HealthAlliance offers new heart care services
WMCHealth has announced the opening of a new cardiac catheterization laboratory at HealthAlliance Hospital on Broadway in Kingston. The new laboratory offers treatments for blocked arteries, irregular heartbeats and coronary heart disease: services previously unavailable in Ulster County. The service operates under the direction of WMCHealth’s Heart and Vascular Institute.
The new HealthAlliance Hospital cardiac catheterization laboratory offers percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and electrophysiology programs. PCI (angioplasty) is used to open blocked or narrowed coronary arteries using a tiny balloon that is inserted in a blocked blood vessel to help widen it and improve blood flow to the heart. Cardiologists use PCI to relieve symptoms of coronary heart disease and reduce damage to the heart during or after a heart attack.
Electrophysiology uses a catheter inserted into blood vessels leading to the heart to test for irregular heartbeats caused by abnormalities in the heart’s electrical system. The results can help determine the best course of treatment, including medication, pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, cardiac ablation or surgery.
“Our new cardiac catheterization laboratory enables us to provide an essential cardiac service to people suffering from a heart attack or blocked arteries right here in Kingston,” said HealthAlliance Hospital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory director Falak Shah, MD, who joined HealthAlliance Hospital to provide care and guide the program. “Likewise, those with heart arrhythmias may not have to leave the community for treatment.”
WMCHealth physicians have already performed several successful procedures in the HealthAlliance Hospital cardiac catheterization laboratory, including an intervention that aided Kingston’s April Simpson, 49. Simpson checked in to the HealthAlliance Hospital Emergency Department with chest pains after a pick-up baseball game, and was diagnosed with reduced blood flow to her heart due to coronary artery disease. HealthAlliance cardiologists increased Simpson’s blood flow via a cardiac catheterization procedure, and she is now home, feeling better and eager to play baseball again, according to WMCHealth.
Those experiencing signs of cardiac distress should call 911 or visit their nearest Emergency Department immediately.
Ulster County Fair August 3-8
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–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
Car Load Night:
Tuesday, August 3, $50 per car. Opens at 4 p.m., Tuesday only. Maximum of eight people per car.
Senior Day:
Thursday, August 5, Seniors free – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
General Admission
Wednesday and Thursday – 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday – 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Pay one price: $17 — 10 a.m. til closing — rides Open at 11 a.m.; includes all Midway rides, shows and entertainment; children 36 inches and taller will require a wristband; free parking
Public hearing on Saugerties Library budget
The Board of Trustees of the Saugerties Public Library will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2022 budget at the regularly scheduled board meeting on Thursday, August 12 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the library at 91 Washington Avenue.
Copies of the proposed budget are available at the library and may be picked up anytime when the library is open.
Elections and budget vote will be held at the library on Thursday, September 2 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots will be available after August 17.
For more information, call the library at 246-4317.
Jazzstock presents Matt Munisteri Duo at Senate Garage
The upcoming Jazzstock at the Senate Garage will feature the Matt Munisteri Duo on Saturday, July 24 at 8 p.m. Originally scheduled to perform back in April 2020, the duo consists of singer and songwriter Matt Munisteri and bassist Danton Boller.
Seating is 100 audience members. Tickets cost $30 and are available at Rhino Records (6 North Front Street in Kingston) or by e-mailing jazzstockmusic@gmail.com. Proof of double vaccination, with the second shot given prior to two weeks of the concert, is required.
The Senate Garage is located at 4 North Front Street in Kingston.
Civic volunteers needed in New Paltz
The Town of New Paltz is looking for volunteers to serve on the Bike/Ped Committee, Clean Water/Open Space Preservation Commission, Community Improvement Team, Environmental Conservation Board, Ethics Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Board (two alternates) and the Public Access Committee. Interested parties may submit a letter of interest and résumé to the Supervisor’s Office at PO Box 550, New Paltz NY 12561 or e-mail assistant@townofnewpaltz.org.
Dutch Barn to open as gallery for Saugerties Artists’ Tour
Celebrating its 19th year, the 2021 Saugerties Artists’ Tour hosts 31 artists skilled in at least 14 creative disciplines who will open their studios; six virtual artists will also participate with personal, in-depth videos on the tour’s website. The tour will include work by painters, sculptors, ceramic artists, photographers, printmakers, collagists, digital and mixed-media artists and handmade furniture.
