Drive-in exhibition at SUNY Ulster showcases student artworks
SUNY Ulster is holding a drive-in arts exhibition on April 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. (the rain date is May 1, same time). This event is free and open to the public. On exhibit will be art from SUNY Ulster’s first- and second-year arts program students, including fashion design, fine art/visual art and music. When visitors drive onto the SUNY Ulster campus, they will be guided through the outdoor exhibits by directional signage, a printed program and by dialing into a specifically designated radio station to learn more about the works, educational programs and to hear the performing ensembles.
The fine art/visual art program is a foundation-based program preparing students for transfer to four-year institutions or career entry. On view will be first-year student paintings, drawings, photography, design and printmaking. Second-year students will display their transfer/career portfolio projects. Second-year students will be finishing their Bachelor’s degrees at the School of Visual Arts, SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Fredonia, among other colleges.
To keep traffic flowing, interested attendees are required to register and choose a convenient time slot at https://conta.cc/3wP1mST.
Arbor Day event in Gardiner
Join Climate Smart Gardiner and Gardiner’s Parks and Recreation Committee for a free tree-planting event to celebrate Arbor Day on Saturday, April 24 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Majestic Park. The event will feature a tree-planting demonstration with a horticulturalist from Bloom Landscape Design, who will answer any questions you may have about trees and gardening this season. There will also be a tree ID scavenger hike, a Storybook Walk and even some music to celebrate the occasion.
Get your free tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/gardiner-arbor-day-celebration-tickets-148598721777.
To ensure the safety of all attendees, everyone is asked to wear a face mask and observe social distancing. Parental supervision of children is also required.
This day is made possible by a grant from the New York State Urban Forestry Council. For additional information, contact Kimberly Mayer at kjwalkermayer@gmail.com.
Clean Sweep returns in New Paltz
Clean Sweep is an annual New Paltz tradition and it will take place this year on Saturday, April 24 at 11 a.m. (the rain date is April 25). Participants will sign in at Hasbrouck Park and will be given snacks, water, bags, gloves and a location to clean.
For more information, call Jim at 325-2593, or sign up ahead of time at newpaltz.edu/studentengagement/cleansweep.html.
Keep the river clean
Volunteers are needed for Riverkeeper’s tenth annual day of service for the Hudson River and its tributaries on Saturday, May 1. There will be over 125 cleanups taking place from Brooklyn to Albany! I Paddle New York is hosting two events: Experienced paddlers with their equipment in the Saugerties area should meet at Tina Chorvas Park at 9 a.m. to clean the lower Esopus and Saugerties Bay by kayak/canoe/boat. Clean on foot with Patrick and Anna at the Saugerties Lighthouse at 9 a.m. to do the shoreline there.
Families and kids welcome. You must pre-register. To register, call Gail Porter at 532-7797.
New book from Playback Theatre founders
Forty-five years after Playback Theatre’s earliest days in Beacon and Poughkeepsie, its founders Jonathan Fox and Jo Salas have published a new book that brings together some of their previously published writings, along with new essays written for this volume. Personal Stories in Public Spaces: Essays on Playback Theatre by Its Founders reflects on the turbulent cultural context of the mid-‘70s when Playback emerged, and how this interactive, story-based theatre form has evolved and spread since then. Other chapters discuss background and current issues, with reference to some of the notable projects that have taken place – with victims of war in Afghanistan, Fukushima survivors in Japan, schoolchildren dealing with bullying in the US, Hutus and Tutsis in Burundi and more. In each of these events, volunteer “tellers” from the audience speak about their lives and watch their stories enacted on the spot, creating dialogue, connection and change.
Fox and Salas have each published previous books about Playback Theatre. Personal Stories in Public Spaces is the first co-authored book by this long-married couple, who were nominated in 2013 for the Right Livelihood Award (known as the alternative Nobel).
The original Playback company retired in the mid-‘80s after planting seeds that have led to ensembles and training programs in the Americas, Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Playback Theatre is still represented in the mid-Hudson region by two companies, Community Playback Theatre, founded by Judy Swallow, and Hudson River Playback Theatre, founded by Jo Salas.
Personal Stories in Public Space is published by Tusitala Publishing and available from the publisher, as well as bookshop.org, Amazon and Ingram.
