RiverSweep volunteers clean the Hudson
SUNY New Paltz plans safe on-campus fall semester
SUNY New Paltz is planning to provide a traditional, safe, in-person experience for students in Fall 2021, consistent with continued progress against COVID-19 in New York State.
The university intends to offer more than 90 percent of Fall 2021 courses fully or partially in person, including more than 1,500 on-campus classes. It is also planning to provide a rich on-campus experience for students, with an expected return to full residence hall capacity, more student organization activities and events and expanded dining options as compared to the last year.
The safety plans include:
• Free on-campus COVID-19 testing will continue to be available. Any testing will likely be conducted less frequently than our current weekly requirement.
• Masking policies will continue on campus, per state and CDC guidance.
• Campus-based contact tracing will continue, but people who have been vaccinated will not be required to quarantine if they have been exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
The College also plans to offer free on-campus vaccination to students in the fall. Students who are vaccinated may have more privileges on campus in areas like residence life and athletics, wellness and recreation.
Any decision to require a COVID-19 vaccine will be made by SUNY and/or New York State, not by the campus. No such policy has yet to be announced.
Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair returns Memorial Day weekend
The 40th annual Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair returns on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Monday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature 100+ juried artists and makers, demonstrations, beer, wine, spirits, live entertainment, gourmet specialties and a children’s’ dropoff tent.
Due to the state-run mass vaccination site at the Ulster County Fairgrounds, the spring show will be held across the street at the Field of Dreams, located on Libertyville Road in New Paltz. Parking will still take place at the Ulster County Fairgrounds lot. A trolley will be available for those who require assistance. Masks and social distancing will be enforced, as will all other applicable guidelines from the New York State Department of Health.
The cost is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and free for children 12 and under. A three-day weekend pass is also available for $13. For additional information, visit www.quailhollow.com.
Annual plant sale in Saugerties
The Saugerties Reformed Church will hold its annual plant sale on Saturday, May 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hanging plants, herbs, vegetables and small planters provided by Cedar Ridge Nursery will be for sale. Vendor tables will also be featured.
Masks and social distancing are required. The church is located at 173 Main Street in Saugerties. For additional information, call (845) 246-2867.
Mayfest Essential Farmers’ & Makers’ Market May 8-9
The Mayfest Essential Farmers’ and Makers’ Market will be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 8 and 9 from noon to 5 p.m. The event brings a curated selection of the Hudson Valley’s finest producers – farms, distilleries, breweries, wineries, restaurants, artists, artisans and more – to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail and west approach to the Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park. More than 80 vendors will exhibit their wares for tasting or purchase, allowing participants to support several local agribusinesses in one location.
Mayfest features not only farm-fresh products, food from local restaurants and beer, wine and spirits samples in a designated tasting area, but also art installations, locally made goods, a special area for children’s activities and more. All proceeds from Mayfest benefit the Friends of the Walkway and Hudson Valley Rail Trail, who have partnered to present this farmers’ market.
Tasting tickets are available for $25 and include full access to wine, beer, spirits and cider samples from more than 20 area purveyors. Walkway members, veterans, active-duty military and senior citizens (65+) receive discounted admission. General admission to Mayfest (excluding the tasting area) is free.
There will be a complimentary shuttle running on a continuous loop from the Hannaford Plaza parking lot in Highland (near Tractor Supply) to Mayfest. Access to the shuttle is free.
For more information, tickets and a list of participants, visit www.walkway.org/mayfest.
Bee City garden planting at Village Hall
The New Paltz Bee City Project, in collaboration with Future Fruits, will host a public planting session for Village Hall on Saturday May 29 from 12 to 2 p.m., with May 30 as a rain date. This session is an opportunity to help transform the front of Village Hall into a vibrant community space: Organizers plan to grow pollinator friendly plants and wild edibles in hopes that this project will not only improve the aesthetic of Village Hall, but also the environment around it, creating something for everyone to enjoy.