The Dutch Barn will be open as a gallery, displaying the art that is part of this year’s tour, on the following dates/times: Saturday, July 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, July 25 from 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, July 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, August 1 from 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, August 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, August 8 from 1 to 5 p.m.
The actual tour of open studios takes place on Saturday and Sunday, August 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at artists’ studios throughout the Town of Saugerties. Pick up a map for this free self-guided tour at many Saugerties businesses, including the Chamber of Commerce Visitors’ Center, 138 Partition Street; Smith Hardware, 227 Main Street; and Town & Country Liquors, 303 Route 212 at CVS Plaza.
The Dutch Barn is located at 119 Main Street (behind the Kiersted House) in Saugerties. For additional information, visit https://saugertiesarttour.org.
WAAM presents “Radius 50”
The Woodstock Artists Association & Museum (WAAM) will present “Radius 50,” an exhibition of works by artists living and working within 50 miles of Woodstock. This presentation will be on view in the Main Gallery from July 30 through September 12, with an opening reception on Saturday, July 31 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Jurors Alyson Baker and Candice Madey of River Valley Arts Collective selected the works on view. Of the 172 submissions for this exhibition, Baker and Madey chose works by 13 artists who are responding to and reflecting on diverse aspects of the rural environments in which they live. The artists bring to bear the influence of their immediate landscape in both materiality and subject matter, with local geography, histories, traditions and natural resources forming the context for a broader dialogue about the relationship between artist and place.
Exhibiting artists include Natalie Beal, Irja Boden, Kathy Greenwood, Shanti Grumbine, Brece Honeycutt, Martine Kaczynski, Alison McNulty, Tony Moore, Ralph Mosley, Linda Stillman, Joy Taylor, Victoria van der Laan and Yage Wang.
The Woodstock Artists Association & Museum is located at 28 Tinker Street in Woodstock. For general information, call (845) 679-2940 or visit www.woodstockart.org.
Woodstock Library Fair returns July 24
The Friends of the Woodstock Library have announced that “Renascence,” the 90th-anniversary Woodstock Library Fair, will be held on Saturday, July 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the library lawn. “After a year of death and isolation, let us find the joy of life in our natural surroundings,” said Friends president Michael Hunt. “Renascence,” the title of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s famed poem, means “the revival of something that has been dormant,” he added.
The Library Fair was dormant last year because of the pandemic and its accompanying tragedies. This year, however, the fair returns in a burst of promise, focusing on the future: children. They line up in costume at 9:45 a.m. at the upper Comeau, march across Tinker Street onto the library lawn and then dance around the colorful maypole.
This year, the Fair Dining Row includes edibles from Provisions Pop-Up, Woodstock Shaved Ice, Tapped into the Catskills, The Land of the Tamal (tamales) and The Friends Pop-Up, with a menu from the famed Colony Café. All-day live music features Tracy Bonham and Melodeon Music House, the Rock Academy and many talented musicians, presented by Colony. The book barn is back, filled to the rafters with books and CDs and great deals for shoppers.
Inspired by the library’s own Peter the Horse, a beloved fixture of the Children’s Room for generations, a 16-person carousel will carry children, parents and friends ‘round and ‘round on the library lawn. The children’s area this year reintroduces youngsters to Steve Charney’s ventriloquism and magic show. Kids will also create ingenious craft projects such as solar Mason-jar lights, colored pencil packs, mini-stretched canvases and photosensitive paper.
A Woodstock getaway is once again First Prize in the Great Expectations Raffle. The getaway includes a two-night stay for two at the scenic Onteora Mountain House, culinary delight in a dinner for two at Cucina Restaurant and a pair of yoga classes at top Woodstock studio Euphoria Yoga. Other prizes include $100 gift cards from scores of Woodstock businesses, including the Garden Café, The Golden Notebook, Catskill Mountain Pizza, Jarita’s Florist, Village Apothecary, H. Houst & Son, Yum Yum Noodle Bar, Cub Market, Woodstock Design, Silvia, Bread Alone, Joshua’s, The Framing Piazza, Jean Turmo and The Tea Shop of Woodstock.
A highlight of the library fair, the annual honoree, is this year’s town hero: Neal Smoller of Village Apothecary and leader of the COVID-Busting Volunteer Army, responsible for vaccinating over 23,000 people in Ulster and Dutchess counties.
If you are so inclined, send an anecdote, a memory or a story from the Woodstock Library Fair. Your first fair? The fair at which you met your love? Fair food? Fair books? Fair antics? Anything and everything fair. Organizers will be posting your memories on a memory wall at the 90th Library Fair.