Art for the Esopus Creek
ShoutOut Saugerties will present an arts response to bring awareness to the issues affecting the health of the Esopus Creek and associated long-term implications. “Bless the Esopus: May its Waters Run Clear,” is a rally, a strategy and a party that will creatively express these challenges. The event will take place on Saturday, April 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. (rain date, Sunday, April 25) at the Saugerties Beach, located at 47 South Partition Street in Saugerties.
The agenda will include music by blues singer Elly Wininger; special guest speakers will be Rebecca Martin from Riverkeeper and Saugerties Town Supervisor Fred Costello; Lower Esopus, Unmuted — adapted from DEC hearings featuring local actors and musician Paul Clarke; Listening to Water — writing from Jan Alexander, Nina Shengold, Cheri Magid, Leslie Sharpe, Guy Reed and Elinor Tatum.
The master of ceremonies will be Peter Vinogradov and a ceremonial closing will take place with Linda Montano, Celeste Graves, Sharon Penz and the audience.
ShoutOut Saugerties provides year-round programs that celebrate the creative spirit that shapes the town’s diverse welcoming community and its vibrant population of visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, theatre actors and directors, writers, craftspeople, culinary artists and activists.
Yard sale to benefit The Table of Woodstock
The Shady Methodist Church will hold a fundraiser yard sale to benefit The Table of Woodstock on Saturday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church, located on Church Road in Shady.
The church has been collecting treasures for over a year now. COVID interrupted a sale last year, and now there are more items than ever. All profits of this sale will be donated to The Table of Woodstock to help relieve hunger in our local community.
St. Mary/St. Joseph Altar-Rosary Society installs new officers
St. Mary/St. Joseph Altar-Rosary Society in Saugerties installed new officers recently during its first meeting since the Covid pandemic. The society welcomes all ladies of the congregation. Meetings are held every second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. in the parish hall. The Altar-Rosary Society assists with many church functions such as Sunday coffee and special parish dinners.
Earth Day Unbound
Interfaith Earth Action, New Paltz Climate Action Coalition and the Caring for Creation Committee of the Reformed Church of New Paltz are sponsoring “Earth Day Unbound: An Atypical Earth Day Fair” during Earth Week, April 19 to 25. The event is free, online at bit.ly/earthdayunbound and on Huguenot Street and the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail between Broadhead Avenue and Mulberry Street in New Paltz.
The event will feature a self-guided educational walk on Huguenot Street and an online series on the YouTube channel. The United Nations flags will fly high along Huguenot Street, with colored ribbons identifying the carbon footprint per capita. Continue your self-guided tour with a short inspirational walk on the rail trail from Broadhead Avenue to Mulberry Street, where thought-provoking signs will have you rethinking your plastic usage, how much trash you produce and ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Social distancing and masks are required.
The online series will feature Earth-conscious presenters, faith leaders offering a “creation care” blessing from their faith community, music from former Earth Day Fair performers and a memorial tribute to John Wackman and Dan Guenther, who were important partners in past Earth Day programs, as well as being all-around environmental champions.
Visit bit.ly/earthdayunbound and click “Subscribe” so that you’re kept up-to-date with new releases throughout the week and upcoming year. For more information, contact Mara Kearney at (845) 750-8292.
Pavilions to reopen in City of Kingston parks
Kingston mayor Steve Noble has announced that City of Kingston park pavilions will open to the public on May 1 and are now taking rental reservations.
City of Kingston Parks & Recreation closed all pavilions in local parks in March 2020 due to the potential spread of Coronavirus. With guidance from New York State, pavilions will reopen to the public in May with a maximum capacity of 200 people, which will be strictly enforced. Pavilion rentals will be available from May 1 through October 24, with fees ranging from $65 to $190.
“The reopening of our pavilions will help our residents celebrate special events outdoors in a safe and healthy way,” said Mayor Noble. “While we still encourage all residents to remain vigilant in stopping the spread of Coronavirus by wearing masks and social distancing, we hope the community will enjoy the parks’ amenities with family and friends.”
