Free healthy cooking classes from home
Learn how to make a great chili from the comfort of your own kitchen on November 19 at 6 p.m. The class is part of a series of free healthy cooking classes offered as a collaboration between Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County and Ellenville Regional Hospital. The goal of the program is to improve the health of Ulster County residents by teaching easy, cheap and healthy home cooking.
The class will be taught by Chrisso Babcock of Cornell Cooperative Extension. Babcock is a food lover and kitchen educator. He started his journey in food as a farmer and quickly grew to love cooking large meals for the crew. He has been teaching cooking workshops for many years. “I am very excited to be offering this virtual cooking series. If you are looking get some new recipes into your rotation, save money, save time and eat healthier, these classes will be great for you and your family.”
If you want to cook along with the class at home, you will need: 1⁄2 pound lean ground meat, 1 medium onion, 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes, chili powder, a carrot (optional), and a bell pepper (optional)
To register for this and upcoming healthy cooking classes, visit: ulster.cce.cornell.edu/events/healthycookingclasses. The next class will be curried squash soup on December 10!
Rosendale motorcyclist dies in crash
A 37-year-old Rosendale man died Saturday afternoon after striking a guard rail on Route 213 on his motorcycle.
The Rosendale Police Department responded to a reported motorcycle crash on State Route 213, near Mossy Brook Road on Saturday, November 7 at approximately 3:15 p.m.
A motorcycle that was being operated by Evan Fraser, 37, of Rosendale, had been traveling in a westbound direction, when he failed to negotiate a turn and struck the guard rail. He was treated on the scene but succumbed to his injuries.
The Rosendale Police Department was assisted by the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office; the New York State Police; High Falls Fire; Rosendale Fire; Marbletown Rescue; Mobile Life; and Life Net Air 2 on the scene.
Bus kills Kingston bicyclist
Last Wednesday afternoon at about 2:15 p.m. members of the Kingston Police patrol division responded to a bus versus bicyclist crash at the intersection of Wilbur Avenue at Greenkill Avenue. According a police release, a school bus from Birnie Bus Company was traveling northeast bound on Greenkill Avenue. A bicycle lane runs parallel and on the right of the vehicular traffic lane. The bus was in the process of making a right turn from Greenkill Avenue onto Wilbur Avenue when a bicycle travelling northeast on Greenkill Avenue in the bike lane passed through a stop sign meant for the bike lane and continued to travel into the side of the bus turning in front of him. The bicyclist fell to the ground and was run over by the bus.
The bicyclist, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, suffered serious internal injuries and succumbed to his injuries at the Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley Broadway Campus.
The bus was unoccupied, except for the driver. The bus driver was a 43-year-old female from Rosendale. The bicyclist was a 54-year-old male from Kingston. Neither person’s name was provided.
The crash is being investigated. At the time of this press release it appears that bicyclist failed to yield the right of way by passing through a stop sign. No tickets were issued to the bus driver.
The Kingston Police Accident Reconstruction Team is continuing to investigate.
Saugerties shooting leads to arrest
A Saugerties man was arrested last Thursday following a shooting at a residence on Route 9W in the town of Saugerties that injured a woman. According to police, William “Billy” Babcock, 43, of 2731 Route 9W, Saugerties, physically assaulted a 22-year-old male at that residence, punching the male several times in the face before he was able to flee outside.
As the male victim was standing outside the residence, police say Babcock discharged a twelve-gauge shotgun through his living room window, striking a 48-year-old female who was standing in the driveway in the leg. A fight broke out between Babcock and other individuals at the scene, in which Babcock sustained injuries.
Both the female victim and Babcock were treated at the scene by paramedics from Diaz Ambulance and Mobile Life Support, then transported to the WMC Health Alliance Hospital Broadway Campus in Kingston for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
On November 6, Saugerties police detectives, with the assistance of the sheriff’s Office dive team, located the shotgun they believe was used in the shooting, which had been tossed into the Esopus Creek behind the residence.
Babcock was arrested and charged with three felonies. A registered sex offender who was previously convicted of a felony, according to police, he was arraigned in the Town of Saugerties justice court and remanded to the Ulster County Jail without bail.
All Kingston police will walk
The Kingston Police Department has announced that the police force will begin walking assignments on Monday, November 9. This effort coincides with the conclusion of the increased law enforcement partnership and the re-opening of local schools.
“The intention of the walking assignments is to provide additional visibility to our residents, creating a deeper connection to the community, and the added benefit of improving the officers’ wellness and health,” said Mayor Steve Noble. “We think it’s important for our officers to know the community and for the community to know the officers. We hope this initiative will work toward our ongoing efforts in building trust.”
