On Tuesday, April 26, the PBS documentary Changing Identities: A Story of Traumatic Injury and Art narrated by Merryl Streep, will be screened at SUNY New Paltz Lecture Center 102 at 6 p.m. Shot and produced locally, the film chronicles how a Saugerties painter teaches disabled people to paint, helping them to see themselves as artists. There will be a question-and-answer session with the filmmaker after the screening. Admission is free.
UlsterCorps Service Summit to be held in New Paltz
SUNY New Paltz will be hosting the second annual UlsterCorps Service Summit on April 26 from 8 a.m. to noon at the College Terrace. The event will focus on the End Hunger Project and will include presentations by BOCES New Visions student representatives and Mark Walter, the Executive Director of the New York State office of National and Community Service.
More than 60 representatives from various non-profit, business, higher education, and governmental sectors will be present at the event.
The information gathered at the Service Summit will be shared with community agencies working to use volunteers more effectively, businesses interested in increasing their employees’ involvement and local governments in their efforts to strengthen the well-being of communities in Ulster County. The summit is part of the on-going work of UlsterCorps to deepen the knowledge about volunteerism and to find ways to implement and grow a culture of service and collaboration in Ulster County.
Girl Scouts raise money to help children in Japan
The Sojourner Truth Girl Scout Community will hold a rummage sale on Saturday, April 30 from 8 a.m. to noon at The Postage Inn on Route 32 in Tillson. There will be something for everyone -- household items, toys, tools, electronics, books, plants, baked goods and Girl Scout cookies. Local Girl Scout troops hope to raise money to help the Girl Scouts of Japan as they struggle to rebuild in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami last month. There will also be a special origami crane-making table where participants can make paper cranes to send to the people of Japan as a symbol of peace and friendship.
Please contact Amy Van Pelt, volunteer community chair of the Sojourner Truth Girl Scout Community, at 658-8324 for more information or to find out how to donate to this event.
Learn how to donate life
April is National Organ Donor Awareness Month and to spread the word about it, Butch Dener -- a five-year post-liver transplantee -- will have the privilege of the floor at the Ulster County Legislature meeting on April 26 at 7 p.m. Jake Turner, a recent liver transplant recipient from Highland, will also be telling the story of his miracle transplant. Organ donor cards and information will be distributed. The meeting will be held at the Ulster County Office Building, 244 Fair Street in Kingston.
Arts-in-Education Showcase
On Friday, April 28 from 2 to 5 p.m., the Ulster BOCES Arts-in-Education Cooperative Service will hold its annual Arts-in-Education Showcase open house at the Ulster BOCES Conference Center in New Paltz. This event is free of charge, provided by Ulster BOCES to Ulster County residents in an effort to recognize and celebrate the vital arts programs that are taking place in our schools.
The Arts In Education Showcase will feature local arts groups and arts educators who will be available for schools, PTA’s and districts to speak with and to learn more about their work with young people in schools. At 4 p.m., renowned arts education advocate Eric Booth will give a keynote speech on the arts and their impact on school communities across the nation. There will also be a documentary that features young people doing art in districts that are participants in the Ulster BOCES’ Arts-in-Education cooperative service.
Easter plant sale
The Gardiner Day Committee will hold an Easter plant sale this Saturday, April 23 at the Gardiner Firehouse on Route 44-55 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tulips, daffodils, hydrangea, lily, hyacinth, azalea and assorted indoor and outdoor plants will be available.
Meet the candidates
The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold a “Meet the Candidates” forum for Village of New Paltz mayoral and trustee candidates on Monday, April 25 from 7 to 9:15 p.m. in Deyo Hall on Historic Huguenot Street. The evening will begin with candidates for village trustee, who will each give a three-minute self-introduction. Candidates for mayor will then each give a five-minute opening statement, followed by questions from attendees which have been submitted in writing to and chosen by a floor monitor. At the end of the evening, candidates will each give a five-minute closing statement.
All candidates have been invited to the forum. Candidates for Village Trustee are Ariana Basco (Positive Party), Rick Bunt (Ballence), Amy Cohen (Groovy Blueberry Party), Emily Crocetti (Groovy Blueberry Party), Stewart Glenn (One Community Party), Shari Osborn (Community Connection Party), Sally Rhoads (One Community Party), David Kip Ruger (New Paltz Party) and Martin Sherow (One Community Party). Candidates for mayor are Jonathan Cohen (Groovy Blueberry), Jean Gallucci (The Village Unity Party), Peter Healey (One Community Party) and Jason West (Cooperative Party). For more information, call 255-0243.
