Local animal shelter celebrates 130 years
The Ulster County SPCA is celebrating its 130th anniversary. Since 1891, it has provided shelter, medical care and adoption opportunities for the abused, neglected and homeless animals of Ulster County. A ceremony and Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting was held in honor of its 130th anniversary on July 22.
The Ulster County SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was first founded in 1891 in Kingston. An independent, private not-for-profit, the organization is unrelated to the more familiar ASPCA and does not receive funding from either the ASPCA or the Ulster County government. As such, it is entirely reliant on charitable donations and support from the Ulster County community to continue providing its life-changing services and programs.
The Ulster County SPCA offers a multitude of community services, including low-cost clinic services, humane education, a free community pet food pantry and, as the only Humane Law Enforcement agency in the county, investigates criminal abuse and neglect of animals. It also promotes and preserves the human/animal bond, working to keep pets and people together.
To learn more about the Ulster County SPCA or to make a donation, visit www.ucspca.org or call (845) 331-5377.
Armed robbery on Main Street in New Paltz
Town of New Paltz police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred in the vicinity of Main and Prospect streets in the village early Saturday morning, July 24.
Police said the suspects, who remain at large, observed the victims sitting outside of a business in the area of Main and Prospect streets around 4:20 a.m. when they approached the victim, displayed a handgun and demanded the victims’ personal belongings. Authorities said the suspect then jumped into a waiting car and fled east on Main Street.
Police said the victims had been in a dispute with the suspects earlier that evening.
Town police continue to investigate the incident and they encourage anyone with information to call the department’s detective division at (845) 255-1357.
MAD Celebration of the Arts returns to Kingston August 7-14
The Kingston Midtown Arts District (MAD) is presenting its seventh annual MAD Celebration of the Arts (CoA) throughout the week of August 7 to 14. This community event showcases excellence in the arts and highlights the breadth of Kingston’s artistic and cultural diversity. All events are free and open to all ages.
The celebration kicks off on Saturday morning, August 7, with live outdoor performances at Barmann Park (at the corner of South Clinton Avenue and Barmann Avenue) in Kingston, featuring Arm-of-the-Sea Theater (mask and puppet theater), SED (trio with David Gonzalez, Steve Gorn and Evry Mann), René Bailey and the Saints of Swing and ceremonies to bestow this year’s Red Goat Awards and the Todd Samara Art Fund Award.
“We are pleased to host the seventh annual MAD Celebration of the Arts and have once again taken a creative pivot in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ray Curran, vice president of the MAD Board of Directors. “All events are free, and most will be held virtually – with an exciting new addition of an open call of online video content, which will showcase the remarkable work of Kingston artists. Our free classes at the DRAW will be held in person at our studio in Energy Square. We invite everyone to join us this August to celebrate Kingston’s vibrant creative community.”
Throughout the week of August 8 to 12, the DRAW (MAD’s art ed program) will offer free in-person classes taught by local artist/teachers in the DRAW studio at Energy Square. Classes include Intro to Printmaking, Intro to Monoprints, Accordion Book Construction, Costumed Life Drawing, Visual Artist Career Development and Mixed-Media Artmaking for Seniors. All in-person workshops are free, but require preregistration. Sign up at www.drawkingston.org/classes.
The celebration closes on Saturday, August 14 with a DRAW-athon. Based on the renowned 24-hour event started in 2008 by Antenna in New Orleans, the DRAW’s first annual DRAW-athon is a 12-hour drawing extravaganza for all ages. Visitors can come and go throughout this day of drawing, during which all the surfaces in our studio can be drawn on by folks of all ages, abilities, skill levels and interests. Teaching artists and youth leaders will be creating drawing experiences for everyone throughout the day. Come and create comics, zines, Exquisite Corpse collaborative drawings, pet portraits and more. All materials will be provided. The event will be family-friendly all day and turn to an adult-focused event from 7 to 10 p.m.
Throughout the week, MAD will be showcasing original online videos solicited from, and produced by, Kingston and area artists. For more information – or to volunteer, donate or become an official sponsor – contact lisa@madkingston.org or visit www.madkingston.org.
