Family of Woodstock launches home-sharing program to address affordable housing
Family of Woodstock, Inc. has announced a home-share pilot program. HomeShare Woodstock is the first of its kind in upstate NY.
HomeShare Woodstock seeks to relieve the shortage of affordable home rentals in town while also helping to facilitate informal supports for older adult homeowners. The program matches qualified homeowners (‘hosts’) with home seekers (‘Guests’) looking for safe rental situations in or near the town of Woodstock. In exchange for affordable rent, Guests provide their Hosts with light house/yard work, transportation, companionship, computer assistance or assistance with other tasks.
The public can learn more about this new program at an upcoming informational session on December 8 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Mescal Hornbeck Community Center, 56 Rock City Road in Woodstock. Applications for both Hosts and Guests will be available in both English and Spanish. Applications will also be available at Family’s Woodstock walk-in center at 16 Rock City Road.
“Every Ulster County community has been touched by the scarcity of affordable rentals and Woodstock has been among the hardest hit,” said Maria-Elena Conte, Deputy Supervisor for the Town and one of the original conveners for the project. “Many individuals working in our Town’s restaurants or stores struggle to afford housing in the very community that they support economically. Woodstock has a history of helping our citizens in tangible ways. I believe relationships can flourish and deepen because of the mutual benefit home sharing offers. This proven solution will help our seniors, artists and workers.”
Now being implemented by Family of Woodstock, Inc., the program seeks to reach homeowners who have space to share within ten miles of Woodstock’s town center, such as a room in their home, an accessory dwelling above a garage or a studio/cottage that is not connected to the main house. Participating homeowners will be matched with individuals needing housing, with priority given to those who work or volunteer in town, who already live in town, or who were recently forced out due to the lack of rentals.
HomeShare Woodstock’s services are free of charge and open to all applicants. The final choice to make a match is determined by the Host after careful background and compatibility checks. Home sharing is much more than simply renting a room in a home.
“Our HomeShare Woodstock Advisory Board chose a ‘High Touch’ model, featuring personal interviews, reference checks, support for finding matches and follow up with match situations,” said Town Housing Committee co-chair and Family volunteer Susan Goldman. “The availability of trained Family hotline staff and volunteers gives this home share program the ongoing support it needs. Creating trust will be essential to our success.”
“For people who may have been living alone or as a couple for years, this model helps ease the adjustment to home sharing,” Susan Goldman added. “The experience of home-share participants nationwide is overwhelmingly positive. Very few matches end before the term of the agreement.”
Sue Koppenhaver is Director of Ulster County’s Office for the Aging and an Advisory Board member for this initiative. “The Ulster County Office for Aging is excited about the prospect of having a home sharing program nearby and we know this will be welcomed by both the home owners and home seekers who would embrace this program. We are happy to partner with Family of Woodstock in this venture.”
To find out more about the program, email homesharewoodstock@familyofwoodstockinc.org; or call or text (845) 679-2485.
HSW holiday sale
Start the holiday season by shopping for local goods and treats at the Historical Society of Woodstock’s (HSW) Holiday Market Fair, Saturdays and Sundays on December 4, 5, 11 and 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 20 Comeau Drive in Woodstock. Find original holiday cards, local history books, vintage gifts, hand-knit items, notecards and local art, crafts and products including maple syrup, jam and baked treats. Products from local craftsmen will include handwoven items, jewelry, ornaments, honey-based products, incense, cards, bluestone hearts and much more. As always, the HSW will provide fresh greens for its visitors, as well as hot cider, coffee and tea.
This year, the Historical Society has reprinted the book Sarah of Overlook Mountain by Jean White. This illustrated book recounts stories told to Jean by her grandmother Sarah Cashdollar, who grew up on Overlook Mountain. The book sells for $15, with all proceeds going to the Historical Society. Original artwork by several local artists, as well as signed prints by Woodstock lithographer Clarence Bolton, will also be available.
Park in the lower Comeau parking lot and walk up the path through the woods to HSW. Limited parking, as well as handicapped parking, is available at the Historical Society.
First Friday holiday benefit concert
The First Friday holiday benefit concert by local musicians will be held on December 3 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Christ’s Lutheran Church, located at 26 Mill Hill Road in Woodstock. Admission is by free-will donation. For additional information, call (845) 679-2336 or e-mail bulletin@christwoodstock.org.
John Sebastian’s Jug Band Village celebration in Bearsville
A holiday celebration with John Sebastian’s Jug Band Village will take place on December 3 at 8 p.m. at the Bearsville Theater at 291 Tinker Street in Bearsville. The event features “A Look Back at Jug Band Music in Greenwich Village with Visits to Fred Neil and Tim Hardin” with Sebastian, Jimmy Vivino and Steve Boone. For additional information, visit BearsvilleTheater.com.
Woodstock Land Conservancy offers holiday hike
The Woodstock Land Conservancy will hold its First Saturday on the Trail holiday hike on December 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For further details, call (845) 679-6481 or visit woodstocklandconservancy.org.
Caroling with Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice
Carol along Main Street with the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice on December 4 at 5:30 p.m. Meet at 24 Main Street in Phoenicia.
For additional information, visit PhoeniciaVoiceFest.org.
Woodstock Holiday Open House
The Woodstock Brick and Mortar Group will be having a town Holiday Open House on Friday, December 3 from 4 to 9 p.m. Join the group for a festive evening of holiday shopping and dining. Gaze at the window displays, support local shops and enjoy the magic of the holidays in Woodstock. The Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and Arts will be judging store windows and present the winner with a prize.
COVID protocols will be in place, so wear a mask where requested and be respectful of each shop’s rules.
Elliott Landy launches Kickstarter for new Janis Joplin book
Photographer Elliott Landy has announced the launch of a Kickstarter campaign in support of his new book Photographs of Janis Joplin on the Road & on Stage. The Kickstarter campaign will run through December 21.
The book features 129 photos, both his iconic and many never-before-published images of Janis. The photographs are accompanied by Janis’ candid thoughts taken from conversations and interviews recorded by David Dalton, a founding editor of Rolling Stone magazine, while on tour with Janis in 1970. Landy’s photographs portray both the public and private lives of Janis, offering an intimate behind-the-scenes glance at her brief yet groundbreaking years of fame.
Kickstarter supporter rewards include signed copies of the book, fine art prints, lithos and more at discounted pricing.
“I photographed Janis in 1968 and 1969, and over the years I’ve used maybe 15 or 20 of the photographs in various publications. Until I began putting this book together, I didn’t realize how many other great photos I had,” said Elliott. “We looked at every negative and slide I took of her. The text was selected from extensive recordings of conversations and interviews with Janis, made by David Dalton during the last year of her life. We matched her words with my photographs to provide a personal insight into her life and career, creating a unique look at Janis.”
The Kickstarter link can be found at http://kck.st/3wsg7ez.
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