Denizen Theatre announces apple tree raffle winner
Unique to the production of Apples in Winter, the Denizen Theatre created an apple tree raffle with proceeds going to support future programming. The eight-foot apple tree that produces Liberty apples served as a centerpiece outside the theatre at the Water Street Market in New Paltz welcoming theatergoers.
Audience members who were moved by Apples in Winter and the performance of Jennifer Delora wrote their thoughts about the production on postcards, which were hung on the tree. Those who were interested in acquiring the apple tree had the opportunity to enter a $1 raffle to win it. At the closing celebration, New Paltz resident Kim Squillace was selected as the winner of the raffle.
Conversations with Police
The December session of Conversations with the Police in New Paltz will be held on Wednesday, December 15 at 10 a.m. at the New Paltz Police Department’s new offices, located at 59 North Putt Corners Road. Coffee will be provided. This is an informal gathering intended to bring the public and their Police Department together.
Poetry reading by Roger Roloff
The Elting Memorial Library will be hosting a poetry reading on Sunday, December 12 at 3:30 p.m. Roger Roloff, homestead gardener, woodsman and opera singer, will read from Wintering, his newest collection of poems. The collection bears witness to the challenges, accomplishments and satisfactions of the journey through external and personal winter.
The event will be offered in person (limited first-come, first-served seating with masks) and on Zoom. Preregistration is required for both in-person and virtual attendees. To register, visit http://eltinglibrary.org. For additional information, call (845) 255-5030.
Holiday Makers’ Market in Rosendale December 11
The Circle Creative Collective will offer its fourth Makers’ Market and a lantern-lit, puppet-led procession across the Rosendale Trestle on December 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Willow Kiln Park, behind the public parking of the Rosendale Theatre. Enjoy a day of shopping, community, food (with Tilda’s Kitchen, Seasoned Delicious and Rosendale’s diverse restaurants), hot cider, crafts, live music, the puppets from the Redwing Blackbird Theater and more. Many local artisans will exhibit original work for sale and offer short craft projects as well as hands-on projects throughout the day.
The schedule for the day includes:
11 a.m. Holiday market opens
12 to 3 p.m. Community holiday felting
3 p.m. Holiday market closes
3:30 p.m. Lantern-making begins
4:30 p.m. Luminous lantern and puppet procession begins on the Rosendale Trestle, accompanied by the puppets of Redwing Blackbird Theater and the Rosendale Brass Band. As the journey comes to a close, there will be handmade gifts and sweet treats fort all to enjoy.
For additional information, visit in-circle.org.
Police commission transition
There are now seven applicants for five seats on the Town of New Paltz’s Police Commission. Supervisor Neil Bettez has proposed staggering appointments, both to ensure a smooth transition from Town Council members to volunteers, and also in the hope that this will encourage more Town residents to apply once they see what’s actually involved. In particular, the supervisor suggested adding one new member a month. It wasn’t clear if all of the seven candidates would be interviewed before the appointments began, or if some applicants may not get interviewed at all. Under Bettez’s plan, the interviews would begin in January.
Julie Seyfert-Lillis thought that allowing the new members to work together sooner might lead to the Commission being fully functional sooner, rather than later. As a compromise, David Brownstein suggested seating two or three members in the first month, and committing to finishing the appointments within four or five months.
— Terence P Ward
Nature walks with Nick Martin at Gardiner Library
Join Nick Martin, Minnewaska State Park educator, for an approximate one-mile nature walk on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and through Majestic Park in Gardiner on Friday, December 10 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Meet at the Gardiner Library lower parking lot by the electric vehicle charging station. On this slow-paced walk, discover whatever natural curiosities intrigue the group.
Participants are encouraged to wear waterproof boots or shoes and bring binoculars. The rain date is Friday, December 17. The Library is located at 133 Farmers’ Turnpike. For more information, call (845) 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Winter Craftmaking Workshop at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library hosts a Winter Craftmaking Workshop on Saturday, December 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. Enjoy creating a folded star and wet-felted lantern using wool roving for the winter holidays. This project can be used as a gift or decorations for windows, tables or trees.
Hot chocolate and homemade cookies will be served. This workshop is intended for ages 10+ and/or ages 10 and under with an adult. Registration is required and space is limited. For registration and information, contact Nicole at nland@rcls.org.
The Library is located at 133 Farmers’ Turnpike. For more information, call (845) 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Cookie Walk in New Paltz
The New Paltz Playschool will be holding a Cookie Walk on Saturday, December 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bundle up and meet on the Grove Street lawn of the New Paltz United Methodist Church for homemade cookies sold by the pound. For additional information, call (845) 255-2203.
In the name of wellness
The “wellness center” at New Paltz High School should finally be stocked with all the equipment that was promised. Completion of this space, which is intended to help students learn about the benefits of physical fitness to mental health and academic performance by placing it in a holistic context, was delayed during the financial uncertainty faced earlier in the pandemic. Superintendent Angela Urbina-Medina announced at the December 1 board meeting that the final delivery was expected the following day.
With the center nearing completion, some trustees hope to arrange another tour of the space to see what’s changed, but Glenn LaPolt suggested it might also be appropriate to consider naming it after one of the coaches who passed away since the pandemic began. Current physical education staff members will be consulted about this idea.
—Terence P Ward
Goal: announce goals
New Paltz School Board members recently participated in a retreat that was all about setting goals for the district. Now, they are discussing how to announce those goals. Rather than simply stating them at the December 1 meeting, Bianca Tanis — the president of this board — suggested that a press release might be written and distributed. It was suggested that members of the BOCES communications team be consulted.
A frequent complaint by members of the public is that board communications are neither timely nor transparent.
— Terence P Ward
New Paltz hosts Holiday Hoopla Parade/Winter Carnival December 11
The New Paltz Office for Community Wellness and the Ulster Prevention Council will hold their second annual Holiday Hoopla Parade and Carnival on Sunday, December 12 from noon to 3 p.m. (due to predicted weather). The parade will kick off at noon from the New Paltz Middle School and proceed to Hasbrouck Park, located at 15 Mohonk Avenue, which will be the site for the Winter Carnival.
The Holiday Hoopla Parade’s purpose is to bring good cheer and lightness, raise the spirits of the community and let the community know they are cared for and not alone. The Winter Carnival will feature food, family fun and festivities for all.
If you would like to be part of the Parade and/or the Winter Carnival, visit https://form.jotform.com/212934654615156. For additional information, e-mail pkawamoto@townofnewpaltz.org or call (845) 256-5014.
Santa at High Falls Fire District
Santa will tour the High Falls Fire District on Saturday, December 11 from 9 a.m. to noon. For additional information, call (845) 687-0222.
SongClub at Gardiner Library
The Gardiner Library hosts SongClub on Sunday, December 12 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Join musician, singer, songwriter and choral director Debbie Lan for a drop-in singing experience. Come sing, as a community, original arrangements of familiar songs where the audience is the choir.
Participants will meet outdoors, weather permitting. Singers may be unmasked but socially distant. During the winter, participants meet indoors with masks required.
The cost at the door is $10 cash. The Library is located at 133 Farmers’ Turnpike. For additional information, call (845) 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Join the family! 