One Epic Place hosts Pepper Executive Concierge ribbon-cutting
After a year of no in-person events, One EPIC Place in New Paltz has resumed hosting ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the community. Its first collaboration since the pandemic was with Cecille Castillon, the CEO and founder of Castillon Lifestyle. Castillon has launched a new branch of her brand, Pepper Executive Concierge. The ribbon-cutting took place on July 15 and many members of the Hudson Valley community came out to welcome Pepper Executive Concierge, a full-service concierge that offers a multitude of professional services.
“I’m finally ready to show the community that’s given my business so much life and success a new, fresher side of me,” said Castillon. “I’m honored that One EPIC Place is a part of this. They’ve given me so much support and continue to be a staple in our community. Pepper Executive Concierge is a way to spice up your work and personal life by giving you the opportunity to focus on the bigger picture, and letting myself and my staff take care of the day-to-day. We will be your most supportive sidekicks, with a kick.”
Amelia Hotel hosts Saturday concert series
The just-opened Amelia Hotel, located at 339 Allen Street in Hudson, will welcome the renowned Bard College Conservatory (BCC) for the second show of the Amelia’s Saturday concert series on July 31 at 4:30 p.m. The Amelia Saturday concert series will take place throughout the summer at the Amelia Hotel, featuring various groups of performers from the Bard Conservatory highlighting different themes for each performance. For the second show, guests can enjoy a live performance of American music including country, jazz and show tunes.
Tickets cost $20 and will include light refreshments and a chance to talk to the musicians following the 45-minute performance. Vaccination cards will be checked at the door. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.
The THE BAND Band to bring Stage Fright to Woodstock Playhouse
Recorded in Woodstock 51 years ago, at the site of the original Woodstock Playhouse, Stage Fright was The Band’s third studio album, featuring two of its best-known songs, “The Shape I’m In” and the eponymous “Stage Fright,” both of which became staples at the Canadian American group’s live shows.
While the COVID pandemic delayed a true 50th-year celebration of the album, The THE BAND Band (the only nationally touring band dedicated exclusively to the accurate reproduction of The Band’s music) has announced that it is bringing it back to the Woodstock Playhouse on August 27 and 28, with authentic, true-to-form renditions of the ten featured album tracks and others from an extraordinary repertoire. For this special event, The THE BAND Band will be accompanied by the TTBB Horns and special guest Larry Packer on fiddle, who played with The Band at The Last Waltz, the seminal concert at San Francisco’s Winterland Arena on Thanksgiving Day, 1976.
The THE BAND Band includes Gary Solomon (bass, vocals), Jack Kraft (keyboards, accordion, mandolin, vocals), Josh Radin (guitar, vocals), Loren Korevec (piano, vocals) and Matt Crawford (drums, vocals). The TTBB Horns are Dana Watson (trumpet), David Fox (sax) and Jason Ingram (trombone).
For additional information, call (845) 679-6900 or e-mail woodstockplayhousecgm@gmail.com.
Lace Mill Galleries present recent work by Charlotte Tusch, Maxine Davidowitz
The Lace Mill Arts Council has announced the exhibition of the work of two artists, Charlotte Tusch and Maxine Davidowitz, from August 7 through September 7, with an opening reception on August 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours after the reception will be on weekends from noon to 4 p.m.
Tusch has been an artist/resident of the Lace Mill since it opened in 2015. For almost 40 years, she successfully curated and directed the Art Forms Gallery in Red Bank, New Jersey, specializing in late-20th-century American art, while continuing to pursue her own art practice. Davidowitz is a Hudson Valley painter and printmaker whose work is an abstract, colorful, intuitive response to the natural world, with a painterly approach to mark-making.
The gallery is located at 165 Cornell Street in Kingston. For additional information, e-mail jwcornbroom@gmail.com.
Live theater returns to Shadowland Stages with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Shadowland Stages returns to live theater with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Its first production back celebrates theater itself from August 13 through September 5. With a script by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, and Brendan Burke directing, the play can best be described as: three actors, 37 plays, 97 minutes.
Artistic director Brendan Burke said, “We’re thrilled to be able to reopen our doors and to produce this play, gathering together to celebrate theater and the communal magic only live theater can provide.”
The show previews Friday, August 13 at 8 p.m., with an Opening Night celebration following the Saturday, August 14 performance at 8 p.m. Performances continue Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through September 5.
Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with an FDA- or WHO-authorized vaccine will be required for entry. Guests under the age of 12 and those guests who are unvaccinated due to a disability will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance start time or a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within six hours of the performance start time in order to enter the theater. Additional information on the vaccination requirements and safety protocols can be found at www.shadowlandstages.org/faqs.
Shadowland is located at 157 Canal Street in Ellenville. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.shadowlandstages.org or by calling the box office at (845) 647-5511. Walk-up sales at the box office begin two hours prior to any performance.
Advance tickets on sale for Wonderland of Lights™ at Dutchess Fairgrounds
The Wonderland of Lights™ has announced that, for the first time ever, this family-friendly holiday drive-through experience is coming to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. The Wonderland of Lights has been a part of thousands of families’ holiday tradition across the country for over two decades. Now Rhinebeck and surrounding communities will have a chance to start a new tradition, November 25 through December 26.
Residents will enjoy a plethora of festive pageantry as they journey through more than a mile of spectacular lights and holiday wonder. From tunnel displays to towering structures and whimsical designs, The Wonderland of Lights will create a memorable experience for the entire family.
Andrew K. Imperati, CEO/fair manager at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, commented, “We are thrilled to be hosting The Wonderland of Lights this coming holiday season. It will be another family-friendly attraction added to our event schedule here at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds.”
In recognition of the Rhinebeck debut, The Wonderland of Lights will offer a “Christmas in July” special of 40 percent off the regular ticket price of $25, through July 31. Visit www.thewonderlandoflights.com for details or to purchase tickets.
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail in New Paltz to be improved
A 3.5-mile segment of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail in the Town and Village of New Paltz will be upgraded with a new ten-foot-wide bicycling and walking path by October, governor Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday in a press release.
The project will see the removal of the aging decades-old trail surface to make way for the new ten-foot-wide bicycling and walking path from Cragswood Road in the Town of New Paltz to the Empire State Trail trailhead at Sojourner Truth Park. Cuomo said that this segment of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail serves as a key link in the Empire State Trail. Other enhancements the governor announced include drainage improvements to prevent trail erosion and safety improvements including installing signage and marked crosswalks at eight locations where the trail crosses public roads.
Officials said the work will start this month and is expected to wrap up in October. Trail-users should expect some closures on weekends, officials said. There will be no closures on weekends or holidays.
The project is a partnership among New York State, the Town and Village of New Paltz and the Open Space Institute. Officials said that the Hudson River Valley Greenway has committed $900,000 to complete the project, which will be undertaken by the not-for-profit Open Space Institute (OSI). OSI completed a similar project in 2020 to improve an adjoining nine-mile trail section in the Towns of Ulster and Rosendale that is also part of the Empire State Trail route.
The Empire State Trail is a 750-mile bicycling, walking and running route that runs from New York City through the Hudson and Champlain Valleys to Canada and from Buffalo to Albany along the Erie Canalway Trail.
“The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail is a favored recreational destination for thousands of Hudson Valley residents and visitors every year,” governor Andrew Cuomo said in the release. “The trail is well-used by cyclists, walkers and runners for local trips and is a critical link in the 750-mile Empire State Trail connecting Albany and New York City, Canada and Buffalo. Refurbishing this vital connection will help trail-users of all abilities to have a better experience for years to come.”
“This project represents an important part of efforts to make outdoor destinations safe, welcoming and available to the public,” OSI president and CEO Kim Elliman said. “Having already restored 9.5 miles of the northern stretch of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, protected and restored the Rosendale Trestle and created the River-to-Ridge Trail in New Paltz, Open Space Institute is excited to continue our work in this landscape to build connections between people and land.”
Countywide Anti-Violence Effort Response Team (AVERT) formed
Elected and law enforcement officials have formed the new countywide Anti-Violence Effort Response Team (AVERT), comprised of law-enforcement officials, social workers and mental health experts as they tackle an ongoing surge in gun violence and violent crime in Ulster County. In a press conference outside the Kingston Library on July 20, Ulster County executive Pat Ryan, sheriff Juan Figueroa, district attorney Dave Clegg and Kingston mayor Steve Noble announced the new task force, which will initially consist of detectives, officers, county social workers and mental health experts.
The task force is a partnership among the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office and the Kingston, Ellenville, New Paltz and Saugerties Police Departments. These agencies will partner with community leaders, faith leaders and mentors with the goal of combating violent crimes, getting illegal guns off the streets and diverting at-risk youth to appropriate resources and programs.
