BlueStone Press

The best source for local news from Marbletown, Rochester & Rosendale

Published the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month | Vol. 26, Issue 24

December 17, 2021 | 75 cents

Marbletown to establish Housing Advisory Committee in 2022 Brooke Stelzer BSP Reporter The Marbletown Town Board meeting was held in-person on Dec. 7 at Town Hall in Cottekill. Five board members were present including Rich Parete, chairman and town supervisor, along

with Eric Stewart, Daisy Foote, Don LaFera and Tim Hunt.

Resolution 104, which was carried 5-0, calls for the establishment of a Housing Advisory Committee to review and analyze the housing needs of the township, advise on policies and initiatives, develop strategies and recommend zoning

changes or the adoption of ordinances to best serve the housing needs of residents in Marbletown.

“Daisy has done a lot of work on this resolution and issues on housing,” said Parete. “Having sustainable housing is one of our most important issues, we’d like to establish a Housing Advisory Commission.”

Board members cited several ways that available and affordable housing is vital to the social and economic sustainability of the community. The board agreed that residents of all ages and stages of life, including seniors, families with children and

See Housing, page 16

Christmas Bird Count 'increasing abundance and diversity'

9-year-old girl, Rondout football player inspires Page 16

Marbletown, all lit up for the holidays!

Page 7

There are two volunteer groups of the CBC in the BSP area, one in their 72nd year and one in just their fourth year. Pictured here is a barred owl, also called a "hoot owl," North American's largest species of owl. Photo by Karen Maloy Brady

Add to a century of community science, be a part of the Christmas Bird Count Donna Cohn Viertel Calendar of Events Editor

Holiday Section PageS 17 - 25

The Christmas Bird Count is a bird census that was proposed in December 1900 by ornithologist Frank Chapman due to declining bird populations in the late 1800s and as an alternative to the Christmas “Side Hunt,” in which participants would form teams and whichever team killed the most birds would win the hunt.

The first CBC was held on Dec. 25, 1900, with 27 participants. The CBC is the oldest citizen science project in the United States, with this being its 122nd year. Participants in the CBC spend the day listening, looking for, and counting birds within a predetermined area, be-

Short-eared owl. Photo by Karen Maloy Brady

tween Dec. 14 -Jan. 5.

The annual Mohonk Lake/Ashokan Reservoir (NYML) CBC is scheduled for

Saturday, Dec. 18. Originally conceived by founding members of the Ulster Countybased John Burroughs Natural History Society, this year will be the 72nd consecutive year JBNHS has organized the count effort. Steve M. Chorvas has been the coordinator and compiler of the event for the past 19 years. The count circle is divided into 12 sectors, with some sectors sub-divided to accommodate a greater number of field parties made possible by increasing interest and participation over the past decade. “Some significant changes have been recorded over the years, with a few historical species now absent or rarely encountered,” said Chorvas, “but the overall

See CBC, page 2

Page , December 17, 2021, BlueStone Press

Leading with love in his role of Scrooge in ‘A Christmas Carol’ Rosendale Theatre Arts Director Ann Citron recently chatted with actor Forest VanDyke, who will be playing the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the upcoming interactive production of “A Christmas Carol,” 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Rosendale Theatre,408 Main St., Rosendale. The Charles Dickens classic ghost story is being retold by NYC’s No. 11 Productions, in collaboration with the Rosendale Theatre Collective.

How did you get involved with No.11 Productions?

The first time I ever worked with Ryan [Emmons, director of the play] was on a show called “Cadaver Synod” at Playwright's Horizon in NYC. It was a wild rock musical about a love story between popes.

We had a blast. I met Julie [Congress] and Steven Visit the folks [Conroy, also in the play] through next door that production as well. The following year, Ryan and Julie invited me to join No. 11 in their production of “A Christmas Carol” as Scrooge. I immediately said yes because ... I wasn't sure I would have gotten the chance to play that role anywhere else at that point in my life. And because it just sounded FUN! I was invited to be an official member of No. 11 shortly after our “Christmas Carol” production in December 2019, and I still feel very honored to be a part of this crew.

Q&A

What makes this “A Christmas Carol” different?

Number 11 makes this production what it is! The people that make up No. 11 are a huge reason why I wanted to be a part of it. They are as generous as they are talented, and there is such a sense of play and freedom in every production they take on. Every element, from the puppets

aware of it or not. So why not do my best to lead with love, compassion and generosity. I think especially at this time in our world and at this time of year it’s great to see an example of someone learning and growing into a better, more compassionate version of themselves. It’s great to see that and know that the potential to be better each day is in all of us.

Forest VanDyke Age: 36 Profession: Actor, singer, teaching assistant Town: Playing the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” at the Rosendale Theatre

to the costumes to the casting, has a huge sense of imagination and limitlessness.

Enrico’s [de Trizio] music sweeps you up in the most immersive and cinematic way.

And the real magic is the integration of audience members into the action of the play!!!! It's brilliant to see different people stepping up and being excited to play on stage with us! And they all bring different elements to characters so no two performances are ever the same!

What do you like/love about playing Scrooge?

I love that I get to play an iconic character like Scrooge and explore him every year! He always reveals new things about myself and humanity. Like ... the impact our words and actions have on others – especially young people. And the fact that we are all connected, and so what I do does affect someone else whether I am

Christmas Bird Count from page 1

Tell us a little about how it is to work with the audience and the improvisational nature that brings.

Ha! It’s so exciting! What’s great is, as ensemble members, we have rehearsed and rehearsed. We know what our parts are, and we also have these place holders that are sort of “elements unknown.”

These are the parts that we know audience members will play. We know the lines they are going to say, but the delivery is always a surprise! In the past, even the physical interaction with them would be slightly unknown because you might encounter someone who is more reserved, or you might encounter someone who has great bursts of energy, and I love it ALL because it forces you to stay there in the moment with that person. It's instant play time!!

Which is the BEST!!!

How does it feel to be back on stage after Covid-19 shut things down?

I was lucky enough to be in a production of a new musical, “Mystic Pizza,” in Maine and that was officially my first time back onstage since theaters have started opening up again. It was exciting and terrifying and so cathartic. Now, being back with my No. 11 family and our “Christmas Carol,” it feels like coming back home. It feels comforting. I am so looking forward to playing and discovering new things with my friends in this show, and I hope this is the beginning of us having the opportunity to bring more stories to a live stage soon.

– Compiled by Ann Citron, Rosendale Theatre Arts director

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Publisher: Lori Childers Editor: Gregory Childers Copy Editor: Linda Fite Office Manager Martha Brittell Graphic Artist: Seamus O'Donnell Reporters: Ann Belmont Anne Craig Pyburn Emily Reina Dindial Amber Kelly Chelsea Miller Jeffrey Slater Brooke Stelzer Alison Stewart Sara Trapani Katy Weber Calendar of Events Editor: Donna Cohn Viertel Columnists: Patty Curry, Wally Nichols, Susan Krawitz, Linda Tantillo, Joanne Ferdman, and Kelly Wright

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trend has been increasing abundance and diversity of species as more birds appear to be wintering locally and expanding their ranges northward.”

This year, the 4th annual NYMS (Minnewaska-Shawangunk) Christmas Bird Count circle will be joining the thousands of other circles in North America, Central America, South America, the Pacific and Caribbean in this winter tradition. Interested parties will be searching a 15-mile diameter circle for birds, including all of Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Contact Nicholas Martin at nicholas.martin@ parks.ny.gov or 845-255-0752 no later than Wednesday, Dec. 22, for an assignment for the Saturday, Jan. 1, event.

The Audubon has outlined these guidelines to having a safe count: Gatherings are at the discretion of the local compiler; masking is required if social distancing is not possible in the field; carpooling may only occur within existing familiar or social “pod” groups, and activities must comply with all current state and municipal Covid-19 guidelines.

Field teams should be prepared for a full day outdoors. Residents with bird feeders in the Minnewaska-Shawangunk CBC circle may also participate by counting birds

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Brady peregrine falcon. Photo by Karen Maloy Brady

at their feeders, which must be within the limits of the count circle. See a map of the circle at https://arcg.is/1bqrPK0.

For more information on the Christmas Bird Count, visit the New York State Ornithological Association’s website at https://nybirds.org/ProjCBC.htm and the John Burroughs Natural History Society’s website at http://jbnhs.org/events/list/.

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REPAIR

BlueStone Press, December 17, 2021, Page

100% coverage for Kerhonkson Accord First Aid Squad Emily Reina Dindial BSP Reporter The Town of Rochester Town Board held their Dec. 2 meeting at the Harold Lipton Community Center in Accord.

Board members read out the usual reports, including department updates and town financials, and held a public hearing before voting on a handful of resolutions.

The public comments centered around the Skate Time 209 contract. The majority of commenters criticized the board for their decision to enter into, and then withdraw from, a contract to purchase Skate Time 209 despite the contingency on voter approval via referendum. Some people thanked the board for withdrawing from the contract in response to resident opposition. Zachary Kleinhandler noted that the positive outcome was a result of residents across the political spectrum coming together to do what is best for the town.

“I think Skate Time was the perfect example of people in the town putting their differences aside and forgetting the fact that some people are Democrats and some people are Republicans and realize the mistakes that were made in signing the contract in the first place,” Kleinhandler said. “I think it’s very important that we try and find a way as a town to get along together, to communicate together so we can create a plan and fight for the town. I think it’s really important to in some way bury the hatchet.”

Another thing residents can unite on is a new town partnership with Kerhonkson-Accord First Aid Squad. KAFAS provides emergency medical services to Kerhonkson and Accord and is staffed

entirely by trained volunteers. According to Charles Nerko, a KAFAS volunteer, there is currently a nationwide shortage of emergency medical technicians, and firstaid squad often has gaps in filling the slots on its schedule. Now the town will provide funding to KAFAS for a hybrid staffing model to allow the squad to supplement their volunteers with full-time EMTs to ensure 100% coverage.

“Through the investment made by the town, we will be able to achieve 100% coverage, 24/7,” said Nerko. Nerko clarified that 100% coverage does not necessarily translate to 100% response rate.

“Full coverage” includes one EMT and one ambulance driver. So if, for instance, a local veteran needs transportation to Veterans Affairs in Albany for treatment and a local call comes in while the ambulance is occupied there, KAFAS will still rely on neighboring ambulances for backup. Still, through this investment, “lives will be saved,” he added.

The Town Board also approved a series of resolutions adopting recommendations from volunteers who help run the “free room” at the TOR transfer station.

It will now officially be referred to as the Town of Rochester Exchange (TORE).

Councilwoman Erin Enouen explained that volunteers help monitor TORE to ensure dropped-off items are eligible for acceptance. When items are left that are not eligible – such as car seats because of safety concerns – the town incurs the cost to dispose of the items. People will now only be permitted to leave items that are approved by a TORE volunteer on Tuesdays and Saturdays during normal transfer station hours.

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Page , December 17, 2021, BlueStone Press

Briefs Historic signage update from the Marbletown Historic Preservation Commission The Marbletown Historic Preservation Commission has restored several signs in 2021, and they are on the march again.

Commissioner Douglas Adams created a PowerPoint presentation of the existing 11 plaques, and he and commission member Scott Davis rooted through weeds and briars to retrieve more fallen signs, which Scott and commissioner Bill Merchant sandblasted and repainted. Most noticeable right now are three plaques that need cosmetic help: On Main Street, one of the town's most famous landmark signs for Wynkoop House, has one faded side but a pretty good “about face” that reads “WYNKOOP. MERCHANT and PATRIOT Honored by Gen. Washington’s stay Nov 15, 1782.” Cornelius Wynkoop served as a major in the Minutemen during the American Revolution.

The Wynkoop house dates to 1772 and has played a key role in the town’s history, later being owned by the famous

Lounsbery family from 1818-1988. The Lounsberys also owned the Stone Ridge Library. John Lounsbery was postmaster and renamed Stone Ridge (for a time) “Lang Syne.” When people started calling it “Long Sin,” however, the name reverted to Stone Ridge.

Urgent facelifts are required by the signs for two important sites in High Falls: “Old DePuy Home” and “the Old Stone Aqueduct.”

The house known as the DePuy Canal House, located in the center of the hamlet of High Falls, was built in 1797 by Simeon DePuy (1757-1837) and his first wife, Arietta Hasbrouck, as indicated by the stone above its front door. It was originally called the Stone House Tavern. Simeon was one of the most prominent citizens of High Falls. He secured the rights to much of the waterpower from the falls on the Rondout Creek that gave the town its name.

In 1969, the DePuy home became a famous restaurant, DePuy Canal House, owned and run by the chef, John Novi, hailed by Craig Claiborne in The New York Times.

Another transition will happen in 2022 when the building becomes the D&H Canal Museum.

The DePuy Canal Tavern was a lively drinking establishment in the heyday of the D&H Canal. To learn more, you can read the article by Merchant published in the current issue of The Hudson River Valley Review, “Stories of the Marginalized workers of the D&H Canal,” at www. hudsonrivervalley.org/indices. Merchant’s article “reads like the script for an exciting cable series, filled with tales of exploited

Local historic signs, photo courtesy of the Marbletown Historic Preservation Commission

women, abducted children and horrific accidents,” says Laura Cunningham, commissioner and best-selling author.

The nearby sign for “Old Stone Aqueduct” marks what is mostly a ruin. The D&H Canal Company built the Romanstyle two-arch stone aqueduct over the Rondout Creek in High Falls for a cost of $5,000 in May 1826. It was the only one of the 22 aqueducts constructed along the 108-mile-long canal made entirely of stone. Virtually all the other D&H Canal aqueducts had masonry piers with wooden trunks. It was replaced during the final enlargement of the canal in 1849 by one of four suspension aqueducts designed by John A. Roebling. little to no evidence of which remains today.

Reminder: As the year ends, it’s time to

consider landmarking your home or property, which could get you a 20% to 40% tax reduction on your income taxes, 20% each for New York state and for IRS Federal Income Tax. The link to apply for local designation: https://www.marbletown.net/historicpreservation-commission/pages/landmark-designation-application-process For the national Register of Historic Places: https://parks.ny.gov/shpo/national-register/ Maybe then you will merit one of these handsome blue and gold plaques? They are funded by an organization called the Pomeroy Foundation.

Submitted by the Marbletown Historic Preservation Commission

Law establishes tax credit to revive NY’s dilapidated ag architecture, incentivizes historic preservation State Senator Michelle Hinchey (SD46) and Assemblymember Didi Barrett (AD-106) recently announced that their bill (S.6042/A.6947) to create a tax program to help landowners restore historic barns across rural and upstate New York has been signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Thanks to the legislation, property owners will soon be eligible to apply with the state Historic Preservation Office for a 25% tax credit to restore barns constructed before 1945 back to productive use or into small businesses such as craft breweries, event spaces and the like, to foster economic growth.

The Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit, once a federal program, was eliminated in 2018 as a result of changes in the federal tax code under the Federal Tax Cuts and Job Act of 2017.

The Hinchey/Barrett bill revives this tax

Damon Farm on Leggett Road in Stone Ridge and State Sen. Michelle Hinchey (SD-46) and Assemblymember Didi Barrett (AD-106)

incentive by placing it in state Tax Law and expanding eligibility so that more historic barns throughout the state may qualify.

“This incentive will help preserve thousands of historic barns across rural and upstate communities,” said Senator Michelle Hinchey, “allowing us to trace back New York’s rich agricultural heritage, boost community pride, and capitalize on valuable opportunities to revive local economies.”

“Our iconic historic barns embody the Hudson Valley’s rural and agricultural roots, and the preservation, restoration

and repurposing of these barns is critical to maintaining the region's bucolic character, as well as the regional economy,” said Assemblymember Didi Barrett. “By resurrecting the New York State Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit, we are incentivizing a new generation of farmers, architecture enthusiasts, and business owners to reconnect with the state’s past while building for their own future.”

