Saugerties Schools Retired Employees Association donates to the library
The Saugerties Schools Retired Employees Association made a donation to the Saugerties Public Library. The funds will purchase childrens’ and young adult books for the collection.
“Reading is fundamental and helps kids grow,” said library director Jennifer Russell. “Browse the library collection from the library’s website at saugertiespubliclibrary.org, place materials on hold and stop in the library or call for curbside pick up.”
Garlic Festival back on in Saugerties
The Kiwanis Club of Saugerties has announced that the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival™ will be held this fall on Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3 at Cantine Field in Saugerties. The festival has usually been held the last weekend in September, but has been moved this year to the first weekend in October due to another scheduled event in Saugerties on the last weekend in September.
As with all events, organizers are slowly preparing to hold the festival in accordance with constantly updated state guidance. They have made some adjustments to the scope of the festival, while still striving to have the festival be the enjoyable event it has been in the past.
More information will be shared on the Kiwanis Club’s Facebook page.
Rhoads memorial tree planting scheduled
A tree will be planted in memory of the late Sally Rhoads at Peace Park in New Paltz on May 22 at 2 p.m. Rhoads was a prominent village resident whose public service included shepherding through the building of Lenape elementary school while president of the school board, and doubling the size of the library while president of that board. Rhoads also served as deputy mayor while on the village’s board of trustees.
Tree dedication for Carol Roper
A gathering and tree dedication to celebrate the life of Carol Roper will be held on Sunday, June 6 at 3 p.m., in front of the Community Center at 3 Veteran’s Drive in New Paltz. In addition to a term as New Paltz Town Supervisor and serving on the Town Board, Roper also served her community as chair and member of the New Paltz Town Planning Board, as president and trustee of the Elting Memorial Library, as president of the town Recreation Commission, as member of the Ulster County Planning Board, as member of the New Paltz Community Partnership, as board member of the Poné Ensemble for Contemporary Music, as secretary of the Lifelong Learning Institute, and as trustee of the New Paltz Rural Cemetery. Carol’s community activities also included volunteering for the Library Fair, the Taste of New Paltz, the Halloween parade, New Paltz Eve, Clean Sweep and many other events.
All are invited to attend. CDC guidelines for outdoor gatherings will be followed.
Memorial gathering to celebrate the life of Dan Guenther
A Memorial Gathering to celebrate the life of Dan Guenther will be held on Saturday, June 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hasbrouck Park in New Paltz. Friends and family of Dan and Ann Guenther are invited to celebrate Dan’s life and carry on his legacy of building community.
Remembrance addresses will begin at 12 and 2 p.m. Bring your own water, a chair or blanket. Face masks are required.
Participants ae invited to contribute to a Memory Wall. Bring a printed photo or a written story of a favorite moment with Dan to share. If you cannot attend the gathering, but would like to share one of your memories, email Laura Wyeth at L.wyeth@protonmail.com.
Memorial Day service in Saugerties May 30
Saugerties American Legion Post 72 will conduct a Memorial Day service on Sunday, May 30, 6 p.m., on the Post grounds adjacent to Partition Street in the Village of Saugerties. The Saugerties Community Band will play several selections throughout the service.
Woodstock Library Community Conversations continue
In January and February, the Woodstock Library trustees held six dialogues with voters on their reasoning behind voting yes or no on the 2020 bond vote for a new building. Trustees recently sent the summary to all participants and posted the report at woodstock.org/planning.
Over the next few months, the Woodstock Library will be holding more conversations with people across town to discuss aspirations, concerns and life in Woodstock.
This year the library is working with the Mid-Hudson Library System cohort to gather input from the community, in developing a strategic or long-range plan to address community needs that resonates with library staff and trustees and the people the library serves.
The schedule is: Saturday, May 22 at 1 p.m. on Zoom; Wednesday, June 2 at 11 a.m. at the Community Center pavilion; Saturday, June 5 at 11 a.m. on Zoom; Monday, June 14 at 4 p.m. at the Community Center pavilion; Wednesday, June 16 at 1 p.m. on Zoom; Monday, June 21 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
Register/RSVP at (845) 679-2213 or jessica@woodstock.org.