“We must end the escalating cycle of violent crime in our city and in our county. AVERT will tackle this urgent challenge head-on, taking an innovative and proactive approach to ensure public safety,” Ryan said in a press release. “We all agree this cycle of tit-for-tat violence and crime is unacceptable, and today we’re taking a major step forward – as a community – in our efforts to bring it to an end. AVERT will empower and work with our community members and leaders to deescalate violence, stop the flow of illegal guns into our streets and offer alternative paths to our youth.”
“AVERT is a collaborative investment between law enforcement, local government and the community it serves,” Ulster County sheriff Juan Figueroa said in the release. The sheriff added that the program’s goal is to build trust between law enforcement officials in the community.
“Through a combination of enhanced attention, investment, enforcement and prosecution, we believe we can achieve focused deterrence of at-risk young adults and stop the cycle of violence,” Clegg said.
Kingston Mayor Noble said in the release that the partnership represents an evidence-based approach to remove illegal weapons from the city’s streets, helping to end violent crime. “By partnering with county government, our mental health partners, the District Attorney’s Office and other policing jurisdictions, AVERT will allow us to redouble our efforts to curb gun violence,” Noble said.
In March, Ryan held a discussion among elected officials and religious and community leaders to discuss and outline a communitywide action plan, in response to the recent surge of gun violence in the City of Kingston and Ulster County.
County officials also recently launched the Lights on Kingston youth program, along with announcing $240,320 in funding to be dedicated for Ulster County to participate in the Gun-Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, which seeks to reduce gun violence and save lives in communities with high rates of firearm-related violence across the state.
– Brian Hubert
Kingston Point Park improvements underway
Mayor Steven Noble has announced that the Kingston Point Park Infrastructure Improvements Project Phase 1 is now underway. The first phase of the project includes the creation of a youth soccer field and parking lot improvements, and is funded through a grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. A new playground will also be constructed as part of the project, funded by the City’s Recreation Fee. These amenities will be constructed adjacent to the beach on the north side of Delaware Avenue, east of the entrance to the beach.
“The community has been asking for a soccer field for years, and we are thrilled to add yet another brand-new playground to our expansive parks portfolio,” said Mayor Noble. “This project also takes into consideration environmental/sustainability efforts. The new parking lot will be raised several feet to prevent flooding. The Department of Environmental Conservation conducted a wetland delineation of the site, and we have been working with them to design Phase 2 of the project, which will include converting the existing parking lot to a wetland.”
“We’re excited to continue expanding our parks and facilities,” said Lynsey Timbrouck, director of Parks and Recreation. “With the addition of a youth soccer field, our residents will be provided with new recreational opportunities to enjoy.”
The master plan for the project has been divided into two phases: Phase 1, currently underway, includes the improvements north of Delaware Avenue: the soccer field, parking lot and playground. Phase 1 engineering designs were completed by Brinnier and Larios, a Kingston design and engineering firm, and construction is being done by TJR Excavating Contractors, based in Poughquag. The playground design and construction are being done by Jeffrey Associates, with a Playworld system. Phase 1 is expected to be complete by early fall.
Phase 2 will include improvements south of Delaware Avenue: the facilitation and formal creation of a wetland at the west end of the existing parking lot and improvements to the east end of the parking lot. Phase 2 design and construction will follow Phase 1. The City has applied for grant funding for Phase 2 and is awaiting awards.
More information can be found at www.kingston-ny.gov/kingstonpointparkii.
Two artists explore our relationship to gold
The Emerge Gallery will present “Golden Desire,” on view from August 14 through October 3. The exhibition includes new works in abstraction by Lesley Bodzy and Jay Youngdahl: recent graduates from the MFA program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In addition, a virtual artists’ discussion between the artists is scheduled for Sunday, September 5 at 4 p.m., live on the Emerge Gallery YouTube channel.
“Golden Desire” puts Bodzy’s and Youngdahl’s work in conversation, exploring the role of desire in our existential lives and the relation of gold to our personal and economic relationships. The artists raise questions about how to consider our futures, with a nod to the past, and challenge the viewer to think about the relationship between the trials faced by humanity and by its planet. With the exhibition conceived as an aid to considering our crucial universalities, the artists proceed with an understanding that we live in a common state of fragility, on our planet and in our bodies and minds.