“The Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit will be a boon to rural areas throughout New York state,” said Jay DiLorenzo, president of the Preservation League of NYS. “Our team at the Preser-

vation League hears directly from historic barn owners more than any other type of property owner, and the renewal of the barn tax credit will provide a muchneeded resource. The historic barns that dot our landscape provide a tangible link to our state’s agricultural past, but they also represent opportunities to revitalize communities – either through adaptive reuse or a reinvestment in agricultural uses. We are grateful to Senator Hinchey and Assemblymember Barrett for their leadership on this issue and thank Governor Kathy Hochul for signing the bill into law.”

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Parents struggling with 'draconian' Covid measures in school system 'Many families feel backed into a corner with the requirements and have the threat of mandatory vaccines hanging over their heads as well. There is a sense of uncertainty and an inability to make their own choices for their own families,' said Rondout parent, Nicole Knapp Amber Kelly BSP Reporter The Rondout Valley Board of Education met on Dec. 14, both in person and streaming live.

Public comment was extensive and centered around Covid measures at Rondout. The public comment part of the meeting began with Kristy Bailey. As a parent of two children in the district and teacher in Ulster County for over 17 years, Bailey said, “I have come here tonight to express my concern over the negative impact Covid guidelines are having on students in the district. I have seen firsthand what this pandemic has done to students academically and emotionally. This year the lack of instruction due to quarantining is doing more harm than good, since incidents of exposure to Covid seems to be minimal. My son is a fifth-grade student at the middle school, and he has been quarantined twice already this year. The most recent time was because of an apparent exposure when going to pick up his work at the middle school. I was told he was being quarantined because of where he ended up on a bus seating chart. It sounded like he was randomly quarantined because you weren’t even sure if he was actually sitting there in that spot. My son is a rule-follower, so if he was told to sit in that seat, he would sit in that seat.

Using a seating chart that might not be completely accurate is hard to then take away school for 10 days from my kid. My son absolutely loves school, and he was heartbroken to not be able to come into school. He missed his very first band concert and was teary-eyed when I told him. I felt so bad for him.

“During the meeting I was also told that masks don’t play a factor on the bus, and I thought that was a very odd statement, and it doesn’t make sense, because I am a teacher too, and we are told ‘wear these things all day, they make a difference.’ They told me that on the bus, the masks don’t matter when it comes to quarantining. Then back in October my daughter’s entire first-grade class was quarantined for 10 days. According to the flow chart, only

close contacts have to be quarantined for affected people that are within 3 feet for more than 15 minutes. Our children are socially distancing at school, so I am not sure why the entire kindergarten was quarantined. I don’t have all the specifics, but I know in my district entire classes are not quarantined. I feel that maybe the guidelines can be looked at.

Some of them seem a little arbitrary.

“I am coming tonight to ask, as a fellow educator and a parent, that the district review the current Covid guidelines and quarantine requirements. I know there are local districts that allow students to test out of quarantine, while others provide tutors if quarantine occurs due to a school exposure. If a child is quarantined because of school, they are getting something, even if it is just a check-in from someone at school. Merely telling a child or an entire class they cannot come to school for over a week doesn’t seem like it can continue to be a standard protocol, especially when there are not any symptoms. Some children come to school and it is the only place where their basic needs are met. I feel that the district’s responsibility to advocate to the DOH and the CDC on behalf of our children to ensure that the guidelines being followed are necessary, logical, and in the best interest of our teachers,” Bailey concluded.

Parent Nicole Knapp said that she and her husband have sent their children to RV for the past 11 years and the experience has primarily been positive. Last year was difficult for many reasons, especially because their home policy has always been to limit screen-time. The requirement to be on an iPad for so long each day was not something her children are used to, nor tolerate. Her son did not participate at all, but was never contacted by the school. Her daughter participated minimally, so the obvious solution was to do homeschooling for both of them last year. This year she felt that there is an assumption that, since the Covid guidelines have been in effect for over a year now, there is no need for further explanation nor support.

Children under quarantine are given

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minimal contact and are basically left to fend for themselves. Her child was falsely accused of being exposed to a child who tested positive for Covid-19.

Not only was it emotionally stressful for the entire family, but it caused loss of trust in the school district. The district didn’t have the correct information as to which bus the child was on. She said many families feel backed into a corner with the requirements and have the threat of mandatory vaccines hanging over their heads as well. There is a sense of uncertainty and an inability to make their own choices for their own families. Complete strangers are asking invasive questions and telling what is best for the children. “We cannot let this happen anymore,” Knapp said. “We pay our taxes for the school; we are supporting our children emotionally and financially. We need to have a voice as parents and guardians, and feel represented in regards to their education and their health.” Another concern is that meals are not provided for quarantined children and that is a struggle for many families. Having children home for big random chunks of time also negatively impacts the finances of families.

School nurse Lucy VanSickle said that part of the problem is that when Ulster County made the policies, they took away the abilities of the school nurses to do evaluations of the students regarding which students need to be quarantined and which don’t. There are no ifs, ands or buts. For example, if a kid has a headache, you have to send them home.

The nurses were afraid of making an error. Maybe the one kid who remained at school with a headache could turn out to be Covid-positive. So they came up with these draconian rules During the business part of the meeting, the first agenda item was a presentation by Wayne Bekerman, representing the not-for-profit Rondout Valley Education Foundation. Bekerman said their mission is to enhance educational opportunities for all, including children in the district and the community beyond. He explained that grant fund types include $750 for projects within the classroom, foundation grants up to $3,000 for projects outside the classroom. Seven grants have been given so far in the 2021-22 school year totaling $8,300. RVEF funds come from payroll deductions from teachers, as well as private donations, annual campaigns and events. Net assets are grant funds of $64,000, partnerships funds of $70,000, and a general fund of $42,000. Contributions were $9,400 from grant funds and $40,000 from partnership funds.

Thomas Kennedy and Ben Porter conducted the financial audit and gave the district a 70-page document that includes the auditors’ unmodified opinion, which is a favorable audit opinion.

Years back, the committee in charge of the standards setting for counties for governance required that these financial

statements start to resemble those of private entities. These governance-wide financials include capital assets, operational budgets, the general fund, any received government funds and unassigned fund budget. The final budget revenue approximated $63.1 million compared to the actuals of $63.2 million for a favorable variance of $150,000.

Expenditures were approximately $66.2 million, but actual was approximately $55 million, for an $11.5 million favorable. This variance was across the board due to uncertainties as to whether the school district would receive all of its funding. There was a huge difference between what was budgeted versus actually spent. That variance converts to an increase in the general fund, except that government requires that school districts stay within the 4% fund balance for of general expenditures. Only school districts in New York state do this. The rest of the world in government says you should have a fund balance of 15-25% because of contingencies. This year it was about 9%, largely because the school board wisely decided to move some into reserves.

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Morgan said that focus groups looked at the recent needs assessment, interviews and surveys. The action plans of each school are based on building administrators agreeing upon objectives, establishing tasks, identifying time-frames, the resources needed, and establishing a baseline to measure. For example, the Kerhonkson building plan goal is that staff and students will use data for continuous improvement of student performance in reading, writing and math. The intermediate school wants all students to feel like members of the community and have a voice in the community.

The junior high action plan is increased reparation and communication among the staff, community and students. An example of the high school action plan is to communicate the mission and vision to the larger community of the school and establish a way to evaluate the success of that. District-wide plans include researching international baccalaureate, researching a consistent writing plan, adoption of infinite campus student management system, implementation of district-wide data governance protocols, exploring campus CTE options for hands-on learning opportunities, and Naviance guidance software for college and career readiness. Pre-K plans “Handwriting Without Tears” curriculum training for teachers, Heggerty, Next Steps word study and phonics, phonics, progression, math workshop in grade 1 and some classes in grades 2-3. All these plans will be coming back to the board with progress reports.

Next, the Ulster County BOCES capital budget was approved; how to finance it will be a future conversation.

Closing fo

r Winter Break from Dec . 19 to Ja n. 18 See you in 2022!

BlueStone Press, December 17, 2021, Page

Light Up Marbletown on its second year, adding a parade to its celebration Jeff Slater BSP Reporter Light Up Marbletown is set for this Sunday, Dec. 19, starting with illumination at 4:30 p.m., and a parade set to roll at 6 p.m.

Jill McClean, town youth director, said, “This is the second annual lighting of the luminaries, which are made available to Marbletown residents. The first set of 10 luminaries is free, and additional kits can be purchased for $5. In the kits are 10 tea lights, 10 white bags and a bag of sand that goes in the bottom of each bag for weight.

We have labels on all bags with directions, and a reminder of the time and date.

Residents will light the luminaries at 4:30 on the 18th. New this year is the Light Up Marbletown Parade. The idea came from Paul Bogart, chief of the Stone Ridge Fire Company.”

Bogart said, “I’ve seen over the past few years some other towns and/or fire departments do parades where they decorate their fire trucks. I just thought it would be something cool to do here in Marbletown. I brought it up at one of our fire company meetings, and everyone thought it was a good idea. I reached out to Jill at the community center to see if they wanted to partner up to get this thing off the ground. The parade route this year is only a few miles. Our hope is that if you

live along the parade route you can sit out in front of your house and watch, or if you don’t, just grab the family and some chairs and line up on the sidewalk on Route 209.”

“We have 30 participants signed up for the parade,” said McClean. “It is strictly a vehicle only, no walkers. Participants include fire trucks form our local companies, ambulance, Dave and Nancy Lawrence tractor and wagon, the Jim Decker Band float, many participants from the local Jeep Club, and a bucket truck from Gavin Kiersted’s tree company!”

Marbletown resident Marian McCorkleBeckerman had this to say about last year’s event: “ Last year our neighbors, my husband and I lit up our corner on Leggett Road. We put 20 bags along a stone wall on our driveway. As a car drove by a young girl put down the window and yelled, ‘We love your lights!’ – making it all worthwhile. Then we hopped in the car and drove around to see everyone else’s luminaries. It was so peaceful and serene to see them from a distance in the still, dark night. Light Up Marbletown is a wonderful way to come together as a community and wish our neighbors ‘Happy Holidays.’

Due to weather conditions, Light up Marbletown was moved to Sunday Dec. 19. This is a photo from last year's inaugural event with a lot more snow on the ground1

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Looking back, this year in the BSP Ann Belmont BSP Reporter This will be the last edition of the BlueStone Press until 2022, so it seems appropriate to spend a minute remembering some of the things that have happened here in the Rondout Valley in the last 12 months before we move on.

The pages of the BSP keep a pretty good record of local events large and small.

One of the bright spots, looking back through the year’s 20-something issues, is the number of small business startups in the Rondout Valley. The old Anderson Mill building in Accord is in the planning stages of an ambitious renovation that could turn it into a multipurpose restaurant, bike shop, artist space and more.

The Accord Grocery finally opened in the summer, after many sessions with the Rochester Planning Board, bringing new life to Accord’s Main Street. The Truss and Trestle Diner opened, filling a niche in Rosendale. The Back Home Farm on Lucas Turnpike added a new CSA to the neighborhood. The extra population that’s been added to the area in the past couple of years has driven up real estate prices, but the other side of the coin is more customers for farms, landscape companies and plant nurseries, among many, many other businesses.

Several concerns catering to the influx of wealthier residents and part-timers got attention in the BSP: Amy Coe Home, an interior design firm; Catskill Concierge, which offers a cleaning service; Dignified Dwellings LLC, a startup devoted to building unique high-end homes.

So far, marijuana dispensaries are on hold while the state government finishes its regulatory and licensing rules. Of major concern to local farmers is whether allowances will be made for small growers to participate in the market, or whether our state will end up like California, where mostly corporate money can afford to cover the licensing fees and other expenses.

As always in the BSP, there’ve been

The Heritage Day Festival, co-sponsored by Friends of Historic Rochester and the Town of Rochester, was held on Oct. 2 on Main Street in Accord. Its success was the result of countless people working together. File photo by Manuela Mihailescu

stories highlighting our artisans, like John Cox of High Falls, who makes wooden barrels in his shop, Quercus Cooperage.

Or Kim Sobolewski of Kerhonkson, who makes art out of homely items like old saws and ironing boards. Or Josh Finn, High Falls resident, woodworker and furniture maker.

The Rosendale Theatre opened back up in August with a showing of “Summer of Soul.” Live music survives in on Saturday nights at Lydia’s Cafe in Stone Ridge, but owner Mark Usvolk let his breakfast and lunch trade go; after making through the worst of the Covid lockdown, he found it too difficult to find employees to keep it going. Many other local businesses, from farms to restaurants to roofers, reported a hard time finding workers in 2021.

Schools slowly resumed something approaching a normal schedule. Little League and other intramural sports were resumed. RVHS held a live graduation ceremony. Mask-wearing was not supported by some parents; others had reservations

about sending kids to school at all, since the pandemic has not, alas, gone away.

There were local elections. Rich Parete and Mike Baden won reelection as town supervisor in Marbletown and Rochester respectively, after facing stiff challenges.

Two town board members, Eric Stewart of Marbletown and Chris Hewitt of Rochester, got elected to the county legislature.

A very big thing did NOT happen, to the general relief of locals: the pumped hydro power station a California company proposed building up above the Ashokan Reservoir. Citizen groups scrambled to form an opposition to the plan, but in the end, a firm “No” from the NYC DEP, which owns the property, gave the company no choice but to withdraw.

Another non-event was the Rochester referendum on buying the old Skate Time 209 building that was canceled. With public opinion running solidly against, it seems that at least on a local level, the people do have a say.

Short-term rentals were a big issue in

Rochester. Four public hearings were held in an effort to hammer out some regulations that a majority of people could agree on, not easy, with so many local homeowners either involved in that business or affected by it in some way.

With area planning boards kept busy with new applications, it became ever clearer how difficult it will be to maintain a balance between development, agriculture and open space in the Rondout Valley. New residential construction continued all over the valley at what seemed like a record pace, with new subdivisions planned in Kerhonkson, High Falls and Stone Ridge, and construction vehicles busy on the area’s country roads, building and renovating single homes. Williams Lake is so far the biggest project, with 150 homes planned; barring unforeseen events, it will break ground in the spring, after years of negotiations with the town.

Noxious invasive species, like poison hemlock, Asian jumping worms, stilt grass, barberry, etc., etc., continue to plague the region. Spotted lanternfly, a huge fruitcrop pest, were reported in Newburgh.

The deer population in the Rondout Valley took a huge hit from a virus called epizotic hemorrhagic disease (EHD).

The incredible deluge of July, August, September and even October weren't reported as news items, but they affected life for people, animals and plants, especially growers of tomatoes and other sun-loving crops.

Just skimming the surface of 2021's news, in the Rondout Valley and beyond, one thing can be said with confidence: Things are changing, and changing faster than we even realize. As far as forecasting what’s ahead in 2022, some trends seem clear, but stay tuned. Expect the unexpected.

Happy Holidays to all, and see you in January!

Briefs

Grade 6 Wingman Goldy Conlin works with Kerhonkson Elementary School students on a problem-solving card game during the club members’ visit on Dec. 10 to the school.

Wingman program inspires inclusivity and kindness with RV 6th-graders Rondout Valley School District is a proud participant in the Wingman Program, a youth-led social and emotional learning experience for children sponsored by the nonprofit foundation Dylan’s Wings of Change. Dedicated to

Town of Rochester's Youth Holiday Party took place on Dec. 10 and included Emma Post receiving the 2021 “Sue Matson Distinguished Youth Award,” children’s activities, crafts, music, refreshments and … a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.. Pictured with Bethany Dennin and Ashley Sweeney, assistant director and director. On right, Lily Arnold, Brandon Sweeney and Matthew Dennin enjoy the magic of seeing Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Harold Lipton Community Center on Dec. 10. Photo by Manuela Michailescu

the memory of Dylan Hockley, one of the young victims of the mass shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, Dylan’s Wings of Change is centered around the themes of inclusiveness, communication, problem solving, kindness and respect.

