Case dismissed against Occupy New Paltz members; decision will be appealed
Last Wednesday, New Paltz Judge Jonathan Katz dismissed the charges of trespass against four Occupy New Paltz members — Margaret Human, Michele Riddell, Amanda Sisenstein and Brent Stewart. The Occupy New Paltz members were arrested in February because they had not filled out a park permit, as requested by the New Paltz Village Board. Before...
New Paltz aims to be “zero waste” leader
New Paltz will have a lot to prove on its road toward becoming a “zero waste” community, but doing so successfully will make the college town a leader both locally and nationally, said Judith A. Enck, the Region 2 administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. Enck’s comments came as she addressed a crowd during SUNY...
Village looks to celebrate New Paltz
The Village of New Paltz is about to mark an important anniversary — its birthday. Village Board members have a few ideas for how best to celebrate our hometown. “This year is the 125th anniversary of the Village of New Paltz,” Mayor West explained. “So we want to do something or some things.” Although both...
New Paltz Town Board approves Libertyville Road dog park site
Dogs and dog-owners in New Paltz have good news to share with each other and their pooches. At last Thursday night’s New Paltz Town Board meeting, the board approved unanimously to allow two acres at the Field of Dreams (located off Libertyville Road across from the Ulster County Fairgrounds) to be used as a dog...
Draft village budget proposes raises for New Paltz mayor, deputy & trustees
New Paltz Village Mayor Jason West has turned in the preliminary 2012/2013 budget, which the Village Board adopted at its meeting last Wednesday. The preliminary budget calls for a $12,500 salary hike for the mayor, from $22,500 to $35,000; a $1,000 increase for each trustee, bringing his or her annual salary from $6,200 to $7,200;...
Town of Lloyd spreads the word about its revolving loan fund
Businesses in Highland have a little help they might not realize is actually there — the Town of Lloyd revolving loan fund. While that money has been around for decades, not everyone in town knows about it. Town officials have promoted it with advertisements, a glossy brochure and the town website. “We really are trying...
Village of New Paltz hopes that friendly signage will quell downtown noise
Noise has always been a bone of contention in the Village of New Paltz, which blends a college, residential areas and a high concentration of bars in a small area. While the past administration’s proposed noise ordinance did not go through, the village did, at the suggestion of New Paltz Police Department chief Joe Snyder,...
Frank Skartados and John Forman to face off in special election
Two men are gearing up to do battle for the hearts and minds of voters before March 20′s special election for the 100th Assembly District. Former Assemblyman Frank Skartados, D-Marlborough, is running against Dutchess County Legislator John Forman, R-Beacon, for a seat once held by Tom Kirwan, who died on Nov. 28, 2011. If either...
Planning board in village considers three-screen cinema
A future art house for film in New Paltz will take some time to get off the ground. According to village officials, the proposed Water Street Cinema has several hurdles to clear before the box office prints Ticket No. 1 on opening night. “The benefits to the community, I think, are great here. But I...
Crossing guard finally on the job at New Paltz Middle School
After more than two years of discussion, there is a crossing guard in place at the crosswalk between the New Paltz Middle School and the Convenient Deli parking lot. This past Monday, Paul Etess — the man originally hired for the position by the previous Village Board, and a trained crossing guard who has worked...
New Paltz Village Board to Hasbrouck Park Occupiers: Submit a use permit application
Despite some concerns raised by residents, the New Paltz Village Board has given the Occupy New Paltz movement, who set up camp at Hasbrouck Park in mid-December, permission to stay at the Park, with the condition that the group make a formal application for a park-use permit no later than this coming Friday, Feb. 3...
Hinchey’s exit to change region’s relationship with Washington
After nearly four decades of government service in Albany and Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey announced last week that he would not seek another term in Congress. The longtime lawmaker’s departure is likely to have major implications both in Washington, where Hinchey was a reliable mainstay of a dwindling corps of progressive liberal Democrats,...