The best source for local news from Marbletown, Rochester & Rosendale
Published the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month | Vol. 28, Issue 2
So curious in High Falls PAGE 11
January 20, 2023 | $1.00
School board wonders if graduates are prepared
Ros. Library proposed move to the Bell Tower
PAGE 4
PAGES 6 AND 7
Christmas Bird Count, a report from the trenches, says bird numbers are down Ann Belmont BSP reporter The Christmas Bird Count, an annual event sponsored by the National Audubon Society, entails a very basic sort of citizen science. On a designated day in December, you slowly drive, walk, or sit around watching your bird feeder, looking for birds and noting how many you see, and what species. Any bird nerd can do it. And if it’s an especially foggy day, listening closely for different bird sounds works just as well. There are three "counting circles", 15 miles in radius, that touch the Rondout Valley and its neighboring mountains. The oldest, called the Mohonk Lake/Ashokan Reservoir Count Circle has been going on now for 73 years. (A founding member was Dan Smiley of the Mohonk Mountain House Smileys.) Steve Chorvas, who has been participating in this count for at least 40 of those years, and compiling the count data for over twenty, said that the center point of the circle is actually Ulster County Community College, radiating out seven
On the left, a photo taken by James David Saul of a black-capped chickadee in Ellenville. In the center, a photo by Debbie Busby of a barred owl in New Paltz. In the right, a photo by Steven Bauer of a fox sparrow in Esopus.
and a half miles in every direction. Chorvas and his volunteers went out on Dec.17, fanning out to cover as much ground as they could, with each "field party" assigned to a different area. After people checked in with their results,“the general perception—which proved to be true—was that the bird numbers were down," Chorvas reported. "We finished with 72 species, 11,800 individuals…[go-
ing by] our average for the last ten years, we’re down eight species and about 2,500 individuals." Chorvas was not surprised by that, because "we’d had a mild December up to that point. What typically happens in mild weather, the birds are all spread out, there’s no reason for them to concentrate in any one place. Also, they don’t really need the feeders because there’s no snow
or ice blocking their access to natural foods…if we have a snowstorm, the activity at our feeder immediately picks up.” That said, Chorvas' final report noted "Despite the relative overall lack of birds, eleven species were detected in sufficient numbers to tie or establish new
See Bird count, page 5
MLK Day of Service event honors volunteers, held at Rosendale Recreation Center Jeff Slater BSP reporter On Saturday, January 14, a celebration was held honoring volunteers. Sponsored by UlsterCorps, nearly 140 folks from various agencies attended. Food was served, and a raffle took place as volunteers from the county were honored. Music was provided, and volunteers ran all these components. County executive Jen Metzger was in attendance and spoke about the community and Michelle Hinchey, state senator. People, including county legislator Manna Jo Greene, spoke of their personal connection to Dr. King and the civil rights movement. “This event was held in Rosendale for the last four years and before that at the Marbletown Community Center.” Said Beth Albright of UlsterCorps Some local volunteers said the following
On left, Barbara Koerner of Accord volunteered for UIDN in Kingston and on right, Paula Kates Veeder volunteer at the Rosendale Food Pantry, enjoying the celebration. Photos by Jeff Slater
about their work and the event. Luci Windsong-Rain of Rosendale, a volunteer at the Rosendale Theater, said, “It’s important to recognize those who do
service to the community and give their time and support to do different things in the community. I’m into community and want to do things for it. At the theater I
usher and work in concession and sometimes work with the tech crew and volunteer at the Old Dutch Church in Kingston and do the sound. I think it’s rewarding.” Another volunteer Barbara Koerner of Accord, volunteers for the Ulster Immigrant Defense Network in Kingston, said, “I work with the part of the organization that is household support and I work particularly for the Wednesday Food Pantry food distribution Wednesdays at the Holy Cross Church in Kingston. I volunteer because the need is out there, and I think it’s important for those of us who can volunteer and try to help meet the needs and it’s personally rewarding. I also feel that we're just a backstop effort and in addition to providing this kind of direct action we really need to be mindful of electing the right kind of representatives to government so that these issues of poverty and
See Volunteers, page 15
Page 2, January July 1, 2022, 20, 2023, BlueStone BlueStone PressPress
Back to the land with Lewis Tell us where you grew up and what you like about the area? I have lived on the same property in Kerhonkson for as long as I can remember. This area has no shortage of great places to spend time outside, I love being able to drive five minutes away and seeing the entire valley. I always try to prioritize eating and shopping at places which are locally owned, knowing that my money is used to keep the place I live running is very important to me. One of my favorite places to eat locally would be the Kerhonkson Diner. I‘m there at least once a week and whenever my friends are home from school we visit there to catch up. Taking time to walk or go swimming in the Vernooy Kill in the state land is a great way to spend time in the summer, always reminding me to take things slow and how important nature is to me. Tell us about your family, pets, etc. I live with my two parents Michael and Deana, younger sister, Italia, and my grandparents Lewis and Rosalie. My Aunt and Uncle Matthew and Alisa have also been very key people in my life for as long as I remember as well. Every Sunday we have dinner and will watch a movie or televiVisit the folks sion afterwards, a tradition I hope next door to keep throughout my entire life. Sonny, our dog, has been in our life since 2019 and has brought countless moments of laughter and joy to all of us. Many of my friends I have known since high school, both from Rondout (the school I went to) and Ellenville. Although many of my friends have grown up a mere ten minutes away from me, I have also met many people from other places who are equally important to me such as my friends who met while working after I graduated from high school and my lovely girlfriend who recently moved to the area. I owe much of my values and attitudes towards others not only to my family but to my wonderful friends and girlfriend.
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that part of your life. Hunting, fishing etc and why does this area cater to that? My love for the outdoors is very deep, I have grown up seeing that humans are truly meant to coexist with nature. I believe that living in Kerhonkson, being surrounded by mountains on both sides and farms at almost every turn has cemented my philosophy of the bond between humans and nature being inseparable. I have been raised learning to hunt and fish, these activities are unparalleled in helping me become more connected with what I eat. Seeing the full process of where meat comes from truly makes me more grateful for being able to eat it. Almost anywhere I am in the Kerhonkson-Accord area, I can walk to the creek where I can catch a fish for lunch. Not only is the creek there to fish but there are the reservoirs that sit on top of the mountain, where you can fish and hunt the surrounding area if you have the given permission. Living nestled between two mountain ranges provides a healthy amount of different terrain to hunt, each providing a different challenge and housing different animals.
Lewis DeGrote Age: 21 Profession: Working at Tributary Farm Town: Kerhonkson
You work at Tributary Farm tell us about that and why you enjoy it there. I began working at Tributary Farm during the fall harvest season of 2022 after reassessing what I desire in my life and in work. After months of talking to my therapist and thinking about my true values in life, I concluded that what I want is to be closer to the earth. Working at Tributary has allowed me to accomplish this to a great extent. Not only has the work itself been extremely rewarding in learning more about where food comes from but I have been treated better than any other place I have worked. I feel as though I am truly cared for by every one of my coworkers. They encourage me to learn about how the farm works and will answer any question I have while still having me feel welcomed. Not only do I feel welcomed at the farm but I feel as though Jesse and my coworkers are truly interested in who I am as a person as well as my desires for my future. You’re an outdoor type of guy, tell us about
What are your plans for the future? I would like to eventually own a homestead locally. Since I have such a connection to nature and value knowing where my food is coming from, I believe owning a homestead and becoming more self-sufficient is fitting. I would like to eventually be able to sell vegetables and/or animal products from a small farmstand on my property as well. I would like to do some traveling to learn how other people live in different cultures as well. If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why? I would visit Alaska; I have had a pull towards it for so long. The state has such a vast amount of wild land to explore and so much to do in that land. I would personally love to go on a salmon fishing trip there with my dad and uncles, we go up to northern NY every October to salmon fish so I think it would be a perfect blend of familiar and unfamiliar. I’d adore to see an Alaskan bull moose and the northern lights as well. --Compiled by Jeff Slater, BSP Reporter
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BSP Corrections On page 6 of the Jan. 6, 2023 BlueStone Press, there was an error in the caption accompanying the Easter Bunny photo in the year in review photo spread. The event took place at the Rochester Rec Center. Pictured are Ashley Sweeney, next to the Bunny, and Sienna Sergio. The photo was taken by Manuela Mihailescu. The BlueStone Press apologizes for this error.
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BlueStone Press, January 20, 2023, Page 3
Reactions to 'incident' in municipal lot ...and other happenings in the town of Rochester Ann Belmont BSP reporter On Jan.5, there were two public hearings at the town of Rochester for a couple of proposed changes in the local tax code, based on a change in NY State law. Local Law #1, as it is called, concerns an exemption for disabled persons with limited income. “The limit allowed by state law previously was $29,000 for a 50% tax reduction,” explained town supervisor Mike Baden, scaling down to a 5% reduction for those earning up to $37,000. Rochester will be increasing those limits to $37,000 and $45,400 respectively, effective in 2024 (based on 2023 taxes). This only applies to town taxes, not school," Baden clarified in an email. "These exemptions would need to be filed by March 1 of this year, utilizing a person’s (couple's) 2021 income." The next case, Local law #2, was similar except that it applied to seniors instead. It specified the same income profile as the disabled law. One change from the way the law used to read: instead of “owned by a husband and wife” the new law will say “by a married couple.” There was a comment from someone asking about filling out the required forms. The BSP contacted the assessor's office and learned that people can get a form by dropping by the office; by calling (845-6260920) and requesting one by mail: or by going to the assessor's page on the town website. At the bottom of that page is the heading "Property tax exemption forms." Note: There are many, many different forms there. The relevant ones are: RP59-C (disabled persons) and RP467 (persons over 65). Afterwards,the regular town board meeting was held. Much of the meeting was taken up with something that occurred in the town municipal parking lot at Veterans Park on Friday Dec. 30th. Speaking to the truck driver involved in the incident, Balden said, “[he was] a gentleman who lives in our town, when he comes into town we have allowed him to park his truck there because he’s unable to park it at his house". "When it’s [his truck] here, he lets us know.” This man was assaulted and seriously injured in the parking lot, apparently by someone he knew and was, Baden conjectured, meeting there. "He was airlifted—I want to thank KAFAS and the fire district for their response—the helicopter landed right in the town parking lot.” They took him to Albany Medical Hospital. “I have not been able to get any information about his condition.” “I do want to say that this was not a random incident,” Baden emphasized, not the work of a “lurking criminal,” but the result of an argument. “It is tragic, it is sad, we all send our healing thoughts to the person and his family.” The state police told Baden that “they were confident they knew who did it.” He wanted to assure people “there is not a crime spree going on” and that it’s still safe to park in the lot. Public comment came. One woman said that giving the truck driver permission to park in the municipal lot was a horrible idea and should never have happened on town property. Susan Bruck, who was attending virtually via Zoom, said, “It was my son and I who were the first people to come upon the gentleman in the parking lot," following the attack. She called it “an attempted murder, bludgeoning.” “This never should have happened on town property," she stated. "Mike Baden is responsible…he acted [without] a town
board vote and authorized [this individual] to park overnight”. Susan stated she did an internet search on the truck driver’s name and discovered that he had a record of violent crime. She accused Baden of overreach, among other charges.“You’re elected officials…hold Mike Baden accountable," she said, addressing the rest of the board. “He acts outside his purview, making exceptions to town policy without board approval or public comment.” Later Baden responded. “The town board delegates to the supervisor the powers of day to day operations of the town,” he said, and in his view giving someone permission to park overnight was included in that job description. The rest of the board also weighed in on the incident and its ramifications. Charlotte Smiseth said, “I do think...that we should have a policy about allowing people to overnight park," and that any permissions given should be preceded by a background check. She also stressed the need for security cameras around the lot. "The fact that we don’t have any cameras there opens us up for liability." Baden, after some discussion with Smiseth, decided he wanted to put out a request for proposals (an RFP) from professional safety consulting services. “None of us are security experts. I know we could put up cheap cameras and think we’ve done something, but I would rather we hire professionals.” Smiseth would like to see security cameras in place right away. “I want to make sure this doesn’t get put on the back burner...we have children here all summer," she added, and didn't like the idea of "not having some type of safety feature in a building where children are watched.” She pointed out that there are already cameras around the courthouse. Baden replied that those court cameras are paid for by Justice NYS. He said he is eager to get the RFP process moving right away, but did not address whether or not to put cameras around the municipal lot immediately. Michael Coleman said, “We have to consider liability concerns” as well as safety, in town government offices like the assessor’s office and code enforcement, where people sometimes get heated. He supported the RFP idea. Adam Paddock commented, “It was an incredibly unfortunate incident…but what if it happened at the one-room schoolhouse?”---implying that it's time to think about putting security systems in place on all town government properties. Addressing himself to all who were affected in any way by the incident, he said “I just want to say, I completely understand” their concerns, “but we have a very safe town, it’s one of the great things about being here. Statistically, [violence is] extraordinarily rare.” He added, “No matter what we do or how much money we spend, we’re never going to figure out every contingency.” Till now, it never would have occurred to anyone that such a thing would happen; therefore, his point was, a professional viewpoint is needed. Enouen commented, “This incident was very upsetting," and agreed with the rest of the board that they should discuss a policy for the future. Another matter that came up during the meeting was a thorny problem involving a feature of some rural parts of Rochester: small private water companies, having a single owner, with several residences sharing a water system. There is such a
See TOR, page 8
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Page 4, January 20, 2023, BlueStone Press
Briefs Blackboard Bistro moves to SUNY Ulster Community College On January 13, 2023, the Blackboard Bistro closed it’s Cottekill location and moved permanently to SUNY Ulster Community College Campus to provide full-time food services to students and staff while continuing it’s catering services to the community. Blackboard Bistro will also continue to employ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as part of their kitchen and front-line staff. The Arc Mid-Hudson, the parent organization of Blackboard Bistro, has had a long-standing relationship with SUNY Ulster throughout the years. This relationship has blossomed into a great partnership. "SUNY Ulster's community of students, faculty, and staff greatly value the community partnerships we've established with The Arc Mid-Hudson, including Blackboard Bistro. Our town-gown relationship continually shapes each other to strengthen each of our organizations and the community we serve." Said Alison Buckley, Ed.D., SUNY Ulster President Blackboard Bistro began it’s partnership with SUNY Ulster in 2017 when it opened a kiosk at the SUNY Ulster Annex building on Mary’s Ave in Kingston. In March of 2020, when the COVID 19 pandemic abruptly hit Ulster County, Blackboard Bistro was asked to provide meals at SUNY Ulster Community College for Ulster BOCES students that were attending the P-tech program on campus. The Blackboard Bistro was also hired by homeland security to provide meals for their staff that were administering COVID tests to the public at the campus. In 2021, when classes were set to resume in person, SUNY Ulster contracted with Blackboard Bistro as their full-time food service provider. In 2022, classes remained in session and the demand for food services and catering orders continued to grow. This led The Arc Mid-Hudson to make the decision to close the Blackboard Bistro Cottekill location and to move Blackboard Bistro permanently to the SUNY Ulster Campus to focus on the campus food orders and catering services. Blackboard Bistro’s extensive catering menu will continue to be made fresh and ready for pick up or delivery. Catering items can be found on Blackboard Bistro’s website www.blackboardbistrony.com.
School board wonders if graduates feel prepared Amber Kelly BSP Reporter Just before the RVSD Board of Education meeting in the district office on Jan. 10, Superintendent Dr. Joseph Morgan said, “Alyssa, would you like to share what the public hearing is presenting please.” School Business Official Alyssa Hasbrouck said, “Sure. So we are just doing the public hearing for our senior tax exemption which we had approved a couple of meetings ago. It hasn’t been updated since the year 2000. After our committee meetings we did some case studies with community members that had written in asking about the senior exemption, and we proposed a new exemption.” “Could you explain a little bit about what the tax break is?” Dr. Morgan asked. “Sure,” Hasbrouck said. “Senior exemption is a tax break for community members above 65-years old. They have to own real property, and they have to submit it to Ulster County Real Property Department. When you receive your tax bill, you will receive that exemption amount based on your income level, so you have to qualify for that. We proposed a $4,500 difference.” The chart (above) shows that 2022-2023 currently has 50% school tax exemption for seniors with income under $19,500. In the proposed 2023-2024 budget, the 50% off starts at $24,000. After the pledge of allegiance, Junior High School Principal Victoria Saffioti said, “We had our first dance since prior to COVID. We have new clubs. We have an environmental club that started this month, and I posted recently for the drama club, gaming club and outdoors club. We are trying to offer more activities after school to meet the needs of our students and their interests. We are also offering tutoring on Thursdays. We planned our spring field trips which will be both in-person and virtual.” Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Nicole Kappes-Levine, said, “We are very happy that Nicole is participating again this year as a board member who has seen this process through. We have a core committee that is comprised of administrators as well as some staff representatives and our plan is to go out into staff teams as well as offer parent input sessions as well as student input sessions. We don’t have the dates yet. The parent sessions will also be available via Zoom. We will offer a survey as well. Then closer to the time when we have revisions for consideration, we will offer sessions as well for families to hear about the changes that we will be proposing and they will be able to give input. We are very organized and would be happy to come and share our goals” Board members all indicated that yes, they would like an update.