“We’re pleased to be able to resume renting our popular pavilions,” said Lynsey Timbrouck, director of recreation. “Residents have been eager to celebrate various occasions in our parks, and we’re happy that we can now provide them with the space to do so. We would like to remind the community to continue following all CDC guidelines while visiting our parks to ensure that they are keeping themselves and others as safe as possible.”
To reserve a pavilion, contact Parks and Recreation at (845) 481-7330 or chuppert@kingston-ny.gov or visit www.kingstonparksandrec.org.
Olive Free Library exhibition “Between Wind & Water”
The Olive Free Library Association will present the exhibition “Between Wind and Water” showcasing the works of 17 visual artists, writers and photographers who traveled together to Orkney, Scotland. Many of the pieces were completed in Scotland, where artists worked en plein air and were invited to share space at the printshop in Stromness. Each of the pieces illustrates the artist’s unique reflection on the Orkney landscape, where wind and water and sky dominate. The show will run from May 22 through July 10, with an opening on Saturday, May 22 from 2 to 4 p.m.
The trip to Orkney was led by Kate McGloughlin and assisted on the island by Jeanne Bousa Rose, whose work is also included in the show. “Between Wind and Water” is curated by Sandra Scheuer and Linda Schultz, both dedicated members of the Olive Free Library exhibition committee. Scheuer says, “The experiences in Orkney individually and as a group held a magical quality as we became immersed in the wind and water around us. As we walked among the ancient stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, we were awed by their immensity. We felt as if we were in an ancient culture as we viewed the Viking runes on the walls of Maes Howe, visited the museum in Kirkwall and explored the Neolithic village of Skara Brae. Our time in Orkney was further enhanced by the warm reception we received from the Orcadians of Stromness and Kirkwall. While each piece of work in this exhibition demonstrates an individual response to the time we spent there, there is evidence of the pervasive influence of the surrounding landscape and climate.”
The library is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a maximum of ten patrons in the building at one time. Visit www.olivefreelibrary.org for more details.
The Olive Free Library is located at 4033 Route 28A in West Shokan.
Regenerative farming discussion April 26
Regenerative farming will be the topic in the fourth and final program of the winter video/discussion series, presented jointly by Woodstock NY Transition, the Woodstock Land Conservancy and the Woodstock Jewish Congregation, on April 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. In a virtual presentation, learn how your gardening and consumption choices can help change the trajectory of food, farming and climate in our world.
The program will include the viewing of Farmer’s Footprint, a film following the path of one farming family as they transitioned from pesticide-intensive farming to regeneration, slowly bringing their community along with them. Participants will also watch another short video about the value of regeneration for healthy air and soil.
Del Orloske, ecological landscape designer/educator and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, will make the connection between a healthy soil and a healthy human gut. Two local regenerative farmers – Aileah Kvashay, farmer at Clove Valley Community Farm in High Falls, and Nancy Kuster, assistant manager of Deep Roots Farm in Copake, will also participate in the discussion. Their presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Register for this event at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aW6wvOUoTSejCQ34Ed10MA.
New Paltz Middle School students organize for climate change
New Paltz Middle School (NPMS) students are looking at the long-term forecast. More than 17 student environmentalists have been meeting online as part of the newly formed Climate Club. The club’s mission is to identify issues related to climate change, raise awareness and take local action – with the help of community partners – to address issues that threaten the environment.
One of the club’s advisors, NPMS teacher MaryJane Nusbaum, met and worked with some of the club members through Wild Earth, a local wilderness immersion program for which she has been an instructor and program coordinator. Nusbaum explained that the students were empowered to take action and continue the work they had begun while attending Lenape Elementary School, creating presentations about climate change and some of the main issues surrounding that, including superstorms, extinction, natural disasters and pollution.
Nussbaum said the club’s students are some of the most motivated young people she has ever met and is impressed with how the group’s genesis was due to student interest. “They are hungry for knowledge and eager to take action on the climate crisis,” she said. “They’ve started petitions, made videos, sat in on countless Zoom meetings, are building a website and participating in local projects including helping to start a pollinator garden, upcycling clothing, planting trees and organizing a cleanup day to keep trash from getting to the ocean where birds, mammals and fish unwittingly eat it and die.”