All officers will be required to walk for at least 40 minutes during each shift. The officers have been given recommended zones, which includes walkable areas in Uptown, Midtown and Downtown.
“This new initiative is meant to further community engagement, and is a direct result of feedback we received at a number of community meetings with residents,” said Kingston police chief Egidio Tinti.
“I am thrilled! I am confident that this initiative will enhance community engagement, establish baseline relationships between law enforcement and the communities for which our officers serve, as well as help build trust in an effort to change how communities view our hard-working officers,” said Rita Worthington, Ward 4 alderwoman.
Ulster exec calls Covid increase, worst since May, a “wakeup call”
Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan pointed to increases in active Covid-19 cases, infection rates and hospitalizations, calling on residents to adopt the mindset and habits they had in the spring to limit the impact of a second-wave locally.
“This is a make or break moment for us as a county and a community, where we have a chance to remain proactive and blunt a much more significant second wave,” said Ryan in Facebook Live video Tuesday. “But it’s clear to me that that is coming.”
Ryan said the number of active cases stood at 311, the highest since May 22.
The rate of positive tests is also on the rise. Over the previous 72 hours, 3177 had been tested and 56 were positive, a 1.76 percentage. In the previous 24 hours, out of 1100 tests, 23 came back positive, over 2 percent.
Ryan said the “most concerning” stat has been the number of hospitalizations, now at 12 with one resident in the ICU on a ventilator. That’s the most since May 7.
“April and May were not good times for us in the county,” he said. “To see us approaching back to those levels – that is concerning and that is definitely and indicator we’re trending in the wrong direction.”
Worldwide, the virus is spreading more rapidly than at any previous point, with both the U.S. and Europe setting records for new cases. Parts of New York State, including Erie, Onondaga, and Monroe Counties (Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester), were recently the subject of new restrictions on gatherings, businesses and schools after seeing sharp increases in cases. Ryan said Ulster residents should look at this and make adjustments now.
In addition to social-distancing, mask-wearing, and washing hands, he said residents should refrain from sitting indoors maskless in groups for long periods of time. “No one would have done that in April or May, and that’s how we need to approach this,” he said. Ryan also suggested residents who plan on meeting up with others to celebrate Thanksgiving and other holidays indoors reconsider. “[T]raveling and getting big groups together is a high-risk point,” he said. “Do you have to do that?”
Ryan said recent news that Pfizer had developed a vaccine with 90 percent efficacy was encouraging, but that it won’t be helpful in the near-term.
“So please encourage those that you know and love to just reset mentally. I know this isn’t where anybody wants to be, but we just have to be honest with ourselves and look at the data and listen to the health experts and look around us in the state and the country, and it’s clear where this is headed, and it’s going to get worse, potentially much worse, before it gets better, and how much worse it gets is up to us.”
New Paltz drive-thru fundraiser
The New Paltz Athletic Association will hold a drive-thru BBQ fundraiser on November 12 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot of New Paltz High School. The BBQ will be catered by Stony Pony.
Options include: chicken ($16) or baby back ribs ($18). The meals include meat, baked potato, cole slaw, dinner roll and a brownie.
Preorders only by emailing npaapictures@gmail.com. Cash or check at pick up or you can Venmo @NewPaltz-AthleticAssociation.
Virtual events at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library will host a virtual Medicare 101 with Jim Farnham on Saturday, November 14 from 10 a.m. to noon. Advanced registration is required at https://bit.ly/2YLf1eh . At the registration page, please fill in your first name only. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
The Gardiner Library virtual young adult book club will meet via Zoom on Monday, November 16 at 7 p.m. The club for ages 13 and older meets the third Monday of each month. November’s book club pick is Animal Farm by George Orwell. Registration is required before each session by contacting Carolyn Thorenz at cthorenz@rcls.org to receive the Zoom link.
For information, visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Woodstock open house cancelled
The Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and Arts has canceled this year’s holiday open house due to Covid-19 restrictions. But the holiday spirit remains strong and they encourage people to come to Woodstock to shop for their holiday gifts and see the town safely expressing its holiday cheer.
The chamber also wants to help businesses and organizations promote sales, specials, online events etc. If you have specific ways to shop due to Covid-19, send this information to info@woodstockchamber.com to get it into the weekly newsletter.
The Chamber will be hosting a virtual holiday window contest this year. The theme is yours to choose. For information, email info@woodstockchamber.com.
