In early September, Chronogram returned to its birthplace in New Paltz for a Conversation at Water Street Market. An all-star panel of local luminaries—New Paltz Village Mayor Tim Rogers, Mohonk Preserve Director of Marketing and Communications Gretchen Reed, architect Matt Bialecki, developer Luis Martinez of Lalo Group, Tuthilltown Spirits cofounder Ralph Erenzo, and Rock & Snow owner Rich Gottlieb—discussed the topic, “Contested Development: Growth and Sustainability in Our Hudson Valley Towns.”
In the build up to this Conversation, we profiled Luis Martinez about his proposed New Paltz development, La Estancia.
The forum provided these community and business leaders with a platform to discuss how new development (and revitalization of historic structures) can move ahead with the support of the regional community; the divisive subject of “What does good growth look like?” in our Hudson Valley villages; and the historical context of past successes in the region. Brian K. Mahoney, editorial director for Luminary Media, moderated the conversation. (View video from the event at Chronogram.com/conversations.)
Chronogram Conversations - New Paltz - September 2017 @ Water Street Market from Luminary Media on Vimeo.
Chronogram Conversations is our monthly salon series of community get-togethers. The schedule follows our Community Pages features, which spotlight a region in each issue of the magazine, providing both a refreshing editorial on familiar towns and a venue for local business owners to spotlight their brands in our marketing pages. At each Conversations event, we offer physical space to like-minded sponsors to share their wares and messaging. In New Paltz, we were treated to repurposed farm machinery by Amy Sweetman of Agrisculpture (who also made the steel chairs our 6 panelists sat on); Jar’d Wine Bar provided guests with samples of crisp rosé; Parish Restaurant offered gumbo and other nibbles; Mud Puddle Coffee Roasters shared their chocolate chip cookies; and Tuthilltown Spirits provided tastes of its Hudson Baby Whiskey.
The next Chronogram Conversations will be held aboard the barge Pennsy 399 on the Rondout Creek in Kingston on October 12. E-mail [email protected] for more information.