Currently, club members are working on a new community plant pollinator garden, Pollinator Paradise, in front of the New Paltz Community Center on Veterans’ Drive. A group of citizen volunteers met with officials at the joint Town and Village meeting to present their proposal for the garden. The project, which includes compost bins and murals by NPHS student volunteer Nikola Salvestrini and friends, will use volunteer labor and plans to pay for materials with proceeds from a GoFundMe effort. Liz Elkin of Bloom Landscape Design donated a detailed planting plan using native plant species. The NPMS volunteers will soon be helping with planting and making educational signs with info about plants and pollinators. The citizen group also described this project as Phase I of a larger scheme to continue with additional pollinator plantings at the Community Center site and provide more student murals at other sites in the town and village. Anyone wishing for more information or involvement in this project should contact newpaltzpollinatorparadise@gmail.com.
The Climate Club is also in the process of organizing a cleanup day around New Paltz, as part of Riverkeeper Sweep. The club students are sharing an informational video made and produced by local filmmakers Hudsy and Flickerfilmworks called Stop the Plant to inform the community about the proposed Danskammer power plant in Newburgh.
Their lofty project goals include restoring animal habitats, implementing “stop mowing” initiatives, consumer and home energy waste and raising awareness around water quality in local streams and rivers.
Tahlia Elkin, a grade-six member of the club, said she learned about the climate crisis from her mother, but also heard messages of hope by singing them at climate change rallies she has attended. On a smaller scale, Tahlia explained that simply educating people to ask for no plastic with their to-go orders is one small place people can make a difference.
Grade-six student Livia Drazek added, “Recycling has a big impact on how we can change the planet.” Classmate Lakely Davis said she has been recycling clothes into bags and hair ties. Another grade-six student, Ennis Adler, included the suggestion that people can bring their own plastic to a restaurant. “I want our future to be clean and for kids to have a good, clean future that isn’t polluted,” he said.
Historic Huguenot Street reopens
Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz will open for weekends starting Saturday, May 1. Tours, which will last approximately one hour, will take place three times a day: 10:30 a.m., 12 and 2:30 p.m.
In order to comply with the health and safety guidelines developed by the CDC and the State of New York, attendance is extremely limited. Please consider pre-booking your tour experience online at https://huguenotstreet.z2systems.com/np/clients/huguenotstreet/eventRegistration.jsp?event=2349. Tour capacity is currently restricted to four registrants. If you are interested in booking a tour for six people from the same household, contact Kristine Gillespie, retail and tourism manager, at tours@huguenotstreet.org.
Following Memorial Day (Monday, May 31), tours will run six days a week except Wednesdays, available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Visitor Center will be closed from 1 to 2 p.m. each day for proper cleaning of high-traffic areas.
If you have questions about the tour experience, accessibility or the efforts being taken to comply with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, e-mail info@huguenotstreet.org.
Plan ahead for Kingston’s Spring Stroll
Explore the rich heritage of Kingston, from dozens of historic sites and museums to bustling shops and restaurants in all three of the city’s business districts: Downtown’s quaint Rondout waterfront, Midtown’s busy Broadway thoroughfare and Uptown’s historic Stockade neighborhood, on May 28 at 4 p.m. through May 31 at 7 p.m. Dine al fresco with your friends and family. Stroll through the sidewalk sales of one-of-a-kind shops and local artists. Bike, ride, walk, hike and stroll and support local businesses.
Businesses throughout the City of Kingston are encouraged to participate by hosting sidewalk sales, outdoor dining and/or cultural events during any part of the Memorial Day weekend. No official signup is required, but e-mail kingstonspringstroll@gmail.com to request a flier to display in your window to let the community know if you’re planning something special for the weekend. More information can be found at kuba.network/springstroll and kuba.network/media-share.
Spring Stroll is compliant with COVID guidelines. Please wear a mask and respect social distancing guidelines.
Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency hosts compost bin/rain barrel sale
Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency (UCRRA) is offering a spring compost bin and rain barrel sale, celebrating Compost Awareness Week. Preorder supplies and pick up your order at UCRRA’s one-day pickup event on Saturday, May 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UCRRA main office, located at 999 Flatbush Road in Kingston. Ulster County residents will receive a free gift with their purchase while supplies last. Compost bins and supplies are offered through preorder only.
