Eva Hayes recounts her oceanographic adventures
Not many college students know how to manage a complex rigging system, navigate by the stars alone or judge distance through dead reckoning. Few have spent as much time on board a sailing ship as has Eva Hayes, 20, of Gardiner. The Northeastern University sophomore, and New Paltz Central High School alumna, spent six weeks...
Personally speaking – Mohammed Serdah
Mohammed Serdah grew up with two things: a love of New Paltz and a work ethic that he gained from his father, Radi Serdah, a local business-owner. His parents met at SUNY New Paltz, fell in love with the area and decided to settle here and raise their family. “I can’t thank them enough for...
New Paltz Rescue Squad looks back on 40 years of community service
This year the almost-all-volunteer New Paltz Rescue Squad (NPRS) celebrated its 40th year of serving the community. Established in 1973 by a handful of dedicated citizens, the Squad had the use of one small ambulance. While the original homegrown, community-based and family-like atmosphere is as strong today as it was in 1973, the NPRS now...
Personally speaking – Theresa Colucci
Gardiner flower child Theresa Colucci has always had a love for the blossoming fruit and flowers in the Hudson Valley. As a teenager she worked in a local floral shop while attending high school. Then in college, in Boston, she was able to secure a job in an “amazing flower shop.” No matter “how stressful...
Personally speaking – Gayle Shankman
Gayle Shankman, owner of Please Eat the Daisies Caterers, based in New Paltz, started out as a New York City cabdriver in the 1970s, but knew that her ultimate passion was cooking. “I loved feeding all of my roomies when we lived in a 16-bedroom house next to the airport,” she says. With no formal...
Personally speaking – Theresa Fall
Born and bred Paltzonian Theresa Fall has opened Jar’d, a cozy wine pub and bistro, at the Water Street Market at the gateway to the Village of New Paltz. “After being in the restaurant business for 28 years, I finally gained the courage to embark on opening my own business,” said Fall, who serves as...
Personally speaking – Amy Laber
Gardiner resident, book-lover, yoga instructor, musician and early childhood music teacher Amy Laber has been hired as the new children’s librarian at the Gardiner Library. Having been a longtime cardholder of the library, as well as having taught yoga and music classes there, Laber was familiar to the patrons and staff, and she said that...
HHS board president to receive Martha Washington Woman of History Award
Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) has announced that Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site has named HHS president and board chair Mary Etta Schneider the 2013 recipient of the Martha Washington Woman of History Award. Schneider is being recognized for dedicating her time and resources as an advisor, fundraiser and supporter of major nonprofit organizations benefiting education,...
Personally speaking – Urs Reist
Urs Reist, longtime owner of the Swiss Country Inn on Route 44/55 Gardiner, is now the head chef at Murphy’s Bar and Restaurant in downtown New Paltz, where he has quickly gained a large, loyal following. A graduate of the Swiss Culinary School, Reist got his start in many five-star restaurants in his native country...
Ray Sokolov shares his tales from the journalism trail
Ray Sokolov was recently appointed to the Gardiner Planning Board. Prior to that he wrote for the Wall Street Journal, and for many years he wrote a monthly column for Natural History magazine. For two years in the mid-1970s he was the restaurant critic for The New York Times, but most recently he has written...
Adirondack Council hires William Janeway as its executive director
The Adirondack Council’s Board of Directors has hired William (Willie) Janeway to become the organization’s next executive director. Janeway has been Regional Director for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson Valley/Catskill Region since 2007. The Adirondack Council is a non-partisan, not-for-profit environmental research, education and advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure the ecological...
Avery Berman wins two prestigious music awards
New Paltz High School graduate and rising music star Avery Berman, 23, was recently nominated for three awards at the prestigious Artists in Music Awards (AIMA) in Hollywood and won two of them, including Best Electronica Artist and Best Producer of the Year. Berman, who picked up the guitar at 17 years of age and...