Mark Gruber hosts holiday show
The Mark Gruber Gallery is currently hosting its 44th “Holiday Salon — A Group Show” through January 2021, featuring such regional talents as Paul Abrams, Jane Bloodgood-Abrams, Eric Angeloch, Sue Barrasi, James Coe, Kevin Cook, James Cramer, Mireille Duchesne, Carolyn Edlund, Staats Fasoldt, Tarryl Gabel, Andrea McFarland, Vince Natale, Linda Puiatti, Robert Trondsen, Hardie Truesdale and Marlene Wiedenbaum.
The Mark Gruber Gallery carries an array of artisan crafts, including Leonie Lacouette’s whimsical clocks, John Perrella’s wooden creations, Kaete Brittan Shaw’s ceramic nesting bowls, and Esque sculptural scented candles.
The gallery is in the New Paltz Plaza. Call 255-1241 or visit markgrubergallery.com.
Ulster buys electric buses
Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan signed a series of resolutions last week that provide just over $2 million in funding to Ulster County Area Transit’s (UCAT) Five-Year Capital Plan. Together, these resolutions provide the ability for UCAT to maintain its bus fleet in a state of good repair and invest in electric buses and charging equipment. UCAT was awarded these funds through a combination of federal and state grants.
UCAT was the recipient of Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5311 funds for rural areas in the amount of $1,181,074, which will be used to purchase five buses to replace buses that have reached the end of their useful life. The New York State DOT has also awarded UCAT $834,720. These funds will be used in part to offset federally required county shares for UCAT’s upcoming bus purchases and to fully fund the three zero-emission electric transit buses. The county will not use its own funds for these projects.
In order to purchase electric buses, UCAT issued a request for proposals in the fourth quarter of 2019 for battery-electric buses. New Flyer of America won the contract.
The county has retained the firm Creighton Manning to study full fleet electrification.
Airbnb anti-party initiative
Airbnb announced last week a safety initiative to prevent parties in New York over New Year’s Eve in the wake of the latest Covid-19 spike. Guests without a history of positive reviews on Airbnb will be prohibited from making one-night reservations in entire-home listings on New Year’s Eve. Additionally, the company said it would be deploying more stringent restrictions on one and two-night reservations that may pose heightened risk for parties.
All guests who make bookings for New Year’s Eve must attest that they will not throw an unauthorized party and acknowledge they may be pursued legally by Airbnb if they break the rules on parties and events.
New Paltz remote learning
The Duzine Elementary School and New Paltz Middle School has shifting to remote learning through Friday, December 11. There will be no in-person instruction during these days. Duzine and New Paltz Middle School students will be connecting to their classes remotely during this time.
The district was notified on November 29 that a middle school student had tested positive for Covid-19 and on December 1 a student at Duzine was also diagnosed positive.
Kingston goes all-remote
The Kingston School District moved to fully remote instruction through December 11. The district plans to resume its hybrid, in-person/remote, instruction on December 14.
The change was announced at last week’s school board meeting. According to a message posted to the district website: “This community spread, and the spread in our surrounding areas, has impacted our students, faculty and staff. The number of faculty and staff members required to quarantine due to contact with positive cases or by being deemed positive due to symptoms consistent with Covid-19 has made it increasingly difficult for Kingston to cover classrooms and ensure the implementation of our safety protocols.”
Saugerties picks mum queen
The tradition continues. Every fall for the past 50 years, Saugerties High School seniors have selected a mum queen and court, who have been crowned during a half-time ceremony at the homecoming football game and then celebrated at the town’s annual Mum Festival. This year, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there was no football, no homecoming and no mum festival.
The Class of 2021 decided to keep the tradition alive. On November 2, the senior class voted for the Queen, Carmen Costello (center), and her court, Charlie Sasso (left) and Theresa Fiscaletti (right). They were crowned during an intimate ceremony on November 18.
Kingston rental assistance
The City of Kingston and Rupco have launched a program which will provide up to three months rental arrears for low- and moderate-income families. Applicants must be able to document a direct impact by Covid-19 by a reduction or loss of income. Assistance will be prioritized for families and for households earning 60% area median income (AMI) or less.
The Kingston Rental Assistance Program anticipates serving between 20-25 households with a maximum assistance cap of $3,000 for each household. Payments will be made directly to landlords for rental arrears and assistance can’t exceed base rent amount in lease. Anticipating a high demand for rental assistance, Rupco will complete a lottery to determine who receives assistance.