The UCRRA recycling outreach team is also offering free webinars. Preregister for the following events: “Recycle Right,” April 22 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; “Intro to Home Composting,” April 28 from noon to 1 p.m.; “Using Compost in the Garden,” May 5 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
For additional information, call (845) 336-0600 or visit the UCRRA Facebook page or https://ulstercompostersale.company.site.
I Love My Park Day seeks park cleanup volunteers
The Minnewaska State Park Preserve and Sam’s Point will both host volunteers as part of more than 135 cleanup, improvement and beautification events happening statewide this year. Volunteers may choose among four trail improvement projects and a garden improvement project, all of which will greatly benefit the Park Preserve. Volunteers will work alongside Park Preserve staff and/or New York/New Jersey Trail Conference members on each project.
The daily parking fee will be waived for registered volunteers participating at this event. For more information, call Minnewaska at (845) 255-0752 or Sam’s Point at (845) 647-7989. Preregistration is required by visiting www.ptny.org/ilovemypark.
Saturday, May 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Movin’ rocks on Verkeerderkill Falls footpath at Sam’s Point
This well-loved trail needs some shoring up! We will be moving rocks onto the trail bed, in places that have been worn down. This will create a more stable footbed that hikers are more likely to follow. Now, hikers trample sensitive plants on the trail edge as they seek to avoid a wet and uneven trail surface. This is a great project for those who want to get outside and put some love back into the trails you use, learn new trail work techniques and make some new friends. Volunteers should bring water, snacks and lunch. Safety glasses and work gloves will be provided, but please bring them if you have your own. Please be sure to wear sturdy hiking or work boots and long pants. Lunch will be eaten out on the trail. We will break into two groups of ten people to ensure social distancing is adequate. This volunteer opportunity is appropriate for adults and children who are at least 13 years old, accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Due to Covid protocols, the total number of participants for this program is limited to 20 individuals. All participants must wear face coverings or keep a minimum of six-foot distance away from others who are not part of their immediate household. For more information, call the Sam’s Point Visitor Center at (845) 647-7989
Pre-registration is required by visiting: www.ptny.org/ilovemypark.
Sunday, May 2, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Waking up the Sam’s Point pollinator garden
The bees are buzzing, the butterflies are fluttering and the flowers are blooming. Help Sam’s Point staff beautify and maintain its native plant garden, located in front of the Visitor Center. Once the garden is complete, head out onto the trails to remove invasive plant species. Volunteers should bring water, snacks, lunch and garden gloves. Volunteers must start at 9:30 a.m., but the end time is flexible.
This volunteer opportunity is appropriate for adults and children who are at least five years old, accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Due to COVID protocols, the total number of participants for this program is limited to 15 individuals. All participants must wear face coverings or keep a minimum of six-foot distance away from others who are not part of their immediate household. For more information, call the Sam’s Point Visitor Center at (845) 647-7989. Preregistration is required by visiting www.ptny.org/ilovemypark.
Sunday, May 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Trailwork on Awosting Falls Connector Footpath at Minnewaska
For this project, volunteers will work with New York/New Jersey Trail Conference members and Park Preserve staff to harden and repair the trail surface on the Awosting Falls Connector Footpath. Deep puddles frequently form on this section of trail, and hikers walk around the edges of these wet spots, widening the trail in the process. Volunteers will move gravel and apply it to the trail surface, hardening this treadway and protecting it from erosion. Some tasks will be physically demanding and may involve carrying, lifting and bending, as well as using hand tools, such as shovels, prybars and sledgehammers. It is recommended that volunteers bring work gloves, waterproof boots and clothes they don’t mind getting dirty, as this project area may be muddy and wet. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own tools.
This program is appropriate for children over the age of 13, accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Due to COVID protocols, the total number of participants for this program is limited to eight individuals. All participants must wear face coverings or keep a minimum of six-foot distance away from others who are not part of their immediate household. Meet at the Peter’s Kill parking area. For more information, please call Minnewaska at (845) 255-0752. Preregistration is required by visiting www.ptny.org/ilovemypark.