For additional information, e-mail Sheila Isenberg at sheila.isenberg@gmail.com.
Mushroom growing workshop at Hudson River Maritime Museum
Mushroom Shed is teaming up with Steve Gabriel of Cornell Small Farms Specialty Mushrooms Project in a “Learn to Grow Mushrooms” workshop on Saturday, July 24 at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston. Participants will experience hands-on inoculations of shiitake logs and oyster grow kits, learning successful methods of growing mushrooms at home. The uses of mushrooms, including cooking, drying and medicinal, will also be discussed.
Limited space is available for the workshop which runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Class fee is $50, which includes an inoculated shiitake log and a small oyster grow kit to take home. Access to an online site with additional resources will also be made available to each participant. Please register at https://smallfarmcourses.com/p/intro-to-mushroom-growing-workshops-july-24-kingston-ny.
Mushroom Shed will also be selling two sizes of oyster grow kits at a sliding scale, during the event. The mushroom grow kits include everything needed to grow oyster mushrooms on coffee grounds and cardboard in a quart container (small kit) or bucket (large kit), including a simple how-to video. Kits include PDFs with cooking tips and information on how to grow and care for the mushrooms.
This workshop is part of the Logs to NYC Project, sending logs downriver in a carbon-neutral transport aboard the Appollonia. You can learn more about this endeavor to connect local foresters with community gardens in NYC at https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2021/07/shiitake-mushroom-logs-headed-to-nyc-via-the-schooner-apollonia-sailboat/.
Mushroom Shed is an experimental space for community mushroom education, an incubator for cultivating connections and community ideas and for bringing people together in a non- hierarchical learning environment.
To learn more about Mushroom Shed, this workshop and sale or volunteer opportunities, email communitymushroomshed@gmail.com.
Friends of the Saugerties Library award scholarship
Jayden Williams of Saugerties has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship by the Friends of the Saugerties Public Library. Williams, a Saugerties High School graduate, plans to become a police officer and is entering SUNY Ulster’s Criminal Justice program in the fall.
He is the son of Ray and Daphne Celli Williams. His award was based on community service, which included a sock drive for people who are homeless and volunteer service with the Key Club and St. Mary’s of the Snow Roman Catholic Church, where he has taught religion. He has also volunteered at the Garlic Festival. Williams said that his choice of a career as a police officer is influenced by the father of a close friend who has served.
New members of the Friends are always welcome; information is available on the library’s website through the Friends tab.
Local author releases Ashokan Reservoir mystery
Local author Arno B. Zimmer recently published his sixth novel, Reservoir Man: The Disappearance of Tommy Dwyer, now available on Amazon in paperback and e-book versions.
In Reservoir Man, it’s 1939, two years before Pearl Harbor catapulted America into World War II, when a young soldier vanishes at an upstate New York reservoir. Forty-six years later, private eye Woody Meacham, at the request of his ailing stepfather, investigates the disappearance of distant cousin Tommy Dwyer, only to be thwarted by a powerful, megalomaniacal industrialist who sees himself as a political kingmaker in the tradition of JFK’s father.
Meacham’s life is threatened as he uncovers evidence of Dwyer’s secret activities leading up to the war. Was Dwyer a clandestine agent or a traitor in league with German saboteurs intent on blowing up US munitions factories and supply ships headed to Europe? A mysterious, auburn-haired beauty complicates Meacham’s love life and his inquiry. As he digs into old census records, he discovers her own long-buried family secrets that may link her to the Dwyer clan. When Meacham gets close to discovering Dwyer’s fate, people around him start dying.
For additional information, visit https://amzn.to/2rSxC7e.
Junior Fiction Mythology Book Club at Gardiner Library
Gardiner Library presents a Junior Fiction Mythology Book Club on Sunday, July 25 from 2 to 3 p.m. Are you interested in mythology? Come and share stories of favorite mythological creatures while designing a terrarium to bring home. The club is for youth ages 9+.
Preregistration is necessary and limited. For more information and registration, contact Carolyn at cthorenz@rcls.org.
The Library is located at 133 Farmers’ Turnpike. Call (845) 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Staged reading of Charlie’s Birds in Woodstock
Performing Arts of Woodstock returns with a staged reading of Charlie’s Birds, a dark comedy by the late Woodstock playwright Robert Cessna, on Saturday, August 3 at 7 p.m., at the Mescal Hornbeck Community Center at 56 Rock City Road in Woodstock.
