Bardavon and UPAC to reopen in August
After being closed for 14 months during the pandemic, the Bardavon and UPAC will reopen beginning in August. The following four new shows will join several shows postponed from 2020 that are already on sale. More shows will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets for these shows will go on sale to Bardavon members on Tuesday, June 8 at 11 a.m. and to the general public on Friday, June 11 at 11 a.m.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue perform on Sunday, August 22 at 7 p.m. at UPAC. Multi-instrumentalist Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews brings his R & B, rock, rap and funk brass band to UPAC for the very first time. Ticket prices start at $50.
Dispatch (acoustic) performs on Saturday, September 25, 8 p.m. at the Bardavon. One of the country’s most successful indie/roots bands brings its politically progressive acoustic rock to the Bardavon for an intimate show. Ticket prices start at $45.
David Sedaris performs on Saturday, October 16 at 8 p.m. at the Bardavon. Sedaris returns to the Bardavon to read stories spanning his career, followed by a question-and-answer session and book-signing. All tickets cost $49.
Words & Music: An Intimate Evening with Patti Smith will be held on Saturday, November 13 at 8 p.m. at UPAC. Pioneering artist and punk icon Patti Smith performs original spoken-word stories from her life, interspersed with songs, and will take questions from the audience. Ticket prices start at $49.
These four new shows join the following shows that were postponed in 2020 and are on sale now: Brit Floyd, August 29 at UPAC; Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, October 24 at UPAC; the Mavericks, December 18 at UPAC; Celtic Woman, March 20 at UPAC; Stomp, May 26 at UPAC. More info on all shows is available at www.bardavon.org.
The Bardavon and UPAC box offices will be selling tickets and answering questions remotely starting June 8, Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bardavon, (845) 473-5288, or UPAC, (845) 339-6088; or e-mail boxoffice@bardavon.org. To purchase tickets online, visit www.ticketmaster.com (fees will apply). Box offices will reopen for in-person sales on July 6.
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 are 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.
For additional information, visit https://fb.me/e/1An2HQ4P8.
Bearsville Theater announces summerlong Americana Barbecue Music Series
The Bearsville Theater’s pastoral streamside backyard lawn will heat up the summer season with live music in the newly renovated lounge bar, as Lizzie Vann presents the Americana Barbecue Music Series. The series will take place on Saturdays through Labor Day from 12 to 6 p.m. for continuous live music featuring the best in Americana and bluegrass music from the Catskill region and beyond.
“We take great pride in nurturing young and upcoming artists in all formats, and this series provides yet another forum for a larger variety of burgeoning artists to perform for live audiences in a professional setting,” said Vann. “As part of Bearsville’s ongoing community artist-mentoring efforts, our music series provides the irreplaceable live stage experience for younger artists to gain confidence and grow. We’ll also feature seasoned professionals and blend our Saturdays with quality music. Check our website for upcoming performers.”
There will be a cover charge of $10 at the door, with income going directly to the artists. Food and drink will be available as Chef Juan serves up individually fresh-cooked barbecued vegetables, chicken, pork and vegetarian options, along with his homemade secret sauces.
COVID protocol is followed at the Bearsville Theater, located at 277-297 Tinker Street in Woodstock.
Weldon McWilliams named Black Studies chair at SUNY New Paltz
SUNY New Paltz has announced the appointment of Weldon McWilliams as visiting associate professor and interim chair of the Department of Black Studies, effective June 1. McWilliams holds a PhD in African American Studies from Temple University and is a SUNY alumnus, having graduated from Stony Brook University in 2002.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as the interim chair of the Department of Black Studies at SUNY New Paltz, one of the oldest Black Studies departments in the nation,” McWilliams said. “Black Studies as a discipline changed the trajectory of my life, and I believe that it has the potential to do the same in so many others. In times such as these, I believe the impact of Black Studies is significant and its contribution toward racial understanding is invaluable.”
He comes to New Paltz after teaching for nearly a decade in the History, Government and Economics Department at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie. Prior roles include teaching positions at Stony Brook University and Cheney University in Cheney, Pennsylvania and directorship of Lotus Academy Elementary School, a private, African-centered institution in Philadelphia.
“I am delighted that Dr. McWilliams has decided to join us, and I look forward to the vibrant energy and passion for Black Studies that he will bring to the department and campus,” said Laura Barrett, dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. “I want to express my gratitude to Dr. Michael Gayle for his dedicated leadership and strong advocacy as interim chair of Black Studies for the past three years.”
