The best source for local news from Marbletown, Rochester & Rosendale
Published the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month | Vol. 26, Issue 22
The 'State of the Rondout Creek' Page 6
November 19, 2021 | 75 cents
Marijuana ruling planned and ambulance funding discussed
Shop local during the holidays! Holiday section starts on page 17
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Marbletown Reformed Church rejoices as pipe organ assembled Anne Pyburn Craig BSP Reporter This is a tale of two churches, one enormous logistical triumph, and some downright amazing grace. In 2019, Becky Collins and Kara Jacobsen – co-chairs of the Music and Worship Committee at Marbletown Reformed Church – had just begun looking for a pipe organ to replace their defunct electric organ when the pandemic struck. “We had no organist and no instrument for a while,” says Collins, noting that the late Vivian Hasbrouck had kept the melodies flowing for years before retiring. “It was the consensus of the full consistory – our governing body – to see if we could find a real instrument.” That was never going to be a simple task. Pipe organs are massive, intricate creations custom-built to fit the spaces they will occupy. But then the pandemic halted in-person worship for a while, and the church relied on a piano during Zoom worship, not sure when or if the pipe organ dream might ever be satisfied. Meanwhile, in South Egremont, Massachusetts, a woman named Ellen Proctor was hunting for a forever home for the pipe organ she’d played since she was 13 years old. “I had wanted to play that organ since I was 7,” says Proctor, “and I never thought they’d let me. I did play the piano for Sunday school. Then one weekend the weather was rough and the regular organist couldn’t make it off the hill, so my dream came true.” Proctor would go on playing at the historic First Congregational Church of South Egremont for decades, in and around raising four children, until a 2007 fire in the steeple caused water damage that meant the pipe organ had to be disassembled and repaired. But Proctor was a mindful steward; she’d closed all the stops on the instrument, and Bill Czelusniak, president of Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal Inc. Organbuilders, Restoration & Maintenance of Northampton, was able to restore it to its former glory. When the South Egremont Congregationalists found themselves unable to raise funds to fix their 1833 building, Proctor and Czelusniak began what first seemed a fruitless search for a new home for the organ. That was in 2019, the same year the Marbletown consistory decided a pipe organ would be nice. In January of 2021, Marbletown Reformed member Kathie Hikade’s husband found something on Marketplace that
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What's it all about? Ann Belmont BSP Reporter
my immediate response was, ‘Is that organ available?’ Sather put me in touch with Ellen, and it was on.” Rehoming a pipe organ is more akin to an adoption – or perhaps to neurosurgery on an elephant – than to, say, selling a grand piano, and far more physically demanding. A pipe organ’s weight is calculated at 600 pounds per “stop,” and taking one apart, let alone reassembling it, is a painstaking task. Though Proctor and Czelusniak had had four or five nibbles, no congregation had ultimately been willing to give the 1896 J.W. Steere a home. Until now. Phone calls and emails flew. Czelusniak traveled to Marbletown to take some measurements and found that the instrument would just fit. The South Egremont congregation agreed to fund the disassembly and relocation if the Marbletown folks would do the rest. The Marbletown folks were unsure, until an anonymous donor started the organ installation fund by giving 25% of the thousands of dollars needed. The balcony was shored up, and the
Residents of Rochester may be forgiven for not knowing what to think about their town’s potential purchase of the Skate Time 209 building at the corner of Route 209 and Mettacahonts Road, a question they are being asked to vote upon in a Dec. 7 referendum. The BSP talked to town supervisor Mike Baden to get his explanation of how and why the town has been exploring the purchase of this 30,000-square-foot building. Sometime in May, Baden said, he got a phone call from the current ownership of Skate Time and its 6 acres of land, proposing the idea of the Town of Rochester buying the property. The owners had acquired Skate Time before the pandemic and briefly operated it as a skate facility before they shut down for renovations and then were forced to stay closed due to the pandemic. After he got that call, Baden related, “I brought the idea before the board in an executive session – acquiring property is an executive session discussion – and our attorney advised that we get an appraisal, so we did.” In July the appraisal came back: an estimate of $ 2.1 million. The eventual price agreed upon was $2,060, 000. “The cost of the building will be paid over 30 years, with bonds,” Baden explained. “We could possibly recoup some of the money by leasing or selling some of the land the town currently owns.” Before actually buying it, he said, “we will be conducting a full environmental study and an inspection of the property.” Baden acknowledged that the current owners of Skate Time paid far less for the property – around $1.3 million – but said, “the appraisal is what the market [value] is now … The former carpet store [in Accord] is on the market for over $2 million,” he added. The town's assessor had set Skate Time’s value at a mere $835,000, but its market value is whatever the market will bear. “There are houses in this town that are selling for four times – and more – their
See Organ, page 5
See Skate Time, page 8
Richard Frary of Czelusniak et Dugal Inc. working on the reassembly of the organ
she’d been craving: used church pews – exactly what she wanted for her dining room. The family headed up to South Egremont to rendezvous with the seller, a man named Sather Duke, who’d just purchased a historic church he planned to convert to a woodworking shop. Kathie will never forget that day. “Scott was wearing his Stone Ridge Fire Department T-shirt, and it turned out that Sather had lived in Accord, so there was that immediate connection,” she says. “He remembered driving by our church many times. So we’re looking at the pews – they were perfect – and my daughter Sierra, who’s studied piano, spots this organ and immediately asks if she can play it.” As Sierra began to play “Amazing Grace” from memory, her mother pulled out her phone and sent the video to her good friend Becky Collins. “I sorta knew we had been wanting an organ, but I mostly just wanted Becky to hear Sierra play,” says Hikade. “So my phone lights up with this video,” says Collins, “and there’s Sierra playing a pipe organ, and instead of ‘awww, pretty,’
Page , November 19, 2021, BlueStone Press
Growing up in a hotel in Accord Where did you grow up? Can you tell us about it? I grew up in Accord. My grandparents, who were part of the wave of Jews fleeing their homelands in Europe in the early 1900s, were recipients of an interest-free loan that supported immigrants in starting over. They bought a farm in Accord and, to help make ends meet, also started a boarding house, which morphed into a small, family-run resort hotel called Chait’s: a hideaway for delightful, talented and creative guests. It was a small, progressive resort that my parents took over in 1956, when I was a baby. That is where I grew up. Our life during the week was pretty “normal,” meaning school and chores and play time, but weekends, holidays and summers were when the guests arrived, and our life became kind of crazy and commuVisit the folks nal. I remember my father playing next door “Wake Up, Wake Up, Darling Corey” over the PA system in the morning to wake up the guests until eventually there was a rebellion. We resorted to ringing a bell hanging off of the maple tree in the front yard. My father loved music and musicals. All day long you would hear “Man of La Mancha” and “Fiddler on the Roof” and classical music. The days were filled with fun activities like volleyball tournaments, tennis, arts and crafts, nature walks and, depending upon the season, sledding, skating or swimming. We were a family-run resort, and I started my hotel career as a babysitter and was known as the baby whisperer. I then graduated to camp counselor, waitressing and working in the kitchen. Children even ate on a different schedule so the adults would have grown-up time. The evenings were filled with various activities, from Thursday talent night to classical music concerts, Borscht Belt comedians and entertainers on Saturday and folk dancing. We all grew up singing and dancing. New Year's Eve was always a big affair, starting with cocktail hour, then dinner, and then after all that a midnight buffet. The summer marathon of activity started Fourth of July weekend and ended abruptly on Labor Day. I remember my family sitting in the lobby –shell-shocked – just staring out the window every Labor Day afternoon.
Have you always lived in the Hudson Valley? If not, where have you lived? I, like so many others, left the area for work or college. I lived in (city of) Rochester when I was married, then moved to Northern California for several years. I came home regularly and moved back permanently over 17 years ago to spend the last years of my parents’ life with them … I always found it hard to be away from here.
Laura Finestone Age: 60s Profession: Career and business coach Town: Stone Ridge
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Dinners with my family. It was my parents’ hard and fast rule that we ate together at night. We had lively discussions and debates about current affairs. We also had weekly visits to the Ellenville Library or the bookmobile in Accord, where I would come home with stacks of books to read, only to run out long before our next trip to town. Tell us about the guests who stayed in your hotel? It was so varied. Our clientele was mainly from the city, and driving up to the country was an affordable way to take a vacation or spend the summer away. They stayed in hotel rooms or rented bungalows. Many considered it a “home away from home,” and their children grew up with us … starting out as guests, then aging out of camp and returning as camp counselors, wait staff or kitchen help, saving up to put themselves through college. The guest list included musicians who not only were guests but also performers, actors and even a Nobel Laureate. Dancers, talented athletes, artists and activists. I was so fortunate to grow up with so many people who came back year after year and became part of our extended family. Do you have any desire to open a hotel of your own? Not really. I think I lived that life already. And I am not as gregarious as my parents.
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What do you do for a living? Can you tell us a little bit about what you do? I work as a career and business coach. What I love most about my current job is that I can support people who have taken on starting a career or making a career change through education. It is a privilege. I also volunteer for environmental organizations – Riverkeeper for one. I also chaired the Rochester Environmental Conservation Commission for 10 years, following in my father’s footsteps, and spearheaded the effort to procure a grant that funded our Natural Heritage Plan. I now chair the Rondout Creek Watershed Alliance. What changes have you seen since returning to the Hudson Valley? Are you kidding me? It is beginning to feel like nothing is the same. This whole area used to be dairy farms, which have all but disappeared. What has been great to see is the growth of agri-business and the plethora of small, organic farms and CSAs. Many people who vacationed here returned to buy houses as second homes and then moved here permanently. There is certainly no lack of things to do. I watched things really start to change after 9/11 and then again after Hurricane Sandy. And now, since the pandemic, it is starting to feel like a very different place than anything I remember growing up. What are your favorite things to do in our area? I have a seasonal love affair with Lake Minnewaska. My parents always had a hard time getting me out of the water when I was a kid, and now I have a hard time getting myself out. I feel so fortunate that we have such a great lake to swim in. When the lake closes I love walking the rail trails with my friends. – Compiled by Jennifer Muck-Dietrich, BSP Reporter
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BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021, Page
Town Board debates funding first aid unit Parete makes statement on town marijuana forum Brooke Stelzer BSP Reporter The Marbletown Town Board meeting was held in-person on Nov. 16. Five board members were present, including Rich Parete, chairman and town supervisor, along with board members Eric Stewart, Daisy Foote, Don LaFera and Tim Hunt. There were two resolutions on the agenda, and they carried, 5-0. There was no further discussion on the Nov. 4 minutes, with the exception of councilman Hunt’s request to note his effort to get the 2022 tax increase as low as possible. The notes were amended, approved, and the conversation was closed. The first resolution was to discuss and vote on the 2022 General Highway and Special District budget. “Because we’ve taken on the ambulance services, the emergency services, the $315,000 is a very important investment,” began councilman Hunt. “There was a lot of work this year with Daisy and Don working with the departments on how we can have 24/7 service. In the info session we had, there was a lot of support. But how to pay for it, we never really settled on. This is my main concern. We’ve gone back and forth with Rochester and Rosendale trying to get them to pay a fair share, and it was anywhere between $30,000 and $40,000, and now it seems it might be zero.” “Rochester is going to go with Kerhonkson-Accord [First Aid Squad], their roughly 116 residents’ homes. We know Rochester is going to be out of the coverage area. We won’t be covering that area,” said Parete. The Town of Rosendale is still deciding whether to join the unit. If so, their contribution could be around $30,000. “So we’re shifting a bit, and we didn’t know what the figures are to cover that, $30,000, $40,000, maybe zero. What is the burden to Marbletown?” asked Hunt. “We had a really good study presentation, we saw where the services were going, and I’m hoping we can continue to continue thinking about that, with where to house that [new ambulance service]. Who will be on the board for that?” “We’ve advertised, we’ve had two people interested so far,” said Parete. “If anybody here wants to serve on the ambulance board, we do need two or three more people, it’s going to need more people, and then we will interview,” he continued. “[They will] review operations, review the budget and make recommendations to the town.” Clarification was made that this is the commissioner board that will serve the town, not the board at the rescue squad, which is different board of directors. “So how to pay for the $315,000 [to fund the ambulance service] … I understand in the budget, we’ve allocated $100,000 from reserve funds as we had more revenues last year than expected, which is really great to hear,” continued Hunt. “We end up in the budget with a 10.55% tax increase. That is what I’m concerned about. I’m thinking about people who are living on the edge with their budget, I’m thinking about seniors, I’m thinking about fixed incomes, I’m thinking about students or young couples, that every dollar matters. I know we have kept our taxes low in this town, and we are very proud of that in general. For me, to go to a jump that quickly is something I would like us to
really consider a bit more. For some, every dollar really counts. Having a large chunk like this, after a tradition of sometimes zero increase, seems excessive to me and some of the people I’ve been talking to in the community as well. I’m just proposing … we have this Cares Act Covid Fund. It was intended to really support the impact of Covid on businesses and essential services for communities like ours to fill gaps that are there. I’m proposing a compromise. We have $582,000 from the Cares Act. I’m proposing we consider allocating $100,000 of that now to offset the ambulance emergency service. So that this year, we can consider how to do a more sustainable approach. I don’t know what adding $100,000 would do to the percentage increase, but I’d like to know what it would be.” As a note, the town received $281,000 from the Cares Act in 2021 and will receive another $281,000 in the spring of 2022. “We’d have to plug it in, but $100,000 would probably bring it down to a 6% tax increase,” said Parete. “I would say more like $25,000 to $50,000 extra,” added Foote. “I agree with you and I see what you’re saying, and we don’t want taxes to go up, up, up. I’m a little nervous about this new pay structure, if it’s even sustainable. At some point, they may not have enough volunteers. I think what you’re saying will give us time to look at all of these things. So, let’s use some of this money and we can talk tonight about how much it should be. I think it’s a great way to transition, but I want to be honest with taxpayers that it costs money to have an ambulance service, and so it’s gonna cost people more money. I looked at my taxes; it’s gonna be about $110 dollars more a year. But you’re right, for someone living on reduced income, maybe on Social Security, that $110 a year would be a lot of money. I don’t want to be cavalier about this, but 10% sounds like ‘whoa.’ But when you really break it down, that is the number.” “I think we should take it out of the general funds,” said Parete. “Any monies we spend from it, we don’t have to report till the spring. Here’s the kicker: If we take $30,000 out of reserves, and then Rosendale contributes $30,000, we don’t take anything out of reserves. We just don’t know if Rosendale is going to join.” “For me, it’s not how to pay for it. For me, $100,000 is not a big deal, in regard to what we are spending it on. I’m committed to get more funds this year, infrastructure funds, but we have to be really aggressive about it,” said Hunt. Various council members weighed in that, year over year, the town would likely not be able to subsidize the ambulance service. Parete cited the town has given the rescue squad $110,000 out of reserve funds in 2021. He continued that reserve funds were also used for one-time expenses, such as buying the municipal center, paying for a generator, trails, parking and the pickleball court. “In my opinion, it’s not good policy to pay for something in ongoing cost from reserve money. I don’t think it’s good policy. It’s OK for one-time shots. If you’re talking about $100,000, you’re talking about taking $300,000 out of the reserves in basically eight months. It’s a lot. And at the end of the day, we’re going to have to make that $300,000 up by raising taxes in the next year or two.” “The Covid money we want to spend on something that is going to last a generation or two or three. I want it to be something where we can drive down the road, we can all see the fruits of that money. I
See Marbletown, page 4
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Page , November 19, 2021, BlueStone Press
Veterans Day The Town of Rochester had its annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11, 2021, at 11 a.m.. The main speakers were veterans Troy Dunn and Stewart McKenzie; Mike Baden, town supervisor, read the list of the names gathered thus far for the future “Honor Roll,” asking those present to spread the word and contact town clerk Kate Gundberg and/or him with veterans’ names not yet included.
Photo by Manuela Michailescu
School upgrades, district mission decided Amber Kelly BSP Reporter Back in 2014, New York voters approved a smart school initiative, and of the $2 billion awarded to schools, the Rondout Valley School District received a bit over $2 million. The six approved categories for use of this funding include: classroom connectivity, classroom technology, community connection, pre-K classroom improvements, elimination of temporary trailer classrooms, school security and safety. The funds can’t be used for salaries, software or professional development. Phase 1, completed in 2018, included upgrading network switch infrastructure, replacing fiber optic and Cat A cables, and
expanding wireless access; $1,251,969 worth of the project is complete. Phase 2 goal of high tech security includes replacing obsolete classroom communication system (phones) with a voiceover IP emergency classroom communication system that will cost $365,551. The preliminary plan will be posted on the district website for 30 days, and then a public hearing will be held. The Cisco 7841 phones will be in the classrooms and have location alert for 911 calls, will record calls, allow incoming and outgoing calls, and have an answering service. The administration phone servers are 11 years old. This plan would unify the entire school system so the elementary school phone system would no longer be separate.