The event will be outdoors, so be sure to bring work clothes and shovels. If you are interested in participating, e-mail npbeecity@villageofnewpaltz.org.
Bard SummerScape is back
Bard SummerScape returns to live performance with a wide-ranging and adventurous lineup this summer. Staged for limited in-person audiences, the 2021 season presents the 31st Bard Music Festival, “Nadia Boulanger and Her World,” which pays tribute to one of the most important female figures in classical music history; the first fully staged American production of King Arthur (Le roi Arthus), the only opera by Boulanger’s compatriot and near-contemporary Ernest Chausson; the world premiere of I was waiting for the echo of a better day, a major new dance commission from Bard’s Fisher Center choreographer-in-residence Pam Tanowitz and Sphinx Medal of Excellence-winning composer Jessie Montgomery; Most Happy in Concert, comprising songs from Frank Loesser’s The Most Happy Fella, directed by Tony nominee Daniel Fish; “Black Roots Summer,” a two-weekend celebration of Black roots music curated by Michael Mwenso and Jono Gasparro; and a newly commissioned concert from longtime SummerScape favorite Mx. Justin Vivian Bond.
All programs will be staged between July 8 and August 15 in both the Frank Gehry-designed Fisher Center and outdoors at Bard’s Montgomery Place campus. Select programs will also be livestreamed at UPSTREAMING, the Fisher Center’s virtual stage.
All tickets go on sale on June 2. The box office can be reached by telephone at (845) 758-7900 or by e-mail at boxoffice@bard.edu. Tickets are also available 24/7 on Bard’s website at https://fishercenter.bard.edu.
New Paltz open-air market resumes June 6
The New Paltz open-air market will resume on Sundays starting June 6 through December 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Church Street between Main and Academy Streets in New Paltz. The market features locally grown produce, handmade goods, art, natural body products, baked goods, honey, cheeses, meats, eggs and more – all produced within a 40-mile radius from New Paltz.
Hand sanitizer and masks will be available at the entrance of the market. Until further notice, masks and social distancing are required by all vendors and shoppers.
For additional information, e-mail npopenairmarket@gmail.com.
Spring Market in Highland
The Town of Lloyd Events Committee will hold its Spring Market on Saturday, May 15 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine, on Main Street and Vineyard Avenue in the hamlet of Highland.
The event will feature local businesses, music by Two-by-Two Zoo, American Idol’s Laila Mach, Look a Truck, many kids’ activities, food trucks and vendors.
Language of Flowers with Elissa Rinaldo at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library hosts the “Language of Flowers Workshop: Tussie Mussies” with Elissa Rinaldo on Sunday, May 16 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. During this workshop, participants will be discussing the novel The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh and how this connects to the original Victorian language of flowers.
Participants will create a small bouquet also known as a “tussie mussie.” Each bouquet will have its own personal meaning and can be dried and kept afterwards. Tea and coffee will be served.
Preregistration is required by May 9. Contact Nicole at nlane@rcls.org to register and to receive a library copy of the book to read. Cost: $25 plus $15 materials fee. Due to COVID, this program will be held outside. Mask and social distancing will be required.
Kingston Reads about Racism meets May 20
The May session of Kingston Reads about Racism will take place on Thursday, May 20 from 5 to 6:15 p.m. on Zoom. This month, the hyperlocal conversation will be about the intersection of racism and education. Participants will be looking specifically at the need for the Kingston City School District to hire more black and brown educators. What are the barriers and what will it take to overcome them?
The book that organizers are recommending as background for this discussion is foundational for any conversation about racism and education, We Want to Do More than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom by Bettina Love. You can purchase the book at Rough Draft Bar & Books. (Kingston Reads participants get a ten-percent discount, and Rough Draft also offers a pay-it-forward option: Buy two books and leave one for someone else.) You can also borrow the book in multiple formats through the Mid-Hudson Library System.