To kick off the school year, the entire grade 6 student body participated in the program’s Youth Leadership Training, two days of activities led by a certified “Wingman Trainer.” Typically, only students interested in the program receive this training, but in light of the pandemic, Intermediate School Principal Lee Cutler and Wingman Club advisers Debra Marinucci, James Ortner, Ilene Rogers, Colleen McGarrill and Shannon Moysey thought

it would be valuable for the entire grade to learn how to embody the qualities of a true “Wingman.”

Following the fall training, more than 20 sixth-grade students committed to continuing with the program, joining the returning grade 8 Wingman participants in weekly after-school club meetings.

The main purpose of the club is to teach students to become “Wingmen” by learning how to lead groups, work with younger students, set a positive example, and build lasting relationships.

On Dec. 10, the Wingman Club put their training into practice at Kerhonkson Elementary School and Marbletown Elementary School. The grade 6 and grade 8 students spent time mentoring the young

Ganders, using effective communication to lead various problem-solving games and activities. The participants enjoyed a day of inclusiveness, kindness and respect.

KES Wingman liaison and reading teacher Shannon VanNorman has helped lead the program at KES with grade 2 teacher Kim Strauss since its inception. “The Wingman Program encourages our school community to go above and beyond for each other, through student-led challenges and positive modeling,” VanNorman said.

“The program inspires courage and leadership to create a strong and inclusive community at Rondout."

For more information, visit rondout.k12. ny.us or call 845-687-2400.

BlueStone Press, December 17, 2021, Page

Granary project presentation postponed Town’s essential workers will get bonus in time for Christmas Anne Pyburn Craig BSP Reporter The Rochester Town Board had originally called a meeting for Wednesday, Dec. 15, anticipating “a presentation of a request for Economic Enterprise Overlay Zoning designation for the Granary project, 2 Towpath Road.” That discussion was postponed, town supervisor Michael Baden told the board, at the request of the applicant.

“The applicant’s attorney reached out last Friday and said his client asked to be removed from the agenda because they are amending the application,” Baden said. “So they request that their presentation be omitted, with apologies for any inconvenience. He didn’t specifically say what the changes would be, but he indicated that they may be acquiring a neighboring property to add to the application.”

As initially proposed last March, the Granary project, proposed by a coalition of friends – Renn Hawkey, Vera Farmiga, David Wynkoop and Henry Moynahan Rich – would renovate and restore the

Proposed last March, the Granary project, in an Old mill at 2 Towpath Road

old mill at 2 Towpath Road as a community and commercial hub.

Records reflect that the group pur-

chased the property for $625,000 in February of 2021. The team is hoping that the community can unite in support

Marbletown Housing Advisory Committee members wanted The Marbletown Housing Advisory Committee is looking for five new members. Those interested in becoming a member should contact asstsupervisor@

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of their intentions.

“I know for sure that we don’t want an exclusive place,” Farmiga told BSP reporter Rebecca Collins Brooks last spring. “We want the die-hard Accordians to belong to this place.”

In other business, the board approved disbursement of $57,827 from the town’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to pay essential town employees an extra dollar for each hour worked in person between March 15, 2020 and Sept. 4, 2021. A separate resolution that would have extended funding to cover the town clerk, supervisor, judges and highway superintendent at a cost of $8,210 was tabled until the town attorney receives a response from the state about guidance in compensating elected officials.

The board also passed a resolution authorizing “hybrid” meetings, in which people can participate either in person or via Zoom, from Dec. 20 through Jan. 15, 2022, in response to rising Covid-19 case numbers.

marbletown.net.

“The Town Board of the Town of Marbletown desires to create a Housing Advisory Committee to review and analyze the housing needs of citizens of Marbletown and to advise on policies and initiatives, develop strategies, and recommend any zoning changes or adoption of ordinances to best serve the housing needs of Marbletown citizens.”

Page 10

Your friends and community

December 17, 2021

Music from Hurley Mountain Ann Belmont BSP Reporter American “roots” music can mean anything from the blues to cowboy songs, but generally the music has roots in an actual place. The music of Professor Louie & the Crowmatix, a band based in Hurley, is a case in point.

Professor Louie and Miss Marie, the band’s songwriting team, have lived in Hurley for many years; the Crowmatix' sound recalls the Band of ’60s-’70s fame in its vocal harmonies and bluesy, down-home style, a blend of acoustic piano, Hammond organ or accordion (Professor Louie is the keyboardist), standup bass (Frank Campbell), drums (Gary Burke), Miss Marie on vocals and occasional piano or percussion, and electric and acoustic guitar by John Platania, whose playing ranges from the sweet crying sound of country steel guitar to biting, bluesy electric rock ’n’ roll. The Professor’s musical kinship with the Band is no accident. Starting in 1985, and for the next 15 years, he worked with them as co-producer, engineer and musician on three major albums and on many other projects.

The Crowmatix have a dozen albums out and have played probably thousands of gigs both locally and throughout the Northeast. At one of those gigs – at the BSP club in Kingston (closed now, a victim of Covid lockdown) – Ian Kimmet was in the audience. Kimmet used to work for Albert Grossman, the legendary manager of Bob Dylan and the Band and owner of Bearsville Records, “running his record label and his publishing company and his management company," according to Professor Louie. While listening to the Crowmatix, “he got the idea that we should write a whole record about our experiences in Hurley and Hurley history."

The record the Crowmatix eventually made following Kimmet’s suggestion, called “Music from Hurley Mountain,” was heard by Bruce Connors, a documentary filmmaker, who was inspired to create a short film also called “Music from Hurley Mountain” about Hurley history, using a collage of Crowmatix performances, interviews with Hurley residents, and historical footage to paint a portrait of this history-rich hamlet.

“He probably worked on it for about four years,” comments Professor Louie. "His idea was to get as many local historians as we could, and the older people who lived in Hurley.”

The song “Hurley Mountain Road” opens the film, with the words “One side’s a mountain, the other side’s a farm,” lyrics that anyone who has driven down Hurley Mountain Road can relate to. The hamlet's history is told in song lyrics, in still shots of Hurley Mountain, farming scenes on the Hurley Flats through the centuries, in reenactments of Revolutionary War events, and in interviews with Hurley residents who have surprising tales to tell about their town’s history. Excerpts from those interviews follow.

“The Lenni Lenape [tribe] lived here for thousands of years before the Europeans arrived,” observes Gail Whistance of the Hurley Heritage Society. “They had a village here on the site of Hurley.” She relates how the Lenni Lenape farmed the rich flood plain of the Esopus, planting “corn, beans, and squash – the Three Sisters.”

Judy Abbott, another historically minded Hurley resident, recounts how when Dutch settlers began arriving in the 1600s, there was an actual wooden stockade around Kingston’s Stockade District because of “conflicts with the Indians,” who weren’t too keen on being slowly pushed out of their homelands.

The Revolutionary War is musically evoked by the Crowmatix’ “Ulster Outcry,” a driving number featuring some smoking guitar playing from John Platania.

High Falls Fire District Food & Toy Drive a success, plus visit from Santa Saturday The High Falls Fire Company was very grateful for the turnout at their annual Food & Toy Drive, held on Dec. 12 to benefit the Rondout Valley Food Pantry. The day brought in an amazing amount of donations! The fire

The Crowmatix, from left to right: Gary Burke, Frank Campbell, Professor Louie, Miss Marie and John Platania Photo by Jamie A. Midgely

Lyrically, it chronicles the hard times suffered by locals during the Revolutionary War. Hurley resident Iris Oseas describes the burning of Kingston by the British in 1777, saying, “Refugees fled along Hurley Avenue,” now Route 209. Those refugees included members of the state Senate that had been meeting in Kingston, then the state capital.

Carrying the important papers, they reached the Van Deusen House in Hurley, where “they met in session ... for one month,” during which time Hurley was effectively the capital of New York State.

The Spy House, another historic structure, was explained by Don Kent, who spent a good part of his life living in it. According to Professor Louie, Kent was close to 100 years old when he was interviewed for the film (he passed on in 2019). A British spy was captured, Kent relates, fooled by some Continental Army soldiers’ red coats into thinking they were on his side, and he betrayed his true colors. “They brought him to Hurley and put him in the Spy House,” where he was kept prisoner for some time.

After those violent years, Hurley became a peaceful farming community again. Wheat was the main crop until competition from the Midwest caused the local farmers to turn to dairy cows in the mid-19th century. The dairy farms disappeared in their turn, pushed aside by giant agribusiness conglomerates. Sweet corn was planted next, up to 3,000 acres on the Hurley Flats, that fertile plain beside the Esopus Creek. Crop dusters sprayed the corn with pesticides every summer. Hurley folks weren’t crazy about that, says resident Viola Opdahl, but “we put up with it ... because frankly, we preferred the cornfields to housing developments.” Her narrative is followed by the Crowmatix’ performance of their “Cropdustin’ Blues.”

Moving on to the 20th century, the creation of the Ashokan Reservoir is commemorated in the film by the song “Ashton.” A town of that name was flooded when the dam was built, like West Shokan and many other villages.

Ashton, however, was never rebuilt in a new location; that's why Professor Louie and Miss Marie decided to give the lost town a musical nod.

Bringing us up to present times, there's an appearance

late in the film by Farm Hub interim director Brooke Pickering-Cole. The Farm Hub was created out of the sale of Gill Farm in 2013 and is, she says, “an education and demonstration nonprofit farm” dedicated to finding sustainable farming methods. The Farm Hub has a training program for young people who want to be farmers, the idea being “to create a resilient food system here in the Hudson Valley.”

Professor Louie can most often be found at his recording facility, LRS Studios, where he started working over 30 years ago, taking ownership “sometime in the ’90s,” he says. Besides members of the Band, musicians like the Fugs, John Sebastian and Little Feat have recorded at LRS. The studio building is actually a former barn on the Kaufman farm in Hurley. In the film, Professor Louie recalls how John Kaufman would chug by on his tractor, unaware that microphones were picking up the sound of the engine, putting a temporary stop to the recording session going on inside. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, Louie decided, so one day he put a microphone outside and recorded that sound, preserved on “John's Tractor.”

“The farms here are all changing. There was a time that we knew all the farmers here, or a lot of them,” he says.

As the liner notes from the DVD put it, “These songs reflect the lives and events of this agricultural community of close-knit families ... and stories rich in American history.” The last tune sung in the film is the traditional “Family Reunion” in honor of the Kaufmans, who have a large, extended family and have great reunions, according to Professor Louie. The nostalgic tone of “Family Reunion,” a slow waltz, is deepened by the sepia-toned video, the soulful group vocal harmonies, and guest violinist Larry Packer's warm sound.

The Crowmatix will be appearing at the Colony in Woodstock on Dec. 30. For more information about the band, visit professorlouie.com.

A DVD of "Music from Hurley Mountain" is available in some stores. You can also buy it from woodstockrecords. com or on Amazon Prime. Amazon also carries a streaming version.

company was truly appreciative how residents shared in their love of community and taking care of their neighbors. #happyholidays2021 #centeroftheuniverse.

In other holiday news, Mrs. Claus had also sent word that Santa had been on a rain delay and was a bit behind schedule on his previous plan of visiting High Falls at the beginning of the month. The community was assured that the following Saturday, Dec. 18, Santa will make his rounds in the Fire District, 9 a.m.-noon.

For more information, contact Elisa at 845-687-0435 and leave a message.

There will be many happy kids this holiday, thanks to the generosity of the community.

BlueStone Press, December 17, 2021 , Page 11

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Patrick A. Dennin

Memoriam Ward J. Preisendorfer

BOICEVILLE—Ward J. Preisendorfer passed away on Nov. 20, 2021, in the Town of Ulster. He was born Oct. 26, 1967, in Kingston, a son of the late Rudolph I. and Alice M. Preisendorfer of Glenford. A lifelong area resident, Ward worked most of his career as an auto mechanic, working with his brother Eric at VW Parts. He was later employed as a diesel mechanic at Tonche Transit and most recently employed by Ryley Auto. Ward enjoyed collecting and restoring classic cars and attending cars shows. He also Preisendorfer enjoyed snowmobiling, camping in the Adirondacks, and spending time with his family, especially his nephew Matt. Ward is survived by his partner, Heather Christiana; his brother, Eric J. Preisendorfer and his wife, Diane; his nephews, Matthew and Michael Preisendorfer; an uncle, Edward Preisendorfer of Grand Pass, Oregon; his aunt, Diane Andrusko of Brick, New Jersey; and cousins Steve, Mark, Gary Preisendorfer, John Hazuka and Keith Clark. His aunt, Joan Clark, and a cousin, Tina Hazuka, died previously. Memorial visitation for family and friends was held on Dec. 5, at the George J. Moylan Funeral Home, Rosendale and a Memorial Service was held Dec. 7, at the Reservoir United Methodist Church, 3056 Route 28, Shokan, with Pastor Yeon Shin officiating. Cremation was held privately at Wiltwyck Crematory in Kingston. A private inurnment will be at the Shokan Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

To leave a personal condolence for the family, visit www.

GJMoylanFuneralHome.com.

William H. Harbig

KINGSTON—William H. Harbig died Dec. 1, 2021, at Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston. He was 79. He was born in Kingston on June 5, 1942, a son of the late William A. and Virginia M. Bishop Harbig. Bill grew up in the Town of Ulster and was a lifelong area resident. He had been employed by ConRail and Shop Rite Supermarkets until starting B’s Construction Co. in Kingston, where he was a master carpenter until his retirement. He had proudly built his own home and his camp on Sacandaga Lake. Bill enjoyed Harbig the outdoors, riding ATVs in the woods and lake area of Sacandaga. He also loved hunting the Fox Hollow area of Phoenicia. Bill served his country in the United States Army. He married Joyce Taylor of Tillson on Jan. 22, 1966, and was married 36 years until her death on Sept. 5, 2002. Bill is survived by two sons, William W. Harbig (Ami) of Catskill and Darren D. Harbig (Jenn) of Kingston; a sister, Donna Sicheri of Kingston; a sister-in-law, Darlene Moylan of Bloomington, a brother-in-law, David Taylor of Feura Bush, and a granddaughter, Kiersten Davide of Durham. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Aiden and Jamie, and four nephews. As per Bill’s wishes, cremation will be held privately and there will be no public funeral services. Cremation arrangements are by the George J. Moylan Funeral Home, Rosendale.

Grace A. Nelson-DiPaola

ROSENDALE—Grace A. Nelson-DiPaola died unexpectedly on Dec. 9, 2021, at her home. She was 48. She was born Aug. 25, 1973, in Lackawanna, a daughter of the late Vincent Nelson and JoAnn Navarra. Grace was an area resident most of her life. She previously had been employed as a surgical technician at HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston. Grace enjoyed photography, baking family recipes, crafts, gardening and holidays with her family. She was a member of Hurley Rec, Kingston Elks Club and an ambassador at Belleayre Nelson-DiPaola Mountain Ski Center. In addition to her mother of Rosendale, Grace is survived by her husband, Mario J. DiPaola, whom she married Feb. 10, 2007, at St. Joseph’s Church in Glasco; three children, Josephine, Mario and Isabella; her maternal grandmother, Ethel Navarra of Rosendale; a brother, Vincent Nelson (Linda) of Kingston. She is also survived by three uncles, Ernest Navarra (Linda) of Rosendale, Vincent Navarra of Kerhonkson, and Francis Cuff (the late Terri) of Rosendale; and numerous nieces, nephews and first cousins. Visitation for family and friends was Dec. 15 at the George J. Moylan Funeral Home in Rosendale, followed by a procession to St. Peter's Church, Rosendale, where a Mass of Christian Burial was offered. Interment followed at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Rosendale.

ACCORD—Patrick A. Dennin passed away on Dec. 13, 2021, at his home. He was 69. He was born in Rockville Centre, a son of the late John D. and Mary C. Vernon Dennin.