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The chart shows that 2022-2023 currently has 50% school tax exemption for seniors with income under $19,500. In the proposed 2023-2024 budget, the 50% off starts at $24,000. Graphic by Jan Melchoir made with information supplied by the Rondout Valley School District
Board member Nicole Parete said, “I have an update from our educational delivery committee from our November meeting and I have a couple of recommendations for the board. We developed procedures for adding or eliminating academic programs, courses and textbooks. It was unclear whether the district is currently following the guidelines because of COVID, or if there is a blurred line because we asked our teachers to be creative during COVID because it was such a unique experience learning how to do online learning, and we were learning how to do it quickly. We kind of have to return back to (a) more formal following of procedures that we have. We want to make sure that anything we are adding or eliminating is based on research, and that there is a thorough process. We also request the policy committee review policies related to this topic.” “We had two meetings in December and we heard from all of the buildings and their improvement plans and they are doing an outstanding job,” Parete continued. “We went over their building goals and basically each building had an academic achievement goal and a social/emotional goal to kind of oversimplify. In each of the buildings they have trainings happening, they have events to bring people together, they have programs being implemented like handwriting without tutors that has an extra writing component. At the elementary level they’re implementing a phonics program. The high school is working on increasing college and career readiness. They are working on decreasing the number of suspensions, and working on disciplinary issues as well and all the buildings are working (on) restorative practices. As we are rolling out the new data management system, these improvements would be a district level goal that all the buildings are going to hopefully be on the same page. That process is going to take time because they’re trying to roll out the data management system as well. A critical piece of that is how are they going to use the data and the strategies offered by our new system as a part of that overall process.” “I just want to mention too, this is a mom-thing, that Marbletown elementary school had a dance, it was so well attended they ran out of food early. It was just so nice to see everyone coming together and it just shows that people really want to come back together. Our PTSA (parent, teacher, student association) put that on, and it was just that they do so much work, that made it such a beautiful night.” Ms. Pacht said that a subcommittee of the health and wellness committee is working with the new food services direc-
tor and Cornell Extension. They hope to repeat what they did last year with a food tasting at Marbletown to expose students to different foods. Board member Dr. Alan Roberts asked “How many of our graduates are college ready, and how do you measure that, and how do you set a goal? Also, I’m wondering, they may go to a 2-year or a 4-year institution, but how well did they do there?” Parete said that Rondout has an exit survey from last year that asked students what they planned to do. A significant number of students planned to go right into the workforce. Board Vice President Chris Schoonmaker said, “I was just having a conversation with someone whose child just started college, and not just them but other feedback I have gotten is; it’s a shock for these kids going in. The general feeling is that they may not be prepared. I do think it is worthwhile for us to look into this, and how can we solicit feedback from those first-year students in terms of where they may not feel sufficient, where they may not be ready. Then as a district, what can we do to make sure we are addressing those areas.” Dr. Morgan said, “It would probably be helpful to have a focus group of students to come back.” “Prior to COVID, we used to do something like that in the library,” Ms. Pacht said. “Where we were asking if students would come back and speak about their experience transitioning from high school to the workforce, to the armed forces, to local community college, other four-year colleges. It was workshop style where students could ask questions. I’m not sure what group would put that together, but I will look into that.” Dr. Roberts said, “Hearing what the students feel is one thing, but hearing what the schools are saying would be important.” He suggested reaching out to the guidance departments of the local colleges. Pacht said, “Sometimes there is difficulty for the student to get a mentor, and to get them a college advisor or you know a professional advisor. In a tech forum, I asked a student how they got interested in their topic. They actually got connected by a former Rondout Valley graduate who was also in that line of work.” Board member Carolyn Peck said, “This past weekend were the auditions for the All-County-Band and for many of our students it was the first audition because of COVID it could not happen the past couple of years. I also stopped by a wrestling match and it was nice to see all the community support, it was standing room only.”
BlueStone Press, January 20, 2023, Page 5
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Bird count from page 1 record-high counts," including the Eastern bluebird, barred owl, several hawk species, and especially the tufted titmouse, a frequent visitor of seed feeders along with its cousin, the chickadee. He recorded "a remarkable increase of 135 [titmice] in a year when active bird feeders were few and far between and the price of bird seed has gone way up." On Dec. 28, Mark DeDea and his team conducted the 12th annual Ulster-Duchess bird count, which includes part of the town of Hurley and stretches all the way to Rhinebeck on the other side of the Hudson. The river and its tributaries provide a lot of waterfowl habitat (there was a special waterfowl count on Jan. 14). DeDea was amazed by the sighting of a harlequin duck. "It was the first time it’s ever been seen in Ulster County! It’s mostly a sea duck, it winters in NY waters—on the LI Sound, or even on the Niagara River or Lake Ontario.” So why do we see an occasional seagull in this area--are they lost? “Gulls do come up the river-- they’re winter migrants. There are gulls that breed in the St. Lawrence Seaway... They follow Lake Champlain and Lake George down to the Hudson and utilize the river as a flyway” to the Atlantic. Winter is typically when we see them,” though in summer or fall, big tropical storms can blow birds hundreds of miles off course, “catapult them from the Caribbean," as DeDea put it. “Us bird nerds, we examine the gull flocks, we try to draw them in with dry dog food. You never know…one time, I found one that was from Siberia!" Although DeDea and his team found 83 species, about average for their area, and around 17,500 individuals all told, that doesn’t tell the whole story. “That’s counting pigeons and starlings and house sparrows—crows, Canada geese," the commonest, most ubiquitous species. "I covered the city of Kingston that day...there ’s probably 50,000 house sparrows in Kingston,” he remarked, "an invasive species that actually kills bluebirds.” The house sparrow and European starling have been displacing native birds. “But they serve a purpose,” DeDea added; they are a
favorite prey of the Cooper’s hawk.” As for the overall numbers, "A lot of us who were out that day thought it seemed kind of quiet, we didn’t see as much as usual. We don’t know what to attribute that to—whether there’s avian influenza, or we haven’t had a severe winter so birds that would typically be down here go further north—there’s a couple of variables, but—-kind of weird. For waterfowl, we don’t have ice on the lakes to congregate the birds, it’s open water so they’re kind of dispersed; we had a nice variety, but it was harder to find them.” Despite the challenges, high counts were set that day for eight species: several ducks, hawks, the barred owl and, again, the tufted titmouse."I have to say, all these invasive insects that are killing our trees are providing natural food sources for birds like nuthatches and woodpeckers, so maybe there’s a silver lining there," Dedea observed. Standing dead ash trees, he’s noticed, attract woodpeckers who will eat the ash borer larvae under the bark. “They can hear them.” If you’ve been noticing fewer birds at your feeder, you’re not alone. “Everybody’s pretty much saying that. It’s something to be concerned about. I don’t know if we have any definitive answers to why that is. If we do get a snowstorm this winter, and you don’t see them following that—that’s when I’d worry," DeDea concluded. Nicholas Martin, who has been compiling the data for Minnewaska-Shawangunk---the southernmost of the three local circles---for all the five years it has been in existence, said, “I had one feeder-watcher in Ellenville who had phenomenal numbers, but everybody else was pretty sparse." Like the others, Martin's team found lower-than-average numbers of birds in general. “All the sparrows have been lower this year. There are about seven species of sparrow that we generally see in the circle. Finches have been low this year too....The first year, we had over 200 goldfinches. On this count, we had 42.” Reasons? "There are so many variables, it kind of boggles the mind." Last summer's drought might play into it, making some fruits and nuts harder to find for the birds. For instance: robins love juniper pine cones, and in 2021 there was a bumper crop. "Last year we had thousands of robins,” but not this year. Another example: "When it snows
we see juncos along the road edges, they’re easy to find. The question is whether there are low numbers of juncos, or we just didn’t find them.” Some data is easier to explain; on the Minnewaska count day, Dec. 31, "I had fog pretty much all day…we’d normally see vultures soaring around." Martin estimated his final numbers to be 64 species and 11,000 birds. Last year, they counted 69 species and almost 18,000 individuals. However, there were a number of high counts, among them some duck and hawk species, a couple of woodpeckers, and again the little tufted titmouse, which seems to be doing great around here. The difficulties in confirming trends in specific bird populations are pretty daunting. Besides weather conditions on counting day, birds move around; although people take this into account, they can't be 100% sure they haven't counted an individual more than once. Also, the Christmas Bird Count is gaining popularity; a common theme seems to be increased volunteer participation, adding yet another factor to have to consider when drawing conclusions about how birds are faring. “The number of field parties and field-party hours continues to increase," Chorvas confirmed. Due to pandemic restrictions, "the Audubon Society prohibited traditional field parties where four people get in a car together,” but “a field party of one can cover the same amount of ground as a party of ten.” So, he concluded, more volunteers leading more field parties “has to factor into our finding a greater number of birds.” For their hours of staying out on a winter's day (and for some truly dedicated individuals, that's dawn to dusk and beyond) no matter what the weather, volunteers reap the satisfaction of participating in a national event, some photos if they're lucky, and maybe a potluck supper with their fellow bird nerds. Thank you, citizen scientists! May you experience the excitement of sighting some truly rare bird. Says DeDea, "If you look hard enough, sometimes they show up. That’s why we go!” To find out more about the Christmas Bird Count in the Rondout Valley, contact Mark DeDea at the John Burroughs Natural History Society, jbnhs.org
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Rosendale Library trustees decide not to purchase Belltower building According to trustees, USDA low-interest loan is unavailable without town board support Michelle McAuliffe Vitner and Thomas Childers BSP reporters Late breaking: The BSP received information at 5:00 p.m. on our deadline evening that the Rosendale Library Board of Trustees decided not to purchase the Bell-tower building. The board writes that this is due to “Lacking a letter of support from the Town Board, we are unable to obtain the USDA low-interest loan that we anticipated would help finance the project. We have applied for, and had planned to apply for grants that would have, we estimated, made the move a tax-neutral proposition. But without a low-interest loan, we simply cannot move forward.” We are running the previously prepared story in the public interest. At the Rosendale Town Board meeting in December 2022, Rosendale Library Director Katie Scott-Childress addressed the board with a presentation about the library’s aim to relocate from its current location at 264 Main street in Rosendale to a possible new location at the historic Belltower building Scott-Childress at 398 Main Street in Rosendale. The Belltower is listed on the market, priced at $1.5 million. The director and library board had discussed the possible purchase since September last year (as noted in their library board meeting notes). The goal of the presentation to the town board was to seek letters of support to assist in applying for grants towards a purchase. It was stated that one of the grants, the Empire State Development Grant, could have reduced the cost of the purchase price of the property by up to 20%. Scott-Childress shared, “At the town board meeting…we were asking for a letter of support for two grants in order to make this (library) move a tax-neutral project. The town board refused to write these letters of support, but we did get letters from the county, state, and federal legislators. The grants were for economic revitalization of commercial districts.” The board declined to supply the letters. Supervisor Walsh and other council members said they had little lead time to consider what such a library relocation and new property purchase would entail before the December 31 grant deadline. Further, they said they wanted to know if it was an open process of decision-making and input from the community and what the costs per capita for Rosendale residents might become in terms of increased taxes- if the Belltower was acquired -along with later renovation costs that would add to the total. Scott-Childress said that the grant application would not require anything finalized at this stage. The town board suggested that she return at a future time with a feasibility study and answers about public involvement.
The library states the issues Library board member Lauren Miller said, “As a tax-paying Rosendale resident, I want to briefly comment on the potential library relocation and expansion project. Though we cannot yet offer any definitive answers as to how this project may roll out in terms of exact costs and timing, I can offer my perspective on our approach.
Belltower building at 398 Main Street in Rosendale is currently listed for sale on the market. BSP file photo by Thomas Childers
Our primary goal is to aggressively apply for federal, state, and private grants as well as explore other funding streams outside of Rosendale. The ideal outcome is to have no incremental local taxpayer burden, and short of that, as little as absolutely possible. Our aim is to be a resource for the community, not a drain. We are actively seeking funds outside the community to provide maximum value to our community. As a mother of a young child, I am wracked with guilt over the fact that I, a library board member, take my child to neighboring libraries that can provide a much more comfortable and safe environment for young children. My Rosendale and Tillson friends with young children do the same. However, while the benefits of a larger, improved library are, in our opinion, innumerable, I am not attempting to convince those who do not frequent or do not believe in the value of the library. I am simply providing you with what drives us, maximum value and minimum burden. If you take away one thing from this statement, please let it be this, we respect your opinion, we hear your concerns and will continue to do so in our listening sessions, we share your commitment to our community and our goal is to have little to no negative impact on taxpayer burden.” At the December Rosendale Town Board meeting, in addition to the grant letter requests, Scott-Childress’s presentation described a number of issues of concern for the library board, which were the reasons relocation of the library was being pursued. They had encouraged feedback from patrons, The Friends of the Library (a volunteer and fundraising body for the library), and other members of the community. Such issues included “not enough space for a dedicated children’s room or a community room to host the programs the library offers, the building has one toilet, it's insufficient for the number of people who regularly visit the library,the current location has very limited parking and no possibility for expansion, and… the entry is not well-suited for wheelchair access”- although it had a ramp added many years ago. With the move, they hoped to achieve “a quiet reading,study,workspace for the community and more parking for patrons and program attendees and a space for library programs like kids’ art, Slow
Jam for string instruments, book groups, writers’ groups, local history lectures, and more space for library collections.” It was also mentioned that the new location might bring an infusion of foot traffic and business to the center of Main Street for further revitalization of the business district. As noted by the library, there are two options they are exploring. “First, the renovation and expansion of the existing building- Rosendale Library boards have recognized and worked to address the space and parking problem for over 20 years. The library commissioned architecture firms to make drawings and explore parking expansion in 2005 and 2020. Expanding the library would require
multiple variances because the library is already very close to its property lines. Finally, expanding the parking lot would destroy the green space around the library and net only six additional spaces. The second option is to a move to another building with convenient parking and sufficient size. The library is exploring moving to the Belltower in the center of Rosendale, which would address the problems with the current location and have many other advantages.” The library added, “what will this cost taxpayers? The library is exploring financing options, is applying for numerous grants, and raising funds from individuals. The board is seeking to make this a tax-neutral move.” At the December town board meeting, Scott-Childress stated that in addition to the grants, the proceeds from the sale of the current library (approx. $600,000) would be applied towards the purchase, along with a USDA mortgage for the remaining cost. She said they could also explore renting a piece of the building which is attached and part of the property, for additional income.
Town board concerns More recently, in the January 2023 Rosendale Town Board meeting, the town board made a motion for a FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) request from the town clerk, about the Rosendale Library. They requested information pertaining to all records from 2022 and 2023 about the proposed purchase of the Belltower on Main St: any loans, grant applications, awards, engineering, inspections, and architect, and financial reports, to be released. The motion was approved by all members and Supervisor Walsh, minus Councilmember
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Rosendale library from page 6 Carrie Wykoff who recused herself. Walsh shared in a written statement, “I am concerned that the library has been giving conflicting information to the public and in some cases, the wrong information. The process of purchasing the Belltower as a new library has very clear steps that should be taken before a purchase takes place. The library must put a vote to the public for any loan they want to take to purchase the Belltower. The Town Board would Bond for the Library but only if the residents of Rosendale vote 'yes' to the Belltower move. This would require a public hearing before the vote and everyone is entitled to comment and express their concerns in this matter. The director, at a Town Board meeting, stated they would borrow from USDA without the need for a public vote. My research shows they will need a public vote as the loan from USDA is still a bond. A member of the Library Board on Facebook has stated this purchase will not need a bond, but the numbers show even if they receive all grants they are applying for and are able to sell the existing library, they would still need to borrow more than 1 million dollars. This project will not be cost-neutral. If the public wants this and votes for it to take place, I will support the library and the purchase, but we must hear from the public and they must be properly informed. Another concern is that public information forums the library is holding are not 'open' to the public. The library is requesting the people to sign up to be admitted and at a Town Planning Board meeting, the [library] director stated they wanted to be sure people who came were residents. This looks like a violation of the 'open meetings law'- Public meetings must be open to anyone who wishes to attend. Another instance of misinformation is when the director, at our town board meeting [in December] stated the library had 23,000 visitors. On Facebook, a Library Board member stated they had 8,000 visitors. It is so important to be sure the public is being given the correct information in the right format. This is why the Town Board is FOILing the library for the information in order to be sure we can answer the public questions correctly and to be sure we understand the steps the library is taking. I have on more than one occasion offered existing public, town-owned spaces to the library-to partner with them on their programming so we can offer more services to the public without the extra tax burden. The Recreation Center, The Youth Center, the Gym, and other meeting rooms at the town hall and at Maple Hill have all been offered and can be made available for programs. I hope the Library Board takes the proper steps going forward.” The supervisor has said she’s made it her mission over many years in office to reduce the risk of any extra financial burdens to residents, and to keep living in Rosendale affordable. She says fiscal accountability is a top priority for her as supervisor. 2021 U.S. Census data shows that in the town of Rosendale, 41% of household incomes were under $50,000, 29% were between $50-$100,000, and 10% of people live below the poverty line. The median age was 50.9, and veterans made up 5.5% of the population.
Signs say ‘no’ There are people who do not support the move of the library or purchase of the Belltower, as evidenced by two signs placed on front yards on Main St. that say “Say ‘NO’ to a new $2+ Million Library” and “Keep the Rosendale Library Where it is.” Deputy Supervisor Ken Hassett (who wished to make his statement as a resident) said that “many people don’t agree
with this. There are people like me, who feel the idea of relocating the library or purchasing a new building is not a good idea…Within five miles of the Rosendale library, there are four other libraries- SUNY Ulster, Stone Ridge Library, Hasbrouck Library, the Hurley Library… U-CAT is running free buses to take you anywhere you want to go in the county.” A U-CAT company representative said that some bus routes pass Ulster county libraries and others do not. Regarding the information sessions, “I wish they would have it at the (Rosendale) Rec Center. We’ve already spoken to some seniors who said they would have liked to go but won’t because the library is too small. We want transparency. Whatever the plans may be, put them up front, let's get true numbers and the impact it’s gonna have on the taxpayers. Keep in mind that, just within the village district, the mean income is under $34,000. We know that because we had to do a census when we went for a grant for the water/sewer district. To add a big bill to their tax bill, that’s a huge impact.”