The SUNY New Paltz Black Studies Department was founded in 1969 with a mission of education that guides students and faculty to this day. It includes providing students with an accurate and thorough treatment of the history of people of African ancestry; examining the impact of current economic, social and political forces that shape the Black experience; and helping engender in students and community members an understanding of the unique issues faced by people of African ancestry in the modern world. New Paltz Black Studies graduates have gone on to use their degrees as the foundation of careers in law, political science, history, sociology, education and the arts, among other fields and professions.
Swim lesson registration at Moriello Pool
Registration for swim lessons at Moriello Pool for Summer 2021 will be held at Moriello Pool the following dates & times:
Wednesday, June 9, 16 and 23 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 12, 19 and 26 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, June 13, 20 and 27 from 12 to 2 p.m.; Monday, June 28 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
American Red Cross levels 1 through 5 will be offered. Three two-week sessions will be offered, each consisting of six classes: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
Level 2-5 classes: 60 minutes each class; Level 1 classes: 40 minutes each class. Start times for all lessons are between 9:15 and 11 a.m.
Session 1 meets Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings June 29 to July 8; session 2 meets July 13 to July 22; and session 3 meets July 27 to August 5.
The registration fee is $70 for New Paltz residents and $90 for non New Paltz residents.
All fees must be paid at time of registration at Moriello Pool, located on Mullberry Street in New Paltz. Registration must be done in person.
For a complete schedule and additional details, stop by the pool during operating hours — currently weekends from 12 to 7 p.m. or during the above registration dates and times.
YMCA, Bike-Friendly Kingston host bike repair clinic, fix-a-flat class June 16
Bike-Friendly Kingston and the YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County will be hosting a free bicycle repair clinic on Wednesday, June 16. The clinic is supported by Basch and Keegan, LLP and O’Connor and Partners, PLLC. Bring your bike to the Y parking lot on Pine Grove Avenue in Kingston between 4 and 6 p.m.
A free fix-a-flat class will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., following the repair clinic. The class is free, but you must register at the YMCA membership desk or by e-mailing the YMCA at tpolk@ymcaulster.org. The first ten to sign up will receive a bike pump, courtesy of People’s Place.
In case of bad weather, the rain date for both events is Thursday, June 17. The event is free, but donations are welcome. Be sure to bring your bike and wear a mask or other face-covering when you come.
For more information, contact the YMCA bicycle program manager, Tom Polk, at (845) 338-3810, extension 102, or e-mail tpolk@ymcaulster.org.
Maya Gold Foundation offers THRIVE grants
The Maya Gold Foundation has announced the availability of funding through the THRIVE: Grants for Youth Programs initiative. The application deadline for the current funding cycle is June 21.
The Maya Gold Foundation has funded over 20 programs for teens in previous funding cycles, and local youth have benefited from music lessons, empowerment groups, art programs, wilderness activities, reading programs and theater games. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $30,000 to local organizations, directly impacting over 500 local youth and community members.
THRIVE grants are available to support existing programs and fund individuals who want to develop new programs for teens in New Paltz and the surrounding area. The Foundation welcomes requests for funding throughout the year. A committee reviews applications quarterly, and for this cycle, applications must be submitted by June 21, 2021. For more information and to apply online, visit mayagoldfoundation.org/apply or e-mail info@mayagoldfoundation.org.
Historical Society of Woodstock show opens this weekend
The exhibition “Seasons: Catching Nature’s Cycles” opens this Saturday, June 12 at the Historical Society of Woodstock headquarters on Comeau Drive in Woodstock. The show, which will run every weekend from 1 to 5 p.m. through September 5, gathers 40 works by Woodstock artists.
Selected by guest curator Susana Torruella Leval from the collection of the Historical Society, the works in the exhibition co-curated by Letitia Smith encompass a century. The earliest images, dating from 1914, are a summer view of Overlook Mountain by Zulma Steele and a winter landscape by Edmund Rolfe.
As early as 1903, the village’s meadows, streams and wooded glens attracted visionary artists who chose the site for the utopian arts and crafts colony of Byrdcliffe, and later for the breakaway Maverick colony. The Art Students League of New York set up a summer school in the village in 1906, highlighting the tradition of painting out-of-doors. Over time, it lured larger numbers of artists from New York City. By 1920, The New York Times referred to Woodstock as “a place of pilgrimage in the art world.”
