No consolidation vote this year
The 2024 elections continue to be full of twists and turns, but one issue New Paltz voters won’t be asked to focus on is the approval of a plan to consolidate their two local governments. The consultants tasked with writing that plan have only been hired this month, and in order for such a referendum to be on the ballot, the final language must be submitted by August 4 of this year. That’s not possible, as creating the plan per the contract terms will involve creating and meeting with several committees, as well as having meetings to help members of the public understand the process and what a consolidated government might look like.
— Terence P Ward
Weisburd pushes back
Village of New Paltz trustee Stana Weisburd had words about the support of Edgar Rodriguez and Alex Wojcik at the joint village-town meeting held on July 10. During that meeting, several individuals spoke in support of town council member Rodriguez, who in response to confrontational questioning by a counter-demonstrator during a peace rally, claimed to have supported the killing of Israeli babies by members of Hamas last October 7. Others, including Weisburd, expressed solidarity with Alex Wojcik, the deputy mayor who has been called antisemitic for sharing content related to the protest on campus that was broken up by policy in early May. The published article included a note that none of those who spoke identified themselves as Jewish during the meeting.
“I didn’t think I had to” profess that identity, Weisburd said. “I am Jewish, and defending my friend Alex as a Jew.”
— Terence P Ward
Join the New Paltz/Gardiner Senior Club for a bus trip to Hunterdon Hills Playhouse
The New Paltz/Gardiner Senior Club is offering a bus trip on September 25 to Hunterdon Hills Playhouse for dinner and a show. The performance is a comedy called One Slight Hitch. It is a funny story about a young woman’s wedding day and everything that goes wrong.
The cost for the bus, dinner and show is $81 for New Paltz and Gardiner residents. If you would like to attend, call Phyllis at 845-255-6878.
Town board August meeting schedule
The New Paltz Town Board meetings for the dates/times listed below, will be held at the town courthouse, 59 North Putt Corners Road in New Paltz via Zoom and at the Cody Public Library, 1500 Heart Mountain Street in Cody, Wyoming. The public has the right to attend the meeting at either of the locations: Thursday, August 1, 7 p.m./5 p.m. mountain time; Thursday, August 15, 7 p.m./5 p.m. mountain time.
Retirees to meet on August 5
Retirees of the New Paltz community invite retired men and women everywhere to the monthly breakfast meeting on Monday, August 5, 8 a.m., at the New Paltz Plaza Diner.
Total Immersion Swimming co-founder Alice Laughlin will discuss the Total Immersion freestyle swimming method. Most people, both kids and adults, can learn to swim or improve their swimming by this method in six to ten hours. The presentation will involve a short lecture, video clips and Q&A. All attendees will receive a free Total Immersion book and DVD.
For additional information, contact Ed Rogers at 845-255-7420.
Join the family! 