Application eligibility:
• Must be a current renter residing in the City of Kingston
• Those earning at or below 60% AMI will be prioritized.
• Proof of loss or reduction of income related to COVID-19 is required
• A lease or rental agreement is require
Applications, which will be accepted through December 31, are available at: https://rupco.org/city-of-kingston-covid-19-rental-assistance/. Paper copies will be available in Rupco’s lobby at 289 Fair Street. All applicants and landlords will be notified by January 14, 2021. Those selected will be required to supply additional landlord documentation by Monday, January 25, 2021 before funding will be issued
Kingston exam cancelled
Kingston High School was scheduled to hold an ACT exam for students on Saturday, December 12. This exam has been cancelled. The exam will be offered on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at Kingston High School. Students who need more information on administration of ACT testing can visit actstudent.org.
Saugerties candidates sought
The Saugerties Democratic Committee is looking for interested individuals to consider running for public office in the November 2021 election. The positions on the ballot will include three county legislators — District 1, Blue Mountain, District 2, the village and Malden and District 3, Glasco and the northern part of the Town of Ulster. In the Town of Saugerties, the ballot will include the supervisor, two town board seats, the highway superintendent, the town clerk, town judge and tax collector.
If you wish to entertain the possibility of running, please e-mail saugertiesdemocraticcommittee@email.com, or write to the SDC, PO Box 511, Saugerties, NY 12477. Please send a resume or statement about you background and reasons for seeking election to public office. The petitioning process begins in just over two months.
Pandemic prompts Phoenicia teacher to reimagine field trips
Field trips — part of the traditional school calendar — are just one of the many things that are difficult to arrange during a pandemic. At Phoenicia Elementary School, however, teacher Sharon McInerney has found a way to safely recreate the sense of discovery associated with field trips despite the fact that her students this fall have been learning remotely in their own homes. McInerney is organizing virtual, real-time field trips, which her students are experiencing by logging on to their Chromebooks at appointed times. “The field trips are live and on location, not pre-fab, pre-recorded perfection,” she explained. “It’s real life, in real time, with real people in our community!”
So far, her class has participated in two educational “expeditions.” The first virtual visit was to a pottery studio owned and operated by Doug and Pam Peltzman, whose son Leo is in McInerney’s class. Leo and his family gave a tour of the Shokan studio, complete with hands-on demonstrations. The youngsters learned about pottery wheels, kilns, glazes and more. They also learned about how different kinds of clay materials can be used to fashion useful and beautiful objects. “Pam made a porcelain mug in front of our eyes on the wheel, explaining her techniques as she created it,” McInerney said.
During the second field trip, the students had the opportunity to “meet” a quarter horse named Dudley. McInerney’s daughter, Annie VanKleeck, gave the students a virtual tour of her Shokan barn, demonstrating how to tack up a horse for Western-style riding. The highlight of the equine-themed expedition was when the students got to “ride” Dudley, courtesy of VanKleeck, who took her laptop up on the horse and rode around the paddock.
“It has been absolutely heart-warming that everyone in our classroom community — parents, families and students — have truly come together to help each other with tips, ideas and sharing information on what worked and what didn’t in navigating our new learning venue,” she said.
Upcoming field trips include visits to the Woodstock Highway Department, the Olive Fire Department and the SPCA.
New Paltz taxpaying
Due to Covid-19, the Town of New Paltz will be limiting payment options for the 2021 tax-collection season. It will not be accepting cash payments or payments made in person. You can mail in your payment, drop it in the secure dropbox on the outside the town fall or call the office to arrange payment by credit card. All credit-card payments will be subject to a 2.65 percent transaction fee. Please call 255-0100 with questions.
Kingston Police re-accredited
The Kingston Police Department has been re-accredited by the New York State Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Council and Division of Criminal Justice Services. The accreditation certifies that a law enforcement agency meets or exceeds all the identified standards established by the council in the areas of administration, training and operations. The Kingston Police Department has been continuously accredited since 1990, making it one of the longest-accredited agencies in New York State.
“By having an independent review of our policies and procedures, we are assuring the community that the members of the Kingston Police Department adhere to the best practices set forth by New York State,” said chief Egidio Tinti. “We remain committed to maintaining a professional department that is community focused.”
More info is at: https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/ops/accred/accred02.htm.