He had resided in Accord for most of his life. Patrick was a self-employed master carpenter and also had been employed as a corrections officer at Eastern Correctional Facility until his retirement. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, hunting and spending time with his family. Patrick was also fond of animals, especially his dogs. He is survived by his longtime life partner, Lorna Boughton; his children, Lisa Dennin (Darin Brodhead) of West Dennin Hurley, Jennifer Dennin of Kingston, Alanna Henneberry-Dennin of Highland, Chris Boughton (Jessica) of Kerhonkson, and Kyle Boughton (Ally Critchlow), also of Kerhonkson; his four sisters, Anne Yzquierdo of Leeds, Jean Fucci of Sharon Springs, Kathleen Crosset of South New Berlin, Mary Brockett of West Winfield; his two brothers, James and Matthew Dennin, both of Accord. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Jorden London, Isaiah London, Ezra Jackson Dennin, Khadija Mayo, Khali Mayo, Sedric Boughton, Adyan Lasher, John Boughton, Savanna Boughton, Giovanni Giordano, Wren Louise Critchlow Boughton, and Jack Critchlow Boughton; three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A son, Patrick Henneberry-Dennin, and two brothers, John and Michael Dennin, died previously. Memorial visitation for family and friends will be from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the George J. Moylan Funeral Home Inc., 2053 Route 32, Rosendale. At 5 p.m., following the visitation, the Rev. Arlene Dawber will officiate a celebration of his life ceremony. The family requests memorial donations in Patrick's memory to an animal rescue group of your choice.

Christopher Richard Charles VanTassell

ACCORD—Christopher Richard Charles VanTassell was born Sept. 13, 1992, in New Mexico. He lived in Accord when he passed away Dec. 3, 2021, at the age of 29. He was recently predeceased by his mother, Carlena Palmateer. Surviving is his father, Robert Palmateer, his grandparents, Carl and Maria Wilson; siblings, Summer VanTassell and Michael Depuy, Samantha VanTassell and Joseph Dirr, Darren and Danielle Palmateer, Megan and Matthew Coney, and Amanda and Ryan Watts; nieces and nephews, NovaVanTassell Lee, Devin and Lincoln Palmateer, Carter Watts and Hudson Dirr, as well as loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Christopher was a smart, ambitious, enlightening, spiritual soul that unfortunately lost a tragic battle of addiction. Christopher was a talented artist, and he loved the ladies. He had a way of making you mad and laugh all in the same moment. He loved adventure and a good time. Though he is no longer with us he will always be loved and never forgotten. Fly high, be with Mom, until we meet again, we love you. A celebration of his life was be held on Dec. 11, 2021. .

Robert G. Lyons

ACCORD—Robert G. Lyons passed away on Dec. 7, 2021.

He was 77. Bob was born on Sept. 5, 1944, in Kingston; he was the son of the late Golden and Henrietta Rebecca (McIntosh) Lyons. On Sept. 29, 1973, Bob married his love, Donna (Decker) Lyons. Bobby was a talented mechanic who could take an entire vehicle apart and put it back together with ease. He enjoyed fishing and going to car shows.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Donna; his daughter, Kristy Lyons; his brother, Golden John Lyons; and his sister, BettyLou Rich and her husband Vance; many Lyons nieces and nephews. Cremation was held privately. Memorial contributions may be made in Bobby's memory to the Ulster Community College Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 557, Stone Ridge, NY 12484.

Dorothy Cecelia Fitzpatrick Schreyer

HURLEY—Dorothy Cecelia Fitzpatrick Schreyer, of Kingston, passed away at age 96, at Kingston Hospital on Dec. 13, 2021, after a short illness. Born on Nov. 19, 1925, in New York City, she was the last surviving member of nine siblings born to Ellen Donnelly Fitzpatrick and Harold Fitzpatrick. She was predeceased by her son, John Francis, in 1975, and her husband, John Fred, in 2016. She is survived by sons James (Elizabeth) of Hurley, Frederick (Deborah) of Averill Park, and David (Aleta) of Yellowknife, Canada, and by grandchildren Corina Moot, Jessica Schreyer (Tatro), Schreyer Sarah Archual and Lily Schreyer. Also by her great-grandchildren, James Moot, John Moot, Henry Tatro, Luke Tatro, Rose Archual and August Archual; and by scores of nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great-grand nieces and nephews. Dorothy attended high school in New York City and began spending time upstate in the early 1940s at her parents’ country home on Lucas Turnpike. In 1957, she, John and their four children moved to Ulster County permanently, residing in Rosendale and then Marbletown. In the early 1960s, she enrolled in SUNY New Paltz and obtained her bachelor’s degree and subsequently a master’s degree in education. She was employed as a teacher in the Rondout Valley School until her retirement in 1982. While at RVS, she directed a senior play (“Mash”), and served a year as RV Federation president. She had a passion for traveling and exploring, visiting countries on six continents. Upon retirement, she and John took a year-long trip around the world, with stops in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Sri Lanka. She introduced each of her granddaughters to a different part of the world to spark their interest in traveling. In the late 1980s, she traveled solo on a train trip from London to China, through Siberia. In 1983 she relocated with John to Florida for a number of years, but returned to Ulster County in the late 1990s. Dot enjoyed sewing, decorating, writing, painting and storytelling. Her greatest gifts were the many stories of her life. All will cherish the family lore that was passed down by Dorothy at tables filled with wine, food and laughter. Dorothy was a unique individual, one of a kind, and retained a keen interest and love for her family, friends and country until the very end. A memorial will be at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders.

David C. Kish

KINGSTON—David C. Kish of Kingston died from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on Dec. 1, 2021, in Kingston. He was 39. He was born in Kingston on June 23, 1982, a son of David J. Kish of Rhinebeck and Susan Shinn Kish of West Palm Beach, Florida. David was a loving son, father and brother. In addition to his parents, David is survived by a son, David Z. Kish of Kingston; a daughter, Gianna Sauer-Kish of Kingston, and a brother, Jeremy Blakey of West Palm Beach, Florida.

David Wayne Seymour Sr.

KERHONKSON—David Wayne Seymour Sr. passed away on Dec. 3, 2021. He was 67. David was born on April 2, 1954, in Ellenville; he was the son of the late Henry and Alice (Stone) Seymour Sr. On June 16, 1984, David married his love, Marilyn (Manda) Seymour. David was a talented machinist and gunsmith and owned Dave’s Precision Machine Shop for many years. David is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn; his son, David W. Seymour Jr. and his wife, Pamela; his stepchildren, Colleen Paes, and Tommy Kelly and his wife, Krista; his step-grandchildren, Victoria, Danielle, Matt and Seymour Sr. Danny; his sisters, Suzanne Bush and her husband, Frend, and Stephanie Lewis and her husband, Terry; many nieces and nephews, and his faithful furry companion, Gypsy. Besides his parents, he was pre-deceased by his stepson-in-law, Jimmy Paes. Cremation was held privately. Contributions may be made in David’s memory to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 and/or Kerhonkson-Accord First Aid Squad, P.O. Box 67, Kerhonkson, NY 12446.

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December 17, 2021

Page 13

Hometown boys create and manufacture patent-pending cutting board in High Falls Chelsea Miller BSP Reporter

Holidays come with a lot of mess. Shawn Matthews and Otto Scherrieble, however, believe that some of that mess can be avoided. The pair have invented a patent-pending cutting board that solves the perils of slicing, dicing or julienning just about anything juicy, and it’s made right here in High Falls, N.Y. Matthews and Scherrieble met when Matthews, fresh out of BOCES, was hired to work at Scherrieble’s company, Otto Tech, in 1991. Otto Tech, established in 1982, specializes in precision machining and manufactures parts for other companies. For example, Otto Tech manufactures parts for Rifton Equipment and manufactures some of the parts that go into their tricycle and mobility equipment. Matthews was made a partner in the business in 2010, and the pair have been happily manufacturing components for other companies ever since.

Five years ago the two partners decided it was time to manufacture something of their own. They had gathered their families for a New Year’s dinner. The meal was a bone-in ham shank, and when it came time to carve the ham on a standard cutting board, the juice ended up just about everywhere, making quite the mess and losing all the drippings that could have been used to make gravy. Both Matthews and Scherrieble remember having a “there has to be a better way” moment regarding the state of cutting boards, but they shook the thought away and continued working on and advancing the Otto Tech business. However, neither could quite let go of the idea of a better board, and when time allowed, they found themselves putting their heads together to create a cutting board that would prevent the leaking and mess that conventional, flat cutting boards naturally create.

Matthews and Scherrieble ordered some food-grade plastic samples from their plastic supplier and began some deep-dive research, tinkering with materials and perfecting their vision: a cutting board that could handle any juicy food that they could throw at it. Says Matthews, “In the beginning it was a lot of trial and error, and we pushed ourselves to do better. We wanted something heavy duty, that did what it was designed to do, that would last a long time – and was also nice looking.”

Shawn Matthews and Otto Scherrieble show off their patent-pending O&S cutting boards, which are made in High Falls.

Eventually, O&S Cutting Board was born. Says Matthews, “We had a few different ideas and concepts. When we finally put the final version together and actually used it we decided we needed to move forward on it.”

The cutting board comes in two sizes: a residential size for home cooking and a commercial size, perfect for restaurants and carving stations. Setting it apart from the competition, the O&S cutting board features a pan that slides snugly into the design and can hold up to 18 ounces (in the residential model) and 32 ounces (in the larger commercial model). The board boasts two-size grooves (the larger for catching bigger particles and a smaller groove that is perfect for juices) that run the parameter and harness the power of gravity and good design to drain into the pan below. This drainage system, which Scherrieble likens to gutters on a house, makes it easy to reserve drippings as well ensuring a mess-free counter. It was important that the cutting board be easy and intuitive to use, and so, despite the drip pan, the overall profile of the board is slim and can easily slide in next to your cookie sheets. Its nonslip and non-marking feet ensure that as you carve the board stays in one place. They have also included a small tool to easily clean the drippings from all surfaces and grooves of the board. Also, says Scher-

rieble, it was critical to him that every piece of the product be made in the USA. “Everything these days is coming from China or some other country. Our cutting board is completely American made, and it’s manufactured and assembled right here in High Falls. It makes us proud that we can contribute a product that is made completely here.”

O&S Cutting Board sold their first board in Christmas of 2020 and have been steadily building their sales ever since. Says Scherrieble, “We’re starting local. Just trying to go a little bit at a time. Long term, we hope people will see this product and say ‘we need this!’ National will be a little while down the road … we’re really starting close to home.”

Matthews says that one of his ultimate goals for the business is to create more local job opportunities. “One of the things that comes to my mind is to be able to employ local people and create jobs and add more people and machines on,” he says. “I’d like to have a division of the business where you have a separate manufacturing part and assembling part. Right now it’s just Otto and me!

Yes, I’d love to have it in every household in America, but it’s baby steps to get there.”

Matthews also reflects on how meaningful it is to be manufacturing their own design. “I’ve been with Otto for 30 years, working side by side together,” he says. “We’ve always manufactured everyone else’s parts, and now we can say we’re making our own, which means a lot to me.

It’s very satisfying.”

For more information on the O&S Cutting Board, visit https://o-s-cuttingboards.com. If you’d like to purchase a cutting board for the holidays, call 845-399-6050 to make an appointment to visit them at their High Falls location.

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The BSP hopes that, in the spirit of community dialogue, readers and writers in the letters section are respectful of a diversity of viewpoints.

We err on the side of freedom of speech in our letters, and we hope that vigorous dialogue is more likely to produce an informed public than censorship, however well meaning. Call 6874480 with questions.

Your letters, views & ideas

December 17, 2021

Santa’s North Pole Mandate 6 ft.

Say no to marijuana store/ lounge on Main Street To the Editor: Word finally reached the members of SSIP209 about the plans to create a marijuana store and lounge in the middle of Stone Ridge. Truly brilliant, with all of the truck and car traffic on that stretch of 209, we will now have airheads coming and going! While I have no problem with legalizing marijuana, why should Stone Ridge become the center of Ulster County's stoned. Naturally, Rich Parete favors this. Let's let him know we don't.

Call him at the town offices.

ViVi Hlavsa Lomontville Editor's note: The BSP is not aware of any specific plans for a shop on Main Street. However, the town supervisor has come out in favor of the concept. There is a NYS imposed Dec. 31, 2021, deadline for municipalities to vote on the subject, as reported in the Dec. 3 edition.

We’re not giving up, so don’t you To the Editor: These are remarkable times, to say the least. We’re all learning to navigate through these turbulent waters looking for higher ground. Preferably, a tropical island with a tiki bar.

I can’t speak to everyone’s personal navigational issues, but if you’ll permit me, I’ll speak of our own.

Roni and I have come to realize over the years, that rewards often reveal themselves in unexpected ways.

Reasonable business owners might measure success in terms of how much business the establishment does and whether it makes money or loses money. Simple, right?

Not so simple. To be honest, on both counts, we should have closed down a long time ago. Not that we’re trying to berate anyone here for not patronizing us more, but we simply can’t figure out what we’re doing wrong. Six people on a Saturday night? Two, a few weeks earlier? I mean come on. The food’s good, right? Music’s good, right? Probably too much jazz, right? I mean, how many bass solos can you listen to in one night? This, coming from a bass player who probably takes too many solos.

Listen, I’m sure there are dozens of reasons folks

aren’t coming out in public (or at least our public), and I’m reasonably sure that at least half of those reasons have something to do with Covid. But here’s our take.

We’re vaccinated, you’re vaccinated, wear a mask if you must. If you’re feeling ill or if you just had sex with someone from South Africa, you may want to sit this one out. If you’re an anti-vaxxer or a QAnon believer, we’d love to have you in some time for what would surely be a fascinating conversation. Perhaps as contestants on a game show I’m dying to host called “Put up, or shut up.”

Strictly non-political, you understand.

So, other than Covid fears, maybe some of us members of the older generation might just be too comfy at home to bother going out, despite all our entreaties.

Granted, there’s a lot of great content on the TV machine. Have a nice glass of wine, fall asleep mid-sentence. Old age, here we come! We’re thinking it might be time for a slight course correction here at Lydia’s.

Let’s see ... Everyone likes to dance, right? Well then, just you check out what’s in store, and let’s can get them tushes, on the floor. Drum solo.

So where is that unexpected reward hiding that I alluded to at the beginning of this tirade? Well, I’ll tell you. It’s in the knowledge that in spite of everything, we’re not going to give up. There is still so much good we believe we can do here. It might take us awhile longer for us to figure it out (it’s only been 17 years), it may cost us everything we own (we’re off to a good start on that), and we may have to do it alone (so what else is new?), but Roni and I finally realize after all these years that we have a rare gift here, this little cafe. This community, this country, each other. Bass solo.

Mark and Roni Usvolk Owners and operators of Lydia’s Café, Stone Ridge

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BlueStone Press, December 17, 2021, Page 15

The Beatles ‘Get Back’ When she was just a toddler, I took my daughter to see Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band at Bethel Woods. We sat on a blanket on that warm summer night and I experienced a sense of pop culture history and connection that I wanted her to have, even if only as a memory (or bragging rights) later on.

To have seen the Beatles is to have had a fist in the pie of one of mankind’s most special, benevolent, enjoyable, enduring and delicious experiences. To see even one Beatle (Ringo) solo is to dip a finger in that same pie.

I’m 55 and thus was born in 1966 when the Beatles were in their creative eight-year heyday.

I guess I should also say that Wally Nichols I’m a musician and have been playing and writing music most of my life. Like so many, I have done some major (and terrible) Beatles singing in the shower and in the car. I should also say that while the Beatles remain my favorite band ever, I also love the music of artists like Taylor Swift, Elton John, George Michael, Led Zeppelin, Britney Spears, The Clash, Zero Seven, Bach, the Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Arianna Grande, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa. I can go on and on, but the point is, it’s not just the Beatles. But in some ways, it also is …

Gifted filmmaker (“The Lord of the Rings”) Peter Jackson was recently given access to massive amounts of vaulted, never-before-seen documentary film and audio footage from the fab four’s “Let It Be” live rehearsal sessions that culminated in a traffic-stopping rooftop London performance, which would be the last time they ever all played together. It also spawned many of songs from the band’s penultimate album, “Abbey Road.”

With the permission of all interested parties, including the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison, Jackson

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distilled the footage into a seven-hour documentary called “The Beatles: Get Back” (this streams in three parts on Disney +), and to watch it is to be a fly on the wall.