Look for additional resources – videos and podcasts – on the Kingston Reads website at https://kingstonreads.org. For more information, contact the organizers at contact@kingstonreads.org.
Arbor Day in Woodstock
The Woodstock Tree Committee celebrated Arbor Day with a planting of a shadblow tree on Friday, April 30 at the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild’s property at 34 Tinker Street. The Guild is replacing a maple that died. The Woodstock Tree Committee is grateful to the Guild for working with the town on creating more shade trees.
Emerge Gallery hosts collage exhibition
Emerge Gallery is presenting “Cut Pieces: Collage Art,” on view in Saugerties from May 8 through June 27. The exhibition includes art by 50 artists who apply collage elements using various styles and media: acrylic, drawings, fiber, mixed media, monoprints, oil, photography, sculpture and recycled materials. Artwork from the exhibition will be available to view and purchase online through www.artsy.net, where you will find additional works in the exhibition exclusive to Artsy. A virtual curator’s tour and artists’ discussion for “Cut Pieces” is scheduled for Sunday, May 16 at 3 p.m., live on the Emerge Gallery YouTube channel.
Beacon artist Perry Iannaconi returned to working in color after years of just black-and-white. Included in “Cut Pieces” is a portrait inspired by the cutouts of Matisse, created with vivid Color-Aid paper.
Woodstock photographer jd weiss prints photographic images on tissue paper and stacks them between layers of encaustic to create a haunting forest landscape, while Saugerties photographer Kay Kenny – widely regarded for her long-exposure night photography – continues her dance with the night in her series The Garden of Earthly Delight. The artist explores dreams and fears by photographing her garden at ground level and montaging them with astral figures.
Also included in “Cut Pieces” are works created during isolation. Woodstock artist Eileen Power repurposed old canvas to create new works. “This is pandemic art,” she explained. “I tore old canvases, sewed them back together and painted over them. I melted beeswax candles on my kitchen stove and painted it onto the canvas, often collaging cut pieces of metal screen I had in my studio onto the canvas. Depending on the piece, I went back in with oil paint or pastels to add subtle touches of color.”
Also included are two collage works by Susanna Ronner from her In Quietude series. Ronner worked weekly at the Woodstock School of Art’s printmaking studio, but was not able to return since last spring due to the pandemic. Like many artists, she repurposed some of her monoprints and gave them new life in collage form.
Additional participating artists include Lucinda Abra, Luís Alves, Joan Barker, Loel Barr, Ed Berkise, Patricia Blanco, Eric Burns, Carey Conaway, Shelley Davis, Nancy deFlon, Patricia DiBella-Kreger, Kelly Edwards, Angela Gaffney-Smith, Russell Gordon, Robert Greco, Juliet Harrison, Annette Jaret, Ellen Jouret-Epstein, Pam Krimsky, Veronica Lawlor, Barbara Tepper Levy, Dorothea Marcus, Cari Marvelli, John McGiff, Elin Menzies, Wilma Miller, Dennis Moore, Ann Morris, Wendy Moss, Susan J. Murphy, Ingrid Nichter, Gina Palmer, Susan Phillips, Suzanne Rees, Mari Renwick, Kenneth Ricci, Marilynn Rowley, Karen Schaffel, Rita Sherry, Margaret G. Still, Karen St. Pierre, Cindy Sumerano, Brad Terhune, Janet Tsakis and Betsy Wilson.
“Cut Pieces” is curated by Emerge Gallery director Robert Langdon. Exhibited in the gallery window will be a series of collage poems by Kingston poet and artist Will Nixon. Emerge Gallery will be virtually exhibiting 30 works from the series exclusively through the gallery shop on www.artsy.net.
The gallery is located at 228A Main Street in Saugerties. For additional information, call (845) 247-7515.
Spring plant sale in New Paltz
The New Paltz Garden Club will hold its spring plant sale on Saturday, May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 222 Main Street in New Paltz (the rain date is May 16). Annuals, perennials, shrubs, hostas, seeds, houseplants, vegetables, herbs and more will be on sale.
