BlueStone Press

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

Published the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month | Vol. 28, Issue 5

March 3, 2023 | $1.00

Rochester cannabis law proposes on-site and off-site consumption Ann Belmont BSP Reporter On Feb. 23, the Town of Rochester board convened to hear public comment concerning proposed local law B-23, the purpose of which is to regulate the future

retail cannabis industry in Rochester.

New York state voted last year to legalize cannabis retail dispensaries, as well as onsite cannabis consumption facilities.

(A dispensary, like a liquor store, sells its product to take away. "Onsite consumption" can be likened to drinking in a bar.)

Municipalities were invited to opt out of allowing them, but the majority, including Rochester, did not do that.

“Let me start by saying that [anyone in either business] would need a state permit," said town supervisor Mike Baden.

"At the moment, the state permits are tied

up in the courts. None are being issued.

So this is somewhat premature." However, since the board voted not to opt out, "the state requires us to make zoning specifications" for possible cannabis businesses.

See Cannabis, page 3

'Mamma Mia!' amazing

Local Ukrainians mark anniversary of invasion PAGE 9

Spring real estate update on the Business Page PAGE 11

Tapping in an unusually warm year PAGE 19

Last weekend, Rondout Valley High School’s auditorium was packed for each of three performances of the RVHS production of “Mamma Mia!” From the first note of the overture by the talented orchestra, the audience could feel the exuberant spirit of the company. The joy was contagious. Beloved member of the local theater community Kevin Archambault, to whom the show was dedicated, would have been proud. The wonderful production was staged on a beautifully constructed mobile set that was changed seamlessly between scenes by a skilled stage crew. The costumes were fantastic, with many changes featuring sparkling flashy ABBA styles that were used to perfection by the dancers. The choreography was creative, energetic and fun (especially the number featuring yellow swimfins!), with fine execution by the entire ensemble. The music, based on songs recorded by the group ABBA and composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, members of that Swedish band, was delightful, with some standout solos and duets and a consistently strong choral ensemble. As always, the community came together with sponsorship and hands-on support.

Page 2, March July 1,3, 2022, 2023,BlueStone BlueStonePress Press

Riding the rapids How long have you lived in the area?

I moved to Accord in 1977. When I went for a hike in the Shawangunk Ridge I knew it was where I wanted to live.

Tell us about what you did initially in the area .

In the early 1980s I was living in Accord and working as a river guide in the Grand Canyon in the summer.

My time in Accord was spent as a playwright as well as focused on forming the Rondout Valley Conservancy Visit the folks Land with Ira Stern.

Q&A

Eric Hertz

next door

Age: 67 Profession: Professional outfitter Town: Accord

Tell us about how you started Earth River Expeditions.

In 1989 I was invited to guide an expedition down the Bio Bio River in Chile.

The river runs through a deep canyon and circles a snow-capped, smoking volcano that rises 9,000 feet out of the water.

It was an amazing trip and lived up to its reputation of being one of the top rafting destinations in the world. Unfortunately the river was threatened by a series of dams that would flood the canyon and the homeland of the native Mapuche Indians. It was that trip that convinced me to start Earth River Expeditions. I knew that places that aren’t seen don’t get protected, and if I could safely show media and policymakers these places it could make a difference.

After the Bio Bio trip I took a road trip further south in Chile to Patagonia. On a remote dirt road, I crossed a bridge and looked down at the crystal clear, turquoise river flowing below. You could see water curling over smooth white rocks 20 feet below the surface. In my 25 years kayaking and guiding I had never seen anything like it. Not the Colorado or even the Bio Bio had ever affected me like that. In those days, virtually no one had even heard of the Futaleufu River. I found out that it had been kayaked in 1985 and was attempted by raft later that year. The kayak trip was a success but the rafting trip was aborted halfway down when one of the rafts flipped and was was lost in a rapid that is now infamously named Terminator. From the rapids, I could see from the road it looked navigable with the right equipment. The 1985 trip used heavy, unwieldy Grand Canyon-style oar rafts with guests holding on. I felt with light rafts and people paddling we would be better equipped to negotiate the river’s more technical rapids like Terminator.

found what many people now consider to be the best whitewater rafting river in the world? And how are your sons involved now?

The luck and fate of discovering it on that Patagonia road trip was really the genesis of the vision that paying clients could be guided down it. The following year, I organized an exploratory trip with light boats and some intrepid, paying clients paddling in the front of the two rafts. Myself and the other guide steered the boats with oars from the back, where we could give commands and watch the paddlers. Despite a lot of scouting and some challenging moments – not knowing what to expect around the next corner.– we successfully completed first full raft descent of the river.

These days we run an average of 10 commercial trips of between 12 and 16 guests down the Futaleufu, and half of our guests are beginners. My two sons, Cade and Teal, who are both Rondout Valley graduates, guide and manage our river operations.

Tell us about the company’s environmental work.

The company was involved in a number of river conservation projects over the years.

The first was the trying to protect the Bio Bio River.

While taking guests down the Futaleufu in the early ’90s we also ran a series of conservation awareness trips with the Natural Resource Defense Council and other Chilean environmental groups down the Bio Bio. Unfortunately, we were too late to make a difference and it’s now flooded.

There are number of articles on the Earth River website about your work helping the Cree Indians in their fight against the James Bay II Hydro-electric Project in Quebec.

Can you tell us about that work?

In the early 1990s I attended an environmental awareness lecture at SUNY New Paltz on a series of dams planned for numerous rivers that flowed into James Bay, Quebec. The public meeting was arranged by members of the Cree First Nations, who had paddled a giant, handmade Cree canoe from James Bay, down Lake Champlain and the Hudson River in order to bring an awareness to the project slated for their land.

Hydro Quebec’s project would flood eight major rivers, an area the size of France, and destroy their homeland and way of life. New York state was funding the project to the tune of $5 billion without even doing any environmental impact study.

Realizing Earth River might be able to help, I contacted the Grand Council of the Cree, and we agreed that I would fly over each of the threatened rivers looking for a safe stretch of water to run conservation awareness rafting trips with media, policymakers and members of the Cree First Nations.

After flying for over a week, I found a suitable stretch to safely raft on the Great Whale River. For the next three summers Earth River ran a series of environmental awareness trips down the Great Whale River with Cree chiefs, elders, media, environmental groups and New York state legislators. We rafted previously unrun rapids, slept in teepees that we built in native camps along the way, and ate caribou and goose cooked over a central teepee fireplace. The Cree elders shared stories of the area that had been passed down through the generations.

The James Bay project was defeated after pressure from the members of the media, many who had rafted the river, caused a public outcry, and members of the New York State legislature, specifically Assemblyman Bill Hoyt and Sen. Franz Leichter, who had also experienced the river, convinced the New York state legislature and Gov. Mario Cuomo to bow out of the project.

Compiled by Jeff Slater, BSP Reporter

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BlueStone Press, March 3, 2023, Page 3

Cannabis public hearing from page 1 "This code does establish that."

Baden explained that either you have a retail dispensary or an onsite consumption facility; you cannot legally combine the two, at least in New York. As far as location, law B-23 provides that cannabis businesses “may only occur in our [B] business zone” along portions of Route 209, or the AB-3, “our agricultural business zone, also along Route 209,” and the industrial zone [I], “very small districts in various places spread throughout our town.” Additionally, they must be at least 500 feet away from houses of worship and from any place where children congregate: schools, playgrounds, athletic fields and so on. They also have to be 500 feet from any alcohol-related business and from each other.

“There are a very limited number of properties" that would be eligible under these rules, Baden estimated, "probably less than 15 parcels ... they are all along Route 209."

Several people who came to comment were concerned about the effects of commercial cannabis products on children and reported having seen such products packaged to look like candy cigarettes, Cheetos and Doritos.

Rick Jones, who is a member of the Planning Board, commented, "I'm fine with the retail sales,” but he said he wasn't crazy about the onsite consumption, “at all.” He requested that the Planning Board be given a map to let them know which parcels on 209 would be eligible.

Then a man stood up to say, “I’m Jay Martin, and I, for one, am opposed to Local Law B for many reasons. Any law no matter how well thought out always has unintended consequences.” Truck drivers, school bus drivers, EMT drivers, all are subject to random drug testing, he said. “So it’s going to be interesting seeing who’s using these facilities … As far as consumption – help!! You might as well open up a brothel or an opium den … I think we have taken a step downward in our culture.” Martin said he has been a teacher and taught in the Rondout Valley schools for three decades. “I see kids come in stoned, they look like sleeping Jesus, they put their heads down on the desk …

There are parents who have parties and permit underage drinking. You don’t think that’s going to happen with cannabis?!”

He said he’s afraid people will come out of consumption facilities stoned and have traffic accidents. "I think we’re going in the wrong direction.”

A woman pointed out that recreational marijuana is legal statewide. John Dunning, the fire commissioner, said, “People want to do what they want to do … it’s a moot point.” He added that cannabis gives relief to “people with terminal illnesses.

It’s not all about getting high.”

Baden said, “Bear in mind that [this law] is about when and where it can operate.

The state has already decided that this is allowed. We chose not to opt out, as did many other towns.” Someone asked

how much revenue the town would see.

Baden didn’t know, but said it would be a percentage of profits.

Another man named Alex commented that in Singapore, where he is from, people are punished for the smallest infraction, like chewing gum on the sidewalk. He thinks it’s better to have freedom. “People are looking for a little bit of relief. If they can’t get it here, guess what? They’ll go to another town and get it … We learn to self-regulate, that’s why we have schools.”

As long as the court case goes on, nobody can open a shop in the Hudson Valley. But, said Baden, “if and when” that’s resolved, this law will govern when and where shops can operate. “This is called home rule. Very similar to alcohol, which is governed by the NYS Liquor Authority …

In this case, the state gave every municipality the chance to opt out. This board discussed it and decided not to opt out.”

A woman thought maybe they should increase the cannabis shops' distance away from schools, churches and so on to 1,000 feet.

Someone else remarked that, since the black market has been going on anyway, regulating it will allow the state to ensure that the product people consume will be safer and better.

A woman concerned about the super-strength of today's commercial marijuana asked if Rochester could say OK to dispensaries but not the “bars." Another woman mentioned that Ellenville or Wawarsing had made that choice. Baden said it was too late; the board's decision on that front had already been made.

Troy Dunn, the next commenter, said, “The state cannabis industry is highly regulated. They have a camera on every single plant … Instead of going down the street and buying it from your buddy, it’s a bonus. You know where it’s coming from.

Each plant has basically a ‘social security number ‘… it is very, very, very regulated.”

However, Dunn said he thought that owning an onsite consumption facility would result in liability problems. “ I wouldn’t be a site owner. I wouldn’t want to be that person.”

Lastly, a woman identifying herself as Kira called in, saying that she is a farmer, “working with someone who has a recreational grower’s license. That person is in Marbletown at the moment, and we are looking to buy a property that is in your town to run a potential microbusiness … it’ll be pretty limited in the amount you’re able to grow, but it gives a farmer the ability to [control] the entire process from top to bottom. Right now, the way the state has this set up, they have to wholesale their product out or they have to use a processor who turns their product into something else and they take a cut and sell to the dispensaries.” Switching to a microbusiness model would give the farmer more control and more of a profit margin.

See Cannabis, page 4

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Page 4, March 3, 2023, BlueStone Press

Briefs

Planning board fits in meeting before impending snow storm on Feb. 27

High Falls’ John Cox Planning Board to give lecture on closes public hearing on Cherries history of barrel making at D&H John Cox, owner of Quercus Cooperage in High Falls, will give a lecture on “Coopering, the long history of barrel making,” at 7 p.m. Friday, March 10, at D&H Historical Society, 1315 Cox Route 213, High Falls.

Admission is $5 per person, free to members.

For more information, visit canalmuseum.org.

Rondout Valley SD’s universal pre-K applications available now Children must be either 3 or 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2023, and a resident of the Rondout Valley School District to be registered for the Universal Pre-K program.

Applications, due by noon Friday, April 28, can be printed from the RVCSD website at http://bit.ly/3EM8ogP or picked up at the District Office, at 122 Kyserike Road, Accord. The lottery for pre-K spots will be announced during separate Zoom meetings on Tuesday, May 9, at 4 p.m. for the 4-year-old spots and 4:30 p.m. for the 3-year-olds.

For questions and more information, contact Louann Miszko by email at LMiszko@@rondout.k12.ny.us or by calling 845-687-2400, ext. 4863.

Amber Kelly BSP Reporter The Planning Board meeting on Feb. 27 in the Marbletown town hall had a quorum despite the impending snow storm.

Chair Max Stratton, secretary Shawn Marks, board member Dave Cobb, board member Harry Hansen and alternate Ilan Bachrach were present. The meeting was live-streamed on Facebook.

Stratton said, “Our first application this evening is the Sindt and Buffet lot line adjustment. This is an application we approved last month, and since then they have done a small tweak on it, just changing the lot line slightly. The parcel sizes remain the same as the previously approved decision. We’ll just go over this real quick.

Stacy, will you just walk us through this?”

Sindt pointed to the slight lot line shift on the map projected on the screen. She said it would to allow for a septic reserve.

The board reviewed the revised determination and then voted to accept the revised proposal. The new map was then signed by the board.

“We are on to Cherries now,” Stratton

Cannabis from page 3 Kira had read through Local Law B and saw a problem with the provision prohibiting housing in the same building as a cannabis business. “If we go through with this, we would be very interested in putting up housing for the people who’d be working with us. It’s very expensive, very difficult to find [housing for workers], so I’m just asking that you guys look at that part of what you’re legislating. When you look

A picture of real smiles can only promote community service. Marbletown Planning Board volunteer members Dave Cobb and Harry Hansen looking at a new map of Sindt and Buffet minor lot line adjustment. Photo by Amber Kelly

said. (Cherries special use modification proposal at 4162-4166 Route 209, Stone Ridge.) “The public hearing is still open.

We have no new information from them.

We have nobody representing the application here.”

Looking toward the one audience member, Stratton said, “Are you here to talk about Cherries?”

“Yes,” said Bill Terpening, a neighbor of the establishment. “You may have considered this already, but town code 200-54 and 200-56 for nonconforming buildings and uses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the date of adoption of the chapter, a nonconforming business and/or industrial use in a residential zone

may expand or increase the extent of such use, provided that: With respect to buildings located upon lands owned by the holder of such nonconforming use on the date of this chapter, and the date of this chapter is 1989, said owner may enlarge, increase or extend the size and areas of such buildings by no more than 50% of their present size and area.”

“Thank you very much for your comments,” Stratton said. “I would like to make a motion to close the public hearing on Cherries, as that is all we can do for Cherries this evening.”

The motion was seconded and passed.

around the state, any dispensary that’s in a bigger town or city, it’s in a building that has residential units above it.”

Baden replied that putting up housing for employees was not at issue under this law. “I don’t know if farmers can sell directly to consumers or not under the new [NYS] code," he said.

Another attendee at the meeting clarified what Kira was talking about: a proposed regulation on the state level that would allow the licensing of microbusinesses, limited in scale, that would allow farmers to process and sell the cannabis they grow, sort of like a farmstand. This

begs the question of whether the town would allow cannabis sales at any farm's particular location.

The public hearing was held open for another session, at a time to be determined. The board will take comments into consideration. People interested in reading proposed Local Law B-23 can find it on the town's website under Codes and Ordinances, subhead "Legislation."

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Page 6, March 3, 2023, BlueStone Press

Town Board discusses future of Marbletown Community Center Brooke Stelzer BSP Reporter The Marbletown Town Board discussed taking a closer look at the use and the future of the Marbletown Community Center during the board meeting on Feb. 21. [Additional stories from this board meeting are on pages 7 and 8] Councilman Tim Hunt said the board is going to reevaluate how the building is currently being used, which includes town income from renting the space to private parties.

Chairman and town supervisor Rich Parete said the town receives $6,000 to $7,000 per year in income. The issue, the board shared, is that the cost to maintain the aging building outspends the income that is received. Councilwoman Daisy Foote shared that the furnace in the building is “on its last leg” and that the roof is also in need of repair.