Shelley Wyant of Actors and Writers directs Bill Solley and Linda Reznick playing brother Charlie and sister Olive, who have lived with Olive’s late husband. Along comes a strange woman, played by Adele Calcavecchio, claiming to be their aunt. Funny and not-so-funny surprises follow in the course of two eventful days in their otherwise-quiet lives.
Refreshment and a question-and-answer session will follow the reading. Unvaccinated guests are requested to wear masks. Social distancing will be observed.
Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at https://charliesbirds.bpt.me or at the door.
Grand Opening of pollinator garden at Kenco
The Grand Opening celebration of the pollinator garden in front of Kenco in Kingston will take place on Saturday, July 31, starting at 4:30 p.m. The event will feature music by Marion Tortorella and Rafael Garritano and the women’s Native American group Spirit of Thunderheart, who will bless the garden with drums, rattles and dance. Maraleen Manos-Jones, creator of the garden, will be emceeing, sharing stories and poems.
Bring chairs and blankets. Butterfly cookies and garden teas will be available.
For additional information, contact Manos-Jones at mmjbutterfly@hvc.rr.com and visit www.spiritofbutterflies.com.
Good Time at Phillies Bridge Farm
Doc Edison and the Good Time Machine will be performing at Phillies Bridge Farm on Sunday, July 25. A testament to the gem that is local talent, Doc Edison and the Good Time Machine take jamming to a whole new level. Made up of an assemblage of local New Paltz musicians, rotating talent and trading solos are commonplace in their locally sought-out performances. With original tunes reminiscent of the Dead, Jorma Kaukonen, Jim Croce and the like, Doc Edison and the Good Time Machine also cover classic rock, blues and even disco favorites in a continuous jam.
The gates open at 1 p.m. Doc Edison and the Good Time Machine will take to the stage at 2 p.m. This event will be held outdoors; in the event of rain, it will be moved into the open-air barn. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Proceeds go directly to the musicians and support Phillies Bridge Farm’s Food Justice and education programs.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://philliesbridge.org/events. The farm is located at 45 Phillies Bridge Road in New Paltz.
Do-It-Yourself Monster Book of Monsters at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library presents a Do-It-Yourself Harry Potter Monster Book of Monsters workshop on Saturday, July 31 from 1 to 3 p.m. Celebrate Harry Potter on his birthday. Make the book, partake in gillywater, lollipops and more. This event is for youth ages 8+.
Preregistration is necessary and limited. For more information and registration, contact Carolyn at cthorenz@rcls.org.
The Library is located at 133 Farmers’ Turnpike. Call (845) 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Takeout chicken BBQ in Saugerties
The Reformed Church of Saugerties will offer a takeout chicken barbecue dinner on Saturday, August 21, with pickup from 3 to 6 p.m. The menu includes chicken, two sides, roll, dessert and beverage. The cost is $13 per person.
Preordering is recommended by calling Barb at (845) 246-5035. Walk-ins are welcome, but a limited quantity will be available. The event will also feature a book sale.
The church is located at 173 Main Street in Saugerties.
King Arthur live at Bard SummerScape
King Arthur, featuring baritone Norman Garrett and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke in an original staging by Princess Grace award-winner Louisa Proske, will run for four performances on July 25, 28 and 30 and August 1 at Bard SummerScape. The performance will be anchored by the American Symphony Orchestra and Bard Festival Chorale under the leadership of festival founder and co-artistic director Leon Botstein.
In light of recent New York State guidance, these performances will now take place before full-capacity audiences in the Frank Gehry-designed Fisher Center on Bard’s Hudson Valley campus in Annandale-on-Hudson. The July 25 performance will also be livestreamed with an encore virtual presentation on July 28.
The box office can be reached by telephone at (845) 758-7900 on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from noon to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m., or by e-mail at boxoffice@bard.edu. Tickets and additional information are available 24/7 on Bard’s website at https://fishercenter.bard.edu.
July 24 Great Newburgh-to-Beacon Hudson River Swim supports River Pool
The River Pool is securely installed for summer 2021 off the north shore of Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park in Beacon. Pool hours are planned for Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., July through Labor Day, weather permitting.
The late Pete Seeger, a founding member of the organization, believed that river stewardship begins with being on, near and in the river. In offering a safe place to swim, the rainbow-colored floating River Pool – recently voted one of the top swimming spots in the Hudson Valley by Chronogram magazine – presents just such opportunities. Its mission is to provide safe access to the Hudson River; to educate the general public about the importance of continuing to preserve and clean the Hudson River; to promote swimming as a fun, healthful fitness activity in a natural environment; and to demonstrate to other communities the viability of floating pools.
