Jennifer Mojica becomes Student Services coordinator in New Paltz schools
Jennifer Mojica has been appointed as the new coordinator of Student Services for Grades K-5 in the New Paltz Central School District (NPCSD). She is assisting principal Ross Hogan of Duzine Elementary and principal Sean Inglee of Lenape Elementary by undertaking the responsibilities of an assistant principal in both school buildings. Mojica will also conduct 504 Plan meetings and oversee the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) process.
Mojica has a diverse background in child development and learning. She previously worked with young adults with clinical diagnoses at a psychiatric facility in Putnam County, where she helped patients post-treatment. Jennifer also earned a Master of Science in Communication Disorders from SUNY New Paltz and has worked as a speech/language pathologist within several school districts, including Brewster, Hawthorne Cedar Knolls, Arlington and Newburgh. She earned her Bachelor’s in Science in Liberal Arts and Science with a minor in Psychology from Utica College.
Mojica explained that working with children has always been one of her passions and that her new post connects the dots of her professional background. “As a speech/language pathologist, I helped give children a voice to access the curriculum; as a coach, I guided children to work together as a team, regardless of winning or losing,” Mojica said, explaining that she has coached soccer and led small groups of Cub Scouts in the Town of Newburgh. “I can take all of these experiences and infuse them into the guiding principles of the District.”
Mojica said that she enjoys empowering children by helping them develop the skills necessary to access the NPCSD curriculum. She explained how her K-12 teachers from childhood positively influenced her, and how she valued the security that they fostered and the safe spaces they created for her to ask questions comfortably. Mojica believes that establishing rapport is the key to cultivating safe spaces for both students and colleagues and that the success of her new role depends upon forming meaningful connections and bonds. “The bonds that we make with our colleagues lead to more effective and collaborative workspaces, which improve student outcomes,” she said. Mojica added that she hopes to be a “support and resource academically and emotionally for all stakeholders” at the elementary level.
Mojica believes that forming these connections and interpersonal relationships is critical to her goal of helping students who have experienced learning loss due to COVID-19. She believes that students are benefiting from this year’s reintroduction to their school-based routines, such as transitioning between classes, having the opportunity to eat lunch with their peers and even playing together at recess.
Mojica will also be checking in with students throughout the year and connect with parents and families to bridge the home/school gap. She said that she would work diligently with their teachers and parents to help students with challenging home or family situations by providing tiered interventions to help them monitor and self-evaluate their own social and emotional needs.
Town of New Paltz seeks volunteers
The Town of New Paltz is looking for volunteers to serve on the Board of Assessment Review, Bike/Ped Committee, Environmental Conservation Board, Ethics Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Police Commission and 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.
Fall Festival at Mill Brook Preserve
The Mill Brook Preserve will hold a Fall Festival and fund drive on Sunday, October 24 (rain date October 30) from noon to 4 p.m. at its Sunset Ridge entrance, with parking at Duzine Elementary School. The event will feature a scavenger hunt with prizes, a live raptor program, hourly walks with experts, a Junior Ranger program, art activities, dog portraits, seasonal treats and more.
Zoning update represents different style of legal writing
The law being considered that would wipe the B-1 district from the zoning map in the Village of New Paltz has been written in a different style than past laws. Instead of referring to passages and definitions in other parts of the code, this new set of rules laying out an expanded B-2 zone can be read and understood all within a single chapter of law. Cross-referencing laws is more efficient if one is considering how many pages need to be published for the code books, but Mayor Tim Rogers is privileging ease of use over controlling overall word count.
Matt Eyler asked about that during the public hearing on this proposal, which is expected to be closed during the October 27 board meeting. Eyler noted that the reader is directed to portions of the B-1 code from the gateway zoning; this law would do away with B-1 by enfolding all of those commercial properties into a new B-2 zone, with rules similar to what’s in force in the neighborhood-business-residential district along North Chestnut Street. All told, under this rezoning, new buildings would be closer to the street and multiple stories, with a mix and business and residential uses in each one. Rogers acknowledged that any such references would have to be corrected; that’s the sort of problem that crops up as a result of cross-referencing.
It isn’t actually laid out in this bill that a zone is being eliminated. The list of properties affected was in the initial draft, but bowing to hired attorneys Rogers pulled that out of the text. Instead, it’s recommended that those details get laid out in the resolution used to adopt the new law. To change a law takes time and money because a public hearing must be held, and the update must be filed and published. Resolutions can be changed later by simply taking a vote on a replacement.