For additional information, visit www.newpaltzgardenclub.org.
National John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Day of Action
Indivisible Ulster, along with 20+ other nonpartisan groups from across Ulster County, will be part of a national day of voter-rights activism on Saturday, May 8 in Midtown Kingston at 10 Cedar Street from 2 to 4 p.m. The National John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Day of Action is being coordinated nationally by the Transformative Justice Coalition, an organization founded by voting rights champion Barbara Arnwine and led by board chair Daryl Jones. The day of action will be held simultaneously in more than 100 cities.
The Kingston event will include a rally with community leaders, civil rights activists and elected officials, a “votercade” of walkers, bikes and cars and a Festival of Activism with performances by Simi Stone, New Pro Baptist Church Choir, POOK, teach-ins, voter engagement and more.
Following the record-breaking black, brown and youth voter turnout in 2020, state legislatures across the country have pushed undemocratic legislation specifically to suppress the vote of communities of color and young people. These deliberate attempts to keep specific groups of voters from the polls – 361 voter-suppression bills in 47 states thus far – are due to the erosion of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by the US Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder (2013). A local coalition of civil rights leaders, faith-based groups, civic organizations and activists are urging people to show up on May 8 in Kingston to make their voices heard, calling for the immediate passage of the For the People Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Washington DC Admissions Act.
The day of activism schedule begins with the rally at 2 p.m., followed by the “votercade” at 2:45 p.m. and the Festival of Activism at 3:30 p.m.
“In crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965, John Lewis risked his life to gain and protect the right to vote for every American,” said Jones. “On May 8, we continue to honor his legacy by crossing every Edmund Pettus Bridge in America that separates American voters from their right to cast a meaningful ballot.”
Design/paint a mural with Lady Pink
Unison Arts’ new mural project for kids and teens, in collaboration with local graffiti-art legend Lady Pink, to design and paint a new mural at Unison’s new location at 9 Paradies Lane in New Paltz will take place on Wednesday, May 5 at 4 p.m. via a Zoom meeting.
After this initial meeting, spots will be limited to 20 participants, sixth grade and up, to work with Lady Pink on the concept and development of the mural and paint it together as a group from June 20 to 25. Spots are limited to ensure social distancing with enough room to paint.
RSVP on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/289541586121357.
New hours in effect for Reuse & Recycling in New Paltz
Beginning Monday, May 3, the hours at the Reuse and Recycling Center on Clearwater Road in New Paltz will change. The new hours are as follows: open Wednesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; closed Sunday through Tuesday.
Accord hosts Ash Tree Arts Festival
The first Town of Rochester Ash Tree Arts Festival will be held on June 5 from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. along the Accord-to-Kerhonkson section of the O & W Rail Trail, starting at the trailhead by the Rochester Town Hall on Scenic Road and continuing toward Berme Road Park. This is also National Trails Day.
Ash trees throughout the Northeast succumbed in recent years to the emerald ash borer, with many beautiful dead ash trees needing to be removed from the rail trail for the safety of trail-users. Event organizer Deb Medenbach, of the town’s Historic Preservation Commission, requested that some trees be left to a height of about six feet that would serve as sculpture blanks. Artists and woodworkers will create sculptures that reflect the history of the town, the trail or abstract expressions in keeping with the serene environment. This is a joint project of the town’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Trails Committee.
Highway superintendent Jeff Frey and his work crews cut more than 20 ash trees along the trail in preparation for this event, which were later mapped and numbered by event organizers. Woodworkers are invited to register in advance to claim a specific tree to carve on festival day. Chainsaw use to rough out sculptures is limited to the afternoon of June 4 and morning hours between 8 and 11 a.m. on June 5, switching to smaller tools for the rest of the day so that the public can safely observe the creative process. Sculptors can carry in/carry out their carving equipment in wheelbarrows or backpacks.