Library relocation supporters The following is an excerpt from a letter written by resident Jeffrey Graf: “The Library is already a very valuable community asset. However, the spatial limitations of the Library’s current property prevent it from maximizing that benefit to Town residents. The improved space of the Belltower Building and the additional parking are the two most major enhancements that would enable further benefit to the Town. The Belltower Building would not only enhance programming and usage by residents, but because it will attract more people and because the Belltower Building is surrounded by restaurants and shops in the heart of Main Street, it would be a win-win for the Town….” Lou Venech and Christine Hunter live in Rosendale, and also shared their support: “...reinvesting in the current library building involves significant capital spending without relieving the space constraints of the facility…There are numerous environmental advantages to moving the library into the larger, existing Belltower... While the move would definitely involve interior renovations, the carbon footprint of a new addition (to the current building) would almost certainly be greater in terms of the excavation activity and the new materials involved.” Special library district Former New York library Association director Jeremy Johannsen wrote a statement in 2015 about the Rhinebeck library and its fight to keep its status as a special library district. He expressed that “Library districts do not operate like any of the local taxing entities…..unlike fire, water, or sewer districts, local citizens vote directly on the taxes levied by their library district, approving or rejecting those taxes at the ballot box. The establishment of library districts puts control over spending on library budgets directly into the hands of the voters. Communities support their libraries and value the access and services they provide. When given the opportunity to vote on local library funding, local voters statewide have approved those budgets over 96% of the time over the last three years.” His statement was about annual budgets and the election of board members specifically. In this instance, he did not reference how special votes are sometimes called for in other decisions that special district libraries make. The New York Library Association states that, “The Rosendale Library, a
On Rosendale Main Street this week. Photos by Thomas Childers
Special District Public Library founded in 1958 [chartered as an SDPL in 1987], is a member of the Mid-Hudson Library System. Election of the Rosendale Library Board of Trustees and the budget vote takes place on the first Thursday of September and is open to all registered voters in the Town of Rosendale, NY.” The NY State Education Dept says that, “Special district public libraries are created by act of the New York State Legislature. Each one is different and reflects the particular needs and situation of that district. There is no comprehensive legal definition of a special district public library.” The Rosendale library is “one of the public libraries with Special Legislative District boundaries.” Each SDPL has its legislation, created at the time of charter, which may or may not include a special vote as a feature that would help in deciding matters such as the purchase of a property. The Rosendale library states that it is exploring all matters through legal counsel for
clarification of the process. Furthermore, Scott-Childress says, “Normally a libraryif they are doing a capital project and need to get a bond- will have a special election, a referendum, and the public will vote on it. It’s likely that will happen in this situation too.” The Rosendale Library had one such referendum in 2006 which attempted to purchase the adjacent Ritter property for $299,500; that proposal was rejected by a vote of 375-266. The Library Board President Willam Stamm at the time, said “It was a lost opportunity and one we will not get back again.” Editor’s Note: Disclosure- the writer is a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (BHHS) in New Paltz, and the library is represented by a realtor from the BHHS office in Stone Ridge, Laura Prince. Professional boundaries were honored.
Page 8, January 20, 2023, BlueStone Press
Rosendale Town Board shuffle
Board says hello to new councilmember Molly Muller and goodbye to councilmember Ernest Klepeis Michelle Vitner BSP reporter The Rosendale Town Board Meeting was held on the evening of January 11, 2023, at the Rondout Municipal Center in Cottekill. In attendance were Supervisor Jeanne Walsh, Councilman Havranek, councilmember Carrie Wykoff, Councilmember Ernest Klepeis, and Councilmember Molly Muller. (New council member Molly Muller was sworn in at the previous week’s Town Board workshop meeting on January 4th). Klepeis was recognized with a plaque from the board, presented by Walsh, who said, “Very sadly, Ernest Klepeis has submitted his resignation, effective the end of the month. We’re very sad to see him leave Rosendale, but we understand he’s going on to bigger and better things, and we wish you luck in your future. Of course, you’ll always be a Rosendale boy. But this is presented to Ernest Klepeis in appreciation and sincere appreciation for one year serving as Youth Director and four years of distinguished service as town councilmember for the town of Rosendale- January 20, 2023.” The councilmembers all clapped as Klepeis said, “Thank you”. He was also given a certificate of recognition from Congressman Pat Ryan that his fiancé brought and shared with the board. Havranek reported that the sewer project is underway, will be $4.7 million, and is on hold throughout the winter. The temporary road has been built, and asbestos removed. New roofs have been put on both buildings, and it is scheduled to be completed by September (roughly 50% completed now). Water tank projectbid to go out this spring, a new road put in from Sand Hill to access the property, and
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company on Upper Queens Highway where the owner passed away without a will, so the company is in probate. The town's lawyer is working through the legal aspects to try to resolve the probate issues, Baden said. Meanwhile, there is no way to pay for maintenance. “The week before Christmas, it failed," he related. "People had water on and off, or no water. The county got involved, also the town… We have supported the people as best we could. We got a tanker of water in there.” He and board member Erin Enouen also delivered a case of bottled water to each home.”The water is being tested, it is safe to drink,” but “a number of pumps have failed….I was there on Christmas morning helping to put in a pump.” He told this story: An employee from a water-consultant company, getting a message about a resident’s failed pump on Christmas Eve, went from Saugerties to Brewster for a new pump, found one and drove it to Queens Highway. “I met him there, we got it installed and up and running so the people had water at 9 a.m. on Christmas morning.”
Short news items: The Stone Ridge library has 238 free memberships for Rochester residents, Enouen announced. People should contact the library if interested. “They typically run out in March.” (All residents can access the Ellenville Library without charge, alternatively.) Sixty people came to a farmers' Q & A event hosted by Coleman and Enouen on
the old tank will remain, so there will be no interruptions with the water usage. Havranek stated that there are still 80 outstanding meters that need updating and that soon, there will be quarterly penalties of $75 charged to homes that haven’t been updated yet. Muller reported that 17 dog licenses were sold in December. Wykoff mentioned that the new Beacon WIFI water meters are working well, as evidenced by the Rosendale movie theater leak discovered by Denise, the water clerk, remotely from the office. It reduced waste, extra costs, and damage through quick identification. Wykoff shared that they are saying goodbye to Dave Plant, having served 16 years as Planner; she stated, “we will be honoring Dave and all his hard work. We honor his opinion as to who will be stepping in, and we’re grateful for those people who are going to be coming forward to help us.” Historian Bill Brooks hopes to have a new display in the RMC building within the next 30 days with a new case. Klepeis shared that the Property tax letter will come in the mail soon. The summer camp rates are changing for 2023. The post-camp care fee is up $15 and now is $75. The activity fee is now $25 for art, sports, and other programs. No school full-day program has increased by $10 for non-residents (now $50) and $5 for residents (now $40). Other fees remain the same. Many commissions and meetings were not held in December but will resume in the coming weeks. There are many openings on committees and commissions, some of which just need someone to reapply, while others are empty. Please contact the Town of Rosen-
Dec. 18th, Enouen reported. “We heard from the public that forming an agricultural advisory is something that people are very interested in. I’m hoping we can put that on our workshop agenda.” Enouen is also working on updating the town website. Next, Baden has 50 pages of new subdivision code based on all the zoning code revisions that have had public hearings during the ongoing subdivision moratorium. He wanted the board to review it and suggested a public hearing at the board's February workshop meeting. His goal is to get it done by March, because “March is the next benchmark for the moratorium.” If they adopt the revisions before the deadline, they won’t have to renew the moratorium again. MaryLou Christiana, town counsel, commented on the proposed Dark Skies law as written up by Baden, calling some wording “too vague…a lot of it is kind of subjective.” As a lighting professional for 35 years, Baden knows a lot about the subject. Christiana wanted him to clarify some of his language, to define what “barn lights” are, etc. Enouen commented that the board needs and welcomes input from residents on the Dark Skies law. “We will be looking for input on how to make it feasible, because this will apply to everyone in the town…every residence, every business.” Christiana urged passage of the town's proposed cannabis law. “You might have to amend it. But if you don’t pass it, somebody could come and put a smoking room anywhere, because you don’t have anything in place." She also recommended setting legal hours of operation for retail cannabis sale or cannabis "lounges," which Christiana explained as legally comparable to bars.
dale for more information. For the audit of the books on fiscal year 2022- each council member reported to the meeting their respective areas covered. A motion was approved for Donald Winters as Laborer for 40 hrs/wk for $19.75 per hour. A motion was approved to elect Ashly Sweeney to the town board in the vacant seat of councilmember Ernest Klepeis. Approved resolutions are, the Stop DWI contract, a renewal of the contract with Triple J Vending (that provides vending machines to the RMC building) and the end-of-year budget transfers, and updated fees for the youth center. In addition, a motion for FOIL request of the Rosendale library was approved (Wykoff recused herself) - for information regarding all financial records from 2022 pertaining to the proposed purchase of the Belltower on Main Street. They additionally requested any loans or grant applications and awards in 2022 or 2023, and any engineering, inspections, and architect reports. The FOIL request would be done by the deputy town clerk. Walsh said that she had remaining questions from last month’s meeting (where Library Director Katie Scott-Childress made her presentation about the possibility of the Rosendale Library moving to the Belltower, as well as a purchase of the building) and “many people have been asking me and the town board more questions and that we don’t have answers for them. So, it’s not that we want to tell the library how to operate, but we need to have a role in this and we need to have the records. A FOIL is the way government passes on information to the public.” Walsh shared that the Rosendale library is holding 3 public information sessions next month and that the library encour-
aged people to register online. She said that because the space in the library is limited, she is formally inviting them to use the Recreation center if needed. The dates and times of these public information sessions are Thursday, February 16, at 5:30 p.m., Monday, February 20, at 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. Havranek asked, “could we see what the library’s staffing costs are now? and what they would be in the new location...” Walsh said that information was already shared publicly, but she will also ask for all records pertaining to that in the FOIL. Ken Hassett said, “I’m glad the library is offering public information sessions, but…I have never heard of a situation where you have to sign up to go to a public information session…I hope that people won’t feel they are being grilled for name, address…” Havranek asked, “If they are a public entity, does the ‘Open Meetings Law’ apply? Is that in breach of that law? The registration of participants sharing their names and addresses to sign up… perhaps some people could feel intimidated to share that information and then not attend…They shouldn’t be asking for that information- we don’t ask for that in our public meetings.” Klepeis said, “perhaps it’s a matter of clarification, that they might not be aware, they could amend that.” Walsh said that “many of the details shared at the December meeting were not clear or correct… I’m hoping people aren’t just relying on Facebook to get the facts… the FOIL records will be helpful as real documentation…” (For more in-depth coverage about the Rosendale Library Relocation and potential purchase of the Belltower building, please refer to the article on pg. 6).
Photos by Manuela Michailescu
Gary Palmer receives 2022 Mary Lee Friend of Youth Award This year the Town of Rochester Senior and Youth Recreation Commission chose Gary Palmer to be the recipient of the 2022 Mary Lee Friend of Youth Award for continuing contributions and dedication to the positive development and well being of children and youth. The award was presented at the Senior Breakfast on Friday January 6. Inclement weather forced the event to be scheduled from December to January with a "Happy New Year" theme! Everyone had a wonderful time watching a "ball drop" and toasting 2023 by sipping sparkling cider.
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Marbletown raises exemption for seniors Parete voices concern over town’s agreement with DEP Brooke Stelzer BSP Reporter The Marbletown Town Board meeting was held in person at 1925 Lucas Ave, Cottekill, and streamed on Facebook Live Tuesday, January 17th. Town board members were present in-person, including Rich Parete, chairman and town supervisor, along with board members Tim Hunt, Don LaFera, Ken Davenport, and Daisy Foote. Public comment opened regarding any of the resolutions on the agenda for the evening. Laura Cunningham, a Marbletown resident, stood to speak on Resolution 16, which sets a public hearing for a local law to amend the Marbletown town code to increase income limits for the senior citizen tax exemption. “I’m very glad that you’re addressing this because it’s been a matter of concern to a lot of people. I think it’s no secret that we have a lot of low-income seniors in our town, and there also are self-employed people in the arts and I feel they’re also suffering, and they’re old. But we’re looking for an exemption because our assessor doesn’t have deductions, which is really strange because I’m asked for tax returns, and it’s good enough for the IRS and for the New York state department of taxation. I don’t know why the income of a freelance person, a self-employed person, can’t be judged by the return, but it hasn’t. They say well we won’t count social security and pension. But if you run a business self-employed and your income comes from that, in other communities, they’re allowed to have
their deductions for that, and of course, that will lower your income, so I wanted to make that point.” “[The] Town of Marbletown exemption is $24,500. We’re looking to raise it to $37,000,” said Parete. We can get the assessor. The assessor recommended this to the town of Marbletown and the Town of Rochester. These are the assessor’s numbers based on state law. I will ask him.” At the end of the meeting, during final public comment, the board noted the exemption is a 51% increase. Parete and board members passed Resolution 16, which sets the public hearing relative to the senior citizen tax exemption for February 7th at 6 p.m. at the Rondout Municipal Center. An opportunity to be heard will be given to members of the public. “I will ask Jeremy [Baracca] if he can come to the meeting to answer questions,” said Parete. “That would be great, and we can get a sense for how much it’s increased,” said councilman Hunt. Councilman Davenport added, “How many people does this affect? I don’t know what I’m voting on.” “We can ask Jeremy,” said Parete, “He can pull these numbers for us. He can tell us. He will probably know about adding the extra $13,000…I’m not going to be able to answer that right now. We are bound by state law to do this.” Similarly, Resolution 17 schedules a public hearing for a local law to amend the Marbletown town code to increase income limits for a disabled person with limited income. “These laws already exist, we are just increasing the limits.
Hopefully, by doing this, people will see this in the paper.” The public hearing is also set for February 7th at 6 p.m. Resolution 18 authorizes the agreement with Triple J. Vending, LLC for vending machines at the Rondout Municipal Center to service many events, meetings, and classes. Resolution 19 appoints Jim Economos to the Planning Board. His term will expire on Dec 31, 2023. Resolution 20 authorizes the maintenance agreement with Gen-Plus Inc to maintain the generator at the former Marbletown Fire House. The service contract is $350.00. Resolution 21 hires Annette Intravaia as a part-time clerk for the building department until there is a full-time replacement. Her part-time hire is effective beginning January 24, 2023. In other business, Parete stated that he met with the DEP and an engineer about the much-anticipated, newly-released report from the US Geological Service that identifies leaks in the 200-year-old deep rock pressure tunnel that runs under Marbletown and sends water supply to New York City. The USGS study identifies leaks on a map that could affect approximately 50 local residential properties which have experienced water expressions on the surface, potentially damaging land, roads, or structures. Parete said the DEP will start to analyze the report. Still, he noted that he is concerned about the inter-municipal agreement (IGA) due to state requirements surrounding contractor insurance
and potential multi-bids for each claim. The IGA essentially makes the town the intermediary between the DEP and the town residents. Parete stated the town doesn’t have the staff needed to track, document, and submit insurance tracking and verification for contractors across multiple damage claims, especially for larger, more involved projects. So far, the DEP hasn’t said they would offer funds for a local town staffer or team to manage the project. “I feel like we are being set up to fail,” said Parete. “It was a really good meeting in some aspects, but it was more frustrating at the end. They were more flexible than I thought they would be. In their defense, this is the first time they’ve done this too. They’re going to give us the $1.25 million. [But] they don’t know if we’re going to get five claims or 50 claims.” Parete noted the conversation between the town, the consulting engineer, and the DEP is ongoing as the report is being analyzed.
Town seeks new justice The Town of Marbletown will have a vacancy to fill for a town justice on February 4, 2023. Anyone interested in applying, please send a letter of interest to the Town Clerk, Heather Moody, clerk@marbletown.net by Friday, January 27th at 4:30 p.m. You must be a Town of Marbletown resident and over 18 years of age. The town board will appoint a person who will serve till December 31, 2023. Any questions, please contact the Supervisor, Rich Parete at 845-797-4241.
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Memoriam Irving M. Schlinger
KERHONKSON—Irving M. Schlinger of Chester died on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at the age of 80. Irving was born on Dec. 23, 1942 in the Bronx to the late Charles and Florence (Rottman) Schlinger. On March 26, 1967 he married his love, Harriet Soroka Schlinger in Brooklyn. Irving was a civil engineer working for the NYS Department of Transportation. He retired in 1998. He was a member of Walton Engine & Hose Fire Company – Fire Police, the Chester Historical Society, and he volunteered at the Schlinger Presbyterian church food pantry. Irving enjoyed fishing, crossword puzzles, playing cards, watching Jeopardy, and was a history buff. Irving is survived by his loving wife of over 50 years, Harriet; his son, Stephen Schlinger and his wife, Deborah; his daughter, Nicole Schlinger; and his grandchildren, Abigail and Ashley. Also surviving are his sisters, Goldie Goldberg (Eric) and Miriam Benson (Bob). A graveside funeral service was Jan. 9, 2023 at the Kerhonkson Synagogue Cemetery on Boice Mill Road in Kerhonkson officiated by Rabbi Sally Shore-Wittenberg.
