Free food on Sundays
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Redeemer Lutheran Church, the New Paltz United Methodist Church and the SUNY New Paltz Student Christian Center/Episcopal Ministry in New Paltz are offering free, fresh food every Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the following locations:
• 1st and 2nd Sunday: Redeemer Lutheran Church, 90 Route 32 South, 255-0051
• 3rd Sunday: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 163 Main Street, 255-5098
• 4th Sunday: The New Paltz United Methodist Church, 1 Grove Street, 255-5210
• 5th Sunday: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 163 Main Street, 255-5098
Masks and social distancing are required; if possible, bring your own bags.
Wreaths need volunteers
The Saugerties VFW Post 5034 is sponsoring a fundraiser for the annual Wreaths Across America campaign. The purpose of this fundraiser is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach children the value of freedom by placing wreaths on the gravesites of those who served in the armed services of this country. “Covid-19 has made some changes necessary for this year, but we are continuing our participation,” said Bob Howe of the Saugerties VFW 5034. “We will not have a bus this year, instead we ask that you drive yourself, family and friends.” If you plan on attending, call Howe at 246-8510.
Participants will meet at the Saugerties Senior Center on Saturday, December 19 at 9:45 am. for the noon. placement of wreaths at the Saratoga National Cemetery. There are 13,000 graves in Saratoga National Cemetery.
After placing the wreaths, volunteers will go to the American Legion Hall for a free luncheon.
If you cannot make the trip this year, please consider a donation to this cause. Wreaths are $15 each. Make checks payable to Saugerties VFW Post 5034 and mail to VFW Post 5034, P.O. Box 152, Saugerties, NY 12477-0152.
Made in Kingston market
Now in its eighth year, Made In Kingston for 2020 has been reimagined as an online makers market, highlighting the array of all things handcrafted, fabricated or manufactured in the City of Kingston.
The Kingston Farmers’ Market will host a Made in Kingston pop-up artists and makers market on two Saturdays — December 5 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Ulster County Courthouse parking lot.
Artists and makers who live, work and/or create within the City of Kingston are encouraged to apply for either the online and/or pop-up markets. All information and applications, as well as sponsorship opportunities, are available now at MadeInKingstonNY.com.
Veteran’s Day Ceremony at City Hall in Kingston
The Kingston Veterans Association has announced a Veteran’s Day ceremony on Wednesday, November, 11 a.m., at the city hall in Kingston. A new monument will be dedicated to those who served during the war on terrorism.
Mike Decker will be the Veterans Day ceremony speaker. The public is invited to attend. Masks and social distancing will be mandatory for all those in attendance. The event will be held rain or shine.
“Though many may not be able to join us for the ceremony this year due to Covid-19, the new monument will be a permanent place to pay our respects to those who have fought the war on terrorism,” said mayor Steve Noble.
Gardiner teen zine team
As the Gardiner Library prepares to launch its literary magazine, teens continue to meet virtually via Zoom on Monday, November 9 at 7 p.m. Middle and high school students who enjoy writing poetry, short stories and graphic novels are invited to join in on the fun. Submit work through email and fellow authors will share critiques, suggestions and compliments. The first issue will be published in December both online and as a hard copy to be checked out.
Copies will be available for purchase as well. All proceeds will benefit teen programming. Artists are wanted to add their creativity. Freelance or to accompany written pieces.
Consider being part of the Gardiner Library zine team. Informational meeting during the November 9 literary magazine meeting. For those interested in joining or for information, including the Zoom link to access the meetings, contact Carolyn Thorenz at cthorenz@rcls.org. Virtual teen literary magazine meetings will continue on the second Monday of each month.
For information, visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
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.
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.
Town of New Paltz recreation updates
The New Paltz Recreation Department is offering free recreation sessions to all New Paltz residents. Immediate families or your bubble group (up to eight individuals) can now reserve the Community Center to play mini golf, ping pong and corn hole.
There are many flexible days/nights and hours. For additional information, call 255-2512 or email recreation@townofnewpaltz.org.
The Community Center remains open for party/event rentals at a limited capacity of 25-30 individuals and the Field of Dreams Park will remain open throughout the fall and winter months.
Join the family! 
