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Cover Story

Lack of funds paints bleak picture for Ulster arts
By LYNN WOODS

Ulster County has long been a magnet for people who crave creative ferment as much as a connection with nature. Many artists live and work in the county. Others come from all over to participate in a residency at the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, which sponsors a rich roster of art exhibitions, concerts and theatrical performances. Or to the Women's Studio Workshop in Rosendale, which is also nationally known for its exhibitions and classes.

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Top Stories

'The arts mean business'
By LYNN WOODS

In the fall of 2005, the board of Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC) approached the Bardavon, a historic theater in Poughkeepsie, about a possible merger. UPAC, an old movie and vaudeville house on Kingston's central Broadway corridor, was experiencing dwindling attendance and seemed fated to fade away. The Dyson Foundation provided funding for the initial study and a proposed merger plan.

Region bucks state census slide
Proximity to New York City proves a people magnet
By BRYAN F. YURCAN

New York state suffered a net loss of 225,000 residents between July 2005 and July 2006, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

It's not easy being green
A Poughkeepsie plan is an early test of the marketplace
By LYNN WOODS

Jon Behrends, owner of Precision Contractor in Poughkeepsie, has been a major force in bringing back Poughkeepsie's downtown. His stock in trade is buying up old buildings that are essentially shells and putting in upscale apartments and ground-level retail units, while preserving the historic facades. A decade ago, he was the first developer to fix up a row of buildings on Main Street, then a blighted thoroughfare of boarded-up buildings. And now he is the first developer in Poughkeepsie, if not all of New York state, to complete an ambitious mixed-use development downtown that utilizes green building practices and a smart-growth design philosophy.

A challenge in blacktop
BY KATHY KAHN

Robert Dennison, state Department of Transportation's Region 8's regional director, scheduled a business breakfast with Orange County's Chamber of Commerce a few months back. What he didn't know then was that he'd be giving his farewell address. His announcement at the chamber's July 9 breakfast that he'd been promoted to the DOT's chief engineer came with an overview of what's been accomplished under his direction. His successor, Joan DuPont, joined the packed audience to listen to the successes and the challenges Orange County has faced under Dennison's tenure.

Grant would help bio-fuel facility
By BRYAN F. YURCAN

The Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corp. is moving forward with a plan to assist funding a bio-diesel manufacturing facility.

A nudge to board the bus
More rides and free parking constitute Short Line's carrot
BY KATHY KAHN

When new state Department of Transportation chief Robert Dennison said at the Orange County chamber breakfast he would like to see more buses on the road, he must have been thinking of the arrangement Short Line made with the DOT and the county's Planning Department.

Parents monitor surfing habits
By ALEXANDER SOULE

Parents say they are getting control of their children's exposure to sex and violence in the media, according to a new poll released by the California-based Kaiser Family Foundation.

A century of licensed engineers

The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) this year is celebrating the 100th anniversary of engineering licensure.

Hiring easily outpaces firing
BY JOHN GOLDEN

In Orange County, 57 percent of employers surveyed said they planned to hire more workers this summer, while 7 percent expected layoffs. Third-quarter job prospects also rose in Ulster County, where half of the surveyed employers expected to hire and none anticipated layoffs.