A districtwide climate survey is planned and a “thought exchange” will be generated by a sub-committee. A lot of what the school is implementing is from the International Institute of Restorative Practices. Student school board member Emily Bordalone visited Kerhonkson Elementary School with Superintendent Dr. Joseph Morgan on Oct. 28 at lunch time to meet with the second and third graders. Among the things the children told her is that the entrance area is confusing and they don’t like it at all. The gravel on the driveway is painful to fall on, but the food is good. The next meeting will be on Monday, Nov. 15, at Marbletown Elementary. The Strategic Plan Committee worked to create a vision that would be clear to
all constituents including the children. Consultants told them that vision is “the guiding star,” and everything must support it, or why do it? Mission is what is actively done each day. The committee proposes the following. Vision: “Our students will grow into critical thinkers and lifelong learners with integrity, confidence, and compassion.” Mission: “To create an inclusive, welcoming educational community where all students can find their purpose and achieve their goals.” Values: “Diversity, kindness, creativity and growth.” The board voted to accept the wording. The only public comment was a request that public comments continue to be accepted via email for equal accessibility, as done during the pandemic.
New sub-divisions in progress Amber Kelly BSP Reporter Scott Boyd, Tracey Kellogg, Sharon Klein, Harry Hanson, David Cobb, Dan Procter, Paris Perry, and Shawn Marks attended the Marbletown Planning Board meeting on Nov. 6. First on the agenda was the Bone Hollow subdivision. Construction times were reduced to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The driveway may need to be shifted, and the owner is open to it. The public hearing was closed. A 52-acre parcel at 48 Woodland Road is proposed to be divided into 46 acres for which no further division will be allowed. The remaining 6 acres will be divided into two lots of 3 acres each. Septic is approved, and the proposed building sites have the proper set-back from the town road. Justin B. and Jacqueline Swisher are looking to sell a couple of divisions of their property as vacant lots with a shared
Marbletown from page 3 think that’s what most of us have said. So, I would rather take it out of the reserve funds than the Covid money,” added Parete. Parete noted that if an ambulance service was not added, Marbletown would experience a zero percent tax increase. “We’re adding a service that I believe the public wants, that I think we all believe, the public wants.” Parete continued that there are multiple projects ahead that will require funding, such as the highway garage, housing options and Grady Park. “We don’t want to bleed us dry so we can’t do these other projects.” With the board at a standstill, Parete
driveway onto private Swisher Hollow Road. The original lot line was made without neighbor information. The proposed lot line adjustment is equal trade. The town agreed to give a small section of the road near the intersection to the owners for clarity of road repair and liability. This decision is in line with the town’s decision to move along property that is not doing good for anyone. On County Route 2 in Kripplebush, a 19.8-acre lot is proposed to be subdivided into parcels. They have just found a person to do an archeological study. The idea is to look for things like Native American relics in case an area needs to be protected. The public hearing will remain open. A property across from Lydia’s Café bordered by Kripplebush Creek is potentially being purchased. It is in a B-2 district and has a 10-bedroom hotel that is 100 feet from property line and has accessory buildings. The hotel consists of five 15’x30’ rooms on each side of a central
hallway. The buyers plan to keep the trees in the back 14 acres and requested that the board declare themselves lead agency for a Type 1 SEQR. The DEC will need to be consulted for wetlands, as well as the N.Y. State Department of Environmental Conservation for endangered species, also the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. The public hearing is set for Dec. 13. The Hasbrouck House proposed to turn music down to 60 decibels at 10 p.m. and off at 11 p.m. They will keep a log at 15minute intervals of the decibel level. Afterparties are for hotel residents only. Any decibel violation will be sent in writing. Public comment included the opinion that the currently approved 90 decibels limit is too high, a question as to what happens if three neighbors call to request lower volume during an event, and the question as to why the supposed onetime-use large tent was left up all summer. One comment was that the sound engineer remediation suggestion to have the
band face the woods did not help neighbors on the other side of those woods. Regarding the proposed subdivision, the Hasbrouck House owner was originally looking to purchase 35 acres of property to create a net-zero home subdivision. When the sale did not go through, they looked to their own backyard. The homes and accessory apartments will be nearby the property line, and the Stone Ridge Orchard is concerned about impact on the farmland. Emergency vehicle access must be verified by a letter from the fire chief to the board. The Planning Board requested a map of exterior lighting and hours of illumination, as well as a safety lighting plan. Although the Hasbrouck House will offer cleaning and meal service to owners of the proposed subdivision homes, that service is a private contract. They could put in a sidewalk if the town puts in a crosswalk. The board said eventually the town hopes to have sidewalks on both sides of Route 209 but cannot require it.
made a motion to take $35,000 and apply it to the MFAU, stating again that the board has until April to decide if the funds will come from either the reserve funds or the Covid fund. However, the 2022 budget has to be submitted to the county on Nov. 20. “If Rosendale joins, it’s a moot point,” he added. The board asked how much $35,000 would impact a tax increase. Parete speculated perhaps 1.5%, taking the tax increase below 10%. Upon further discussion about the potentially minimal impact of $35,000, Parete amended his motion and raised the proposed contribution to $50,000. The motion was seconded. All members voted in favor to add the $50,000 amount to the MFAU 2022 budget. In the general budget, the 2022 town insurance budget line item was voted on and passed, 5-0.
Resolution 102 was presented, which allows the Town Board to waive the 30-day waiting period for the liquor authority. Currently, when someone applies for a liquor license or renewal, there is a 30-day waiting period in Albany before the application is reviewed. With the new resolution, any requests for the waiting period to be waived will be granted, so the review of the license would start immediately. The resolution passed, 5-0. On Thursday, Nov. 18, the Town Board held a public forum at the Community Center to discuss the new marijuana law and options that the town has. The municipality has until Dec. 31 to opt out of the law of retail sales or allowing consumption. The town can opt out of one or the other, or both. If the town opts out, the public can force a permissive referendum to vote to overturn the town’s decision.
If the town decides to opt in, there is no recourse for the community to say they do not want marijuana sales. The board can zone areas of the town where they want sales and consumption, as well as areas that they do not. “I support the town allowing dispensary and consumption sites. I look at them the same as liquor and beer stores. If you don’t want to buy it, you can drive past it. We are going to look at areas of town we want to allow sales or consumption,” said Parete. “We’re thinking about changing the name of the town to ‘Stoned’ Ridge!” he joked. In other business, discussions continued on both a fence law and amending the accessory apartment law, both of which the board is working on. Parete noted the board may hold public hearings for these laws in December.
BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021, Page
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Organ from page 1 pipe organ arrived in Stone Ridge early last summer, contained in a great many huge boxes. “The salvation of the instrument came at the 11th hour. The size of the respective church sanctuaries was almost identical, making for an appropriate musical match, in terms of sound capacity of the organ,” wrote Czelusniak in an email, calling the re-homing “perhaps, the most serendipitous project of our 50 years at this work …From the perspective of the Organbuilders, this project is a complete triumph, at every level, for which we are very grateful.” The serendipity just kept coming. It turned out that Ellen Proctor and her husband had just dissolved their dairy farm (Collins and her husband are dairy farmers), and the auctioneer had been Dave Rama, the brother of Marbletown Reformed member Nick Rama. Sather Duke discovered, when the organ was removed, that he had a previously unusable rose window in his balcony. Some flooring that had to be removed from the Marbletown balcony to give the organ a precious inch or space turned out to be fine chestnut, perfect for some work on the parsonage, with enough left over to craft the consistory a handsome meeting table. “We’ve received an abundance of gifts with this organ,” says Collins. ”Once we decided to say yes, it’s been a flood of gifts, an overflowing of joy, music and abundant love. It’s almost complete now – we’ll have it, along with the elegant wall sconces Sather gave us, for our Christmas Eve candlelight mass. And it will forever be a part of our Thanksgiving story.” Proctor is grateful too. “Becky sent me a picture the other day, and it just looks like it belongs there,” she says. “it just seems to be what should have happened, I couldn't be happier about what they’ve done with
Marbletown Reformed Church sanctuary with the organ showing behind the pews
it. I can’t wait to hear it there. Its whole purpose is to bring joy, and we’re so glad it will continue to do that.” Kara Jacobsen, Collins’ Worship and Music Team co-chair, says the whole process has been an education. “I’ve always thought pipe organs look and sound impressive, but until recently, that’s all I knew,” she says. “While the inner workings still baffle me, I now know that the pipe organ is the only instrument specifically designed to accompany the human voice; it’s built the same way, with air being pushed through the pipes. Knowing that, I’m excited to get our choir singing with this beautiful instrument … “I know Becky mentioned a blind woman’s response to the organ being played – that was me. While I can see enough to know this is a physically beautiful instrument, what impressed me most was the physical feeling when I first heard this organ played,” says Jacobsen. “A small group of us had gone into the balcony to look at the organ, so I was standing close
enough to touch it when the first notes soared out. “I felt the music physically fill me, the vibrations resonating in my feet and chest, and I felt for those few moments as though I’d stepped into a pool of tangible grace. I could feel the difference that would make when it came time for our choir to sing with it. When you feel the music in your chest it's no longer an accompaniment. You feel the music the same way you feel your own voice inside you, and so you and it become one perfectly blended sound, like sugar melting into butter to make caramel for the ears.” Besides its debut at the church’s Christmas candlelight mass, a special concert in spring is planned for the community and for the people who’ve worked to make the project a reality. Proctor says Collins and Jacobsen have told her she can play a tune, and she can hardly wait. And the host of the NPR program "Pipe Dreams" on Minnesota Public Radio has requested a recording of the organ accompanying the
Top, Marbletown Reformed Church, below, First Congregational Church of South Egremont, where the pipe organ discovered
congregation as they sing a hymn, to be played during one of his shows. Now that will be some joyful noise, indeed.
Page , November 19, 2021, BlueStone Press
Briefs
The State of the Rondout Creek A report from the trenches Ann Belmont BSP Reporter
Back row on left, John Murphy, owner of Murphy Realty Group with group. Photo by Photo by Ava Yurichson, IHeart Media
Local canine foundation wins the jackpot The Nothing But Love Canine Foundation, headquartered in Bloomington, has won $25,000 from Murphy Realty Group in Kingston. Nothing But Love Canine was founded in 2020 by Valerie and Bruce Ellsworth. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance with spaying, neutering and heartworm treatment for rescue dogs in need. The foundation’s core belief is that every dog should have access to spay, neuter and heartworm treatment to ensure healthy dogs can be placed in permanent loving homes. In addition, they hold to the principle that dogs don’t belong in shelters, and the foundation’s goal is that there will no longer be a need for “kill” shelters. For information, visit loveforcanines.com.
RV BOE welcomes two student representatives Two Rondout Valley School District students were recently selected to represent the student body on the Board of Education for the 2021-2022 school year. Emily Bartolone, a junior at RVHS, took her oath of office at the Sept. 28 BOE meeting. Returning student representative Tanner Poremba, a senior, took his oath of office at the Oct. 12 meeting. Both students have ideas and goals that they plan to pursue during their time as student representatives to the board and have already begun asking their peers for input in order to establish some goals and priorities. More accessible vegan and vegetarian options in the cafeteria, increased LGBTQ education, and mindful spending are a few topics they hope to tackle this year. “I’m happy to be here,” Tanner remarked. “These board members are all volunteers who work hard to make my education better, and I’m happy to be a part of that.” The student representatives are responsible for making sure that all students have a voice, even at the elementary level. They will work together with the BOE to establish a plan to involve students in every building, and at every grade level.
In October, the Rondout Creek Watershed Alliance, which monitors water quality in the Rondout and the smaller streams that flow into it, held a “Virtual Summit,” calling together a panel drawn from the RCWA, Riverkeeper and other organizations to talk about the health of our local river and its tributaries – and what people can do to make it better. Eric Stewart, a member of both the Marbletown Town Board and the Marbletown Environmental Conservation Commission, reported, “We did water testing, not only of the Rondout, but of the tributaries that feed into it. We found out that there were not any significant problems from leaks from septic systems … but unfortunately the bacterial counts in the Rondout are high, high enough that we recommend people do not go swimming.” Jen Epstein from Riverkeeper, a nonprofit devoted to protecting the health of the entire Hudson watershed, reported on testing for bacteria indicative of fecal contamination in the Rondout from May through October every year since 2012. “Our river monitoring is a community science program,” she noted. Water samples are collected by volunteers from the Rochester and Wawarsing ECC, the High Falls Conservancy, and others; they are then analyzed by Riverkeeper in a Kingston lab. What Riverkeeper has found, Epstein said, is that “the Rondout Creek is really only safe for swimming a quarter of the time … but some areas are better than others.” All contribute to contaminating the Rondout, she said, but “the most common [trace contaminants] are bird and human … they really leave cow and horse far behind." Analysis of Rondout Valley soils has led Riverkeeper to the conclusion that “Rondout watershed soils are [generally] not well suited to septic systems with leach fields.” Epstein said that the large, institutional septic systems in the watershed are subject to lax regulations, infrequent inspections and lax enforcement. She added, “One note about High Falls: When we did our study there, we did see water quality getting worse through the hamlet.” They didn't have enough data to determine the reason. Sebastian Pilliteri, also of Riverkeeper, said, “We know we have septic systems that might be failing; now we need to put policies into place to address those conditions.” His examples: Municipalities around Lake George now have a requirement that all septic systems be inspected before the transfer of a deed when a house is sold. Towns like Woodstock have a program of periodic inspections. “One step further,” said Pilliteri, is to have regional management and shared septic ordinances, like the Keuka Watershed Improvement Cooperative in the Finger Lakes, which includes all the municipalities that use Keuka Lake for drinking water. Tom Niekrewicz, the water resources manager from the NYS DEC, explained something he called the Stream Index
Rick Jones with a tire pulled out of the Rondout at Riverkeeper volunteer event, 2019
Tool. This helps identify the water quality of streams within the Hudson watershed, encompassing 13 counties on both sides of the river from New York to Albany. The DEC gathers data about farm runoff, dams, animal habitat, the presence of brook trout and so on, creating from that data what’s called a Biological Assessment Profile (BAP) for water quality. The good news, as Niekrewicz saw it, is that the Rondout’s tributaries scored mostly average to good, or "high," condition on the BAP scale. (The DEC has a colorcoded map of every little brook, each showing its BAP rating.) Andrew Faust, a member of RCWA and the director of the Center for Bioregional Living in Ellenville, advocated taking a regional view of land use to safeguard water quality – for example, protecting riversides from most development while encouraging development in better locations. He also spoke at length about biogas made from organic waste as an alternative, cleaner way to treat sewage. He showed slides of an industrial-scale biodigester plant in China that replaced an old-style sewage treatment plant while simultaneously creating biogas as fuel. “In Sweden it’s 20% cheaper at the pump than gasoline,” Faust reported. The EPA so far only recommends using biodigest-
ers as a way to treat large-scale agricultural waste, but Faust envisions a future for the technology in this area. “I think it’s an exciting opportunity that we could advocate for in the Rondout watershed … we have a huge volume of organics that has to be gotten out of the waste stream.” Emily Vail of the Hudson River Watershed Alliance acts as a liaison between local and regional organizations. She said there are many local alliances like the RCWA keeping tabs on the waterways that feed into the Hudson. They can compare notes with one another at biannual "watershed roundtables" about grants they’ve received, about what they’ve done that has worked and what hasn’t. They are also planning for the future, “not only thinking about water quality, but also flood conditions.” For more about the organizations cited in this article and what they do, see the resources listed below. NYS Water Resources Institute: thomas.niekrewicz@dec.ny.gov Rondout Creek Watershed Alliance: rondoutcreekwatershedalliance.org Center for Bioregional Living: www.permaculturenewyork.com Riverkeeper: www.riverkeeper.org
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BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021, Page
Hobby farming fallout
How the ripple effect of pandemic homesteading is impacting local animal rescues Chelsea Miller BSP Reporter When much of the world ground to a halt in March 2020, many people used to the hustle and bustle of the 9 to 5 work week were suddenly left with significantly more time on their hands. The first sweeping trend of making your own sourdough quickly grew to encompass an influx of new homeowners upstate, larger than usual vegetable gardens, and the competition to secure a rescue dog reached an all-time high. In the face of the pandemic the desire to homestead was on the rise, with chickens to match. The American Poultry Association told NPR, “Backyard poultry has been on the upswing all over, especially in the rural areas, for the last five or 10 years." Nancy Smith, owner of the Cackle Hatchery in Lebanon, Missouri, said, “Raising your own chickens and even your own broilers – it’s become a lot more fashionable to do it.” At the dawn of the pandemic, hatcheries began reporting record orders for chicks. Freedom Ranger Hatchery, which is in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, reported the demand was through the roof, with one employee of the hatchery being quoted as saying, “We've never seen anything like this, and I’ve been here since 1964.” As we begin to emerge and go back into our workplaces, schools, and general overall living in society, and as the time we have to commit to our initial homesteading efforts wanes, a question is begged: What happens to all those chickens? Well, as it turns out, local farm sanctuaries started getting quite a lot of calls.