SUNY New Paltz holds dual commencement weekends
SUNY New Paltz hosted 14 smaller, shorter in-person commencement ceremonies on May 14, 15 and 16, to recognize and salute undergraduate and graduate students who graduated in December 2020 and January 2021, and candidates who will complete their degrees in May and August 2021.
“We recognize the achievement of students who have completed the hard academic work of earning a degree, especially during these last 14 months of remote learning and a very different kind of academic experience,” said president Donald Christian. “You will always be known as one of the classes that graduated in the midst of the coronavirus. I would encourage you to see this as a struggle that you have overcome, and therefore, a life experience that will strengthen you for the struggles and opportunities that lie ahead.”
SUNY New Paltz’s 2021 commencement celebration will continue next weekend, May 22 and 23, with special in-person ceremonies for December 2019, January 2020, May 2020 and August 2020 graduates who were unable to participate in an in-person ceremony last year due to the pandemic.
Nearly 1,100 students and graduates participated in these ceremonies on the Old Main Quadrangle over the course of the three-day weekend. All ceremonies included masking and social distancing. Guests were not invited to attend due to in-person event capacity limits, but all ceremonies were live-streamed and will remain available for on-demand viewing at this link.
The Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15 commencement ceremonies recognized undergraduate students from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Schools of Business, Education, Fine & Performing Arts and Science & Engineering, and the Sunday, May 16, ceremonies recognized graduate students from the 50+ graduate-level programs available at New Paltz.
In total, approximately 2,400 degrees and advanced certificates were conferred across the December 2020 and January, May and August 2021 terms.
SUNY New Paltz has named Rachel Brainerd (Visual Arts) of Poughkeepsie the valedictorian of the Class of 2021 and Sery Pak (Biology) of Orangeburg the salutatorian.
SUNY New Paltz’s commencement ceremonies will be webcast online at http://totalwebcasting.com/live/newpaltz.
Spring Stroll in Kingston
The Kingston Spring Stroll will take place Memorial Day weekend, May 28-31 from 4 to 7 p.m. 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. Dine alfresco 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 email 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.
Soapmaking at St. Andrew’s in New Paltz
Come for an afternoon of soapmaking at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in New Paltz on Saturday, May 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. Melt and pour glycerin with your choice of essential oils and/or natural dyes.
The workshop will be held outside, weather permitting. Masks are required, with workstations socially distanced. Snacks will be provided.
This is a fundraiser for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and its outreach ministries and is open to the public. The cost is $30 per person, $10 for a child portion of materials. Payment is by cash or check at the door. Reservations are required to ensure materials. RSVP to MaryAnn Lis-Simmons at lissimm@earthlink.net or (845) 616-7029.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is located at 163 Main Street, at the corner of Main Street and North Oakwood Terrace, in New Paltz. For more information, call the church office at (845) 255-5098 or e-mail standrewnp@hvi.net.
New Paltz High seniors present Into the Woods
New Paltz High School will be presenting a live performance of the Tony Award-winning show Into the Woods on Thursday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 22 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 23 at 2 p.m.
High school vocal teacher Nicole Foti, who has been working closely with the performing students, explained that the show has been produced almost exclusively for the outgoing senior-class actors who have missed several opportunities for live performances due to COVID-19. The top priority was to perform safely in front of a live audience, and so the actors will be donning special clear plastic face masks. “This will allow the audience to be able to see their facial expressions, which is imperative to getting emotion across onstage,” explained Foti. The Drama Club advisor, Nancy Owen, also directed the play.
All tickets will be sold online prior to the show; no tickets will be sold at the door. Each performance will be limited to 100 audience members. Temperatures will be taken at the door, masks will be required at all times and social distancing will be enforced. In addition, everyone attending the show will be required to complete the NPCSD COVID-19 screening survey on the day of the performance. Bathrooms will be limited, and eating and drinking will not be permitted.
Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for students and senior citizens for all shows. Ticket sales will close two hours before each performance, or when a show has reached the 100-person limit. Tickets can now be purchased at www.showtix4u.com/event-details/52294.
The high school is located 130 South Putt Corners Road in New Paltz.
Ride for Mental Health 2021
The Ride for Mental Health is back in person this year on June 19 and 20 in New Paltz. The charity bike ride has two goals: to end the stigma associated with mental illness and to raise critically needed funds for education, research and treatment of mental illness.
In the first four years of the event, the ride has raised roughly $600,000 for McLean Hospital, the nation’s number-one-rated psychiatric hospital and an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School. Mac Dorris, the Ride’s founder and CEO, is hopeful that 2021 will eclipse the success of 2019, when the event drew 425 riders.
There is still time to register as a volunteer or rider by going to www.rideformentalhealth.org.
Dutchess County Fair returns in August
Dutchess County Fair president/CEO Andy Imperati announced last week that the Dutchess County Fair is returning to the fairgrounds on Route 9 in Rhinebeck from Tuesday, August 24 through Sunday, August 29. Last year’s fair was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are still waiting for COVID-19 guidelines from Albany and have been actively working with our county executive and his team, as well as the Dutchess County Department of Health, to have a plan in place to safely open our gates,” said Imperati. “As we get closer to the fair, we will look at what protocols will need to be in place for us to have a fair.”
Fairgoer favorites including the midway, fun fair food, animals and free entertainment will all be part of the 2021 fair. “We encourage you to check our website and social media pages for updates. Tickets and other information should be available starting in June through the Dutchess County Fair’s website,” added Imperati.
An announcement about this year’s Ulster County Fair hasn’t been made yet. The Ulster County Fairgrounds are currently being used as a mass-vaccination center. However, a visit to https://ulstercountyfair.com says that the fair is scheduled for August 3 to 8 at the fairgrounds on Libertyville Road in New Paltz.
Mid-Hudson pros on business success in 2021 & beyond
On Tuesday, May 25 at 10 a.m., professionals from New York Life’s Hudson Valley office and local accounting and law firms will help position area business-owners for success in 2021 and beyond. In a dynamic, rapidly changing economy, the team will cover some key financial considerations for small-business-owners, from managing risk and employee benefits to exit planning and retiring successfully, during a New York Life-hosted webinar.
“As we continue to come out of the worst of the pandemic, businesses have done some innovative pivoting and weathered changes and trends likely to permanently alter the landscape,” said Perry Goldschein, a New York Life Insurance Company agent and a former consultant, entrepreneur and lawyer. “We are looking forward to helping local businesses by sharing what we’ve learned – not only over the course of our careers, but especially during this past disruptive year.”
For more details and to register, visit http://bit.ly/NYLbiz.
SplashDown Beach water park reopens May 29
SplashDown Beach has announced its opening date for the 2021 summer season. The park plans to open on Saturday, May 29 after being forced to remain shut for more than 20 months due to COVID.
“We couldn’t be more excited to reopen,” said Steve Turk, the park’s owner. “It has been challenging, but we’re ready to bring summer fun back to the Hudson Valley.”
Chief operating officer Andrew Chafatelli said, “In addition to being the number-one family destination for summer fun, we look forward to providing much-needed jobs to area residents whose employment was affected by the pandemic.” Those seeking employment can apply online at www.splashdownbeach.com or visit the park weekdays between 3 and 5 p.m. for on-the-spot interviews.
Operating seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day, SplashDown Beach features attractions for all ages.
Roleplay Gaming Summer Institute at Gardiner Library
Gardiner Library hosts a Roleplay Gaming Summer Institute this summer on Mondays in July at 6:30 p.m. Presented as a collaboration between the Gardiner Library and HMGS Next Gen, Inc., the “A Tale of Two Towns” Dungeons and Dragons Campaign is open to seventh-through-twelfth-graders for free.