“We just got a quote of $60,000 for a new roof,” said Parete.

He said the Rondout Municipal Center on Lucas Turnpike has expanded spaces open to the public that he would like to see further utilized by the town, including a vacant bistro space with a large kitchen, a gymnasium, pickleball court and a playground. “It would be nice to start getting groups to come here, to rent the bistro, and say hey, you’ve got your kid’s birthday party here, you’ve got the gymnasium for two hours, you can go out on the playground.

We may have to reevaluate the properties we own moving forward. Towns are not meant to be in the real estate business.”

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WISE program excels at Rondout Valley High School Amber Kelly BSP Reporter At the RVSD Board of Education meeting on Feb. 21, held in the high school cafeteria, Superintendent Dr. Joseph Morgan said, “OK, tonight we have Mr. (James) Sullivan and Mr. (Andrew) Lutz to present on the WISE program.”

Sullivan began the presentation, saying, “Tonight we’re going to start off by just showing you a little video. What I did was I sent out emails and texts and Facebook requests to former WISE graduates, and said ‘hey, we just want to get a sense of your memories of WISE and how the program impacted you, and would you send me a one-minute video.’ We got a lot of responses.”

Following are samples of what the WISE graduates said in the film. “It was the first time I felt challenged.” … “I got into music production and founded Bars Behind Bars.” … “By building confidence I got my foot in the door of social services.” … “I made a robot and now I am a programmer.” … “It was the first time I took charge of my path."

Over the past 26 years, there have been 1,162 WISE graduates at Rondout. There is an average of 48 students per year, and an average of 30 community task force members per year also.

Former faculty and WISE program coordinator Francine Hertz said, “I don’t know how much any of you know about WISE. To kind of just go through the basics, there used to be five pillars and we’ve added a sixth pillar to the program.

Project, mentor, journal, presentation, task force – those are the main aspects.

“Every student in the senior class is invited to participate. Philosophically, all kids – all abilities, any kid who wants to do it – are welcome, the more the better.

We’re always aiming for 100% of the class coming up. We haven’t had it, but we’ve gotten close. We’ve often had close to 60%.

“Once they say they want to do this we help them with the application,” Hertz continued. “It’s a one-page proposal, not meant to discourage any kind of learner.

Projects can be pretty much anything that is legal. As creative and diverse as the class is, that is the span of the projects. Some students take a more practical route, some students take maybe more sort of creative route, some students travel. It’s really broad. I did WISE when I was in high school. I did an internship in a special education school, and continued my career here at Rondout.”

Andrew Lutz, program consultant, and Francine Hertz, program coordinator, speaking to the Board of Education about the WISE program at Rondout Valley High School. Photo by Amber Kelly

At the end of the film a list of over 150 mentors from 18 years at Rondout scrolled down pages of screen.

Hertz said, “In terms of participation from the faculty, I can’t say enough about this district. The professionals from kindergarten through seniors, administrators, secretaries, librarians that have participated in WISE all made it possible.

I really think they’re the backbone – the mentors – of this program. That is probably the reason that this program is not at every single school. Not everyone has the quality staff who agree to be mentors, because it is voluntary, it’s an extra.”

Andy Lutz, former longtime Rondout faculty member and WISE program consultant, talked about WISE practice of writing a journal. He compared the word “journal” to the word “journalist,” or one who writes about the news, clarifying the intention of journaling.

“The student will write about their day. It’s a daily journal,” Lutz said. “They will take it to their mentor once a week.

The mentor will read it. The mentor will write comments. The next night, writing their journal entry, they will write, ‘I met with Mr. Sullivan and he said I should do this, that what I’m doing now needs to be changed,’ something to that effect.

So, the journal includes not only specific information, but also reflective information, thinking back to how were the kids thinking at the time they were doing daily journals. At the end of the semester, they make a public presentation to which three members of the task force are in-

vited. You normally would have an adult from the community, a teacher and a peer. All three have read the journal from beginning to end. The student makes a presentation about their experience.

“Now look at that word presentation,” Lutz said. “What do you see at the beginning of that word? Present. Gift. That is what the kid is giving when they made their presentation. They’re saying, ‘I had a great experience, or I had a difficult experience, but whatever I had, I can’t wait to share.’ There is a variety of ways that they share their presentations.”

Hertz said, “The student task force meets once a month. Student coordinators help with organization and record keeping, and going into 11th grade social studies classrooms to talk about the program. They also set up the meeting room in a cozy way with the intention to foster interaction and collaboration.”

A sample of current WISE projects includes: the study of debt, the study of hair dressing for senior citizens, biology research, the study of makeup, attempting to make a viral video, how to promote a personal business, the study of passion, preparing for college, and the study of fashion.

Hertz said, “Participating students come in (to the WISE meeting room) and sometimes they are quiet and sometimes they chit-chat. It’s a great space, you all should really go see it sometime.”

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BlueStone Press, March 3, 2023, Page 7

Town amends senior tax exemption to the full amount

Briefs

Board meeting hears strong public comment Brooke Stelzer BSP Reporter The Marbletown Town Board meeting was held on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Rondout Municipal Center. Board members present in person included Rich Parete, chairman and town supervisor, along with Tim Hunt, Don LaFera, Ken Davenport and Daisy Foote. Seven resolutions were presented and all passed, 5-0.

The board heard public comment from a turnout of community members who came to voice opinions on the tabled Resolution 23, a local law to amend Chapter 172 taxation to amend income limits for exemptions for senior citizens. The resolution was tabled in the Feb. 7 meeting and slated to be voted on in the Feb. 21 meeting.

Laura Cunningham, a 41-year resident of Marbletown, spoke first. “I think we need not beg for the maximum $50,000, I think we deserve it, and I’m hoping that you can rethink this and go there. New York state did a wonderful thing, they raised the limit from $29,000 to $50,000, and I think they did that so the towns could afford to give it to seniors, and I hope that is the case.”

Barbara Goodwin presented her own study on senior citizen exemptions. “I’m assuming what we all want to do is give seniors as much help as we can,” she said, “and have that amount stay the same over a period of time. Ideally it would be great if we can do 50% and that doesn’t change as a person’s income rises, so [it's by] the scale so they’re still eligible for whatever they got in 2023, and still eligible in 2031.” Goodwin continued, “Let’s do what we can with the $50,000, and the thing to me that is so important is to look back at when the town adopted its scale in 2010. They adopted the maximum of what the state allowed. Let’s do the same now.”

“I want to speak to the issue that you’re all thinking about – you have other people besides seniors,” said Vivi Hlavsa. “The other people besides seniors are working people, they’re making a salary. Maybe not as good as they like, but they’re making a salary. Seniors are on the fixed income and it is very scary for some of these seniors.

They’re looking down the road and they don’t know. A friend of mine had to leave her house, she couldn’t afford it. Keep in mind this is a different population. We have to take care of the little ones, and we have to take care of the old ones and the disabled, we have to do that. We are a decent community, we are a decent group of people.”

Nina Shengold, a citizen of Ulster County for 35 years, commented, “What a unanimity of voices you’re hearing here. I want to add mine on behalf of the many people in my neighborhood of the Vly who are retired, semi-retired or can’t afford to retire, and who have not got pensions and have

not got fixed incomes beyond basic social services because many of us are freelancers and self-employed.”

June Mastropietro has lived in the area since 1960. “With the cost of food going up and heating oil, it’s cost me almost $6,000 to heat my house this winter.” She continued, “The facts are that we are being squeezed, we are being squeezed horribly … if you could afford us some help.”

The last speaker during public comment was Mary Louise Wilson. “I’m 91,” she said.

The room responded with applause. “I only have one eye,” she said, with a chuckle, and the room responded in kind. “I just think that this town supports children and we all pay mightily for the school education, and I think the other end should be addressed with some help.”

“Thanks everybody for coming to speak tonight,” said Parete. “The board has discussed it and we came up with three different options to discuss over the two weeks from the last meeting.” Option three presented was the maximum amount, which is $50,000, receives a 50% exemption, and the scale goes up to $58,400, which gets a 5% exemption. “This does not affect county taxes, it only affects town taxes,” said Parete.

Councilman LaFera stated, “Our tax rate in this town is actually very good.” He continued, “The other thing I want to point out is it doesn’t change our town tax rate, it just takes it away and puts it toward people who don’t qualify, it will be taking up the slack, so to speak.”

Councilman Hunt continued, “We have the second lowest tax rate in Ulster County, as a township, so we’re trying to keep that low and will continue to do that.”

“In 2022, we were the lowest,” said Parete.

“We just got beat out by Rochester last year.”

“And one of the reasons our taxes went up a little bit last year was because of the ambulance service,” said councilwoman Foote.

In response to public comment regarding seniors not knowing about the exemption or what paperwork was needed, Foote continued, “Going forward, when people apply for this, we do try to do everything we can – town website, Facebook page and newspaper. This just came to me right now and we’ll have to discuss this as a board, but maybe next year at tax time, we can have a volunteer or pay somebody just to go over everything you’re going to need for this, because it is … I’m looking at the list of things that will be required … and I think that would be a useful thing for the town.”

“Possibly an information session,” added LaFera.

“I really appreciate the comments here today and input from everyone,” said Hunt.

“Especially all the math and accounting.”

He continued with clarification of what is not included in income eligibility, which is Social Security income, welfare payments, gifts, inheritances, welfare payments re-

ceived as a foster care grandparent, returns on capital, reparation payments due to Holocaust, or distribution from IRAs. “Hopefully, again, exemption people will be aware of it, but hopefully the most vulnerable will be protected,” said Hunt.

“I’m going to make a motion that we go with option three, which is the max that is allowed by the state,” said Parete. The town passed the resolution, 5-0, to applause from the room. The tax schedule will go into effect on July 1, 2023.

Resolution 31, which was previously tabled, provides broadband funding and development to the town and all the unserved and underserved residents and businesses in Marbletown by service provider Archtop. “They’re hiring 70 to 80 technicians in Kingston,” said Parete.

Resolution 36 hires Walden Environmental Engineering to hire a consultant to prepare Exhibit B, “Designated Area for Neighborhood Support Project” at a cost not to exceed $5,000 as part of the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the town and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as it relates to repairs in the Rondout Pressure Tunnel portion of the Catskill Aqueduct, which runs under Marbletown. Parete noted the town will announce a public hearing and information sessions as the work and the case move forward.

Resolution 24 was a tabled resolution that was brought back for vote. It is a taxation to amend income limits for exemptions for disabled persons with limited income.

Resolution 37 adopts local law number three, a law providing for a partial tax exemption upon real property based on the owner’s volunteer membership in a Town of Marbletown fire department or first aid unit.

Resolution 38 appoints Nancy Birdsall to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Resolution 39 reappoints Diane Silverberg to a position on the Board of Assessment Review. The appointment expires Sept. 30, 2027.

In other business, the board reported that the Preservation Committee is anticipating its first check from the real estate transfer tax, which was on the November ballot. The town reports income of $10,200 from the tax. “I think we had nine closings in town, four were over the $320,000 mark,” said Parete. The town supervisor also noted the town is going to put the Marbletown firehouse on North Marbletown Road up for sale and shared that there is already some interest from a local buyer.

Wolfgang Fasser shows the astonishing variety of acoustic spaces in music therapy that can help guide children with physical and mental disabilities, developing their personalities through the interplay of sound and touch.

Science on Screen Series opens with ‘In the Garden of Sounds’ documentary The documentary “In the Garden of Sounds (Nel giardino dei suoni)” will be screened at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale. A post-film discussion featuring psychotherapist SarahRose Hogan and Jim Metzner, producer and host of the Pulse of the Planet radio series and podcast, along with a recent interview with the film's star, Wolfgang Fasser, will also be presented. Alan Newman, the Theatre's Science on Screen® producer, will moderate the discussion.

“In the Garden of Sounds” documents the remarkable work of Fasser with severely disabled children. Fasser, who went blind as a young man, had turned his disability into a tool for helping children through music and sounds. In a small Swiss hamlet, he engages children with drums, piano, and even a bed that resonates with sounds. The documentary is subtitled in English and was recorded in Swiss German and Italian. It is the first of four films in the Science on Screen® series, featured monthly, at the Rosendale Theatre. The series creatively pairs films with a lively discussion by notable figures from the world of science, technology and medicine. Science on Screen® is an initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, with significant support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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

Page 8, March 3, 2023, BlueStone Press

Public Utility Law Project presents findings on Central Hudson investigations Brooke Stelzer BSP Reporter The Public Utility Law Project of New York, also known as PULP, presented findings from an ongoing investigation into Central Hudson’s billing challenges at the Marbletown Town Board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

PULP is New York state’s only independent nonprofit law firm that advocates on behalf of low-income utility customers.

The organization has been operating since 1981 and offers direct services for low-income ratepayers experiencing problems with their utility, such a termination notice for nonpayment or negotiating an affordable deferred payment agreement. They also participate in rate cases and broader policy proceedings that will have an impact on affordability.

Last year, PULP participated in over 26 energy debt relief events around the state, including several in the Hudson Valley.

Laurie Wheelock, lawyer and executive director of PULP, shared that the organization has been monitoring Central Hudson since their system became flooded with complaints starting in September 2021. At that time, Central Hudson had launched a new customer information system for billing purposes, replacing its 40-year old system software. Wheelock has been on a public information tour, sharing PULP findings and the current status of the investigation, which includes a class-action lawsuit, with municipalities in the Hudson Valley.

Wheelock began by sharing background on the investigation, which was revealed by the Public Service Commission in March 2022, announcing three investigations into Central Hudson. In April 2022, the Office of Investigations and Enforcement, under the Department of Public Service, began an investigation requiring the company to secure and retain documents related to the launch of its new billing system. The investigation involved reviewing over 4,700 documents, meetings with Central Hudson and interviews with senior-level employees who were responsible for the new billing system, which was meant to be an upgrade.

From February 2022 to December 2022, PULP’s investigation was underway, which included sending a letter to the PSC highlighting concerns about Central Hudson’s billing and operations – including high bills, no bills, automatic withdrawals, inaccurate billing, and questions surrounding whether the billing portal was working. PULP then filed a motion with the PSC requesting a prudence review be conducted following DPS’s investigation, as well as a penalty review.

DPS completed its investigation and released its report on Dec. 15, 2022, which outlined Central Hudson’s 2017 request for a five-year, $96.286 million investment to replace the billing system with modern software that would “improve customer experience.” The PSC approved the funding in June 2018. By August 2021, Central Hudson reported that, after delays in the “go-live” launch of the new software, the project was over-budget by $6.046 million.

DPS reported that the new system had “system control failures” that resulted in incorrect customer bills, as well as overcharges on more than 8,000 customer accounts. The report also found delayed bills and that, as of September 2022, over 8,000 customer bills were still not correct.

Between September 2021 and June 2022, over 30,000 customers who would have normally received an automatic bill had

multiple months’ worth of charges automatically withdrawn from their accounts, totaling over $16 million. Between September 2021 and September 2022, DPS received over 2,000 customer phone complaints and over 4,000 comment complaints. The report also detailed the impact the system failures had on community solar and retail energy projects.

Between Sept. 1, 2021, and April 25 2022, over 14,000 customers participating in community solar received late bills, delays which then continued into July for more than 1,000 customers. Community distributed generation (CDG) partners reported delayed payments for net-crediting projects and the inability to help customers due to a lack of information from Central Hudson. The issues also impacted third-party energy suppliers, known as energy service companies (ESCOs). On March 25, 2022, Agway Energy Services filed a petition with the PSC for a deregulation ruling based on Central Hudson’s failure to provide accurate bills.

Agway filed complaints mirroring all of the DPS’s investigation findings.

DPS concluded that Central Hudson was aware of “major defects” associated with complex billing prior to the go-live launch date. Upon launch, hundreds more defects were found. The training curriculum for employees included zero hours for training in “complex billing,” “net metering” or “manage retail choice suppliers.” In the months leading to go-live, Central Hudson staff flagged risks, but leadership delayed response until after the launch. Employees also revealed that the Billing Tower Test Group was “not at all ready” for launch of the new software program, both in terms of testing and staffing. DPS also discovered that Central Hudson avoided transparency with billing system issues with customers, instead deflecting to “energy supply prices,” “cold weather” and “increased global demand.” While DPS acknowledged that price increases impacted customers’ bills, they determined that lack of candor on the scope of billing system problems only resulted in further confusion.