Methodist women to sponsor Easter egg hunt
The New Paltz United Methodist Women will sponsor its annual Easter egg hunt at the church at the corner of Main and Grove streets this Saturday, April 23 from 10 a.m. until noon -- rain or shine. There will be activities, refreshments and the hunt for children ages 12 and under. All children with their parents are welcome.
Register for the Southern Ulster Yard Sale
Memorial Day weekend marks the return of the Southern Ulster Yard Sale. The sixth annual event will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, May 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is $3 for individual locations or $15 for a group location. Registration fees are used to advertise the sale. To sign up, interested residents in participating towns should call their own Town Hall and ask for the following individuals: Lloyd -- Wendy, 691-2144; Marlborough -- Tina, 795-2220; New Paltz -- Guy, 255-0604, ext. 1; Plattekill -- Barbara, 883-7331
The deadline to register is Friday, May 20 at 3 p.m. Addresses received after that time will not be included on the master list for distribution.
Open poetry reading at Gardiner Library
In honor of National Poetry Month, the Gardiner Library will host an open poetry reading this Saturday, April 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the library community room. The public is invited to come and sign up to read favorite poems or original works, or simply listen to the poetry presented. The event is hosted by the library’s own poet-in-residence Christopher Wheeling.
Following the reading, the Gardiner Library Film Festival will be showing a film based on poetry. Visit their blog http://gardinerlibraryfilmfestival.blogspot.com/ for more information.
The library is located at 133 Farmer’s Turnpike. For further information, visit www.gardinerlibrary.org or call 255-1255.
Rabies clinic in New Paltz
The Town of New Paltz dog control officer and the town clerk’s office will offer a rabies clinic for dogs and cats on Wednesday, April 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Town Highway Garage located at 1 Clearwater Road in New Paltz. Vaccinations for rabies, distemper and heartworm will start at $10 each and will be administered by traveling veterinarian Dr. Laurie Stein. Rabies certificates will be presented at the completion of the vaccination. These certificates are essential for licensing dogs where they reside, as required by New York State law. Dogs must be leashed and cats must be in carriers. New Paltz dog licensing will be done by a staff member of the clerk’s office. For additional information, call 255-0100, ext. 1.
Crafty conversations
The Gardiner Library continues its Crafty Conversations series with Deft Darns presented by Dawn Elliott on Thursday, April 28 at 7 p.m.
The talk will examine textile repair from the 17th century to the present, along with its modern applications. In the past, darning (or reweaving) was a necessity and sometimes an art. Its use extended far beyond the cliched image many have of grandmothers fixing socks. Learn some tips for a skill that will help you save money and be more ecological. Bring your modern or antique items for advice, as time permits.
Crafty Conversations are geared toward crafters, who are encouraged to bring projects to work on during the talk. The series takes place the fourth Thursday of each month in the library community room, 133 Farmer’s Turnpike. For further information, call 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Movie night at Elting Library
A free viewing of the movie “Inside Job” will take place on Friday, April 29, 8:15 p.m. at Elting Memorial Library in New Paltz. The Academy Award-winning documentary deals with the current financial crisis and explains the shift within the American financial industry over the last decade -- exposing the elements, the decisions and the people who destabilized the global economy. For additional information, e-mail tellall45@yahoo.com.
Looking for restaurants for Eat to Ride/Ride to Eat
The New Paltz Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee will hold its fourth annual Eat to Ride/Ride to Eat restaurant discount week on May 16-22. Over the next several weeks, committee members will be speaking to New Paltz restaurants about participating. More details for potential diners will be announced as the week approaches. If you own or operate a restaurant and have questions, please contact William Weinstein, committee chair, at 255-2070, or at bikeped1@townofnewpaltz.org.
New Paltz Playschool to hold Fun Fair
The New Paltz Playschool will be holding a Fun Fair on the lawn of the school located at the corner of Main and Grove streets on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rain date will be May 7). There will be games, activities, projects and more -- all geared toward 2, 3 and 4 year olds. Food, drinks, snacks and desserts will be available. For more information, call 255-2203.
Scholarship auction to benefit the class of 2011
The New Paltz High School Scholarship Committee is hosting its fourth annual scholarship auction on Monday, May 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Gilded Otter Brewing Company. This year, more than 100 prizes will be auctioned off -- ranging in price from $10 to more than $500 in value. There are numerous prizes to bid on: four New York Yankees v. Boston Red Sox tickets; 100 gallons of home heating oil; a private plane ride for two around the Hudson Valley; an autographed New York Jets helmet; tickets to the US Open plus a behind-the-scenes private tour; jewelry; dinner gift certificates; youth sports packages; beautiful artwork and much more.