Dana Flavin
NEW PALTZ—Dana Flavin passed on the morning of Jan. 6, 2023. Dana was a deeply talented and prolific artist who held a BFA in printmaking from SUNY New Paltz. He was a multi-instrumentalist and played in many bands, inspiring any artist and musician who crossed his path. He is survived by a daughter, Kaia Flavin; brothers, Eric and Bevan Flavin; nieces Katie Craig, Jenny Flavin and Kennedy Flavin; nephew, Camden Flavin, as well as many beloved friends and local artists. Dana leaves behind a large legacy Flavin of music and art, and will be remembered for his playful sense of humor and positive, transcendent outlook. To leave a personal condolence for his family please visit www.GJMoylanFuneralHome.com
Marlene Carney
STONE RIDGE—Marlene Carney died Jan. 7, 2023 at Mid Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie. She was 84. She was born in Kingston, March 21, 1938, a daughter of the late Merritt Every and Gertrude Madden Every Markle. She attended and graduated from Kingston High School Class of 1955. Upon graduation she worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance in Kingston. On August 2, 1959 Marlene married Bernard Carney. She left Metropolitan in 1959 to join her husband in Maine while he was Carney serving in the US Air Force. Eventually she and her husband moved back to Ulster County to start a family. After her children were grown Marlene worked for the Town of Marbletown as Deputy Town Clerk from 1983 until she retired in 1997. Marlene was involved in many groups and was a former 4-H leader. She was a promoter of the Catskill Mountain Bluegrass Festival. Marlene was always happy driving her 1951 Crown Victoria which she loved entering in local car shows. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Bernie Carney; her two children, Cindi Keimel (Bill) of Hardwick, NJ and Mike Carney (Nadine) of Kerhonkson; five grandchildren, Randy Brooks (Erica) of Dundee, Cassandra Brooks (Evan Sokoloff of Booneville Scott Brooks (Alexandria Weir) of Kerhonkson, Jessica Keimel Reed (Donald) of Hubbardsville and Brendan Carney of Kerhonkson. Also three great grandchildren, Sadie and Landen Brooks of Kerhonkson and Brenda Marlene Brooks also of Kerhonkson, and many nieces and nephews. Marlene was
predeceased by her daughter, Brenda Carney; her parents, Merritt Every and Gertrude Markle; stepfather, Fred Markle; brothers, Arnold Every and Merritt Warren Every, and a nephew Craig Stephen Every. Memorial visitation at the George J. Moylan Funeral Home in Rosendale was held on Jan 14. Rev. Arlene Dawber officiated her funeral service. Cremation was held privately. Memorial donations are requested to the Stone Ridge Fire Department, 525 Cottekill Road, Stone Ridge, NY 12484 or to Marbletown First Aid Unit, PO Box 323, High Falls, NY 12440. (www.GJMoylanFuneralHome.com)
Dorothy McDonnell Fielding
ACCORD—Dorothy McDonnell Fielding passed away on Jan. 11, 2023. She was 89. Dorothy was born on Aug. 21, 1933 in The Bronx to Catherine “Kitty” (Koppel) and Daniel P. McDonnell and grew to adore her brother, Daniel. After business high school, Dorothy worked for BBDO advertising in NYC as a bookkeeper and secretary until a blind date that led her to the love of her life, Thomas E. Fielding. Dorothy and Thomas married on Easter Sunday and raised five adoring children; their love story lasted more Fielding than half a century on Earth. Dorothy worked her way up from a teacher's aide in the 1970s to District Treasurer for the Hendrick Hudson School District until her retirement in 1995. Dorothy was a communicant of St. Christopher's Church in Buchanan and later Our Lady of Lourdes in Kerhonkson where she was a joyful congregant, volunteer, and choir member. Dorothy volunteered as both a GS Troop Leader and BS Den Mother, and more recently, the Women's Auxiliary for the Knights of Columbus. Her faith informs us that she left the prison of Alzheimer's behind to be surrounded by the eternal embrace of her family and friends who left this earthly world before her. A friend to all, surrogate mother to many, and kind soul will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by her children, Cathryn Towers (Daniel), Carolyn Fielding, Rosemarie Muscolo (Frank), Elaine Zuccardo, and Thomas Fielding (Ginny); grandchildren, Meghan Towers (Paul Reyes), Ryan Towers (Michelle), Danielle Ware (Jeff), Thomas Muscolo (Collette Laflamme), Christine Ad (Omer), Serg Saradjian, Aurora Dorothea Saradjian, Marissa Zuccardo, Shayna Fielding, and Kyle Fielding; and great grandchildren, Quinn Mantei, Eliza Ware, Bennett and Philip Muscolo, Lia Dorothy Ad, Theodora Reyes. Visitation was held on January 15 at Humiston Funeral Home, Kerhonkson. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on January 16 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Kerhonkson. Burial followed at Pine Bush Cemetery where she was laid to rest with her beloved, Thomas. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in their mother's name to the Alzheimer's Association Hudson Valley Chapter, 2649 South Road, Suite 101, Poughkeepsie NY 12601.
Marie A. Robinson
ACCORD— Marie A. Robinson passed away on Jan. 9, 2023 in Samaritan Hospital in Troy after losing her battle with pneumonia. She was 61. Marie was born on June 14, 1961 to Irma E. Robinson in East New York Hospital. After Marie graduated from Rondout Valley High School in 1978, she went on to continue her studies at Ulster County Community College. After college Marie was employed at a number of automotive shops as she was extremely gifted with her ability to repair and diagnose car and truck Robinson problems. Marie is also credited with building from scratch a working and drivable pick-up truck. Marie had a great love for animals and had many in her lifetime. Her last dog “Red” held a special place in her heart and remained with her until her passing. Marie was predeceased by her mother, Irma E. Robinson; her uncles, Steven and David Robinson; her sisters, Robin and Judy Robinson; her aunt, Susan Robinson; her grandmother, Irma Robinson; daughter, Chaka Lyniesha Robinson; son, Diondre Howell; brother, James Robinson; and her uncles, Eric and Frankie Robinson Services will be held on Sat., Jan. 21, 2023 at Christ the
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Philomena Ahearne Strong
BLOOMINGTON--Philomena Ahearne Strong, better known to friends and family as Phyllis, passed away quietly, on Dec. 29, 2022 at her home in Bloomington surrounded by some of her beloved family. She was 77. Phyllis was born in County Tipperary, Ireland to Captain Paddy and Lena Ahearne on July 10, 1945, the youngest of fourteen children. She spent her formative years in Donegal Clerihan, Ireland, near New Inn and Poulnamucka. She emigrated from Strong Ireland to the United States when she was nineteen, and began her nursing career at Tewksbury State Hospital, working on Ward C-5. Upon retiring from nursing, she took a new path as a mass property appraiser with Finnegan Associates, working together with her husband on projects throughout New York State. For most of her last fifteen years Phyllis returned to her nursing roots and was a home health care provider for families, helping them with their elderly parents, giving them dignified care while allowing them to stay at home. Throughout her life, Phyllis loved to travel, camp, and cook. She and her family traveled and camped throughout the United States and Europe when she, and they, were much younger. More recently, despite having lost a leg fifteen years ago due to thrombosis, Phyllis never slowed down, accompanying family members to Six Flags on good weather weekends in the summer, and showing up to camping outings in the White Mountains with family and lifelong friends with eggs, bangers, rashers of bacon and coffee she and her husband had brought for the entire crew. Phyllis’s cooking skills were legendary, and she could put together a professional meal for ten effortlessly. She would watch cooking programs and pick up new recipes and foods that her family and friends were the beneficiaries of. She also maintained a small garden on her patio and loved all the birds that would visit. In short, she made every place she was in feel like home. Phyllis is survived by Robert, her husband of fifty-seven years; her son, Sean, of Londonderry, New Hampshire and three grandchildren, Patrick, Dylan and Taylor. Robert. Sean and Dylan were with Phyllis as she drew her last breath. Phyllis is also survived by her sister, Margaret Whelan, in Harrow, Middlesex, England. Other survivors include her stepdaughter, Deborah Psaledakis of Lowell, Massachusetts; her granddaughter, Maranda Lussier, and her husband, Dan Lussier and great grandchildren, Bobby, Rory and Kalvin; her grandson, Justin Strong, and great grandchildren, Alexia and Collin; her step daughter-inlaw Karina Strong in Missouri, and her grandchildren, Rebecca, Jessica, Bianca, Maggie and Sophia. She is also survived by dozens of nieces, nephews and countless family in Scotland, England and Ireland. She will be missed and remembered by so many far and wide. Graveside funeral services for Phyllis were held at the Brookside Cemetery in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, Jan. 4, 2023. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. George J. Moylan Funeral Home Inc., Rosendale, assisted the family with arrangements. (www.GJMoylanFuneralHome.com)
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Local money, local ideas
Page 11
Curious, indeed
Curious Cat opens in fabled storefront in High Falls, balancing the past while looking to the future Chelsea Miller BSP Reporter There’s a new kid on an old block in town. Steve Antonelli opened Curious Cat on Second street in the beloved space that held The Barking Dog antiques for over 35 years. Curious Cat is a store in evolution that primarily sells antiques and plans to expand in the future while honoring the past. Antonelli took a meandering journey to shop owner. After graduating from Kingston High School, he headed to SUNY Ulster, where he studied journalism. He finished his degree at SUNY New Paltz, where he had the opportunity to study in Europe and intern at the City Desk of the Poughkeepsie Journal. After graduation, he continued to work with the Poughkeepsie Journal and accepted a position with Kingston Freeman as their main political journalist. However, just two weeks before he was set to start with the Freeman, Antonelli had a change of heart. The city was calling him. Once in New York, which paved the way for his career in digital asset management and freelancing as a photographer, “I always loved news photography and street photography,” explains Antonelli. “I’ve always liked history. I like the excitement of seeing events and things and documenting that.” In the ensuing years, Antonelli moved around different agencies, including a decade-long stint at UNICEF at the United Nations, where he created a platform for images, which eventually turned into the global multimedia digital archives. In 2015, Antonelli’s thoughts were beginning to stray back upstate. “Growing up here, I don’t think I fully appreciated the area,” says Antonelli. “But I found myself looking for the vibe of this kind of area everywhere I went.” He began looking for a place in the area with the intention of splitting his time between the city and the rural land of his origin. Antonelli’s mother was a close friend of Paterson, so when Paterson was considering what was next for her building, The Barking Dog, on Second Street in High Falls, she suggested that Antonelli reach out. Antonelli knew the building, growing up he had often visited with his parents for holiday dinners and The Barking Dog’s annual New Year’s Day open house. And while he had some idea about the special little building, his appreciation only deepened when he met with Paterson. “The first time she showed me the upstairs, a baby squirrel was sleeping in a bird’s nest on the storm window pane – it was magical,” says Antonelli. After months of onand-off discussion, a deal came together with the agreement that Paterson would remain a building resident. Not much would change about the building save for improvements needed to insure the property properly. But in life, things rarely happen neatly or one at a time. As Antonelli was closing on the building, he accepted a job offer with Airbnb and packed his bags for San Francisco. “It all happened at the same time as I was going through the process of the sale,” explains Antonelli. “Airbnb had been recruiting me, and I had been putting them off. At the time, I was working for a tech company in the film business, so I had this great job where I was based in New York but spent time in spots like Los Angeles, Maryland, and San Francisco on different film sets. Airbnb kept checking in, and I finally talked to a recruiter in May of 2016, and it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. When I closed on the building in August of 2016, I promptly moved to San Francisco. Sue became the property manager – which was great. It kept her engaged in the property.” Antonelli says it was an incredible opportunity to have Paterson living and working out of the building in the three years leading up to her death in 2019. “It was amazing,” says Antonelli simply. “Overall, over time, I feel more like a custodian of this place than the owner, and a lot of that it came from that time with Sue. She had tons of documents about the space, and I heard all about her experience as well as the history. She also taught me about all the weird little intricacies and peculiarities of the building, so I got a sense of the history of the building and the community – I learned a lot from her.” He also quickly learned that the building was a significantly larger undertaking than initially anticipated, and he began the delicate and ongoing work of restoring the building and grounds while preserving the magic of the place. By 2019, Antonelli had persuaded Airbnb to let him move back to New York and was properly splitting his
Steve Antonelli, proprietor of Curious Cat in High Falls. Photo by Chelsea Miller
time between the city and upstate, as he intended. The next series of events happened in quick succession. Paterson died on October 24th in 2019, the pandemic hit, and Antonelli found himself quarantining on Second Street with Paterson’s cats, Felix and Scooter, and much of the contents of the Barking Dog to sort through. During this time, Antonelli deepened his intimacy with property and the history of the place by seeking out old newspaper articles about High Falls. “I started learning more about the history of High Falls by looking through old newspaper archives online, and I want to celebrate the history of this place. This building was originally built as a barn for the canal company, it was a feedstore and general store, it was a post office, a barbershop, the democratic headquarters at some point, an arts studio, and the original location of the Pantry. There are rumors of Chagall stopping by and hanging out here – the history of this place and this town just gets deeper and deeper.” The pandemic was a pivotal time for Antonelli. Once given the opportunity to take a breath, he realized how fully that, after decades behind a computer screen, it was time to step away from the desk. “I was completely burned out,” explains Antonelli. “As great as Airbnb was, it was beyond the speed and scale that, really, a human can handle. I was stressed out. I couldn’t read even more than a few paragraphs. I needed to step back. My plan going into Airbnb was to be there for four years and renovate this place, and I stayed for a little over four and half years.” So he began the quiet process of going through Paterson’s things and figuring out what life could look like for him beyond the digital world. “It was intense”, says Antonelli, “it was during Covid and I was going through her things, her life, and finding out about her rich life and boxing them up for family.” But it wasn’t just family archives. Antonelli also discovered a treasure trove of photos and ephemera of other people, dating back to the 1800s, which got him thinking about the passage of time and the cycle of life. “It was just this intense experience of going through people’s lives while going through COVID,” says Antonelli, “and you start to realize how ephemeral life is – here’s all these pictures of people who were no longer here. I was also doing a lot of hiking, which helped me a lot. I was listening to a lot of podcasts – one called the Mythology of Rome – so then I’m going through the roman civilization and realizing only the technology, and the clothes change – it was an interesting contextual thing to go through, putting everything into perspective.” Coupled with a deep dive into philosophy and stoics in particular. “To really boil down the stoics, the basic idea is do what
you can, with what you have, where you are. So that’s what I’m trying to do here”, explains Antonelli. Curious Cat officially opened its doors on the High Falls fair day in 2022. The name is a nod to Paterson’s two cats and alludes to Antonelli’s desire to stay curious. He says that he has always liked the idea of owning a shop. However, he didn’t know what kind of shop. “This place has been an antique place for 35 years. I think it suits the building”, says Antonelli. “People love coming here, and, honestly, I had all these antiques here. I didn’t want to bring an auction company in to just blow it all out of here. Opening Curious Cat feels like a perfect circle to pay it forward and sell the antiques Sue left behind. The reception has been very positive, with a lot of people saying they’re glad to see the space opened and active again. Some are happy to see some of Sue’s things again in the shop and many people from out of town seem to genuinely like to hear the history and story of the place. Everyone loves the red and green checkered floors. Sometimes I worry I talk too much about the place and the history of High Falls. I do get a lot of repeat customers so maybe it’s not so bad.” Antonelli’s long-term vision for the shop is playful and larger in scope. “It’s hard to explain it,” says Antonelli, “but the way I’m approaching the shop is to honor the history of the town of High Falls and the building and treating it as a slow burn, letting it evolve.” Looking into the future, Antonelli plans to integrate more art and add elements of a social salon, a place for folks to gather, discuss and discover interesting things, both physical and metaphysical, “I want it to be a place where people can find interesting things and hang out a while. It’s an important property in the center of town, and it’s important to me that it is a place where people feel welcome and honors the quirkiness of the town. I don’t have a grand vision other than this kind of idea that will keep evolving.” In short, he plans to stay curious. Curious Cat is located at 7 Second Street in High Falls and is open on weekends (with expanded hours coming soon). Learn more by stopping by, following @curiouscat.shop on Instagram, and bookmark curiouscat.shop for the website and online store, which is coming soon.
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Athletics, recreation & fitness
January 20, 2023
Both girls and boys indoor track teams hoping to score big at Section 9 meet Jeff Slater BSP reporter Rondout Valley’s Varsity Indoor track team hopes to continue their successes from last year as this year’s team readies for the Section 9 championships at West Point on Friday, January 20. This year girls’ and boys’ teams have participated in several developmental meets in December and are getting primed for Saturday’s big meet, according to Varsity Coach Jake Maloney. The boy’s team won the Divisional Championship last season, and the girl’s placed second. If both teams win the championship, it will be a first for Rondout. Maloney said, “The girls are led by Senior Kayla Oakes and Junior Jacqueline Kennedy, who are the top two sprinters and jumpers returning this season. Both girls went to the Outdoor State championships last season in the long jump. This season Kayla has broken the school record in the triple jump and qualified for the Indoor nationals. Kayla plans on attending Division 1 Stonehill College and will be a member of the sprint and jump group there. Jacqueline is one of the top 55 Meter dash athletes and long jumpers in Section 9 and hopes to return to Indoor State and National Championships this season.” “I just feel good about the season so far, and I’m excited that I broke the record. This is the first season that I have tried the triple jump. For the remainder of the season, I want to continue to push myself and try to improve as much as I can,” said Kayla Oakes. “Junior Olivia Waruch is a versatile athlete and has had a very strong start to
Kayla Oakes doing the long jump
her season and is one of the favorites to win the division in the 600-meter run. She is also a top contender in the 300-meter dash and is a member of both the 4 X 200 and the 4 X 400 relay teams. Senior leaders Mackenzie Heyl and Riley Schoonmaker are capable of scoring in several events and are members of the strong relay teams. The girl's distance group is a talented young ensemble with 8th graders Greta Sutherland-Roth looking to take high places in the 1500- and 3000-meter runs and Hannah Chapin leading the team in the 1000-meter run. They are joined by Senior Izzy Kinsella, who looks to place high in a
number of distance events. “Leading the boys is Chris Jordan, a talented senior distance runner who broke school records in the 1000 and 1600 meters and looks to break the 3200-meter record as well. Chris Kay and Julian Browne are both senior sprinters and hurdlers. Chris Kay broke the school indoor record in 55-meter-high hurdles. Both boys are consistently 1st and 2nd among all division 2 hurdlers in the section and are each other’s biggest competition for the divisional championship. Matt Peck is a senior thrower and one of the top-weight throwers in Section 9. Seniors Aubric
Mondini and Ryan Britt are team leaders and anchor the jumping and sprinting group, and junior Thomas Clark is a versatile athlete who can score in hurdles, jumps relays, and the 600-meter run,” according to Maloney. The coaching staff all have specialties, with Jake Maloney coaching the sprinters, jumpers, and hurdlers, Andrew Ugolini coaching the distance group, and Kristine Glass coaching the throwers group. Marianne Hawryluk assists all the coaches where needed. “I have really enjoyed working with this team and group of coaches. The team is packed with talented athletes, a number of great leaders, and a large group of Seniors who are at the pinnacle of their track careers. I look forward to seeing what this team can do in the upcoming postseason championships,” said Maloney. Captain Aubric Mondini, said,” I am beyond proud of this team. We have managed to improve in almost every aspect of the sport and are an overall sharper team than we were in November. I will admit that my expectations for this postseason are high, but I am sure that our effort and athleticism showcased throughout this year are capable of taking another division championship. Regardless of the outcome of our postseason, I am so proud to be a member of such an energetic, hard-working team and would not trade these four years for anything.” Good luck, Rondout indoor track team! Go Ganders!
