Special section Halloween Sports Tribute Healthy Hudson Valley: Where to celebrate OCIAA swimming Longtime Mohonk Mountain Healthy Body & Mind Halloween locally championships House head Bert Smiley dies at 74 INSIDE 4 15 8 THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2018 $1.50 VOL. 18, ISSUE 43 New Paltz Timimeses www.hudsonvalleyone.com NEWS OF NEW PALTZ, GARDINER, HIGHLAND, ROSENDALE & BEYOND High rise Flag central Supervisor Bettez says the New Paltz New Paltz American fl ag appreciation event draws support, protest town budget is “not pretty” by Terence P Ward EW PALTZ TOWN Supervisor Neil Bettez explained dur- ing the discussion of the 2019 N budget at the October 18 Town Board meeting that the only way the in- crease will be within the tax cap would be with layoff s. Otherwise, contracted pay raises and health-insurance cost hikes together eat up more than the cap, which this year is actually two percent. The tentative budget, fi led Septem- ber 30, shows expenses of $11,872,921, of which $9,898,272 would be raised through taxes. The tax levy of the ap- proved 2018 budget is $8,348,108. Cuts identifi ed by Bettez and comptrol- ler Jean Gallucci bring the increase down to 8.9% from the 17.5% in the “wish-list” round. The tax cap would limit increases to $176,000, which Gallucci called “im- possible,” as fi xed expenses alone will rise $234,000. That includes $40,000 for workers’ compensation and $67,000 in police pay increases agreed to in a past multi-year contract which current council members are bound to honor. PHOTOS BY LAUREN THOMAS Requests for more spending came In the foreground, protesters confront participants in the American flag appreciation walk held last Sunday in New Paltz. Continued on page 12 by Terence P Ward to represent, it evokes diff erent feelings Sunday’s event that she was less certain in diff erent people, and many of the re- in light of the strong reaction against the ILLED AS AN “appreciation walk sponses were negative. fl ag itself. and ride” for the American fl ag, Maria Lisanti owns La Bella Pizza Bis- To Lisanti, the fl ag is a symbol repre- hundreds converged on New tro, and it was her idea to paint a mural senting ideals, not necessarily the pres- BPaltz on Sunday, October 21 be- ent state of national aff airs. She ties it to decked with Old Glory. They were met sacrifi ce for ideals such as liberty and by perhaps two score of protesters, re- Asking for politics to justice, especially the sacrifi ce of sol- sulting in a thunderous shouting match diers. Another version of that same con- across Main Street for several minutes. be set aside in New cept was represented on a protest sign The arrival of a prearranged convoy which framed it as “myths about our of military vehicles and motorcycles Paltz was more than ancestors.” drowned out even that cacophony, and Work on the mural has already be- also served as a signal to fl ag supporters to which attendees gun, but Lisanti won’t release the artist’s that it was time to head back uptown for could agree. name “for a few days.” Completing the free snacks. project will take about 16 working days, The event was instigated by reactions which is dependent on the weather. on social media to a fundraising cam- of the fl ag, because she felt it would be a The anonymous artist, had she arrived paign to paint a mural of the fl ag on a “beautiful” image which would be “per- today ready for work, might have had brick wall at La Bella Pizza Bistro, which fect for the wall” across from the middle diffi culty fi nding parking. The lot quick- is a frequent target for graffi ti. Regard- school. She initially thought a mural ly fi lled up, and walk organizer Joey TWICE BLESSED less of what the fl ag is or was intended would deter graffi ti, but admitted after Continued on page 10 THRIFT SHOP RETURNS PLUS: ALMANAC WEEKLY INSIDE ...PAGE 7 2 • October 25, 2018 New Paltz Times Briefl y noted News of New Paltz, Highland, Gardiner Rosendale & beyond The general election polling places on November 6 in New Paltz REGION | EVENT The general election polling places on November 6 in New Paltz are as follows: District 1 -- Reformed Church Education Building, Fireside Room, 92 Hu- guenot Street; District 2 -- Gateway Industries, 137 North Chestnut Street; District 3 -- New Paltz Com- munity Center, 3 Veterans Drive; District 4 -- New Paltz Village Firehouse, 25 Plattekill Avenue; District 5 -- Gateway Industries, 137 North Chestnut Street; District 6 -- Duzine Elementary School, 31 Sunset Ridge; District 7 -- New Paltz Community Center,3 Veterans Drive; District 8 -- Redeemer Lutheran Church, 90 Route 32 South; District 9 -- SUNY Stu- dent Union Building, 1 Hawk Drive; District 10 -- Gateway Industries, 