Highland student cyclers
The Covid-19 pandemic may have forced the physical education classes at Highland Middle School (HMS) to go virtual this fall, but students have a new reason to get outside and get moving, thanks to a grant from Outride, a non-profit organization focused on improving the lives of youth through cycling. Outride’s Riding for Focus program recently donated 36 new custom bicycles to supplement Highland’s existing — but aging — fleet. The grant also supplied everything the school would need to get students riding, from new helmets and maintenance equipment to instructor training and a specialized curriculum.
“The curriculum covers everything from the mechanics of a bike and the basics of how to ride to understanding how cycling can improve an individual’s physical and mental well-being,” said Highland physical education teacher Michael Milliman. “It is Outride’s belief that cycling can be used as a tool for children to achieve academic, health, and social success,” he said.
Milliman, who applied for the Outride grant two years ago, is appreciative of Bicycle Depot in New Paltz for lending a hand at a crucial time. “When the bikes were delivered disassembled, I contacted the owner of Bicycle Depot, Mike Neuman, and he offered to put all 36 bikes together, free of charge,” Milliman said. “That’s about an hour’s worth of time spent assembling each bike.”
Milliman is already thinking ahead about ways to grow the cycling program at HMS. “What I envision is the school using the bikes as vehicles or tools to explore other academic subjects beyond physical education, whether that means taking nature rides for science class or biking to visit the various historical sites in the area for social studies,” he said. “There is so much freedom and opportunity associated with these bikes.”
Retired Men to meet
Retired Men of the New Paltz Community invite retired men everywhere to the monthly breakfast meeting of Monday, December 7, 8 a.m., at the New Paltz Plaza Diner. Raconteur Richard Del Bourgo will talk about “How I arrived at New Paltz 40 years ago and why I am departing.”
For information, contact Rob Greene at rasjgreene@earthlink.net or 256-9003.
Hope Rocks Christmas from Dreamland studio in Woodstock
Hope Rocks Events, a Hudson Valley-based organization supporting the mental health and addiction community, is hosting “Hope Rocks Christmas” an online music event featuring percussionist Jerry Marotta and 2015 Grammy Winner Mike Farris at Marotta’s Dreamland studio in Woodstock. The livestream concert will take place from the studio on Saturday, December 19 at 8 p.m. on the Hope Rocks Facebook page and www.hoperocksny.com.
“Covid continues to create obstacles, but we will keep hope alive during the holidays,” said Joe Defino, founder and executive director of Hope Rocks. “We are proud of our association with Mike Farris and Jerry Marotta and are thankful for their willingness to join in the merriment. They are such giants in their craft and their willingness to serve others with it is humbling.”
This will be Ferris’ first time at Marotta’s studio. “We usually come up to New York every year around Christmastime. I am hearing great things about this place, and it’s going to be really amazing,” he said. Farris says he uses his music and personal journey to help others who are struggling. “This is my heart. The music is great, but this is where my heart is,” said Farris. For information, visit www.hoperocksny.com, mikefarrismusic.com, jerrymarotta.com and dreamlandrecording.com.
Ready for New Paltz snow?
Snow may be on the way. The New Paltz Town Highway Department is requesting that residents remove all objects and/or obstacles from road edges and turnarounds. This includes, but is not limited to, basketball hoops/sports equipment, garbage pails, small furniture, storage containers, vehicles and bicycles. Not only could they be damaged from snowplows, they could also cause injury to other residents and/or damage to the snow plows if hit.
If you have questions, call Dawn at the highway department at 255-5050.
Gardiner tree-lighting
Forced to cancel the Gardiner Day festivities that normally take place in early September due to the danger of spreading Covid-19, the Gardiner Day Committee has announced that it will also not be able to host the annual program of holiday activities that typically surround the lighting of the Christmas tree at the town hall. The tree-lighting will still take place, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, December 4, but there will be no holiday parade, group caroling or photo ops with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Collection boxes for local food pantries will be set up at the town hall and elsewhere around downtown Gardiner in December as usual.
Amnesty International Zooms
Amnesty International USA Mid-Hudson is hosting an annual Zoom virtual Global Write for Rights and Talent showcase event on Sunday, December 13 between 2 and 3:30 p.m. (Zoom meeting ID: 872 8554 9399/ Passcode: 761465 or https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87285549399?pwd=enhpcExoZkEyRHpZM3pOcEFPSmdPdz09).
Amnesty International uses this annual event throughout the globe to write letters to challenge systemic human-rights abuses like torture and gun violence, as well as standing up for women’s rights, LGBTQI+ rights and climate justice. Throughout Amnesty International’s 59 years of human-rights activism, many people have been freed because of the actions taken by activists who participate in Write for Rights.
Be prepared with letter-writing paper, envelopes and pens. Sample letters will be provided. RSVP Diana Zuckerman at 389-3779 or email amnestyhudsonvalley@gmail.com.
Community window painting
The New Paltz Office for Community Wellness has announced that it will be holding a second community window painting project within the Village of New Paltz on Saturday, December 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature windows painted by students, families and individual community members.
New Paltz restaurants temporarily close after employees test positive for Covid-19
Garvan’s Gastropub, located at 215 Huguenot Street in New Paltz, announced over the weekend that it would close until Friday, December 4 after learning that a member of its staff tested positive for Covid-19. Over the next week, according to a message posted to the restaurant’s social media pages, the building will be thoroughly cleaned, other staff members will be tested, and new practices put in place to reduce risks of exposure.