Given the foundational contribution to my life and the date-stamping that the Beatles (jointly and later individually) made, I was extremely excited to experience it. And experience it I did.

But it was not easy. It hit me in the feels in so many ways that I wouldn’t have expected. There were raw and telling moments of how the band interacted, navigating the subtle power struggles that the public and the press would exploit and draw incorrect conclusions about. Like, Yoko Ono (John Lennon’s soulmate, muse and lover) being the reason the Beatles broke up. If I’m being honest, it’s the narrative I was fed and the one I consumed and perpetuated. It’s also not true. There were so many heretofore unseen factors.

One can watch the train wreck of the Beatles’ ultimate break up in slow motion, and part of the emotional impact is not being able to speak up as that fly on the wall and tell them what the future holds for them, and also for us. (Didn’t you guys say “We Can Work It Out”??) It’s the cruel irony of time travel, which this film approximates with its rich color corrections and hidden mics.

The uncurated brotherly love and mutual respect were also things that got to see the light of day. And Billy Preston’s relentless talent and happy demeanor were a shot of rocket fuel to a stalling engine that most don’t know about.

A frustrated George Harrison briefly quit the band, and a hidden mic in a flower pot shed light on the real power dynamic. He almost didn’t come back to finish the work that needed to happen. Watching the film, one can see why the Beatles needed to break up, and it’s heart breaking.

Ringo, usually and unkindly dismissed as the least talented musician, shows up as a top-notch musician, bandmate and bloke. He even cuts through band tension with a well-placed fart to show how human the experience was. Ringo farting … probably in perfect time too.

Paul McCartney and Ringo wanted the footage (which was brilliantly restored and enhanced using digital technology unavailable till now) released and turned into a program that might help set the story of the Beatles’ breakup right while at least some of the Beatles were still alive. Neither Paul nor Ringo, the remaining living Beatles, are young men any longer. They were in their late

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20s when they wrote and recorded their last albums as Beatles.

So there is a biological and historical urgency to this film because life has a way of killing us all. And the story of the Beatles as a part of culture that transcends politics and religions and genders and economics is too important to leave to speculation.

I wanted the Beatles to stay together. So did millions and millions of people. The musical creativity was once-in-a-lifetime lightning in a bottle. In the way that the world, and America, felt an existential gut punch when Kennedy was shot, as it daylighted such a dark part of humanity, so it was for John Lennon’s needless assassination. I stood in front of my record player at 14 years old and cried when I heard the news.

And George Harrison’s death by cancer also served as a grim reminder of the fragility and impermanence of life and how, for some, spirituality can be so soothing and important. I remember a major paper’s headline the day after his death as just a picture of him and the words “Thank You.” There it is. Right there. Thank you.

But backing up to when the lads were in their 20s, writing what would be some of the most enduring music for hundreds of years, to see the human condition laser focused through the lens of four humans, and their ultimately insurmountable interpersonal struggles, is to feel what it is like to see hope, despair, love, anger so intensely that I could only watch the show for a half-hour at a time.

You see Paul noodling on the bass. This mindless noodling would turn out to be a song the entire world would recognize instantly. To be able to watch the birth of such art is overwhelming.

You see him chose words for a song (the wrong words!) and find yourself thinking, “C’mon, guys, use ‘Tucson, Arizona, and California grass’ They work so much better than the tripe you are using right now!” Luckily they took my “Back to the Future” advice!

I’m reminded of an expression that is regularly used in life to justify the mess that is the creative process. “You have to break some eggs to make an omelet.”

The Beatles “Get Back” is ultimately a healing and comforting film and worth the seven hours and the dozens and dozens of eggs broken along the way.

Their story may not have ended as the world wanted, but the lads made their way, and in so doing, made (and continue to make) our worlds so much richer.

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Page 16

Athletics, recreation & fitness

December 17, 2021

Young girl football player inspires … and breaks barriers

I admire her ability to ignore negativity and her drive to be the best she could.”

About the award, Bailey had this to say: “Sophia was picked for the Coaches Award because of her work ethic, toughness, and her ability to be a true leader

on the field. She could easily have been the offensive or defensive MVP and the most improved player.”

“I felt good when I won the Coaches Award because I was actually good enough. At the beginning I wasn’t sure

how it would work out, and now I know that I’m a good player,” said Sophia.

Sophia is a role model and inspires other girls to play. Her mother said, “Two girls who are cheerleading this year want to try out for football next year.”

“It feels good to inspire other girls, and you stand out more playing a sport that is dominated by boys. But it was OK having the spotlight on me,” said Sophia.

In terms of the future, Alisha Dingee said, “She plans to play next year and hopes to play on the modified team for Rondout Valley.”

“I’m planning on going on in football.

This year I set a goal for myself to score a touchdown. I did that and had two extra points. I’d like to continue moving on,” said Sophia.

Her coach agrees, “I think Sophia’s future in football is a bright one. Being one of the most competitive, determined players, matched with her god-given talents, makes the sky the limit for her. I can’t wait to see the day she commits to a college,” said Bailey.

We all will be on the lookout for this inspiring young lady to see what the future holds.

Go, Ganders!

And they did tell us they understand we are ready to go, we’ve been out looking at properties, and they would like to work with us exclusively,” said Parete. The board noted Marbletown is currently at the front of the line for working with the county and getting actual projects.

“By the county needing us to do these things, at the end of the day it allows us to be completely in the driver’s seat as well, in terms of what we want it to look like, we want it to be green,” said Foote, “and those things are all topical, they don’t have to cost a huge amount of money. And I think it’s actually really exciting, maybe we can be a model. This is one of the biggest issues right now in the United States.”

“We want to be in the driver’s seat,” said Parete, “Because the state is going to change the law, they’re going to force this on communities, so it’s not even going to be up to us in another year or two. They’re going to do away with single family housing, they’re going to do away with zoning laws.”

Board members also cited the need for diversity in Marbletown communities.

“And the reality is our housing laws in most of our towns are somewhat discriminatory against people of color, against

people of lower economic status. They’re discriminatory – they support housing, but they support it 50, 100 miles away,” added Parete.

Councilwoman Foote noted that RUPCO of Kingston, well-known for creating sustainable, affordable housing, is able to come up with a formula and a structure so properties remain reasonably priced in the future. “You have to have these structures in place and RUPCO can provide that,” she added.

The board noted that RUPCO can assist in grants and funding, permitting, construction, maintenance and operation of facilities. One of the examples cited was RUPCO’s Alms House, at 300 Flatbush Ave. in Kingston, which has been converted to affordable housing rentals. The board plans to schedule a formal RUPCO presentation to the Town Board and the public in early 2022.

“We also want home ownership,” added Parete.

The Housing Advisory Committee will be comprised of five members who will be appointed by the Town Board to serve three-year terms. The committee’s goal is to engage the community in ways that encourage meaningful support for affordable

senior housing and sustainable housing.

They will also review land use polices and legislation to encourage meaningful development of affordable senior and workforce housing. The committee will work with policy leaders to ensure that present and future policies work toward their goals, and they will assist in finding and developing potential sites for affordable housing that will preserve the character of the town. “[The county has] done a housing study in 2004, 2011 and 2020,” said Parete. “…

The 2020 study, the data is all pre-Covid because it’s from 2018 and 2019… every study says the same thing, and nobody has taken any action. It’s not really the county’s fault, because the county doesn’t have the ability to change zoning laws, the county doesn’t have the ability to tell people what to do. So, it’s really up to the towns to address this, and we do have a great partner with the county, who is actually willing to help us extend water lines, pay for some infrastructure costs, maybe pay for some acquisition cost, and I just feel we have a moral obligation to allow people of multiple income levels to live in our community.”

Jeff Slater BSP Reporter Sophia Dingee, 9, wanted to play football in 2020, but the pandemic put a stop to that, but this year she got her chance and made the most of it. Her mother, Alisha Dingee, said, “She went from doing competitive cheerleading to playing football. She crushed it, playing almost every play on offense and defense and went on to win the Coaches Award. Some of the boys were afraid to go against her.”

Sophia said, “I was inspired by the show “Bella and the Bulldogs” about a girl playing on a boys team. The first game I was scared to play, but the second I stepped on the football field I felt something different.”

Sophia played numerous positions in the Rondout Valley Youth Football League, but she played linebacker and tight end positions the most.

“It was definitely different with the boys, but they treated me equally,” said Sophia.

Her coach, Brian Bailey, said, “She was an absolute pleasure to coach. She never complained and was eager to learn the game and always gave 1,000%.

Housing from page 1 hardworking residents, deserve the opportunity to stay local to the area. The board acknowledged that the free market will not solve sustainable, affordable housing needs in the area, noting that the average cost of housing in Ulster County has gone up $100,000 just in the last year.

The board went on to cite recently submitted building permits for home sites, which include a $1.4 million building permit and a $700,000 application for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom new structure permit.

“We met with county staff [last week],” Parete said, “and the county has allocated $6 or $8 million to put toward extending water lines to the communities that are encouraging sustainable housing … and they’re also hiring a planner, a full-time planner, who is just going to exclusively work with municipalities to address housing needs in these communities, and that planner will work with us if we need to change any laws to encourage housing.

The county is also going to put $1.5 million away to actually help with land purchases.

9-year-old football star, Sophia Dingee

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Page 18, December 17, 2021, BlueStone Press

Sentimental objects Ann Belmont BSP Reporter and Nature Columnist Any small object can become a tree ornament, I have found, unless it's so heavy it drags the branches down. It can glitter and reflect light, or it can reflect a shiny crystal of memory.

We have wooden figures that used to be part of the mobile above my infant daughter’s crib; paper snowflakes made one December night in a cafe that used to exist in West Shokan; gaudy and glitzy plastic ornaments reflecting the

taste of the 4-year-old girl who picked them out in Macy’s decades ago; South American ladies made of wool and cotton, brought home by my mother from one of her trips; a ball made of dried anise root bought in a German Christmas market; a little globe that I think my daughter got in Italy; embroidered cotton snowflakes from somewhere, sometime.

The boxes of ornaments I just got out of the closet reveal hopelessly sentimental people who, once having hung something on their Christmas tree, feel

that it has earned permanent status. A pinecone reindeer with pipe cleaner legs, an elegant velvet ball, a quilted ball, a knitted ball, a monstrously ugly silver glass ball with an elephant face, plain glass balls of all colors and sizes; a dozen or so cardboard constructions featuring designs from the work of the artist M.C. Escher, obsessively cut out and glued together by a Close Family Member; paper angels; miniature wind chimes from Woodstock Chimes; the star for the top of the tree covered with striped satin and a silly porcelain

doll’s face at its center (it used to light up, once), along with its companions, a beribboned satin heart and a satin star, stuffed like little pillows, each one with a tiny gold musical instrument glued on. Being a household of musicians, we have accumulated many little saxophones, trumpets, guitars, violins, etc., that people have gifted us, the way cat lovers are always getting cat paraphernalia.

Now for the homemade ornaments: painted eggs, a paper chain I made when I was six, a fantasy bird my

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BlueStone Press, December 17, 2021, Page 19 daughter made when she was six, various R. Crumb Comics characters cut out and glued to pieces of styrofoam by that obsessive Close Family Member, a couple of corn dolls made by a crafty friend, aluminum foil twisted into icicles; fancy metal curtain-rod endpieces that are really handsome dangling in midair.

My partner in life has always lobbied for the biggest tree that could possibly fit in our living room, so it takes many strings of lights plugged together to fill it out satisfyingly. Has anyone else found out the hard way that you have to plan for the bottom-most string to have a male end so it can plug into the wall?

Or am I the only idiot that has found myself unwinding all the lights I just spent a half hour putting up and doing

it all over again?

Finding a tree, bringing it home, setting it up so it won't fall over, keeping it watered, it’s a lot of work, to be sure, but anything other than a living tree is not an option in our house. Once upon a time in Manhattan, we’d buy a tree on the street from people who came every year from Maine and set up shop on our block. They had a little wooden shack to keep warm in; one of them had to be there 24 hours a day, so you could basically go out at 3 a.m. and buy your tree, if your lifestyle tended that way.

In more recent times, we’d drive to Bell’s Christmas tree farm in Accord, where they hand you a saw and let you wander through the rows till you find the right and perfect tree. But in 2020, Pandemic Year One, we got a rude

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This year Bell’s sold out again the first weekend in December, so we will cull another sapling, and it’ll be beautiful, the way every tree becomes beautiful when all the lights and all the trinkets collected over the years have been carefully hung, little offerings to whatever the tree may symbolize for its devoted decorators.

Sentimental object. Photo by Ann Belmont

Page 20, December 17, 2021, BlueStone Press

Not-so-cheery Christmas with Grandma Linda Fite BSP Copy Editor You know those charming stories of sweet, old, gray-haired grandmothers? The ones who cuddle their beloved grandchildren, giving them hugs and cookies and listening to them with adoring patience and kindness? Like Norman Rockwell’s rosy-cheeked, white-aproned grandma holding the big turkey platter at the Thanksgiving dinner? Or Maureen Stapleton’s portrayal of “The Electric Grandmother,” with her AI perfection?

None of those resembled my grandmother, Monoo.

My mother’s mother was a Louisiana social climber who, whenever my family would visit her from up North, would telephone the local newspaper’s society page editor (yes, there used to be such a thing) and suggest that he/she should send out a photographer to take a picture of us all to put on the society page. OK, maybe this only happened once, but I remember being gobsmacked by not only the notion that anyone would give a damn about our family but also that my grandmother had the gall to call!

Part of Monoo’s being a social climber was that she wanted her family to look good. She always favored the most attractive of her 13 grandchildren, with secondplace status going to the bright and witty children. I was one of the latter, so I was on my grandmother’s good side. Phew!

Monoo was demanding. She demanded lots of attention when she related one of her endless assortment of anecdotes. She demanded perfect table manners. (“Put your napkin in your lap, dear.” “Don’t chew with your mouth open, darlin’!”)

She criticized our clothing. (“You’re not going to wear that, are you?”) My sisters

and I always felt that she was just waiting to catch us in a mistake – of deportment, grammar or some other Monoo measurement of worth. Visiting her in Louisiana was stressful for all of us, including and perhaps especially for our mother, who would develop a mysterious red spot on her chin whenever Monoo was around.

But this is a Christmas essay, right? So I’ll get to the topic.

One of my cousins, five of whom lived in the same town as Monoo, had somehow managed to get on Monoo’s bad side.

There was really no accounting for it since this cousin, Caroline, was beautiful and

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BlueStone Press, December 17, 2021, Page 21 smart and passed muster in every way. But the two of them just did not get along – at all. And the disagreement got worse as my cousin grew into her teen years.

One Christmas my uncle, aunt and children arrived at Monoo’s house to exchange holiday greetings and gifts. As cousin Caroline tells it, “My brothers and sisters all got leather wallets, each with a $5 bill in it. But I … I got a plastic wallet with NOTHING in it!” The next year’s holiday was even worse for my cousin, but never mind the details. You get the picture.

On the other hand, Monoo dearly loved Christmas. She decorated her house brilliantly and with real flair. She spent hours making wreaths and garlands from greenery and pine cones and inventive elements such as wild grasses, Spanish moss and skeleton magnolia leaves. Going out

in the woods to collect stuff for her decorations was a favorite thing. I went with her and my mother one year. We drove out to a swamp where there were loads of visible cypress knees. Monoo spotted a good one, and, wearing tall rubber boots and carrying a saw, she waded into the shallow water and sawed off the cypress knee at its base.

Holding it up triumphantly, water dripping down her arm, she called out, “Look! It’s the Virgin Mary!” Sure enough, after she brought it home and got all the bark off the cypress knee, it did look like the Madonna!

And that was what was magical and memorable about my grandmother: She had such energy and zest and imagination. She always made Christmas extra special. Except for that hypercritical, demanding part of her personality, of course.