In the 19th century, landscape painters Thomas Cole and Frederic Church had pioneered the plein-air tradition in the Hudson Valley. Their artistic descendants, Birge Harrison and John Carlson, subsequent directors of the Woodstock School of Landscape, continued that legacy.
The works in the exhibition display a rich variety of styles from the representational to the abstract. The works also offer diverse media.
A tour of “Seasons: Catching Nature’s Cycles” invites an exploration of Woodstock’s country lanes and roads, identifying farms, barns and homes in the various seasons. You can slosh through meadows of mud, snow and ice, watch melting ice crystals drift downstream or amble along sunlit grassy or ochre banks. You can choose bird’s-eye views of village or valley, or closeups of bugs and flowers, shelter in the shadow of a huge, gentle tree or admire the majestic shagbarks.
For more information on the Historical Society of Woodstock, go to www.historicalsocietyofwoodstock.org, call (845) 679-2556 or e-mail historicalsocietyofwoodstockny@gmail.com.
Saugerties Dems to elect new officers
The offices of secretary and treasurer of the Saugerties Democratic Committee have been vacated by the individuals now holding those positions. The election of two new officers will take place at the June 27 meeting of the committee.
To be elected, one has to be an enrolled Democrat residing in the Town of Saugerties, but it is not necessary to be a member of the committee. An officer nominated must be approved by a majority of the voting members of the committee present and eligible to vote. The persons elected will complete the term of the resigning officers, which is September 2022. To be considered a candidate, a person must be nominated and seconded by voting members of the committee. If you are interested in being considered for these positions, please contact the committee chair at lanny@lannywalter.com.
Tree walk at Burroughs Sanctuary
“The Wisdom of Trees: A Summer Tree Walk” will take place on Saturday, June 12 at the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary in West Park.
William Bryant Logan has developed this walk especially for the trees of the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary. Winner of the 2021 John Burroughs Medal for his most recent book, Sprout Lands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees, Logan is an acclaimed arborist and award-winning writer. His essay “The Things Trees Know” won the John Burroughs Nature Essay Award in 2020.
Noting a wide range of species on this walk, Logan will explore how trees cohabit and which species choose where and why. He will guide us to probe what he refers to as “tree creativity” and discuss trees as elders and teachers.
Space is limited. Register early at info@johnburroughsassociation.org for the time and place to meet.
The Chill Cricket opens in Phoenicia
Throughout a long and challenging year, Cole Parker and Robert Drake reached out to their circle of Catskills friends and artists. Realizing the abundance of local talent, they worked to create The Chill Cricket, a gift shop and gallery featuring paintings, artwork, photography, jewelry, woodworking and more in Phoenicia. Located at 46 State Route 214, just off Main Street and across from the Stony Kill Creek, their store is open on Fridays and weekends throughout the summer and fall: Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. For additional information, visit https://thechillcricket.com.
Kingston Reads in June: The Intersection of Racism and Immigration
Kingston Reads will hold a community conversation about the intersection of racism and immigration on Thursday, June 17 from 5 to 6:15 p.m. under the pavilion at Hasbrouck Park, rain or shine. This will be the group’s first live session after a year of Zoom.
The conversation is free and open to the public. There is no advanced registration. Picnic tables/benches are available for seating, though you are welcome to bring your own chair. Masks aren’t required for folks who are vaccinated (though anyone is welcome to wear one), and social distancing will be observed.
The book selected for this conversation is The Distance between Us, a memoir by Reyna Grande about her childhood torn between the US and Mexico. Grande’s story shines a light on the experiences, fears and hopes of those who choose to make the harrowing journey across the border.
Copies of Reyna Grande’s book (in English or in Spanish) are available at Rough Draft Bar & Books in Kingston. Kingston Reads participants get a ten percent discount, and Rough Draft is also offering a pay-it-forward option: Buy two books and leave one for someone else who may not have the means to purchase their own copy. Copies can also be borrowed in English or in Spanish through the Mid-Hudson Library System.
Check out the Kingston Reads website at https://kingstonreads.org for questions to reflect on, as well as additional free resources (websites, videos, short articles and podcasts). For more information, e-mail contact@kingstonreads.org.
Our Town, in the streets of Phoenicia
The Phoenicia Playhouse will present Our Town by Thornton Wilder, outdoors at 10 Church Street in Phoenicia. Our Town is theater for current times, says artistic director Michael Koegel.