Marbletown Youth Programs providing a fun, athletic opportunity for kids in winter Basketball and wrestling programs underway. Jeff Slater BSP reporter The Marbletown Youth Center, is running two programs, one for basketball and one for wrestling. Jill Mclean, Youth Director for Marbletown, said, “These are fantastic “feeder” programs for the modified, JV and varsity sports programs. They are run by volunteers who dedicate so many hours to making these programs possible and benefitting and nurturing our youth.” Shaun Lemister, who runs the Basketball program, said, “With the help of Jill and Jessica Phelan, assistant youth director and Wesley Haynes who helped get it started we have been able to run a basketball programs fork- 6th graders at MES. For the last few years, we were at the Rondout Municipal Center. We had limited gym time, so we only ran clinics and drills to teach the kids the fundamen-
Youth wrestling group practicing at the High School. Photo by Jeff Slater
tals and to get them moving around. We didn’t want to turn anybody away so some nights we had up to 30 kids which made it a little chaotic. This year were at MES and, we still do clinics for K-3 graders but decided to create a league for 4-6 graders.
We have four team with 8 kids on each and play games on Friday evenings. Our first games were on Friday the 13 and it was awesome and entertaining. It was the first basketball game for a lot of the kids, and they had a great time, and some good
basketball was played. We have a great group of volunteers that truly care for the kid in our community and look forward to
See Youth sports, page 15
BlueStone Press, January 20, 2023, Page 13
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January 20, 2023
Mild Winter So Far
(the other shoe)
Community generosity To the Editor: On behalf of the Rochester Food Pantry, I would like to thank members of the Rochester Residents Association, and especially their president, Zali Win, for their continuing support. Their 17th annual appeal for our Food Pantry has allowed us to concentrate on delivering services rather than soliciting donations. Thanks to their efforts, we have received an outpouring of support. At year’s end, we received 76 donations attributable to the annual fund drive, for a total of nearly $28,000, which included a generous $1,000 RRA matching grant. In addition to donations as part of the appeal, we are fortunate to have those who donate to us on a steady basis throughout the year. And we cannot forget the wonderful produce we get from local farms, special thanks to Tributary Farms, Long Season Farm, and the Senior Living Program of Ulster Correctional Facility. We are humbled and proud to have such wonderful support from our community and friends. The support throughout the year was put to good use. As the hardships of Covid diminished, inflation took over. The prices, especially of food and fuel skyrocketed and dramatically heightened demand. The number of people served in 2022 was more than double that of 2021. Over the past 12 months, we provided more than 3,000 individuals with food for nearly 28,000 meals, as well as personal
care and cleaning products. Nearly 800 of those served were children, while seniors totaled over 400. A big thank you to all of our volunteers who made this happen. In addition to our regular services to those in the Town of Rochester and adjoining zip code 12446, we continued our Saturday morning “Fresh-n’-Free” Produce Market (open to all) for 16 weeks from late June through mid-October, benefiting nearly 350 families; we offered 3 special event offerings with food packages for Easter, Thanksgiving and a Holiday basket in December, serving approximately 60 families; and we set up a free book shelf
for both adults and children. If you know of anyone who could use our services, even temporarily, please pass information about us along and check us out on www. facebook.com/rochesterfoodpantry. Thank you, not only to the Rochester Residents Association, but also to all our supporters and volunteers. Without you, we couldn’t do it.
Margaret Bonner Co-Chair and Corresponding Secretary, Rochester Food Pantry
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Do they have the ex-factor Dear Wally Is it possible to stay friends with an ex? My ex is great but because of a few key factors, it’s not a good long term solution. Am I dreaming to think it can happen? Wally responds: I want to acknowledge that in an age of disposability and attention deficit, it is a very sweet thing indeed to see someone recognize the value of a good person and want to keep them close in some non codependent capacity. That said, it’s very rare that a split is mutual, or even mutual enough, that both parties are really and truly fine with it. Not impossible, Wally Nichols but unicorn-rare. Usually, someone is the dumper and someone is the dumpee, and that dynamic can create resentment, distrust , fear, anger, confusion, self doubt, etc. Those gritty emotions and feelings, at first, tend to dominate over the more gentle ones like love and gratitude and forgiveness (which is end game of course but easier said than done).
Dear Wally
Youth sports from page 12 the rest of the season.” “I’ve been playing Marbletown basketball since second grade. It has always been fun because I like playing with my friends but is even more fun this year because we get to play real games, I’m excited for the playoffs,” said 11-year-old Levi Lemister. The wrestling program is also flourishing. Taking place in the High School auxiliary gym. Rich Parete, who runs the Youth wrestling program, said, “Working with elementary and middle school aged kids is a lot of fun. They enjoy learning about wrestling and playing games that improve their balance and agility. It helps them in any sport they play. Most kids play team sports, some kids really take to wrestling because they know how hard they work determines if they are
So, if you both are really cool with the break up, and it feels right and kind, then yes, ongoing friendship can definitely work and there is value to the effort to maintain it. Where things get tricky, and this is realistically most of the time in the beginning, is when there is an imbalance in the power. In this case, the dumpee might be in a position of even greater heartbreak if you keep a platonic relationship going and they are hanging onto a filament of reconciliation, stated explicitly or otherwise implied. And if that dynamic is at play, it’s really emotionally messy until enough time has passed where the strong attachment feelings subside (or there is a change in heart). In my mind, and it informs my answer, you are describing a loving , sweet but not viable romantic relationship. But if there is abuse, or control, or deception, or addiction, or they are excessively captious, or there are any other yellow-to-red flags driving the break up, you’ll want to have a hard look at what best serves you (not them). That may be ‘no contact’. I have seen scenarios where the dumper wants to stay friends, and that requires an honest assessment of the emotional impact such efforts might have on the dumpee. It might be the kindest (and hardest) option to cut off contact for awhile. How long is awhile? That’s impossible to quantify. Might be from a couple of months to a couple of years, which seems harsh. But life tends to work out and
successful.” McLean, whose kids participated in the past, said, “In wrestling they learn the moves and techniques that will make it easier if they move on to modified or varsity wrestling.” The basketball program started in January and continues until the end of March. It is held at MES. Grades K-1 meet on Tuesdays, 2—3 meet on Wednesdays, and games are held on Fridays for grades 4-6. The 4 and 6 graders also practice twice a week. Wrestling is held on Monday and Thursday nights with grades K-3 on Mondays and grades 4-6 on Thursdays. It runs from December until mid-February. Basketball and wrestling sign-ups are through Marblertown Recreation Department. Basketball is now filled, but wrestling has a few openings. Volunteers are always welcome. For information about these programs, go to Marbletown.net. It is good to know that we live in a community that provides these opportunities for our children!
things happen as they should. The obvious reason for staying friends is that you got along well enough at some point to make a relationship work. So there are shared interests and values and senses of humor and entertainment. It's just that pesky physical attraction piece that is good when it’s good and emotionally destructive when it’s not. Hardly breaking news…. If you both can stay friends, then you should. In summary, I’d take a look at the power dynamic and be respectful of the heart-hurt piece currently at play as well as communicate openly about boundaries. Kindness and time passage are key, if you can find them within. If this busted apart because of toxicity, well then, try to remember and be grateful for the good times, but hit the bricks and don’t look back. Good luck and I hope it works out the way you (both) want it to. -Wally Ps: I’m probably the worst person to get relationship advice from. Next time ask me about how to get a kitten out of a tree or something I can actually speak to with some success!
Marbletown Youth basketball kids playing a game. Photo by Jeff Slater
Volunteers from page 1 housing crisis can be address by our government and the burden doesn’t fall so much on community volunteers. It’s nice to be recognized for making an effort on people’s behalf.” Paula M. Kates Veeder of Sone Ridge said, “I volunteer at the Rosendale Food Pantry, I pick up baked goods for the pantry and Family of New Paltz and at the end of the week I pick up produce at the Farm Hub with my husband Stuart. I feel life has been good to me and I want to make it better for other people. It’s wonderful to see so many other volunteers being recognized. It’s good to know there’s so many wonderful people out there.” Bill Brooks, who founded the Rosendale International Pickle Festival and a High Falls Lion’s Club member, said, “I like to help people and it’s fun, so that’s what I do. I‘ve belonged to the Lion’s Club for forty years. We help people with sight and hearing, We get them glasses and set them up. We help people and it’s not just hearing aids. It’s nice to see all the people that volunteer and a lot of them are silent, we belong to an organization that does the same but were a little louder about it.” Donna Nisha Cohen of Stone Ridge, who volunteers for the Holistic health community, said, “We provide free holistic health care, and we meet every month on the third Tuesday and then we have a virtual health care week usually the last week at the end of the month. This country is so in need of holistic health care that people can afford. Even if people have health care it barely pays. We provide such cutting-edge modalities. We been in ex-
Lion’s Club of Hig Falls enjoying their lunch at the MLK celebration in Rosendale. Photo by Jeff Slater
istence for ten years and were growing, we have about 52 practitioners and growing and we have about 25 administrative volunteers and we meet right in the Marbletown Community Center.” In reference to the event. “It’s just the sense, it’s not just being recognized but
bringing everybody together so that we how many different ways we can serve our community and how diverse our community is and its needs,” she continued. It’s important to recognize what folks are doing for their communities and this event was the perfect way to show it for MLK day.
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Page 16
Your friends and community
January 20, 2023
Upstairs, Downstairs: Living Above the Store, captures a tasty slice of Rosendale life Rosendale’s downtown has always had a curious magnetism all its own. Buildings change hands, new businesses open and others close, but the feeling of curious, quirky cohesion sticks around through lean years and prosperous ones, through one new era after another, through retirements and brave new beginnings. Even in the immediate post-IBM era, when one could easily have pictured tumbleweeds meandering down Main, you could still find a good meal, a cold beer, a book, a movie. In Living Above the Store: Six business owners in Rosendale, New York, author and photographer Christine Hunter has crafted a lush and poignant exploration of the current era focused on six Anne noteworthy downtown endeavPyburn Craig ors: Etsuko Kizawa of Soy, Shaun Johnston and Wilda Gallagher of Rosendale Waxworks, Amy Trompetter of Redwing Blackbird Theater, Essell Hoenshell-Watson of the Alternative Baker, Elizabeth Bloom of Soiled Doves, and Naheda Hamden of the Garden House have all lived upstairs from the businesses they own. Other than living above the downtown and sharing a love of Rosendale, these business owners all had in common a unique and rich life. This is amply demonstrated in a series of verbal vignettes. Hunter lets each person sketch the origin story, thoughts on Main Street life, and current state of their business in a few pages, liberally interspersed with evocative images. This isn’t a deep dive into Rosendale history and it’s not
Book Review
Another successful Wellness Wednesday at Rondout Valley High School The Rondout Valley High School (RVHS) community came together last month to relax, rejuvenate, and recharge in the first Wellness Wednesday event of the school year. After a successful kickoff event last spring, RVHS worked together to provide another opportunity for students and staff to take a pause from instruction and connect over common interests. Various RVHS administrators and staff members welcomed students with more than 25 unique and inclusive activities to engage in. Prior to the event, students signed up for an activity of their choice, some even trying a new venture that sparked their curiosity. Workshops ranged from gingerbread decorating, a
A detail of the book cover image cropped, Living Above the Store: Six business owners in Rosendale, New York, author and photographer Christine Hunter.
intended to be, those versed in local lore won’t find new revelations in the introductory Town Origins section, but it’s a retelling that serves the purpose and sketches out the basics. What Hunter has crafted has an entirely different sort of value. What are the conditions that make living above the store a viable option, and what’s it really like?
cross stitch craft, and a game of dungeons and dragons to corn hole, yoga, a World Cup watch party, and ornament making. Some students chose to join a jam session with English teacher Doug Serson and Social Studies teacher Rob McDonough, while others enjoyed a nature walk with English teacher Joe Reeder and Greenhouse Technician Kate Mcpeek. Some even used the school’s Boss Laser machine to engrave creative designs with Technology teacher Nick Bodnar. After last year’s Wellness Wednesday event, students were immediately asking if RVHS could do it again, so school administrators saw tremendous value in bringing it back this year. “Taking a pause from the traditional school day to allow the students and adults to relax while engaging in activities that build camaraderie, inclusiveness, and school spirit is important to us,” said RVHS Principal Jessica Torok. “Wellness Wednesdays are a great way for us to celebrate the diversity at Rondout Valley and shine a light on the importance of positive well-being and fostering mental health.”
As anyone who knows any of the business owners named will guess, the answers to those questions are as diverse as the participants. The devotion to community, though, rings loud and clear -- as do the indisputable joys of having a creek-front backyard and a short commute. There exists something called the Strong Towns movement, devoted to analyzing and fostering the conditions that make a Main Street thrive. One can only imagine that any student of those questions would find much here to ponder, and would also conclude that Rosendale is both favored by fortune and doing some things right. What exactly those things might be is not a question Hunter seeks to answer in detail, and that is probably wise. She’ll be in enough hot water for the Hunter printing error that misspells Elizabeth Bloom as Elizabeth Broom. One hopes this can be corrected in a future print run -- and that there will be more of those, because despite what it is not -- and does not try to be -- this is an extraordinarily lovely book. The photos are beautiful, and the verbal portraits are likewise. This is a book that belongs on the library’s shelves and in a time capsule, capturing the creativity and flavor of Main Street for future generations alongside, say, a chronicle of the Street Festivals and of the theater’s evolution as a nonprofit. There is, after all, a lot to this People’s Republic, Hunter has served up a generous slice. Living Above the Store, published in December 2022 by StrudelmediaLive Publishing, is available at the Rosendale Library, and in-store and online through Postmark Books,
Rondout Valley High School students Christopher Jordan (Grade 12), Cheishta Amaraweera (Grade 12), and Gina Garofolo-Goodman (Grade 12) brought their guitars to the Wellness Wednesday event for the opportunity to join in a jam session.
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BlueStone Press, January 6, 2022, Page 17
Kudos
their January 2023 meeting. Tom is, and has been for many years, the Chairman of the Scarawan Cup Event, held every spring between the Marbletown Sportsmen's Club and their neighboring Vly Sportsmen's Club. Tom also maintains the club's financial records for their yearly audit. The MSC is hosting an Open House, noon to 3:00 p.m., this Sunday, Jan. 22 at 95 Scarawan Road, the location of Marbletown’s new Warming Center. For additional information, visit the www.marbletownsportsmensclub.org or call 845-687-7202.
Alpha Rho Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa hosts 2022 induction ceremony Program participant Elizabeth all suited up for surgery. Louise Lloyd Payne, program instructor from SUNY Ulster, in the background of this picture, supervised the participants in this program.
4-H Veterinary Science Program in Stone Ridge Teens ages 13-19 with an interest in animals and veterinary science can now sign up for the 4-H Veterinary Science Program, which will be held, 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 2-March 30, at SUNY Ulster, 491 Cottekill Road, Stone Ridge. The program is a nine-week commitment, covering two units of study. The program is sponsored by Dr. Beth Alden, Professor of Biology and director of the SUNY Ulster Vet Tech Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s (CCEUC) 4-H Youth Development. Area veterinarians and other speakers will provide hands-on lessons in a clinical setting. In the first unit, youth will explore the normal animal, including attitude and behavior, maintaining animal health, and the organs and systems of the animal body. In the second unit, animal diseases will be discussed including viruses, bacteria, and parasites that affect animal health. The instructors will also discuss the profession of veterinary science and possible career paths. The final class will include a guest speaker and a graduation ceremony. The registration fee is $90 for 4-H members enrolled in Ulster County, $135 for non-4-H members or those outside of Ulster County. If the registration fee presents a financial hardship, scholarship funds may be available. Participation is limited to 24 students. Registration and payment are to be completed online at https://4-HVetSci23.eventbrite.com and will be received on a paid, first-come, first-served basis. Registration ends Jan. 31. No refunds. In the event of bad weather, lessons may be cancelled in which case an extended period will be offered the following Thursday. For more information or help with registration, call Aletta at 845-340-3990, ext. 340 or email adk94@cornell.edu.