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my parents, and my sisters and I were all visiting, too. Monoo was relentless in her demands for an audience, with no breaks from her eagle-eyed suggestions for our self-improvement, ideas of how our mother could run her house/life better. At one point, my sisters and I couldn’t take it anymore. We crept upstairs one by one and all snuck into a big bedroom closet, quietly shutting the door.

We could hear Monoo downstairs, calling out, “Yoo hoo! Where IS everybody?!”

Then – oh no! – there was a tap-tap-tap on the closet door. Busted!

But when we cracked the door open, there was our mother! “Let me in there!” she hissed, grinning madly. We made space for one more truant, but within seconds we couldn’t hold back the laughter.

My grandmother gave us many wonder-

"Madonna" cypress knee found in a Louisiana swamp, circa 1962

ful gifts and memories over the years, but that mother-daughter bonding experience was among the best! Thanks, Monoo.

And merry Christmas, y’all!

Page 22, December 17, 2021, BlueStone Press

Be It Hereby Resolved Anne Pyburn Craig BSP reporter It’s been a year since we bid farewell to 2020, and with 2020 hindsight, so to speak, welcomed in a year that did not magically solve all of our problems by virtue of being a fresh page on an arbitrary calendar. Is anybody really surprised? Of course not. The same issues that were hanging fire and trends that were developing on any given Dec. 31 are still going to be in play come the first day of the next

month. We just have to get used to writing a new sequence of numbers.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t some feeling of relief and refreshment as the New Year rolls around. There’s a public conversation around celebration and new beginnings that’s as real as we’re willing to make it. I mean, look at the fact pattern around the trite but tried-and-true custom of the New Year’s resolution.

According to the cheerily named website Discoverhappyhabits.com, which pulled together a lot of statistics on this

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topic, making resolutions can help us achieve our stated goals. Six months into the year, 46% of resolution-makers were still sticking to their goals – which may not sound terribly impressive until you see that of those who reported similar “intentions” but didn’t formalize them into a resolution, only 4% were still all in.

There are pitfalls to avoid. Another study cited looked at the reasons why resolutions failed. Unrealistic goals were cited by 35%, 33% forgot to keep track of their progress, and 23% just plain forgot.

One in every 10 said they failed because they made too many resolutions.

The most popular resolution topics, by far, concern better health habits. Eat better. Exercise more. Drink less. Saving money is also a popular aspiration.

In case you already have a health and wealth plan in place, but want to jump on the resolution bandwagon and ride the wave, may I humbly offer my arrogant suggestions? It seems to me that there are plenty of small, measurable, detailed goals we could pursue that have noth-

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BlueStone Press, December 17, 2021, Page 23 ing to do with bodies or bank accounts.

Things so simple that they might turn out to be fun, which is a great predictor of something actually becoming a new habit – can’t beat organic positive reinforcement.

For many of you, these may be things you already enjoy. If so, take a moment to give yourself credit – then resolve to double down.

1. Strike up a conversation while waiting in line. Even if it never gets any deeper than the weather, that moment of connection will lift both of you up, and it’s a lot less boring than standing there staring into space or checking the screen you just checked four minutes ago. Masks and distance make it a little more challenging to do this, which is all the more

reason to do it.

2. Resolve to never, ever use your car horn unless you’re either just saying a friendly hello or absolutely must get someone’s attention to warn them of imminent disaster. Really. If someone ahead of you at a green light is just sitting

there after 15 or 20 seconds, a light tap is acceptable, but there’s no call for leaning in the darn thing and making it scream.

Make it an “excuse me,” not a harangue.

3. Take everything in context. My favorite simple illustration of this one is also car-related. If you’re the one driving under the speed limit, you know exactly why. Maybe you’re looking for an address. Maybe you’re unnerved by road conditions or some other factor. The person behind you, of course, has no idea about this and may think you’re just out to annoy them, which is highly unlikely.

So, second driver, give the first driver the benefit of the doubt. And first driver, pull over when you can and let them go past, because for all YOU know, they’re 10 minutes late for something important.

The basic principle of recognizing context applies to much deeper situations like lover’s quarrels and political leanings, neither of which do I (thank heavens) have room to consider here. It works really well in defusing needless misunderstanding and conflict, And my New Year’s wish for 2022 is that we all have a year with as little of THAT in it as we can possibly manage – yes, you too, even if you’re among the just under half of the population who thinks resolutions are pointless and thus hates this article.

I’m sure you have your reasons, and if I see you in line at Dunkin’ Donuts, feel free to explain.

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Page 24, December 17, 2021, BlueStone Press

Finding the joy in the moments of the season, and all year long Donna Cohn Viertel Calendar of Events Editor It is, as they say, “the most wonderful time of the year.” When we feel the joy of the season, but also the feeling of needing to solve the dilemma of how we can make that wonderful feeling last beyond the holiday season. We have moments of joy in thinking of and giving to others … of getting that special gift from someone. The

time with family and/or friends that makes us laugh and smile. We want that happiness always, but we need to understand that, as Tanya Miszko, owner and operator of 30 Minutes of Everything® in Accord, pointed out in a recent discussion, joy and happiness are different.

She explained how joy can be about yourself or other’s contentment. Joy is constant in nature. It has internal triggers. It can be experienced at the same

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time as other emotions. Joy is a choice; it doesn’t just happen. Joy is not dependent on external circumstances. Joy is due to emotional well-being. It results from inner peace and satisfaction. Joy is an attitude.

Happiness is temporary in nature.

Experiencing happiness depends on external factors. It is about self-pleasures.

It is dependent on external circumstances.

Happiness is an emotional response. It is due to favorable circumstances and for

an external force that brings satisfaction.

Happiness is a destination.

Joy and happiness differ in their time frame, their motivation and their response. Happiness is temporary and in response to something external, whereas joy is internal and not dependent on external factors. Joy brings more lasting peace and satisfaction to life. The goal would be to have more joy in in life.

Perhaps it’s as simple as looking at life

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BlueStone Press, December 17, 2021, Page 25 with the attitude of the cup half full instead of half empty. Finding the blessing, the fortune in the experience of life itself.

“I searched ways to increase joy and one particular book kept coming up as a reference,” explained Miszko, referring to the “Book of Joy” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams. The book examines eight pillars to help one add more joy to their life: perspective, gratitude, humility, humor, acceptance, forgiveness, compassion, and generosity. This requires practice, practice, and more practice. Practicing these qualities can add more joy to daily life. “My favorite quote that I saw while researching was, ‘So don’t look for happiness in your circumstances – seek complete joy in spite of your circumstances’ (Todd Phillips); I like this,”

Miszko emphasized.

For me personally, it’s of course, with food. Today I made a wild rice soup with sweet potato biscuits. I of course shared it with a neighbor, which brought me joy, and hopefully a happy belly for him too.

That would of course, make me happy, but more importantly, I found joy, and basically being psyched, after trying one of the biscuits, that it was not only tasty, but also light and fluffy. Yes!!! The wild rice soup was yummy too. I guess the point is, that finding little joys in life is sustainable, and invigorating.

What is the recipe for the Sweet Potato Biscuits, you ask? Well, in my KitchenAid mixer, I put 10 ounces of flour, 3 ounces of softened butter, ½ ounce of sugar, 1 cup of mashed sweet potato, ½ cup of heavy cream, 1 egg, pinch of salt, and 1 ounce

of baking powder. Then I mixed until just combined. I used a 1-cup ice cream scoop to portion the biscuits on sheet pan.

Then baked them until golden (about 20 minutes) in 375-degree oven. It made six biscuits. And lots of joy.

“Maybe my intention for wanting to educate myself on joy and happiness was for self-growth, as I always want to learn more, and I always want to be a better human,” said Miszko. “I’d like to think that last year taught me more about learning to live with the unknown and how to still have your internal fire burn when the lights go out. I can't say that I felt that way during 2020, but I can look back and see that I now have more joy and happiness in my life! Maybe a change of perspective is what we could all use sometimes to refresh our souls and spirits?”

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Page 26

Arts, culture & entertainment

December 17, 2021

Return to the woods When the going gets tough, the tough get going. And for many people I know, one of the places they’ve gone is into the land of alternative home heating fuels.

These homebound Covid years have brought with them a primal urge to homestead.

And there’s no better homesteady feeling than the satisfaction of stockpiling your own fuel. New adaptors seem to fall equally on both sides of the firewood burning /pellet stove dividing line. Some, in fact, have gotten one of each.

They’ve become educated in the pronunciation of names like Jotul, Bixby and Lopi, and schooled in the ways of door gaskets, burning baffles and augers for pellets.

They’ve grown expert at fire starting, splinter extraction and soot stain removal. They lug fuel loads with barely a grunt, remove ash without a vacuum cleaner, and add logs without a single finger singe. They burn dried corn, pelletized cardboard boxes, finely split ash from the local logger, and chunks of dampish maple snatched from the side of the road. And weirdly, whether pellet stove or wood, all their stove doors are made of glass.

In short, they’ve linked arms and headed back into the woods.

It’s nice to have company there. I’m on my second round of using wood for house warmth. I went there a few

Susan Krawitz

decades ago, burned all that, and gave it up in disgust. But things are very different this go-round.

I moved to my home in the mid-’80s, before memory of the last waves of the ’70s energy crisis had fully faded.

Self-sufficiency seemed like a good idea, especially since the house lacked central heat. For years, a big ugly box called an All Nighter stove was its only heating source. It kept the rooms warm enough, but not when you weren’t home to help it, and never (despite its name) in the middle of the night, unless your nose reached cold-as-icicle stage and you woke up to stoke. Each winter, it gulped down seven cords of wood, gassing enormous clouds of smoke in the process, which we who have seen that Al Gore movie now know is called home-grown greenhouse gas.

Eventually, an oil burner appeared in the basement, and though the stove stayed where it was, its only users were misdirected squirrels. I never intended to stop using it entirely, but it’s easy to get spoiled by the joys of warmth that arrives with a nudge of a thermostat. But oil heat isn’t cozy; it offers no central spot to gather around, no place to hang wet mittens, simmer cider or dry wet boots. Plus, there’s nothing to compare to the taste of food slowcooked on a wood fire, and the ability to summon sauna warmth even in the middle of icy winter.

A few years of wildly spiking oil prices finally turned my nostalgic thoughts to action. But the All Nighter had to go.

I was delighted to discover that wood-burning technology had greatly advanced during my hiatus. Gone are the bulky, airtight boxes and balky catalytics; we are currently

in the age of the Very Thorough Burn. My replacement stove (its name is pronounced Lo-pye) looks good from the outside (it has a glass door of course), but even better from the inside. There, it houses an assortment of simple but clever interventions that work to fireblast the wood so completely that the smoke that drifts from my chimney is more shimmering wisp than cloud.

There were, unfortunately, a few things about heating with wood that my rose-tinted hindsight managed to overlook. I’d forgotten about all the lumber management that comes along with it: the acquiring, the splitting, the piling, the endless trucking from stack to house. But this time around it all feels like more than just grunt labor.

There’s a very satisfying feeling that comes from being webbed in to a home-centered cycle of place and purpose. Several long-dead ash trees in the woods have been turned to fuel, and next year, a trio of weedy red maples that until last week loomed dangerously over the barn will do the same. This heating with wood is an engaged personal partnership with a major life necessity, like driving a car with a manual transmission. I’m an integral part of making it work, and that feels like a very good thing.

Full disclosure: The stove uses about half the wood a less high-tech model would need, so the more strenuous parts of this experience are only half as bad. And the oil burner is still in place. Oh heck yeah, it is. A machine that stokes its own flames and spreads a little warmth when the 3-in-the-morning chill hits makes this new/old backto-the-woods thing even sweeter.

’Twas the night before ’Twas the night before work, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

This is because I have two cats and a mousetrap. Mice aren’t dumb. They know to stay out of my house. It’s common mouse knowledge that I will either keep them as pets and force them to work in a circus, or they will become cat toys.

My stockings weren’t hung because I don’t have a chimney.

Also, I’m about to go on vacation. All my socks were in my suitcase. I was not hoping that St. Nicholas soon would be there either because I won’t be. If I were, I’m thinking St. Nicholas might be better off just leaving Around town my gifts on the stoop. I’ve been boxing a lot lately, and breaking and entering is a crime. So is trespassing. So is stalking. Kissing my mom isn’t, but ewww ... That deserves an uppercut.

I was nestled all snug in my bed, while visions of sunshine, beaches and margaritas danced in my head.

When out on the street, there arose such a clatter, I sat up in bed to see what was the matter. I looked out the window and what to my wondering eyes should appear? A red hooptie with flashing lights and a muffler loud enough to wake the dead was flying down Main Street. I cursed the driver and went back to bed. I still had an hour of sleep left before the alarm.

Two hours later, I was wearing my faux fur scarf and looked so cute from my head to my foot. I had my purse and lunch bag flung on my back, and I looked like a peddler opening my pack. I should really have my keys in my hand before I step outside, but I need at least two cups of coffee in the morning to make good decisions.

My eyes, how they twinkled, my dimple, how merry!

I only have one dimple. Somehow I got robbed. My cheeks were like roses, my nose like a cherry. Hey. it’s winter. I’m blond, pale, and it was cold. My droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on my chin had been taken care of, just so you know. My broad face and little round belly have been shaking when I laugh, like a bowlful of jelly. It’s the holidays and I’ve been eating way too much dessert. I really need to calm down. I guess I am chubby and plump, like a right jolly old elf. Don’t laugh. It’s good to be

Kelly Wright

Maybe Santa needs to elf isolate.

jolly considering the state of our world. I’m winning ... plump or not.

Anyway, I had to get to work so I sprang to my sleigh and sat there letting it warm up when I heard the clat-

ter, once again. With a glare of my eye and a twist of my head, I saw the hooptie swerving back and forth, with a dog hanging halfway out of the sunroof. If I were that dog, I’d be trying to jump out, too.

As I watched him ere he drove out of sight, I exclaimed some naughty things I cannot write. I am pretty sure I’m on Santa’s naughty list now, and so what? I’ll buy my own stuff.

Speaking of Santa, does anyone remember our Tree Santa? To be honest, I usually forget about him until around December. I decided to take a drive the other day and give him a nod. I was shocked! Tree Santa was upside down! I think that he must have really felt the effects of the pandemic and everything else that’s wrong with the world. He literally just gave up. Poor guy. Thankfully, someone came by to set him straight.

However, he still looks like he’s had a rough couple of years. Once it gets warmer, I may have to go give him some counseling. Maybe that will put me back on Santa’s good list. I doubt it, though, because I’m sure to do something naughty at some point. However, there is always hope.

But, wait, isn’t Santa used to being cooped up all year long with his family and pets? What’s his problem?

Toughen up, Santa, You’re fine.

See? I can barely tolerate being good for 12 minutes, let alone 12 months. Sigh. Oh, well.

Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday. Whatever you celebrate, I hope you celebrate it fully, that you don’t have to be rudely awoken by loud mufflers, and that you are handling life better than our Tree Santa. And, please don’t forget that a subscription to BlueStone Press would make a really great gift. See you in 2022.

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Go to... bluestonepress.net

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BlueStone Press, December 17, 2021, Page 27

Pizza place On our way from the parking lot to the front door, we cross the outside dining patio, which is open to the sky, graveled, and spacious. Tables, a bar, bistro lights, heaters. All the trappings of a lovely dinner al fresco, but maybe not when it’s too fresco … Note to self: A warm spring / summer / fall night, and this outdoor area will be baller!

Inside Ollie’s Pizza, which has an open, barnlike feel, there's a full, inviting bar and a massive brick oven – the prominent culinary chi of the establishment – with the name “Ollie’s” tiled right in. It’s sorta beautiful.

I stop dead in my tracks. It’s someone I reeeeeaaaally don’t want to see at the bar. Damn. Maybe. I would want to sit at this awesome bar too, so I sort of get it. Sometimes the charming small-town vibe can feel like a bear trap clamped on the ankle and strapped to a cinderblock …

My dinner partner, T, is briefed (welcome back to high school drama!) and does recon while I clean and curse out my new progressive glasses for not seeing this cringeworthy moment from back in the parking lot when I could have done something about it, like skedaddle. In fact, these glasses sometimes make me feel like I’m going to walk right into a tree.