Sunday, May 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Improving trail conditions/markers at Peter’s Kill Area of Minnewaska
For this project, volunteers will work with New York/New Jersey Trail Conference members and Park Preserve staff to install posts with trail blazes on sections of the Red Loop Footpath. While the path is well-defined, sections of this trail are missing trail blazes, which may confuse park patrons or encourage them to leave the trail. The goal is to define the trail clearly for hikers. Volunteers will use posthole diggers and shovels to create holes to insert the posts, level the posts and fill the holes back in. If weather conditions allow, volunteers will also paint these posts. Additionally, a separate team will dig out existing water bars, helping to keep water off the trail and preventing the surface from getting wet and muddy. Puddles and wet conditions often lead hikers to widen the trail by sidestepping the messy areas. Some tasks will be physically demanding and may involve carrying, lifting and bending. It is recommended that volunteers bring work gloves, sturdy boots and clothes they don’t mind getting dirty, as this project may be messy. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own tools.
This program is appropriate for children over the age of 13, accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Due to COVID protocols, the total number of participants for this program is limited to ten individuals. All participants must wear face coverings or keep a minimum of six-foot distance away from others who are not part of their immediate household. Meet at the Peter’s Kill parking area. For more information or questions, please call Minnewaska at (845) 255-0752. Preregistration is required by visiting www.ptny.org/ilovemypark.
Sunday, May 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Bridge repair on Jenny Lane Footpath at Minnewaska
For this project, volunteers will be working with New York/New Jersey Trail Conference members and Park Preserve staff to repair a section of the bog bridge on the Jenny Lane Footpath. Volunteers will perform and assist with the following tasks: carrying lumber one half-mile on the Jenny Lane Footpath to the worksite, removing broken boards, replacing broken boards and carrying broken boards back to the project meeting point. Some tasks will be physically demanding and may involve carrying, lifting and bending, as well as using hand tools, such as hammers, handsaws, cordless drills and crowbars. It is recommended that volunteers bring work gloves, waterproof boots and clothes they don’t mind getting dirty, as this project area may be muddy and wet. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own tools.
This program is appropriate for children over the age of 13, accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Due to COVID protocols, the total number of participants for this program is limited to four individuals. All participants must wear face coverings or keep a minimum of six-foot distance away from others who are not part of their immediate household. Meet at the Peter’s Kill parking area. For more information or questions, please call Minnewaska at (845) 255-0752. Preregistration is required by visiting www.ptny.org/ilovemypark.
Become a member of the New Paltz Shade Tree Commission
The Shade Tree Commission for the Village of New Paltz is seeking a new member. If you live in the village and are interested, please email the village clerk at Clerk@villageofnewpaltz.org.
Maritime Museum talk on Hudson Valley Ice Age terrain
The Hudson River Maritime Museum will host authors Robert and Johanna Titus for a live virtual lecture, “The Hudson Valley in the Ice Age,” on Wednesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. as part of the Follow the River Lecture Series, sponsored by the Rondout Savings Bank.
“The Hudson Valley in the Ice Age,” charts the influence of glaciers and ice on the Hudson Valley’s unique geological features. Based on their book The Hudson Valley in the Ice Age: A Geological History and Tour, Robert and Johanna will discuss both the science and the art behind the Hudson Valley’s most stunning landscapes.
Robert and Johanna Titus, retired professors of Geology and Biology, are popular science writers, focusing on Catskills and Hudson Valley geological history. They write regular geology columns for three regional magazines and three area newspapers. They are authors of three books, including The Hudson Valley in the Ice Age.
Tickets cost $5 for the general public and are free for Hudson River Maritime Museum members. Those interested in attending can view upcoming lectures and register at www.hrmm.org/lecture-series.
Sign up for a board/commission in Kingston
The City of Kingston is looking for volunteers to serve on the following boards and commissions: Planning Board, Ethics Board, Police Commission, Heritage Area Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and others.
Applications are available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/KingstonBoards.
Mount Gulian Historic Site reopens for tours
The Mount Gulian Historic Site in Beacon will offer tours once again on Fridays and Sundays, beginning Friday, April 30 through Sunday, October 24. Tours of the historic home, 18th-century Dutch barn and heritage garden will be given Fridays and Sundays at 12, 1 and 2 p.m. Reservations are required.