The Emerge Gallery is located at 228A Main Street in Saugerties. For additional information, e-mail emergegalleryny@gmail.com.
Rosendale Library seeks board nominees
There are three vacancies on the Rosendale Library board, with three-year terms ending December 31, 2024. Candidates seeking nomination can pick up a petition from the library. Petitions require at least 25 signatures of voters registered in Rosendale, due back to the library by August 3.
The Rosendale Library will hold trustee elections and a budget vote on Thursday, September 2 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The library is located at 264 Main Street in Rosendale. For additional information, call (845) 658-9013 or e-mail info@rosendalelibrary.org.
Student volunteers join Habitat for Humanity home dedication
Four Saugerties High School students took time off from their summer vacations to attend a school-related function that they said was the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work. Tuesday, July 20 could have been dubbed Biggest Smiles Day, because there was no shortage of cheeky grins during a home dedication ceremony. During this special event, Ulster County Habitat for Humanity formally announced to the Maragoudakis family that they would now have a permanent place to raise their three children on Donna’s Way in Glasco.
Three Saugerties High School students who were enrolled in the Ulster BOCES Electrical Construction & Maintenance Program and one Saugerties High School sophomore stood proudly in the crowd. Since September, these students had invested countless hours helping to wire the house, installing electrical outlets and wiring the electric box.
These students were not only helping a family in need, but they were also gaining real-world work experience. Among other things, they learned about work ethics, protocols, working under deadlines and navigating challenging work conditions. Ulster County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Christine Brady LaValle said that the students’ efforts were invaluable and saved the homeowner thousands of dollars in labor costs.
Stephanie Maragoudakis said that prior to this journey, the family was living in her parents’ house, with a third baby on the way. Although she loves her parents, she knew the cramped living quarters would get old fast. She also knew that they needed more space, especially with the delivery of their daughter Olivia, who was born with sacral agenesis, a rare birth defect in which the fetal development of the lower spine is abnormal. She was going to need an ADA-compliant home.
One of the Saugerties students who volunteered on the build and worked closely with the electrical students, Benjamin Rappoport, explained how they suggested the idea of moving the electrical outlets a few inches higher and moving the light switches a few inches lower so that they would accommodate Olivia in the coming years. Maragoudakis said that she was so thankful for the students’ thoughtful considerations when building the house. “This has truly been a life-changing experience, and I am truly indebted to everyone who helped make this happen,” she added.
Student Ian Foster said, “It feels great to give back and to see how happy this family is, and to know I helped contribute to that happiness.”
Marist College chooses new president
Kevin C. Weinman, chief financial and administrative officer at Amherst College, will become Marist College’s fifth president in early fall.
Weinman will take over from Dennis J. Murray, who has led Marist for nearly 40 years.
“He has a highly collaborative approach to governance and a truly impressive breadth of experience as a senior administrator, strategist, communicator, and scholar,” said Ross Mauri, chair of the search committee. “In addition, Kevin has also shown himself to be a charismatic and caring leader with a deep commitment to diversity, inclusion, and educational opportunity. He’s the right person at the right time for Marist.”
Weinman has been a leader in the development and execution of Amherst’s strategic plan and $625-million capital campaign. He played a central role in the college’s pandemic response, leading two major task forces charged with developing operational aspects of the 2020-21 academic year. Amherst president Biddy Martin called him “an exceptionally talented leader and a gem of a human being.”
Prior to his position at Amherst, Weinman directed a team of analysts at Dartmouth College and coordinated institution-wide efforts to create and maintain Dartmouth’s billion-dollar annual operating budget and long-range financial plans. Before that, he held a number of senior roles related to finance and marketing in the corporate world. He is also a former Certified Public Accountant.
A scholar of the history of urban planning and public policy, Weinman has taught courses on modern American history and the rise of the suburbs to both college-aged and non-traditional students, as well as presenting his research at national and regional conferences.
“He’s a great fit for Marist because he buys into our unique combination of liberal arts-based and pre-professional education, commitment to innovation, and culture of collaboration and respectful dialogue,” said Julie Raines, a Marist faculty member and member of the presidential search committee. “I know my colleagues on the faculty join me in welcoming him to Marist.”