Each virtual gaming session will read like a story, with players taking an active part in building the narrative through their decisions, ideas and other thoughts. Games will be facilitated by a college-aged student with vast experience in running roleplaying games for other students.
Mentoring the program will be Jared Fishman, a history teacher and game-based learning specialist from the Hackley School in Tarrytown, where he teaches game-based learning courses throughout the year. He is also the co-founder and director of HMGS Next Gen, Inc., a not-for-profit organization devoted to fostering and growing game clubs and game-based learning.
Space is limited; contact Nicole Lane at nlane@rcls.org for more information. For further information, call (845) 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org or the library’s Facebook page.
Book by Ray Smith advocates MAID bill after wife’s painful death
Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking: My Wife’s Ordeal has just been published by Raymond D. Smith.
Anne Allbright Smith was stricken with an untreatable, incurable and ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disease that left her mind intact but gradually stripped her of her physical abilities. Otherwise in robust good health, once she could no longer do enough of the things that made her life worth living, she wanted out.
According to Ray, “Legally, her only choice was voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED). It took 11 uncomfortable and painful days to die, even with compassionate care from her doctor and Hospice.”
New York State’s legislators have not yet passed a medical aid in dying (MAID) statute in this state. So far, only ten states and DC have such statutes. “By contrast, our pets normally have quick, humane and painless deaths,” said Smith. His book is a plea for action on pending MAID bills.
The book is published by Epigraph Books and is available on a variety of platforms, including Amazon, as both a paperback ($15) and e-book ($6.99). For more information, e-mail raydsmith@gmail.com.
Mill Brook Preserve rewards pets on leashes
The Mill Brook Preserve, Inc. (MBPI), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to management of the 134-acre nature preserve and trails system in New Paltz, has begun a program to reward dog-walkers with leashed animals. Julie Seyfert-Lillis, executive director of MBPI, and designated trail stewards are handing out coupons to local businesses to some visitors with leashed dogs. The goal of the program is to protect native flora and ensure fewer conflicts among dogs, people and wildlife.
Seyfert-Lillis modeled the program after a community in Red Lodge, Montana, where police give out ice cream coupons to kids wearing helmets while biking or skateboarding. The program debuted in April with gift certificates from Twistee Cone. May’s prizes have been donated by the Bakery. If you’re a business-owner and would like to participate, contact julie@millbrookpreserve.org.
Visitors to the Mill Brook Preserve will experience nature in bloom during these spring days. Bird nesting boxes along the trails house hatchlings, tadpoles are hatching in vernal pools and fox kits have been sighted in dens. Some trails have been rerouted to protect extra-sensitive habitats, so MBPI reminds hikers and pet companions to stick to marked pathways.
The land is owned by the Village and Town of New Paltz. Trails are open to the public for free, with entrances at Sunset Ridge Road, North Manheim Boulevard and George Danskin Way. More information about how to enjoy the preserve and support the work of MBPI can be found at millbrookpreserve.org
Butterflies are back in Saugerties
Butterflies will once again line the streets in the Town and Village of Saugerties this year. There are 35 butterflies designed by local artists that will be part of the 12th annual Art in the Village display.
According to Mark Smith, chairperson of the Saugerties Chamber of Commerce, the decision to stay with the butterfly theme this year was a no-brainer. “The butterflies symbolize beauty and symbolize the metamorphosis that Saugerties is going through as we recover from the impact that COVID-19 virus has had on us. The response to last year’s butterfly theme was overwhelmingly positive by both the public and the artists.”
The butterflies will be installed and ready to be seen up close by the Memorial Day weekend, and will remain in place at least until Labor Day. To help people find the butterflies, there will be maps available indicating their exact location, the artist and the sponsor. The maps will be available at the Saugerties Visitor Center and selected stores, as well as on the Chamber’s website at www.discoversaugerties.com.