Rachel McCrystal, Executive Director of the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in High Falls and a flock of rescue chickens at the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary
Rachel McCrystal, executive director of the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in High Falls, says that calls have been pouring in from overwhelmed, now ex-homesteaders requesting that the sanctuary take the flock they no longer have the time to care for. “We are swamped,” said McCrystal via a recent blog post. Veronica Finnegan, the communications manager at the Catskill Animal Sanctuary, says that they realized early on in the pandemic that they were facing a problem. “We got a devastating voicemail from a postal worker in 2020, begging us to do something about the chicks sent through the mail who were dying in transit, and while we have often gotten calls about unwanted ‘oops roosters’ (chicks purchased as hens for backyard farming who turned out to be roosters), we saw an increase in 2020 as more people began backyard chicken farming in earnest,” says Finnegan.
McCrystal says that having a flock of backyard chickens is not as easy as it might appear at first glance. “You are not a mother hen and will likely not do a good job of raising that baby,” she says. “Many of these babies being bought now will live short lives due to human neglect and ignorance. But if your hen does makes it to adulthood, she will now suffer because her body has been bred to overproduce eggs. Human breeding manipulated her reproductive system so she can lay up to 300 eggs a year instead of the 12-14 annually she might naturally lay as part of her efforts to have babies.” McCrystal continues, “And we can’t take all these hens. Nor can we take the baby roosters who are being accidentally sold right now because one out of every 10 babies is incorrectly sexed. In a few months, all of us rescuers and farm sanctuaries are going to start to get calls from people who want to give us their accidental rooster, their hens they
can’t care for, the sick baby they neglected, and then (eventually) their older hens who stop laying and are no longer wanted.” Compounding the issue is that with the pandemic closures, sanctuaries’ fundraising capabilities were also impacted, and with that the capacity to take on new rescues. Says Finnegan, “The pandemic certainly impacted the Sanctuary; we lost 30% of our income overnight in 2020. We offer on-site tours, in-person vegan cooking classes, and we have a bed & breakfast. All of these vital programs were shut down overnight. We continued to do our vital work: rescue and education. We have since returned on a smaller scale to our in-person tours and opened our B&B on a limited basis.” Lizz Truitt, marketing and communications director for the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary reports that they have had a similar experience. “Donations are down,” says Truitt, “We’ve really struggled this year to get back to where we were via pre-Covid. But every day there is a medical need, every day the 400 rescued animals at the Sanctuary rely on us to provide them food, water, shelter and proper medical care. Not to mention the weekly inquiries we are receiving for animals in need of placement – the work doesn’t stop.” McCrystal says that when it comes to pandemic lessons, over-ambitious homesteaders may have got it all wrong. “Be kind, live small, stop exploiting animals and risking a future with even more deadly zoonotic pandemics,” she says. “We need to stop consuming animals – not moving the disease risk and cruelty into our backyards. Plant a garden.”
Page , November 19, 2021, BlueStone Press
Skate time from page 1 assessed value," Baden commented. The referendum was quickly scheduled so the town wouldn’t lose the opportunity to buy it for community use, because Baden said, “according to the owners they have two other offers to buy the building,” neither of which would allow for community use. “One is a warehouse, one is a film studio.” However, there is another party interested in Skate Time, the BSP learned. A spokesman from SOS Capital Group stated that SOS “has an interest in purchasing the building, maintaining it as a skating facility, and hopefully adding to its amenities. With regards to the skateboard portion, which was ripped out, it’s up in the air” what would replace it. The spokesman added that “we might even be open to having town offices there with a separate entrance.” He affirmed that SOS had been in contract for Skate Time 209 in January 2019, with an offer of $1.45 million, although SOS later withdrew the offer. “This was a contract to purchase an existing business … a business that brought in income. Right now it’s a dead horse.” He offered his opinion that the $2.05 million the town has agreed to pay is “well beyond unjustified.” Although Baden didn't take a position on whether the town should buy Skate Time, he did offer a vision of how the town could use the building. “The idea is to combine the community center, the town hall, and the courthouse into one space, the former skateboard area … it’s about 10,000 square feet of wide open space with 20-plus-foot-high ceilings.” Would a second floor need to be constructed? “We
OPENS 8 NOV. 2
haven’t gotten into those discussions … right now the only discussion is, do we acquire the building or not? We don’t have the detail level that some people want ... What we construct in the office area will depend upon what we can afford … people that are throwing out price quotes are assuming a specific structure. It could be as simple as open-air walls with cubicles.” Baden imagined keeping the existing snack bar and having a large open area for recreation and events. He gave the example of the basketball program, which currently relies on Kerhonkson Elementary School. “We could have roller-skating nights. We could have community dances. Our senior exercise classes, we have so many people that we’re running out of space, and we’re running two, even three sessions … We could have a Battle of the Bands like they used to have at Skate Time. We could have community dinners … the possibilities are endless. I think it’s an opportunity for the town.” What would happen to the recently renovated Harold Lipton Community Center? Baden said the board isn’t making any plans until they get the results of the referendum. “If the voters say yes, then we’ll move forward. We could sell it, we could lease it …” He added that the renovations “didn’t cost the town a penny," having been financed by the NY Rising grant program. Being the recipient of that grant, however, means that “we are obligated to maintain the building as an emergency shelter for the next five years.” When asked whether he thought the presence of Town Hall and its employees make Veterans Park a safer place, Baden responded, “Most of the time when those spaces are used, it’s not during business hours,” and in any case “the highway department will remain there.” Couldn’t the
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Skate Time 209 building at the corner of Route 209 and Mettacahonts Road
existing town hall building be expanded to create more space? “We absolutely could [do that],” he agreed; Skate Time, however, would provide space for events and recreation as well as town offices. “It’s the voters’ choice whether they want a recreation center… If the voters say no, then we’ll go back to the drawing board.” The present Town Hall, besides being cramped, needs work, Baden pointed out. Every year the old furnace has to have extensive maintenance done. “We priced a new HVAC system, and it’s in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yes, it’s cheaper than buying a $2 million building. I understand that … a ‘no’ vote is OK,” he emphasized. “We’re not trying to force this on the residents. We’re trying to get their opinion. We’re getting a 30,000square-foot space that is essentially wide open. Does the town want this or doesn’t the town want this? I wanted the town’s 5,300 voters to decide, not the Town Board members." The Rochester Republican Committee held a meeting in the Accord community center on Nov. 15 to discuss the purchase
of Skate Time. Tim Bunch, the RRC chair, said in a later interview, "Our view is that we want to move into the modern age of clean energy. Skate Time 209 is a metal warehouse structure … the insulation would need to be upgraded ... it was never brought up to the new energy-efficient standards.” The current system uses forced-air oil heat. Bunch pointed out that there would be a major price tag attached to changing the HVAC system to a more efficient one such as geothermal, as well as redesigning and rebuilding the interior. “We could build a town hall on land that we already own, saving tax dollars – we [the Town of Rochester] own plenty of property – it could have solar panels on the roof…I would like to see [Skate Time] stay a private skating rink and a skateboard park.” (As previously noted, the current owners demolished the skateboarding area.) “I was a skateboarder in my youth,” Bunch said. "Nobody wanted skateboarders around.” When Skate Time 209 opened, “We had a place to go.” Hours for the referendum will be noon-9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7. All voting will take place at the Harold Lipton Community Center at 15 Tobacco Road, Accord. Those who need to mail in an absentee ballot can download an application from the Ulster County Board of Elections website, or stop by Town Hall in Accord and pick one up from the clerk's office; the application has a list of acceptable reasons for not voting in person. Vote online by Dec. 7, and mailed ballots should be postmarked by Dec. 7. If you mail in your ballot, mark "Special Election" on the envelope and send it to: Ulster County Board of Elections 284 Wall St. Kingston, NY 12401
BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021, Page
Area food pantries prepare for Thanksgiving Many people work hard to share a holiday meal Jeff Slater BSP Reporter Our local food pantries are busy getting Thanksgiving baskets ready for delivery or pickup. The Rondout Valley Food Pantry is doing a hybrid this year of in-person pickup and deliveries. Charlotte Knapp said, “We re doing a Thanksgiving dinner basket of groceries like we do every year. It normally comes with a turkey or turkey breast and all the fixings, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and some kind of dessert.” People can still sign up; all they have to do is call the pantry at 845-687-4013. “Right now were at about 75 baskets, but it’s likely to go up to 100. Last year we did porch deliveries only, to keep people safe. This year we reopen to the public so people can come in and pick them up with a mask. We are letting some people come in … but we are still not doing a giant event, to keep people safe. We’d like to give thank-you to the many people that donated.” Knapp continued, “If people want to volunteer, they can call. For Thanksgiving and our winter holiday bag, we need drivers to deliver the meals to our guest houses. We always need donations of non-perishable goods, but for Thanksgiving specifically we need pie crusts, corn bread and stuffing mix.” The Rochester Food Pantry will be providing turkey basket as well. Marge Bonner said, “We reached out to all our clients ...” and people ordered by Nov. 12. Families of two or more will receive
Volunteers; Madeline Oremus-Palmese, Dan Palmese, Bob Gibbons, Martha Tardibuono and Jean Lerner, part of the turkey team at the Town of Rochester Pantry
a whole turkey, and those of one will receive a turkey breast. And of course all the fixings will be there, as well as additional food to supplement the leftovers. “To the degree possible,” Bonner said, “we will provide fresh vegetables rather than canned or packaged and add some apples and oranges to spill out of cornucopia. A lot of these fresh offerings come from the Hudson Valley Farm Hub as well as our local farmers.
Last year, when we moved into our new facilities next to the Community Center, was our first year being able to provide Thanksgiving fixings from our Pantry. Our new facilities allow us to be closer to our clients and make it easier to access these offerings. In addition, we have some nice extras to include: packs from the Hudson Valley Seed Company and artisanal soap from one of our local residents. Our ‘turkey team’ will regroup again this
year to undertake the packing for handing out on Saturday, Nov. 20.” On Nov. 19, the neighboring Rochester Community Center will be providing takeout turkey dinners to town residents who signed up ahead of time. “We are happy to be working hand in hand with them to celebrate the season,” Bonner said. At the Rosendale Food Pantry, Debbie Checchia said, “Our pantry has had a sign-up sheet for Thanksgiving baskets for the last couple of weeks. Only clients who signed up for a basket will be receiving one and will be getting it this Sunday (Nov. 21). The baskets will include everything to make a dinner. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, yams, vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce and a pie, plus a couple of other things we put in it. We have 38 people signed up for baskets. We are always looking for volunteers and people to pick up food orders, so owning a truck or SUV is handy. The Boy Scouts also just finished their food drive. They brought us 2,600 items of food. It is something Troop 17 has been doing for years. In addition. a second food drive was a new one done by the group 845 Vibrations. They set up outside of My Town Market and brought us tons of food.” These pantries and their efforts should be commended. It truly is a season of giving!
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November 19, 2021
Globally celebrated chorographer Doug Verone brings his work a little closer to home Chelsea Miller BSP Reporter Long a haven for artists of all mediums, the MaMa in Stone Ridge will be welcoming another artist into the local fold on Dec. 3 and 4 with three performances of “[STRIPPED] No Lights | No Costumes,” choreographed by Doug Verone of Accord. Verone grew up on Long Island with starry-eyed memories of watching Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, and as a result he started taking tap lessons as a 5-year-old. His love of dance would sustain through his young years, and when it came time for college he headed to Purchase College, obtaining his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (he was awarded the President’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007). After college, Verone started dancing professionally and by the mid-’80s started to explore the idea of founding his own company. “I feel as if I always had a choreographic mindset,” says Verone. “Even as I was working for other choreographers, I was always creating work. When I founded my own company, it was about exploring my own voice as an artist and figuring out if there was something to share.” Doug Verone and Dancers was founded in 1986, and what Verone would come to discover in the ensuing years was that yes, there was indeed very much to share. “I’ve learned there is a point of view to my work, and that’s been sustained for the last three and a half decades,” says Verone. Verone says that there is a theme to much of his work: humanity and relationships. “Our work is deeply steeped in humanity,” he explains. “I’m drawn to who we are as people, both in community and in relationships. A lot the work I do has an emotional thrust to it. I’m eager to explore the dynamics of how we relate to each other.” He also has remained focused on collaboration as he continues to build the company. “Because I work collaboratively, I’m always looking for dancers who are thinking
In the Shelter, with dancers, Brad Beakes and Hollis Bartlett. Photo by Erin Baiano
and have their own personal voice, that have a style that we work in,” explains Verone. “Each dancer is an individual, and as a result they are adding their point of view to the process. The work is highly technical, so they need to achieve that, but I’m also looking for who they are as people and what they can add to the mix.” The mix clearly has, ahem, legs. Over the course of the past three decades Verone has picked up accolades, including 11 Bessie Awards, and has graced such stages as The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City Center, San Francisco Performances, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Toronto’s Harbourfront, Moscow’s Stanislavsky Theatre, Buenos Aires’ Teatro San Martin, the Venice Biennale and Jacob’s Pillow. While the stage at MaMA may be smaller than the majority of the stages Verone is accustomed to gracing, he says that he couldn’t be happier to be introducing his
work closer to home. “I’m eager to bring our work to Stone Ridge,” says Verone. “ I’ve lived in Accord for the last 18 years, and I feel as if it’s a homecoming in way.” He says that relocating upstate has given him space to balance his work and life as well as offered new inspiration in his work. “I tend to be a workaholic, and I needed to balance it out,” confesses Verone. “We began the idea of country life by buying our house in Accord as a weekend house, but that’s turned into something much bigger. I love the area – the topography of it, seeing the mountains and streams, hiking, all of it. It’s changed the kind of art I want be making.” He continues, “Being in Accord, living in the area, allows me to see the world in a very different way. It allows me to breathe and put that breath in the art I want to be making. It’s a very different existence walking down the rail trail as opposed to Park Avenue, and letting that enter into my artistic psyche has been impactful.” On Dec. 3 and 4, Verone will be bringing his show “[STRIPPED] No Lights | No Costumes” to MaMa. “[Stripped]” is an intimate performance that offers a close-up view of the company as they perform various works from the repertory. The piece is well suited to the intimacy of the space and is an invitation to include audience members in the behind-the-scenes creation of choreography. Providing a peek into the creative process, “[STRIPPED] No Lights | No Costumes” could be described as an articulate and joyful dissecting of Verone’s choreography, allowing an intimate look into all that goes into building choreography and a finished dance piece. And, perhaps most importantly, it represents a coming home and new possibilities. Says Verone, “It’s the beginning of us having a presence in the area.” For more information on Doug Verone and to purchase tickets to “[STRIPPED] No Lights | No Costumes,” visit: https://www.dovadance.org.
Charles Dickens' masterpiece continues to speak to and challenge audiences Ann Citron talks with the show’s director, Ryan Emmons, for sneak peak “We are super excited about our upcoming production of ‘A Christmas Carol,’” said Ann Citron, director of theater arts at the Rosendale Theatre. “It is a very unusual retelling of the classic tale because it is a collaboration with NYC’s acclaimed No.11 Productions, which is an ensemble theater company whose mission centers around supporting artists and fostering community." Citron sat down with the show's director and co-artistic director of No. 11, Ryan Emmons, for a little insight to the live theater event scheduled for 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale.
is played by Forest VanDyke, who was recently in the world premiere of “Mystic Pizza the Musical” and starred off-Broadway in “Dog Man: The Musical.” Other No.11 ensemble actors include Julie Congress (The Public Theatre), Steven Conroy (AMC’s Turn), Alison Novelli and Neysy Vicente, who are joined by local Hudson Valley actors Pinky Socrates and you, Ann!
Ryan Emmons, director and co-artistic director of No. 11 in collaboration with the Rosendale Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol”
Why put on yet another “Christmas Carol”? We see value in doing Charles Dickens' masterpiece every year because it continues to speak to and challenge us in new ways. I mean, think about what was going on in your life the last time you saw “A Christmas Carol.” In one of the most poignant moments in the story, Scrooge sees his future self and asks in horror, "Am I that man?" How often do we reflect on who we are and how we treat others? This piece celebrates the fact that we can always get better and that no matter how lost we may feel, there is always hope.
while audience members are invited to take on some of the supporting ones. So as the audience arrives at the theater, they get to choose if they would like to watch the show or participate in it as an actor. What ensues is a magical, interactive theatrical event where audiences and actors alike work together to tell a story of hope and redemption. We also incorporate live music, dance and theatrical magic to fully immerse the audience into this unforgettable ghost story.
