Apple festival at Town of Esopus United Methodist Church
The 50th annual Apple Festival, sponsored by the Town of Esopus United Methodist Church in Port Ewen, was held on Saturday, September 25. Four-hundred-and-twenty handmade apple pies were for sale, along with apple pancakes, fried dough, sausage and peppers, hamburgers and hot dogs, apple cider and juice. There were craft booths and child-seat checks by the Sheriff’s Department.
Ulster Chamber receives BCNYS Award
The Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce has been named as the Chamber of the Year Award recipient by the Business Council of New York State. Ken Pokalsky, vice president of the state’s leading business organization, cited the Ulster Chamber’s work assisting local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic in announcing the honor.
“While many chambers stepped up to support their local business communities during the COVID crisis, our selection of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce, as Business Council Chamber of the Year, was based on their specific engagement and COVID response efforts,” Pokalsky said. “The Ulster County Chamber delivered essential business outreach by creating innovative means to inform and stay connected with their members. Their engagement in social media forums to promote local businesses, especially the hard-hit hospitality section, and their success in providing other essential services to their member companies made them our top choice.”
The Ulster Chamber didn’t miss a beat after the government-imposed shutdowns last March, transforming the organization to be a central clearinghouse for vital information for local businesses. The Chamber immediately formed two Facebook groups, Ulster Eateries United and Ulster Small Business United. Those groups let people know that the businesses, many of them restaurants, were still open and offering carry-out. Many eateries credited the group with helping them stay afloat.
Meanwhile, the Chamber also held virtual events to keep its members informed about government assistance and resources, such as PPP and EIDL loans and other local, state and federal programs. The Chamber continued to hold monthly networking breakfasts, though virtually. The Chamber even held its annual Buy Local Expo and Business Awards Dinner virtually.
Chamber president Ward Todd will receive the Chuck Steiner Memorial Chamber of the Year Award during the Business Council’s annual meeting on September 23 at the Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing. “We are pleased to receive this honor from such a prestigious organization as the Business Council of New York State,” Todd said. “We thank them for recognizing our hard work during the pandemic. It was a challenge, but one that we accepted and, working with our county government and other community partners, we were able to overcome and keep our local businesses open and thriving.”
For more information on the award and the Chamber’s activities, contact Todd at (845) 331-5100.
Ulster County Health Department to offer vaccinations at area high schools
Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced that anyone between the ages of 12-17 who receives their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a participating point of dispensing (POD) will be eligible to enter a drawing for one of two two-year scholarships provided by the SUNY Ulster Foundation.
Ulster County will participate in the New York State Health Department’s “Vax to School” initiative by conducting vaccination PODs in each high school gymnasium on select weekends during October and November. In an effort to increase vaccination rates among the 12-17 age group, Ulster County and New York State are making vaccines readily available in a comfortable and convenient setting.
“With schools now fully open, it is essential that we continue to provide access to vaccines for our students in a safe and efficient manner,” Ryan said. “I want to thank SUNY Ulster for helping incentivize this program and to all of our school districts for partnering with our Health Department for this critical effort. Vaccinating all of our residents is the clearest path to safely bringing back a sense of normalcy to our community. I encourage all of those who are eligible to participate.”
The dates, times and locations of the PODs are:
· October 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Kingston High School, 403 Broadway, Kingston
· October 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wallkill Senior High School, 90 Robinson Drive, Wallkill
· October 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saugerties Senior High School, 310 Washington Avenue, Saugerties
· October 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Rondout Valley High School, 122 Kyserike Road, Accord
· October 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., New Paltz High School, 130 S Putt Corners Road, New Paltz
· October 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Onteora High School 5203, 4166 NY-28, Boiceville
· November 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Ellenville High School, 28 Maple Avenue, Ellenville
· November 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Highland High School, 320 Pancake Hollow Road, Highland
· November 20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Marlboro High School, 50 Cross Road, Marlboro
Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins welcome. Register for an appointment at VaccinateUlster.com.
Bardavon kicks off 61st HVP season
The Hudson Valley Philharmonic (HVP) returns to perform on the Bardavon stage for the first time in 21 months on Saturday, October 2 at 8 p.m. The performance will feature the most diverse program of soloists and composers that the HVP has ever presented.
Reflection, with guest conductor Kyle Ritenauer, will remember the legacy of maestro Randy Fleischer, who died last year. Audience members are invited to a pre-concert talk with the conductor and soloist one hour prior to the performance at 7 p.m.
Single tickets to all HVP concerts cost $22 to $58 based on location, $10 for students. Call or visit the Bardavon box office at 35 Market Street in Poughkeepsie, (845) 473-2072; the UPAC box office at 601 Broadway in Kingston, (845) 339-6088; or e-mail boxoffice@bardavon.org. For more information, log onto www.bardavon.org.
Annual Bike for Cancer and 5K Walk Run for Cancer raises $112,000
Benedictine Health Foundation’s 18th Annual Bike for Cancer and 5K Walk Run for Cancer took place Sunday morning, September 26 starting at Dietz Stadium. This year’s 50-mile ride was dedicated as the “Dan Barnes Memorial Ride.” Barnes was a Kingston High School graduate who was an outstanding student, athlete and friend to all who knew him. The 5K Run Walk was in honor of Tommy Keegan, a long-time supporter of the Foundation and a participant in the 5K Run Walk. Participants numbered 264 and there were 143 volunteers. So far $112,000 has been raised from Sunday’s event to disperse to families fighting cancer in the community.
Handcrafted Octoberfest at Dutchess Fairgrounds
The second annual Handcrafted Octoberfest: A Family Harvest Celebration returns to Rhinebeck’s Dutchess County Fairgrounds on October 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, October 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This open-air event honors harvest time and slips in a few Germanic traditions, but is centered around the concept of handmade. And there’s something for every generation, taste and tastebud – from one-of-a-kind goods by the nation’s finest makers and artisans to beer, wine and spirits, seasonal grub, live musical performances and multiple harvest activities.
“Handcrafted Octoberfest champions the craft, training and story behind each object and attraction,” says Ola Rubinstein, director of Quail Hollow Events. “Featuring works of art and craft, but also gourmet specialty foods, local wine and spirits and agricultural marvels, this fest celebrates the idea of small-batch and hand-spun, with lots of harvest fun for all ages on the side.”
The festival offers a carefully curated collection of handmade goods in over ten media categories, complemented by a diverse selection of beer, food and autumnal extras: pumpkin-carving by Hugh McMahon (nationally acclaimed master of the niche craft, featured on LIVE with Kelly & Ryan, Food Network and more); ongoing live entertainment; the Hudson Valley’s largest pumpkin (likely topping 1,500 pounds!); horse-drawn carriage rides; a drop-off children’s craft tent; an educational petting zoo; and family lawn games.
On Saturday, don’t miss performances by guitar virtuoso and singer/songwriter Erin Hobson, classic rock ‘n’ roll covers by the Green Planet Band, traditional German dance performances by Germania of Poughkeepsie and the Wild World of Animals Show by Two-by-Two Animal Haven. On Sunday, dance all afternoon to Fritz’s Polka Band, playing everything from modern-style polka to country to rock and even blues! Fritz will even throw in a yodeling competition for extra Octoberfest fun.
Tickets are available at www.quailhollow.com.
Join the family! 