If you see a butterfly you really like, you will be able to bid on it either using the QR code affixed to each butterfly or online by using the link on the Chamber’s website. If permitted at the time, the Chamber is also planning a gala and live auction of the butterflies in September Proceeds of the auction will go to the artists, the Chamber, a scholarship for a graduating senior, as well as a local charity of the Chamber’s choosing.
The art of nature at Mohonk Preserve
Mohonk Preserve and Roost Studios are collaborating once again on a Plein Air Art Walk and Auction, an inspirational project connecting land, art and community, at the Preserve’s Testimonial Gateway Trailhead on Saturday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rain date Sunday, May 23).
Last year’s October event was a success, and this year’s expanded group includes 26 artists: Jane Bloodgood-Abrams, Linda Champanier, Cathy Copeland, Greg Correll, Mary Anne Erickson, Staats Fasoldt, Mira Fink, Stacie Flint, Tarryl Gabel, Carl Grauer, Emeline Hastings, Barbara Holt, Jennifer Keltos, Martha Klein, Eva Kusmirek Stamper, Ward Lamb, Matt Maley, Laura Martinez-Bianco, Jacqueline O’Malley-Satz, Lynda Pyka, Nicole Saunders, Daniel Shornstein, Tomi Stern, Marion Suarez-Schenck, Marianne Tully and Marlene Wiedenbaum.
The Testimonial Gateway Trailhead landscape features the historic Testimonial Gateway Tower and views of the Shawangunk Ridge and surrounding Mohonk Preserve Foothills’ fields and historic farms. The artists will be stationed along the tree-lined Pin Oak Allée on the Lenape Lane carriage road and the Ridgeview Trail, part of the Mohonk Preserve Foothills Loop of the River-to-Ridge Trail. Visitors will have the chance to view artists working in a safe and socially distanced way while enjoying the outdoors and finding their own inspiration on the land.
The in-process and finished paintings and drawings will be photographed throughout the day by volunteer photographers from the Mohonk Preserve and Roost Studios. The finished works will be included in an online auction following the event. Proceeds from the auction will benefit participating artists, the Mohonk Preserve and Roost Studios.
The event is open to Mohonk Preserve members at no charge and to visitors with the purchase of a day pass for $15 per person. For more information or to register for the auction, visit https://pleinairart2021.givesmart.com.
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.
Maya Gold Foundation completes teen mental health first aid training
The Maya Gold Foundation recently completed its third teen mental health first aid (tMHFA) training in Woodstock for teens in grades 10 to 12. The first two tMHFA trainings, which were led by board members Jesse Sarubbi, Elise Gold and Mathew Swerdloff, were a success and resulted in 27 teens being certified in teen mental health first aid. The latest tMHFA training was led by Gold and Swerdloff, and nine new teens have been certified as a result of the completion of the program.
The feedback from the initial cohort was very positive. One teen said that the highlight of the program for them was “the intriguing discussions and realization [and] clarity I gained from the program, for myself and others. Trauma, mental health challenges [and] crises and getting help are misunderstood, but I found that it made so much more sense and I realized a lot of new things about my mental health and that of my friends after the program.” Another teen added, “I learned the connection between mental health challenges and substance use.”
Teen Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training program for students in grades 10 to 12 that teaches the skills to recognize and aid their peers experiencing mental health and substance use challenges and crises, including how to get the help of an adult quickly. The tMHFA program is designed to help teens help each other navigate the difficult waters of adolescence. The Maya Gold Foundation believes this training is an invaluable resource for teens, especially during these difficult times, and welcomes invitations from local high schools to bring the training to teens in the school setting.
For more information, go to www.mayagoldfoundation.org/teen-mental-health-first-aid.
Walk to Fight Hunger at Dutchess Fairgrounds
The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley announced that its annual Walk to Fight Hunger will take place this year on Saturday, June 19 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. This year’s Walk to Fight Hunger is taking place at a new location to ensure social distancing.