Schatzi’s Pub and Bier Garden, located at 36 Main Street in New Paltz, also closed last week after being notified that one of its team members tested positive for Covid. Owner Jeremy Phillips posted on Facebook that they are working hand and hand with the Ulster County Health Department and “while not deemed necessary, out of an abundance of caution we have decided to temporarily close Schatzi’s New Paltz until further notice.”
Phillips added that he would post a re-opening date as soon as soon as they could do so safely.
Saugerties Food Pantry needs help
The Saugerties Food Pantry is looking for volunteers with pick-up trucks to pick up food in Kingston at 9 a.m. on the third Tuesday of every month.
Food will be loaded in Kingston and unloaded at the Saugerties Area Council of Churches Food Pantry. Volunteers should be able to lift 25 pounds.
If interested, call Marilyn at (845) 246-6885.
New Paltz Reformed Church cancels its Christmas Fair Market
Due to current social distancing concerns related to the increase in local COVID cases, the New Paltz Reformed Church has made the difficult decision to cancel its annual Christmas Fair Market which was scheduled for Saturday, December 5. The decision was made last weekend after more than a dozen church members had already handcrafted nearly 200 needle-felted wool ornaments to be offered for sale at the fair.
The time-consuming process of creating these requires the compression and molding of wool, as well as the forming and detailing of the piece with a needle and thread.
Last year, church member Wendy Leone watched a YouTube video tutorial on how to do this and last year’s Christmas fair was the first time showcasing these tiny works of art. They sold out of every single one. Wendy came up with two themes for this season — a fantasy woodland forest of gnomes, woodland birds and other natural critters and the North and South Poles juxtaposing snowmen, penguins and polar bears with the elves of Santa’s workshop. Over the past few weeks, she taught this process to the volunteers.
A felted wool ornament takes between two and six hours to handcraft. “Each item develops a personality in the process,” says Leone, “and each unique creature reflects the artist’s creativity.”
This troupe of volunteers spent the last month socially distanced in homes and on porches learning and working together. “It was a tremendous fellowship opportunity for everyone during Covid,” Leone adds. The group of makers includes Wendy Leone, Sue Rasmussen, Sue VanAlst, Cheryl Alloway, Carolyn Sheby, Nancy Owen, Barbara Lane, Lisa Curtis, Kym Tiffany, Amy Harrington, Betsy Wallace and Lori Youssefbaik.
The prices of these special pieces run from $5 to $35. They are currently available for purchase at Twice Blessed Thrift Shop, located near the New Paltz Reformed Church at 92 Huguenot Street. The shop is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ornaments are to be paid for by cash or personal check. All proceeds go to the NPRC’s Christmas Fair Market fund. Social distancing policies have been put into place in the shop and there will be a tent outside showcasing the ornaments if the weather permits.
If you’d like to support the other vendors that were going to participate in the Christmas Fair Market, check them out on Facebook. They include: AIDS Orphan Education Trust (AOET), Autumn Whimsy, Color Street, Grok Bites, Ida’s Natural Toys, Jeneric Bags, jennyfleur, King Leo Design, Knit and Nibble, Lularoe, Rada Club, Sherri’s Heirloom Soaps, Three Chicks Candle Co., Twice Blessed and the Ulster County SPCA.
Denizen Theatre announces new Sunday Salon Series hosted by Margi Conklin
The Denizen Theatre will kick off its new Denizen Salon Series on December 6 at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. with New York Times best-selling author Michael Riedel discussing his new book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway.
Hosted by New Paltz resident and New York Post Sunday Editor Margi Conklin, the Denizen Salon Series aims to bring stimulating conversation to the community with some of publishing’s most esteemed names.
Connecting their work with Denizen’s contemporary moment, the salon series aims to inform and entertain with lively conversations with leading literary names about compelling topics that impact our lives.
Kicking off the series in December, best-selling author Michael Riedel will light up the Denizen with some bespoke Broadway tales. His newest release chronicles Broadway’s ‘90s heyday until 9/11 brought it to a standstill — just as the global pandemic has done today.
Riedel, the longtime theater columnist for the New York Post and co-host of 710 WOR’s Len Berman and Michael Riedel in the Morning, dishes on some of his funniest Broadway tales and answers your most burning questions about Broadway and beyond.
Ada Calhoun is February’s salon guest. Calhoun’s book Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis, about women grappling with unprecedented demands in midlife, was a cultural phenomenon when it was released in 2019 and is even more prescient in today’s time of crisis.
Complimentary masks and gloves are available to all patrons. Hand sanitizing stations are set up at the entrance. All chairs are socially-distanced and face-coverings are required.
The cost of admission is $20 (admission includes a signed hardcover of Singular Sensation).
Reserve at www.denizentheatre.com as space is limited, with just 15 people allowed per salon. The theatre is located at Water Street Market, 10 Main Street, Suite 501 in New Paltz.
Call for volunteers for community preservation board
The Town of New Paltz is looking for volunteers to serve on a new Community Preservation Advisory Board. The purpose of the board is to review and make recommendations to the Town Board on conservation projects as envisioned in the New Paltz Community Preservation Plan and expenditures using funds from the Community Preservation Fund. Information on the Community Preservation Plan and the fund can be found at www.townofnewpaltz.org. To apply, send a letter indicating your interest and experience with conservation or land and/or historic preservation activities to assistant@townofnewpaltz.org.
Join the family! 