As a result of all findings, DPS outlined several violations of the Public Service Law, which included lack of prudence as outlined in the findings, overcharges and delayed billing, back-billing and improper estimates. In conclusion, DPS found that the transition to the new system and failures that followed were foreseeable and avoidable, and that Central Hudson decisionmakers were “negligent and reckless,” according to PULP’s presentation.

The OIE made five recommendations following the investigation, including that Central Hudson should be required to show why the PSC should not commence a civil penalty action and/or an administrative penalty action, pursuant to Public Service Law 25 and 25-[a] for violations. The OIE also recommended that the PSC initiate an administrative prudence proceeding to recoup imprudently incurred expenses made by Central Hudson as it relates to launch of the new system. Further recommendations include requiring Central Hudson to conduct actual readings of customer meters each month and discontinue alternative month estimates. And finally, that PSC should order a refund of payments made by customers who were illegally back-billed, as well as providing DPS’s report delivered to chief executive and general counsel of other gas and electric utilities in New York.

On Jan. 17, 2023, Central Hudson filed

a 92-page response to the DPS investigatory report and the PSC order, defending their actions and explaining why the PSC should not begin a proceeding or penalty actions. They also filed a motion to begin a proposed plan to adjust billing practices and to conduct monthly meter reads, eliminating alternate month bill rates.

The timeline included phased-in readings, with completion slated for February 2026.

On Jan. 24, 2023, Agway Energy sent a letter to the PSC arguing that Central Hudson did not correct their billing issues and asked the commission to hold them accountable. As of this BSP printing, the PSC is reviewing Central Hudson’s reply, the DPS report, Agway’s letter and public comments to decide whether to open a prudence review and penalties.

In addition to the DPS report and PSC’s investigation, there is a New York state investigation, led by Sen. James Skoufis (D, 42nd Senate District). That report was released in December 2022 about billing issues, supply volatility and more as it relates to the community choice aggregation program (CCA) throughout the Hudson Valley.

In July 2022, participants in Hudson Valley Community Power – a CCA serving Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Clinton, Marbletown, New Paltz, Philipstown, Red Hook, Saugerties and Cold Spring – were returned to Central Hudson when Columbia Utilities Power defaulted as the provider. Central Hudson absorbed about

23,000 customers at that time, but billing didn’t resume until October 2022.

The law firm of Lowey Dannenberg filed a consumer class action lawsuit in the Supreme Court of New York at Dutchess County against Central Hudson at the end of December 2022.

In a statement to BSP on Feb. 22, Wheelock stated, “From the very beginning, PULP knew firsthand that something was awry, and the Department of Public Service’s inquiry into Central Hudson all but confirmed that. Although the Company has finally begun to acknowledge the frustrations, economic injustices and widespread harm that they have caused their customers, more needs to be done. Customers need to know they will be made whole and that Central Hudson will be held accountable for their negligence. We will therefore continue to call for the Commission to commence a prudence review and assess potential financial penalties.”

Wheelock’s advice for Central Hudson customers is to try to speak with Central Hudson first, acknowledging that the experience may be frustrating. The second step, if customers can’t reach Central Hudson or if there is no resolution, is to file a complaint against the company with the Department of Public Service by calling 1-800-342-3377, or by filing online. The Public Utility Law Project can be reached by calling the hotline: 1-877-669-2572, or via email – info@ utilityproject.org.

BlueStone Press, March 3, 2023, Page 9

Local Ukrainians and other supporters mark 1-year anniversary of Russian invasion Jeff Slater BSP Reporter It’s been a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, and local Ukrainians are still passionately supporting their country.

Local folks had a prayer service for all the victims of the war and the people of Ukraine on the evening of Feb. 24 at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kerhonkson.

“The event was co-organized by the parish, the Hudson Valley chapter of the Ukrainian American Youth Association and the Poughkeepsie-Kerhonkson chapter of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America,” said Peter Kosciolek, president of the local UAYA branch. “Several elected officials joined us, including Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa and state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, along with others.

Youth from the organization participated in a moving presentation of what Ukrainians need as well as showing photos of residential buildings, schools and hospitals bombed out by the aggressors.

“The vigil was attended by over 140 people. A wonderful gathering of love and support for Ukraine as we vowed to remember the 365 days of brutal atrocities,” said Danylo Mykula, Stone Ridge resident and Ukrainian supporter. “We prayed for peace, for continued resolve of all Ukraine’s defenders, helpers and citizens. For light and warmth to return to every home, for reunions, and a final end to Russia’s evils. We expressed our gratitude to all those who continue to care.

A signed flag was a gift from Ukrainian soldiers thanking us for our support and prayers. Children brought it in to display for everyone who has supported Ukraine to see. Photo by Danylo Mykula

Parishioners, friends and the community were thanked for their support. The event was live streamed. Kids from the youth group presented a flag that was signed by Ukrainian soldiers as a thank-you for supporting them, as well as candles placed on a large map signifying where cities were brutalized. The prayer service was followed by refreshments and baked goods in the undercroft where people chatted and enjoy fellowship,” said Mykula.

Some local Ukrainians spoke about the year anniversary of the war.

Maria Nemelivsky, a counselor for the UAYA, and a dentist and Kerhonkson resident since 2016, said, “I remember the

first few weeks after the invasion we had a closing for our first family home, which should have been one of the happiest days of our lives, on March 1, and my husband and I just sat there like zombies.

I came to the U.S. in 1996 when I was 10 years old and grew up in the East Village in Manhattan, and moved to Kerhonkson in 2016. It has been a year long nightmare that I still can’t wake up from. I have been living in a trance and still can not fathom that this is happening in the 21st century.

Now I finally believe the abhorrence that my great-grandparents felt after surviving the Soviet regime. I believe, pray and hope that this will end soon, and Ukraine

will thrive once again. For now, I will do everything possible in order to get closer to victory.”

Lesya Kotsyumbas, of Kerhonkson, a refugee who left Ukraine three days after the invasion because she wanted to keep her children safe, said, “I perceive this date rather as a full year of the Ukrainian people’s resilience and unprecedented bravery. This is also a full year of a completely new reality to my country and the world. I feel great sorrow for all the lost lives of brave soldiers and innocent people in Ukraine, for broken destinies and separated families, but I am also hopeful that the second year, which just started, will bring us victory and put this war to its end. The one-year anniversary makes us feel homesick and compassionate with all our countrymen. At the same time, we feel extremely grateful to the United States for the safety we found here, as well as for the immense amount of help and support that the American government and people provide to Ukrainians.”

Kathy Mykula, Stone Ridge resident and counselor for the UAYA, said, “I have experienced grief like never before because of Russia’s brutal invasion and tactics during this year. Sometimes it’s white-hot anger as I see Ukrainians facing unspeakable tragedies. At the same time, I am inspired by the courage, strength and resilience of the defenders, first responders and everyday Ukrainian citizens. As a family we are compelled to help and remain hopeful that Ukraine will stand free and whole, one day soon.”

Marielena Ferrer’s ‘Broken Monarchs’ art exhibit at Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery SUNY Ulster welcomes Marielena Ferrer as Visiting Artist. Her “Broken Monarchs” exhibit will have its opening reception, 4:30-7 p.m. Friday, March 10, in Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery at SUNY Ulster, 491 Cottekill Road, Stone Ridge. Ferrer will present a lecture at the beginning of the event, which is free and open to the public. “Broken Monarchs” is a unique representation of the effects of confining animals that naturally migrate and how there are similar activities in society today. In her art exhibition, Ferrer takes the audience on a trip through her eyes on the “zero tolerance” policy at the U.S.-Mexican border.

Ferrer will also host two 45-minute public workshops in collective artmaking, 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday, March 21, and 2-4 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in the Gallery.

Learn about the monarch butterfly migration quest and its symbolic connection to migrant children at the U.S.-Mexican border. Registration is required at https:// conta.cc/3J79Wo4.

“Broken Monarchs” is a unique representation of the effects of confining animals that naturally migrate and how there are similar activities in society today.

As a socially engaged artist, Ferrer serves as the chair for both Kingston City Arts Commission and the Alianza Cultural de Kingston. The Commission’s purpose is to strengthen the local economy by attracting and promoting artists, arts venues, and arts entrepreneurs and encouraging cultural tourism. The Alianza Cultural de Kingston is a committee that is working on the findings of the Kingston Latino Cultural Study to bring programming and other activities to the Hispanic/Latino community. Additionally, Ferrer sits on

the Family of Woodstock board of directors, Arts Mid-Hudson advisory board, and is a teaching artist at the Department of Regional Art Workers, the D.R.A.W., in Midtown Kingston.

Originally studying architecture at Central University of Venezuela, she later earned a certificate of distinction in “Leadership and Empowerment” from Spain’s Polytechnic University of Valencia and a diploma in “Gender Leadership” through the EQUAL Transnational Cooperation Community Initiative of the European Social Fund. Ferrer also earned a Univer-

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sity Expert Diploma in “Mental Health, Cultural Processes and Psychological Interventions with Immigrants, Minorities and the Socially Excluded” from the University of Barcelona. She holds a BFA in sculpture and is currently pursuing her MFA in sculpture from SUNY New Paltz.

Gallery hours for “Broken Monarchs” are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and the exhibit will be on display through Friday, April 14.

For more information, contact Christopher Seubert at 845-687-5134.

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Page 10, March April 15, 3, 2022, 2023, BlueStone BlueStone Press Press

Memoriam Elizabeth C. Young

ACCORD—Elizabeth Catherine Young, affectionately known as “Betty,” died on Feb.23, 2023, at Vassar Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was 90. Betty was born on Staten Island on Sept. 20, 1932, to George and Amanda Bozzo.

She married the love of her life, Robert David Young, on April 19, 1952, and settled in Accord in 1957. Betty worked for many years as a teacher’s aide at the Rondout Valley Middle School library and worked diligently for union membership. Betty sang in the church Young choir and volunteered for many years at the Church of Christ the King Food Pantry. Betty is survived by their three children, Linda, Robert and Daniel; nine grandchildren, David, Greg, Mercedes, Maddison, Heather, Robert, Jenny, Micaela and Michelle; and seven great-grandchildren, Sean, Parker, Alice, Peter, Audrey, Robert and Jack. On Saturday, March 4, 2023, family and friends will be received at Christ the King Episcopal Church in Stone Ridge for visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A church service will

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begin at 1 p.m. followed by a reception in the parish hall.

All are invited. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Betty’s name to the Episcopal Church of Christ the King in Stone Ridge. Betty's services will be live streamed through the Christ the King Episcopal Church's website at https://www.ctkstoneridge.org/

Ann Catherine Jensen

HIGH FALLS—Ann Catherine Jensen was born in January 1939 in Brooklyn, the youngest of four siblings. She was raised in Rockville Centre. Ann passed away Feb. 24, 2023, in her home in High Falls after an extended illness. Ann married Roy Jensen Sr. in 1958. They had two children, Donna and Roy Jr. Donna parented two children, Julian and Jarrett, with Jay Honold. Roy Jr. and Marianne Jensen had three sons, Stephen, Martin and Michael. Ann became the proud and loving grandmother of five Jensen grandsons. After Ann and Roy Sr. divorced, she moved into an apartment in Greenwich Village. She worked as a paralegal in the city. Ann and Sal Matera met in 1978 and were married in St Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University in May 1986.

They were the love of each other’s lives. Together, they bought a rundown farmhouse in High Falls. Ann, who could have been a professional architect, designed two additions, transforming the house into a large beautiful home on the Rondout Creek. The home became a gathering place for friends and family. Ann and Sal celebrated life by hosting events, traveling extensively, eating, drinking, attending concerts, theater and movies. Ann’s love of life, family, friends and good times was contagious. She taught, by example, what were the important things in life. Even as her health was failing, her first question to each visitor was “Is there anything I can get for you?” Ann left behind a legacy of a life well lived, filled with love, joy and laughter. She will be greatly missed by all who enjoyed her company and gracious hospitality.

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Audrey M. Temple TILLSON—Audrey M. Temple, a former longtime resident of Tillson, died on Feb. 23, 2023. She was 83. She was born in Walden on Jan. 19, 1940, a daughter of the late Clifford G. and Gertrude Schoonmaker Howe. Audrey had been employed in the Clerical Department at Ulster County Community College for 30 years until her retirement. She enjoyed plants, flowers, camping, reading and puzzle books. She especially loved all of her animals. Her husband, Bruce K. Temple Temple Sr., died Jan. 5, 2013, and a son-in-law, Mitchell S. Miller, died Aug. 25, 2012.

She is survived by her children, Bruce Temple Jr., Curtis Temple (Cindee) and Dawn Miller (Eric), all of Rosendale; three grandchildren, Shawna Bruno (Evan), Daniel Miller (Isabel) and Amber Temple (Rick). Also survived by great-grandchildren, McKinley, Sydney and Karsyn Bruno and Sophia, Natalie and Hannah Miller. Audrey's family extends special thanks to her personal care aides, Island View Adult Home Care in Rosendale, Ivy Lodge in Saugerties and Hudson Valley Hospice. Funeral services and cremation were held privately. George J. Moylan Funeral Home Inc., Rosendale, assisted the family.

William Carl Ennist TILLSON—William Carl Ennist, tugboat engineer of Bloomington and Red Hook, affectionately called Tugboat Willy by friends, passed away on Feb. 23, 2023. He was 77. He died peacefully surrounded by loved ones. Bill was predeceased by his parents, Laurence and Doris Elizabeth; his brother, Jack; and his beloved son, Paul. He is survived by his longtime partner, Eleanor Friery, and his two daughters, Laurie Hudson (Tim) Ennist and Melissa Decker (Dylan Bogart); grandchildren, Matthew Hudson (Ashley), Courtney Mayo (Sean), Matthew Deschenes and Jack Bogart; and great-grandchildren Elizabeth Hudson and Charlotte May. His funeral service was held at the George J. Moylan Funeral Home, Rosendale. The Rev. Arlene Dawber officiated. Cremation was held privately.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Kidney Fund www.KindeyFund.org.

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March 3, 2023

Local money, local ideas

Page 11

Spring real estate market on track to be sprung Spoiler alert: It’s still a seller’s market Chelsea Miller BSP Reporter

The owners of Stone Dock Golf Course, Jennifer and Francis O’Donnell

Sneak Peek: Stone Dock Café coming in April with fresh, local food for the whole community Chelsea Miller BSP Reporter Just two years after purchasing all 19 acres of Stone Dock Golf Course, proprietors Francis and Jennifer O’Donnell are preparing to open the Stone Dock Café in the space on premises that formerly held the High Falls Café. The Gribbon family who ran The Café at Stone Dock for many years have purchased a restaurant on Route 209 in north Marbletown that will be opening soon. Full renovations are underfoot at both restaurants.

The O’Donnells are busy, changes are being made under the skillful hand of Francis while Jennifer oversees the permits, design and hiring. “We love this work and we are excited to see it unfold,” says Jennifer. The café will be in line with the couple’s overall goals for the golf course. “We are calling it Stone Dock Cafe because we want it to be a part of the course and reflect what we are doing with the course,” Jennifer says. “In keeping with our backgrounds in organic farming and sustainable development, Francis and I are taking the course itself in a more sustainable direction, working with scientists and educators to incorporate ‘green’ and organic practices that will make the landscape more resilient to flooding and climate change.”

When pressed to talk about the anticipated menu, Jennifer divulges that the plan is a playful mixture of familiar favorites, comfort food and globally inspired dishes prepared with fresh and local ingredients. A soft opening is set in time to welcome golfers on April 1, with expanded service hours outside of golfing hours to follow as the season progresses. Jennifer says that the goal is to create a place where the entire community feels welcome.

“The important thing for people to know for now is that it will be a very welcoming place for our existing and longstanding community as well as the newcomers who are increasingly coming to the course.”