— Terence P Ward
First annual Haunted Library in Gardiner
The Gardiner Library hosts its first annual Haunted Library Event, for all ages, on Saturday, October 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. What happens at the Library after hours? Come find out if you dare; costumes encouraged! Choose your path: harvest maze through the children’s room for the very young or spooky stroll through the stacks of ghouls for all ages who like a fun scare and surprises. Treats include local apples, Stewart’s chocolate milk and candy.
The Library is located at 133 Farmers’ Turnpike. For more information, call (845) 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Store features latest devices, accessories for Spectrum Mobile™
Charter Communications, Inc. has announced the opening of a new Spectrum store in New Paltz. The Spectrum store gives consumers in the New Paltz area an option for adding or managing their Spectrum Internet®, TV, mobile or voice services. The Spectrum store at 23 New Paltz Plaza is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
“Our Spectrum store’s team is here to help our local customers who need support in getting and staying connected,” said Pattie Eliason, senior vice president at Spectrum Stores & Retail. “Our new store in New Paltz is a convenient and safe environment to add or manage services, shop for devices and accessories or make payments.”
Along with ordering and sampling Spectrum services, customers also can complete a variety of transactions at the store, including account payments and upgrading or exchanging equipment.
Visit www.spectrum.com/stores for more information on locations, hours and Spectrum products and services.
“Spook-tacular” activities in New Paltz
1. Historic Huguenot Street: “Gertrude Deyo’s Ghost Ball,” Friday and Saturday evenings starting October 15 and Halloween night. Three shows running each evening at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. at Deyo Hall at 81 Huguenot Street in New Paltz. Limited seating for safe social distancing. Visit website for tickets and information (http://huguenotstreet.org).
2. Rhinebeck Artist’s Shop of New Paltz, 188 Main Street. Opening reception for “Tiny Terrors,” annual mini-works Halloween art show on October 23 from 3 to 6 p.m. Spooky, creepy, crawly and fun artwork will be on display. Masks required. The display will be up through Thanksgiving.
3. Free outdoor movie night showing the film Coco on October 23 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Hasbrouck Park in New Paltz (rain date: October 24). Free hot chocolate, popcorn and a special treat for youth under 18. Bring lawn chairs, warm jackets and/or blankets. Social distancing required and masks/face coverings encouraged.
4. Second annual Halloween/Harvest window paintings throughout the Village of New Paltz on October 23 after 2 p.m. (rain date: October 24). Check out the window designs painted by local youth in grades 5 to 12, as well as community members. Paintings will remain up beyond Halloween.
5. Haunted mansion at Elting: The Teen Advisory Group at the Elting Library is creating and hosting a Haunted Mansion on Friday, October 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Library’s Vera Rushforth Reading Garden. Tours for small groups are available by appointment starting at 6 p.m. Children and adults of all ages are welcome, but the scene might be too scary for the very young. Register your group online at https://bit.ly/3naxYTh or call the Elting Library at (845) 255-5030 for more information.
6. Halloween storytime on the hill, trunk-or-treat and a showing of Hocus Pocus! at the Elting Library: On Saturday, October 30 there will be events all day at Elting. Starting at 11 a.m., Halloween Storytime on the Hill with Miss Kim invites kids ages 0-12 (with caregivers) to come along for some Halloween stories and treats. Everyone is invited to wear a costume. Starting at 1 p.m. the Library is hosting its first Trunk-or-Treat. Dress in costume and walk to the different trunks set up with treats for you. This event is for kids (with caregivers) and teens ages 0-18. To finish off the day, there will be a drive-in showing at 6:30 p.m. of the cult classic Hocus Pocus! This event is open to all ages. Space is limited for all of these events, so please register in advance by going to https://linktr.ee/eltinglibrary. For additional information, contact director Gillian Murphy at gmurphy@eltinglibrary.org or call the Library at (845) 255-5030.
7. The Haunt: 27th annual haunted-house fundraiser on October 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. and October 31 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the New Paltz Youth Program at 220 Main Street in New Paltz. $5 suggested donation. Suitable for ages ten and up. Masks required.