What makes this “A Christmas Carol” “revolutionary” and different from other productions? The No.11 Productions ensemble plays the major roles
Tell us a bit about the cast for this version? Our cast is a mix of local Hudson Valley actors and professional actors coming up from New York City. Scrooge
Yes. I am playing Mrs. Cratchet and I can’t wait! Ryan, tell us a bit about you. Well, along with my directing work with No.11, I was the resident director on the Broadway and first national tours of “Miss Saigon,” “Matilda,” “Groundhog Day” and “Ghost the Musical.” And by the way, our Christmas Carol’s original music was composed by Enrico de Trizio, who is a multi-awardwinning pianist, composer and music producer for film, theater and dance whose work can be heard in the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen.” Without giving away any spoilers, what is a highlight of the production for you? Our production is highly theatrical and creative. We mix the irreverent and the sincere to create an evening of theater that uplifts and brings people together. Our goal is always to create big and powerful moments of theater full of heart and imagination. The highlight of this production is the sheer joy that permeates the theater at the end of the show, when the actors and the audience come together and celebrate the act of communal storytelling!
BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021 , Page 11
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Page 12, November 19, 2021, BlueStone Press
ACCORD—Erma T. Durcan passed away in the comfort of her home on Nov. 13, 2021. She was 88. Erma was born on March 9, 1933, in Queens; she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Natalie (Dalo) Marozzi. Erma had moved to Kerhonkson from Long Island over 52 years ago and has since resided in Stone Ridge, Accord and Highland. She had worked as an insurance agent for Prudential in Kingston until her retirement. Erma also operated Spectrum video stores in both Kingston and Shokan. She loved Durcan her family and friends deeply. Erma would visit the ocean as often as possible and loved the smell of salt water. She loved to travel, she often spent time each winter in the Caribbean at the beach. Erma is survived by her children, John (Mary) Durcan of Kerhonkson, Donna Johnson of Accord, William (CiCi) Durcan of Patchogue, Long Island, Joseph (Dolores Schlick) Durcan of St. Thomas/Florida and David Durcan of Kingston; her grandchildren, John Durcan, Henry Johnson, Kathryn Johnson, William (Margaret) Durcan, Christopher (Amie) Durcan and Amy (David Alvarez) Durcan; and her great-grandchildren, Travis Hornbeck, Ryan Hornbeck, Wyatt Hornbeck and Olivia Durcan. Besides her parents she was predeceased by her infant son, Thomas Durcan; her granddaughter, Sandra Hornbeck; her brother, William Berton; and her sister, Josephine Fischbach. The family received friends on Nov. 17 at Humiston Funeral Home, Kerhonkson. A celebration of her life was celebrated that evening. Memorial contributions may be made in Erma’s name to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, and/or the Kerhonkson-Accord First Aid Squad, P.O. Box 67, Kerhonkson, NY 12446.
and original, crafted with care and love. A master artist with wood, he also created in other mediums including inks/pencils/paint, wire, paper and metal – pieces he often gave to friends and family – he sought little other than appreciation. Douglas was an immensely caring and giving person to all who knew him, and had deep compassion for those he met along the way. He sought to make people laugh, was devoted to his mother, loved his family and friends and would give even when he did not have. Spending his early years in the city, Douglas grew up in the Hudson Valley. He was well traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada, including completing a solo crosscountry bicycle adventure from Kerhonkson to Arizona in his youth. He chose to settle in the same area, as he said the Hudson Valley was the best place in the country to live. Surrounded by the beauty of nature, Douglas would enjoy early morning rides through the countryside. He would share with friends and family a video or photo of a swollen valley stream, forsythia and mountain laurel blooms or a pileated woodpecker tapping at a tree – just to bring some beauty to another’s life. Besides his mother, Diana Lenard, Douglas is survived by his siblings and their families: Diana and nephew, Everett, and niece, Danielle; Karen, Susan and spouse, Phil; Jessica and spouse, Jim, and nieces, Melena, Mira; Andrew and spouse, Enkha, and nephew, Declan, and niece, Emilia; his Aunt Mary and Aunt Jean; and numerous cousins, including his godson, Christopher, and his family; as well as lifelong best friends Mike and Vanessa. He is predeceased by his beloved sister Jane; his father; William; two uncles, Edward and Thomas; and dear friend, Veronica. Douglas graduated from RVHS Class of 1975. He attended Ulster Community College and Syracuse University and received a degree in Fine Arts. Visiting hours were 9:3011:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at Humiston Funeral Home, with a mass at noon at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Kerhonkson. A memorial celebration of life for Douglas will be held in the spring. Recognizing Douglas’ affinity to see the beauty in nature, we kindly request that memorial contributions be made in honor of Douglas to the National Arbor Foundation at https://shop.arborday. org/trees-in-memory; or with a contribution to pbs.org to support nature programming.
Kenneth A. Tokle
James Fleming III
Memoriam Erma T. Durcan
STONE RIDGE—Kenneth A. Tokle passed away peacefully on Nov. 13, 2021. He was 85. Kenneth was born on Oct.1, 1936, in Brooklyn; he was the son of the late Alf and Elizabeth Tokle. Kenneth met Nina Shepardson, the love of his life, and they were married on April 12, 1958. Sadly, Nina passed away in April. Kenneth had a lifelong passion for Nordic ski jumping, ski jumping as a youth then as a coach, instilling his love for the sport to many young skiers. He then became a ski jumping judge in both the Tokle U.S. and international Nordic arena. He was a member of the American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame and served as an official at the 1980s Winter Olympics. And he was instrumental in the Rosendale Nordic Ski Club for many years. Kenneth is survived by his brother, Harold Tokle, and by his children: Kim Lisa Tokle-Warner and her husband, Robert D.; Kenneth A. Tokle II and his wife, Catherine; Eric Tokle and his wife, Susan; and Sean Tokle and his wife, Melinda; grandchildren Robert M. Warner (Raechel), Michael Warner (Maria), Mathew Warner (Gennifer), Melissa Warner, Jamie Wood (Kaleb), Stephanie Tokle, Jennifer Hunt (Joseph), Logan Tokle, Anna Tokle, Leif Tokle (Nora), Christian Tokle, Kelsey Tokle (Sheela), Kyle Tokle (Molly Sue), and Ian Metzger; great-grandchildren Franklin, Jude, Autumn, Max, Elena, Steven, Mia, Austin, Lucas and Otto; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his granddaughter April Renee Tokle, and sister-in-law, Eleanor Tokle. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Rochester Reformed Church, Accord. Contributions may be made in Kenneth’s memory to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation, P.O. Box 100, 1 Victory Lane, Park City, UT 84060, and/or to your local Nordic Ski Jumping Club. To send a personal condolence to Kenneth’s family, visit humistonfuneralhome.com.
Douglas Lenard
KERHONKSON—Douglas Lenard passed away at the age of 64 on Nov. 10, 2021, unexpectedly after a brief illness. Born in Brooklyn in 1957, he was the eldest of seven, son of mother Diana and the late William Lenard. The family is deeply saddened by the loss of a man who had a heart of gold. An artist, creator, inventor, chef, baker, and brilliant mind, Douglas was self-employed. Clever and industrious, he would not only find, but create a solution for the need. His work was always unique Lenard
ROSENDALE—James Fleming III, a former longtime resident of Rosendale, died Nov. 11, 2021, peacefully in his sleep at his home in Kingston surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with cancer. He was 54. Jim was born in Kingston, the son of James J. Jr. and Doris Miller Fleming. He is survived by his parents; four children, Amanda (John), Allison (Travis), Andrew and Abby; two grandsons, Dallas and Ashton; two sisters, Ann Fleming-Houghtaling of Rosendale and Laura Fleming (Brian) of Kingston; his former wife, Ann (Houston) FlemFlamming III ing; many nieces, nephews and great nephews; and friends, Sara Gast and Steven Fabrico. Jim loved baseball and collected baseball cards most of his life. He grew up in Rosendale and graduated from Kingston High School. He ran a successful pizzeria for several years before beginning a long career at Grand Union. Most recently, Jim enjoyed doing landscaping and spending time outdoors. He is predeceased by his paternal grandparents, James J. Sr. and Dorothy Fleming, and maternal grandparents William and Myrtle Miller. Funeral services were private at the request of the family. Arrangements are by the George J. Moylan Funeral Home Inc., 2053 Route 32, Rosendale. The family requests memorial donations to the American Cancer Society.
Linda Lee Decker
KERHONKSON—Linda Lee Decker (McElree) passed away Nov. 15, 2021. She was 81. Linda was born Oct. 22, 1940, in New Paltz. She was the daughter of James and Mary (Pole) McElree, and stepdaughter of Henry A. Smith. Linda grew up in New Paltz and later settled in Kerhonkson, where she raised her family. Linda had a great talent for knitting and crocheting and, in her younger years, was an avid member of the Knitten Kittens. Among other trades, Linda worked as a CNA where she discovered Decker her gift and admiration for caregiving. Throughout her life, she had the honor of being caregiver to many family members, friends, and the greatest joys of her life, her children, grandchildren and great-children. After raising her family, Linda reconnected with her teenage sweetheart Donald Decker. They enjoyed 27 years of wonderful marriage and friendship. Linda loved being a homemaker and enjoyed the simple pleasures of life; family, close friends, and a good cup of coffee. Linda leaves behind her beloved husband, Donald Decker. She is also survived by three siblings, Gail Med-
nick (Ohio), Donna Wells and brother Richard McElree (both of Kerhonkson). Also surviving are her daughter, Marcelle Hasenflue (Donald); two sons, Henry Dugan (Loren), and Vincent Dugan (Wendy), as well as stepsons Mathew Decker, Wayne Decker (Laura) and Christopher Decker (Michelle); her treasured 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; special niece and caregiver, Mary Rockwell, and lifelong friend, Judy Hasbrouk. In addition to her parents and stepfather, Linda is predeceased by two sisters, Ella Mae Edwards and Janet McElree. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at New Paltz Rural Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Linda’s name to the Kerhonkson Fire Company, P.O. Box 62, Kerhonkson, NY 12446, and/or the Kerhonkson-Accord First Aid Squad, P.O. Box 67, Kerhonkson, NY 12446. Arrangements are under the guidance of Humiston Funeral Home, Kerhonkson. To send a personal condolence to Linda’s family, please visit www. humistonfuneralhome.com.
Arlene M. Moran
HIGH FALLS—Arlene M. Moran of High Falls, formerly of Bethel, Connecticut, passed away with her family by her side on Nov. 13, 2021, at the age of 84. She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Kimberly M. Singer and her husband, Bernie; Colleen M. Vitti and her husband, Joseph; her grandchildren, Isabella and Cree Vitti; her former partner, Richard Nichols; her devoted cat, Poe; and numerous relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her son, John T. Moran Jr.; her parents, Harold and Moran Edna Colajezzi; her brothers, Harold, Jr. and Gerald; and her ex-husband, John T. Moran. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she settled permanently in Bethel in 1974 for 45 years in her beautiful home on Fawn Road. Arlene worked as a homemaker for many years and then served as a dutiful administrative assistant in commercial loan departments in the banking industry. She found great pleasure in long talks with friends and family, cooking sumptuous meals, walking the neighborhood roads and local track, tending to her perfectly manicured lawn, listening to talk radio and news, and prayer. A Memorial Luncheon will be held at a later date. Interment will be at the Hillside Cemetery in Roslyn, Pennsylvania, with a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Arlene M. Moran’s name to the Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation, 80 Washington St., Suite 204, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, or hvhospice.org.
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November 19, 2021
Local money, local ideas
Page 13
From the ground up Karen Angel Special for BSP Steven Asher Cohen spent his savings, borrowed from his retirement account, and took out a credit line on his house to build 10 Hidden Mountain Lane in Stone Ridge. Because of the lockdown of all but essential businesses, construction was delayed by nine months till November 2020. Cohen had budgeted the cost of construction before Covid-19, but then, the price of lumber and other materials skyrocketed, adding more than $200,000 to his bottom line. Borrowing to the hilt was a bold move, but one he was confident would pay off -- and pay off it has. The real estate agent turned designer and builder just accepted a full price offer for $1.675 million for his first project. The house is now in contract. “I was excited but not surprised to have an accepted offer within two weeks of the house being on the market,” Cohen says. “I priced it appropriately for the market, and I was expecting a quick offer based on the low inventory at this high-end level.” The airy four-bedroom house on 4.2 wooded acres features 16-foot-high ceilings, a wall of nine windows, a bug-resistant deck, and white oak and polished concrete floors. Because the house is built on a cliff, visitors enter the second story and descend via an interior staircase to the lower level. All the fixtures and appliances are high-end, from the black walnut cabinetry and quartz countertops to the copper plumbing connections, spray-foam insulation, and custom ceiling vents. “I even put in fancy doorstops,” Cohen says, gesturing to a tiny sleek column by the door. The landscaping includes a large bluestone patio underneath the deck, a bluestone fire pit, and floating cement steps leading up the cliff along the side of the house. The quality of the materials and the execution immediately struck real estate agent Christine Barker, who represents Cohen’s investment banker buyer and started her career as a developer. “This is the hallmark of someone who put his all into it and wanted to create a showcase,” Barker says. “It’s not easy to build from the ground up. It requires a significant skill set and resources and a certain amount of tenacity and focus.” Aware of this, Cohen says, “we didn’t just meet code, we exceeded code.” Even with an unexpected $50,000 outlay on support pillars and the extra $200,000 spent on construction materials, Cohen and his contractor partner will reap a strong profit. Several years ago, Cohen’s partner, Jeromy Wells of Hudson Valley Homes & Renovations in Stone Ridge, approached Cohen’s agency for help selling the 4.2-acre site, which his father owned. Cohen had been impressed with Wells’ work on an addition to his own house in 2012 and a total renovation of a distressed farmhouse in 2015 that Cohen bought and flipped. When Wells mentioned that he was interested in building houses on spec, Cohen proposed that they start a company together and build on the site. Dignified Dwellings LLC was incorporated in August 2019. Cohen, who has no formal architecture or design experience, says he “looked at probably 2,000 architectural plans online,” purchased one, and altered it to his liking – for instance, turning office space into a pantry and enlarging the living room, where he put a gas fireplace to avoid taking away window space to install a chimney. He added a wood-burning stove to the family room downstairs so his buyer would have both options. He hired an engineer, Scott Davis of Peak Engineering in Stone Ridge, to help turn his plans into reality. “The engineer called me up and said, ‘Steve, this is a house you build in California,’ ” Cohen recalls. “ ‘We have snow here. We have to re-engineer the whole house.’ ” That involved installing six metal support poles from the roofline to the bedrock beneath the foundation and reinforcing the roof pillars, all of which added around $50,000 to the bottom line. “I was expecting something unexpected, but not this,” Cohen says. “But I wanted this house to stand out, and what makes it stand out is it looks like something that should be in California.” “Oh, my God,” says Laurel Sweeney, a colleague of Cohen’s at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nutshell Realty who toured the house upon its completion. “It was 10 times more than I expected in terms of the attention to detail, the siting, the floor plan, the lighting. It was a treat to see.”
Steven Asher Cohen of Dignified Dwellings LLC established in 2019
Cohen has a knack for knowing what will sell and for how much as well as finding a compromise that satisfies all the parties involved in a sale when issues arise. In 2015, he bought a dilapidated farmhouse in Accord for $126,000, hired Wells to renovate it, and flipped it for $505,000 the next year. His personable nature in an industry that doesn’t always attract nice people frequently draws notice, even from the competition. “Steve is very genuine,” says Derek Maassen, a real estate agent with Windsor Realty Services in Rosendale, DELETE COMMA who represented the buyer in one of Cohen’s sales. “Steve is a great teacher and ambassador for this industry, and he comes from the belief that a deal must be fair for everyone involved.” Clients often return to Cohen to do business. In one case, he sold the same property three times: once to a man who built a home there, again when that man decided to sell, and a third time when the buyer ended up moving out of the country. Cohen has always loved real estate. “When I was 10 years old, I couldn’t wait to get the Sunday paper to look at the real estate section and all the open houses, and then I’d circle the houses I wanted to see,” Cohen says. “I’d tell my dad, and we’d go out and look at open houses.” Cohen got an early lesson in how not to do real estate business when he tried to put an offer on his Olivebridge house in 1999. “The agent asked me, ‘Do you have the money?’ ” Cohen recalls. “I said, ‘Let’s start over.’ ” He was living in Manhattan at the time and had been invited for the weekend by friends renting a house in Stone Ridge for the summer. The group looked at eight houses that weekend. “I was here for the first time for 30 hours, and I ended up buying a house,” Cohen says. “At the closing, I realized I didn’t know how to get to the house, so we’re all pulling out the paper maps. I remember thinking, ‘What did I do? I just bought a house on impulse.’ ” That impulse ended up being transformative. After buying his Olivebridge house, he became a “rabid weekender,” he says. “I loved seeing nature and trees and grass.” In 2008, he moved full-time. Remembering his experience when buying his own house, he thought he could do better than some of the real estate agents in the Hudson Valley. “I always saw real estate agents as used-car salesmen,” he says. “I wanted to help change people’s image.” In 2010, he received his real estate license and was hired by his current agency, then called Prudential Nutshell. “What we saw in him was his drive and his ability to communicate with people and understand their needs,” says Sweeney, who interviewed Cohen in 2010. In his first year, Cohen sold just two houses for less than $200,000 each. The next few years were lean, but he stuck with it because he kept topping his previous year’s sales. Working seven days a week, he eventually ramped up to his current total of 25 to 30 sales a year, making him the top producer in his office after Sweeney. Recently, he sold a $3.2 million house in Kerhonkson, his personal record. His sales have remained stable during the pandemic
“because there are many more buyers but the same inventory,” he says. “The prices went up, and the competition became insane. In the past, a house would get one offer, you’d negotiate, and be done. There were very few bidding wars in this area before the pandemic.” Now most accepted offers are arrived at through a bidding war. Cohen and Wells’ next project, which will vault them into the multimillion-dollar sales range, is a three-bedroom contemporary home with a media room, a den and walls of glass facing the Rondout Creek. It will be set on 10 acres in High Falls, property Cohen bought in 2018. He expects to break ground in November and hopes to wrap up construction by April. A couple who saw Hidden Mountain has already expressed interest in buying the new project and submitted a bank pre-approval letter for $2.2 million. “It was land I loved, and I’ve been waiting for the right time to do something with it,” Cohen says. “I look forward to completing this new project and am already thinking about the next one.”