“We want spectators to have a chance to see these wonderful works-in-progress while enjoying an afternoon walk on the rail trail,” Medenbach said, noting that pandemic social distance will be observed. “Back in the early 1990s, this was the first Art Trail in the State of New York, but it was difficult to protect the artwork. Only two pieces remain from those days. This festival renews the artistic spirit along the trail, but will be treated much like sandcastle or snow festivals. The work is here for now, but may be gone by the end of the year, making way for other art in the future. We have artists, craftspeople, musicians, storytellers and theater troupes who’ve all expressed interest in bringing future projects to this linear park.”
Sculptures will remain on display through Labor Day, after which artists can leave works in place for continued enjoyment, remove them or allow sculptures to be auctioned off to benefit future trail programs. The day also includes a Whittlers’ Circle for smaller wood projects near Town Hall, live acoustic music, history and woodworking information tables. There is no charge to participate or to attend.
For the day’s guidelines, tree map and to register to carve, contact Medenbach at (845) 706-7716 or dmedenbach@gmail.com.
Free history Zoom phototalk May 6
Historians and authors Stephen Blauweiss and Karen Berelowitz will present the first part of their current book in the works called The Story of Historic Kingston: A Journey through the Hudson Valley and its Connections with New York City in a free multimedia presentation on Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
The new 400-page book features more than 800 images, including many rare photographs, then-and-now comparisons, an engaging visual design and concise stories about the lesser-known aspects of our history that keep it alive and engaging. This first PhotoTalk covers a thriving era in Kingston and Hudson Valley history and their intricate relationship with New York City’s development. Topics include glass, tanning and barrels; mountain houses and tourism; Hudson River School painters; the Delaware & Hudson Canal; bluestone, brick and cement; and ice harvesting.
There will also be time for discussion and a question-and-answer session. RSVP (free) to receive the Zoom link at www.hudsonvalleyhistoryandart.com/phototalks.
Walkway over the Hudson elevator opens for season
Walkway over the Hudson’s 21-story glass-enclosed ADA-accessible elevator reopened for the season on Saturday, May 1. In addition, the paving and path improvement on the east approach to the Walkway are complete and the park is fully open as of April 30.
Accessible via Upper Landing Park (83 North Water Street) in Poughkeepsie, the elevator operates seven days per week, from 9 a.m. until 90 minutes prior to the park’s closing. To see closing times, visit https://walkway.org.
In the event of inclement weather, including heavy rain, high winds and thunderstorms, the elevator may close temporarily. To check operational status, call the elevator hotline at (845) 834-3641.
Elevator-users and park patrons are asked to continue to follow New York State health and safety guidelines as appropriate. This includes avoiding crowding, social distancing and wearing face coverings as necessary.
Onteora High on list of best high schools
Onteora High School (OHS) has earned a spot on the US News listing of the Best US High Schools. OHS is ranked 175th in New York State and second in Ulster County.
Acting superintendent Marystephanie Corsones said that she is pleased that OHS has once again achieved a place on this prestigious list. “This honor is a credit to our hardworking students, our dedicated staff and our amazing families and community, all of whom work together in supporting our students and schools,” she said. “It is truly a team effort!”
Among the factors taken into account in Onteora’s ranking were the school’s Advanced Placement (AP) exam participation rate, which is 44 percent, as well as its graduation rate (88 percent). The US News “scorecard” for Onteora also took note that mathematics proficiency among students stands at 90 percent and reading proficiency at 91 percent.
OHS principal Lance Edelman said that, while it is an honor for the school to receive this recognition, it is not too much of a surprise. “Our students continue to impress us with their hard work, dedication and perseverance,” he said. “Their efforts, coupled with those of our faculty and staff, have provided us with a recipe for success. We are truly proud of our students, as well as our teachers and staff members, who are committed to raising the bar for our students while supporting their individual goals.”