Preservation board volunteers
The Town of New Paltz is looking for volunteers to serve on its Community Preservation Advisory Board. The purpose of the board is to review and make recommendations to the town Bboard on conservation projects as envisioned in the New Paltz Community Preservation Plan. Information can be found at www.townofnewpaltz.org. To apply, send a letter indicating your interest and experience with conservation or land and/or historic preservation activities to assistant@townofnewpaltz.org.
Wired Gallery’s shows
Wired Gallery is holding its High Falls holiday market and (Re)Wired Shows outdoors and inside. An outdoors holiday market will be held on December 12-13 and December 19-20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. under tents in Wired Gallery’s front parking lot or visit by appointment by emailing sevan@thewiredgallery.com.
Many items are priced under $100. To share a safe and positive experience at Wired Gallery, visitors are required to wear a face mask at all times — Indoors and outdoors – and maintain social distance.
An indoors show will feature Judith Hoyt’s one-wall show. Hoyt, a widely acclaimed artist based in Rosendale, makes art from found metal and paper collage. Her work is included in numerous museum collections. The Wired Gallery is at 11 Mohonk Road in High Falls. For information, email sevan@thewiredgallery.com.
Fence pickets up for grabs
During the past few years, the Cantine Veterans Sports Complex in Saugerties has collected a sizeable amount of wooden name fence pickets from Small World Playground that were broken, vandalized, etc. Additionally, all the fence pickets were removed prior to the Cavan’s Swings section of the playground being dismantled and removed a couple of years ago.
According to parks and building department’s superintendent Greg Chorvas, “We are giving everyone the opportunity to pick up their families’ wooden name pickets, along with all remaining pickets … of the remaining sections of the outdated playground.”
Individuals are asked to email the name(s) on the pickets they wish to retrieve to smallworld@saugertiesny.gov. Once the fence picket is retrieved, notification will be made back confirming the specific picket(s), along with instructions on how/where to pick up.
For information, call 246-5890, ext. 309.
Richard Heese top producer
Richard Heese, mortgage specialist at Ulster Savings Bank’s 180 Schwenk Drive, Kingston headquarters, has been recognized as one of the State of New York Mortgage Agency’s (SONYMA) “2019 Top Producing Loan Officers.” An agency of NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), SONYMA works to preserve housing affordability and partners with many private, public and nonprofit agencies. They offer loan programs to assist first-time homebuyers in New York State.
Heese, a Saugerties resident, has over 50 years in the banking industry and has served as a mortgage specialist at Ulster Savings Bank since 2015. He currently serves as an advisory member to the Rural Ulster Preservation Company (Rupco) board of directors after previously serving as their chairperson and board member. Richard works closely with Rupco assisting first-time homebuyers. He is also chair of its homeownership center and chair of its financial committee.
New Paltz passport
The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced the arrival of the Taste of New Paltz Passport, just in time for the holiday season. It provides discounts from 21 different local businesses.
Taste of New Paltz Passports are now available for purchase online either individually or in bulks of 20 or 50. They expire June 15, 2021 giving ten months to visit all of the passport destinations. Once you have collected all of the stamps in the passport, you will be entered for the Great Giveaway to win overnight stays at local resorts and products from local businesses for an estimated worth of over $2500. For more information, visit newpaltzchamber.org or call 255-0243.
Let us count the ways
Because of the pandemic, Chabad of New Paltz has prepared various safe ways to bring the joy of Chanukah to people in the area.
Chabad is providing Chanukah in a Box. It will provide the main ingredients for a bright, happy and spiritually uplifting Chanukah. The box will includes candles, a dreidel and goodies.
There will be a virtual countywide Chanukah party on Thursday, December 10 at 5:30 p.m. with people participating from their own homes. Participants will come together at the same time to light candles in unison, play dreidel, and spend quality time. There will be music by Eli Massias, prizes for the entire family, and an interactive dreidel game.
An outdoors Chanukah celebration will take place on Sunday, December 13 at 5 p.m. in front of New Paltz Village Hall. The event will feature music and Covid-safe Chanukah goodies.
A student Chanukah Zoom party will be offered on Tuesday, December 15 at 7 p.m. Visit www.jewpaltz/chanukah.com to register.