The twofold joy of the pool – allowing its users to enjoy a cool river swim on a hot summer day while carrying forward Pete’s legacy – has been experienced by its wide community of supporters and users: About 13,000 people have swum in the floating pool during the past 14 years. Volunteers install the pool each June and take it out of the river in September.
This community asset is made possible in large part by the swimmers, kayak escorts and volunteers who participate in the annual Great Newburgh-to-Beacon Hudson River Swim. The 2021 swim, the 17th cross-river swim, will take place on Saturday, July 24 (rain date July 25). Advance registration is required for the swim, where 100 or more swimmers are expected to splash-in from Newburgh at approximately 8:50 a.m. Registration for the swim is open at www.riverpool.org.
Contributions raised by swimmers are used to maintain and operate the pool, which is free to all visitors (seasonal costs average $40,000). Each swimmer raises a minimum $100 of sponsorship donations, in addition to the registration fee ($75 for adults and $25 for minors) that covers the cost of the fundraising swim.
Volunteer kayak escorts guide the swimmers across the Hudson River to provide a safe environment for registered participants. The organization coordinates with the US Coast Guard and Dutchess and Orange County Sheriffs’ vessels, additional marine support and qualified jet-skiers aid in halting river traffic and provide safe passage for the registered swimmers. Mobile Life Support Services and the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be available on Newburgh and Beacon shores.
Lifeguards are always present when the River Pool is open. Visitors are advised to check www.riverpool.org to confirm hours and for additional information.
Bottom: Olivia Roberts; Isabela Leon Ferrer; and Lindsay McGarth.
Open Space Institute recognizes young Hudson Valley environmental, cultural leaders
The Open Space Institute (OSI) has announced the recipients of its 2021 Barnabas McHenry Hudson Valley Awards, honoring exceptional young leaders who are working to protect and enhance the Hudson River Valley. The five recipients, who represent communities throughout the Hudson Valley, are working this summer with prominent community not-for-profits.
OSI established the McHenry Awards in 2007 to honor the extensive contributions of its trustee Barnabas McHenry, a renowned local environmental philanthropist and conservationist. Funded by an endowment raised by OSI, the awards go to graduate and undergraduate students pursuing research, leadership and community involvement in the Hudson Valley.
“The winners of OSI’s McHenry Award represent the bright future of the Hudson Valley,” said Kim Elliman, OSI’s president and CEO. “Each year we are delighted by the applicants, their project ideas and their passion to improve their communities. Through educational, conservation and cultural projects, these young leaders are adding to Barney McHenry’s amazing legacy of dedication to the Hudson Valley.”
The 2021 recipients of the McHenry Awards and their project descriptions are as follows:
Andrew Randazzo and Marguerite Royo are working in New Paltz with the Mohonk Preserve and the Wallkill Valley Land Trust to develop and revise forest and protected land management plans that will aid both organizations. The plans will help the organizations prepare for and address the negative impacts of climate change on forested ecosystems and monitor and remove invasive species from protected lands. Randazzo is pursuing a Masters of Natural Resource Management from Oregon State University and Royo is pursuing a Geography with Environmental Conservation degree from SUNY New Paltz.
Isabela Leon Ferrer is working in Beacon and Newburgh with Land to Learn (formerly Hudson Valley Seed) to create a new environmental education curriculum, facilitate summer lessons and maintain three school gardens. The curriculum, aimed at third-through-fifth-graders, will help increase the organization’s teaching capacity. The lesson plans are intended to be garden-based, promote ecological literacy, be culturally relevant to diverse student communities and bring learners outdoors. Ferrer is pursuing an Adolescent Education degree with a concentration in Biology from SUNY New Paltz.
Kate Walters is working in Newburgh with the Fullerton Mansion Center for Culture and History on a project called “MakerBoards 2.0” to set up a series of community public art projects. The MakerBoards will be installed on streets and in open spaces and will prompt members of the community to contribute toward and help co-create the public art displays. Walters is pursuing an Urban Studies and Education degree from Vassar College.
Olivia Roberts is working in the Hudson Valley with the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance on a project called “Creating Land Ownership Access for BIPOC Farmers through More Inclusive Land Conservation Practices.” The aim of the project is to compile research that will assist Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers in maintaining and securing land ownership. The project will also explore tools that land trusts have at their disposal to stem the loss of BIPOC-owned farmlands. Roberts is pursuing a Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School.