Weinman’s wife Beth is a contracts administrator for an engineering research and development company in Amherst. Dr. and Mrs. Weinman have two children. Their son Alex is a college student in Colorado, and their daughter Brooke attends high school in Massachusetts. “Beth and I are extremely excited to join this special community and get to know the Poughkeepsie area,” said Weinman.
Weinman was formally introduced to the Marist community at a series of Zoom meetings on July 22.
Marist educates approximately 5000 traditional-age undergraduate students and 1200 adult and graduate students in 53 undergraduate majors and numerous graduate programs. Marist’s academic centers of excellence include the Marist Poll, Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership, Hudson River Valley Institute, Center for Sports Communication, and Institute for Data Center Professionals. The College also hosts the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library’s digital archives.
New Paltz Retired Men to meet August 2
Retired Men of the New Paltz Community invite retired men everywhere to the monthly breakfast meeting on Monday, August 2 at 8 a.m. at the New Paltz Plaza Diner. Nuclear engineer Moto Imai will discuss “Nuclear Power: The Past and the Future.”
For additional information, contact Rob Greene at rasjgreene@earthlink.net or (845) 256-9003.
VOICE Theatre visits farmstands, markets with Popcorn pop-up performances
Voice Theatre will premiere Popcorn pop-up performances from the back of a pickup truck at farmstands and markets from August 21 through September 18. Three short plays about farming, food and love will be performed: Flower Power, Roadstand Love and Sugar Sells, with a full pantry of song, music and jokes. Popcorn, by Karen Gill, is directed by Shauna Kanter and Howard Meyer and features Hudson Valley favorites Christa Trinler and Phil Mansfield, among others.
Showtimes will be Saturday, August 21 at 11 a.m. at Mower’s Flea Market in Woodstock; Saturday, August 28 at noon at the Kingston Farmers’ Market; Saturday, September 4 at 11 a.m. at Mower’s Flea Market in Woodstock; Sunday, September 5 at noon at the Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market; Saturday, September 11 at noon at the Montgomery Place Farmstand on Route 9G in Red Hook; and Saturday, September 18 at noon at the Union Square Green Market in New York City.
For additional information, visit www.voicetheatre.org.
The Ulster County Historical Society hosts Mystery at the Bevier House
In celebration of its 23rd year in operation and its return to live, and safe, performances, Murder Café will be offering an original historic whodunit: Mystery at the Bevier House. This evening of history and mystery will be presented on Friday, August 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bevier House Museum, located at 2682 Route 209 in Stone Ridge.
Mystery at the Bevier House is set in 1890 at a Gilded Age party hosted by Louis and Catherine Bevier at their historic residence, a site the Bevier family has called home for over 200 years. Murder Café owner and operator Frank Marquette summarizes the play as follows: “Combining local history with a touch of mystery is what we love to do and what our audiences have come to expect from us. In Mystery at the Bevier House, all the characters, even the historic ones, have a motive. As the clues develop and the plot thickens, you’ll be asked to guess whodunit and why. Guess correctly and you will be eligible to win a prize.”
The performance features the talents of Hudson Valley-based actors Jessica Boyd, Kim Schneeberger, Dan Anderson, Ellen Pavloff, David Britton, Kate Podell, Jim Keenen and Frank Marquette.
Tickets cost $55 per person, and space is limited. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.ulstercountyhs.org or by calling (845) 377-1040. Proceeds will benefit the Ulster County Historical Society. Light refreshments will be served.
August 21 hazardous waste collection event
Safe disposal of your household hazardous waste can be done on Saturday, August 21 by appointment only, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Ulster County Resource Recovery Facility located at 1 Clearwater Road in New Paltz
Please note these guidelines:
• Please wear a mask when interacting with staff. For safety and social distancing, participants must remain in their vehicle at all times.
• Put all items in the trunk of your car. This is the safest way to transport hazardous wastes and will allow staff members to unload your vehicle easily and in a no-contact manner.
• No medications. Medications will no longer be accepted at the household hazardous waste events. For a medication dropoff location, visit https://ucrra.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/meds-1.png.
• A quantity limit will be enforced. Each household may bring up to 220 pounds or a 25-gallon equivalent of the accepted items. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted. UCRRA staff may make a judgment on the quantity of material each household is allowed to bring.
• Unknown waste. If you have any unknown waste (such as containers without a label and/or you are not sure what chemicals are inside the container), please contact apeo@ucrra.org as soon as possible for guidance and program rules.