The school’s profile can be found at https://bit.ly/2QBwAfR.
Write On! Teen creative writing workshop at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library hosts a virtual teen creative writing workshop on Monday, May 10 from 7 to 8 p.m. Write On! will meet monthly on the second Monday through June, and will meet outdoors beginning in July at a new time.
Participants will learn how to build a story with confidence, using writing prompts and sharing feedback. There will be guest author visits and opportunities to publish your story in the next edition of the library’s young adult literary magazine, Gardiner Ink!
To register and receive the Zoom link, contact Carolyn at cthorenz@rcls.org. For further information, visit www.gardinerlibrary.org or the library’s Facebook page.
WAAM presents “Far & Wide National”
The Woodstock Artists Association & Museum (WAAM) announces its third annual “Far & Wide National” exhibition, on view in the Main Gallery from Friday, June 4 through Sunday, July 18. This timely presentation is organized around the concept of Art Brut, a theme associated with a distancing from the mainstream. The exhibition comprises work by 25 artists, selected through a national call and juried by Nicelle Beauchene and Franklin Parrasch, co-founders of Parts & Labor in Beacon.
“Far & Wide National” attracted 196 entries from artists across the nation and includes work in a range of media. For this year’s iteration, the jurors focused on the theme of Art Brut, a French term translating to “raw art,” describing works made outside the academic tradition of artmaking. Also referred to as Outsider Art, this movement was created by Jean Dubuffet to focus on the raw expression of a vision or emotions. For this exhibition, the jurors sought works that incorporate a unique use of materiality and modes of expression, as well as works outside the conventional dictates of the art world.
In a time of a global pandemic, the selection on view is fitting in its exploration of work that accentuates isolation and originates from solitude. All 25 works on view emphasize a singularity of style.
Exhibiting artists include Grace Troxell, Andrea Santos, Irit Rosenberg, Bela Shayevich, Jill Ziccardi, Julia Whitney Barnes, Charlie Smith, Ann Cofta, Daniel Schroeder, Stacy Bogdonoff, Mary Nash, Alaina Enslen, Jason Mones, Shawn Powell, Hayden Maltese, Yura Adams, Barbara Smith, Colleen Smiley, Claire Watson, Susan Berger, Julia Muench, Carmen Li, Jacinta Bunnell, Alyssa McClenaghan and Rosalie Smith.
The Woodstock Artists Association & Museum is located at 28 Tinker Street in Woodstock. Gallery hours are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. For general information, call (845) 679-2940 or visit www.woodstockart.org.
Dementia-related behaviors workshop at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library hosts a dementia-related behaviors presentation virtually on Wednesday, May 12 from 11 am. to noon.
The presentation explores the middle stage of dementia, when the person with the disease often starts to exhibit new behaviors that can be confusing for the caregiver. These behaviors are a form of communication and are essential to understanding the needs of the person with dementia. This program will help attendees identify common triggers for behaviors associated with dementia and learn strategies for addressing common dementia-related behaviors.
To register, contact Nicole at nlane@rcls.org.
Saugerties holds in-person National Honor Society induction ceremony
Sixty-five Saugerties High School juniors and seven seniors were inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) on Thursday, April 22 during an in-person ceremony. The outside event marked the 78th annual induction ceremony for Saugerties High School.
Every year, students eagerly look forward to this prestigious event, said NHS advisor Debra Cacchillo. “Students work very hard to become members of the NHS, and they truly enjoy the recognition they receive for those efforts,” Cacchillo explained. She should know, because she has been organizing this event for the last 37 years.
Students are eligible for NHS membership during their junior or senior year and are selected based on their grade-point average, hours of service to the community, character and leadership involvement in extracurricular activities, including athletics, student council and clubs. These characteristics reflect the four pillars of the National Honor Society.
Under normal circumstances, maintaining a grade-point average above 90 percent is a huge accomplishment. Throw in a worldwide pandemic, remote learning and family situations and it becomes something extraordinary.