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Your letters, views & ideas
Page 14
Letters policy Please send letters to the editor to the BlueStone Press by email at bluepress@aol. com or send to P.O. Box 149, Stone Ridge, NY 12484. Include your name, hometown and daytime phone number. Letters should be fewer than 500 words and may be edited for clarity, brevity and taste. Letters won't appear in consecutive editions from the same author. 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.
November 19, 2021
Supply Chain Issues
Stone Ridge traffic concerns To the Editor: My neighbors and I in the Stone Ridge Historic District share one overriding concern: the volume and speed of traffic along Main Street (Route 209) in Stone Ridge. In many discussions with folks who live here, the same issue comes up time and again. We have all noticed a marked increase in the number of cars and the fact that few seem to be capable of reading the speed limit signs or simply ignore them. In addition, there are a great number of large trucks coming through, often in the middle of the night, with weights that shake the foundations of our homes. Many of these trucks are taking a shortcut between Ellenville and Kingston and avoiding Interstate 84 and are carrying loads beyond legal limits. And forget trying to use the crosswalk in front of the Community Center as you will be putting your life at risk. It is our hope that our town government will take the lead in doing something about a very dangerous as well as disturbing situation, and it would make for an interesting investigation by one of your intrepid reporters. Evry Mann Stone Ridge
Rondout’s substitute teachers need to be paid more appropriately To the Editor: Rondout Valley Central School District only pays their substitute teachers $125 for an approximate 8-hour day. That is what high school dropouts make at fast food restaurants! They pay their uncertified workers $90 a day. That's $15.63/ hr. and $11.25/hr. respectively, with no benefits. Guess the Teachers Union doesn't look out for their substitute and temporary, non-certified teachers. Apparently they only help the certified and tenured teachers contractually? And, having substituted (years ago), I can tell you, it's often no walk in the park! Beverly Alfeld Accord native
Skate Time deal, a matter of concern… To the Editor: Everybody is talking about the potential purchase of Skate Time 209 by the Town of Rochester. In addition to financial (price and cost of repairs) and building suitability issues, I have questions regarding some disturbing points most people may not be aware of. I’m wondering WHY … … the sale contract signed by the Town indicates “Closing shall take place on or about December 1, 2021” when the referendum is on Dec. 7, 2021? Negligence? Not paying attention to details? Rush? Why the rush?
… so many things are in favor of the seller in the contract: “SELLER’S RIGHTS FOLLOWING CLOSING. Following closing and delivery of the Deed, the Seller shall have the right to utilize the recreational space for six (6) free events per year, for non profit purposes… The use of the property is limited to two (2) events on Friday evenings, two (2) events on Saturday evenings and two (2) events at other mutually designated times.” Really? You buy a place and you allow the seller coming back into your place six times a year for five years? This sounds as if the price was reduced, not increased by $730,000 compared to the price the seller paid for Skate Time in 2019! … the town’s Recreation Department and Commission (of which I am a member for many years) were not consulted regarding the feasibility of all the wonderful proposals made. … would the Town of Rochester accept to keep the name “Neighborhood 209,” as required in the contract: “NAME OF SUBJECT PREMISES. The Purchaser hereby agrees to name the Subject Premises some variant of the name ‘Neighborhood 209,’ in addition to any Town of Rochester Town Hall name nomenclature.” How could the town supervisor sign a contract including something like this, in which we give up part of the “identity” of the town by agreeing to add an unfortunate name (Neighborhood 209) the town didn’t pick and was actually never used? I’m just wondering WHY the Town Board would let the seller impose so much on the municipality and WHY this happened BEFORE the referendum?
Manuela Michailescu Kerhonkson
Community thanked for its continued support for the Annual Zombie Escape To the Editor: On behalf of UlsterCorps, I would like to thank everyone who participated in, volunteered for, and sponsored our 11th Annual Zombie Escape, held on Halloween, Oct. 31. Congratulations to top finishers in the 5K: Shane Murphy, 1st Overall, with a time of 19:19, and Rebeccah Wassner, 1st Female Overall
and 3rd Overall with a time of 21:58, and to Best Costume Award winners Team Grease. We are so grateful to the Shawangunk Runners for all their help each year organizing the race, setting the course, timing it, and creating the awards; Steve Schallenkamp and Christopher Regan do so much to support and promote community runs like ours, and we are so grateful. To our amazing volunteers from Alpha Phi Omega and SUNY New Paltz Saturdays of Service, with a special shout-out to lead navigator/sweep Jess Schimek; EMT Patty Ruska; walk leaders Jim Sullivan and Mike Dube; Found Studio & Antilogy Screenprinting for the shirts; Davenport Farms for the pumpkin awards; Saunderskill Farms for the apples; and New Paltz Bagels for the bagels. Thank you to race photographers, Hudson Valley Outside, Kellie McGuire and zgunks images, Martin Weiner for capturing the spooky fun! And so much gratitude to our generous sponsors: Hudson Valley Credit Union, Ulster Savings Bank, Radio Kingston, Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Rondout Savings Bank, FirstCare Medical Center, Michael DeWan Appraisal & Associates, Garland Excavation, KB Chiropractic, High Falls Café, Masseo Landscaping, Adams Fairacre Farms, Topricin Pain Relief Creams, and to The Williams Lake Project (soon to be known as Fifth Lake), for hosting our Annual Zombie Escape each of these last 11 years. All proceeds from the event benefited UlsterCorps, a countywide, grassroots, nonprofit resource dedicated to fostering a culture of volunteerism, collaborative work and community service. Since its founding 12 years ago, UlsterCorps has provided a vital link in building a network that is strengthening the fabric of our community of service through spreading and sharing generosity by facilitating collaborations among groups and by the placement of volunteers across diverse organizations and agencies. UlsterCorps with local nonprofits, businesses, farmers and people of all ages have come together to make Ulster County a better place: increasing food security among those in need, supporting Emergency Response programs, building the Ulster County Animal Response Team (UCART), and so much more.
Beth McLendon Albright Director, UlsterCorps, Stone Ridge
Email your letters to BlueSton Press and 1000s will read it!
BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021, Page 15
The Covid got me Consider: Four weeks ago, I abruptly started feeling like dog crap. And these days, it seems like you either are healthy, or if you are not, and have any one of its million symptoms, you have Covid-19 or one of its variants. I immediately took a rapid home covid test, and it came back positive. They are not 100% accurate, but false positives happen only 8% of the time. Smart money says, ding-ding-ding. False negatives are way more frequent, but that’s not what I had. I took a second test an hour later, in a little bit of a panicky froth, and it came back positive, too. Eff me. I’ve been really careful, and I’ve never tested positive before. And I’ve tested many times. That started my 10-day Wally Nichols quarantine, a check-in with my PCP, and subsequent involvement of UC Health Department. Due to an atypical parenting schedule, I had not been in close proximity to my daughter. Phew. But that was just a lucky break for the moment. I had spent some recent time with a few others whom I immediately called and informed. This is a terrible call to have to make. The idea of bringing hassle or sickness to bear on anyone is a body blow to me. I labored under it. But living life, even in these times, equates to being out and about. And risk assessment is deeply personal. It’s also an imprecise science. In my home, alone but for my curious dog, prone, logy and churlish, I had a grinding headache that would not give up for days and days. I was tired, but not exhausted. My body ached. I was unable to really do much other than lie horizontally on the sofa and watch TV. (This is not exactly my dream scenario for spending the day, as it is for others.) I had zero appetite. I was welded to the sofa. Didn’t trust my balance to walk upstairs. Damn near coughed up my spleen. I lost 10 pounds despite a rousing chorus of dear friends offering to slingshot food from their car window to my diseased porch. I lost my sense of smell, to say nothing of my sense of time. I was boogered up and so intensely congested in the beginning that I considered taking decongestants that
Dear Wally
typically work, but they mess me up with whatever radioactive monkey-piss they have in them that makes me super anxious and tweaked out. The 10 days of isolation (which is the right thing to do if you have a suspected or confirmed case of Covid-19 and want to neither be a superdick nor a super-spreading menace to public health) was its own special hell for me. The physical pain of being sick also sucked hard, but was nothing compared to the chronic pain (x10) (x100) some folks feel everyday with no hope of relief. Somewhere in the weeds, I was actually able to grope some scraggly tufts of gratitude that I was not worse off or hipchecked into a fresh grave like 750k in this country, as of this writing. So, why bother even describing (over-sharing?) my experience? It seems unremarkable given all we have heard and/or experienced. Here’s why. I am fully vaccinated. I wear (still) a mask in public places, and I generally don’t get too close to folks I do not know really well. Two days into this sh*tshow, I had a hospital go-bag ready because I was having trouble breathing. I am going to restate this in capitals because it is not insignificant: I HAD TROUBLE BREATHING.* This 54-year-old body has zero “co-morbidities.” No immune issues. Not a single ounce overweight. No diabetes. Near-elite athletic state. Nothing wrong. Nada. Zilch. Not even an ingrown toenail. This 54-year-old body was ready to run the NYC Marathon before being covid-smacked down. (This 54-year-old body ended up making a speedy enough recovery to actually run and finish the marathon a handful of days ago.) (*Being able to breath is fairly important.) I have dear friends and family whose hearts and minds are excellent who do not believe Covid-19 is serious (anymore). Or, they are ‘done’ with it and the interruption it has presented. They will not get vaccinated. They scoff at “useless” or “harmful” masks. They reject the opinions and advice of most medical experts. They have natural immunity. They do not think they will be impacted in any meaningful way by this highly contagious and damaging, debilitating respiratory disease. They believe it’s a weapon of mass oppression, and a vector for microchipping toward some as yet undetermined, nefarious end, a way to pinch freedom or inflame heart muscle. They believe that in five years the vaccinated all will be dead. Or sterile. Or
zombies. So it’s best to wait and see. This is a cavalier and dangerous game of Russian roulette to play. True, some people WAY worse off physically than I will skip through this covid experience unimpacted, possibly even unaware they even have it or that they carry a shedding viral load. Some, like me, won’t skip through this. Some will be hammered. Others will die. Of the people in the hospital on ventilators, 98% are unvaccinated. So, is the (long-term) risk of the vax worth it? I got covid anyway. Or did the vax keep me from having a far worse experience, but I (and millions) will pay later for trusting that the system is well intentioned? Hmmm. This rhetorical question is best answered when you put your own finger on the slider that moves you (or Grandma) from normal life to being in a hospital, gasping for breath. Of course, people get to source and vet information and process it as they wish. But if you think you get a pass just because you WANT a pass, well, that’s what I thought too, even with the aforementioned and prophylactic measures taken. (Because I solidly am on that philosophical side of what has become a hoary science, trust and political divide.) And if you knowingly or unknowingly bring this sh#t into someone’s world who is unable to beat it back, well that’s gonna be a heavy karmic hit if you pack your bong with the Golden Rule … Everyone is gonna do what they do. That’s a hard fact of life. Get vaxxed or don’t. Wear masks in public or don’t. I’m not gonna say I don’t care, but I don’t get a vote. I just wanted to share my experience so if you thought it can’t or won’t happen to this or that kind of person, who has done this or that, who is in this or that kind of shape, well now you have a living, breathing (phew!) data point. – (Typhoid) Wally
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Page 16
Athletics, recreation & fitness
November 19, 2021
Action photos courtesy of Jed Tucker
La Finca (‘the farm’) is growing, and that equals more kids participating in soccer New location in Rosendale hopes to be able to handle 40 kids at a time Jeff Slater BP Reporter Jed Tucker is a busy guy, running soccer clinics in Kingston and building a new La Finca court right here in Rosendale. Tucker said, “As you know, last winter we had the pavilion in Marbletown Town Park, and we’re going to do that one again. Now we’ve also got permission to open a second one at the Rosendale Rec Center and have a program there. I’m excited about the one in Rosendale because it is almost twice as big.” Tucker funded the Marbletown Pavilion with the help of several local businesses and sponsors. The Kingston Stockade FC, Hasbrouck House, FreshAir Realty, Global Dwelling, Waddell Construction, All Motor Car LTD, Emmanuel’s Marketplace, Cabinet Designers, The
Student athlete Sophia Schoonmaker will be scoring big next year On Nov. 10, the Rondout Valley High School senior signed her national letter of intent to play field hockey at the University at Albany next fall. Pictured here are student-athlete Sophia Schoonmaker with her RVHS field hockey coach Nanette Simione (right), parents Jennifer and Mark Schoonmaker, and brother Gabriel Schoonmaker (left).
Egg’s Nest and Spectra FX all helped put up the pavilion in Marbletown, along with numerous volunteers. “We’re going to be going to more businesses in Rosendale and High Falls as we’re expanding into Rosendale. Really, support mostly comes from donations from people that use the space, and we charge a modest fee for the clinics we run,” Tucker said. The Rosendale court will use a specialized sport turf with built-in 5mm cushioning underlay, and the court will be wrapped in taught sport netting from ceiling to floor. “We’re going to get a bunch of organized volunteers to help us put the thing up, and that’s a combination of local contractors, parents and just about everyone in the community who has an interest in putting it up. Part of the inspiration and desire for this project is really to connect the neighboring communities around this beautiful game we love,” Tucker said. “At the Marbletown court we could have 25 kids at a time, and the one in Rosendale we can get closer to 40. The one in Rosendale we really think is an op-
portunity to get kids from Kingston and New Paltz involved because it is bigger and because of its location,” Tucker said. The soccer/futsal program is both for boys and girls, and Tucker is excited because they don’t group kids by age. “Something we’d like to see more of is mixed-age youth play. Mimicry is, after all, one of the key ways kids learn the game. You’ll see this in action in our winter clinics with our skill-based rather than age-based divisions, and in our continued efforts to employ young adults as trainers. In the future we hope to see most of our youth trainer positions filled by area teens,” Tucker said. The Rosendale court will be offering clinics five days a week and have a new winter league on the weekends. Tucker and his cohorts, Juan Roberto Rodriguez and Jeremy Adams, are excited about their weekend league. So while kids during the week can go to clinics whenever they want to, the leagues will provide a competitive game for those who seek it. And the parents are loving it. Heidi Waddell said, “We love La Finca. It truly has been a godsend to our family and
community. Our boys played during both the winter and summer programs and loved every second of it. Honestly, it was the highlight of their weeks. Jed is a true visionary with his ability to organize and cultivate a wonderful skilled program with a team of dedicated instructors while establishing a sense of community among everyone involved. I’m elated to see what next season holds.” Ryan Jacoby, another parent, said, “It’s been an important outlet for Henry. It’s not only about the footwork training or the playing opportunities, it also really inclusive, too. We could just show up to pickup and he could hop right in without it being hyper-competitive or a huge commitment. That structured openness feels different to me, especially right after a pandemic when it’s so hard for kids to just play. I’m blown away by it as it as they just keep growing.” La Finca really is growing, and with a new court going up in Rosendale who knows what’s next? The sky’s the limit, and that’s good when it’s about youth playing a game they enjoy.