The Alpha Rho Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa hosted its 2022 induction ceremony on Dec. 19, 2022, in the Quimby Theater at SUNY Ulster. The Alpha Rho Delta Chapter is the international honor society for community college students. Membership is lifelong and offers numerous benefits including scholarships, letters of recommendation and recognition of academic prestige. SUNY Ulster congratulates all newly inducted members including: Celeste Atkins, Daniel Milov and Daniel Palladino of Accord; Hiroshi Sawka Hamaguchi of High Falls; Danny Fallaha, Catarina Lutin and Amber Shamson of Kerhonkson; John Jones of Rochester and Aurora Gill of Rosendale.
Local artists featured in Olive Free Library's Exhibition, ‘I Dreamed a Garden’ The Olive Free Library Association is showcasing the works of the 15 member artists of LongReach Arts, a Hudson River Valley Artist Cooperative. The show, “I Dreamed a Garden” is coordinated by Stone Ridge native, Carol Pepper-Cooper from LongReach Arts and Linda Schultz from the Olive Library's Exhibition Committee. The exhibit at the library, at 4033 Route 28A, West Shokan, runs through March 4, with an opening reception, 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 with a snow date of Sunday, Jan. 22 and an artists' meet and greet event, 2:304 p.m. Saturday, March 4. In the exhibition, “I Dreamed a Garden,” Pepper-Cooper explained how, some took the theme literally, depicting gardens one can dwell in, some took it metaphorically, hinting at what the idea of garden means to them, and some, perhaps reflecting an urbanite's point of view, show the only bit of garden a city dweller can manage, a flower in a vase.
Marbletown Sportsmen's Club President Lance DuBois (on left) presented MSC member Tom Kramek with the club's "President's Recognition Award" Photo by Carol Wills Laurito
Participating artists in the show include Deborah Bein; David Curtis; Cynthia R Dill of Kerhonkson; Carolyn Edlund; Rosendale native, Staats Fasoldt; Stacie Flint; Claudia Gorman; Trina Greene; Carol Loizides; Ellen Metzger O'Shea; Basha Ruth Nelson; Stone Ridge native, Carol Pepper-Cooper; Nancy Scott; Marlene Wiedenbaum of High Falls; and Carole Wolf. For more information, call the library, at 845-657-2482 or visit olivefreelibrary.org.
Redwing Blackbird Theater of Rosendale Open House Saturdays A puppet theater celebrating community and citizen driven action towards global justice and sustainability, the Redwing Blackbird Theater, at 413 Main St., Rosendale will host Open House Saturdays, 2-5 p.m. Jan. 21 and 28. Enjoy quick animations of multiple puppet exhibits in the theater, plus museum tours with giant puppets, ‘crankie’ movies, and cantastoria. Dough-nations gratefully accepted on Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/ RedwingBlackbird or contact amy.tromEnter the world of Redwing petter@gmail.com Blackbird Puppet Theater, 2-5 for other options and p.m. Saturdays in Rosendale. more information.
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President's Recognition Award for 2022 Marbletown Sportsmen's Club President Lance DuBois (on left) presented MSC member Tom Kramek with the club's "President's Recognition Award" for 2022 at
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Page 18
Arts, culture & entertainment
January 20, 2023
The thing with feathers (spoiler alert: it may be a hen) The new year started the way it usually does. Cold, frozen, bitter. And that’s an absolute lie. The thermometer hit fifty degrees on New Year’s Day and didn’t drop below freezing that night or the whole next week. It was warmish. Mellow. Mild. Maybe that’s why the first week of January marked the return of vibrant red color to the combs of my chicken flock. They’d all gone pale in mid-autumn, which is like a cab’s ON DUTY sign switching off, because when it happened, egg laying jolted to a halt. But eggs returned with the color reboot. My eight hens are now offering as many as four a day. Even Sasha, the oldest at six years, has come out of retirement to drop some of her signature giant double yolkers. An online chicken/human age calculator says she’s 57 in human years. That’s not too shabby for a more than middle-aged hen in the throes of an upstate NY winter. But is this really winter? If I’d just landed here after a long trip to another planet, I’d label it March. All traces of snow have melted and the earth shows green and brown. We’ve hit the above freezing mark almost every day for weeks, and a peek at the future forecast shows much of the same. It’s perfectly normal January temperatures— for Fayetteville Georgia, and perfect maple sap tapping weather, about four weeks too soon. The quince bushes
Susan Krawitz
are budding and so are the lilacs. And when I checked to see if snowdrops had emerged, I found them already flowering. Apparently, this winter warmth is being caused by an “El Nino Southern Oscillation.” And not only is it affecting the US, it’s put Europe under this same strange Marchuary spell. Budapest was a balmy 66 degrees on New Year’s Day. Trees have started to flower in Switzerland and the Czech republic. "It's like nice weather for biking but we know it's like the planet is burning,” said a tourist quoted in a Reuters article. “So we're enjoying it, but at the same time, we're scared." But I think they’re grateful too. EUROPE’S WARM WINTER IS ROBBING PUTIN OF A TRUMP CARD, a recent CNN headline read. Cutting gas supplies, which would cause scarcity and steep price hikes many wouldn’t be able to afford was Putin’s planned ace-in-the-hole for countries that dared sanction Russia for its attack on Ukraine. But this crazy warm spell means the story didn’t go that way. Basically, it’s buying Europe another year to work on reconfiguring energy supply sources and conservation schemes instead of caving to the threat. To so many, this must feel like an answered prayer. The kind everyone made but didn’t dare think might actually come true. Which is similar to something that recently happened in my own life, albeit on a hugely less world-affecting scale. I’m talking about my chicken flock again. As reported in October, there were big challenges here. Rosa, the white hen, was being tortured by the others. And three new
chickens I’d raised in a separate coop needed to integrate with this angry mob before winter. I put it off, and put it off. And put it off some more. Finally, in early December, I started letting the young’uns free-range with the elders during the day. There was some chasing and yelling, but with ample room to flee, no drastic drama. One evening, the babies followed the big hens into the big coop, which meant they’d be trapped together the next morning. I steeled myself for a bloodbath, but that’s not what happened. The chickens had divided themselves into two groups. Rosa had joined with the newbies. And no one has abused her since. The outcome I feared most did not happen. Instead, things worked out in a better way than I dared to dream. There are more questions than answers about climate change these days. About life’s big picture aspects. About life’s small ones. The writer Rainier Maria Rilke would suggest we learn to love them, “like locked rooms, like books written in a foreign tongue.” Which would be so much easier if the language the Universe wrote its Plan Book in was listed on Google translate. But maybe it’s OK for us to hope for good outcomes. Maybe even out loud. I’ll go first. Let this winter be warm for a while. Long enough that Europeans figure out how to rejig their lives without dependence on Russian gas and oil. Let all of us earthlings figure out a way to shift toward climactic balance. And let that awful war end. Meanwhile, I’ll go pick a few snowdrops. And gather some eggs.
'Kelly’s making decisions, again.'
see how. Now, if breakfast was made and served by those calendar firefighters, that might be something. Hot firefighters flipping pancakes would certainly bring people in. But, I don’t think it’s that. Is it? My last why is why is everyone freaking out about the legalization of selling recreational marijuana? Most people around town have been stoned since the 80’s anyway. At least now it’s legal. I mean, let people do what they want. Maybe it will help everyone chill out, laugh a bit, and have something to blame for all those extra pounds. However, considering the outrageous price of food, maybe buy your munchies at Sam’s Club. Bulk might be a smarter move in the long run. Or, maybe market those firehouse breakfasts to the stoner crowd. I would like to apologize to everyone I cursed and/or gave the ‘hand’ to the other day while driving. I thought you were tailgating me and I like my space. Plus, get off my butt! Seriously, if you don’t plan on buying me dinner and drinks, you need to back off. Anyway, even though I was going the speed limit, I felt like I was going SO SLOW. When I sped up to what I thought was a comfortable speed, I was going 80! Then, I started having a mental conversation with the police officer if I got pulled over. Have you ever done that? Have mental conversations that most likely would never happen? I do all the time. I was going to totally blame the car and swear that the speedometer was broken. Two hours later, I realized I was driving in kilometers not miles per hour! Why was it set to KM and why is this even an option in the USA? It was a Jeep, too, not a BMW or a Honda! Here I was questioning the world when I was the idiot! I swear, I had to Google the conversion when I got home because I am not a mathematician and there is a big, big difference! Like 20 miles! I kid you not. I would have tailgated me, too. Jeez. So, yea, I’m sorry to everyone who was following a slow poke Jeep last weekend. In closing, I’d like to wish everyone a very happy year with very few bad decisions.
Why ask why Why do I feel like spring-cleaning in January? Oh, right, because Mother Nature apparently has been having hot flashes. Not that I’m complaining so please don’t get me wrong. I will take spring-like weather 365 days a year, thank you very much. I am a big fan of sweater weather. So, hopefully, no one give Mother Nature Black Cohosh or Evening Primrose Oil. Speaking of weather, why do people still have their Christmas decorations up? It’s January! It’s 50 degrees! I am pretty sure there is a holiday rule sort of like ‘Don’t wear white after Labor Day’ rule, isn’t there? I do know there are rule breakers who have their Christmas lights up year round. I understand and have learned Around town to accept that. But, Christmas lawn décor? Pack it up, please. I actually saw Halloween decorations the other day. Someone put a Christmas bow on a skeleton. While a jolly skeleton is a funny sight to see, it still throws me. I mean, half the time I don’t even know what day it is. Seeing all these random decorations definitely have me questioning what month it is! We are smack dab in the middle of ‘Dry January’ and I’m wondering, why is this a thing? So people can sleep better, lose weight, or have a clear mind? That’s what I’ve been told but I am not joining in on this trend. It’s entirely possible for me to fall asleep at 5 p.m., if I wanted to. As for any extra weight, we need that for hibernation! I mean, the weather is throwing our minds off balance but our bodies know what’s up. We’re hoarding those calories for a cold, hard, winter so I’m ok with a few extra pounds. Lastly, I don’t need alcohol to make bad decisions. In fact, I have made some of my worst life decisions while drinking an Iced Coffee from Dunkin Donuts and I drink those
Kelly Wright
on the daily! So, nope. I am not going to give up alcohol for a month. I intend on being a happier person in 2023 and alcohol helps. Besides, I am obviously doing ‘Why January’ instead. Not only do I love coffee but I also love a good breakfast. In fact, if I had to choose one meal to eat every day for the rest of my life, it would be breakfast. Knowing that’s my choice, I still can’t help but wonder why every firehouse serves breakfast? Again, I am not complaining. (I feel like I have to continuously say this for those who do not get my written humor.) I am just surprised to see a breakfast sign at every firehouse everywhere. Now, to be fair, I have never been a firefighter or have had a fire…knock on wood. Wait! No pun intended! Knock on wood wasn’t even meant to be funny but now I can’t stop laughing. Ok, back to business… maybe I just don’t understand the reasoning. Is breakfast an inexpensive fundraiser? But, again, with the cost of food, I really don’t
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BlueStone Press, January 20, 2023, Page 19
Winter escape plan One of my favorite winter escapism tactics is to hit up some tropical food, especially when we are battling the snowy roads and wood stoves that punctuate the Hudson Valley winter experience. I’m not alone in my appreciation of Caribbean food because there are now 3 such establishments just south of Walmart in Napanoch. In addition to roadside Puerto Rican food, and a new Jamaican joint in town (a review is forthcoming), we are fortunate enough to be able to grab a little of that island feel at Nellie’s Dominican Latin Restaurant right in the center of Ellenville. Step up to the counter of this small establishment for lunch or dinner (parking is a little tight if you are in an SUV or work truck) Wally Nichols and you will be able to see an impressive, glass-fronted display of hot, typical island entrees and sides. As would be expected, there are large tantalizing trays of rice and beans and fried bananas and plantains, generous quantities of which they will put on your plate as supple-
Put a fork in it
do easily that will help you retain your new found freetime. Now is the time to seek and find your goal. Aquarians are always unique and different.
Horoscopes The planet Uranus returns to direct motion as we go to press on the 20. This clears the Zodiac of retrograde planets - all are now in direct motion. This results in all planets moving at full speed and ready to cause events to occur. The new Moon on the 21 falls in the sign of Aquarius and will attempt to lead us to new untried adventures. In general, the sign of Aquarius has the tendency to live in the future and not the past. The next two weeks may turn out to be extremely quiet and uneventful or extremely busy and fascinating.
ARIES: 3/21 to 4/19: Mars, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 3rd solar house with Jupiter at your Ascendant. This two-week period starts with a positive uptick to your business possibly a new base and increased income. In addition, you will find yourself more interested in meeting new groups of people who are interested in different projects than those of the past. They seem more exciting.
ments to the main meat dish you chose. For the meat part of the meal, which clearly dominates, Nelly’s features oxtail, ($12) beef stew, goat stew, BBQ ribs, pepper steak, baked chicken and pork. (Vegetarians might have to love Nelly’s from a distance, or be ok with rice and fried bananas). You just place your order and the plate is loaded in front of your eyes. It’s fast, easy and affordable which makes it the perfect in and out lunch experience. There is a small dining area which is self serve and self bus, but it's well attended by regulars looking for some island comfort food. There is also a cool juice and smoothie bar (under $5) featuring all the usual suspects - pineapple, mango, banana, strawberry and orange but also some exotic tropical flavors such as tamarind, guanabana, papaya, guava and mamey sapota (I had to research this one a bit! Its taste is somewhere between sweet potato, apricot, and pumpkin with notes of cantaloupe, honey, cinnamon, peach and or cherry. The fruit is the size of a large avocado and grows on trees in Mexico and central America.) Take a super enjoyable culinary flight to the Dominican Republic this winter by driving a few minutes down Rt 209.
LEO: 7/21 to 8/22: The Sun, your ruling planet, is positioned on the cusp of the 7th solar house of partnerships and is closely conjunct Pluto positioned in Capricorn. It is also in good aspect to Jupiter - making this a good time for expansion. Interest may develop in taking a course or two in your field, or expanding your profile with a new or different interest. The new Moon in Aquarius suggests the importance of new learning especially at this time.
Your Zodiac
VIRGO: 8/23 to 9/22: Mercury, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 5th solar house of romance and children. It is also in good aspect to Uranus - suggesting it is time to learn and/or experience something new. Either a different course or travel would bring you in touch with new interests bringing you nearer to the expansion you crave. This is confirmed by the new Moon in Aquarius.
LIBRA: 9/23 to 10/22: Venus, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 4th solar house of home and family and in poor aspect to Jupiter, Joanne the planet of expansion. With that in mind, it Ferdman is time to buckle down and refine your present position on any important matter that you're dealing with - especially if it involves your TAURUS: 4/20 to 5/20: Venus, your ruling family's well-being. This is not the time to seek planet, is conjunct Saturn on the cusp of your 11th solar something new and exciting - just do your job. house of Pisces - the house of creativity and of helping others. In addition, Mars is positioned in the second solar SCORPIO: 10/23 to 11/22: Mars, one of your ruling house of money - indicating your cash flow has finally planets, is positioned in your 8th solar house where seen an increase. The new Moon in Aquarius falls in your change takes place. It is now in direct motion and moving 10th house of career, suggesting you may finally be in to make things happen while Pluto, your other ruler is position to make headway on your chosen path. positioned on your 4th house cusp of home and family. Both planets are in good position to mend misunderGEMINI: 5/21 to 6/20: Mercury, your ruling planet, standings that occurred recently within the family and is positioned in the 8th solar house where change takes move forward. It's time to forge ahead on a project that place. However, with Mars in your 1st solar house, you benefits all. may be thinking of a change in appearance. The new Moon in the sign of Aquarius finds you thinking of returnSAGITTARIUS: 11/23 to 12/21: Jupiter, your ing to school and finishing a degree that seems to call for ruling planet, is positioned in your 5th solar house of your attention. romance and children. It is by far the largest planet and brings expansion. Presently it is working in a CANCER: 6/21 to 7/20: The Moon child deals with field of planets that are all working at full speed. It the new Moon in Aquarius - which finds you thinking of is in good aspect to the Sun and Mars, making this a good time to plan the best deals possible for the change once again. This time you may be desirous of a future. This is also a good time to plan innovative more creative type work, or possibly something you can
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measures for the future so that growth is possible.
CAPRICORN: 12/22 to 1/20: Saturn, your ruling planet is positioned with Venus on the cusp of your 3rd solar house while Pluto and the Sun are about to enter the 2nd house of money. The implication of these planetary positions seems to indicate that money will be made available for you to sign up for courses that will help you on the job and make you more desirable as an employee. Since this is a position that meets your approval, you will surely applaud the opportunity. AQUARIUS: 1/21 to 2/19: Uranus, your ruling planet remains positioned in your 4th solar house and continues its emphasis on home and family. It is also in good aspect to Mercury in your 12th house working behind the scenes. Now that all ten planets are in direct motion, you're receiving information about the best way to increase your income and live under the conditions you've been striving for. PISCES: 2/20 to 3/20: Neptune is your ruling planet and continues positioned in your 1st solar house – reminding you of your extremely creative nature. There are even times when you feel you're hopelessly overwhelmed. This can be one of those times. However, your creativity is at a peak and Jupiter, the planet of expansion is squarely in your 2nd house of money. This time can be best used by initiating outlets for the products of your imagination. Go for it!!! Joanne can be reached at 561-744-9962. She is available for private telephone consultations if you want more information relating to your personal chart. Treat yourself and you will learn what to expect from the current transits and receive an overview of long-term goals. Remember to read both your Sun sign and your Ascendant.