For buyers and sellers alike, real estate has always been an adventure on both the monetary and emotional fronts, full of highs, lows and everything in between. However, as most are aware at this point, the past few years in Hudson Valley real estate can best be described as the wild, wild West – complete with a metaphorical gold rush. The influx of new buyers in the area coupled with historically low inventory have had even the steeliest of buyers saddling up for the wild ride ahead.

Spring has long been considered by expert sources and data collecting sites (such as Zillow) to be the best time of year to sell, and buyers typically look forward increased options. The benefits work both ways: The seller typically achieves a higher sale price, and the buyer has the luxury of choices. However, this spring, local veteran agents are unanimous – we’re destined for yet another seller’s market as inventory, if possible, is even lower than last year. Associate broker Laurel Sweeney of Berkshire Hathaway Nutshell Realty sums up the situation. “Per the data supplied by the Hudson Valley Catskill Region MLS (essentially Ulster County), new listings were down 10.7% January 2023 compared to January 2022.” She continues, “pending sales for the same period were down a staggering 54.8%. Average median and sale price were up 7.6% and 4.9% respectively. This is completely related to the lack of inventory. As of Feb. 27, there are only 230 single-family residences for sale in the entire county and only 56 in the towns of Marbletown, Rochester, Rosendale and Wawarsing combined. These are numbers that we have seen over the past year, with no improvement in sight.”

Anne Rajs of Keller Williams Hudson Valley North agrees. “The biggest issue is the lack of inventory in every price range and every area,” she says. “Homes get listed on a Thursday for the weekend showings and have multiple offers by Monday. The local market remains very strong for the seller.” Rajs relates the lack of inventory to the issues that potential sellers face in relocating and the rise in short-term rentals. “In the natural flow of life people upsize, meaning they now have a family and need a bigger home,” she says, “or they downsize, children have moved out, they want a smaller, more manageable home. They can easily sell their existing home but where will they go?”

She continues, “Unless they already have a home to go to it is a challenge for them to find something suitable and affordable. This is not an area where there are a lot of new developments being built. The influx of buyers during Covid and people purchasing homes for short-term rentals have created a serious housing shortage in the area.

The positive side to this is I believe the housing prices will continue to be strong in the Hudson Valley.”

But it’s not just the lack of inventory that’s making it a tough time to be a buyer. Mortgage rates are further complicating the situation. Hitz says that changing interest rates could contribute to an ever so slight balancing of the scales. “Rates are showing some signs that they might be

159 Bone Hollow Road in Accord, listed by Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker Laurel Sweeney of Berkshire Hathaway Nutshell Realty for $2,145,000, which received nearly instantaneous attention and interest. Photo courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway Nutshell Realty

willing to calm down, averaging around 6.8% currently for a 30-year fixed-rate purchase,” she says. “This is cutting into affordability for some buyers, with home sales down 17.8% last year compared to 2021. Cash buyers, however, are coming in strong, and inventory is still much lower than we saw in 2021.”

Sweeney says, of current mortgage interest rates, “While this number may seem high to some, it is well below the 30-year historical average of 8%, making mortgages still affordable and buying still a good idea. The issue is with modest, first-time home buyers. With rates rising, this particular buyer may be unable to afford the increased monthly payment, preventing them from being able to purchase. This is a really tough situation for our local buyers who may have been able to save for a down payment and closing costs based on a lower interest rate.”

As for what’s on the market from a price-point perspective, Sweeney says she’s seeing listings all over the financial map. “Right now inventory in Ulster County ranges from a $70,000 mobile home in Pine Bush to a 7,000 square foot home in Saugerties listed for $4,995,000. We are seeing buyers in most price categories, with the $250,000-$600,000 market always prime. Homes ‘pending’ and under contract in the Rondout Valley number only 30 and range from a low of $90,000 to a high of $2,145,000.” Sweeney recently had a 3,300 square foot home on 5.2 acres on 159 Bone Hollow Road that sold in one day. When pressed as to why the listing sold so quickly, Sweeney explains, “My friend and client Erika Brown of Bone Hollow Studio is the developer/designer, and it was built by Hudson Valley Homes and Renovations. The home truly reflects unique, thoughtful design and construction and has many lovely custom features. The quick sale is evidence of the quality of the construction and design, which makes it stand out above other comparatively priced, newly constructed homes. Unlike a ‘ghost listing,’ which is a house to be built, the buyer could see, touch and feel this home instead of waiting for something

See Real estate, page 15

Athletics, recreation & fitness

Page 12

March 3, 2023

Andrew Kassian and Jack Samko swimming at sectionals

Area swimmers make splash at sectionals Jeff Slater BSP Reporter Did you know that Rondout Valley High School has a swim team? Many folks do not.

Two swimmers from RVHS did an exceptional job at the recent sectionals.

Jack Samko and Andrew Kassian qualified for the sectionals at Valley Central High School and participated in the finals last Saturday. During the finals, Jack placed second in the 50-yard freestyle and third in the !00-yard butterfly. Andrew finished second in the individual medley and second in the 100-yard butterfly. Both Kassian and Samko qualified for the state finals in Ithaca, being held March 3 and 4.

The team is coached by district physical education teacher Heather Crowley.

Crowley started coaching the swim team two years ago. She swam competitively for Kingston High and, in college, at SUNY Cortland.

“Rondout and Onteora both ‘shadow’

Briefs SUNY Cobleskill names Neumann Fighting Tiger Athlete of the Week The SUNY Cobleskill Athletic Department announced today that junior Gregory Neumann, a Rondout Valley High School alum and a member of the men’s lacrosse team, has been named the athletic program’s Fighting Tiger Athlete-of-the-Week for the week ending Feb. 19.

The Accord native led the Fighting Tigers to Nameline a season opening 16-7

for Kingston due to the low numbers and the fact that we don’t have our own pool.

Kingston has 12 swimmers on the team (three of those being eighth graders and one Crowley’s son), Onteora has two shadow swimmers, and Rondout has three, including freshmen Jack Basten along with Samko and Kassian, both seniors.

With the shadow program both Rondout and Onteora bring their own coaches to practices and swim meets. “We work alongside with the Kingston coach,” Crowley explained. “All three teams swim the same practice and basically run as one team throughout the season. The only difference is Rondout and Onteora cannot score points for their schools until the Sectionals meet – their times count throughout the season.

“My son swims for Kingston so I see this team through a couple of different lenses,” Crowley continued. “This group of 17 boys from different schools come together and become a little family. The seniors welcome in middle schoolers, and

everyone seems to look out for each other.

They all push each other during practice and meets. It’s amazing to see as a mom and a coach. Each of the swimmers has hit amazing personal goals and that was great to see. I have always said that swimming is an individual sport and a team sport and that’s why I love it so much.

“I swam for the Kingston coach when I was in high school and then coached alongside him for club swimming, so we have a wonderful coaching relationship”, said Crowley.

Crowley explained that the Kingston High School pool has been under construction since March 2022, and all three schools’ teams have practiced at the Kingston YMCA’s pool. “This has been a little difficult as we are on a strict time constraint,” Crowley said. “Typically, we would like to be able to practice two hours, but because of the time it takes to get to Kingston we usually have 1.5 hours, and less on Wednesdays because we must be out of the pool by 4:30. It will be nice to

Andrew Kassian and Jack Samko, Rondout swimmers who are going to the states meet in Ithaca this weekend

have the KHS pool back next year.”

Rondout amazingly placed 13th out of 21 schools at the Sectional with only two swimmers competing. Kingston placed sixth at the meets.

Kassian and Samko agreed that “practice hard and hard practices are worth the results. We are hoping to make it back to the finals at the states this coming weekend in our last high school meet.”

Samko will be racing in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly, with Kassian qualifying for three events including the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard butterfly.

The season runs from November until this weekend.

Good luck to Andrew Kassian and Jack Samko in Ithaca. Go, Ganders!

victory over host Cairn University on Saturday night on the Highlander’s home turf in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. The junior attackman scored five goals, passed out two assists, picked up eight groundballs and forced a turnover on the night in the win.

Cobleskill will return to action on Saturday March 4 when they travel to Aurora, New York, for a non-league meeting with The Express of Wells College with face-off scheduled for 1 p.m.

Gander Special Olympics athletes attend Section 9 Inclusive Youth Leadership Summit Rondout Valley High School student leaders represented their school district at the Section 9 Inclusive Youth Leadership Summit, held at Newburgh Free Acade-

From left to right, Rondout Valley High School teaching assistant Marianne Hawryluk, Gander student athletes Alex Deitch, Charlie Scully, Julia Deyo and Joana Koehler, and RVHS teaching assistant Eliana Barnum with director of program, Unified Sports, Leigh Howard (center) from Special Olympics New York during the Section 9 Inclusive Youth Leadership Summit.

my last month. Participants worked with Special Olympics New York Unified staff to learn about inclusion, share advocacy initiatives, and plan for how to continue to make a positive impact on their respective school climates.

Connecting with peers from the Arlington School District, the Wappingers Falls School District, and Newburgh Free Academy, RVHS students shared their

See Sports, page 17

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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 desire considered opinions on issues of local interest. Call 687-4480 with questions.

Your letters, views & ideas

March 3, 2023

March Forth ! u

Dear BSP reader, please pardon this “departure” from our usual local Hudson Valley fare:

Thank you, BSP team To the Editor: We want to thank you so much for your wonderful coverage of our Annual Meeting of the High Falls Conservancy in you last issue [Feb. 17]. We had an excellent turnout at the meeting and are certain that running both those pieces about the meeting was a factor in our attendance.

As this issue rolls off the press your cartoonist is airborne en route to Miami to celebrate his mother’s ninetieth with family and friends.

Richard and Carole Eppley High Falls Conservancy

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you.

Has Marbletown just done right by its seniors? Yes! To the Editor: At its Feb. 21 meeting, the Marbletown Town Board voted to raise its property tax relief for limited-income senior homeowners. Although Town taxes are small compared to residents’ county and school tax bills, they matter nonetheless – especially to seniors. And by opting to use the highest senior tax exemption scale that New York state now allows, Marbletown has become a standout example of how localities can help seniors stay in their homes while struggling to make ends meet.

Kudos, Town Board members! You deserve them!

Unsure of how senior property tax exemptions work?

Read on.

For decades, New York state has recognized that limited-income senior property owners need a helping hand. In addition to its Enhanced STAR program, which provides some school-tax relief to seniors 65 or older, the state allows towns, counties and school systems to offer limited-income seniors additional property tax relief. The relief comes in the form of a sliding income scale that enables senior homeowners to get a reduction of from 5% to 50% on their home’s taxable assessment value. The state sets the maximum income level for each exemption percentage. Historically, for example, eligible incomes could be no higher than $29,000 for a 50% exemption, and they could be no higher than $37,400 for a 5% exemption.

Municipalities are allowed to set lower exemption income caps, but they can’t exceed the state’s maximums.

Last August New York state increased its sliding scale limits. The $29,000/50% exemption was raised to$50,000/50%, and the $37,400/5% exemption is now $58,400/5%.

The update to the state’s sliding scale is terrific news for limited-income senior homeowners. But once voted upon by a municipality, senior exemption scales tend to remain stagnant for long periods. Marbletown adopted the state’s 2010 sliding scale that same year, and both scales remained unchanged for 13 years. The problem with scales that don’t change over time is that seniors’ Social Security incomes do change. They rise, because of annual Federal cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Consider how stagnant exemptions have affected Marbletown senior John Doe. In 2010 his eligible income was $29,000, just low enough to warrant a 50% exemption. But by the beginning of 2023, that income, adjusted for all the intervening COLAs, had risen to $36,120.08. It’s certainly no easier for John to negotiate living expenses in 2023 than it was in 2010. (Many seniors would argue that it’s far more difficult because prescription drug prices and health care

3/4/2023 costs have dramatically outpaced COLAs). But John’s tax exemption using the scale in effect since 2010 has plummeted. Before Marbletown’s Feb. 21 Town Board meeting, his exemption would be just 10%!

The issue of declining exemptions has long needed fixing. And last August New York state – and the Town of Marbletown at its most recent meeting – effectively took the issue on by substantially raising the income maximums eligible for tax exemptions. The benefit will be immediate. Now John Doe’s 2023 eligible income ($36,120.08) will garner a 50% Town tax exemption. And most important, based on estimated COLAs for 2024 through 2031 available on www.ssa.gov, that exemption will prevail throughout the next eight years because John’s growing income will remain below the $50,000/50% cap.

In adopting the highest exemption ranges allowed by New York state, the Marbletown Town Board has just opted to do all it legally to help lower Town property taxes for limited-income senior homeowners. And for that, our Town Board members deserve kudos!

supper and refreshments on Feb. 19.

Future concert dates and performers include: Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman on March 19, followed by the Nordic Fiddlers Bloc on April 16, Ray Bonneville on April 23, and James Keelaghan on May 14.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 dollars at the door and also may be purchased at the parish office at Christ the King. Even if you are not a folk music aficionado you find yourself tapping your feet and humming along as the music is played. Thanks for considering this great opportunity.

Barbara Goodwin Lomontville

To the Editor: The Marbletown Town Board is to be commended for raising the limit for senior tax exemption to that allowed by the state. But alas, at that same meeting, the board also suggested that the Marbletown Community Center should be sold, it costs too much to run, folks should just meet in the gym over in the Town Hall on Lucas Turnpike, with parking spaces a block away from the building.

Back in 2001, Stone Ridge held a series of public meetings. The big concern was the new shopping center, but people were also talking about the future of the town. I spoke up (no surprise), saying the main problem with Stone Ridge was that "there is no there there." Teens who couldn't drive, old folks who couldn't meet, etc., we needed a public place for many reasons. Miraculously, the American Legion donated their building and, miraculously, suppliers donated supplies, and miraculously, people donated their time to create the Marbletown Community Center. People dug the front lawn, planting daffodils. In other words, this building has an important history for this town. Now our community has a center.

It's important that we not lose it.

Music concert series at CTK To the Editor: I am writing to make the public aware of our Spring ’23 Folk Music Concert Series at the Church of Christ the King, in Stone Ridge.

On Feb. 19, Mary Coogan and Bruce Foley performed a beautiful concert, combining a great baritone voice, guitar and uilleann pipes (Bruce) and a fantastic accompanist on a mandolin and guitar (Mary) Although Bruce grew up in upstate New York, he has for many years sung with a variety of folk groups including with Tommy Sands, Pete Seeger and others performing Irish and American music. To hear him play the uillean pipes and to hear Mary accompany on the mandolin was worth the price of admission alone, to say nothing of the remarkable voice and engagement by the audience with chorus singing.

This concert series has been organized by Christ the King parishioner Robyn Boyd, close friend of many of the performers. An added bonus for those in attendance has been the post-concert reception organized by Pamela Hoveling, Helen Kaminski, Margie Menard and Tana Miller. Approximately 40+ concert goers enjoyed a wonderful

Andrew Lutz Stone Ridge

Don’t lose the Marbletown Community Center

ViVi Hlavsa Lomontville

What’s your opinion? Write your letter to the editor.

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BlueStone Press, March 3, 2023, Page 15

Dumpster dive Dear Wally – I have repeatedly caught my sneaky neighbor rummaging around my dumpster, and it is crazy-making to me that someone would think it’s OK to do this without either asking or paying. Ideally both. I can put up signs, but I have done that in the past and it hasn’t worked. Do you have any suggestions that might help them reconsider this rude action? I didn’t buy a community-use dumpster. They also leave a mess!

Wally replies: OK, wait. Are they putting stuff into the dumpster? Or are they taking stuff out? The former is rude, the latter is odd but is also a modern cultural tic. Dumpster diving is a preferred activity of looky-loos, busybodies, the nosey, the bargain hunters, private investigators, or munchers, and gobemouches Wally Nichols who buy into the ignis fatuous that one man’s trash shallowly buried in the sepulcher of another man’s dumpster is a carelessly discarded ingot.