137 North Chestnut Street. All polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. For ad- ditional information, call the Ulster County Board of Elections at (845) 334-5470. First ever River-to-Ridge 5K ANDREA OREJARENA/RURAL & MIGRANT MINISTRY Migrant laborers in a Wayne County apple orchard. The New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its inaugural New Paltz Challenge River 2 Ridge Fall 5K on Sunday, November 11 at 9 a.m. This will be Mohonk Consultations to host its annual the fi rst race on the new River-to-Ridge trail, located at 41 Springtown Road in New Paltz. The run is open to conference on November 5 all; even if you aren’t a runner, you can walk. The cost is $30 and the registration includes a OHONK CONSULTATIONS WILL host its 2018 autumn conference, “Pastures of Plen- long-sleeve performance tee. In honor of Veteran’s ty? Food, Justice and Labor in the Hudson Valley,” on Monday, November 5 from 9 Day, there is a 20% discount to military veterans who a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Mohonk Mountain House. The conference will off er an unusual register (#falling4fall5k). For more information and M opportunity to hear directly from farm workers as well as a wide range of participat- online registration, visit newpaltzchamber.org or ing organizations and their representatives, including: Rural & Migrant Ministry; Emma Kreyche, call (845) 255-0243. Worker Justice Center of New York; Bea Stern, the Ralph E. Ogden Foundation; Caitlin Salemi, Hudson Valley Farm Hub; and Nick Cipollone, Rondout Valley Growers Association. The keynote Sight-in days at address will be given by Margaret Gray, Adelphi University, Department of Political Science. This the New Paltz Rod & Gun Club conference will be presented in English and Spanish; interpretation will be provided. “Pastures of Plenty? Food, Justice and Labor in the Hudson Valley” will amplify the perspectives New Paltz Rod & Gun Club invites the public to of the largely hidden community of farm workers, examine the challenges involved in hiring farm sight-in days on Saturday October 27 and Sunday, workers and identify the multiple complications farm workers face in doing some of the hardest November 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the New Paltz work in our society while experiencing all of the uncertainties of seasonal/migratory labor. Rod & Gun Club, located on Old Kingston Road in Register online at: https://mohonk-consultations.org/2018-autumn-conference/. The cost for New Paltz, just off Route 32 North. Sight in your fi re- this full-day event is $50, with special rates for students, seniors and farmworkers whose par- arms on the 100-yard range before hunting season ticipation is being underwritten by donations. Lunch will be included. Required pre-registration starts. Admission is free. closes at 11 p.m. on November 2. Municipal training certifi cates will be available. For more infor- For additional information, visit http://www.new- mation and updates, visit http://www.mohonk-consultations.org/ and follow Mohonk Consulta- paltzrodandgun.org. tions on Facebook. Schools will be releasing early on November 1 to conduct annual test their children the afternoon of November 1. dropped off on Monday, December 3 from 11 a.m. to of evacuation & early dismissal plan Each participating district may provide parents 7 p.m. and Tuesday, December 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 with district specifi c information regarding the evac- p.m. Public schools in Ulster County will release stu- uation drill’s impact on bussing and after school ac- Please provide two copies of labeling informa- dents approximately 15 minutes early on Thurs- tivities. tion, one on the back of your work and one along day, November 1. Students will be sent home early with your work -- providing artist name, title of your on this day as part of an annual drill that tests the Call to artists: 10x10 Holiday piece(s), material used and cost for the piece. evacuation procedures of each district’s Emergency Art Salon Unison is located at 68 Mountain Rest Road in New Management/Disaster Preparedness Plan. The Com- Paltz. For additional information, call (845) 255-1559. missioner of Education has mandated that this drill Artists are invited to submit up to four 10x10 piec- be conducted annually in all New York State public es (framed or on canvas) to be hung in the Unison Kindergarten screening day schools. Gallery for its Holiday Art Salon, opening on Satur- in Highland Local Ulster County schools ask that parents make day, December 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. appropriate arrangements for the early arrival of Each piece has a hanging fee of $5.