The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has cause to celebrate: the first black Presidential candidate in U.S. history and its 100th birthday next year.
The Middletown chapter of the NAACP, first founded in 1957, has been resurrected and is flourishing with new leadership. More than 260 people packed Kuhl”™s Highland House in Middletown on Sunday, Oct. 26, at its first Freedom Fund Dinner.
The dinner”™s proceeds, as well as the money raised through the silent auction, will help two Middletown High School students fulfill their dream of higher education. Winners will receive scholarships, “which we hope will increase from two to two hundred,” said President James Rollins Sr.
While many accolades were given to founders who helped start the Middletown chapter, and to those who helped bring it back, Douglas Blackmon, Southeast bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal, said, “It”™s tough writing about financial news when it”™s down. We”™ve had to let people go. It”™s been a very tough time all around. And it”™s not the end, by any means.”
Blackmon also talked about his recently published book, “Slavery by Another Name.”
Goodbye, fresh veggies
Farmers”™ markets across the region are going to be missed by anyone who enjoys a tomato that comes off a vine lands on a plate tasting like a tomato. Thanks to New York state”™s food stamp program, even those who are going through lean times were able to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables.
Where will farmers go now that it”™s time to close up? “We”™re very sad to be shutting down, and we hope that many got a chance to do some canning and freezing fresh vegetables for the winter,” said Marianne Trevor, selling fresh pies and pastries from  Pomona”™s Orchards at Concklin.
Bialas Farms is offering a community support agriculture program. Twice a month, from November through February, CSA members can pick up approximately two weeks”™ worth of food and can share their membership with another family if they can”™t use all of it. To learn more, visit Biasas”™ Web site at www.bialasfarms,com/CSA/php
Nina Casaventi will spend her winter continuing to make herbal soaps from her Burlingham home, using produce from HudsonValley farms. “My soaps will be available at Maple Hill Gifts in Montgomery,” said Casaventi. “Even though we”™re in a tough market, they make wonderful gifts. You don”™t have to spend a fortune to put a smile on someone”™s face ”¦ or make it glow!”
Goshen”™s Farmers”™ Market was expected to host its Halloween blowout for adults and kids on October 31, its last day at the Main Street square. Now, it”™s time to bundle up. Some of us have already used the snow shovels.
There”™s always next spring!
Gone but not forgotten
“At Least They Didn”™t Shoot Me,” was written by the  former Business Journals publisher Ed Klein. He sold the newspapers to Dee DelBello two decades ago. Klein died of natural causes at the age of 86 last month. He founded several papers, including HudsonValley Business Journal, which he sold to Al Osten in 2000. Klein stayed active to the end, writing for the Senior Gazette. He leaves behind his wife Phyllis, who founded the Warwick Quilters”™ Guild, as well as children and grandchildren.
Five new businesses strive to survive in the Hudson Valley:
SmartSteal.com ”“ Becomes a dumb one if you get caught.
Worldwide Spa ”“ It”™s one way to get nations to come together.
Nineteenseventysix ”“ Thirtytwoyearsago ”¦ toughtobelieve.
Deep Learning ”“ Not for the shallow of mind.
Gooduse ”“ What you do when you don”™t want to put it to bad use.