And bears. They LOVE a ripe dumpster. And you are sure your neighbor is not a bear? Or an effin’ rac-

coon? People (without garbage or pet food) think they are cute. I’m not quite there yet*. *ever But putting crap you don’t want to own into a dumpster that you don’t actually own or taking crap you want to own out of a dumpster you don’t own is not cool no matter how many feet or paws you have or how righteous your indignation may be.

My grandmother used to say, with the resignation afforded wrinkled octogenarians, and before offering me a cup of consolatory English breakfast tea with war time sugar cubes, “A lock only keeps an honest man out.” So, that suggestion from me to you seems valueless (but also in keeping with this advice column’s leitmotif of studiously avoiding any advice you get from this column in the first place).

And dumpster locks would be a pain in the butt that would discourage your legitimate dumpster use. Plus it would irritate the 4 a.m. dumpster-emptying truck driver in such a way that loud truck sounds might become LOUD TRUCK SOUNDS, ya know what I’m saying?

So what about this? (Assuming the rascal is human, and assuming you don’t want to engage in a physical confrontation that will end you up on Jerry Springer’s day time TV show with 10 former jilted lovers screaming at you and holding up pregnancy tests.)

Let’s use the internet in a way that shotgun granny nev-

er could. And while I’d like to take credit for the concept, it’s newly across my transom from some creative, funny, and frustrated person out there in LaLaLand. I love the passive-aggressive nature of it. (I guess all that therapy over the years didn’t work …!)

Rename your WIFI network (which the jerk and also everyone in your neighborhood) will see when they turn on their laptops. Rename your network from some boring factory default like GF2737B to something a little more on-the-nose, like: “Use my dumpster that you didn’t pay for one more time and I will start dumping my garbage on your lawn” or “Dumpster is now electrified.” (You can daydream about all the ways to get your point across.)

The concept of messaging people without directly pointing fingers (unless they are fingers of shame) also has broad neighborly application such as “Are you friggin seriously mowing your lawn at 7a.m.??” And “We can hear EVERYTHING when you leave your window open. Everything.” And “Please no longer cook fish on summer nights’ and “Your kid sneaks out every night at 11.”

You get the point .

Hope this helps. And sorry for your loss. Or your gain.

– Wally

Real estate

in Greene, Sullivan and Delaware counties are seeing the same growth and challenges.”

Thinking of putting your home on the market this spring? Despite the seller’s advantage there are still tried and true tips to ensure that your home presents well in the market. Deborah Hitz, owner and broker of Habitat Real Estate Group, says, “If a property is reasonably priced and looks like it has been cared for and is market ready, you will find your buyer and most likely see multiple offers.” She continues, “Everything should be as clean, neat and tidy as possible. Work with an agent who can help to get you organized so your property is inviting and welcoming. If there are strong paint colors, consider something more neutral. Any personal items (photos and other mementos) should be stored away. Think simplicity. You want prospective buyers to be able to picture themselves in the home. If there are beautiful wood floors hiding under carpeting, consider highlighting that feature. Ask your agent for suggestions and then follow through. Small changes can add a lot to how your property presents

and ultimately to your bottom line.” Sweeney points to speaking to a qualified agents and the seven-second rule.

“Meet with a professional Realtor to obtain advice on how to prep the property for sale,” she says. “Decluttering, removing excess items, not only in the house but also outbuildings, garages and basements, is a must. Don’t forget the seven-second rule! It’s said that buyers make up their minds in the first seven seconds if they are interested in a house, so fresh paint on the front door, a clean porch and nice landscaping can make a big difference.”

Rajs also stresses the advantages of involving a real estate agent from the onset. “It is most important that you hire a local real estate agent to market your home. …

In-depth knowledge of the market, the area, recent sales, and homes that are currently available that might be your competition will allow them to give you the best advice for staging and pricing your home for immediate results.”

Dear Wally

from page 11 to be built.”

Inherent in the act of buying a house is optimism, whether it is belief in a real estate as investment or the emotional optimism of finding a place to make memories in and serve as a backdrop to events big and small.

In addition to optimism, buying in this market is going to take strategy, preparedness and patience. “My advice is to be patient but diligent,” says Sweeney. “Watch the inventory daily, and when a property becomes available that checks most of your boxes, go see it! And work with a Realtor that you believe has your best interests in mind, is watching the inventory for you and has the experience to help you make the best possible offer.” And rest assured, you are not alone in the struggle. Says Rajs, “Buyers are venturing out much further north to find housing. Areas

Got a question for our advice columnist or extra room in your dumpster for his crap, email him at cwn4@aol.com.

WE MISSED YOU THIS ISSUE. Your letter to the editor is one of our readers’ favorite sections!

Email: bluestonepress845@gmail.com Snailmail: BlueStone Press, PO Box 149, Stone Ridge

Page 16

Your friends and community

March 3, 2023

Locals get help as TaxAide program helps with filing income tax returns Jeff Slater BSP Reporter Area residents are getting help filing their tax returns through a countywide program. Last year the Marbletown site prepared 255 tax returns.

Bill Tuel, a former resident of Rosendale who volunteers at the Stone Ridge site at the Marbletown Community Center, said, “TaxAide is a free service provided by AARP and the IRS. There is no eligibility requirement regarding age and income. AARP membership is not required. The Marbletown site is staffed with IRS-certified volunteer counselors, who are trained and certified each year starting in December. I am one of the certified counselors and have the additional responsibility of ensuring the volunteers are properly trained and the site operates in accordance with IRS and AARP requirements for data and physical security, respect for the civil rights of clients.

All activities are on a volunteer basis.”

Jean Lerner, a local resident who has volunteered for 10 years, said, “The service is greatly appreciated by local people that can’t afford to have their taxes done. We’ll do taxes for anyone from a tax preparer’s angle. I enjoy interacting with clients as they come back year to year, and it feels good to get them a refund. “ Anita Farquhar, a client from Accord, said, “I like this program because it doesn’t cost me anything, and it helps out the senior citizens, and the people here are really great. It’s also very easy to get to and I can come

straight here from work.”

The program has been offered in Ulster County for over 12 years and gets some support from the county’s Office for the Aging. There are seven sites in the county.

In addition to the site in Stone Ridge, there are sites in Saugerties, Kingston, Napanoch (Shawangunk Senior Center, Fridays), Gardiner and New Paltz. The program is funded by the IRS through their VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program, plus funding from the AARP Foundation, an arm of the AARP. Lerner, from Kerhonkson, said, “Volunteering gives me the satisfaction of giving back to the community. The program is well structured and run very professionally.

Everyone I have had the opportunity to work with, from the national level to local volunteers, are great people and are committed to providing outstanding service to our clients. I believe volunteering in the program strengthens the community and brings people together. Many of our clients return each year, and during our time together we get to know them on a personal level. Our clients are always very grateful for completing and filing their taxes.

I am so grateful to be a part of a rewarding and successful volunteer program.”

Elinor Olds, a client from Stone Ridge, said, “I have been coming here for about 10 years. I think the program is absolutely great. I’m not good at doing it myself so this is perfect. I must have a service to do my taxes, and I’d rather come here. First of all, it’s free, and I like the people here and have gotten to know them.”

The Marbletown site is open Wednesdays and Thurs-

Elinor Olds from Stone Ridge, who gets her taxes done at the Marbletown Community Center, shown here.

Photo by Jeff Slater

days from 9:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.. Appointments are required. “Tax preparation typically takes between 75 and 90 minutes. Each return is quality reviewed by a second ceritified counselor and discussed with the client, who leaves with a copy of a completed return,” said Tuel.

To make an appointment to have your taxes prepared, send an email to: UlstertaxAide@gmail.com.

Lions continue their love of the environment and the community with Bags to Benches In February of 2020, to keep the environment clean, the Rondout Valley Lions Club teamed with Trex Inc. in the challenge of collecting 500 pounds or more of plastic every six months in exchange for one of Trex’s loveseat benches. Two benches are awarded per year. RVLC, who have been serving the towns of Marbletown, Rochester, Rosendale and Wawarsing since Oct. 18, 1950, are hoping to raise enough plastic to provide each town with a bench for their community use.

Their latest donation of a bench, number six, was given late last month to the Town of Rochester.

“None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the continued support of our good neighbors and friends,” explained Janet Sutter, RVLC treasurer. “Sincere thanks to a special lady, Rita Harkins at the Town of Rochester Recreation Center, for all her hard work sorting through the donated plastic … truly appreciated!”

New members, men and women of all ages, are wanted

Ashley Sweeney, Janet Sutter, Bethany Dennin, top row and sitting, Rita Harkins and Sue Curcio

and encouraged to join the Rondout Valley Lions Club, who help 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 Sue Curcio, president, at otrlsc@ gmail.com or Janet Sutter, treasurer, at janet.sutter@aol. com.

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BlueStone Press, January 6, 2022, Page 17

Kudos Bill Merchant receives Museum Association of New York Award of Distinction D&H Canal Historical Society was among 14 awards made in 2023 that celebrate unique leadership, dedicated community service, transformational visitor experiences, community engagement and innovative programs that use collections to tell stories of everyone who calls New York home.

The award honors long-time Society staff member Bill Merchant, deputy director for collections, historian and curator, in the Individual Achievement category. The Individual Achievement Award honors a dedicated museum professional or volunteer that played a Merchant significant role in advancing their organizations. Award winners are selected for their valuable contributions to expanding audience reach, increasing the number and types of staff, successful campaigns for endowment or capital projects, or instilling financial stability at their organization. Nominations are accepted for a museum staff person or a museum trustee or volunteer.

Merchant has been a mainstay at the D&H Canal Historical Society for 12 years, starting out as a volunteer, serving as board president, and then five years ago moving into a staff role as deputy director for collections.

In addition to expanding audiences through outreach and virtual programs, his foresight, guidance and sweat equity brought the Society to its new home in the DePuy Tavern.

Over seven years ago, Bill encouraged the Society to consider the acquisition of the DePuy Tavern, a National Historic Landmark building constructed in 1797 and located along the route of the D&H Canal in High Falls.

Through his research, Merchant recognizes and shares the stories of historically marginalized peoples that were significant to the success of the D&H Canal. Additionally, he has broadened the reach of the Society through his work on the Society’s YouTube channel, D&H TV, which features over 100 videos sharing the history of the D&H Canal (https://www.youtube.com/@DandHTV). This engaging content includes a “Where Is Our Historian” series that features Merchant’s travels along the 108-mile route of the canal to explore existing remains and sites that might be lesser known to the public. So far, the channel has received almost 20,000 views since it was launched in spring 2020.

D&H Canal Historical Society will be recognized at the

Sports from page 11 ideas regarding how to bring awareness, acceptance and inclusivity to sports, clubs and other school-related activities. The day was broken into three components, the upcoming Special Olympics event, inclusive youth leadership, and whole school engagement, which the Special

Museum Association of New York 2023 annual conference “Finding Center: Access, Inclusion, Participation, and Engagement” in Syracuse 12:30-1:30 p.m. Monday, April 17, at the Syracuse Marriott Downtown.

“New York’s museums and museum professionals are reimagining and reinventing their roles within their communities, how they interpret their stories and collections, and the visitor experience,” said Natalie Stetson, executive director of the Erie Canal Museum and MANY Program Committee co-chair. “This year’s award winners are outstanding examples for the museum field.”

“We were incredibly impressed with the quality and quantity of award nominations this year, which made the review process highly competitive,” said Clifford Laube, public programs specialist at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum and MANY Program Committee co-chair. “Museums and museum staff across the state are demonstrating creative thinking and are inspiring institutional change.”

“Bill Merchant is one of those rare individuals whose professional competency extends well beyond the parameters of his job description and who willingly takes on with great delight an extraordinary number of tasks usually performed by staff, consultants or contractors,” commended Jack Braunlein, executive director of the D&H Canal Historical Society. “Despite the seemingly impossible workload, Bill always presents a refreshingly positive attitude and cheerful demeanor that makes working with him a true pleasure.”

RV Honor Roll, Junior High Marking Period 2 Merit Roll Grade 7 Aliya Albert, Ayanna Brodhead-Wiggins, Adrienne Castro, Joseph Davies, Evan Fitzgerald, Jalyssa Garcia, Tanner Girau, Orion Gray, Logan Hasenflue, Daniel Koch, Michael Lightstone, Dillon Malenski, Christian Miller, Jayden Redding, Konrad Sawka Hamaguchi, Abigail Sciarrino, Lola Sherwood, Rita Warren, Violet Yonnetti Grade 8 Connor Beechel, Lucas Bowers, Adda Lee Braselmann, Logan Burkins, Carlos Camacho-Johnson, Kyla Carr, Rebecca Carroll, Frank Coddington IV, Shaun Dolan, Katrina Domitrovits, Alexis Dougherty, James Erichson, Isabel Gonzalez, Alyviah Green, Jack Jacobson, Madysen Kiersted, Taiyo Kizawa, Joshua LaPierre, Alana LeBlanc, Lola Malenski, Jonathan McMahon, Isaiah Mercado, Eli Olen, Andrew Quick, Maxwell Santiago, Emma Schwall, Adriana Slater, Jasmin Smith, Taraji St. Fleur, Ayden Towne, Karl VanValkenburgh, Madeline Williams, Payton Worden

Luke Johnson, Ada Martinez, Cora Martinez, Vivian McGuinness, Miles Molitoris, Ella Morse, Sophia Mykula, Oliver Nneji, Aiden Olivieri, Aidan Overbaugh, NovaLee Palmateer, Margaret Schatzel, Rowen Sickler Avery, Blake Suitter, Aliza Theetge, Bruce Ulrich, Morgan Vaughan, Graycie Walsh-Kompass, Shawna Whitaker, Jamison Wilhelm, Tesha Williams-Fein, Elinor Zalewski Grade 8 Ethan Allen, D’Landre Anson, Ava Barba-Andujar, Caydance Borruso, Bridget Boyd, Kylee Carlson, Aiden Carroll, Amara Catizone, Jessa Clark, Noah Cody, Chloe Cooke, Oscar DiDonato, Izaak Donnelly, Ruby Focarino, Aiden Freer, Cy Gray, Jillian Gundberg, Tyler Harned, Ryan Helm, Kailee Hicks, Kadi Holt, Alicia Jackson, Juliana Lunstedt, Antonio Mason, Jacob Mastrocola, Zachary Mickelson Jr., Lucas Millrood, Adrianna Moran, Ugo Nneji, Gage Nogue, Addison O’Donnell, Syler Padusnak, Ava Quick, Hunner Quick, Samantha Reyes, Jaden Rion, Oliver Roosa-Dunphy, Colin Rowdycz, Julian Santosky, Noah Schrader, Stephen Schwartz, Laszlo Sterling, Georgia Weinstein, Layla Worden

High Honor Roll Grade 7 Alaycia Coddington, Goldy Conlin, Madelyn Cowburn, Tobin Ermer, Emma Goodin, Stella Greco, Molly Hasenflue, Jacob Heyl, Peyton Kastanis, Lyla Lemister, Hokai Liu, Connor Murray, Waverly Rubin, Samantha Schneller, Ella Schoonmaker, Madison Shanley, Elouise Shea, Nathaniel Stupple, Isaac Tucker, Natalia Wisneski Grade 8 Hayden Bauer, Hannah Chapin, Lauren Ivan, Aubrey Jagodzinski, Yarema Kurkevych, Brooke Martire, Helena Molitoris, Hannah Nawrocki, Madison Pfaff, Penelope Roosa-Dunphy, Greta Sutherland-Roth, John Sweeney

Scholar kudos

Honor Roll Grade 7 Jaxson Bauer, Jeremiah Bauer, Charles Bissell, Lillian Brewer, Cillian Carroll, Connor Chapman, Olivia Clark, Clayton Gordon, Jackson Davenport, Audrey Dennin, Antonino Faso, Cole Ferris, Izzbella Gibson,

The following students were named to the dean's list at Rochester Institute of Technology for the fall semester of the 2022-2023 academic year: Luke Studt, of Kerhonkson, who is in the physics program, and Will Wright of Stone Ridge, who is in the electrical engineering program. Full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students are eligible for dean's list if their term GPA is greater than or equal to 3.400; they do not have any grades of "Incomplete", "D" or "F"; and they have registered for, and completed, at least 12 credit hours.