Lindsay McGarth is working in Saratoga County with Saratoga PLAN on a Palmertown Range geological inventory. The Palmertown Range, located at the southern foothills of the Adirondack Park, is a 40,500-acre green corridor. The project will provide an in-depth look into the unique geologic features found throughout the Palmertown Range and guide the development of educational and interpretive materials. Lindsay is pursuing an Environmental Studies and Geology degree from St. Lawrence University.
Every year, OSI makes awards of up to $5,000 to each graduate or undergraduate student to partner with regional not-for-profits in the fields of environmental conservation, historic preservation, the arts and tourism, with $1,000 going to the partnering institution. In response to the interest of student leaders, OSI added a fifth award category, healthy communities, in 2018.
Since 2007, OSI has committed nearly $314,000 to 57 McHenry Award grantees working in support of the Hudson Valley.
The Open Space Institute (OSI) has announced the recipients of its 2021 Barnabas McHenry Hudson Valley Awards, honoring exceptional young leaders who are working to protect and enhance the Hudson River Valley. The five recipients, who represent communities throughout the Hudson Valley, are working this summer with prominent community not-for-profits.
OSI established the McHenry Awards in 2007 to honor the extensive contributions of its trustee Barnabas McHenry, a renowned local environmental philanthropist and conservationist. Funded by an endowment raised by OSI, the awards go to graduate and undergraduate students pursuing research, leadership and community involvement in the Hudson Valley.
“The winners of OSI’s McHenry Award represent the bright future of the Hudson Valley,” said Kim Elliman, OSI’s president and CEO. “Each year we are delighted by the applicants, their project ideas and their passion to improve their communities. Through educational, conservation and cultural projects, these young leaders are adding to Barney McHenry’s amazing legacy of dedication to the Hudson Valley.”
The 2021 recipients of the McHenry Awards and their project descriptions are as follows:
Andrew Randazzo and Marguerite Royo are working in New Paltz with the Mohonk Preserve and the Wallkill Valley Land Trust to develop and revise forest and protected land management plans that will aid both organizations. The plans will help the organizations prepare for and address the negative impacts of climate change on forested ecosystems and monitor and remove invasive species from protected lands. Randazzo is pursuing a Masters of Natural Resource Management from Oregon State University and Royo is pursuing a Geography with Environmental Conservation degree from SUNY New Paltz.
Isabela Leon Ferrer is working in Beacon and Newburgh with Land to Learn (formerly Hudson Valley Seed) to create a new environmental education curriculum, facilitate summer lessons and maintain three school gardens. The curriculum, aimed at third-through-fifth-graders, will help increase the organization’s teaching capacity. The lesson plans are intended to be garden-based, promote ecological literacy, be culturally relevant to diverse student communities and bring learners outdoors. Ferrer is pursuing an Adolescent Education degree with a concentration in Biology from SUNY New Paltz.
Kate Walters is working in Newburgh with the Fullerton Mansion Center for Culture and History on a project called “MakerBoards 2.0” to set up a series of community public art projects. The MakerBoards will be installed on streets and in open spaces and will prompt members of the community to contribute toward and help co-create the public art displays. Walters is pursuing an Urban Studies and Education degree from Vassar College.
Olivia Roberts is working in the Hudson Valley with the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance on a project called “Creating Land Ownership Access for BIPOC Farmers through More Inclusive Land Conservation Practices.” The aim of the project is to compile research that will assist Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers in maintaining and securing land ownership. The project will also explore tools that land trusts have at their disposal to stem the loss of BIPOC-owned farmlands. Roberts is pursuing a Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School.
Lindsay McGarth is working in Saratoga County with Saratoga PLAN on a Palmertown Range geological inventory. The Palmertown Range, located at the southern foothills of the Adirondack Park, is a 40,500-acre green corridor. The project will provide an in-depth look into the unique geologic features found throughout the Palmertown Range and guide the development of educational and interpretive materials. Lindsay is pursuing an Environmental Studies and Geology degree from St. Lawrence University.
Every year, OSI makes awards of up to $5,000 to each graduate or undergraduate student to partner with regional not-for-profits in the fields of environmental conservation, historic preservation, the arts and tourism, with $1,000 going to the partnering institution. In response to the interest of student leaders, OSI added a fifth award category, healthy communities, in 2018.