Amnesty International Zooms
Amnesty International USA Mid-Hudson is hosting an annual Zoom virtual Global Write for Rights and Talent showcase event on Sunday, December 13 between 2 and 3:30 p.m. (Zoom meeting ID: 872 8554 9399/ Passcode: 761465 or https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87285549399?pwd=enhpcExoZkEyRHpZM3pOcEFPSmdPdz09).
Amnesty International uses this annual event throughout the globe to write letters to challenge systemic human-rights abuses like torture and gun violence, as well as standing up for women’s rights, LGBTQI+ rights and climate justice. Throughout Amnesty International’s 59 years of human-rights activism, many people have been freed because of the actions taken by activists who participate in Write for Rights.
Be prepared with letter-writing paper, envelopes and pens. Sample letters will be provided. RSVP Diana Zuckerman at 389-3779 or email amnestyhudsonvalley@gmail.com.
Lighting up Saugerties
Members of the Blue Mountain/Katsbaan Men’s Club (The Blue Kats) helped light up Saugerties for the holidays last week. The club, a not-for-profit, all volunteer, multi-denominational social organization organized in 1985, provides members with the opportunity for self-enrichment by providing service to the Saugerties community.
Begin with Where to Begin
Lightwood Press begins its publishing journey with Where to Begin, poems by Hudson Valley resident Gregory Abels. According to publisher Laurence Carr. Lightwood Press will be publishing both print and electronic works. Where to Begin can be ordered for $15 through online shops, local bookstores and through www.Lightwoodpress.com
Launched in April 2020, the online Lightwood Magazine explores life and the arts in the 21st century. To read the latest edition of Lightwood Magazine, go to www.Lightwoodpress.com.
Ready for New Paltz snow?
Snow may be on the way. The New Paltz Town Highway Department is requesting that residents remove all objects and/or obstacles from road edges and turnarounds. This includes, but is not limited to, basketball hoops/sports equipment, garbage pails, small furniture, storage containers, vehicles and bicycles. Not only could they be damaged from snowplows, they could also cause injury to other residents and/or damage to the snow plows if hit.
If you have questions, call Dawn at the highway department at 255-5050.
The lights will shine again
The theatre lights in Upstate New York went dark in mid-March and the curtains remain closed today. These organizations and facilities will need help to restart when the time comes. According to Chris Silva, the executive director of the Bardavon in Poughkeepsie, new protocols, requirements and re-staffing will require both time and capital. Every month of closure costs these venues a collective $1.5 million, with no significant revenue to offset it. The estimated cost to restart these venues, if a spring 2021 opening is possible, will be $15 million — more if the “pause” continues.
Eleven not-for-profit venues have come together in an effort to have a successful re-start: The Bardavon in Poughkeepsie, UPAC in Kingston, Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, RBTL’s Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, Smith Center for the Arts in Geneva, Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, Stanley Theatre in Utica, Proctors Collaborative in Schenectady, Palace Theatre in Albany, State Theatre in Ithaca and Clemens Center in Elmira.
Each venue presents a variety of live entertainment for all audiences, including concerts, comedy, dramatic and family events, as well as offer their venues as a mixed-use space for local performing groups, graduations, recitals and other presentations. They have also been equally challenged by the need to be closed or “on pause.” Combined, these eleven upstate performing arts centers have cancelled or postponed hundreds of events in response to the ongoing pandemic.
“The large theatres of Upstate so often share similar realities,” said Silva. “As we think about our restarts sometime in 2021, we decided to come together to speak with one voice about our needs and challenges as we get back to being at the heart of our cities and communities. These performing arts centers are at the heart of their cities and are a vital component to the quality of life in their communities.”
Carlsen Gallery December 13 auction
Carlsen Gallery of Freehold, Greene County, will hold an estate auction at their gallery on Sunday, December 13 at 10:30 a.m. This auction will offer the lifetime collection of the late Frederick Downs Cawley of Troy.
Cawley was a leader in historic preservation for the City of Troy and the State of New York. He served as executive director of The Preservation League of New York State in Albany. He was executive assistant to NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Joan K. Davidson. He also went on to establish and direct the Master’s degree program at RPI School of Architecture.
Cawley was a scholarly and consummate collector. He amassed a large collection of Federal Period American furniture, French clocks, works on paper, sculpture, oriental carpets, lighting, mirrors, grand tour objects, etc.