Emerson College student Kylie Wright, of Accord, earned dean's list honors for the fall 2022 semester.

Wright is majoring in communication disorders and is a member of the Class of 2025.The requirement to make dean's list is a grade point average of 3.7 or higher for that semester.

Silas M. Schwartz, of Rosendale, was named to second honors on the Clark University dean's list. This selection marks outstanding academic achievement during the fall 2022 semester. Students must have a GPA of 3.8 or above for first honors or a GPA between 3.50 and 3.79 for second honors.

Olympics defines as “awareness and education activities that promote inclusion and which reach the majority of the school population.” The discussions carried out under each component were all rooted in the goal of promoting meaningful inclusion.

The event taught students social and emotional learning skills, built character, and forged relationships among students from around the area. RVHS students Alex Deitch, Charlie Scully, Julia Deyo and Joana Kohler were in attendance, along with teaching assistants and Unified

Basketball coaches Marianne Hawryluk and Eliana Barnum.

“The Rondout Valley participants were very impressive and well-spoken during the conference,” said Hawryluk.

“They shared their experiences participating in Unified Basketball and Special Olympics, and a sense of belonging and acceptance was the resonating theme shared.”

For more information, visit specialolympics-ny.org/ event/hudson.

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Arts, culture & entertainment

Page 18

March 3, 2023

Patterns My Uncle Bob is an unusual person. At 90 years old, he is a fantastic driver. I feel completely at ease riding in the back of his nineteen-ninety-something Toyota Avalon—a car so old it has ashtrays in the armrests. Active and able, he can fix furniture, restore bicycles, and even repair machinery. In his 70s, he took up stained glass. To date, he has made hundreds of pieces and can still cut, grind, and solder with precision.

On a visit out west last September, I was eager to see the massive Arts and Crafts building where he spends much of his time. I had wanted to make this trip for a while, not only to get to know my uncle better, but also to learn more about my family. My paternal ancestry has always felt like a queer, blank space in my identity.

My father’s father died when I was very young, and his mother and sister both passed before I was born. My dad doesn’t like to talk about his parents, and I respect his choices. Nevertheless, I wanted insight into who my grandparents were and what their lives were like. The one person who could tell me was Uncle Bob. Our first day together was delightful. My uncle has a great sense of humor and a knack for storytelling. He painted a vivid picture of my grandparents, savvy designers and business people who worked for the erstwhile garment industry giant, Leslie Fay, and who also owned their own dress factory. Gaps in my knowledge began to knit together as we shuffled through photographs, including professional portraits of my grandmother taken in her prime. She was beautiful, stylish, and confident – not to mention smart. She managed the cutting room and was indispensable to the family business. After years of wondering, I finally had the information I craved.

The following morning, we toured the Arts and Crafts

Jodi LaMarco

Uncle Bob demonstrating the proper way to cut glass

building. The number of studios it contains is staggering.

There is a ceramics studio, a looming room – even a lapidary. My tour eventually concluded in the shop reserved for stained glass. As Uncle Bob presented me with a dove he had recently finished, a small epiphany bloomed in my mind. Maybe I too could learn this skill … someday.

With no tools or prospective teachers on the East Coast, I tucked the thought in the back of my mind where I assumed it would remain.

Quite unexpectedly, I ended up in California again three months later. When I rang Uncle Bob to arrange another visit, my little epiphany of a few months back popped to the forefront of my brain. “Do you think you could teach me the basics of stained glass?” I asked. Of course, he agreed. I was ecstatic.

In the workshop, I was enamored with the process. The scoring and snapping. The slow work of shaping each piece until it harmonizes with the whole. He also showed me how to approach the hiccups that invariably arise during a project. I paid attention to the way he tackled problems. If there wasn’t a tool for the job, he made one.

If there was already a tool for the job, he came up with a better one.

A month later, I came back to work on a more difficult composition – a feather.

“Last time you went through steps A, B, and C. This time you’re skipping D through J and going right to K,” said Uncle Bob as he examined my plans. Rather than discourage me, he nodded and let me have at it. To my surprise, I pulled it off. That night, I went back to my hotel room and immediately began refining my template. An afternoon of slicing and honing had taught me much. A tighter design would mean less puttering on the grinding machine. I spent the evening contentedly tracing and snipping shapes out of oak tag until I was satisfied with my blueprint. My happiness was indescribable.

On the long drive home, I realized something. My grandfather had been a pattern-maker. My father and uncle had been pattern-makers, taking their own turn at Leslie Fay in the 1970s. I understood then why I love creating designs and solving puzzles. Why I enjoy working with my hands. The craft of stained glass has allowed me to participate in a shared tradition of sorts. It has given me a new sense of place – a context for who I am. They were pattern-makers. And so am I. Thanks, Uncle Bob.

Marches past in the Rondout Valley March 7, 1856 – The People’s Press [Kingston] The Difference.

While all true Americans have been celebrating Washington’s birth-day, and made it a legal holiday, the Catholic Irish reserve their rejoicings for St. Patrick’s Day, thus keeping up their distinctive nationality, and belying all their professions of becoming American citizens. The reason is plain; the priests can govern them better as distinctive Irish than as American citizens.

March 31, 1870 – New-Paltz Independent Jacob Stoll has sold his property at Rock Lock for $3,000. The cement companies there intend buying all the groceries in that vicinity. They have suffered quite enough from their effects. B.F. Hardenbergh intends erecting more tenement houses there this spring. They are needed. The cement mills have started.

March 24, 1887 – The Kingston Weekly Freeman and Journal To Improve the Canals.

The Assembly passed a bill yesterday to appropriate $550,000 for the improvement of the canals ….

The bill is sure of a safe passage through the Senate and of the Governor’s approval. The work of improvement to which the money is to be chiefly devoted is the doubling of the length of the locks. The vote proves that the state is not yet ready to abandon the canals, which would be the almost certain result if the appropriation had been withheld. The canals are not now in condition to compete successfully with the railroads. Nor is it likely that $550,000 will put them in condition to accommodate the immense and rapidly increasing grain traffic to the West. But it will suffice, probably, to convince Congress of the value of the canals of New York as national waterways. The easy passage of the appropriation is due in large measure to the growing confidence that Congress will in a few years take the work of maintaining and improving the canals of New York.

March 25, 1898 – New-Patz Independent While John C. Oliver was tearing down the old Brodhead homestead in the town of Marbletown, on the site of which he is having a handsome new residence erected, he found an old andiron, which is believed to be over 200 years old, as the Brodheads were among the earliest settlers in that section. Mr. Oliver expects to recover the

other andiron of the pair, when he will present them to John N. Cordts [Kingston politician].

March 24, 1899 – New-Paltz Independent Farm property now sells for about one-third the selling price 25 years ago. On the other side of the mountain the condition of affairs must be still worse, now that the canal has been abandoned.

The canal afforded quite a home market to the farmers of Rochester and Wawarsing.

From the archives

Linda March 16, 1922 – New Paltz Independent and Times Tantillo Hot lunches for Out-of-Town Pupils.

At Ellenville the Parent-Teachers Association has taken up the matter of noonday lunch for out-of-town pupils and is serving hot cocoa at cost to all who wish it. If there is sufficient interest shown, it is planned to offer other articles of food for lunch.

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BlueStone Press, March 3, 2023, Page 19

The inner lives of maple trees Mid February. Temperatures were soaring. I knew that the ideal conditions for tapping a maple tree are 40s in the daytime and 20s at night – typical mid-March weather, but it was happening a month early. Thinking that there might be only a short window of opportunity, I utilized my husband and his power drill to put a hole in our sugar maple down by the road. It's the only one I know of on our property, but it's massive.

We managed to (gently) hammer in the little "spile," a small metal tube that channels the sap flow, and with some difficulty hang the bucket with its sloping roof so that sap would flow through the spile into the bucket. Drilling the hole felt like an act of violence, but unless you drill too many, it doesn't hurt the tree; they can be tapped year after year. Apparently they produce more than enough sap to Ann Belmont spare some.

I waited. Nothing happened that day. But the next day, the bucket started filling surprisingly fast.

Amazing how drip ... drip ... drip can add up. I transferred the sap to a pot and put it on top of our woodstove to see what would happen next. It took about 24 hours, maybe, for the big pot of sap to reduce down to a syrup, sitting there steaming away. It's a delicate balance at the end: Leave it too long and it turns into a caramel-like goo that's hard to scrape out of the pot.

When I took that first exciting sip of my own homemade syrup, it was not what I expected. It did not taste, well, mapley, though its sweetness was intense. It didn't look brown like your usual maple syrup either, but golden. Maybe my tree was not a sugar maple after all? But the dead leaves surrounding it looked right, just like the iconic Canadian maple leaf, distinguishing it from red

Wild Things

Horoscopes The planetary lineup is very similar to the last edition of the horoscopes. The Sun, Mercury and Neptune are conjunct in the sign of Pisces, and they also square Mars.

Venus and Jupiter are together (conjunct) in Aries, while the other four planets each occupy their own space but interact with all, but offer no cohesion. The full Moon is in the sign of Virgo and is trying to straighten out problems created in the past by organizing and structuring the relevant government facilities to ease the situation.

However, the planets continue to function as they do, and that results in the continuation of the unusual weather patterns, including earthquakes and other unexpected events of the past few months.

Your Zodiac Joanne Ferdman

ARIES: 3/21 to 4/19: Mars, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 3rd solar house of education and information with Jupiter conjunct Venus in your 1st house of personality. This combination places you in the enviable position of experiencing "good luck" flowing around you. The full Moon in Virgo allows you to organize the flow of information around you, making this a good time to contemplate some form of expansion to your business or to take time off.

TAURUS: 4/20 to 5/20: Venus, your ruling planet, is conjunct Jupiter and hidden behind the scenes in your 12th solar house. This may result in unexpected events of unknown origin occurring without your knowledge and then having to cope with them. Mars on the 3rd house cusp offers little help. The full Moon in Virgo will help you organize any response.

GEMINI: 5/21 to 6/20: Mercury, your ruling planet, is

The sap bucket Photo by Ann Belmont

maple, silver maple, Norway maple, etc.

Jay Broekema, who owns Sugarbrook Maple Syrup in Kerhonkson and who gave me the tap bucket, told me that early-season syrup may taste less mapley. "Typically, light syrup has less maple flavor because there's not as much bacteria in the sap," he explained. Also, he added, boiling the sap causes chemical reactions that help create that flavor. It turns out, in fact, that making maple

part of the stellium positioned in Pisces in your 10th solar house of career. Fortunately, the planet Mars falls in your 1st solar house of personality, allowing you to work at improving your career prospects in an organized way. This is the time to plan carefully before initiating the process to achieve the goal you desire.

CANCER: 6/21 to 7/20: The Moon child deals with the full Moon on the 7th in the sign of Virgo, with Mercury in your 9th solar house of education and communication.

This results in your concentration on "what next?" You may want to take a course or two in an entirely different subject – to diversify or for creativity. Mars on the cusp of the 1st house certainly signifies energy. Just take the chance.

LEO: 7/21 to 8/22: The Sun, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 8th solar house where change takes place. It is also conjunct with both Mercury and Neptune, indicating your desire to be more creative. This may be an opportunity to take some courses that lead to an interesting hobby or even a part-time second income. Just give it a try and see where it leads.

VIRGO: 8/23 to 9/22: Mercury, your ruling planet, is positioned in Pisces in your 7th solar house of partnership. You may have recently met people who have led you to new creative ideas regarding a new business or a shift in employment. Mars, the planet of action, is positioned in your 10th house of career that will provide you with the energy to conclude the process and make it happen.

LIBRA: 9/23 to 10/22: Venus, your ruling planet, is positioned in an ideal location – your 7th solar house of partnerships. You may not be looking for a new relationship, but one can easily be found with Jupiter conjunct Venus making you seem more attractive than previously.

However, you're hard at work with new ideas helped by Mars (action) on the cusp of your 10th house of career.

One way or the other, you've done something right.

SCORPIO: 10/23 to 11/22: Your two rulers, Mars and Pluto, form the bookends of the planets as they appear in the sky. Pluto is on the cusp of the 4th house, home and family, and Mars is on the cusp of the 9th solar house of education. This time is spent taking care of children and

syrup isn't so different from making wine, in that so many factors can influence the taste: the soil, last summer's weather, the way it's processed, whether it's early or late in the season.

So just letting it steam on top of the woodstove is not the way to get that flavor. Never mind. I'm sticking to my method, which consumes zero extra heat energy, moisturizes the air, and doesn't require much attention. It still tastes great. Drinking the icy-cold, clear, fresh sap is in itself a pleasure. It's water with a very faintly sweet taste, and according to the companies who bottle and sell it as "maple water,” it’s full of beneficial minerals and vitamins.

Here's the thing about maples. They have a system whereby their sap flows down from the top of the tree when it's warm enough for the tree to thaw inside, and upward from the roots when it's below freezing at night.

This is, as best as science can understand it, because of pressure changes within the tree as compared to the outside air. What? you may say. Water expands when it freezes, so how can it be flowing at all on cold nights? But that's not what happens in a sugar maple, due to unique cells that are filled with gas, not water; the gas contracts as it freezes, creating suction upward. The flow of sap into your tap bucket is dependent on a rhythm of freezing nights that draw the sap up, and thawing days that release it downward. The hole in the tree will eventually heal, like a cut finger, Broekema explained. Until it does, my tap bucket will fill again and again. "You should have four weeks or so, unless we get a really warm spell ... it doesn't heal as quick in the cold as it does in warm weather."

I find myself becoming more and more attuned to the inner processes of that tree by the road. Its outward stillness is an illusion. Imagining what's going on inside it, its marvelous survival mechanisms, I am filled by a sense of its presence, the presence of an awesome and mysterious being.

helping provide for their comfort. Their education is also of prime importance, and that's top of the must-do list.

SAGITTARIUS: 11/23 to 12/21: Jupiter, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 5th solar house of children and creativity. Family seems to be your primary focus at this point, but sometimes the intensity becomes overwhelming. The planet of action, Mars, is about to enter your 8th solar house, suggesting you might want to make a change and develop new interests that add to your personal creative nature.

CAPRICORN: 12/22 to 1/20: Saturn, your ruling planet, is positioned in your 2nd solar house of money. While money may not be your primary goal, it certainly leads to power and leadership, which are your goals. The hard work you presently display adds to the well-being and affluence your family presently shows and is important for the way others view you.

AQUARIUS: 1/21 to 2/19: Uranus, your ruling planet, remains positioned in your 4th solar house and continues its emphasis on home and family. However, Pluto is thereby placed directly on the Ascendant – looking for control, possibly at work through innovative techniques or strong leadership. The full Moon on the 7th in Virgo will help you achieve the tactical skill to influence others.

PISCES: 2/20 to 3/20: Neptune, your ruling planet, continues positioned in the closing degrees of your 1st solar house of personality. It is also conjunct Neptune and Mercury, both of which show the spurt of creativity that has recently inspired you submit your work to the public's scrutiny. The results are shown by both Jupiter and Venus, the two benefic positioned in your second house of money.

Joanne can be reached at 561-744-9962. She is available for private telephone consultations if you want more information relating to your personal chart. Treat yourself, and you will learn what to expect from the current transits and receive an overview of long-term goals. Remember to read both your Sun sign and your Ascendant.

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Page 20, March 3, 2023, BlueStone Press

FOR THE FAMILY Rosendale Seniors monthly meetings The Town of Rosendale Seniors meetings are held at the Rosendale Recreation Center, 1055 Route 32, Rosendale, twice a month, excluding November and December, at 1 p.m. every second Wednesday (March 8), for a social meeting and fourth Wednesday (March 22) for a business meeting where members are kept informed of the resources available to them. Their event on March 8 is an auction, so bring a new or nearly new wrapped item, worth $5 to $10. The Rosendale Seniors’ first trip of the year on May 4 is hosted by their very own tour guides, Hal Sampson and Chicky Sterritt. The trip is to the Riverview Inn for a show featuring comedian JoJo Russell in “ Back for More.” The Seniors will also sponsor a tour to Branson, Missouri, courtesy of Diamond Tours, Sept.