To sign up for an appointment, visit https://ucrra.org. For additional information, call (845) 336-0600.
Rickel Knox Memorial Playground ribbon cutting
A ribbon-cutting was held on Saturday, July 24 for the new playground equipment at Rickel Knox Memorial Playground. The event included refreshments and music, and the playground was rededicated with a new mural by Jalani Lion.
“It’s been 20 years since the Rickel Knox Memorial Playground was initially built, and we are so pleased to make updates to this special community space,” said Kingston mayor Steve Noble. “The new playground equipment and beautiful mural will honor the memory of Rickel and provide a safe place for children in this community to play.”
“The Parks and Recreation Department is honored to reopen the Rickel Knox Memorial Playground. We hope families will take some time to visit this wonderful community park,” said Lynsey Timbrouck, director of Parks and Recreation.
The playground is located at 22 Gill Street in Kingston.
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.
Weber lectures focus on historic Woodstock sculptors
Dr. Bruce Weber will deliver the second online lecture in his series Seeing in Three Dimensions: Sculptors of the Historic Woodstock Art Colony, at 7 p.m. Wednesday August 4.
Entitled The Modern Wave, Part 1, Warren Wheelock, Wilhelm hunt Diederich, Alfeo Faggi, this lecture will also be available to view online from Monday, August 9 through Wednesday, August 11.
The series is produced by Dr. Bruce Weber, in cooperation with the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum (WAAM) and is livestreamed on YouTube from Green Kill in Kingston.
Tickets must be acquired in advance. Green Kill live streaming events, live events and post-viewing events are accessed by making a donation on Eventbrite, which requires a minimum of $1. The suggested donation for this event is $10. Eventbrite requires that you make a contribution. (Caution: Eventbrite does not work with the Firefox browser.)
Proceeds from the lecture series go to the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum and Green Kill.
The link for acquiring tickets for the August 4 lecture, for live stream or for later viewing is https://greenkill.substack.com/p/the-modern-wave-part-1-august-4th.
Upcoming lectures in the series include The Modern Wave, Part 2, covering sculptors Paul Fiene, Gaston Lachaise, Alexander Archipenko, Lu Duble, Isamu Noguchi and Carl Walters, to take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 1; and The Direct Carvers, 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 6, featuring a group of direct carvers who worked in the area from the 1920s onward and were inspired by the example of John B. Flannagan. This group includes Flannagan, Eugene Gershoy, Hanna Small, Raoul Hague and Harvey Fite.
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 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.
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.
Work to improve Kingston crosswalks underway
The Pedestrian Safety Action Plan project, which is fully funded by the New York State Department of Transportation’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Program, will include improvements to sidewalks, roads and intersections to increase pedestrian safety and walkability at busy intersections across the City of Kingston. Seven key intersections are being upgraded: Joy’s Lane at Municipal Stadium Road; Broadway at McEntee, Yosman Towers, Delaware Avenue and Andrew Street; North Front at Crown Street; and Albany Avenue at Maiden Lane.
“These seven intersections were identified to have heavy pedestrian traffic and an increased risk for crashes, due to extra-long crosswalks or other safety concerns,” said Kingston mayor Steve Noble. “The new improvements will ensure that anyone crossing some of our busiest roads can do so safely. We are grateful to be able to provide these safety enhancements through grant funding with no local match.”
Improvements include the extension of curb lines to shorten long crossing distances, the addition of sidewalk ramps and retroreflective signs, upgrades to existing crosswalk markings and pedestrian signals with countdown timers.
Engineering consultants from Creighton Manning LLP created the intersection designs and A. Colarusso & Son was selected as the construction contractor. Construction work may cause intermittent delays. The project is expected to be completed by September 2021.
More information is available at https://engagekingston.com/pedestrian-safety-action-plan.
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.
Dutch Barn opens 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 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.
Correction
In last week’s story titled “Saugerties decides against enacting property maintenance law,” the final paragraph should have been attributed to Councilwoman Leeanne Thornton and not Lisa Stanley. The corrected version is: Councilwoman Leeanne Thornton said she’s fielded numerous calls about this law and she added that she’s willing to take as much time as residents would like to have a conversation about it. “Let’s make it, we, not us and you,” she said.
Join the family! 