Since 2007, OSI has committed nearly $314,000 to 57 McHenry Award grantees working in support of the Hudson Valley.
Secret night life of moths
The secret night life of moths will be discussed by entomologist Matthew Rymkiewicz at the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary on Saturday, July 24.
The Pond House lawn will be the setting for this nighttime event to discover evening moths and to celebrate National Moth Week. A close look at the night life of moths is sure to make fans of these undersung cousins of attention-grabbing butterflies. Important in the ecosystem in their own right, moths play a critical role as evening pollinators of night-blooming flowers and as nutrition for many larger creatures.
Bring a snack/dessert/bottle of wine to share, and a chair if you wish, and have as much fun as the moths that will be attracted by the light of our pop-up moth theater and their own special nectar snack.
Space is limited. Advance registration is required to get the time and place to meet and for parking access. Sign up at info@johnburroughsassociation.org.
Slabsides will be open for tours earlier in the day, from noon until 4 p.m.
Sacred Structures opens August 21 at Kleinert
The Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild will present “Sacred Structures,” a two-person exhibition of works by Tony Moore and Kenro Izu, on view at the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts from August 21 through October 3. The two artists investigate the architectonic form in their respective mediums, Tony Moore with sculpture and Kenro Izu with photography.
The notion of house as shelter has become acutely significant in the current climate of the Covid-19 pandemic. The lockdowns endured in many countries made many homes also double as places of work. This exhibition showcases the creative response of two artists to the theme of the house, contrasting the quiet serenity and a sense of “peace on Earth” that Izu finds with his lens against the deconstructivist energy in Moore’s clay sculptures.
The opening of the exhibition will take place on Saturday, August 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. The artists, along with curator Osi Audu, will be at the gallery to meet the public and discuss the works on view. No food or beverages will be served.
Join exhibition curator Audu in the gallery for a walk-through and in-depth talk on “Sacred Structures” and the architectonic form of sculptures by Moore and photography by Izu on Friday, August 27 at 2 p.m.
The Kleinert/James Center for the Arts is located at 36 Tinker Street in Woodstock. Gallery hours are Friday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
City of Kingston awarded $1.525M grant
Kingston mayor Steven Noble has announced that the City of Kingston was awarded a Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant for $1,525,000 from the New York State Department of Health, Division of Chronic Disease Prevention. The grant, which will span five years, will help to increase opportunities for physical activity and nutrition in schools and the community by engaging with trusted partners in child care and education: Family of Woodstock and the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County.
Daily physical activity and good nutrition early in life support healthy growth and brain development and can protect against chronic diseases and conditions throughout life. Studies have shown that many children from underserved households do not have the access to the opportunities needed to meet recommended national guidelines for physical activity and healthy food. The Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant aims to support and help implement policy and systems change to provide equitable access for all children in our community.
“This grant will help the City of Kingston further its goal of supporting the social determinants of health: access to everything needed for healthy living. We have to make sure that every child is given opportunities to succeed, and that starts with their nutrition and movement,” said Mayor Noble. “This initiative dovetails with the priorities of our Live Well Kingston Commission and its teams focused on healthy eating, active transportation, healing, aging, gardens and agriculture and access to parks and play.”
Joan Monastero exhibition at St. Gregory’s in Woodstock
The public is invited to a new summer art exhibit featuring the work of Saugerties artist Joan Monastero. The exhibit, “Rooted in Nature and Prayer,” is now open at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, located at 2578 Route 212 in Woodstock.
Monastero, a resident of the area since 1974, has exhibited her mixed-media work locally and in New York City over the decades. The current exhibit includes pieces from various periods of her artmaking.
The exhibit is free to the public and will be on display for the remainder of the summer season. Public viewing hours are Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon.
New Paltz Chamber picks new board members
The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce has named Michael Esposito as its new chairman of the Board of Directors. He was unanimously voted in on June 8. Esposito is the founder and owner of an executive consulting firm and an insurance company. He replaces Sheila Gilday, who is stepping down after two years as chairwoman.
The Chamber’s new first vice-chair is Julie Robbins of One Epic Place. She is a co-founder of One Epic Place, where she is a holistic business coach who helps people find their path in life. The new second vice-chair is Janet Giannetta, who is a partner in Visions Human Resources Services, LLC, an affiliate of RBT CPAs, LLP. Visions offers a full spectrum of human resources services. Giannetta most recently was chief human resources officer at RBT CPAs, where she was responsible for all HR activities within the firm.