The dates are June 18, 19, 25 and 26 (with rain date June 27) at 7 p.m. The cost is $20, general admission, $18 for senior citizens. Tickets are available at http://the-phoenicia-playhouse.ticketleap.com/our-town.
“Our new porch is the first phase of our completed renovation, which has proved more than fortuitous, as we now have a magnificent outdoor performance space,” says Koegel. “We’ll be using the street and local landmarks as part of the stage. Church Street will be closed to traffic. And the sun actually sets on the faces of the actors, behind the audience, so we will be using natural lighting. Our Town is set in a small town so similar to Phoenicia; it’s a wonderful and almost eerie opportunity to showcase this work. It’s almost like a site-specific production, in that we’re a small community overlooking the mountains, with a river that floods, a train track that divides the town, lots of churches…the similarities go on and on.”
Nearly 30 local residents and a live choir are featured in the production. Rather than a concession stand, table-service snacks will be available. “We’re thinking about this more as an event, rather than a simple theatrical production,” added Koegel. “It’s the perfect way to welcome audiences back to the community and the Playhouse itself.”
The Phoenicia Playhouse is the home of the Shandaken Theatrical Society, a 40+-year-old not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing community theater to this mountain village. The venue is a building that was built in 1887. The Phoenicia Playhouse will continue to produce both indoor and outdoor productions including theatrical productions, music performances, storytelling evenings and other special events.
BOCES superintendent Dr. Charles V. Khoury honored
Ulster BOCES District Superintendent Charles V. Khoury, EdD, has been honored by the Mid-Hudson School Study Council (MHSSC) for his exceptional leadership during the pandemic.
Among those recommending Dr. Khoury for the Study Council’s 2021 Educational Leadership Award was Ulster County executive Pat Ryan, who noted that COVID-19 has created many challenges for local educators, students and families. In his nominating letter, Ryan wrote, “Dr. Khoury has tirelessly advocated on behalf of his component districts and worked in partnership with Ulster County to deliver vital goods such as PPE [personal protective equipment] and rapid tests to each of the nine districts in Ulster County.” Dr. Khoury also worked closely with the county to prioritize the vaccination of teachers and school staff interested in receiving the vaccine, he added.
In recommending Dr. Khoury for the award, Ulster BOCES board president Christopher Farrell noted that, “Over the last year, everything we knew about schools and our way of being was disrupted.” He praised Dr. Khoury for laying a strong foundation based on creativity, innovation, safety and excellence during his more than nine years at Ulster BOCES.
Kerri Sheehy, president of the Ulster BOCES Teachers’ Organization, praised Dr. Khoury’s compassion towards employees facing challenging situations, as well as his compassionate leadership in crafting plans for remote and in-person schooling. “Central to the plans was concern for the mental and physical health of both students and staff,” she wrote.
Also lending his support for the nomination was Wallkill superintendent of schools Kevin Castle, who said that “Dr. Khoury has done an incredible job leading the way, resulting in school districts finding success during a very challenging time in education.”
While Dr. Khoury says he is honored to receive the leadership award, he stresses that any accolades should be shared with teachers, administrators and staff members across Ulster County. “I am in awe of how local educators have stepped up during these unprecedented times,” he said. “They have overcome countless obstacles, embraced new skills, integrated those skills into their daily practices and worked tirelessly on behalf of students. I am proud to play a supportive role in their efforts, which have truly been herculean.”
Ride for Mental Health 2021 June 19-20
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.
Conversations with New Paltz Police
The June “Conversations with the Police” will be held on Wednesday, June 16 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Water Street Market in New Paltz. The program is intended to bring the public and the Police Department together to discuss issues concerning our community.
For 2021, the get-togethers will be held on the third Wednesday of the month, with times and locations varying to accommodate as many people as possible. For additional information, please check the department’s Facebook page or website calendar at www.townofnewpaltz.org/police.
Author Michael Nichols gives virtual lecture at Maritime Museum
The Hudson River Maritime Museum will host author Michael Nichols for “Hell Gate: Imaginative Qualities of an Actual Place” on Wednesday, June 16 at 7 p.m. as part of the Follow the River Lecture Series, sponsored by Rondout Savings Bank. This will be the last lecture until September.