Holiday Spirit Close to Home - Tradition, tradition - November Hanukkah! - Grateful for the Realm - Fake plastic trees, x-mas 2021 -
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Page 18, November 19, 2021, BlueStone Press
Tradition, tradition Ann Belmont BSP Reporter What’s a tradition? It’s whatever we always do. Tradition is, above all, comforting. It links us to the past and it's a promise that the future will still contain at least some things we know and are used to. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie – not exciting, just soothingly familiar. But traditions have to start some-
where. Chances are, none of the aforenamed dishes were eaten when the Wampanoag tribe threw a feast for the Pilgrims in 1621. The specifically American holiday the last Thursday in November, with a turkey as its symbolic centerpiece, dates back to 1863, when (says the Farmers’ Almanac) President Abraham Lincoln declared it as a national holiday. His proclamation, in part, read: “I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea, and those
who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.” He also urged his fellow citizens to take care of the widows and orphans created by the Civil War and to “fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation ...” Thanksgiving is celebrated by an
odd collection of countries: the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Liberia (says Wikipedia). Not everyone in this country might feel the same fondness for the holiday, owing to what ultimately became of the generous Wampanoag tribe who shared their bounty with the Pilgrims, and all the injustices that followed. But, the Pilgrim story aside, Thanksgiving is basically a harvest festival, a tradition that probably got started well before the written word. Variations have crept into my family’s menu over the years. Once you make a
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BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021, Page 19 dish for two years in a row, if it’s good, it’s already become a tradition, because people look forward to it. Somebody will ask, “Are you going to make your special pie (or braised Brussels sprouts with melted cheese, cranberry-walnut ketchup, chestnut stuffing, etc.)?” My mother, influenced by her husband's ItalianAmerican traditional dishes, made pasta shells stuffed with ricotta cheese covered with tomato sauce to accommodate a small but firmly entrenched contingent of vegetarians – or at least, non-carnivores. Stuffed shells were always a hit; everybody, carnivores included, always wanted some. My daughter makes them now, thus satisfying the Wikipedia definition of traditions: “The transmission of
customs or beliefs from generation to generation." Likewise, as traditional menu items fall out of favor, they are replaced … as long as there is no one who will be upset by their absence. There’s no longer anyone in my family who will care about marshmallow-topped canned sweet potatoes. Left to my own devices, I would never cook a turkey – come to think of it, I never have. (Somebody else always does it.) But I do eat some. When I see and smell that roasted bird, I can hear my father’s voice. One year, one of my brothers recorded Thanksgiving dinner, and my father said, “Anybody want more meat?” so many times it became a family joke. The stuffed shells bring
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my mother to mind. The pumpkin pie, traditionally made by me, reminds me of all the kitchens I have ever made it in, and the cousins who have made helpful hints about making the crust. The pandemic put a sudden glitch in a great many traditions, including Thanksgiving. The traditional big extended-family-and-friends dinner was suspended, and we all just did the best we could with who we had at home, or, if we were lucky, in our “pod.” Ashley Sweeney, director of the Town of Rochester Recreation Department at the Accord community center, said that this year, like last year, there will be no giant Thanksgiving dinner at the center; there'll be dinner, but it'll be
a drive-through takeout meal on Friday the 19th. Before Covid, said Sweeney, “we'd have at least 150 people” eating together. “It really brought the community together, it was always such a great time.” Whether that tradition eventually will resume exactly the way it used to be she couldn't predict with certainty. She misses the familiar faces. “It makes us happy that at least when people come and pick up their meals, we get to see them.” Maybe the best part of the Thanksgiving tradition is just being grateful for whatever we have. Happy Thanksgiving!
Page 20, November 19, 2021, BlueStone Press
Hanukkah is never on time, but it’s always bright and just right Donna Cohn Viertel Calendar of Events editor and nice Jewish girl Each year, in one of the holiday issues of the BlueStone Press, as the nice Jewish girl who was born in Manhattan and grew up in Long Island, I try to put a new spin on one of the most fun and celebrated of all Jewish holidays, Hanukkah. What’s so funny about the holiday that comes at the end of each year is, as one of my friends put it, that “It’s never on time. It’s either too early
or too late.” And this year, it’s pretty early, beginning just a few days after Thanksgiving, sundown on Sunday, Nov. 28, through its traditional eight days ending sundown Monday, Dec. 6. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, recalls the victory, more than 2,100 years ago of a militarily weak, but spiritually strong, Jewish people over the mighty forces of the Syrians that had overrun the Holy Land and threatened to engulf the land and its people in darkness.
The miraculous victory of religious freedom was compounded by a second great miracle that took place when only one jug of sacred oil was found. The Maccabees poured the one-day supply of oil into the great menorah that had been desecrated and extinguished by the enemy. The small amount of oil rekindled the menorah, and it did not burn out at the end of the first day but continued to burn continuously for eight days. Lighting the Hanukkah menorah serves
as a symbol and a message of triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness. Every year, Jews all over the world light their menorah on Hanukkah. Each night an additional light is kindled until, on the eighth day, the menorah is ablaze with eight beautiful lights. Another perk is that each night a present is given. It is traditional that the presents are small, such as a favorite candy, box of cookies or some other confection, and the last night, the
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BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021, Page 21 present is big and bright, like the lights on the menorah. Because of the great significance of oil in the story of Hanukkah, foods cooked in oil are served. Among the most popular are potato latkes. From my food bible, Faye Levy's International Cookbook, the potato latkes recipe: Grate 4 large potatoes and 1 medium onion with a hand grater in to a large bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 large egg, a small handful of flour, and ½ teaspoon of baking powder. Mix together with hands. Heat oil in a deep, heavy 10-12-inch cast iron pan. Drop about a 2-tablespoon portion of latkes mix into heated pan and flatten with spoon, adjust the temperature of the pan as latkes brown on each side. Hold latkes in warm oven while cooking the rest. Continue cooking and add more oil as needed. Serve
with sautéed spiced apples and sour cream. Makes 4-5 servings. Another part of the story of Hanukkah is with the dreidel game. That long time ago, the Syrians decreed that the teaching or studying of Torah was a crime punishable by death or imprisonment. But the children defiantly studied in secret; and when Syrian patrols were spotted, they would pretend to be playing an innocent game of dreidel. The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top. On each side is a Hebrew letter: “Nun,” “Gimmel,” “Hay,” and “Shin.” The letters stand for the phrase “Nes Gadol Haya Sham, a great miracle happened there.” From myjewishlearning.com, here is how to play the basic dreidel game: Each player begins the game with an equal number of game pieces called gelt (chocolate coins). At the beginning of each
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round, everyone puts one game piece into the center “pot.” Every time the pot is empty, or has only one game piece left, every player should put one in. The play continues to go round and round, each person taking a spin of the dreidel. Depending on
the side it lands on, players give or get game pieces from the pot. Nun means “nisht” or “nothing.” The player does nothing. Gimel means “gantz” or “everything.” The player gets everything in the pot. Hey means “halb” or “half.” The player gets half of the pot. (If there is an odd number of pieces in the pot, the player takes half of the total plus one). And Shin means “shtel” or “put in.” The player adds a game piece to the pot. If a player has no game pieces left, they are either “out” or may ask a fellow player for a “loan.” When one person has won everything, that round of the game is over! Celebrate the miracle of the oil with the community at the Hanukkah candle lighting, 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Kerhonkson Synagogue, 26 Minnewaska Trail, Kerhonkson. Visit kerhonksonsynagogue. org for more information.
Page 22, November 19, 2021, BlueStone Press
Grateful for the Realm 'Don’t ever take this place for granted. Some fortunate combination of outrageously beautiful geography and cultural cross-pollination has worked for centuries to mold something special beyond words' Anne Pyburn Craig BSP Reporter Some BSP readers may know this, most probably don’t: I’ve been away a long time. After half a century of Hudson Valley, after living in New Paltz, Accord, Rosen-
dale and Cottekill, I moved to Michigan in 2012 and then to Kentucky in 2015, and I spent most of 2021 living in Florida. To my great joy, the spinning wheel has brought me back here to Ulster County. And I gotta tell you, don’t ever take this place for granted. Some fortunate combi-
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nation of outrageously beautiful geography and cultural cross-pollination has worked for centuries to mold something special beyond words. I’ve met fine, smart people everywhere I’ve been, but it’s been painful to see the state some of the business communities are in. Vacancies haunt dilapidated Main Streets in small towns, interspersed with a few brave, struggling businesses, while the unremarkable offerings and plastic color schemes of multinational corporations despoil the neighboring landscape and lure dollars with the promise of convenience. And in truth, you can’t blame those locals
for doing their shopping at Walmart. It’s been at least a generation since they had much of a choice. Not so here. Coming home has been like regaining hearing after a decade’s deafness, only it’s not so much about me; wherever I was, I strained my ears to find what was independent and local and good, and if you dig you find it – a farmers market, a crafters alliance, a determined crew turning a building that had lain dormant for decades into their dream. But here there’s an abundance. I reentered the Realm by driving the Rondout Valley, all the way up 209 from I-84 to
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BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021, Page 23 Stone Ridge, and was delighted at every turn to see old familiar indie businesses still standing alongside much that’s new and intriguing. The hard part of getting takeout in many places amounts to choosing between McDonald’s, Sonic, Taco Bell and a struggling Chinese place that has little choice but to work with frozen ingredients. The hard part of getting takeout here, if one has the money, is choosing between things like truffled pot roast, handmade pierogies and homemade soups. (I won’t even mention the atrocities that pass for pizza out there. And do you realize that much of the country does not even HAVE hard rolls? I’m not saying they have bad ones. I’m saying they have none, zip, zero. This shocked me to my core.) One of the big factors keeping our valley so fresh and green is time. The Iroquois
Confederacy was living well here for countless generations before the Dutch and Brits showed up, and though there was sadness and ugliness in that meeting, there were also lessons shared, and countless fruitful encounters between folks just living their lives that never made it into the history books. The Midwest, the
central South and the Floridian peninsula came later in the program, after the fledgling U.S. had got a bit more full of itself and entitled, and laid out streets in tidy grids. Here there have been four centuries of cultural blending on our twisty byways and pulsating Broadways, and it shows. So does being an hour or two from the gateway to everywhere. We may fuss about how much it costs to live here, and indeed there’s work to do to make economic fairness a reality – and people striving to do that work – but there are big things to be thankful for as well. Smart and adventurous people from every state and many nations have been drawn to New York since it was New Amsterdam, and probably long before, given that it’s an exceptional port with an irresistible navigable waterway leading inland.
When those people tire of crowds, they look around to figure out how they can stay within reach of all that amazing energy while having room to breathe, and here we are. It’s a phenomenon that was in progress long before Covid, long before 9/11, and it’s not going anywhere. Many of us “longtime locals” don’t need to reach more than a couple of generations back to find forebears who came from away. And it’s that constant churn that makes our economy, for all its issues, so much more vibrant than so many other places. In lots of places, Walmart and Amazon are the only places you can find, say, a piece of jewelry or furniture or a sweater. Not so here. Let’s keep it that way. Shop local this Christmas. And by the way, it’s really, really nice to be home.
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Page 24, November 19, 2021, BlueStone Press
Fake plastic trees, Xmas 2021 Wally Nichols BSP Columnist Welp. I seriously feel like I should find a support group on this matter to work through some related issues. This is not a version of me I recognize. Except, now it is. I’m still a little stunned. A little embarrassed. A little humiliated. Have I brought shame unto the house of Me? I never thought it would happen (which is how many unfortunate stories start …) What’s with all the self-reflective drama? Somehow we now have a plastic Xmas
tree shoved up into the corner of the living room (the horror… the horror…), and I’m not sure how I got railroaded into it. Well, actually, I do. I have a lot of feelings around this dramatic pivot away from the time honored ritual of selecting a natural evergreen tree (over a fakey), which, according to online statistics gathering Statista, most people still do on the order of 3:2. But the real-to-fake gap is closing rapidly. And it’s been a steady climb to the daylight of commercial viability and social respectability for plastic for a solid 20 years now (which is what they probably say about hair transplants), especially as the na-
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way, though. And more recently, the X-mas tree acquisition process got streamlined to just driving (in a heated car) no more than a mile away to an outdoor, pop-up Xmas tree place (usually an underused parking lot with some guy shivering in his car waiting for customers or the damn holidays to be over, whichever came mercifully first). We’d snatch something green quickly (they all look the same, and it’s freezing out) and stuff it on the roof of the car or the back of the truck. Sometimes there might even be a dust up between the family members about which tree was more perfect. That fight
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tional average cost of a “real” (dead now, but once-living) tree is $78. Getting a natural tree, however, tugs on the sentimental sinew of my youth. Slogging through the snowy fields of my family’s farm with a thermos of hot cocoa sloshing on/burning my face, seeking out and hacking down the perfectly imperfect tree, noticing how far the burdened return trip looks, counting the help I have (none) and then skidding it out and back home on my sled. Frozen hands. Soaked gloves. Snow packed boots. Chapped lips. Pain in the butt, come to think of it. The struggle has pay off in some hard-to-define, tradional
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BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021, Page 25 can no longer happen with a plastic tree. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this was an ease into even greater convenience. I still connect to the olfactory bliss of authentic, deep forrest pine that doesn’t come from a can of Glade or doesn’t smell like a urinal cake. In theory, I miss snow shedding off boughs and sliding right down my back into my buttcrack. Yeeeee HAWWWW. I guess I miss the snow trudging and being stabbed repeatedly by angry little stiff needles that I will later spend a lot of time vacuuming up. Maybe I don’t miss that. This plastic tree purchasing business was a decision I wouldn’t have come to myself anytime soon. I pooh-pooh ersatz trees and liken them to tawdry flesh peddlers. I was swayed by my daughter’s fierce
litigation skills in the name of environmental responsibility, a two-year ROI (hey now! Say WHAT?!?), hassle reduction, and (not insignificantly) the subtle and unwrappable gift of symmetry in these incongruous times. Strangely, conical geometric purity is a thing of importance to her these days, possibly swayed by the iterations of perfect Xmas trees in pop culture and possibly informed by the Euclidian geometry going down in math class. More of a traditional tree lover myself (hard to say this with a straight face as I willingly purchased
murdered trees), perfect symmetry at the Xmas tree farm stand equals boocoo* bucks that I’m not usually keen to part with. (*Yeah, yeah. I know it’s beaucoup.) Other pros include, no gloves nor winter coats needed. Our fakey is 7 feet tall, but dismantles down to three segments each a little over 2 feet. It’s light. It’s easily stashed away in January versus tossed on a neighbor’s lawn in the middle of the night. (Take THAT, ya miserable old battle-ax!) It never needs water. It just gets teased into conical compliance by some injection molding machine in a land far away, and
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the fluffed into yuletide fullness by excited hands at the user end, which is to say my living room. Anyway, I’m not sold on this as the best route. But this year, it’s what we did. And last year, 23 million fake friggin’ trees were sold, so, that’s what other people did. I love that real trees help local businesses, so I’m wrestling with this Brummagem beauty a bit. But the good news is, last year EVERY single Xmas tree lot sold out. Hopefully that happens this year too … And I’ve just heard of a company that rents live xmas trees, collects them after xmas, plants them for the year, digs them up, returns them to the owners and after 6 years, plants it in your lawn. My back hurts thinking about that, but it’s at least a nod towards not cutting down perfectly alive trees…
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Page 26
Arts, culture & entertainment
November 19, 2021
The good. The bad. The I’m not really sure. The good vs. bad call is challenging to manage in normal times. But nearly two years of trying to find normal during a worldwide pandemic seems to have endowed my emotions with the ability to flipflop like a fresh-caught trout. A few weeks ago, my partner and I went for a leafpeeping drive that looped close to the base of High Point mountain. We saw people we knew standing in their yard and stopped to chat. They were having friends for dinner, they told us, and were debating whether to host inside, or on the house’s deck, which had a view of the mountain so amazing you felt like you could pinch the scrubby pines at its top. A freshet of breeze offered the reason for the conundrum. It held a distinct and unappetizing whiff of … carcass. Nearly everyone I know has seen evidence of the EHD virus that decimated deer herds this year. Kayaking friends saw three deer bodies in the last river they paddled this summer. A Facebooker documented the demise of the large herd that roams her land. And the swamp that borders my property has gone decidedly whiffy. In early summer, it wasn’t unusual to count as many as 20 deer evening-grazing the field next to my house. By summer’s end, the count was zero. On our drive home, we talked about how tragic it was for the deer to suffer this way. “Significant mortality” was the official estimation of the damage. It was strange to contemplate life post-EHD. Deer are an integral part of a
Susan Krawitz
rural area’s character, we agreed. Without them, we’re all less connected to the wild. Suddenly, something darted into the road. It was large, and leggy, and fast. A doe! We drove a little farther and spotted three in a field. No, four! The trajectory continued. Five here, two there, another – watch out! Right in the road. Clearly, near-total deer demise would not happen. And I was genuinely very glad about that. But this emotion was instantly followed by a whoosh of … another feeling entirely. I am a lover of all things wild, but also a gardener of things the wild likes to eat. But I’m an amateur, and deer are ninja-level. One breeze that blows the netting from the oak leaf hydrangea means a stripped and dead plant. One garden gate left accidentally open equals all vegetables gone. They are wonderful creatures. They are also a perennial source of gardener pain. Plus, there’s that road/car thing. And they host black-legged ticks, which were mysteriously much less evident this fall. Was the EHD effect why? So deer will still be with us in force. Good thing? Bad thing? I’m losing my ability to tell. Should I hate it? Should I love it? Polarity isn’t working for me these days. It failed me again last week when yet another scam caller interrupted the dinner hour with an urgent message on my landline. “Stacy” was calling about the “tax debt compromise program passed with Biden’s Build Back Better plan.” One quick Google later, yeah, no. That particular program is fictional, Stace. Plus, I could tell by just her delivery, which was polished, but clearly fakesincere. Not that she wasn’t trying. Maybe she was an out-of-
work actor. Performance is one sector that hasn’t yet really bounced back. Maybe she answered some backpage theater magazine ad for “commercial” work. And when she found out what the work actually was, took the job anyway. Maybe she has college loan debt she needs to pay back. Maybe it’s even from theatre school. Like my daughter’s is. Good! Bad! And I’m! Not! Sure! But I recently discovered there are some situations where my old judgmental self still thrives. I was on the porch basking in the morning sun I couldn’t enjoy during one of the most buggy/rainy/humid summers on record when the sound of a large engine jolted open my eyes. A Central Hudson truck was rumbling at the corner of my property. It was trailed by a small truck and an SUV, which stopped at my driveway. It’s a small, two-car space that already hosted mine, but they parked there anyway, one backing so close to the cliffedge that lines one side that I actually held my breath. Men emerged with flags that read STOP and SLOW. And that’s when I went inside. The truck was replacing a skinny, ancient electric pole with a big sturdy one. I’ll be thankful for that somewhere down the line. But future me wasn’t watching the ruin of one of the last porchable fall moments. Current me was, and she was just plain pissed. It’s weird to say this, but it felt like a relief. I’m still happy/sad that deer will be around to nibble my mums next year. And I’m sincerely hoping Stacey finds better work in her field. But I’m completely determined to hang on to my utility crew anger right up to the first winter storm that doesn’t snap their ding-danged new pole in half.