Additional items from a Woodstock home include carved wooden “Blackamoors,” a marble sculpture “POCAHANTIS” By J. Mozier, Rome 1866 on a custom made rotating pedestal, which stands 79” tall. Americana, including a Shaker trustees desk, provenance Willis Henry, a Hudson Valley Blue picture frame molded four-door cupboard, an American flag collection, provenance Jeff Bridgman and other great accessories will be available from a Columbia County home.
Russ Carlsen, president and principle auctioneer states, “This auction reflects Mr. Cawley’s eye for quality, form and beauty. We are proud to have been chosen to offer this lifetime personal collection of such an astute collector. Please join us to preview at our gallery or online, as this collection is worthy of your attention.”
All items are viewable on Carlsen Gallery’s website at www.carlsengallery.com
The gallery is open for personal inspection Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. Covid-19 guidelines practiced.
Absentee or internet bidding is available at www.liveauctioneers.com or www.invaluable.com.
Saugerties VFW raises awareness
Saugerties VFW Post 5034 recently presented certificates of appreciation to members of the Hudson Valley Center for Veteran Reintegration (HVCVR) for its recent mission to kayak 315 miles of the Hudson River from the Adirondack mountains to Manhattan. The team used this mission to bring awareness to veteran suicides in this country. Their mission also brought awareness to the work the HVCVR does for returning veterans in Ulster County.
Lucky C Stables to hold drop-off toy drive for Family of New Paltz
For the first time in 17 years, Lucky C Stables has made the difficult decision to cancel it annual in-person Ponies and Toys Toy Drive. However, Family of New Paltz is still in desperate need of toys, so they are still collecting toys. The event is now DROP OFF ONLY at the farm until Friday, December 11 at 6 p.m. Toys will be delivered to Family of New Paltz next weekend so they can be distributed to local families in need.
Lucky C Stables is located at 31 Yankee Folly Road in New Paltz.
Five collections, seven estates featured at online-only James Cox Gallery auction
Artwork from five prominent collections and seven estates will be featured in an online only auction slated for Sunday, December 13, sponsored by the James Cox Gallery at Woodstock. The sale, which will begin promptly at 1 p.m., has been scheduled to occur between Thanksgiving and Christmas, “a time that has proven ideal for online sales,” Cox noted. The gallerist added that the upcoming auction is the fourth in a series of online only fine art auctions hosted by the gallery.
This sale will continue the James Cox Gallery’s custom of contributing a portion of its proceeds to nonprofit organizations, a tradition Cox began 35 years ago when he was director of The Grand Central Art Galleries in New York. These sales included auctions to benefit New York’s historic Salamagundi Club, the Dutch Treat Club and the New York City Heart Association. “The Heart Association fundraiser was conducted annually at the city’s famous 21Club,” Cox noted.
After opening his gallery in Woodstock, NY, in 1990, Cox continued the tradition, organizing auctions to benefit Family of Woodstock, The Woodstock Artists Association and Museum and the Woodstock School of Art. In addition to the Woodstock’s famous art school, the December sale will also raise funds for Ulster County’s Habitat of Humanity in Kingston.
Pieces from private collections include work consigned by several distinguished heirs, including Sandy Scott, whose father, John Locke, a prominent art agent, represented many well-known American and European illustrators, including Jean Michel Folon and Ronald Searle. Local Woodstock benefactor Doug James is also offering pieces from his collection, including an Eve Arnold photograph of Marilyn Monroe taken on the set of “The Misfits”. Paintings by Robert De Niro Sr., father of the famous actor, have been consigned from the collection of Robin Scherm and AdiGevins, along with a special group of etchings and watercolors of life in Florida, circa 1930’s.
Estates represented in the auction include prominent Woodstock artists Konrad Cramer and Tomas Penning; Margery Ryerson, well known pupil of Robert Henri and author of The Art Spirit; outsider artist Joseph Garlock; mid-century abstract painter Elaine Wesley; James Chapin, whose work was often featured on covers of Time Magazine; and Jason McWhorter, a member of New York’s renowned Pushpin Studio.
Other prominent artists featured in the December auction include Romare Bearden, Rolph Scarlett, Nell Blaine, Jacques Truphemus, Will Barnett, Utagawa Hiroshige, Jules Olitiski, Hans Georg Rauch and Marion Greenwood.
To preview the sale and register to bid visit liveauctioneers.com or invaluable.com. For more information, go to the gallery’s website, call the James Cox Gallery at 845-679-7608 or email info@jamescoxgallery.com.
Join the family! 