T returns, reports that it’s a near Wally Nichols miss but neither the situation of dread nor possible regret, because it’s not actually them, and that the coast is clear. So much for all that therapy …

The nice night out can continue as planned.

My appetite aggressively returns – situational suppression is overpowered by the wafting wisps of cooking pizza dough aroma floating our way.

Nothing says “hello and seek shelter from the dark cold night while we feed you” like pizzas in a wood-fired oven in dark December.

We make our way to one of the semi-private booths lining the wall with the help of a super friendly server, who gives us menus and a couple minutes. I try not to be obvious as I visually bounce between the menu and double-checking T’s emotional safety assessment. Is this not exactly what progressive lenses are for??

Me: I’m going to lead with this: I love pizza.

T: Well, it seems we are in the right place. Damn. And look at that brick oven … It’s massive, and the detail is downright da Vincian.

Me: That can’t be a word. Can it? It’s hard not to marvel at the intersection of form and function in a good old/new-fashioned wood-fired pizza oven. Pizza

Put a fork in it

Horoscopes The Sun, Mercury and Venus are positioned in the sign of Capricorn, the career section of the solar chart, with Mars following only a few degrees behind. Please note that Venus turns retrograde on the 19th, making us feel a bit overlooked during the holidays, especially while Pluto is leading the group. This also seems to be a fair explanation for the interest in the present inflationary cycle and feeling out of control. Three of the outer planets are positioned in Pisces, a placement that makes us feel we’re playing guessing games about the next emergency. Uranus is by itself in the sign of Taurus – continuing the process by which money, or income, is coming from Joanne different sources. The full Moon Ferdman falls on the 19th in the sign of Gemini.

Your Zodiac

ARIES: 3/21 to 4/19: Mars, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 9th solar house of communication and education, and is in good aspect to Saturn, Jupiter and Neptune. These outer planets are in good aspect to the personal planets in your 10th house of career. Together they bode well for you to enjoy the holiday season.

TAURUS: 4/20 to 5/20: Venus, your ruling planet, is positioned with Pluto and the other personal planets in your 9th solar house of career and will turn retrograde on the 19th. The personal planets are in good aspect to the outer planets. However, with Jupiter about to enter this

is communal yet personal. It can be simple and also nuanced. It’s financially accessible to the masses, and even within that parameter of unpretentiousness, it exists as an authentic, unrushed, higher-end dining (entree) experience. It can be quick, egalitarian, and utilitarian while still being elegant. It can be mobile or brick and mortar. Literally. And making it can be an interactive, memory-making and personalized process, yielding pizzas imbued with particular preferences, whether you are hands-on in your kitchen with family, or choosing toppings from a menu. And while I don’t quite get it, I know that many, even outside the long arm of Polynesia, insist on pineapple as a topping*. Pizza is great.

T: You know, I’ve had pizza before. You don’t need to sell me on it. Or mansplain it …

Me: But you haven’t been to Ollie's before, have you?

T: We come here all the time. LOVE it. Mostly takeout, but the only one who hasn’t been here yet is you.

Me: It’s a travesty. I can’t believe it. How long has Ollie’s been here in High Falls? What’s my problem?

T: Maybe your glasses? It’s been here at least a year. Want me to check the website? I heard that it was built out by a couple from New York, Sophie Peltzer-Rollo and Innis Lawrence, with help from friend and partner Ilan Bachrach, but that Innis grew up here and used to

make ovens out of clay. Or mud.

Me: Well, that’s super cool. And NYC is most certainly a place to set the pizza bar.

Me: Let’s get some apps. Like these marinated olives ($6). Or the six-pack of garlic knots? They are baked with olive oil, garlic, Parmesan and marinara sauce.

T: Yes to both. And also the boquerones!

Me: The wha ...?

T: Anchovies on house-made focaccia with stracciatella, herb salad and pickled red onions ($9).

Me: That Little Gem Caesar salad with fried herb breadcrumbs looks awesome. That’s definitely happening. (This was one of the best Caesar salads I’ve had in a long time. It was deliciously seasoned, and had a density to it that made it feel substantial in a way that is uncommon.)

We consider the drink menu. There’s a bottle of white from the Basque country (Antxiola Getarako, 2020, $33) that looks intriguing. In fact, the bottled wine menu is a tight and diverse treasure trove that nicely represents western Europe. By the glass, the options are even more plentiful. There’s a full bar and even nonalcoholic beer that actually tastes crafty.

The main show is, of course, pizza.

The wood-fired pizzas are 14 inches (serve 1-2), and there are four basic chassis –margherita, white, tomato (cheeseless) and vegan margherita.

Upon those can be mounted any of the following toppings: Fresh basil – Anchovies - Black olives - Pickled jalapeños - Pepperoncini - Calabrian chilies – Shallots - Caramelized onions – Garlic confit - Whipped ricotta - Fresh crimini mushrooms - Vegan cheese - Pepperoni – Sausage Note: Pineapple is not offered. Phew!

“Grandma pies” are also available. They serve three to four, are tray baked and rectangular ($24). The gluten-free option is also available ($28).

Besides the pizzas and aforementioned appetizers, Ollie’s also serves: Meatball and chicken parm sandwiches ($12).

Wings are 12/$20, with sauce options of hot honey glaze or classic Buffalo.

Wood-oven roasted radicchio or broccolini come with shaved Grana Padano ($6).

For this pizza lover, Ollie’s Pizza in High Falls was a dream discovery that only took a year to get around to. My bad. It wasn’t for lack of buzz. (The New York Times has cited it as an imperative pizza experience.) So now, to make up for lost time … !

Winter hours are limited to the stretched weekend (Thursday noon-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon-9, Sunday noon-8).

house of income you may find circumstances changing in your favor.

GEMINI: 5/21 to 6/20: Mercury, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 8th solar house of changes that include the Sun, Mercury and Venus as well as Pluto. They are in good aspect to the outer planets in your 10th solar house of career. The full Moon in your own sign will insure your enjoyment of the holidays as well as a promising New Year.

CANCER: 6/21 to 7/20: The full Moon on the 19th in sign of Gemini falls in your 12th house, behind the scenes, and promises to be distracting during this busy season.

You may find yourself overly busy between work and social commitments. Find the time to return to ground yourself and find your own spirit.

LEO: 7/21 to 8/22: The Sun, your ruling planet, is positioned on the cusp of your 6th solar house of your daily work and your health. You’re busy trying to be the perfect person – easing everyone’s burden. This is a gentle reminder the busy season is here, and you need to take time out for yourself. Any change you contemplate for the future can wait.

VIRGO: 8/23 to 9/22: Mercury, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 5th solar house of children and creativity, and is conjunct retrograde Venus, the Sun and Pluto.

You’re busy decorating your home and preparing for the influx of family and friends. However, at the time of the full Moon there will be a strong reminder that you cannot overlook the needs of your career.

LIBRA: 9/23 to 10/22: Venus, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 4th solar house – and is retrograde and conjunct both Mercury and Pluto. This will affect many small and large events. You will probably find unexpected events and problems wherever you turn. Moreover, you may find yourself working harder at your regular employment.

SCORPIO: 10/23 to 11/22: Mars, one of your ruling planets is positioned in your 2nd solar house of

money, while Pluto your other ruler is positioned in your 3rd house of communication and education conjunct Venus retrograde. This may result in certain money that is due held back because of a fluke – leaving a shortfall just before the holidays.

SAGITTARIUS: 11/23 to 12/21: Jupiter, your ruling planet, is positioned on the cusp of your 4th solar house of home and family. Saturn and Neptune are also positioned there and in good aspect to the personal planets in your 2nd solar house of money. While it’s possible some money due may be delayed, it will be a joyful and busy holiday.

CAPRICORN: 12/22 to 1/20: Saturn, your ruling planet, is now located in your 3rd solar house of communication and education, between Jupiter and Neptune.

The personal planets are in the 1st house of personality – almost assuring a fun-filled holiday season with family and friends while you take time off from your normal workaholic pace.

AQUARIUS: 1/21 to 2/19: Uranus is positioned in your 4th solar house of home and family – home for the holidays!!! Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune are positioned in your 2nd solar house of money while the personal planets are working behind the scenes – allowing you to go big this holiday season without distraction.

PISCES: 2/20 to 3/20: Neptune, your ruling planet, continues to be positioned in your 1st solar house of personality together with Jupiter and Saturn. You’re now paying serious attention, taking your creativity to the next level by exposing more of yourself to the public and earning a fair return for your work.

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.

Ollie’s Pizza Location: 4 Bruceville Road at Route 213, High Falls Contact: 845-687-3464 Style: Brick oven

Page 28, December 17, 2021, BlueStone Press

FOR THE FAMILY Rondout Valley United Methodist Church Holiday Cookie Sales Located on the corner of Schoonmaker Lane and Route 209 in Stone Ridge, Rondout Valley United Methodist Church will present its Christmas cookie sales, 2-5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 18. For more information, email rvmethodist@gmail.com, call 845687-9090, or visit rvumc.org.

Rosendale Theatre presents interactive ‘A Christmas Carol’ production Raise a few spirits with the Charles Dickens classic ghost story retold by NYC’s No.11 Productions, in collaboration with the Rosendale Theatre Collective, in this theatrical staging of “A Christmas Carol,” performed at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale. This interactive production is for the whole family, with dancing and full immersion into the timeless holiday story of hope and redemption. The play, directed by Ryan Emmons features Forest VanDyke as Scrooge, with Ann Citron, Julie Congress, Steven Conroy, Alison Novelli and Neysy Vicente. Original music and sound design by Enrico de Trizio, with additional music by Nat Osborn with lyrics by Danny Tieger.

Puppetry and prop design by Jen Neads and Danny Tieger. Costume design by Kathleen Blanchard and Julie Congress.

The Rosendale Theatre requires proof of vaccination for entry for patrons over age 12. Proof includes CDC Vaccination Card, or a New York Excelsior Pass matched with a photo ID. Masks must be worn inside unless eating and drinking.

Tickets are $20 general admission, and $15 for kids, age 12 and under. For more information, visit rosendaletheatre.org or call 845-658-8989.

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, with the next upcoming gathering on Dec.18. 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 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 845-6877023.

The Wiltwyck Quilt Guild Zoom meetings The group meets at 10 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month, with the next meeting on Dec. 18. The guild, which normally meets at Grace Church in Lake Katrine, is currently holding meetings via Zoom. As its community service project, the group is making placemats for Meals on Wheels guests for the Office for the Aging. Members are always wanted and welcomed to join the guild, share their work, learn a new skill and meet new friends, all while benefiting the community. For more information, contact Guild secretary Mary Tyler of Rosendale at marycodytyler@yahoo.com.

Death Café group discussion via Zoom on different types of losses; free & open to all Circle of Friends for the Dying’s Death Café is a group-directed conversation with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session; it is free and open to everyone.

Death Cafés are held on the 18th of each month, with the next discussion from 1011:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, discussing different types of losses, death, relationship, empty nest, environmental, retirement, job loss, move, illness, loss of function – any of these that can bring a sense of loss of identity. For more information, visit cfdhv.org.

Writers group with Cathy Arra Two separate writers groups meet 4:30-6:30 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. Group 1 is meeting on Dec. 27,

.

Paintings by Johnny Mernin hanging at Wired Gallery in High Falls. Visit in person or at thewiredgallery.com

Johnny Mernin exhibit, ‘Family Affair’ at Wired Gallery A self-taught painter, Johnny Mernin credits his experiences as a young, broke traveler for ultimately being the source of his greatest teachings, feeling that it’s only through radical authenticity, humility and fearlessness in facing the unknown that the spontaneous creative act is achieved. His work, characterized by striking balance energetic, gestural lines and emotional raw-

and Group 2 on Dec. 20. Email carra22@ aol.com.

Mahjong, Tuesdays and Fridays at Stone Ridge Library The Stone Ridge Library hosts ongoing weekly mahjong at 10 a.m. Friday mornings (Dec. 10, 17, 24 and 31) and a beginner’s group, 10 a.m.

Tuesdays (Dec. 21 and 28), 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.

Conversational French with Claudine Brenner A native French speaker, born in Paris and raised in Europe, Claudine Brenner chose Stone Ridge as her place to retire following a 30-year government career abroad. Culture, medicine, travels and anything/everything culinary are favorite subjects that she would love to share and exchange with others, speaking in French. The program she is offering via Zoom is held 1-2 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month, with the next conversation hour on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

Visit stoneridgelibrary.org or call 845687-7023 to sign up.

Stone Ridge Library presents Spanish conversations with Francisco and Varcia via Zoom ¿Hablas español? To brush up on Spanish conversation skills and meet other language lovers in a friendly and stress-free environment with facilitators Francisco Rivera and Varcia Venetzanos, join the class on Zoom, 1-2 p.m. every fourth Tuesday of the month, with the next session on Dec. 21. All levels are welcomed. ¡Hasta entonces!

Rivera was born and raised in Spanish Harlem in NYC and is a long-term resident of Marbletown. Venetzanos, also of Marbletown, is a native New Yorker. She is also a fluent speaker of Greek, which was her first language. Sign up at the

ness, has been featured in numerous galleries across the Hudson Valley and is included in many private collections.

See Mernin’s radical color-scapes on exhibit this weekend, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Dec. 17-19, at the Wired Gallery, 11 Mohonk Road, High Falls. For more information, visit thewiredgallery.com or call 682564-5613.

SRL online calendar at stoneridgelibrary. org or call 845-687-7023.

Rosendale Seniors next meeting and upcoming trips The Town of Rosendale Seniors meetings are held at 1 p.m. every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, at the Rosendale Recreation Center, 1055 Route 32, Rosendale with the next meeting on Dec. 22. Upcoming trips for next year include Hunterdon Hills Playhouse in New Jersey on March 22 for dinner and show to see “Sherlock Holmes Returns.” Cost is $78 per person. And a trip to Myrtle Beach is on Sept. 11-17. For more information, call Chickie at 845-658-2414 or Hal at 845658-9020.

Poetry with Rosemary Dean Join the community via Zoom, 1:30-3 p.m. every Thursday, with the next meetings on Dec. 23 and 30. This program is presented by the Stone Ridge Library. Contact Rosemary Dean at rmdeen@gmail.com to join the group.

Little Ones Learning Center’s story time The Little Ones Learning Center, a free early-literacy program held in the space rented from the Rochester Reformed Church, at 5142 Route 209, Accord, has reopened. Story times are held virtually, 10:30 a.m. Fridays on Little Ones Facebook page, and in person, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturdays, at the church. Book borrowing is available 10 a.m.-noon Wednesdays and on Saturdays following story time. Little Ones Learning center will be closed for the holidays, Dec. 23-Jan. 1, and will resume their schedule the following Wednesday, Jan. 5. Cancellations or changes will always be posted on their Facebook page. Give them a “like” to stay informed about new stories, changes in programming, and special events. For more information, call Mary Lee, treasurer, Little Ones Learn-

ing Center, at 845-626-7249, and visit thedenofmarbletown.com.

New York Blood Center Mobile Blood Drive at the Rosendale Community Center The holiday season makes it increasingly difficult to get donors in the door as families gather, travel increases, and fears of Covid continue. Currently, the region’s blood supply stands at a 1–2-day level as local hospital usage has increased above pre-pandemic levels and there is no surplus of blood nationwide.

Make a resolution to give blood and help others, 2:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, at the Rosendale Community Center, 1055 Route 32 North, Rosendale. For more information, call 1800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org.

Stone Ridge Orchard Holiday Market Visit the Farm Market at the Orchard, 3012 Route 213, Stone Ridge, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The fires are lit, the soup is on, the cider is hot and s’mores kits are available. Keep warm in the Tasting Room, noon-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Enjoy hard cider, baked goods, wine, beer, spirits and local artisanal goods.

Order holiday pies, pick from a variety of wreaths, and don’t forget the Christmas trees. For more information, visit stoneridgeorchard.com or call 845-6872587.