“It’s incredible how resilient these kids are,” said high school principal Tim Reid. “They worked extremely hard through these challenging times, and because of that, they will make great leaders in the future.”
Because last year’s members were unable to receive their certificates due to COVID restrictions, 47 seniors were also recognized during the ceremony.
Road closure in Saugerties
Pavilion Street, in the Cantine Veterans Memorial Complex in Saugerties, will be closed to all vehicular traffic from Bob Moser Drive north to Court Drive on both Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16 to accommodate the Mystik Bazaar Spring Festival.
Arbor Day in City of Kingston
The City of Kingston celebrated Arbor Day on Friday, April 30 and 25 years as a Tree City USA. Mayor Steve Noble visited Miller and Bailey schools for Arbor Day ceremonies with tree-plantings: a crabapple tree for Bailey and a sugar maple for Miller, which were donated by the Tree Commission. Mayor Noble also read an Arbor Day proclamation.
Leading up to Arbor Day, the Tree Commission hosted a poetry-writing contest for grades 5 through 8. The theme was the sugar maple tree, and the winning poems by James Davis (fifth grade), Sophia Doviken (fifth grade), Gisella Shaut (sixth grade), Charlotte McFarland (sixth grade), Sean Henn (seventh grade) and John Booluks (eighth grade) were read by the students, who then helped to plant new trees at their schools.
The mayor has also announced that the City of Kingston has received a $50,000 grant for citywide tree planting from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Work continues on Tidewater Center in Saugerties
Arm-of-the-Sea Theater is moving full speed ahead on fundraising efforts and site preparations for opening its new COVID-safe outdoor performance space this summer on the Saugerties waterfront. This is the next phase in the development of the Tidewater Center: a cultural park for arts, Hudson River science and local heritage that the organization is creating on the site of a former paper mill.
“Our theater company got started in 1982 by performing at riverfront festivals, and we continued that practice as part of our bag of tricks,” notes co-founder Patrick Wadden. “Now, out of the isolation and insecurity of the pandemic comes a deep need for reconvening community gatherings. We are ready and able to help reopen cultural life with our special brand of locally sourced theater rites for the downhearted and disenchanted.”
Construction work will include covering the contaminated site with two feet of clean fill and setting up a parking area and a performance arena situated between the towering mill ruins and the tidal Esopus Creek.
Saugerties contractors Frank and Zack Torok are scheduled to begin work in the coming weeks. Their expertise and machinery will bring sweeping changes to the long-abandoned, hazardous property. If all goes as planned, the Tidewater Center will open to the public for outdoor performances and other programs in July. Access to the site is through the Tina Chorvas Waterfront Park at 61 East Bridge Street in the Village of Saugerties.
Meanwhile, Arm-of-the-Sea continues to solicit funds to cover the $100,000 Phase One construction costs. Two-thirds of the budget have been secured thus far from grants and generous individuals. Would-be contributors can donate via Indiegogo to the Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center Capital Campaign at www.indiegogo.com/projects/arm-of-the-sea-tidewater-center-capital-campaign#.
Beacon-based One Nature, LLC served as design consultant in developing the project’s master plan. When fully built, the Tidewater Center will include a 99-seat theater, aquatic classroom, science lab, art studio, exhibition space and a waterworks playground inspired by the historic water-powered mills of Saugerties. Learn more about the project at www.armofthesea.org/the-tidewater-center.
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.
Katsbaan Reformed Church in Saugerties to hold yard and bake sale
The Katsbaan Ladies Aid of the historic Katsbaan Reformed Church is holding its first in-person yard and bake sale since the pandemic on Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the church hall, located at 1801 Old Kings Highway in Saugerties. The event will be held rain or shine.
Household items, toys, jewelry, books and homemade baked goods will be on sale.
Masks and social distancing will be required, and seven guests at a time will be allowed inside the hall.
Join the family! 