This talk is drawn from Nichols’ 2018 book Hell Gate: A Nexus of New York’s East River. Part history and part memoir, Hell Gate tells of a man’s excursions along and through Hell Gate, a narrow stretch of water in New York City’s East River, notorious for dangerous currents, shipwrecks and its melancholic islands and rocks. Drawn to the area by his fascination with its name – from the Dutch Hellegat, translated into English as both “bright passage” and “hellhole” – what began as a set of casual walks for Michael Nichols became an exploration of landscape and history as he traces these idyllic and hellish images in an attempt to discover Hell Gate’s hidden character and the meaning of its elusive name.
Tickets for this virtual lecture, held via Zoom, 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.
Takeout ham dinner June 26 in St. Remy
A takeout ham and strawberry dessert dinner will be available on Saturday, June 26 from 4 to 6:30p.m. at the St. Remy United Methodist Church.
The cost is $14 for adults and $7 for children. No reservations are required. The church is located on Church Road — Route 212, five miles west of Woodstock.
Ulster County Fair 2021 dates announced; county pool to reopen
After a year without fried dough, truck pulls and carnies, the fair will be returning to New Paltz this summer. The 2021 Ulster County Fair dates are Tuesday, August 3 through Sunday, August 8. “The Ulster County Fair is an event that is enjoyed by our entire community, and I am looking forward to being able to have our Fairgrounds once again be a hub of fun and recreation for all of our Ulster County families,” said Ulster County executive Pat Ryan.
The Fairgrounds are located at 249 Libertyville Road. Information about tickets, exhibitors and entertainment can be found at https://ulstercountyfair.com. Following the New York State Guidance for County Fairs, the Ulster County Agricultural Society has submitted a COVID-19 Safety Plan to the State Health Department. The plan includes an online ticketing system to control capacity, contact tracing, no indoor entertainment and additional cleaning protocols.
2021 Ulster County Fair schedule:
Carload Night is Tuesday, August 3, $50 per car. Opens at 4 p.m., Tuesday only. Maximum of eight people per car.
Senior Day is Thursday, August 5, seniors free 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
General admission: Pay one price, $17 from 10 a.m. until closing. Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Includes all midway rides, shows and entertainment. Rides open at 11 a.m.
Children 36 inches and taller will require a wristband.
Ulster County Pool reopens
Ryan also announced last week that the Ulster County Pool Complex will be open starting July 4 weekend and will remain open until Labor Day, September 7.
“After an incredibly difficult year, we finally have a chance to celebrate and enjoy this summer,” said Ryan. “I am proud and excited that we are able to bring back the Ulster County Fair and reopen the Ulster County Pool Complex this summer.”
The New Paltz Pool Complex features an Olympic-size swimming pool and two large kiddie pools. All three pools have lifeguards on duty when open. The Pool Complex also has a spacious lawn area for additional lounging and sunbathing and a newly added playground area for children ages 8 and under.
Following the CDC and New York State COVID-19 guidelines, unvaccinated individuals are required to wear masks when not in the pool and maintain social distance when not in the pool. The Ulster County Pool Complex is located at 241 Libertyville Road, next to the Fairgrounds.
Backyard Chickens for Beginners at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library hosts a virtual “Backyard Chickens for Beginners” class on Wednesday, June 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County livestock educator Jason Detzel. Learn how to select, house and care for small flocks of chickens. The class will provide an overview on how to navigate town rules and regulations in owning backyard chicken flocks, as well as specifics in feeding, housing, protection and care of these feathered friends.
This program is made possible as a collaboration with the Ulster County Library Association. Class instructor Jason Detzel has many years of chicken-raising experience with both laying hens and meat breeds of all kinds.
Contact Nicole at nlane@rcls.org for the link to join. For further information, visit wwwgardinerlibrary.org or the library’s Facebook page.
Road work in New Paltz
Starting on or about June 15, Edgewood Drive in New Paltz will be under construction for approximately one week (weather permitting) to maintain and repair the entirety of the road. This will include culvert repairs, ditching, grinding, repaving and aprons. Any questions or concerns can be directed to Dawn or Chris at the Highway Department at (845) 255-5050.
Food Bank’s Walk to Fight Hunger at Dutchess Fairgrounds June 19
The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley’s Walk to Fight Hunger will be held on June 19 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. Every dollar that is raised helps the Food Bank and affiliates provide four meals for members of our local community. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at 6636 Route 9 in Rhinebeck.
For additional information, visit jacib@foodbankofhudsonvalley.org.