16-24, nine days and eight nights. The tour consists of motorcoach transportation with eight nights lodging including four consecutive nights in the Branson area, 14 meals of eight breakfasts and six dinners, and admission to six fabulous shows – three morning shows and three evening shows. Cost is $1,029/pp double occupancy. Call Chickie at 845-658-2414 or Hal at 845-658-9020 for more information. For videos and group pictures, visit grouptrips.com/chicky.

Rondout Valley Lions Club New members, men and women of all ages, are wanted and encouraged to join the Rondout Valley Lions Club, serving the towns of Marbletown, Rochester and Rosendale since Oct. 18, 1950. During this time, they have helped those in need, whether it is for sight, hearing, medical emergencies or any worthwhile cause. “We serve” is their motto, and this is what they do.

The Lions meet at 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday (March 8), and at noon on the fourth Thursday of every month (March 23) in the conference room of the Rondout Municipal Center, 1925 Lucas Turnpike, Cottekill. For more information on being included in the club’s next meeting, contact Sue Curcio, president, at otrlsc@gmail.com or Janet Sutter, treasurer, at janet.sutter@aol.com.

Second Sunday Supper The Rondout Valley United Methodist Church will host its Second Sunday Supper at 2 p.m.

Sunday, March 12, (at the earlier time for the winter months), at the church, 25 Schoonmaker Lane, off Route 209, Stone Ridge. All are invited to meet and greet other members of the community, dine together and enjoy one another’s company. Second Sunday Suppers are free and held on the second Sunday of every month (except July and August).

Sunday worship at RVUMC is in person at 10 a.m. or online anytime at rvumc. org. For more information, call 845-6879061. Need prayer? Call Pastor Caroline at 845-687-9090.

Homeschoolers Maple Sugaring at Minnewaska Join Park Preserve educators and other homeschool families, 1-3 p.m. Thursday, March 16, to experience the magic that is maple sugaring. In our area, mid-February to mid-March is when sap is typically collected for producing maple syrup. In this program, the group will discuss clues to identify maple trees and the process of making maple syrup. They will also share some maple sugaring legends, and if the conditions are not too cold, tap a sugar maple tree using hand-powered tools. If the sap is flowing on the day of the program, each child will be able to taste maple sap.

Additionally, each child will be able to taste-test maple syrup and at least one kind of maple candy. This program is recommended for children between the ages of 7 to 10 years old, accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. As always, well-behaved younger siblings capable of participating are welcome to join. Meet at the Lower Parking Area. Preregistration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.

Marbletown Seniors meetings and next group trip Open to all those over 55, whether living in Marbletown or not. The Seniors hold their meetings at the Marbletown Community Center, 3564 Main St., across from Key Bank in Stone Ridge, at noon on the first Friday, April 7 (bring a dish to share or drop $3 in the basket on the food table), and at 1 p.m. on the third Friday, March 17 (bring a dessert to share or drop $2 in the basket on the dessert table), each

.

Memoir readings by local authors In celebration of Women's History Month The Rosendale Theatre Collective is launching a new bi-monthly literary event series, "Prosendale." The series begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale, with “Memoir Readings

by Local Authors” to celebrate Women's History Month. Five local female authors will each read an excerpt from one of Cunningham their memoirs. Then a panel discussion with the authors will be facilitated

by Martha Frankel, executive director of the Woodstock Bookfest, followed by an audience Quinn Q&A. There will also be an opportunity to interact with the authors at separate stations in the theater, where copies of their books can be purchased and signed by the author.

Participating authors in this event, sponsored by Woodstock Bookfest and Rough Draft Bar & Books, include Laura Shaine Cunningham of Stone Ridge; Denny Dillon, High Falls; Mourka Meyendorff (Mourka), Rosendale; Nicole Quinn, Accord; and Mary Lois Timbes (Adshead), Kingston.

Cunningham has published nine books, including her memoirs, “Sleeping Arrangements” and “A Place in the Country.” She is also the president of Actors and Writers. Her new memoir, “Forbidden Russia, an American Playwright in Moscow, Ukraine, Belarus, and Beyond,” will be published next year.

Dillon is an actress, comedian and writer. She has recently appeared in Apple+TV's “Servant,” Netflix's “Uncoupled,” and HBO's “The Outsider.”

She is a former cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” and she gave a memorable cameo in the iconic “Saturday Night Fever” opposite John Travolta.

She made her Broadway debut in “Gypsy” with Angela Lansbury and received a Tony nomination for “My One & Only.” She has won a CableACE Award for "Best Actress in a Comedy

month. For more information, call Donna Lamerson at 845-750-8616. The next group trip will be on Tuesday, April 11, to Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville, Connecticut, for “Shake, Rattle ’n’ Roll,” dueling pianos featuring mixing music, comedy and audience interaction in a sing-along, dance-along show also offering a meal with choice of Chicken Kathryn or baked ham. Cost of trip is $63. Bus leaves 8:30 a.m. This trip leaves from Rosendale Recreation Center, 1055 Route 32N, Rosendale. For trip reservation, call Sharon Letus, at 845-687-9162.

Local Quilters Guild meetings The Wiltwyck Quilt Guild comes together to share their work, learn a new skill and meet new friends. The next meeting of the Guild will be held 10-11 a.m. Saturday, March 18, at Grace Community Church.

Coffee, tea and snacks begin at 9:30 a.m.

At 11 a.m. via Zoom, the Guild presents “Creating contrast in your quilts with Jennifer Holden.” Using fabric with different values, textures and patterns are the first steps to gaining contrast. Hold-

Series" for her role on HBO's “Dream On.” In 2002, she moved to High Falls and is busy completing her book of memoirs, “Two Tickets to Calamity.”

Meyendorff is an award-winning author of two published books, her memoir, “DP, Displaced Person,” and an anthology of 30 short stories, Timbes “Flipping the Bird.”

The daughter of a Russian baron, she was born displaced in a refugee camp in Germany. She is an actress, dancer, musician and storyDillon teller.

Quinn is a Writers Guild of America writer. She has written screenplays for HBO, Showtime, network television, Jodie Foster's Egg Pictures, John Singleton's New Deal Productions, and Vassar College. She wrote and directed “Racing Daylight” starring Melissa Leo and David Strathairn. She has produced and narrated audiobooks for Audible, her short plays are published by Playscripts, and she has authored a trilogy of feminist-dystopian fantasy novels (“The Gold Stone Girl”).

Timbes is an author, theater director, producer, actress and raconteur.

She has produced several shows at the Rosendale Theatre and directed three comedy sketches for Frank Marquette's Theater on the Road at the Chocolate Factory in Red Hook.

She was the founding producer of an Equity theatre in Fairhope, Alabama, from 1988-1996, and has written a memoir of the town, “The Fair Hope of Heaven,” the novel “That Was Tomorrow” and a collection of short stories, “Travelin' Light.”

Tickets for this event are $12/$10 members. For more info, visit rosendaletheatre.org or call 845-658-8989.

en will talk of embellishments and other ways to create dimension withing a piece and the role of design. Everything adds levels to get the wow factor. Her presentation will be followed by her workshop, “Mini-Bargello Sunflower, Part 1.” Part 2 will be presented on March 25. For more info, visit wiltwyckquilters.org. Members are always wanted and welcomed to join the projects benefiting the community.

For Zoom link and questions, contact Guild secretary Mary Tyler of Rosendale at marycodytyler@yahoo.com.

ARTS, MUSIC, BODY & MIND Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) art exhibition in Stone Ridge “Fork in the Road,” an exhibition featuring artwork by incarcerated individuals from correctional facilities in New York stat,e will be presented by Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), through April 29, at the Stone Ridge Library, 3700 Main St., Stone Ridge. A brief presen-

tation with the exhibition curator, RTA staff and formerly incarcerated artists of RTA’s visual arts program will take place at the artists’ reception, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at the library.

The concept of the exhibition, “Fork in the Road,” a moment of decision in life or history when a choice must be taken, was the vision of incarcerated participants of RTA’s visual arts program. The exhibition will feature 25-30 artworks from three correctional facilities in New York: Bedford Hills, women’s maximum security; Green Haven, men’s maximum security; and Woodbourne, men’s medium security Correctional Facilities. The artwork was created in classes taught

by RTA teaching artists, Angela Tornello and Claire Wasserman, who also curated the exhibition. The project is being supported in part by the NoVo Foundation and Arts Mid-Hudson (Ulster County Cultural Services and Promotion Fund).

For more information, visit stoneridgelibrary.org and rta-arts.org.

Events at the Kiva, at MaMA The Kiva is located behind Marbletown Multi-Arts, MaMA, at 3588 Main St., Stone Ridge.

Upcoming events include “Written on the body,” an afternoon of sensual movement, writing and sound with Bernadette Pleasant and Elana Bell, 2-5 p.m. Sunday, March 5; Sonic Tonic with Peter Blum, Katie Down, Ev Mann and Thomas Workman, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11; and on Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. March 9 and 16, is Elder Odyssey Quality of Life Workshop with facilitators Ev Mann and Lester Strong. Each week are Zoom Sunday gatherings at 11 a.m., and the meditation, movement and conversation group led

by Wes Ostertag and Ev Mann, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesdays. For more information on all these events, visit cometomama.org or call 845-853-5154.

First Annual Rosendale Plant and Seed Swap This event, presented by the Rosendale Environmental Commission, will be held 1-4 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the Rondout Municipal Center, 1921 Lucas Turnpike, Cottekill. For more information, visit http://rosendale.eventbrite. com.

Writers’ group with Cathy Arra Two separate writers’ groups meet 4-6:30 p.m. on alternate Mondays at the Stone Ridge Library in the activity room, 3700 Main St., Stone Ridge, with a maximum of 10 participants in each group. The program is designed for those who are actively writing and publishing work and who want to participate in a structured, critical feedback process. Cathy Arra, a poet, writer and former teacher of English and writing in the Rondout Valley School District, facilitates the groups. The next two meetings for Group 1 are on March 6 and 20 and for Group 2 on March 13 and 27. Email carra22@aol. com.

‘Word on the Street,’ photos by Bob Esposito in the gallery at the Rosendale Theatre Local photographer Bob Esposito has always had a fascination with how people communicate at street level. Be it communication by signage, sculpture, graffiti or the wonderfully witty wall scrawl. Humor, joy, sometimes hope and often delicious absurdity formed into a language between strangers. And it’s a language that comes with a shelf life. Signage is constantly replaced, graffiti fades and the planet keeps spinning, which can turn the wittiest expression into an irrelevant nothing, or vice-versa! How much joy and genius is lost this way when the elements combine to erase a meaningful bridge between people who will never actually meet. These photos, mainly shot on expired Kodak film using vintage toy cameras, will be featured for the months of March and April, in the gallery at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale. All prints are nicely priced at $10-$15. All proceeds above printing cost go to the Rosendale Theatre. For more information, visit rosendaletheatre.org or call 845-658-8989.

Music Fan Series presents ‘Fanny, the Right to Rock’ “Fanny, the Right to Rock,” presented by Rosendale Theatre’s Music Fan Series is a raucous, inspiring musical film about Fanny, the first all-female rock band from the 1970s. The documentary will screen at 7 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale.

See More events, page 21

BlueStone Press, March 3, 2023, Page 21 The evening highlight will be an in-person Q&A with Fanny co-founder and lead guitarist June Millington. “Fanny, the Right to Rock” features testimonials by music legends Bonnie Raitt, the Go-Go’s Kathy Valentine, Todd Rundgren, the Runaways’ Cherie Currie, Lovin’ Spoonful’s John Sebastian, the B52’s Kate Pierson, Charles Neville of the Neville Brothers, and David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick and bassist Gail Ann Dorsey.

A Sacramento garage rock band, Fanny was founded by two Filipina American sisters and became the first all-women band on a major record label. Despite five critically acclaimed albums and touring with Chicago, Fanny was written out of history … until now. Admission is $10/$6 members. Masks wearing is optional inside the theatre but strongly encouraged.

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

Teatime book group discusses ‘The Women of the Chateau Lafayette’ by Stephanie Dray The group will meet at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 8, in the activity room, at the Stone Ridge Library, 3700 Main St., Stone Ridge, to talk about the book “The Women of the Chateau Lafayette” by Stephanie Dray, an epic generational saga based on the true story of an extraordinary castle in the heart of France and the remarkable women bound by its legacy in some of humanity’s darkest hours. To join the group, email Stone Ridge Library programs manager Sarah Robertson, at programs@stoneridgelibrary.org.

Tap workshops with Brenda Bufalino at the Rosendale Theatre Brenda Bufalino, international performer and tap dance master, will teach a tap workshop for advanced beginner-intermediate levels, noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29, at the Rosendale Theater, 408 Main St., Rosendale, for $25/class. For more information, visit rosendaletheatre. org or call 845-658-8989. For registration, email brendabufaline@yahoo.com.

For more on Bufalino, visit brendabufalino.com.

Virtual Financial Aid Workshops in Stone Ridge SUNY Ulster has scheduled multiple financial aid workshops to be held on Zoom. During the workshops, students can get help from a SUNY Ulster Financial Aid Counselor in completing their 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The workshops will be held from 2-3 p.m. March 9, April 6, May 11 and June 1. Students need their 2022 tax information on hand before the workshop begins, which includes the W-2 forms, federal tax returns, and any other income or asset documents.

Registration is required. For more information, contact Kathleen Hasbrouck at 845-687-5217.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Marbletown’s Jazzstock presents the Jamie Baum Septet The Jamie Baum Septet includes Jamie Baum, composer and flutist, Jonathan Finlayson, trumpet, Sam Sadigursky, alto saxophone and clarinets, Chris Komer, French horn, Brad Shepik, guitar, Nizan Gavrieli, piano, Ricky Rodriguez, bass, and Jeff Hirshfield on drums. The group will perform music that utilizes texts by women poets in celebration of Women’s History Month, 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the Senate Garage, 4N Front St., Kingston. Ticket holders may observe an “open rehearsal,” 4:3-6:30 p.m. at Senate Garage. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Rhino Records, 6 N. Front St., Kingston, or at jazzstock.com.

‘Snowscapes,’ group show features the magic of winter depicted by local artists Light sparkling through the ice capped tops of twinkling pines, cool shadows on a snowy riverbank; the poetry of local landscapes is captured in oils, pastels, watercolors and photography by such local talents as Sue Barrasi, James Coe, Kevin Cook, James Cramer, Carolyn Edlund, Rosendale native Staats Fasoldt, Gail Fedigan, Linda Puiatti, Robert Trondsen, Hardie Truesdale, Marlene Wiedenbaum of High Falls, and new to the gallery, oils by Chris Gamet. “Snowscapes” runs through Saturday, March 11, at the Mark Gruber Gallery, 13 New Paltz Plaza, New Paltz, owned and operated by Gruber of Marbletown. Gallery hours, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and Sundays and Mondays by appointment. For more information,

See More events, page 22

KripplebushLyonsville Fire Company Sub Nites are back Enjoy great sub sandwiches at the Kripplebush-Lyonsville Fire Company, at the intersection of County Route 2 at 519 Pine Bush Road in Stone Ridge, just 1 mile north of Route 209. Ham, turkey, roast beef or mixed meat, mixed veggie, chicken parm, meatball, tuna, and of course Philly cheese subs are made to order on a 12-inch roll with choice of toppings and served with a bag of chips and a drink (assorted cans of soda, iced tea or bottled water). Take a sub home or eat one in the dining room at the firehouse. Sub Nites are held 4-7 p.m. (with call-ins at 3:30 p.m.) on the second Friday of each month, March-November (this month on March 10), for a suggested donation of $10. For more information or to place an order, call 845-687-9801.

Matt Munisteri's Totally Awesome Quartet with Matt Munisteri on guitar (pictured here); Joe Barbato, piano and accordion; Danton Boller, bass; and Ben Perowsky, drums, will be at Lydia’s in Stone Ridge, 7 p.m. Saturday, March 11.