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Page 20, January 20, 2023, BlueStone Press
FOR THE FAMILY Rosendale Seniors monthly meetings The Town of Rosendale Seniors meetings are held at the Rosendale Recreation Center, 1055 Route 32, Rosendale, twice a month, excluding November and December, at 1 p.m. every second Wednesday (Feb. 8), a social meeting, and fourth Wednesday (Jan. 25), a business meeting where members are kept informed of the resources available to them. The Rosendale Seniors, are proud to sponsor a tour to Branson, Missouri, courtesy of Diamond Tours, Sept. 16-24, nine days and eight nights. The tour consists of motorcoach transportation with eight nights lodging including four consecutive nights in the Branson area; 14 meals of eight breakfasts and six dinners; admission to six fabulous shows, with three morning shows and three evening shows. Cost is $1,029/pp double occupancy. Call Chickie Steritt at 845658-2414 or Hal Sampson at 845-6589020 for more information. For videos and group pictures, visit grouptrips.com/ chicky. Rondout Valley Lions Club New members, men and women of all ages, are wanted and encouraged to join the Rondout Valley Lions Club, serving the towns of Marbletown, Rochester and Rosendale since Oct. 18, 1950. During this time, they have helped those in need, whether it is for sight, hearing, medical emergencies or any worthwhile cause. “We serve” is their motto, and this is what they do. The Lions meet at 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday (Feb. 8) of every month and at noon on the fourth Thursday of every month (Jan. 26), in the conference room of the Marbletown Municipal Building. Bring lunch if wanted. The SEE meeting (on youth eye screenings) will follow. For more information on being included in the club’s next meeting, contact Sue Curcio, president, at otrlsc@gmail.com or Janet Sutter, treasurer, at janet.sutter@ aol.com. Ulster Savings Bank will present a free Virtual Homebuyer Seminar on Wednesday, 1/25/23, at 5:30 pm. Learn about the many critical steps to owning your own home. You may be eligible for a $750 Home Buyer Credit just for attending (certain conditions apply). Sign up here: https://www.ulstersavings.com/ why-us/seminars/#section_HomebuyerSeminars Marbletown Seniors meetings Open to all those over 55, whether living in Marbletown or not. The Seniors hold their meetings at the Marbletown Community Center, 3564 Main St., across from Key Bank in Stone Ridge, at noon on the first Friday, Feb. 3 (bring a dish to share or drop $3 in the basket on the food table), and at 1 p.m. on the third Friday, Feb. 17 (bring a dessert to share or drop $2 in the basket on the dessert table), each month. All trips leave from, and return to, Marbletown Reformed Church, 3750 Main St./Route 209, Stone Ridge, across from the post office. Call Donna Lamerson, at 845-750-8616 or trip chairperson, Sharon Letus at 845-687-9162.
ARTS, MUSIC, BODY & MIND Local chapter of Wiltwyck Quilters Guild Community Sew Come together to share work, learn a new skill, and meet friends via Zoom, 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 with the local chapter of the Wiltwyck Quilters Guild. Not-yet members are welcome to attend. After the business meeting, all can participate in a Community Sew. Lap quilts will be constructed at home using the Log Cabin quilt-as-you-go technique. For the list of materials, the Zoom link or more information, contact Guild Secretary, Mary Tyler of Rosendale at marycodytyler@ yahoo.com. How to diagnose and treat Babesia with herbal medicine Hosted by Bloom & Reveal Botanicals and presented by Hillary Thing, L.Ac of Uprooting Lyme of Marbletown, this free online webinar will be held, 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25 via Zoom. Research suggests that Babesiosis (the infection caused by the Babesia protozoa) is even more common than Lyme-Borreliosis infection. Yet the diagnostic pursuit of co-infections is often overlooked until much further into the disease process. In this free webinar, participants will learn about the diagnostic process for Babesia, including clinical signs and symptoms; discover
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Experience the winter days with light and warmth at Stone Ridge Orchard.
Lumagica weekends at the Orchard Enjoy the amazement and deliciousness of the Lumagica illuminated walking trail, locally made hard cider and hot chocolate bar, noon-8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 21-Feb. 12, at Stone Ridge Orchard, 3012 Route 213, Stone Ridge. Celebrate the love of winter and the outdoors and explore this historic orchard. There are over 500,000 dazzling lights sculptures displayed throughout the orchard by Lumagica, a world-renowned light installation that is fun for all ages. Journey through a garden of light sculptures, vibrant flowers, glowing animals, shooting stars and colorful tree. Hot Chocolate is being made on-site
the holistic strategies and approaches that lead to the treatment for Babesia based on over 25 years of clinical herbal practice with tick-borne illness; receive the specific non-toxic herbal and functional medicine protocols For more information, visit uprootinglyme.com or call 845-687-6211. ‘The beauty of pressed botanical specimens,’ an art exhibition by David Schaengold Schaengold’s exhibit will be on display through Feb. 25, with the artist reception 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in the activity room, at the Stone Ridge Library, 3700 Main St., Stone Ridge. All proceeds of sales from the exhibition will be donated to the Stone Ridge Library and the Rondout Valley Food Pantry, as per Schaengold. For more information, visit stoneridgelibrary.org or call 845687-7023. Awosting Falls snowshoe hike at Minnewaska Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, for an approximately two-and-a-halfmile snowshoe outing to see the magnificent 60-foot tall Awosting Falls. Participants will walk along the Awosting Falls Carriage Road to the base of the Falls, which can be very dramatic, cloaked in a frozen, white cape of ice and snow. The carriage road section of this outing features interesting rock formations, tall stands of Eastern Hemlock and streamedge views of the beautiful Peter’s Kill stream. A limited number of snowshoes are available for participants to borrow from the Education Department. Otherwise, snowshoes may be rented for $5 from the Park Preserve for a fee. Plan to arrive by 9:30 a.m. if borrowing snowshoes. If there is insufficient snow cover, this program will be offered as a hike and participants are strongly encouraged to bring micro spikes or other ice traction devices. Meet at the Peter’s Kill Parking Area. Pre-registration is required by calling Minnewaska at 845-255-0752. Virtual Holistic Healthcare Week online Zoom video and telephone sessions Holistic Health Community of Stone Ridge will offer its Virtual Holistic
with different varieties to share, in the tasting room and bar, at the orchard with hard cider, beer, wine and cocktails plus food and snacks with fire pit s’mores, food truck, baked goods and more, also available in this great place to warm up. Varieties of hot chocolate with chocolate flights include traditional, the Hudson, spicy, pumpkin spice, peppermint, cookies and cream, and spiked hot chocolate with choice of alcohol. Experience the winter days with light and warmth. Visit Stone Ridge Orchard on Instagram, Facebook, stoneridgeorchard. com or call 845-687-2587 for tickets and more information.
Healthcare Week, Monday-Friday, Jan. 23-27, via Zoom. Practitioners offering their services include Vicki Kramer Nathan, resilience and wellness coaching; Amber Adams, Spiritual Counseling and /or Yogic Embodiment; George Jacobs, Psycho-Spiritual Counseling; Karin Reynolds, Life Coaching; and Dahlia Jarrett, Art Therapy. All sessions must be booked online. Patients should make an appointment for one session only so the maximum number of people may benefit. To make an appointment, go to http:// hhcny.simplybook.me. Once the appointment is made, all information will be sent to the practitioner, and then they will contact each patient. The Holistic Health Community Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, charitable corporation. Visit their website to donate and for more information about the Holistic Health Community, its practitioners, and the modalities offered at holistichealthcommunity.org or call 845-867-7008. Writers’ group with Cathy Arra Two separate writers’ groups meet 4-6:30 p.m. on alternate Mondays at the Stone Ridge Library in the activity room, 3700 Main St., Stone Ridge, with a maximum of 10 participants in each group. The program is designed for those who are actively writing and publishing work and who want to participate in a structured, critical feedback process. Cathy Arra, a poet, writer and former teacher of English and writing in the Rondout Valley School District, facilitates the groups. The next meeting for Group 1 is on Jan. 30, and for Group 2 on Jan. 23. Email carra22@aol.com to join. Local chapter of Mid-Hudson Women’s Chorus free open rehearsal Join the community, 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, for the Mid-Hudson Women’s Chorus free open rehearsal, at St. James United Methodist Church. 35 Pearl St., Kingston. No auditions required. For more information about rehearsals and membership visit midhudsonwomenschorus.org. High Peter’s Kill and Awosting Falls Loop hike at Minnewaska Come explore the picturesque High Peter’s Kill Foot-
path, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, with Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, on this approximately fourand-a-half-mile hike. This hike does include rocky, narrow and steep sections of trail that may be challenging for some as well as possibly icy. Participants should bring enough water and food for the outing and wear proper hiking shoes equipped with ice traction devices. Meet in the Lower Parking Area. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-2550752. Stone Ridge Library presents Spanish conversations with Francisco Rivera ¿Hablas español? To brush up on Spanish conversation skills and meet other language lovers in a friendly and stressfree environment with facilitator Francisco Rivera, join the class, 1-2 p.m. every fourth Tuesday of the month via Zoom with the next session on Jan. 24. All levels are welcomed. ¡Hasta entonces! Rivera was born and raised in Spanish Harlem in NYC and is a long-term resident of Marbletown. Contact Programs Manager Sarah Robertson, at programs@ stoneridgelibrary.org to join the group. For more information, visit stoneridgelibrary.org or call 845-687-7023. Wawarsing Turnpike and Jenny Lane snowshoe hike at Minnewaska Join Nick Martin, Park Educator, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, for a snowshoe hike on some of the lesser-travelled sections of the Lake Minnewaska area on this approximately five-mile outing. This outing includes a few sustained uphill and downhill sections and two stream crossings that may be challenging for some. A limited number of snowshoes are available for participants to borrow from the education department, located at the Peter’s Kill Area. Otherwise, snowshoes may be rented for this program from the park preserve for a fee of $5 per person. Plan to arrive by 9 a.m. if borrowing snowshoes. If there is insufficient snow cover, this program will be offered as a hike and participants are strongly encouraged to bring along micro spikes or other ice traction devices. Meet at the Lower Parking Lot. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752. Cross-country ski to Echo Rock at Minnewaska Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, for a four-milelong, cross-country ski outing to Echo Rock, a perched ledge featuring scenic views of the Palmaghatt Ravine and beyond. Participants must provide their own ski equipment and have previous cross-country skiing experience. They should also wear appropriate winter gear and bring adequate food and water. If there is insufficient snow, this outing will be offered as a hike. If conditions are icy, participants are strongly encouraged to bring micro spikes or other ice traction devices. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center, 5281 Route 44/55, Kerhonkson. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
ONGOING LISTINGS SahasraYoga in-person and Zoom classes with Kyra Sahasrabudhe at RidgeWell Fitness All levels and abilities are welcome to join these in-person hatha yoga classes taught by Kyra Sahasrabudhe (CYT) of Stone Ridge, 10-11:15 a.m. Mondays and 9-10:15 a.m. Wednesdays, at RidgeWell Fitness, 3555 Main St., Stone Ridge; and in the virtual (Zoom) class 5-6:15 p.m. Tuesdays. Props and modifications are offered in class allowing students to make each pose/ asana their own. For cost and all info, email sahasrayoga21@gmail.com or call 845-750-7808. Scrabble meet-up every Tuesday at the Rosendale Library Join the community, 1 p.m. every Tuesday, at the Rosendale Library, 264 Main St., Rosendale. To register for the group, visit rosendalelibrary.org or call 845-658-9013. Stone Ridge Library Knitting Group The Stone Ridge Library Knitters meet 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays in the activity room at Stone Ridge Library, 3700 Main St., Stone Ridge. All ages and experience levels can join, and drop-in knitters are also welcome. Bring your own supplies, do as much as wanted, and ask for help or advice if needed. Donations of yarn to
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BlueStone Press, January 20, 2023, Page 21 Events continued from page 20 the library get made into items for sale at the Library Fair and during the winter holidays for the benefit of the library. Some group members also knit things for local hospitals or for U.S. troops. For more information, visit stoneridgelibrary. org or call 845-687-7023. Every Saturday, Nia, Empowering, joyful and inspiring This cardio movement practice blends dance, martial arts with mindfulness, and is held, 11 a.m.-noon Saturdays, at the Kiva, at Marbletown Multi-Arts Center, 3588 Main St., Stone Ridge. Freestyle and structured choreography mingle with eclectic world music moves the body and frees the mind. The class is led by Therapeutic Recreation and Certified Nia and Yoga Instructor Jayne Mielo. Admission is $15-$20 sliding scale. Email jaynemielo@gmail.com for more information and to register. Every Monday, Tuesday and Saturday at the Redwing Blackbird Theater in Rosendale Join the community at the Redwing Blackbird Theater, 413 Main St., Rosendale, 3-5 p.m. Saturdays for the Punch Opera Hand Puppet Show, workshops and museum tours; 5-7 p.m. Mondays for open workshops to create, paint and prepare puppets and signage for events; and 5-7 Tuesdays for group rehearsal for upcoming gigs. The group is always looking for people to join for shows, parades and marches. For more information, visit redwingblackbirdtheater.com or call 845-658-7651. Slow Jam First Sundays at the Rosendale Library Join other musicians at the Rosendale Library’s monthly slow jam, 3:30-5 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month, to play old time, folk songs, bluegrass, Western and other homespun type songs. Participants play at a slower pace so everyone will have a chance to learn the songs. All musicians and acoustic stringed instruments are welcome. No audience, no pressure, just lots of fun. To play in the Slow Jam, participants need to purchase the song book for $5.10. Copies are available for pickup and purchase at Rosendale Library, 264 Main St., Rosendale. Bring a chair to sit on if needed, a capo, and a music stand. Masks are required. Visit rosendlelibrary. org or call 845-658-9013 for registration and more information. MaMA Sunday Gatherings continues virtually Marbletown Multi-Arts of Stone Ridge’s Sunday Gatherings provide meditation on various spiritual matters and issues, and continue virtually via Zoom, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. each Sunday. Newcomers are always welcome. Meeting ID is 824 6639 6032 and Passcode is 294808. For more information, visit cometomama.org or call 845-853-5154. Vanaver Caravan of Rosendale’s online dance classes for ages 3-adult Each Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, dance from home with the family and Vanaver Caravan. Suggested donation of $10-$20. For more information, visit vanavercaravan.org or call 845-256-9300. Mindful Mondays with Aimee Trumbore Join the community at 2 p.m. Mondays, in the activity room, at the Stone Ridge Library, 3700 Main St., Stone Ridge, to develop awareness, cultivate more presence, and strengthen the ability to bring mindfulness into day-to-day life. These weekly drop-in sessions will include a short talk on the topic of the week, guided meditation, and opportunity for discussion. All levels of practitioners are welcome, no previous experience required. Mindful Mondays are led by Aimee Trumbore, certified Mindfulness Meditation teacher. For more information, visit stoneridgelibrary.org or call 845-687-7023. Early morning birders at Minnewaska Designed for both birding enthusiasts and those just looking to learn the basics, this series, 7 a.m. Tuesdays, will offer various outings led by Nick Martin, park educator, or an experienced birding volunteer. Participants should bring binoculars and water and wear appropriate hiking shoes. Outing destinations will be determined the day of the program. Poor weather conditions trigger a program cancellation. Participants will meet at the main entrance to Minnewaska between 6:30-7 a.m. Participants must arrive prior to the start of the program. The Park Preserve gates
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Little Ones Learning Center expands hours adding story time
Home Downsizing Workshop with Mike Ivankovich The Stone Ridge Library, in collaboration with the Elting Memorial Library will present, “Home Downsizing Workshop, Don’t know where to begin? We’ll Get You Started,” 2-3:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23 via Zoom. In this presentation, Ivankovich will show how to sell excess personal property, such as antiques, collectibles, and other household contents for the greatest amount of cash with the least amount of work in the shortest amount of time in today's rapidly changing market. As a Home Downsizing Expert & Author, Ivankovich guides clients through the entire home downsizing process. He is also a professional GPPA & MPPA Appraiser specializing in Appraisals for Estate, Insurance, Inheritance, Divorce, Insurance Claim, Non-Cash Charitable Donation, or other legal purposes. As a
Licensed and bonded auctioneer, professional appraiser, published author and experienced antiques dealer, Michael Ivankovich.
Pennsylvania Auctioneer, he has been named Pennsylvania's “Auctioneer of the Year.” Registration is required for this program. Be sure to include email address when registering so zoom link can be sent. For registration and information, visit stoneridgelibrary.org or call 845-687-7023.
Little Ones Learning Center, a free early-literacy program for ages 0-6 located in the Rochester Reformed Church, 5142 Route 209, Accord, has added an extra session to its program in response to parental requests. Story Times will be held, 10 a.m.-noon, Wednesday (Jan. 25) and Saturday (Jan. 21) and now also, 3-5 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 26). The Thursday time will allow older children who attend pre-K to also participate in the program. Little Ones is also expanding its space to support literacy learning through sensory experiences, art, music, interpretive play, etc. Nearly 3,000 age-appropriate books are available for loan to increase literacy in the home. Friends of Little Ones, Inc., a not-for-profit 401(c)3, operates the learning center which can be contacted by "liking" the Little Ones Learning Center on Facebook, calling 845-626-4112, or visiting littleoneslearningcener.org.
Marbletown Sportsmen’s Club Warming Center Open House
All ages are welcome to enjoy music and dancing at the Winter Hoot!
The Town of Marbletown invites residents, nnon-3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 to the open house of the Warming Center, at the Marbletown Sportsmen's Club, 105 Scarawan Road, Stone Ridge. The event will include tours around the Club. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 845-687-7500 ext. 7.