9. Grab & Go trick-or-treat stations: Five Grab & Go trick-or-treat stations within the Village of New Paltz on October 31 from 3 to 5 p.m. Youth can collect a free small goodie bag with Halloween candies while supplies last. Social distancing is required. Face masks/coverings are encouraged. Station locations include the New Paltz Youth Program, 220 Main Street; One Epic Place, 122 Main Street; Elting Library, 93 Main Street; Farmers’ Market lot, corner of Main and North Chestnut Streets; Reformed Church Educational Building, 92 Huguenot Street.
9. New Paltz’s annual Halloween parade on October 31 at 6 p.m., departing from the New Paltz Middle School parking lot at 196 Main Street in New Paltz. Lineup begins at the Middle School at 5:30 p.m. Sponsored by New Paltz Rotary. New Paltz Rotary will not be handing out candy bars and apples, but instead has joined with New Paltz’s PBA to provide the candy for this year’s Grab & Go stations. Social distancing is required. Face masks/coverings are encouraged.
The Night of 100 Pumpkins at The Bakery will not happen this year.
Rosendale Theatre ushers in return of Halloween
With COVID numbers down in Ulster County, Halloween is back in Rosendale. The Rosendale Theatre Collective (RTC) will host a weekend of various Halloween events for kids, teens and adults starting Friday, October 29. The Cinemaniacs will screen the classic Tim Burton feature Beetlejuice starring Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara on Friday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. The Theatre will make use of the brand-new dance floor with a party for teens only immediately following the film. The cost is $10 with costume and $15 without. Adults interested in attending (film only) can attend for $8 with costume and $10 without.
Saturday, October 30 at 8 p.m. marks the return of Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon in the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. Audience members are encouraged to rock their best cast-inspired costume and participate with all the usual trimmings. Prop bags will be on sale for $5 (sans toast, rice or water, please). Tickets cost $8 for RTC members and those with costume and $10 general admission or without costume. This show is expected to sell out, so please buy your tickets in advance online.
On Halloween, Sunday, October 31, there will be a 2 p.m. matinée of Kiki’s Delivery Service. This family-friendly film is from the beloved Studio Ghibli, featuring the breathtaking animation of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. Bring your kids in their Halloween finery to take part in a costume parade and photo booth immediately after the film. 0$5 for members and those with costume and $8 general admission and without costume.
The final event is a 7:30 p.m. screening of Creepshow. Creepshow is director George Romero’s 1982 star-studded horror comedy anthology with a screenplay by Stephen King. $10 general admission and $6 for Theatre members.
The Rosendale Theatre requires proof of vaccination for entry for patrons over 12. Proof includes CDC Vaccination Card or a New York Excelsior Pass matched with a photo ID. Masks must be worn inside unless eating and drinking at your seat.
The Rosendale Theatre is located at 408 Main Street in Rosendale. Information and tickets are available at www.rosendaletheatre.org.
Resnick Lecture Series continues
The Resnick Lecture Series on “The New (?) American Anti-Semitism” continues on October 27 at 7:30 p.m. via WebEx. Jonathan Rosen, the featured speaker, will talk about “Here’s the Good News: Fighting Anti-Semitism Will Save America’s Soul.” Rosen is the author of two novels, Eve’s Apple and Joy Comes in the Morning, and two works of non-fiction, The Talmud and the Internet: A Journey between Worlds and The Life of the Skies: Birding at the End of Nature. He is finishing a book about friendship and mental illness for the Penguin Press.
In 1990, Rosen created the Arts & Letters section of the Forward, which he oversaw for ten years. He also created and edited the Nextbook/Schocken Jewish Encounters series, which included books about Spinoza, Emma Lazarus, The Cairo Geniza and Jews and Power.
His essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker and The Atlantic, among other publications, as well as numerous anthologies. In the aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks, he published “The Uncomfortable Question of Anti-Semitism” in The New York Times Magazine, and he will look back at that essay in his talk to see what has changed 20 years later.
The WebEx link is https://newpaltz.webex.com/newpaltz/j.phpMTID=mf2be6bf1c046b792bcfdd47e0f7481b0. For additional information, contact soring@newpaltz.edu.
Fall leaf pickup in New Paltz
The New Paltz Highway Department will begin leaf pickup on Monday, October 25. Residents must put leaves in piles on the shoulder of the road, just off the blacktop. Leaf piles must only be leaves, with no brush mixed in, as it breaks the machine. Brush will not be picked up. No bagged leaves will be picked up. All roads in the Town will be serviced multiple times until leaf piles are gone or the first big snow.
For additional information, call the Highway Department at (845) 255-5050.
Join the family! 