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.

For more information on being included in the club’s next meeting, contact Janet Sutter at janet.sutter@aol.com.

Marbletown Seniors trips A trip planned for the Marbletown Seniors on April 12, 2022, to go to Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville, Connecticut, to see comedian/singer Mark Verselli in a dinner show. Cost of trip $54. Bus leaves at 8:15 a.m. from Marbletown Reformed Church, 3750 Main St., Route 209, Stone Ridge, across from the Stone Ridge post office.

For more information, call Sharon Letus, trip chairperson, at 845-687-9162.

ARTS, MUSIC, BODY & MIND Historic hike at Minnewaska Join Laura Conner, environmental educator, on a guided hike, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 19, to see all the stunning views from the numerous scenic vistas along the east side of Lake Minnewaska.

The first stop will be the last remaining historic summerhouse gazebo, which sits perched above the Lake. From there, the group will continue the walk to reach the site of the former, historic Cliffhouse Hotel. Then drop down to the Beacon Hill Footpath, which offers a broad vista of the Wallkill Valley including distant views of Storm King Mountain and Breakneck Ridge, and the iconic stone tower, Skytop, to the north. This modest hike, which follows along a combination of carriage roads and a footpath, is approximately 3 miles long and does include some hills and rocky sections of footpath. All unvaccinated participants are encouraged to wear face coverings and keep a minimum 6-foot distance away from others who are not part of their immediate household. All visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are encouraged to wear a mask when inside buildings. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center, 5281 Route 44/55, Kerhonkson. Preregistration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.

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, with upcoming sessions on Dec. 19 and 26. Newcomers are always welcome. For more information, visit cometomama.org or call 845-853-5154.

Online Tarot Circle every Wednesday Shea in the Catskills (Olive Free Library clerk) will host a weekly online tarot circle, 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, with the next sessions on Dec. 22 and 29 via Zoom, member ID 951525112. Whether a

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BlueStone Press, December 17, 2021, Page 29

First Day Hike at Minnewaska

Events continued from page 28 total beginner, a curious sort or an experienced reader, all are most welcome to join this circle to explore the tarot together. Bring a deck, a journal and questions. For more information, email Shea at helpdesk@olivefreelibrary.org.

Christmas Eve hike to Echo Rock Join Nick Martin, park educator, for a 4-mile Christmas Eve hike to the beautiful scenic vista of Echo Rock, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 24. Leaving from the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center, 5281 Route 44/55, Kerhonkson, the group will take Lake Minnewaska, Millbrook Mountain, and Hamilton Point carriage roads to arrive at Echo Rock. This scenic vista sits on a cliff perched over the Palmaghatt Ravine, across the ravine from Patterson’s Pellet, and has spectacular views on a clear day. Preregistration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.

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 generally 45-60 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 practice, 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, and 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 fill list of classes, visit wholeskyyoga.com or call 845-706-3668.

Hudson Valley Seed Co. now open Hudson Valley Seed Co. is now open, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Saturday, at their 4737 Route 209, Accord, location. For more information, call 845-204-8769 or visit hudsonvalleyseed.com or on Facebook.

ONGOING LISTINGS Support your local food pantries The Rondout Valley Food Pantry, 3775 Main St., Stone Ridge, is open 9-11 a.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call 845-6874013 or visit rondoutvalleyfoodpantry. org for more information. The Rosendale Food Pantry, 45 James St., Rosendale, is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call 845-205-2822 or visit rosendalenyfoodpantry.org. The Rochester Food Pantry, 15 Tobacco Road, Accord, next to the Rochester Community Center, is open, 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-noon on Fridays and the last Saturday of the month. The TOR food pantry is always in need of volunteers. For more information, call 845-626-7501, visit the Town of Rochester Food Pantry Facebook page or rochesterfoodpantry.wordpress.com.

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.

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Rhythm and Movement with the Krumville Schoolhouse at the Community Open Mic Night and Dance workshop in Olivebridge.

Live at Lydia’s Café with the Krumville Schoolhouse Rhythm and Movement Every weekend, Lydia’s Café, 7 Old Route 209, Stone Ridge, features live music from 7-10 p.m. Upcoming performances include Rhythm and Movement with the Krumville Schoolhouse, 6-9:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 17 and New Year’s Eve Prix Fixe with R&B, Motown, pop and soul with

Bob’s Your Uncle, 8 p.m.-midnight, Friday, Dec. 31.

Call to reserve a table. There is no cover charge, but suggested $20 donations are always welcome. For more information,

This hike is a 2-mile snowshoe in the Peter’s Kill Area, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 1. From the parking area, participants will walk on the Red Loop, Bullwheel and High Peter’s Kill footpaths to reach two scenic vistas. The First Day Hike is also occurring during the Minnewaska-Shawangunk Christmas Bird Count. If participants are interested, the group will count the winter birds seen along the hike. A limited number of snowshoes are available for participants to borrow for this program from the Education Department, located at the Peter’s Kill Area. When these run out, snowshoes may be rented for a fee.

Early arrival is suggested to borrow snowshoes. If there is insufficient snow cover, the program will be offered as a hike. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. All visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask when inside buildings. All unvaccinated participants are encouraged to wear face coverings and keep a minimum 6-foot distance away from others who are not part of their immediate household when outside. Meet in the Peter’s Kill Area. Preregistration is required by calling Minnewaska at 845-255-0752.

call 845-687-6373 or visit lydias-café.com.

Cross-Country Ski past Kempton Ledge at Minnewaska

Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in “House of Gucci”

Ring in the New Year at the ‘House of Gucci’ House of Gucci, inspired by the shocking true story of the family behind the Italian fashion empire will be shown, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Dec. 31-Jan. 2, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St. Rosendale.

When Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy

and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately…murder.

Directed by Ridley Scott, “House of Gucci” stars Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons and Jack Huston, with Salma Hayek and Al Pacino.

For more information, visit rosendaletheatre.org or call 845-658-8989.

Lego Building Club Call to sign up for this winter break activity, 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, at the Olive Free Library, 4033 Route 28A, West Shokan. For more information on the Lego Building Club, call 845-657-2482.

Carolin’ Canines Book a Carolin’ Canine for a friend or family member, as Ulster County SPCA volunteers and adoptable shelter dogs will be out and about locally, Thursday, Dec. 23.

Caroling includes a light-hearted seasonal song sung by UCSPCA volunteers plus love and kisses from the adoptable shelter dogs, and a small present for the recipient with warm holiday wishes.

After booking online at ucspca.org or by phone at 845-331-5377, an email will be sent before Dec. 23 to let the recipient know what time the session is scheduled for.

Join Laura Conner, environmental educator, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, for a 5-mile-long, cross-country ski outing to Kempton Ledge. This modestly challenging outing will follow along Lake Minnewaska and Castle Point carriage roads, a well-groomed route that does include two challenging hills. Participants must provide their own ski equipment and must have previous cross-country skiing experience, and cross-country ski fees will apply. They should also wear appropriate winter gear and bring adequate food and water. If there is no snow, this outing will be a hike. All visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask when inside buildings. All unvaccinated participants are encouraged to wear face coverings and keep a minimum 6-foot distance away from others who are not part of their immediate household when outside. Meet at the Wildmere Parking Area. Preregistration is required by calling Minnewaska at 845-255-0752.

Winter*net Courses at SUNY Ulster

Give someone some holiday puppy love this season.

Email your calendar item to BSP!

SUNY Ulster’s Winter*net session, which runs Monday, Dec. 27-Tuesday, Jan. 18, offers three-week online courses that allow SUNY Ulster and visiting students the ability to earn credits quickly and affordably. Winter offerings include popular general education required classes and electives in the sciences, business, history, humanities, languages, and more. For more info, visit sunyulster.edu/winternet.

Page 30, December 17, 2021, BlueStone Press

Enjoy a Merry Christmas with a visit of the ‘Last Night in Soho’

Events continued from page 29 The Rosendale Library is open for business and masks are still required The library, at 264 Main St., Rosendale offers story time Mondays at 10 a.m. on the library lawn or indoors when the weather is bad. There is also virtual story hour on Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. Regular adult programs include Craft and Conversation on the third Thursday at 10 a.m. (bring own project), and card-making on the third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. (materials provided).

Homebound delivery of materials is available; info@rosendalelibrary.org to sign up. For more information visit rosendalelibrary.org or call 845-658-9013.

Botanical Drawing and Exploration for children Draw Botanical, at 222 Lower Whitfield Road, Accord, is working on some fun educational activities online that foster a lifelong appreciation of nature and the arts. The lessons are designed for children of all ages. Visit draw-botanical.ck.page/drawing-for-children to access the free lesson. For more information, go to drawbotanical.com.

Free online ‘Deep Relaxation’ Zoom meeting with Wolfgang Thom Holistic Health Community volunteer Wolfgang Thom is presenting his program “Deep Relaxation” at 3 p.m. each Wednesday via Zoom with the meeting ID: 434 388 595. The Zoom meeting is not a movement class, so no prior anything is necessary. Just set up a comfortable place for lying or sitting, make sure not to be disturbed by anything during the session and connect. There is nothing needed to do, just listening and relaxing. The class will start with a brief contemplation and then do a session of Yoga Nidra.

Participants need to unmute themselves, but questions will be taken. Make sure not to disturb the session with background noises. Thom works in Accord as a movement/yoga therapy teacher and an intuitive healer. For more information, email wolfgangyoga@gmail.com or visit wolfgangyoga.com.

Holistic Health Community volunteer Therese Bimka continues meditation and more HHC volunteer Therese Bimka will continue to have an 8 a.m. daily community meditation via Zoom, open to all and free of charge. Each session will last 20 minutes. The bulk of the time will be used for group meditation. Each daily meditation will end by setting an intention for healing self and the community.

The same link listed below each time logging on: https://zoom.us/j/9737022829.

“We are up to about 70 participants including international folks,” said Bimka.

In addition, she has added an 8 p.m. free daily meditation. “It’s a good way to begin and end the day,” she suggested.

For more information, on the daily community meditations and all her events including the Interfaith Pray-in and the Community Mental Health Forum, reach out to her by email at theresebimka@ gmail.com.

Draw Botanical of Accord workshops available online In response to the feedback about their recent online workshop offerings selling out so fast, Draw Botanical, 222 Lower Whitfield Road, Accord, decided to format the videos for purchase so artists can watch them as many times as they would like. The videos will include: “Draw a Rose” (Part 1 & 2) and “Draw a Peony.” The Zoom workshops include two recordings one with a three-hour in-class demo/Q&A, and one with a two-hour critique. For those who would like feedback on their work, consider joining Draw Botanical’s online community, or schedule an "individual critique" where feedback is available via a 30-minute, one-on-one Zoom call with one of the instructors. For more information, visit drawbotanical.com.

Email your calendar item to BSP!

“Mohonk from Joppenberg,” photo by Larry Arvidson

Larry Arvidson photography at the Rosendale Café Triathlete, long distance runner and photographer extraordinaire Larry Arvidson will be showing his photography of Rosendale in December and January, at the Rosendale Café, 434 Main St., Rosendale. The longtime James Street resident

turns his discerning eye on his hometown, showing the community the beauty of the village with new eyes.

The Cafe is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Monday. For more information, visit rosendalecafe.com or call 845-658-9048.

In acclaimed director Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie. But the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.

Directed and written by Wright and starring Thomasin McKenzie, Anya TaylorJoy, Matt Smith and Diana Rigg, see “Last Night in Soho,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 25 and 26, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale. For more information, visit rosendaletheatre. org or call 845-658-8989.

Many local artists in Woodstock School of Art instructors exhibit at Lockwood Gallery The Woodstock School of Art is collaborating with the Lockwood Gallery, at 747 Route 28, Kingston, to showcase the work of its instructors. For over 50 years, the school has offered fine art instruction and exhibitions to the community. Some of the 36 local artists featured include, Savannah Baker of High Falls, Staats Fasoldt of Rosendale, Keith Gunderson of Kerhonkson, Wendy Hollender of Accord, Kate McGloughlin of Olivebridge and Marlene Wiedenbaum of High Falls.

The exhibition is on view at the Lockwood Galley until Dec. 30, with gallery hours, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. One quarter of all sales from this exhibition will be donated to the Woodstock School of Art. For more information, visit thelockwoodgallery.com.

Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls reunite for one last party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre.

Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Follies’ at the Rosendale Theatre A National Theatre production, “Follies,” based on the book by James Goldman with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, will be shown at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale.

Imelda Staunton stars in Sondheim’s legendary musical. New York, 1971: There’s a party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre. Tomorrow the iconic building will be demolished. Thirty years after their final performance, the Fol-

lies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs and lie about themselves.

Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and Imelda Staunton play the magnificent Follies in this dazzling production. Featuring a cast of 37 and an orchestra of 21, Sondheim’s legendary musical was directed by Dominic Cooke and filmed live on stage at London’s National Theatre in 2017.

Admission to the show is $12/$10 members. For more information, visit rosendaletheatre.org or call 845-658-8989.

It’s really happening when people see it in the Bluestone press!

“Onteora Lake, Snowstorm,” 11x14 inches, oil on wood panel, by Mira Fink

Marbletown’s Mira Fink offers virtual holiday art sale Visit mirafink.com/gallery/gallery.htm and/or mirafink.com/prints/prints.htm to view to see the virtual sale of small works, new prints, greeting cards, jigsaw puzzles, pillows, tote bags and mugs. Browse the five galleries to see watercolors, acrylics/oils, landscape and still lifes, pleinair paintings and small works on sale.

Paintings can be picked up at her studio in Marbletown or shipped. For more information, visit mirafink.com.

Find what you’re looking for

Dec. 17, 2021

Sell it now!

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$15.00 for the first 20 words. ($.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!

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marbletown.net 845-687-7500 Town Board Dec. 21 @ 5:00pm Town Board Jan. 4 @ 6:00 via Zoom

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Town Board

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3 to 5 years experience.

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Ő 0WKUCPEG 9KNFNKHG /CPCIGOGPV Ő 4GUQNXKPI *WOCP CPF #PKOCN %QPHNKEVU Ő 7%6 0;56# 09%1# 06# .KHG /GODGT

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Outdoor Educators for 2022 summer camps. Must enjoy sharing nature with children. Plan and lead daily activities and hikes while ensuring safety. Teach campers age 7-10 or 10-13. Positions available for 2 to 4-week sessions. Req: Exp. leading groups outdoors; excellent leadership and interpersonal skills; able to hike up to 5 miles with some elevation gain; driver’s license. Stipends vary by position and length of commitment. Cover letter, resume, 3 references by Jan. 5, 2022 to education@mohonkpreserve.org.

No phone calls. Details: https://www.mohonkpreserve. org/who-we-are/jobs-fellowships-and-internships/

BSP is looking for a reporter BSP news is looking for a news Call reporter.

845-687-4480 or

email bsplori@gmail.com

Jan.18 @ 6:00 via Zoom

Town of Rosendale

All meetings held at Rondout Municipal Center unless otherwise noted, 1915 Lucas Ave., Cottekill, NY townofrosendale.com 845-658-3159 Zoning Board of Appeals Dec. 21 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Water/Sewer Commission Dec. 27 @ 6:00 pm-7:00 pm Police Commission Dec. 28 @ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Youth Commission Jan 3 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Town Board Workshop Jan. 5 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Town Board Jan. 12 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am Environmental Commission Jan. 13 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Town of Rochester Town Board, Planning Board and ZBA meetings will livestream broadcast on YouTube.

Rochester Town Hall 50 Scenic Rd, Accord, NY

Historic Preservation Committee Dec. 20 @ 2:00 – 5:00pm Environmental Conservation Committee

Give us a call to discuss the details. 687-4480. Thank you.

Classified ads start at $15.

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Dec. 28 @ 6:00-8:00pm Town Board Audit Dec. 30 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Town Board Workshop Dec. 30 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm Town Board Regular Jan. 6 @ 6:30 pm –9:00pm

Page 32, December 17, 2021 BlueStone Press

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