“Rescuing the River” at HRMM
The Hudson River Maritime Museum has partnered with the NYS DEC to create an exhibit consisting of new panels, designed and funded by the NYS DEC, add to the museum’s exhibit. “Rescuing the River: 50 Years of Environmental Activism on the Hudson.” “Rescuing the River” highlights the growth of an environmental consciousness in the Hudson River Valley and chronicles the rise of organizations dedicated to environmental stewardship, notably Scenic Hudson, Clearwater, Riverkeeper and DEC. Hudson River Maritime Museum on the east Rondout is open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The museum adheres to a Covid-19 safe protocol.
Blood donations urged
The American Red Cross is urging healthy donors of all blood types to band together to give blood and help ensure a stable blood supply for patients this holiday season. The traditional slump in blood donations between Thanksgiving and New Year’s comes as the blood supply already faces challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic.
Those who come to give blood November 25 to 28 will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, courtesy of Suburban Propane, while supplies last
Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Ulster County November 16-30: Kingston: November 30 from noon to 5 p.m., Best Western Plus Kingston Hotel, 503 Washington Avenue; New Paltz: November 19 from noon to 5 p.m., St. Joseph Church, 34 South Chestnut Street;
Saugerties: November 27 from 1 to 6 p.m., Saugerties Knights of Columbus Council 4536, 19 Barclay Street; Woodstock: November 25 from noon to 6 p.m., Mescal Hornbeck Community Center, 56 Rock City Road
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control and additional precautions — including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff — have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. 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.
Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information.
Boy Scouts bestow honors
The Rip Van Winkle Council, Boy Scouts of America will hold a virtual award dinner and auction on December 10 at 5:30 p.m. The council will present Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan with the Distinguished Citizen Award and Adams Fairacre Farm with the Corporate Citizen Award. Ward Todd, the president & CEO of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce, will act as the master of ceremonies
Each year, the Rip Van Winkle Council, Boy Scouts of America honors people and organizations who make a difference in the community through their service to others. Proceeds from this fundraiser will directly support scouting programs in the Hudson Valley, for more than 1000 youth in Ulster and Greene counties. For information, call 339-0846 or email Dana.Kuhns@Scouting.org.
“Stories of High Falls”
This year, the High Falls Conservancy’s annual book is a special edition titled, Stories of High Falls: “Cooking Together — Six Feet Apart. For the past five years, the conservancy has published its annual book honoring long-time residents and friends of High Falls. This year, the book is a departure from years past, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a collection of recipes from local cooks to benefit the Rondout Valley Food Pantry and the High Falls Conservancy. It is dedicated to first responders and essential workers.
Carole Eppley, president of the conservancy, explained: “We did not want to ask merchants and restaurants to pay for advertisements this year because of the economic effects of the lockdowns. Further, we did not want to endanger our honorees with interviews that would be difficult to do with the risks of Covid. Our solution was to produce a cookbook, containing recipes made by members of our community during the Covid isolation period.”
Over 80 people submitted recipes and the collection represents a wide variety of cuisines and cooking methods, many from old family recipes. Each recipe is accompanied by a story from its contributor, telling the history of the recipe and why it is important to them. The book will be on sale at local restaurants and shops, as well as from the conservancy website: www.highfallsconservancy.org.
For additional information, contact Eppley at 917-705-8711, or by email at highfallsconservancy@gmail.com.
New UCCAC board members
The Ulster County Community Action Committee (UCCAC) has appointed new members to its board of directors including: CPA Lynn Formica of Lake Katrine, Tina Liebertz of Kingston will represent Highland, Samantha Wilder of Napanoch is a Head Start policy council member, and Laura Petit is an Ulster County legislator. UCCAC is a not-for-profit in Ulster County dedicated to assisting the disadvantaged in the community, including the poor, the elderly, families, children and people with disabilities since 1965.
Catholic Charities adopts families
Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan and Ulster is ready to make Christmas merrier this year for the children and families it serves. The not-for-profit human service agency announced the launch of its annual Christmas Adopt-a-Family program. Now in its 13th year, the Christmas giving program matches families referred by Catholic Charities’ case managers with donors who “adopt” them for Christmas. Last year, the generosity of donors brightened Christmas for more than 100 local families.
“2020 has played havoc on so many in our community,” said Michael Peters, coordinator who oversees the annual Adopt-a-Family event. “The ongoing pandemic is making it difficult for some families to make ends meet. Children are longing to get back to school and spend time with friends. Everyone is eager for some semblance of normal in their daily lives. We are incredibly grateful to those donors who are able to share their blessings this year so that those who are struggling may enjoy a merry Christmas.”
Each autumn, Catholic Charities staff gather the details of families with children that can benefit from a helping hand for Christmas. Information includes such items as children’s age, gender, clothing size, special interests and possible gift suggestions. For children age 12 and under, it is requested that the gift include an outfit (shirt and pants) and an age-appropriate toy.