What did you see today? Hope everyone is enjoying the “go to work in the dark and come home from work in the dark” season. Isn’t it great? In case you’ve missed what’s going on around town … because it’s dark … let me fill you in. The pink house in Stone Ridge is now gray. Granted, the pink wasn’t that great. It was more of a dull Pepto pink than a vibrant candy pink. Like, it’s been pink so long that it just got tired and gave up. So, I’m not too sad that it’s changed colors. Kudos to the new owners who hopped on that gray train. Although, I’m pretty sure that train is leaving the station. Makes me wonder what the new color of choice is. I better call Pantone. Or, better yet, all you new home and business owners who are thinking about painting should call Pantone. But, anyway, the gray does match the season. Around town I guess to make up for the pink gone gray, there is more color blossoming all over. The Egg’s Nest had a refresh. The rainbow house cut down some trees so it is easier to see. There are purple shutters, orange doors, bright red roofs … just a rainbow of colors. Skittles would be proud. I even saw some traffic cones that had a glow up. Guess they got tired of being orange. I’m sorry but I mustache you a question. Have you noticed that there are a lot more men sporting mustaches lately? I know it’s ‘No Shave November’ but I kind of feel like I’ve walked into an alternate universe of some budget 1970s porn movie. That sounds awful, but there’s really no other way to describe it. Big, bushy mustaches. I guess I could have said a Freddie Mercury mustache. That may have been a better, softer description. Sorry, Mom. Now, I don’t mind a mustache with a beard, but a solo mustache just looks weird. My apologies to all you solo ’stache lovers. I know what comes around goes around so it was only a matter of time. Bell-bottoms came around, leg warmers, high-rise pants, dark eyeliner, and all of that is just fine. But, please, for the love of God, hold off on the Joe Dirt mullets and Freddie Mercury mustaches. Everyone seems to be ready to channel that flannel. ’Tis the season, I suppose. I see all these girls wearing a flannel, scarf, jeans and boots. They look so cute like they
Kelly Wright
Looking around. Photo by Kelly Wright
just stepped out of an LL Bean catalog. When I dress like that, I look like a homeless lumberjack. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong but if anyone needs a tree cut down, just let me know. What else? What else have I seen around town … OH! Not seen but heard: One of the owners of Ollie’s Pizza
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is single and looking to mingle. I got a message from my high school friend, Patty, saying to check out Mandy Patinkin’s Instagram post. It was a video of Ilan, who is looking for a cool wife. Or, at least a date. Now, I’ve been single for a few and thought, “There’s a clever new way to online date!” Unfortunately, I am too old for him. I have a strong 4-year dating rule. I think he said he was in his late 30s, but I could be wrong. This was right before Halloween so I did consider dressing up as a cougar but decided against it. So, if you’re out there, in your 30s-40s and are looking for a man, please go grab a pizza at Ollie’s. Not only will you fill your belly but it may also be an opportunity to fill your heart. Good luck, Ilan. I hope you find your pizza slice. By the way, Mandy Patinkin! In High Falls? Why did I not know this? And I wonder how sick he is of hearing, “Hello! You killed my father! Prepare to die!” Seriously, Mandy, you don’t hear it enough because “The Princess Bride” is one of my Top 5. Plus, I like to think I’m Princess Buttercup, so there you have. Clearly, I can’t be Princess Bride because I’m too old for Ilan. Sigh. Lastly, Cherries is saying goodbye. My cousin, Alison, is moving on, and I couldn’t be happier for her. While I will miss getting a free black & white shake every now and then, I am so proud of her and wish her nothing but greatness. This BSP edition comes out on Friday, so depending on what time you pick up a copy, you may still have a few hours to go grab a hot dog and a shake. Heck, grab two shakes because you deserve it – extra thick to match my thighs. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Be safe, get your fat pants, and be grateful you’re not a turkey or a Pepto pink house.
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BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021, Page 27
Home of the famous Raisin Pumpernickel There are some times I wish I was born long ago. It’s not that I don’t appreciate being alive right now with all the technology, transportation improvements (heated steering wheel! Gad!) and health care improvements (hard to pay for, but whatever). But the idea of horses clipclopping down the cobblestone street, and life before ridiculously oversized, diesel-farting pickup trucks right up in my tailpipe has some appeal. So does a momand-pop operation that supports a local neighborhood and can not just survive, but thrive. Mostly, I’d have liked to been around for the grand opening Wally Nichols in 1920 of Cohen’s Bakery in Ellenville. I would have been first in line. And I bet my last day would be spent there working down a bagel. Back then, I bet the wafting smells of baking bread (nothing better!!) filled the streets and solidly overpowered the horse poop. Long gone are the horse and buggy days. But Cohen’s (home of the famous Raisin Pumpernickel Bread) remains open and is an incredible experience. It’s both a trip down memory lane and a refitted, highly efficient and successful, modern day bakery/cafe with breads, cakes, sandwiches, soups, salads. All easy to grab on the quick, or sit down and enjoy. Ownership has recently changed hands, but the hands are experienced, competent, local, familiar and passionate, as evidenced by the trove of baked goodies in the display cases.
world of doughnuts. A cabaret of cookies. A Moulin Rouge of muffins. A symphony of sandwiches. (OK , time to stop.) But there is so much goodness going on here. I can’t do the entire menu justice in this brief review, but some examples include: Eggs (specialty), omelets, breakfast sandwiches Pancakes Cereal Bagels (with specialty cream cheeses) Sandwiches (turkey, chicken farm, chicken Milanese, Reuben, pastrami Reuben, Philly cheesesteak, eggplant parm There are burgers ($7) (beef, turkey and veggie).
Put a fork in it
Horoscopes It is interesting to note that Venus is conjunct Pluto in the sign of Capricorn and firmly positioned with the outer planets, promising good results from a forceful event. The Sun, Mercury and Mars are in close contact in the sign of Scorpio, showing a definite shift – there is a major change on the horizon, but where is it leading? The full Moon on the 19th in the sign of Taurus suggests that extra care should be taken regarding finances – especially important with the partial eclipse of the Moon. Uranus is the sole planet in retrograde motion at this writing.
ARIES: 3/21 to 4/19: Mars, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 8th solar house and is square Saturn and opposite Uranus. Both these planets represent income from your career – suggesting there may be some adjustment in this area for better or worse – especially with the partial eclipse that is involved at the full Moon on the 19th. TAURUS: 4/20 to 5/20: Venus, your ruling planet, is positioned conjunct Pluto and Aquarius at your Midheaven. This is an indication you’re on the right track in your search for a new or different career, especially if it is a bit unusual or offbeat. The full Moon will indicate the way your talent will be received. GEMINI: 5/21 to 6/20: Mercury, your ruling planet, is positioned on the cusp of your 6th solar house. The implication is that you’re attempting to bring facets of your creativity to the job. You’ve had some tough times finding suitable work in the past. After much self-searching you are attempting a new approach to showcase your interests
Cohen’s Bakery Location: 89 Center St., Ellenville (worth the drive for a real bakery!) Contact: 845-647-7620 cohensbakery.cafe Style: Glorious holiday gluten
Even if you have some aversion to baked treats, the sheer volume and iridescence of the display demands that Cohen’s needs to be a stop on the tour. It’s a Disney
There are also a few pork dishes: Hotel California ($8) turkey, lettuce, tomato, avocado, pepper jack, red onion and mayo. The Paesano ($8) is prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, roasted red pepper, lettuce, tomato and vinaigrette. Salads include Cobb, Caesar, Greek and the Popeye (spinach, bacon hard-boiled egg, tomato, mushrooms and red onion). Various soups are also on the menu, as well as fried plantains, onion rings, yellow rice and sweet potato fries. All this sounds like a great escape as we barrel into the cold dark days of winter. There is ample and easy parking nearby, so all that really needs to happen is for you to head south toward Ellenville one of these mornings, with your empty stomach and big eyes, and check out this still thriving breakfast and lunch gem.
and ability. planet, is positioned in your 3rd solar house of CANCER: 6/21 to 7/20: The “Moon child” communication and education. The full Moon spent the new Moon showing off your creative at the very beginning of this cycle, the 19th, nature – and now at the full Moon on the finds you working hard – possibly at more than 19th you’re reaping the rewards. You’ve met one job – and thoroughly enjoying the income. new people who have learned of your distinct The ever-social Ram is also busy preparing ability. While you may have to make a few adfor the holidays, buying gifts and sending out justments, your new status will be worthwhile. invitations. LEO: 7/21 to 8/22: The Sun, your ruling CAPRICORN: 12/22 to 1/20: Saturn, your planet, is positioned on the cusp of your ruling planet, continues in your 2nd solar house 4th solar house of home and family. You may of money accompanied by Jupiter, the greater be getting your home ready for the Holiday beneficial planet. Thus, you are placed in an Joanne Season, but your prime concern is with your excellent position to enjoy the season. In adFerdman career. There are many details at work that dition, you are also receiving kudos on the job are crying for your attention and can’t be for work well done – adding up to a happy “old overlooked. goat.” VIRGO: 8/23 to 9/22: Mercury, your ruling planet, is AQUARIUS: 1/21 to 2/19: Uranus remains in your on the cusp of your 3rd solar house of communication 4th solar house of home and family, and represents one and education, but it is also connected to your 2nd house leg of a T-square formation between career, home and of finances. Important information must be shared with your own inclination. The holiday season represents certain people at work that will add to your prestige and a chance for you to take time-out from your busy work show your caliber. Don’t be surprised when something schedule and enjoy family. The goal of success in your extra appears in your bonus. field is on the horizon. LIBRA: 9/23 to 10/22: Venus, your ruling planet, is poPISCES: 2/20 to 3/20: Neptune, your ruling planet, sitioned in your 4th solar house of home and family and is continues to be positioned in your 1st solar house of conjunct Pluto close to the 5th house of children and crepersonality. In addition, your personal planets are all on ativity. Getting your home ready to welcome family and display. This is not the time for you to be shy. It has taken friends is keeping you busy … and broke. Just remember until this point to develop your various talents – now put to slow down and enjoy the process. them out in the public view. SCORPIO: 10/23 to 11/22: Mars, one of your ruling planets, is positioned in your 1st solar house of personalJoanne can be reached at 561-744-9962. She is available ity. It is also keeping you busy getting your home ready for private telephone consultations if you want more inforfor the holiday season. However, if you want to enjoy the mation relating to your personal chart. Treat yourself, and fun and festivities, slow down and save your strength. If you will learn what to expect from the current transits and you worry too much, the joy disappears. receive an overview of long-term goals. Remember to read SAGITTARIUS: 11/23 to 12/21: Jupiter, your ruling both your Sun sign and your Ascendant.
Your Zodiac
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Page 28, November 19, 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 Thanksgiving cookie sale, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, and 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 845-687-9090, or visit rvumc.org. Stone Ridge art instructor Jill Obrig hosts free painting workshop at Hurley Library Through a grant funded by the Mid-Hudson Library System, Stone Ridge art instructor Jill Obrig will host a free painting workshop at 1-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, at Hurley Library, 48 Main St., Hurley. Students will learn who to paint a beautiful image of a Hudson Valley farm’s early morning sunrise, “After the Harvest.” For more information and to sign up, visit hurleylibrary.org or call 845-338-2092. 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 upcoming gatherings on Nov. 20 and 27. 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. 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 Nov. 29, and Group 2 on Nov. 22. 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 (Nov. 26) and a beginner’s group, 10 a.m. Tuesdays (Nov. 23 and 30), 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. Rosendale Seniors next meeting, Christmas party 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 one on Nov. 24. Their Christmas party will be held noon Wednesday, Dec. 8, at Christina’s Restaurant, 812 Ulster Ave., Kingston, with a cost of $30 per person. Upcoming trips for next year are to 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 Nov. 25 and Dec. 2. This program is presented by the Stone Ridge Library. Contact Rosemary Dean at rmdeen@gmail.com to join the group. Ellenville Regional Hospital Auxiliary 30-50% off Holiday Sale fundraiser This ERH event with six other vendors will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at United Methodist Church, 85 Canal St., Ellenville. For more information, contact Helene Morris, Auxiliary buyer, at 845-210-7120 or Pastor Kevin Mulqueen at 845-647-7094. 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
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Singer, songwriter, pianist, Kerhonkson native Sarah Perrotta
Kerhonkson native Sarah Perrotta’s album release show Singer, songwriter, pianist Sarah Perrotta unveils her fourth studio album of original art-rock/dream-pop entitled “Blue to Gold” on 7D Media/Third Star Records, 7 p.m. (doors open 6 p.m.) Sunday, Nov. 28, at Colony, 22 Rock City Road, Woodstock, with tickets $15-$20 (visit colonywoodstock.com). Produced by world-renowned drummer Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates, Sarah McLachlan), the songs and sonics of “Blue to Gold” were cultivated over the last several years at Dreamland Recording Studio in Hurley by Perrotta and Marotta. In addition to vocals and piano, Perrotta utilizes a variety of keyboards and synths including the Mellotron, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Moog, and even a toy piano. The steady, masterful drumming of Marotta sets the foundation for Perrotta’s vocals and songwriting. Lifelong friends and musicians were enlisted to collaborate and enrich the textures of “Blue to Gold,” including Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel), Sara Lee (Gang of Four, The
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.