Matt Munisteri's Totally Awesome Quartet and more at Lydia’s Café Enjoy live music 7-10 p.m. Saturday nights at Lydia’s Café, 7 Old Route 209, Stone Ridge. Upcoming performances include Matt Munisteri's Totally Awesome Quartet with Matt Munisteri on guitar, Joe Barbato, piano and accordion, Danton Boller, bass, and Ben Perowsky, drums, on March 11; Vinnie Martucci Trio, where Manhattan Transfer co-founder Laurel Massé joins SUNY music professors performing jazz and original works on March 18, with Martucci on keys, Rich Syracuse, bass,

and Jeff Siegel, drums; March 25 features Marty Elkins & Co, with Elkins on vocals, Peter Tomlinson, keys, Lew Scott, bass, and Larry Balestra, drums.

There is a suggested donation of $20.

Saturday night’s also feature the “jazz” buffet with Creole & Southern style cooking. Artwork by Fran Sutherland is on display, with proceeds from sales going to Doctors Without Borders Ukraine. For more information, call 845-687-6373 or visit lydias-cafe.com.

Heroes unite on ice with the Hudson Valley ICEbergs The Hudson Valley ICEbergs, an Adaptive Hockey organization, are having a fundraiser event, 7:45-9:15 p.m. March 11, at the Kiwanis Ice Arena in Saugerties.

The ICEbergs is a new all-inclusive adaptive hockey team that provides an environment where youngsters 5 years old and up can play hockey regardless of skill level, physical disability, and developmental or behavioral challenges. The growing organization, which invites and includes local players, is a nonprofit organization and a member of the American Special Hockey Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving those with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities through the sport of hockey. The goal is to share the joy of playing a sport and being a member of the team. The organization helps players develop skating and hockey skills taking into consideration individual needs, establishing confidence, making friends, playing games, having fun, and more simply, learning to get up again after falling down, realizing that underneath the surface lies a superhero within everyone.

Join the community for a night of

The Hudson Valley ICEbergs logo

skating and help support the Hudson Valley ICEbergs raise funds for ice fees and equipment. There will be raffle baskets, a 50/50 raffle, photo booth, skating helpers, and a bake sale. Entry fee is $10 per person, which includes skate rental.

For more information, visit specialhockey.org, email carmela.m.dewitt@gmail. com, or check out Hudson Valley ICEbergs on Facebook.

Afghan Feast at Christ the King Church in Stone Ridge Traditional Afghan carry-out food will be offered, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at Christ the King Episcopal Church, 3021 Route 213 East, Stone Ridge, as Afghan Circle of the Hudson Valley and the church in Stone Ridge team up to present this event.

The Ariana Feast, prepared by the mother and aunt of a six-member family, is an opportunity for The Ariana Feast, at the commuChrist the King Church nity to come of Stone Ridge, is an together to show opportunity for the community to come their support together to show their for Afghan support for Afghan neighbors, with neighbors, with the the bonus of a bonus of a delicious delicious four- four-course meal. course meal.

In addition, a small spice bazaar, offering spices used in Afghan cooking, and art paintings will be offered for sale by another refugee family supported by the Circle.

The Afghan Circle of the Hudson Valley is a group of 20+ local volunteers who have been working together since January 2022 to provide housing, food, transportation, language instruction, clothing, legal services and friendship to two families who had to flee for their lives from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. The Circle has received support from more than 200 local businesspeople, neighbors and friends and has made great strides towards gaining freedom and opportunities for the families.

The Afghan Feast, presented each month, available for takeout at Christ the King of Stone Ridge, is served by preorder only for $20/meal. The featured menu will be posted by Tuesday, March 7, along with a link to make reservations. For more info, visit ctkstoneridge.org, call 845-687-9414 or visit ctkstoneridge of Facebook.

News tip? Contact the BSP! ■ bluestonepress.net

Page 22, March 3, 2023, BlueStone Press

Purim at the Kerhonkson Synagogue

Events continued from page 29 contact Gruber at 845-255-1241 or visit markgrubergallery.com.

The Mystery book group talks about ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ by Richard Osman The group will meet, 11 a.m.

Wednesday, March 15, in the activity room, at the Stone Ridge Library, 3700 Main St., Stone Ridge, to talk about the book “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman. In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club. To join the mystery book group, email Stone Ridge Library Programs Manager Sarah Robertson, at programs@stoneridgelibrary. org.

‘Invasive Plants of the Hudson Valley,’ a Zoom program with Poison Ivy Patrol’s John Messerschmidt The Town of Rochester Environmental Conservation Commission presents a Zoom talk, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16 with John Messerschmidt, owner of Poison Ivy Patrol and Hudson Valley Native Landscaping.

Messerschmidt will speak about invasive plants from overseas that now outnumber the native plants needed by birds and pollinators. Learn all about the most common invasives and how to remove them without using chemicals. For more information and the Zoom link, visit the Town of Rochester Environmental Conservation Commission on Facebook or email thirdthursdayseries@gmail.com.

Cooks and Books group This month Cook and Books will be choosing recipes from chef, author and restaurateur Yotam Ottelenghi. The group will meet 12:15 p.m. Friday, March 17, in the activity room at the Stone Ridge Library, 3700 Main St., Stone Ridge, to discuss and sample recipes. Participation is limited and registration is required. To join the book group, contact Sarah Robertson at programs@stoneridgelibrary.org or call 845-687-7023, ext. 8.

Live music on St. Patrick’s Day with the Wild Swan Band Join the community, 8 p.m. Friday, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale, for an evening of music with the Wild Swan Band. This band was the traditional Irish House Band at the Rosendale Cafe for many years, and they perform a graceful mix of Celtic song, jigs, reels and waltzes, along with original songs in the Celtic/folk rock tradition. The band features Sarah Underhill on vocals, Ian Worpol, guitar and vocals; T.G. Vanini, fiddle; Jon Garelick, mandolin; and Robert Bard, stand-up bass.

All are invited to sing along on the chorus, tap their feet to the beat or get up on the dance floor! Come on out for great music, company, and food and drink served in Uncle Tony’s Tavern. This event is produced by Mark Morgenstern, owner and music booker extraordinaire of the Rosendale Cafe. Morgenstern is on the board of advisers of the Rosendale Theatre Collective. Admission is $20/$15 members. For more information, visit rosendaletheatre.org or call 845-6588989.

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

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

SahasraYoga in-person and Zoom classes with Kyra Sahasrabudhe at RidgeWell Fitness All levels and abilities are welcome to join these in-person hatha yoga classes taught by Kyra Sahasrabudhe (CYT) of Stone Ridge, 10-11:15 a.m. Mondays and 9-10:15 a.m.

Wednesdays, at RidgeWell Fitness, 3555 Main St., Stone Ridge, and in the virtual (Zoom) class 5-6:15 p.m. Tuesdays. Props and modifications are offered in class allowing students to make each pose/ asana their own. For cost and all info, email sahasrayoga21@gmail.com or call 845-750-7808.

The New Orleans-based vintage French jazz band Pardon My French!

Live music with Pardon My French!

The New Orleans-based vintage French jazz band Pardon My French! began as a collaboration between NYC swing guitarist Pete Roze’ and Memphis-born actress/ singer Caroline Fourmy. The band is a beautiful tribute to the French love songs of Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet and others including Serge Gainsbourg, Eartha Kitt and Pink Martini favorites.

With the addition of New Orleans native and traditional jazz bassist Joshua

Gouzy and classical composer, accordion and world music aficionado Michael Ward-Bergeman on accordion, the quartet often performs for house concerts and intimate venues throughout New Orleans.

Pardon My French! will perform live at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 5, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale. Tickets are $20/$18 members.

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

Clio’s Muse, a history reading club discusses ‘I am a girl from Africa’

by Elizabeth Nyamayaro The Stone Ridge Library history reading club group will meet at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 15, via Zoom to talk about “I am a girl from Africa” by Elizabeth Nyamayro.

The memoir tells the story of the inspiring journey of a girl from Africa whose near-death experience sparked a dream that changed the world. When severe drought hit her village in Zimbabwe, Nyamayro, then 8, had no idea that this moment of utter devastation would come to define her life purpose. Unable to move from hunger, she encountered a United Nations aid worker who gave her a bowl of warm porridge and saved her life.

This transformative moment inspired her to become a humanitarian, and she vowed to dedicate her life to giving back to her community, her continent and the world. Grounded by the African concept of ubuntu, “I am because we are,” the book charts Nyamayaro’s quest in pursuit of her dream from the small village of Goromonzi to Harare, London, New York and beyond, where she eventually became a senior adviser at the United

Sunday Silents ‘The Parson’s Widow’ with live accompaniment by Marta Waterman “The Parson’s Widow” (adapted from the 1879 short story by Kristofer Janson, a Norwegian writer equal in stature to Ibsen) is the tale of Sofren, a young theologian who is eager to get a parish and marry his fiancée Mari. He is granted a parsonage but is horrified to find out as part of his duties, he is required to marry the widow of the parson before him, Dame Margarete. This may seem bizarre, but in the days before the social safety net, it was a practical solution, marrying a new parson to his forerunner’s widow saved

Enjoy a Havdalah service and Purim celebration, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the Kopp Jewish Center, at the Kerhonkson Synagogue, 26 Minnewaska Trail, Kerhonkson, or via Zoom.

Reb Sally will be leading the group in a Beatles-themed musical Megillah reading.

Costumes are encouraged! The Megillah reading will be followed by a potluck dinner. Bring a kosher dairy or pareve dish to share. Hamantaschen and coffee will be provided.

For more information, visit kerhonksonsynagogue.org or email kerhonksonsynagogue@gmail.com.

Elizabeth Nyamayaro in Times Square.

Photo by Behind the Cause

Nations and launched HeForShe, one of the world’s largest global solidarity movements for gender equality.

For more information, visit stoenridgelibrary.org or call 845-687-7023.

the parish from supporting two separate households or reducing the discarded widow to poverty. Sofren and Mari on the surface bravely accept this situation that could only been viewed as a nightmare to the couple. However, they quietly plot and plan a way to get rid of Dame Margarete, thinking, how hard is it to get rid of a stupid old woman? They soon find out that they have greatly underestimated Dame Margarete and that it would serve them all well if they see her side of things and treat her as a person and not just an annoying problem.

The 1920 silent film will be presented with live piano accompaniment by Marta Waterman, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 5, at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St., Rosendale. Admission is $6.

Sunday Silents is made possible by the generous support of Jim Demaio, State Farm Insurance agent, New Paltz. For more information, visit rosendaletheatre. org or call 845-658-8989.

Sofren and Mari in “The Parson’s Widow”

‘Finding her way, American women artists, 1840-1940’ with art historian Rena Tobey Zoom program Join the community, 7-8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 8, via Zoom, in a library collaboration celebrating Women’s History Month. Go on a journey with art historian Rena Tobey of 100 years of American women artists, the struggles they faced and their triumphs, as Stone Ridge Library works with the Clinton Community Library, the Putnam Valley Free Library, the Staatsburg Library and the Warner Library for this program.

The American experiment has allowed for many forms of societal rule-breaking, but historically women have been bound by tradition. Women artists often found themselves in gender-busting struggles to be taken seriously as professionals, while juggling the demands of their domestic lives. In this talk, Tobey takes a close look at the artwork that not only tells the eye-opening, funny and even sexy stories of historical American women, but also shows its relevance today.

Tobey has taught art history at NYU’s School for Professional Studies and Southern Connecticut State University. Her greatest passion is making art accessible, invigorating, insightful and fun. She has held talks for New York Adventure, 92Y, at libraries and with other community, and she conducts lively, interactive tours of museum collections, now via Zoom.

Just for fun, she has created Artventures!® Game, a cheeky party game on the adventures of art and art history. For more information, visit renatobey.com.

Tor register for this salute to women artists Zoom event, contact Stone Ridge Library programs manager Sara Robertson at programs@stoneridgelibrary.org.

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Town Board Meeting March 21 @ 6:00pm Housing Committee March 28 @ 7:00pm Town Board Meeting April 4 @ 6:00pm

Help Wanted/Items Needed

Housing Committee April 11 @ 7:00pm

Senior advocate, companion care.

Transportation and assistance with medical appointments. Second set of ears to aid in the adherence of treatment recommendations. Hearing needs assessment. Assistance with completion of an advanced directive regarding end of life care and legacy projects. Social outings to local exhibits, galleries, theatres, educational presentations, historic landmarks, lunches. Over 20 years experience working with seniors in the hearing healthcare sector. $35/hour. References available. Email for more information. hudsonvalleyseniorsentinel@gmail.com

CPAB Meeting April 12 @ 5:00pm

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Veronica’s Garden in Stone Ridge is seeking an Experienced Landscaper Good salary, flexible hours Must be a licensed driver Call 845-687-9026 or (845)399-1708

Historic Preservation April 13 @ 6:00pm

TOWN OF ROSENDALE Rondout Municipal Center 1915 Lucas Avenue, Cottekill townofrosendale.com

845-658-3159

Youth Commission March 6 @ 7:00 Town Board Meeting March 8 @ 6:00 pm Environmental Commission March 9 @ 6:30 pm Planning Board Meeting March 9 @ 7:00 pm Economic Development March 15 @ 5:30 pm Recreation Commission March 15 @ 7:00 pm

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Planning Board Meeting March 13 @ 7:00 pm Recreation Commission March 15 @ 9:30 am Zoning Board March 16 @ 7:00 pm Historic Preservation March 20 @ 2:00 pm

Town Board Audit Meeting March 30 @ 7:00 pm

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Page 24, March 3, 2023BlueStone Press

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(845) 687-0420 • aquacheckllc@gmail.com

Custom Showers • Ceramic & Stone Tile Stone Veneers • Full Bath Build-Outs • Insured

845-687-4745

Accessories -- Sales Accessories Sales--Installations Installations Cars --Trucks Trucks -- RVs Cars RVs -- Boats Boats OVER 45 www.davescarcare.com YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE VALLEY

Coal, Gas THE MAD HATTER  &Wood, Oil Flues CO .

CHIMNEY SWEEP INC Expertly Cleaned

Flynn O’Connor

COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE DETAILING

Dave Hllml • By Appointment 687-2445 Dave Hllml By Appointment 687-2445 4693 Route 209, Accord, NY 12404 4693 Route 209, Accord, NY 12404 www.davescarcare.com

Call

SPRING CLEANING

Matthew Flamhaft 845-687-9735 www.visitvortex.com/Matthew_Flamhaft

Wayne W. St. Hill, DDS, MAGD

SPECIAL APRIL/MAY/JUNE

MEMBER NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD

 Caps, Dampers Installed  Masonry Repairs & Water Sealing  Pre-Fab Chimney Specialist  Stainless Steel Relining Specialist

Medenbach & Eggers

Stone RiDGe DentiStRy

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212 Fair Street Kingston, NY 12401 P: (845) 331-3600 F: (845) 334-9465

4305 uS Highway 209 • Stone ridge, ny 12484 PHonE (845) 687-0047 • Fax (845) 687-4783

www.gagnoncpa.com

info@mecels.com • www.mecels.com

PC Perfection

Edgar P. Campbell Joanne C. Whalen

Helping Human Beings Cope with Computers since 1986

Counsellors At Law

Tutoring, Sales, Repair, Cleaning

Taking Care of Your Legal Needs!

Alan Silverman

• Wills • Real Estate • Elder Law • Estates

(845) 687-9458

Injured? Call us

(914) 948-7700 (845) 687-0353 3536 Rt. 209 Stone Ridge, NY 12484

All Types of Roofing Fully Insured

alan.silverman.computers@gmail.com http://alan-silverman-computers.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

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

Licensed Master Plumber #136 • Fully Insured riceplumbingandheating@gmail.com • riceplumbingandheating.com

Donald J. Giamei, Agent donaldgiamei@hotmail.com

mold. allergens. deep Cleaning.

Michele Aversano, Licensed Associate michelesri@outlook.com

Reconstruction/Remodeling Post Construction & Seasonal Clean Up

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 845.658.8015

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