Visitors will hear about Mount Gulian’s centuries-long history that shaped our nation, including its part in the Revolutionary War as patriot General von Steuben’s headquarters. They’ll learn about the founding of the Society of the Cincinnati, our country’s oldest veterans’ organization, and the history of generations of Verplanck family members who lived at Mount Gulian. Visitors will discover the stories of James F. Brown, a fugitive slave who risked his life for freedom, and of Robert Newlin Verplanck’s participation in the Civil War as an officer in the US Colored Troops. Artifacts on display span the 18th through the 20th centuries and include antique books, furniture and an array of Revolutionary War items.
Admission costs $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children ages 6 to 18 and free for children under 6 and Mount Gulian members. Membership is open to the public.
Attendance will be limited to aid in social distancing, and masks are required for all visitors. Advance reservations are preferred, but walk-ins will be accommodated if safety limitations allow. For tour reservations and further information, call Mount Gulian at (845) 831-8172 or e-mail info@mountgulian.org.
“Website + Instagram Audit” with Lucia Civile & Alicia Pataky at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library presents a virtual “Build Your Business” series featuring presentations and question-and-answer sessions every Wednesday in April from 7 to 8 p.m. In Part Four, “Website + Instagram Audit,” Lucia Civile and Alicia Pataky will select a participant to do a live digital review of their website and Instagram account. They will begin by reviewing the Instagram account and how they can implement best practices, improve their post engagement, increase following, analyze posts’ performance and the tools they can utilize to do this. The website review will look at overall branding implementation, design, navigation and provide top tips on how to improve these areas and optimize online presence for increased sales conversions.
To register for this free event, contact Nicole at nlane@rcls.org.
Absentee ballot applications are available for the BOE election and school budget vote
The New Paltz Central School District announces that absentee ballot applications for the 2021 board of education election and school budget vote are available at the New Paltz Central Schools District Offices located at 1 Eugene Brown Drive in New Paltz.
Absentee ballot applications can also be downloaded on the district website: www.newpaltz.k12.ny.us under BOE Announcements.
All absentee ballot applications must be received by the district clerk at least seven days (May 11, 2021) before the vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the qualified voter, or the day before the vote (May 17, 2021) if the ballot is to be picked up by the voter at the district office. By law, the original signature of the absentee voter is required on the application and must be delivered to the district clerk by mail or in person. Applications cannot be accepted electronically.
Absentee ballots given by the district clerk in person may only be given to the qualified voter.
All absentee ballots must be received by the district clerk no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. Questions regarding absentee ballot applications should be directed to the district clerk at (845) 256-4020.
Ulster BOCES launches micro-credential courses
Ulster BOCES students are now able to show colleges and prospective employers evidence that they have field-specific skills, knowledge and experiences in a particular topic, thanks to a new micro-credential series available to high school students in the Hudson Valley Pathways Academy and Career & Technical Center. The courses are offered in-person at the Ulster BOCES classrooms at SUNY Ulster in Stone Ridge, as well as virtually for students who are studying remotely.
Working with industry and community partners, who identified specific competencies they find important for employee success, Ulster BOCES has designed a series of mini-courses, with more being developed. Upon completion of the short, topic-focused mini-courses, students earn an Ulster BOCES certification badge that can be displayed on their résumé and college application as evidence of competency in a particular area.
An initial class of 43 students has completed the first micro-credential course offered, Introduction to Business. In this mini-course, students explored the principles of supply and demand; types of business structures; introduction to marketing (digital, social, traditional); customer service; sales/business development; and making decisions (risk, reward and patience). They learned about forming healthy time management, technology and data management habits; personal finance, including budgeting; goal-setting; résumé writing; determining best communication tools; teamwork; and brainstorming.
These students can now move on to the next in the series: Project Management.
According to Peter Harris, director of innovative teaching and learning at Ulster BOCES, badging is a concept that began making headlines around 2014 and is now commonly recognized in business and industry.
“Earning an Ulster BOCES badge through a micro-credential course is a symbol to employers that the applicant can bring specific knowledge to their business,” he explains. “We’ve worked closely with our industry partners to identify the critical skills they feel their future employees need and are building a comprehensive catalog of micro-credential courses that tie directly to those identified competencies.”
Ulster BOCES students interested in participating in the micro-credential series should speak with their principal or guidance counselor. For more information on the micro-credential series, visit www.ulsterboces.org/badging.