Adopters are frequently businesses, scout troops, school groups, office co-workers, classmates, civic groups, and families — anyone looking to create a brighter Christmas for a youngster. Those seeking to adopt a family for Christmas should contact Peters at 562-4733 or email michael.peters@cccsos.org. Gifts should be delivered to Catholic Charities for distribution to families by December 11. Families in need of support this Christmas should contact Catholic Charities at ccosuhelpline@cccsos.org or 561-1665 to discuss assistance options. Gifts will be distributed by Catholic Charities employees to the adopted families between December 14 and23.
Leaf pick-up in the 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.
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.
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.
WAAM presents “Celebrating the Centennial”
The Woodstock Artists Association & Museum (WAAM) re-opens for the fall season with its historical exhibition Celebrating the Centennial: Selections from the Permanent Collection of the Woodstock Artists Association, Part 1. This exhibition is curated by Tom Wolf, noted Woodstock art historian. Presented in the Phoebe and Belmont Towbin Wing, the exhibition opens November 13 and will run through March 28. WAAM will be open to visitors with new hours Friday through Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.
The permanent collection was started in 1973 by volunteers. It consists mostly of works that were donated and today it includes more than 2000 objects made by artists associated with Woodstock. The current exhibition focuses on the early years, including works by its five founders: Carl Eric Lindin (who served as president for 20 years), Frank Swift Chase, John Carlson, Andrew Dasburg and Henry Lee McFee. Their pieces are flanked by works by women who also played important roles in the early years: Eva Watson-Schütze and Zulma Steele, as well as by Birge Harrison, the Tonalist painter and teacher
WAAM is at 28 Tinker Street in Woodstock. For general information, call 679-2940 or visit our website at: woodstockart.org.
“Out There” photography show
The Gardiner Library is currently hosting an exhibit by photographer Carl Cox entitled “Out There” through December 31. The exhibit is open to the public during the library’s open hours.
Carl Cox is a professional photographer/videographer living in Gardiner. He creates alternative and supernatural images that suggest other worlds we sense but cannot see or yet prove exist. Learn more about Cox on Facebook at CarlCoxVisualArtist, and on Instagram @CarlCoxArtist or visit his website at www.CarlCoxStudios.com.
The works will be on display in the library exhibit space, 133 Farmer’s Turnpike in Gardiner. For information, call the library at 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
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.
One-Book schedule change
The One-Book-One-New-Paltz discussion with Rabbi Bill had to be rescheduled to this coming Sunday, November 15 at 10:30 a.m.
The zoom link is the same as his original link, https://zoom.us/j/4903081196. Many other events still remain on the calendar this week, including book discussions on Wednesday at 7 p.m. with Tom Olsen, on Friday at 2 p.m. with Javier Gaston-Greenberg, on Friday at 7 p.m. with Alyssa Toohey and on Sunday at 1 p.m. (the wrap-up/discussion) with Tom Meyer. There is also an academic panel on Thursday at 4 p.m. and a writing workshop on Saturday at 2 p.m. with Alyssa Toohey.
Please see the calendar of events at www.newpaltz.edu/benjamincenter. All events are remote and free to the public and the links are on the calendar. The book is Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane.
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.
DRI Uptown Transportation Improvements Project Public Meeting
Kingston Mayor Steven Noble has announced that a virtual public meeting will be held for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Uptown Transportation Improvements Project on Thursday, November 19 at noon.
The Uptown Transportation Improvements Project will address pedestrian access and circulation for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians — improving safety and navigability while attracting tourism, shopping, dining and other business activity to the Stockade District. It will also support the future connection between portions of the Kingston Greenline and the City’s goal of creating complete streets.
With funding provided by Governor Cuomo’s DRI, administered by the NYS Department of State, the City’s engineering consultants Hudson Valley Engineering Associates (HVEA) have examined safety and traffic circulation on two key routes in the Stockade Business District.
The project is specifically focused on improvements to Schwenk Drive between Washington Avenue and Fair Street and the intersections at Clinton Avenue and Westbrook Lane, Main/John Street and Albany Avenue.
City staff and consultants will present the alternatives considered and the preferred design concept, which were reviewed by the project advisory committee. Meeting participants will be able to ask questions via the chat feature, which will be moderated by Kristen Wilson, the director of grants management. Following the meeting, the public can provide feedback via Engage Kingston until December 31.
It is expected that design for the Uptown Transportation Improvements Project will be completed in the spring with construction in summer 2021.
“This project will enhance the two gateways to the Uptown Historic District and provide for enhanced usability for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists,” said Mayor Noble. “We hope all who frequent these streets will weigh in on the project.”
Spanish interpretation will be available at the virtual public meeting. For log-in information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1296989617308380/