Each year, the New Paltz Central School District awards 32 scholarships to hard-working students who have achieved excellence in the areas of academics, sports, music, art and citizenship. All proceeds from the auction will fund these awards at graduation in June.
Tickets to the auction cost $10 and include house beer, wine and soda, appetizers and dessert. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
“As always, the business community has been extremely supportive and generous, and we are grateful,” says auction chairperson Dawn Rich.
For more information, call 255-2455.
Molly Rausch to share her book in New Paltz
Molly Rausch, the author of the children’s book My Cold Went On Vacation, will share her book at Inquiring Minds Bookstore in New Paltz on Friday, April 22 from 7 to 8 p.m. and at Elting Memorial Library on Saturday, April 23 from 2 to 3 p.m. The story is about a boy who has a cold and when it goes away, he wonders where it went. He pictures it traveling the world, having all sorts of adventures, only to discover that it just went across the hall to his sister’s room.
Clarification
Last week, the photo credit was left off of a picture accompanying the “Walking for a Cause” press release. The photo was taken by Susan Lehrer. Our apologies.
Ulster Savings supports “Pondkeepers in the City” program at the Preserve
The Ulster Savings Charitable Foundation recently announced their $6,280.00 grant in support of the Mohonk Preserve’s “Pondkeepers in the City” program.
This program will serve approximately 250 students and ten teachers at three schools in the City of Poughkeepsie School District. It is designed to provide opportunities for disadvantaged, urban students to directly interact with nature, deliver English Language Arts content to underserved students in a motivating and accessible format and provide hands-on experiences with wildlife to stimulate individual growth and lifelong learning.
For more than 25 years, the Mohonk Preserve’s Education Program has focused on giving local students, teachers, partner organizations and the general public a variety of science, conservation and environment-themed educational programs.
“The ‘Pondkeepers’ program is an excellent example of the Mohonk Preserve’s mission,” noted Jeffrey Wood, Executive Director of the Charitable Foundation. “It’s a great way to expose students to the wonders of nature that they otherwise may never see. We’re glad to lend our support to the Mohonk Preserve.”
For more information, call 338-6322, ext. 3268.
Green Feminisms Conference to be hosted at New Paltz
The Women’s Studies Program at SUNY New Paltz will host a one-day conference on Saturday, April 30, titled “Green Feminisms: Women, Sustainability and Environmental Justice.”
This year’s conference focuses on the particular dangers that environmental degradation has posed for women throughout the world and celebrates the women who have been struggling against it. The conference will feature various workshop topics that will bring together activists, farmers, researchers, writers, educators and artists.
Dr. Suzanne Kelly said that the conference will provide a forum for “innovative thinking about the intersections of environmental and feminist issues.”
Highlights of the day include Trailer Talk, a live performance about hydraulic fracturing by Sabrina Artell, an Educational Market of local CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) and other farm projects, alternative energy projects and environmental organizations.
The keynote panel includes Beverly Naidus, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts at the University of Washington; Joni Seager, Professor of Global Studies at Bentley College; and Karen Washington, President of the New York City Community Garden Coalition. Panelists will discuss creative strategies for resistance and resilience, feminist perspectives on climate change, and the stereotypes and myths surrounding women and people of color in the food movement.
The day will conclude with talks by LaTosha Brown, Director of the Gulf Coast Fund for Community Renewal and Thilmeeza Hussain, Deputy Representative for the Maldives at the United Nations on the global leadership of women on climate change.
“We’re excited to bring together artists, theorists, and activists who will address a wide range of concerns,” said Professor Kelly.
All food served will be sourced from local Hudson Valley farms.
The cost is $50 (pre-registration; includes lunch) or $60 (day of the conference; no lunch). For a complete list of programs, registration forms or more information, visit www.newpaltz.libguides.com/green_feminisms or call 257-2975. For registration information, contact 257-3033.
Conference workshops and keynotes will take place in the Lecture Center and Humanities.
Annual spring clean-up in New Paltz
A spring clean-up in New Paltz will take place from Saturday, April 23 through Saturday, May 7 and Monday, May 30. Materials will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (and on Monday, May 30) at the Town Recycling Center/Transfer Station located on Clearwater Road. Acceptable items include: One load of debris (one trip -- loads up to 2½ yards), one freon unit, one major appliance, four car tires, one box spring and mattress set, one couch.
