“Surround yourself with smart people, remove obstacles, and get out of the way,” says Christopher Short. The new executive director of the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce is describing his own hands-off type of leadership style, but his concept applies just as well to local entrepreneurs seeking guidance from the Chamber on how to build their businesses.
The Thomas & Corinne Nyquist Foundation is currently accepting funding requests from nonprofit organizations that serve New Paltz. This will be the 16th year the family foundation has awarded these grants. They’re particularly interested in supporting projects where a small amount of money may make the difference between success or failure, with most of the grants ranging from $100 to $1,000. With rare exceptions, the maximum award made is $2,000.
A roundup of local family activities.
The owner’s vision is “a neighborhood French bistro,” the type of place to meet friends for lunch or go solo for coffee and croissant but equally suitable for a romantic dinner.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the apple festival organized by the Reformed Church of New Paltz each fall, rebranded since 2016 as “Applestock.” Hosting an autumn festival can be tricky in terms of the weather, but Saturday, October 5 dawned cool and sunny, the perfect combination for hanging out on Huguenot Street at a family-friendly event that felt like a traditional, old-time village fête.
Entrepreneurial ventures can take a while to get off the ground. But when Melissa and Andy Peck launched Peck’s Pickled Peppers at last month’s Gardiner Day, they sold a case of their product before the event even began.
The activities at the annual Elting Library Fair last Saturday, September 21, seemed to reflect the multifaceted role libraries play in our lives today, with its emphasis not only on books but on the arts, children’s programs, community camaraderie and opportunities for civic involvement.
The Highland Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 28 from noon to 6 p.m. at Town Field in the hamlet will feature hay rides, apple dunking, bocce ball and a homemade pie contest.
The 63rd annual Elting Memorial Library Fair will be held Saturday, September 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here are 12 reasons you should check it out, along with photos dating back over 60 years.
When the Kon-Tiki Trading Co. went out of business in May after nearly three decades at 70 Main Street, many local residents bemoaned the fact that the eclectic curio shop would no longer be a part of the New Paltz scene. But MaryAnn Tozzi of New Paltz and Ana Lynn of Gardiner did more than waft nostalgic on Facebook, joining forces as business partners to re-open a revamped version of Kon-Tiki Trading Co. under a new name.
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