Dorsky Museum wins NEA grant for Kate Millett exhibition
The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz has been awarded a $25,000 Grants for Arts Projects award from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support the upcoming exhibition, “Life after the Revolution: Kate Millett’s Art Colony for Women,” which will open in fall 2021.
“Life after the Revolution” tells the unusual story of the Art Colony at Millett Farm, an artists’ retreat and working farm on the outskirts of Poughkeepsie, which offered women the space to create community and art together and experience freedoms that the women’s and LGBTQ civil rights movements were fighting for.
The Dorsky Museum exhibition will feature never-before-exhibited art and ephemera by Millett and by artists who visited the farm as colonists or friends, including Del La Grace Volcano, Barbara Hammer, Carolee Schneeman and Mildred Thompson. Taken together, the collection conveys the energy and character of life on Millett Farm: a bustling, experimental community that was visited by the likes of Simone de Beauvoir, Gloria Steinem, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and which the neighbors were convinced was a nudist colony.
“We are so excited to share the little-known story of Kate Millett’s inspiring venture in contemporary art and queer, feminist activism that took place only half an hour from the doorstep of the Dorsky Museum,” said Anna Conlan, Neil C. Trager Director of the Dorsky and curator of the exhibition. “Although this is local Hudson Valley history, it is also important in the history of American art as an innovative model for a utopian creative community that involved many renowned artists and cultural figures. We are deeply honored and grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts for their generous support of this project.”
“As the country and the arts sector begin to imagine returning to a post-pandemic world, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to announce funding that will help arts organizations such as the Dorsky Museum reengage fully with partners and audiences,” said NEA acting chairman Ann Eilers. “Although the arts have sustained many during the pandemic, the chance to gather with one another and share arts experiences is its own necessity and pleasure.”
“Life after the Revolution” is also supported by a $20,000 grant from the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, named for the late Hudson Valley-based painter, sculptor and printmaker.
“Life After the Revolution: Kate Millett’s Art Colony for Women,” will be on display from September 11 through December 12.
Write On! teen writing workshop at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library hosts a virtual creative writing workshop for teens on Monday, June 14 from 7 to 8 p.m. Write On! 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!
Contact Carolyn at cthorenz@rcls.org to register and receive the Zoom link. For further information, visit www.gardinerlibrary.org or the library’s Facebook page.
Kingston gun buyback event nets 47 firearms
A total of 47 firearms were turned in to law enforcement at a gun buyback event in Kingston last Saturday as part of a program meant to reduce gun violence. The community buyback netted an assault rifle, 15 handguns, 17 rifles and shotguns, and 14 non-working or antique guns. The program was jointly hosted by the state Attorney General’s office and Kingston Police Department at the Andy Murphy Midtown Neighborhood Center.
Since 2013, Attorney General’s office has hosted gun buyback events throughout New York State and has successfully collected nearly 3,100 firearms.
In exchange for the firearms, participants were offered compensation in the form of prepaid gift cards and Apple iPads when an unloaded gun was received and secured by an officer on-site, according to information provided by the Attorney General’s office.
“Our neighborhoods are safer when we take dangerous firearms out of our communities and ensure that they do not fall into the wrong hands,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “My office remains committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all New Yorkers, and we thank the Kingston Police Department for their invaluable support and partnership in this effort.”
State to shift vax site from Ulster fairgrounds to community college
The main state-run mass vaccination site in the Mid-Hudson region will begin to transition operations from the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz to a mobile vaccination trailer at the SUNY Ulster campus parking lot in Stone Ridge, effective tomorrow.
New first-dose appointments will be available at the new SUNY Ulster location starting tomorrow and all current appointments for second doses will be honored at the original location at the fairgrounds.
Current first-dose appointments are scheduled at the Fairgrounds site through June 8. From June 9 to June 29, no further first-dose appointments will be scheduled at the site, but it will continue to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for walk-ins and will continue to administer second doses. First dose appointments will be available at the SUNY Ulster site beginning June 9. Walk-ins will also be accepted at both locations, as they are at all state-run mass vaccination sites. After June 29, the Fairgrounds site will close.
“We continue to urge all New Yorkers who haven’t been vaccinated to make an appointment or walk into a site, and easy access is critical to getting the remaining shots in arms,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo. “We’re opening a new site at SUNY Ulster while continuing to offer single-shot vaccines and second doses at the current fairgrounds site. New York State is working to make the transition as seamless as possible for the public.”
The county announced last week that the Ulster County Fair will be held once again this year after taking 2020 off.
Join the family! 