Supporters are encouraged to come and bring a team to walk and help to end hunger. Funds raised will be used for food bank programs that distribute food in six counties throughout the Hudson Valley. Interested individuals can give a financial gift, organize a team or fundraise online.
Visit https://events.handbid.com/fundraisers/walk-to-fight-hunger or call (845) 534-5344 to learn more.
Sign of spring: Sloop Clearwater back on Hudson
America’s environmental flagship, the iconic sloop Clearwater, has returned to the river to embark on its 52nd season of environmental education and inspirational sails on the Hudson River. The season kicked off from Beacon on May 17 with a Clearwater member sail. May 17 also marks the anniversary of the sloop’s launch from the Harvey Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, Maine in 1969.
Captain Nick Rogers recalls, many spring seasons ago, “overhearing two tugboats on the VHF radio, one tug saying to another, ‘Nothing behind me…Clearwater is sailing by the bridges in Poughkeepsie…That’s a sure sign of spring: Clearwater and the crocuses.’”
The sloop will sail this year with a reduced passenger capacity, taking into account New York State and CDC COVID safety protocols. Upcoming public sail dates include: New York City on May 29, May 30 and June 5; Piermont on June 12; Haverstraw on June 13; Beacon on June 19 and 20; Kingston on June 26 and 27; and Poughkeepsie on July 4. More dates will be added as the season progresses. Tickets for these two-to-three-hour sails are available at www.clearwater.org.
Clearwater will sail from docks up and down the Hudson River through September 6, at which time the sloop will prepare to undergo a major restoration project. The sloop Clearwater is also available for private charters and educational programming. Visit www.clearwater.org for more information and to become a Clearwater member.
Clearwater is also welcoming the virtual return of its annual music festival, the Great Hudson River Revival, on June 19 at www.clearwaterfestival.org.
Rabies clinic in New Paltz
The Town of New Paltz dog control officer and the town clerk’s office will offer a rabies clinic for dogs and cats on Wednesday, May 26 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Town Highway Garage located at 52 Clearwater Road in New Paltz. Customers are asked to stand six feet apart, and masks must be worn.
Vaccinations for rabies, distemper and heartworm will start at $10 each and will be administered by Dr. Laurie Stein, the traveling veterinarian. Heartworm medication is also available. Rabies certificates will be presented at the completion of the vaccination. These certificates are essential for licensing dogs where they reside, as required by New York State law.
Dogs must be leashed and cats must be in carriers. Payment is by cash or check only. For additional information, call (845) 255-0100, extension 1.
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.
Kingston’s Old Dutch Church wins Sacred Sites Grant
The New York Landmarks Conservancy has announced 17 Sacred Sites Grants totaling $267,000 awarded to historic religious properties throughout New York State, including $5,000 to the Old Dutch Church in Kingston to help fund installation of protective glazing.
Also known as the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Kingston, the Old Dutch Church was erected in 1852 from plans by the noted architect Minard Lafever. As Kingston was the original state capital, the site witnessed the earliest days of state government. The building, constructed of locally quarried limestone, is considered the only intact example of Lafever’s work in the Renaissance Revival style and stone construction. One year after completion, in 1853, the original church spire was toppled in a storm, closing the church for one year until 1854. The present spire was constructed in 1861.
“Our grantees help maintain these vital institutions as they serve their congregations and communities,” said Peg Breen, president of the New York Landmarks Conservancy. “The social service programs these grantees provide reached more than 175,000 persons during these difficult days.”
The Old Dutch Church has reimagined its space during the pandemic to offer practice space for Bard College music students and use of its streaming equipment for concerts and other performances. Once normal programming can resume, the church will be open for regular noontime concerts, self-help and 12-step group meetings and a twice-weekly winter farmers’ market. Small food startups use the church kitchen. This effort has helped launch about ten small businesses. The Ulster County government uses the church for training programs. Seed Song, an agricultural not-for-profit, hosts an annual community pumpkin-carving event and maple syrup collection. Combined, these activities reach more than 5,200 people a year.
Join the family! 