The drop-off is free for town residents. Coupons are available at the New Paltz Recycling Center. For more information, call 255-8456 or e-mail recycling@townofnewpaltz.org. To schedule pick-up for a senior citizen (over age 65), call before April 25.
Dispose of unwanted prescriptions on April 30
The New Paltz Police Department and Family of New Paltz are partnering with the US Drug Enforcement Agency to collect all expired and unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, April 30 at ShopRite in New Paltz from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All prescription, over-the counter medications and vitamins will be collected for safe disposal.
Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing problem in this nation. Every day more than 2,500 teenagers abuse prescription medications for the first time and 60 percent did so before age 15. It is dangerous to the environment to flush or discard prescriptions in the trash.
The Community for a Safer New Paltz will also be collecting at the New Paltz Police Department on April 30.
New Paltz schools celebrate Arbor Day
The New Paltz Central School District, under the sponsorship of the New Paltz Rotary Club, will celebrate Arbor Day on April 28 at all four school buildings.
The celebration of Arbor Day started in 1872 in Nebraska and the tradition began in schools nation-wide in 1882. Journalist, pioneer and Secretary to the Nebraska Territory J. Sterling Morton conceived the idea, thus beginning his advocacy of tree planting by individuals, civic organizations and groups. At the first celebration of Arbor Day as a legal holiday, Morton said, “A celebration of this kind results in good to all and is worthy of imitation by every school in the state.”
The New Paltz School District has kept the tradition alive and will continue to do so with the help of the New Paltz Rotary and Masseo Landscape. On April 28, trees will be planted at all four of the schools with the help of the students.
“There is a long tradition dating back to the 1960’s for this same program,” said Mark Masseo. “I hope we can continue it. We would like to get children involved to serve as an education program. I hope the schools will share the excitement of this program as the Rotary Club does.”
“We are extremely grateful to the New Paltz Rotary and Mr. Masseo for once again underwriting this observance and enhancing our students’ learning experiences in authentic and lifelong ways,” said Superintendent Maria Rice. “Each generation that plants a tree provides an enduring legacy for future generations, so we enthusiastically accept this generous offer to help us provide an educational opportunity for our students in addition to benefiting the environment.”
Town-wide clean-up in Gardiner
A town-wide road clean-up will take place in Gardiner on May 6, 7 and 8. Bags are available at the Gardiner Town Hall, the Gardiner Library and Majestic’s Hardware. Volunteers are asked to leave filled bags on the roadside for pick-up on May 9.
Help put cloth diapers in the record books
Cloth diapers have come a long way in the past ten years and it’s time to stand up and be noticed. Celebrate Earth Day by joining the international cloth diaper community to set the world record for the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously. The “Great Cloth Diaper Change” will be held this Saturday, April 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at New Baby New Paltz, located at 15 Plattekill Avenue. The event will also feature a diaper derby and a used baby gear swap. Enter to win a gift basket of FuzziBunz Diapers donated by Positively Birth, gift certificates from Moxie Cupcake and Donna Bruschi. There will be demos and workshops to help educate families about cloth diapers, rashes, laundering, etc. Mini photo shoots will be offered by Danielle Pecoraro Photography. For additional information, call 750-4402.
Movie screening at Woodland Pond
A movie screening and discussion of FLOW: For Love Of Water will be shown at Woodland Pond on Monday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. FLOW is an introduction to the politics, demographics, hydraulics and economics of water, the world’s third largest industry and a natural resource under great stress. A panel discussion (timed to coincide with a SUNY New Paltz conference on water awareness) will immediately follow the screening.
Woodland Pond is located at North Putt Corners Road in New Paltz. The event is hosted by Town/Gown Connect.
Learn about backyard composting
Horticultural author and expert Lee Reich will present a backyard composting workshop on Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Mohonk Preserve. Learn the how and the why of backyard composting -- everything from designing an enclosure, to what to add (and what not to add), to what can go wrong (and how to right it). Don’t bother stuffing old tomato stalks, grass clippings and leaves into plastic bags -- just compost them. Also, learn what free materials are available for composting. Whether your interest is to produce a material that will make your garden soil fertile and fluffy or to use an environmentally sound way to deal with waste, this program will teach you all you need to know to make good compost. Ages 15 and up are welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. This is an indoor program and reservations are required. Call 255-0919 for reservations and meeting location. The fee is $5 for Mohonk Preserve members and $10 for non-members.
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