Town of New Paltz seeks volunteers
The Town of New Paltz is looking for volunteers to serve on the Board of Assessment Review, Bike-Ped Committee, Clean Water Open Space Preservation Commission, Environmental Conservation Board, Ethics Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Board (one alternate) and the Public Access Committee. Interested parties are asked to submit a letter of interest and résumé to the Town Supervisor’s Office at P.O. Box 550, New Paltz, NY 12561 or e-mail assistant@townofnewpaltz.org.
Mysteries of the Brain: Role of Science, Humanism and Curiosity
The third program in the 2021 Science on Screen program at Rosendale will take place on Wednesday, April 28 at 7 p.m. The Rosendale Theatre will host an online panel discussion that will discuss a variety of topics related to the film Awakenings, all to shed light on “Mysteries of the Brain: Role of Science, Humanism and Curiosity.”
Dr. Joyce Sprafkin, a member of the Rosendale Theatre’s Programming Committee, will moderate the panel. As per Dr. Sprafkin, “We will inquire about: What is the role of science versus humanism/compassion in the healing process and in medical education? When dealing with disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, what care guidelines are most effective for caregivers and family members? How do new medications get approved for use in patient care? What are the ethical issues involved in such experimentation? What is the function of diagnoses in psychiatry and what are the weaknesses of the diagnostic process? What issues are involved in the balance between patients’ rights, accountability of the institution and risk management? Are there any implications for our current pandemic in terms of the possibility of long-term effects on the brain and nervous system?”
The Awakenings panel brings together four faculty members from Stony Brook Medical School: Lory Bright-Long, MD (geriatric psychiatrist), Stephen Post, PhD (director, Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics), Iris Granek, MD (chair, Family, Population and Preventive Medicine) and moderator Joyce Sprafkin, PhD (clinical psychologist).
Awakenings, based on Dr. Oliver Sacks’ book of the same title, is a fictionalized account of Dr. Sacks’ participation as a neurologist, starting in 1966, with 80 patients who had survived the 1917-1928 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica, but who developed an intractable post-encephalitic parkinsonian syndrome affecting all aspects of their behavior, trapping them in a catatonic-like state, often for decades. In 1969, Dr. Sacks learned about a drug, levodopa (L-dopa), which was effective in treating patients with Parkinson’s disease, and he wondered whether it might prove beneficial for these post-encephalitic patients. Awakenings tells the story of the administering of L-dopa to his catatonic patients and of the results, part wondrous and part nightmarish.
The writings of Dr. Sacks as portrayed in the film reflect the healing effects of compassion in the doctor/patient relationship. It reminds us that healing is a complex art that goes far beyond finding the right pill to cure patients.
Awakenings is available to rent on a variety of popular streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime. For more information about this film and panel discussion, go to www.rosendaletheatre.org.
NEH grant boosts New Paltz historic document archives
Four local repositories of historic documents – Historic Huguenot Street, the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection at the Elting Memorial Library, the Town of New Paltz and the Reformed Church of New Paltz – have announced that they have been awarded a $349,999 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). An independent federal agency created in 1965, the NEH is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the US.
The grant is to be used for preserving and digitizing significant historical documents concerning the history of New Paltz from the mid-1600s to 1830. The latter date encompasses the point at which most enslaved people in New York State were legally emancipated. Documents to be included are the Indian Deed from 1677, early birth, marriage and death records from the French Church, militia records, personal correspondence and store and farm ledgers.
The first phase of this comprehensive project, spearheaded by Josephine Bloodgood, director of curatorial and preservation affairs at Historic Huguenot Street, is anticipated to take three years and covers the preservation of and digital imaging of the documents. This will be done by a team of professionals from the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia, along with the hiring of a contract digital librarian/project manager to assist the local repositories’ staff in coordinating and making these collections available online. Intended to extend the life of these historic documents, this will also make their intellectual content more accessible to scholars, students, genealogists and the general public nationwide.
Moriello Park Playground closed for maintenance through May 28
The Moriello Park Playground on Mulberry Street in New Paltz is currently closed for re-seeding and will reopen on Memorial Day weekend along with the pool.
Join the family! 