ARTS, MUSIC, BODY & MIND 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 Nov. 20. 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
B52s, the League of Gentlemen), Marc Shulman (Suzanne Vega), Bill Dillon (Robbie Robertson), Gerry Leonard (David Bowie), Daniel Weiss (Joan Osbourne) and Rupert Greenall (the Fixx). The album was mixed by Michael Cozzi and mastered by Chris Athens, while the limited edition, deluxe vinyl package was created by Chris Muth. “To transform struggle into something of value and beauty,” explains Perrotta of the meaning of the album. “The songs are each like a prayer or meditation for me based on relationships and life experience. Topics include the awe and selflessness of parenthood, transition, embracing our primitive dark side, rising above conflict, not wanting a good thing to end, being open to following dreams, finding unity amid misunderstanding, a tribute to a friend who died suddenly, to live life fully, and the cyclical beauty of it all.” For more information, visit sarahperottamusic.com.
of Rosendale at marycodytyler@yahoo. com. Live music at Lydia’s Café Every Saturday night, Lydia’s Café, 7 Old Route 209, Stone Ridge, features live music from 7-10 p.m. Upcoming performances include the Geoff Vidal Band on Nov. 20, where Vidal on saxophone brings other West Point musicians for a night of jazz and progressive music and on Nov. 27 is the Feral Cats with Steve Raleigh, guitar; Peter Tomlinson, keys; Mark Usvolk, electric bass, and Matt Garrity, drums. Fully vaccinated persons only, and masks must be worn except while seated at a table. Call to reserve a table or bring a blanket/chair for lawn seating. There is no cover charge for events on the patio at the café, but suggested $20 donations are always welcome. For more information, call 845-687-6373 or visit lydias-café.com. 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 Nov. 21 and 28. Newcomers are always welcome. For more information, visit cometomama.org or call 845-853-5154. RVBA’s Polish Up Your Professional Skills Seminar Join SUNY Ulster and the Rondout Valley Business Association for a co-sponsored seminar facilitated by Dr. Mindy Kole, 8:30-11:30 am Monday, Nov. 22, in person at SUNY Ulster’s St. John Conference Room in Clinton Hall, 491 Cottekill Road, Stone Ridge, or virtually via Zoom. Strategies to improve communication and listening, problemsolving, conflict resolution, collaboration, emotional intelligence and more will be discussed and practiced. Admission for members is $20/$30 for nonmembers for remote attendance, or $25/$35 nonmembers for in-person attendance (with light breakfast served). Registration is required by responding to info@rondoutvalley.org. Holistic Health Community seeks donations by Nov. 22 for upcoming online auction As the community welcomes in the season of giving, the Holistic Health Community of Stone Ridge is seeking item donations for their first (and soon to be annual) auction. Donations may include gift certificates to restaurants and stores; artisan made goods, such as mugs, bowls, scarves, etc.; experiences, tickets to shows, zip lining, private lessons, sunset cruise, etc.; products, food, body, wine, etc.; services, practitioner sessions, house cleaning, snow plowing, mani/pedi, etc.; memberships, Mohonk, Bardovan, etc.; packages, photography, etc. The funds raised from the auction will go to the Holistic Health Community, who continue to offer vital support to ongoing Healthcare Days in Stone Ridge, and to provide growth in the future with programs such as “Holistic Healthcare to the People,” which extends services to underserved communities in the area regardless of socio-economic status or insurance coverage. Deadline for auction donations is Monday, Nov. 22, for the online auction that goes live, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15. For gift certificate donation, email to info@holistichealthcommunity. org or mail to Holistic Health Community, P.O. Box 725, Stone Ridge, NY 12484. Email a photo of self, logo, or a picture of the item being donated to accompany the description on the auction site. For more information, visit holistichealthcommunity.org or call 845-867-7008. 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 Nov. 23. 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 SRL online calendar at stoneridgelibrary. org or call 845-687-7023. 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 Nov. 24 and Dec. 1 via Zoom, member ID 951525112. Whether a 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. Laura Coffey exhibit at the Rosendale Café Longtime Rosendale resident and SUNY New Paltz alumna Laura Coffey’s paintings explore nature in watercolor. Also a noted local psychotherapist, Coffey’s artwork will be on display at the Rosendale Café, 434 Main St., Rosendale, through Nov. 30. The café is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information, visit rosendalecafe.com or call 845-658-9048. SUNY Ulster on-campus Prospective Students Day Prospective Students Day will be held, 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at SUNY Ulster, 491 Cottekill Road, Stone
See More events, page 29
BlueStone Press, November 19, 2021, Page 29 Events continued from page 28 Ridge. The program begins in Quimby Theater, located in Vanderlyn Hall, and will include an introduction to the SUNY Ulster campus and the admissions process; an overview of academic programs and college services including scholarships, financial aid, and transferring to a four-year college; a Start Here, Go Far panel consisting of current students and alumni providing their college experience and perspective; and a guided campus tour given by Student Admissions Ambassadors who will share experiences about campus life. All participants will receive a SUNY Ulster swag bag filled with helpful resources. There will also be the opportunity to schedule an individual follow-up appointment with a SUNY Ulster admissions representative to help guide students and answer questions. Masks are required. Registration is required and can be accessed at sunyulster.edu/visit. For more information, call 845-687-5022. 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 at 8 a.m. Monday and Wednesday; Mussar open room for patience, 7 p.m. Wednesday; Meditation sit, 8 a.m. Thursday; Shacharit, musical and contemplative, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Thursday; Jewish mindful meditation, 8 a.m. Friday; and Hallel, sing study and pray, 9 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. offering curbside pickup only Hudson Valley Seed Co. is continuing with its curbside pickup at their 4737 Route 209, Accord, location. Orders are available within 48 hours of confirmation. Curbside pickup hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information and orders, call 845-2048769.
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
See More events, page 30
Ulster County SPCA Fill the Van event at Emmanuel’s of Stone Ridge on Saturday
‘Two of a Kind’ show features High Falls Marlene Wiedenbaum with James Coe Both Marlene Wiedenbaum and James Coe, brilliant award-winning artists, feel a deep love of nature. Both are very active in artistic and environmental communities, promoting green space, protecting wildlife habitats, and empowering the artistic experience for themselves and others. Wiedenbaum paints in soft pastels on sanded paper. Precisely observant and a passionate realist, she looks keenly at her environment to reflect the world she lives in and is dedicated to the preservation of the landscape. Coe is an insightful oil painter with a passion for birds. His fresh, vigorous
“From the Ailee,” pastel by Marlene Wiedenbaum
brushwork, developed through plein air painting, captures the fleeting light and dynamic conditions of the landscape. The “Two of a Kind” exhibit will be featured through Saturday, Nov. 20, at Marbletown resident Mark Gruber’s Gallery, in the New Paltz Plaza. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and Sundays and Mondays by chance or appointment. For more information, contact Gruber at 845255-1241 or visit markgrubergallery.com.
Help Fill the Van with supplies needed to care for the animals at the Ulster County SPCA shelter and meet an adoptable shelter dog, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Emmanuel’s Market Place, 3853 Main St., Stone Ridge. Items needed include dog and cat food, treats Nameline and toys, pellet litter, bleach, paper towels, laundry and dish detergent, and small paper plates. UCSPCA can also use items from home, such as towels, sheets, blankets, and shoe boxes. For more information, visit ucspca.org or call 845-331-5377.
Marbletown’s Jazzstock’s Teri Roiger and John Menegon with Sheila Jordan and more
Local music/art fusion duo Cosmal
Ecstatic dance with Cosmal live music/art fusion at Whole Sky Yoga Hosted by local music/art fusion duo Cosmal, Whole Sky Yoga presents the return of ecstatic dance, 7-10 p.m. every first Friday of each month, beginning Dec. 3, in the Earth Room, at Whole Sky Yoga, 3588 Main St., Stone Ridge. New hosts, Cosmal, bring a modern take on the classic ecstatic dance format, with an emphasis on inclusivity to foster a safe communal space for all who wish to join. The idea
of ecstatic dance is to allow the body to fall into deep resonance with the music. In this way, dance becomes a meditative experience. The music is designed to take the dancer on an intentionally crafted journey, leading to a climactic point, then winding down to a gentle close. Admission is $25/$20 members. For more information, visit wholeskyyoga.com or call 845-706-3668.
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with Rosendale Library via Zoom The Rosendale Library will host a book discussion of the award-winning novel “There There” by Cheyenne and Arapaho author Tommy Orange, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30,
via Zoom. The library also has a book display of books by and about Native Americans available for checkout. For more information, visit rosendalelibrary. org or call 845-658-9013.
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Jazzstock will feature the piano trio of Teri Roiger on piano and vocals, John Menegon, Roiger’s husband, on bass, and Matt Garrity on drums. Roiger, who has been playing piano since age 5 and was a church organist all during her teens, is known as a jazz singer. “This is very exciting for me,” she said. “Many locals first Roiger got to know me as a pianist/vocalist, so I am more or less returning to my roots for this event” (noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, at Bearsville Theater Brunch, 291 Tinker St., Woodstock). Jazz vocal legend Sheila Jordan will be cel- Menegon ebrating her 93rd birthday at Jazzstock, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, at Senate Garage, 4 N. Front St., Kingston. “John Menegon and I have been producing concerts under the name Jazzstock for many years, and in the past few years have been generating monthly concerts at Senate Garage (except during Covid, of course).” Jordon will sing with Alan Broadbent on piano and Harvie S. on bass – both jazz legends. For more on both these shows, visit jazzstock.com.
Free holiday wreath making workshop Stone Ridge artist and educator Jill Obrig will teach a free holiday wreath making class, 2:30-4:40 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Hurley Library, 48 Main St., Hurley. All materials will be provided. Participants are asked to bring their own pair of clippers to cut branches and a pair of scissors to cut ribbon. Contact Hurley Library at 845-338-2092 to sign up.
Page 30, November 19, 2021, BlueStone Press
Virtual Community Holistic Healthcare Week
Events continued from page 29 11 a.m.-2 p.m. each Saturday except holidays. For more information, call 845657-6484. 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.
Enjoy performances from CCE Energy Dance Company at the 2nd Annual Spread Love Thanksgiving Event
Center for Creative Education’s Spread Love Thanksgiving event; all welcome, no charge In the spirit of Thanksgiving, UlsterCorps of Stone Ridge invites the community to join the 2nd Annual Spread Love Thanksgiving event, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 25, at 16 Cedar St., Kingston. En-
joy free food, clothing, and performances by Dojo Dance Company, Energy Dance Company, local musicians, singers and more. With the help of the community, local nonprofits and businesses, UlsterCorps hopes to feed 1,000 families in and around Ulster County. Volunteers, sponsors, food delivery people, donations, set-up and cleanup staff, servers, cooks, potato peelers (on days leading up to the event), recycle, garbage and bathroom monitors, and many more are needed to make the event a continued success. Register to volunteer at https:// form.jotform.com/203017702694149. For more information, visit cce4me.org.
Commitment to Kids cancels usual festivities but continues toy distribution Although their usual holiday festival and parade have been canceled this year due to Covid-19, the toy distribution will continue. Commitment to Kids and American Legion Post 1219 Rosendale/Tillson are proudly celebrating their 27th Greater Ulster County Toy Extravaganza. The support of the community, year after year, enables them to provide toys to local kids. Last year they distributed 4,632 toys, and over the last 26 years, 101,398 toys have been handed out. Consider donating new toys, gently used sneakers or used printer cartridges. Commitment to Kids also collects deposit cans and bottles all year. Donations are needed and grouped by ages: infant, 1-2 years old, 3-4 years old, 5-7 years old, 8-11 years old and 12-14 years old. The hardest to shop for is the 12-14 group, so for that age group, board games are great, soccer balls, footballs, things of that nature. No cell phones or gaming devices, please, as it’s not known if the recipient would have the appropriate system.
The support of the community, year after year, enables Commitment to Kids to provide toys to local kids. Pictured here, “Santa’s Workshop” 2020
Collection of donations will be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20; 3-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5. Monetary donations can be mailed to: Commitment to Kids, P.O. Box 223, Bloomington, NY 12411. For more information, call 845-338-2794 on collection days, and/or 845-339-9209 all other days.
William Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ starring Ian McKellen at the Ros. Theatre Broadcast live from London’s West End, see Ian McKellen’s “extraordinarily moving portrayal” (Independent) of King Lear, 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale. Considered by many to be the greatest tragedy ever written, “King Lear” sees two aging fathers, one a king, the other his courtier, reject the children who truly love them. Their blindness unleashes a tornado of pitiless ambition and treachery, as family and state are plunged into a violent power struggle with bitter ends. Directed by Jonathan Munby and Ross MacGibbon and starring Ian McKellen, Sinéad Cusack and Danny Webb, tickets to the film are $12/$10 members. For more information, visit rosendaletheatre.org or call 845-658-8989.
Holistic Health Community of Stone Ridge will offer its ongoing Virtual Holistic Healthcare Week, Monday-Friday, Nov. 22-26, via Zoom. Patients should make an appointment for one session only so the maximum number of people may benefit. To make an appointment, Bash go to http://hhcny.simplybook.me. Once the appointment is made, all information will be sent to the practitioner, and then they will contact each patient. Other free holistic opportunities include Circle Practice: Betts Strengthening the Heart, with Barbara Bash; See No Enemy/Hear What Matters: practicing nonviolent communication, with Barbara Bash and Katherine Betts; Free qigong classes, Bobbi Esmark; Systemic and Ancestral Group Constellations, Jadina Lilien; Yoga Nidra, Shivarm in Hawaii; Free MediSounds® Sounding with Shulamit Elson; and daily community meditations with Therese Bimka. The Holistic Health Community Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, charitable corporation. Visit their website to donate and for more information about the Holistic Health Community, its practitioners, and the modalities offered at holistichealthcommunity.org or call 845-867-7008.
Mediation for the treatment of inflammation, autoimmunity & immune deficiency The immune system is incredibly complex and dynamic with inherent selfregulating capability. Yet tens of millions of Americans suffer from an immune system that is inflamed, out of control, and also weak in its ability to protect from infection. This Nourishing Life Health Center/Uprooting Lyme of Marbletown Thing workshop with licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and certified detox guide Hillary Thing to be held, live-streamed via Zoom, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, to help patients recover from problems such as chronic inflammation, autoimmunity and immune deficiency. Participants will learn how to treat specific conditions with acupuncture, herbs and lifestyle medicine. For tickets and more information, visit uprootinglyme.com or call 845-687-6211.
Email your calendar item to BSP! Ian McKellen as King Lear
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Town of Marbletown Rondout Municipal Center 1925 Lucas Ave., Cottekill, NY
marbletown.net 845-687-7500 Town Board Dec. 7 @ 5:00pm ECC and Climate Smart Communities Task Force Dec. 8 @ 7:00pm to 9:00pm Historic Preservation Committee Dec. 9 @ 6:00pm Planning Board Dec. 13 @ 7:00pm to 9:00pm Zoning Board of Appeals Dec. 15 @ 6:00pm
Town of Rosendale
All meetings held at Rondout Municipal Center unless otherwise noted, 1915 Lucas Ave., Cottekill, NY townofrosendale.com 845-658-3159
Marbletown First Aid Unit is seeking an EMS Chief to perform duties associated with planning, coordinating, monitoring and overseeing operations, employees and volunteers. The selected candidate will be responsible for the daily operation of MFAU and reports to the Board of Directors. Minimum requirements include ¿YH \HDUV RI SXEOLF VDIHW\ H[SHULHQFH 1<6 (07 FHUWL¿FDWLRQV IRU D PLQLPXP RI ¿YH FRQVHFXWLYH \HDUV FXUUHQW &35 FHUWL¿FDWLRQ and NIMS compliance with parts 100, 200 and 700. Preference given to applicants residing within the District. For a complete list of duties and resume submission email: hamilton716@verizon.net. Resumes should be received no later than December 1, 2021.
Nov. 30 @ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
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Water/Sewer Commission Nov. 29 @ 6:00 pm-7:00 pm Police Commission Town Board Dec. 1 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am Youth Commission Dec.. 6 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Town Board Dec. 8 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am Planning Board
Town of Rochester Town Board, Planning Board and ZBA meetings will livestream broadcast on YouTube. Rochester Town Hall 50 Scenic Rd, Accord, NY
Environmental Conservation Committee Nov. 30 @ 6:00-8:00pm Town Board Audit
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BSP for the a Giveis uslooking a call to discuss news reporter details. 687-4480. Thank you. Call 845-687-4480 or email bsplori@gmail.com
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Page 32, November 19, 2021 BlueStone Press
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• Wills • Real Estate • Elder Law • Estates ,QMXUHG" &DOO XV
(914) 948-7700 (845) 687-0353 3536 Rt. 209 Stone Ridge, NY 12484
Mac or iOS troubles got you down? Text macm0mma to (845) 389-7309 and I’ll run them out of town! Onsite or Remote • By Appointment
Alan Silverman Emergency Well Pump Service Plumbing Repairs & Installation Water Filtration Systems Radiant Heat Flooring Oil & Gas Heating Systems-Installation & Service Septic & Drain Field Installation/Sump Pump Installation
(845) 687-9458
alan.silverman.computers@gmail.com http://alan-silverman-computers.com
Licensed Master Plumber #136 • Fully Insured riceplumbingandheating@gmail.com • riceplumbingandheating.com
Sanitall
Stone Ridge Insurance
HudSon Valley Green CleanerS
Serving All of Your Insurance Needs
Steam Vapor Sanitizing SerVice ChemiCal Free!!! 100% Green Cleaning testing and removal of
mold. allergens. deep Cleaning.
Donald J. Giamei, Agent donaldgiamei@hotmail.com
Reconstruction/Remodeling Post Construction & Seasonal Clean Up
Michele Aversano, Licensed Associate michelesri@outlook.com PO Box 341, 3669 Main Street, Stone Ridge Phone 845-687-2828 | Fax 845-687-2829 stoneridgeinsurance.net | Like us on
Cracked Pipe, Flood & Black Water Damage, Dry Out & Disinfecting nYs licensed mold assessor & mold remediation
Commercial & Residential. Insurance Claims Accepted.
845-657-7283 • greencleaning.net
All Motor CArs Creating thoughtful, livable spaces.
sales & service
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