Winter Hoot the Ashokan Center “We’re so thrilled to bring this tradition back for our local community and provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for folks of all ages,” said Ruth Ungar Merenda, who works year-round at Ashokan producing a range of public events. Mike Merenda and Ruth, Winter Hoot festival founders will perform a long-awaited Saturday night set with their Americana quintet, The Mammals. “We skipped last year, making this one a very special 10th Winter Hoot!” What is a Hoot? In this case, it’s part world-class concert, part community supper, part all-ages nature retreat, Feb. 3-5, at the Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Road, Olivebridge. Friday, Feb. 3 will kick off with a locally sourced dinner (reservations in advance required) and an inspiring screening of the documentary "Inhabit: a Permaculture Perspective.” The film will lead into an open discussion with the filmmaker Costa Boutsikaris and neighboring farmers and growers, followed by an open jam-session where attendees are encouraged to join in. Saturday at the Winter Hoot boasts a full day of music and dancing. In addition to The Mammals, this year’s lineup includes six acts providing a variety of folk, pop, jazz, and bluegrass vibes. Songwriter and vocalist Rachael Yamagata will perform on the Ashokan Center’s grand piano as a duo with guitarist Kevin Salem. Local balladeer Jude Roberts is influenced by English, Irish and Appalachian folk music, with touches of baroque and Romantic-era classical pieces and European folk/ pop. The City Stompers, traveling up from Brooklyn, will deliver a dose of high-octane bluegrass and percussive dance performance. Their leader, Megan Downes will call mid-day and late-night square dances, cornerstones of the Hoot experience. No partner or previous experience is required. Jay Ungar & Molly Mason who founded Ashokan’s long-standing Music & Dance Camps will treat listeners to their special
repertoire of folk songs and fiddle tunes. Mister Chris, a children’s performer whose mission is “to explore and express the connection of nature to one other through music and movement” will also be part of the Hoot event. Meanwhile the Ashokan Center’s friendly and skilled Outdoor Education staff will lead blacksmithing workshops, indoor kids zone activities, and a laid-back instrument petting zoo where anyone can try their hand at a variety of musical instruments. Food is vended festival-style by Ashokan Chef Bill Warnes and Veggie Oasis, plus local beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic Immuneschein spritzers. Ice sculptor Thomas Brown will entertain onlookers outdoors all day, creating a unique and ephemeral work of art to be illuminated at night. Late night improvisational jazz duets will be provided by London-born saxophonist and composer George Winstone with guitarist Ben Monder (of the Bad Plus). Sunday morning offerings include yoga with Sara Trapani, founder of Whole Sky Yoga, Stone Ridge or a guided hike with Ashokan Center Educator Del Orloske (weather permitting) and a farewell community sing in the resonant performance hall space. The Winter Hoot is a showcase and fundraiser for the Ashokan Center, a unique nonprofit organization with a 55-year history of youth outdoor education and 42 years of cultural preservation at summer Music & Dance Camps for adults and families. Weekend passes for the event are $50 in advance (free under 12) with sliding scale tickets at the door. Donations are greatly appreciated, and no one is turned away for lack of funds. Friday dinner must be reserved for $25. Affordable on-site lodging is available in the hostel-style Longhouse Lodge for $50 per person including breakfast. Visit hoot.love or ashokancenter.org.
Rock Hill Winter Storm Coming, pastel, Marlene Wiedenbaum.
‘Snowscapes,' group show Light sparkling through the ice capped tops of twinkling pines, cool shadows on a snowy riverbank; the poetry of local landscapes is captured in oils, pastels, watercolors, and photography, by such local talents as Sue Barrasi; James Coe; Kevin Cook; James Cramer; Carolyn Edlund; Rosendale native, Staats Fasoldt; Gail Fedigan; Linda Puiatti; Robert Trondsen; Hardie Truesdale; Marlene Wiedenbaum of High Falls; and new to the gallery, oils by Chris Gamet. These dozen local artists, in varied styles and media, bring the sublimity and magic of snowy landscapes to life and light. The public is invited to an artists’ free opening reception, 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Mark Gruber Gallery, 13, New Paltz Plaza, New Paltz. Masks are optional. “Snowscapes runs through Saturday, March 11. The Mark Gruber Gallery, owned and operated by Gruber of Marbletown has gallery hours, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and Sundays and Mondays by appointment. For information, contact Gruber at 845-255-1241 or visit markgrubergallery.com.
Page 22, January 20, 2023, BlueStone Press
‘Stories of Choice,’ a night of true storytelling for reproductive justice
Events continued from page 29 will be locked at 7 a.m. Late arrivals will not be allowed in the Park Preserve. The total number of participants is limited to 25, first come, first served. For more information, call 845-255-0752 or email nicholas.martin@parks.ny.gov. Mahjong, Tuesdays and Fridays at Stone Ridge Library The Stone Ridge Library hosts ongoing weekly mahjong for beginners at 10 a.m. Tuesdays and at 10 a.m. Fridays for more advanced players, in the activity room of the library, 3700 Main St., Stone Ridge. New members are welcome. No registration required. Just walk in. For more information, call 845-687-7023 or visit stoneridgelibrary.org. Basics for Beginners Yoga in Stone Ridge Whole Sky Yoga, at 3588 Main St., Stone Ridge, presents Basics for Beginners, an in-person yoga program, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays. For info, visit wholeskyyoga.com or 845-706-3668. Scrabble meet-up in Rosendale Join the group 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoons for a game of Scrabble, at the Rosendale Library, 264 Main St., Rosendale. Come and make new friends or play with old ones. The Library provides the game, just bring the love of wordplay. For more information, visit rosendalelibrary.org or call 845-658-9013. Meditation on Tuesdays at Kiva This weekly meditation, movement and conversation group , at the Kiva, at Marbletown Multi-Arts Center, 3588 Main St., Stone Ridge is held 7:30 p.m. each Tuesday and led by Wes Ostertag and Ev Mann. For more information, visit cometomama.org or call 845-853-5154. All-ages Chess Hour at the Rosendale Library Every Thursday, 4-5 p.m., enjoy playing chess, all ages, all levels, at the Rosendale Library, 264 Main St., Rosendale. For more information, call 845658-9013 or visit rosendalelibrary.org. Poetry with Rosemary Dean Join the community via Zoom, 1:30-3 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month.. This program is presented by the Stone Ridge Library. Contact Rosemary Dean at rmdeen@gmail.com to join the group. Kerhonkson Synagogue meditative prayer via Zoom All are welcome to this meditation or contemplative spiritual prayer, being held via Zoom as sheltering in place continues. Meetings are 4560 minutes, depending on the sharing, except Thursday evening is 30 minutes. This week’s schedule includes beginning Jewish mindfulness meditation, 8 a.m. Monday and Tuesday; Melta blessing meditation sit, 8 a.m., and Mussar open room, 7 p.m. Wednesday; mindful meditation, 8 a.m., followed by Shacharit, contemplative and collaborative, 8:30 a.m. Thursday; and mindful meditation (with Nancy Lord), 8 a.m. Friday. Zoom meeting ID 8439136762, password 601662. For more information, email kerhonksonrabbi@gmail.com. Whole Sky Yoga in-person plus virtual classes In-person classes at Whole Sky Yoga, 3588 Main St., Stone Ridge, include 8:30 a.m. in-person Gentle Flow with Kristina, Anne Girvin, Strong Vinyasa, 10 a.m., and Tom Dunseith, RYT, 11:30 a.m. Mondays; All Levels, and Gentle Flow at 10 a.m., and 7:30 p.m. Evening Flow virtual class with Sara and Yin/Restorative with Nita at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays; 11:30 a.m. Pilates and Core, 5 p.m. Strong Vinyasa, Wednesdays; All Levels, 10 a.m. Thursdays; 8:30 a.m. Gentle Flow, All Levels, 10 a.m., Movement Meditation Creative Embodiment class, 6 p.m. Thursdays, Beginner Level, 11:30 a.m. Fridays; All Levels classes, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Saturdays; and Yin/Yang, 10 a.m., Beginner and All Levels, 11:30 a.m., and Yin/Restorative at 6 p.m. Sundays. Fully vaccinated individuals may remove masks while practicing, class sizes are increased to 14, and service of water and tea are back. Virtual classes will continue to be offered. For more information and the full list of classes, visit wholeskyyoga.com or call 845-706-3668. Olivebridge United Methodist Church Thrift Store The thrift store at the church, 5179 Route 213, Olivebridge, is open 6:30-8 p.m. every Friday and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. each Saturday except holidays. For more information, call 845657-6484.
“YETis” learn acting technique training and learn how to approach a script, pursue action and intentions, and authentically bring characters to life.
Y.E.T. Performance Tweens Workshop Building on their Script Work, actors meet twice each week, 4-5:30 p.m. Thursdays and 9:30-11 a.m. Saturdays, Feb. 2-March 30, with all day rehearsal on April 1, and engage in Y.E.T..’s signature improv games, acting technique training and learn how to approach a script, pursue action and intentions, and authentically bring characters to life. The program will
culminate in a performance of an original production, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 1, on the Rosendale Theatre’s stage, 408 Main St., Rosendale. There will be opportunities for multimedia work, where “YETis” can create film as part of the final production. For registration, cost, and more information, visit rosendaletheatre.org or call 845-658-8989.
The why’s and when’s of car maintenance with Chaya Milchtein of Mechanic Shop Femme In this program, held 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25 via Zoo participants will learn when to perform specific maintenance tasks such as changing oil and filters, tire pressure, coolant, and much more, and why they are necessary for the health of the vehicle. Learn and understand this overview of car maintenance with Chaya Milchtein, automotive educator, journalist, speaker, and founder of Mechanic Shop Femme. This class is appropriate for ages 16+. Registration is limited. Be sure to include email address in registration so zoom link can be sent. For registration and more information, visit stoneridgelibrary.org or call 845-687-7023.
Automotive educator, journalist, speaker, and founder of Mechanic Shop Femme, Chaya Milchtein.
Join TMI Project, 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, (what would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade) for “Stories of Choice,” a night of true storytelling for reproductive justice, livestream from Senate Garage in Kingston. “Stories for Choice” features an international cast of 11 storytellers who will be traveling to Kingston from Mexico, Cameroon, and across the US for the performance, a culmination of a 10-session workshop series in which storytellers crafted personal, true stories about reproductive justice. Special guests include, V (formerly Eve Ensler), founder of V-Day and award-winning author of “The Vagina Monologues,” and a musical performance by artist and activist Kanika. Tuning in via live stream is available to an unlimited audience and can be accessed from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. “Telling stories creates community and removes shame as it reminds people they are not alone,” said V. “The stories are so profound, so beautiful, so true, so real, so brave. I’m overwhelmed.” For more information on TMI Project, which originated in Rosendale, visit tmiproject.org.
Saturday Creature features presents ‘The Thing (from Another World)’ 1951 The very first alien invader film and many say the best! From the opening moment of the film until the end of the final battle for survival, 1951’s “The Thing” pumps up the tension and never let’s go! A crisp, suspenseful alien invader smash hit that’s thrilled audiences for decades and inspired two remakes. Come see “The Thing” on the big screen, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St, Rosendale. Admission is $10/$6 members and those in costume. For information, visit rosendaletheatre.org or call 845-658-8989.
Cooking Class, Beautiful Soup All ages, all levels, all fun; Drum Circle for Peace with Fre Atlast.
Drum Circle for Peace with Fre Atlast Gather and drum in a vision of peace, noon-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale. Drummer Fre Atlast will guide the rhythmic journey of songs and chants of peace from multiple cultures and traditions. Bring drums and percussion instruments. Some drums will be available.
Dancers and chanters are also encouraged to attend. This program is a safe space to play for all levels. Admission is by donation in levels of $1, $5, $10 and $20. For more information, visit rosendaletheatre.org or call 845-658-8989.
ADVERTISE TODAY! Local Business to Local Readers Contact BSP at 845-687-4480
In this workshop, held 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25 via Zoom, participants will make a beautiful soup. Watch and ask questions and/or make the recipe along with the class. Learn to cook delicious, easy, inexpensive meals using fresh, on-hand ingredients and pantry staples. The free monthly on-line classes show how fun and simple it is to use our fool-proof master recipes to create an endless variety of tasty meals, snacks and desserts. Learn to cook on the fly! These classes are a collaboration of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, Ellenville Regional Rural Health Care Network and Stick to Local Studio. For more information and registration, visit turningthetablescookbook.com or contact High Falls own, Maria Reidlbach, Healthy Cooking Educator at mrr233@ cornell.edu.
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Page 23 Services Offered
Dependable Rides For Seniors Retired social worker and overall mensch will transport you safely and respectfully to all daily errands and appointments ~and wait with you~ Affordable Rates Ira @914.466-9505 Rose Hill Antiques 5066 Route 209 in Accord, ten miles south of Kingston or ten miles north of Ellenville. Open Saturday and Sunday, 11am-5pm. 1500 square feet of Art Deco, Vintage Art Pottery, country and formal furniture, selections of 19th and 20th century lighting, vintage photos, and decorative accessories. Something for everyone. rosehillantiques.com 845-594-5752. BUYING antiques and used furniture. Doug Tyler Jr. SNOW PLOWING Sanding & Salting Residential & Commercial Over 30 years experience 10% Discount for Seniors 845-849-5909 (cell) 687-0087 (home) Whittaker Welding Steel & Cast Iron Repair Fabrication Modifications Reinforcement Hardfacing 407 Krumville Road Olivebridge, NY 12461 845-657-6719
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Sell it now! $15.00 for the first 20 words. ($.25 for each additional word) All classified ads must be paid for by the end of Tuesday before our Friday issue date. The newspaper is printed on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month. Billing privileges are extended to display advertising clients and accounts placed for six months or more. Our mailing address is PO Box 149, Stone Ridge, NY 12484. Please call 687-4480 for more information. We take credit cards!
Down to Earth Landscaping Koi Ponds, Patios and Decks, Yard Maintenance, Tree Trimming Fence Installation and Repair and Snow Removal FULLY INSURED Ben Watson 845-389-3028 BluestoneExperts.com www.fb.com/downtoearthny Excavator available for driveways, ponds, clearing, demolition, etc. Reasonable rates. Calls returned promptly. 203-858-3634 Winter’s coming! Snow Plowing / Sanding. Fall / Spring Clean Ups. Discount rates. 845-893-5644 Help Wanted/Items Needed
Seasonal Environmental Educator Mohonk Preserve is seeking exp. p/t Outdoor Educator to teach school field studies, outreach and summer camp programs Mar. 20 – Dec. 31, 2023. Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field pref.; teaching or related outdoor exp. with youth pref. $17/hr. Housing may be available if needed. Potential to return for additional 10-months. Email letter of interest, resume, 3 professional references (incl. email & phone) by Jan. 25, 2023 to education@mohonkpreserve. org No phone calls. EOE Details: https://www.mohonkpreserve.org/who-we-are/jobs-fellowships-and-internships/
Phone: (845)389-8841 email: CatskillADC@gmail.com
Worth it!
Summer Camp Educators Mohonk Preserve is seeking exp. Outdoor Educators for 2023 summer camps. Must enjoy sharing nature with children. Plan & lead daily activities and hikes while ensuring safety. Teach campers ages 7-10 or 10-13. Positions available for 2 to 4-week sessions. Req: Exp. leading groups outdoors; excellent leadership & interpersonal skills; able to hike up to 5 miles with some elevation gain; driver’s license. Stipends vary by position and length of commitment. Email cover letter, resume, 3 professional references (incl. email & phone) by Feb. 1, 2023 to: employment@mohonkpreserve.org. Include Summer Camp Educator in subject line. EOE Details: https://www.mohonkpreserve.org/who-we-are/ jobs-fellowships-and-internships/ Veronica’s Garden in Stone Ridge is seeking an Experienced Landscaper Good salary, flexible hours Must be a licensed driver Call 845-687-9026 or (845)399-1708 Rice Plumbing and Heating is looking to hire an experienced HVAC Plumbing technician. 3 to 5 years experience. Clean drivers license. Full time. Salary based on experience. Send resume to
or call BSP at 845-687-4480
Housing Meeting January 24 @ 7pm Zoning Board of Appeals January 25 @ 6pm Environmental Conservation January 29 @ 7pm Town Board Meeting February 7 @ 6pm CPAB Meeting February 8 @ 5:30pm Historic Preservation February 9 @ 6pm
TOWN OF ROSENDALE Rondout Municipal Center 1915 Lucas Avenue, Cottekill townofrosendale.com 845-658-3159 Police Commission January 24 @ 3:30pm Water/Sewer Commission January 25 @ 5pm High Falls Water Commission January 25 @ 6pm Youth Commission February 6 @ 7pm Town Board Meeting February 8 @ 6pm Environmental Commission February 9 @ 6:30pm
TOWN OF ROCHESTER Harold Lipton Community Center, 15 Tobacco Road, Accord townofrochester.ny.gov 845-626-7384 Town Board Audit Meeting January 26 @ 7pm
riceplumbingandheating@gmail.com
Environmental Conservation January 31 @ 6pm
For Rent
Town Board Regular Meeting February 2 @ 6pm
House for Rent $2600 per month No utilities included. 2 Bedroom 1-1/2 baths No pets Call 845-721-4741
BSP classified ads start at $15! email: bspmartha@gmail.com
Rondout Municipal Center 1925 Lucas Avenue, Cottekill marbletown.net 845-687-7500
Planning Board Meeting February 13 @ 7pm Recreation Commission February 15 @ 9:30am Zoning Board Meeting February 15 @ 7pm
BOARD OF EDUCATION District Office, Kyserike Rd, Accord rondout.k12.ny.us/ board-of-education BOE MEETING February 7 @ 7-9pm BOE MEETING February 21 @ 7-9pm BOE MEETING March 7 @ 7-9pm Confirmation of meeting times through individual town offices is recommended.
Page 24, January 20, 2023BlueStone Press
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