The Chamber has picked John Sorlie of Historic Huguenot Street, formerly of Riverside Bank, as its treasurer. He is responsible for overseeing the management and reporting of the Chamber’s finances and keeping the other officers and board members informed.
Jeff Severson will serve as secretary. He is the owner of JTS Design, Inc., a Web development company, where he specializes in custom Web applications, responsive design (mobile-friendly), e-commerce solutions and HTML5 and CSS-compliant websites. Given his role, he will be keeping track of the organization’s activities and the board members’ contact information in order to inform the board about meetings and updates.
Race through summer at Mohonk Preserve
In-person races are back at the Mohonk Preserve, starting with the Pfalz Point Trail Challenge on Sunday, August 29. Check-in opens at 7 a.m. and the race begins at 8 a.m.
Run on ten miles of trails through broad open meadows with spectacular views, steep and rocky footpaths and gently rolling carriage roads. The course, which begins and ends at the Preserve’s Spring Farm Trailhead in High Falls, is clearly marked and features four water stops.
All runners will receive great-looking commemorative tee-shirts and enjoy a free post-race chili lunch provided by the Main Street Bistro. Spectators and guests can enjoy the meal for an additional donation. Prizes will be awarded to the overall winners and winners in ten-year age groups. Principal sponsors for this year’s event are Thruway Sports and JTS Design, Inc.
The proceeds from the 2021 race registration fees and sponsorships will support conservation of over 8,000 acres, including the restoration and maintenance of the carriage roads. The network of over 75 miles of trails and carriage roads in Mohonk Preserve serves 300,000 visitors annually, including hosting races such as the Pfalz Point Trail Challenge, Rock the Ridge and Bridge-2-Bridge.
Space is limited; sign up at www.mohonkpreserve.org/events/pptc.html. For more information on running at the Mohonk Preserve, visit www.mohonkpreserve.org/visit/activities/run.html.
Nyack Film Festival to screen The Reunion
The ninth annual Nyack Film Festival, being held August 16 to 19, will hold a public screening of The Reunion, a new independent film written and produced by Dave Rosenberg. The screening will be held on Wednesday, August 18 at 9:45 p.m. at Hotel Nyack, JdV by Hyatt at 400 High Avenue in Nyack. Tickets for the screening are available for $20 to $60 per person and can be purchased online at www.thereunionfilm.com. The film stars Dave Rosenberg, Andrea Modica, Dinh James Doan and Cara Ronzetti, with special appearances by Drama Desk Award-winning actor Austin Pendleton and actor/comedian Jim Norton.
The Reunion is based on the real-life traumatic childhood experience of Dave Rosenberg, the film’s writer and producer, who also stars as the protagonist, Ricky Reilly. Reilly, a former actor who is seeking spiritual fulfilment, suddenly has his life turned upside-down when he sees Travis, a childhood bully who had beaten him up over a girl years ago. Seeing his old nemesis reawakens memories and emotions that compel Ricky finally to face his greatest fear in order to discover a new definition of manhood.
The film is the product of nearly 100 dedicated filmmakers, collaborating on the East and West Coasts for little-to-no money, on a very low budget, with all the creativity, talent, grit and determination of a Scorsese film.
Each screening will be immediately followed by a brief question-and-answer session with the film’s stars, co-creators and producers, Dave Rosenberg and Andrea Modica.
For additional information, visit www.thereunionfilm.com.
Candidates sought for Saugerties Democratic Committee District 4 vacancy
The Saugerties Democratic Committee has one vacancy in Election District 4, which is located in the Village of Saugerties. While it is desirable that applicants reside in the district, it is not a requirement.
If you are interested in joining the committee, you must be an enrolled Democrat who resides in the Town of Saugerties. If you wish to apply, please contact Lanny Walter, chair, at lanny@lanywalter.com and you will be sent information about the process to apply for membership. If you are interested in knowing more about activities without joining, send Walter your e-mail and you will be placed in the e-mail blast.
Notice for August New Paltz Town Board meetings
The New Paltz Town Board meetings for the dates/times listed below, will be held at the Community Center, 3 Veterans Drive in New Paltz and at the Park County Public Library, 1500 Heart Mountain Street in Cody, Wyoming. The public has the right to attend the meeting at either of the locations on Thursday, August 5, 7 p.m./5 p.m. Mountain Time and Thursday, August 19, 6:30 p.m./4:30 p.m. Mountain Time
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