A short film, A Poll to Call Our Own: The Bard Voting Story, chronicling the “quarter-century fight at Bard over student voting rights,” will premiere to the public on the eve of Election Day.

The film chronicles Bard College’s victory in four lawsuits – three state and one federal – to protect students’ right to vote locally and to secure a polling place on the college’s Annandale-on-Hudson campus. The lawsuits were influential in New York State passing a 2022 law mandating polling places at or near college campuses that have 300 or more registered on-campus voters.

The screening of A Poll to Call Our Own: The Bard Voting Story will take place on November 4, 2024 at 5pm at the Weis Cinema in the Bertelsmann Campus Center. The screening will be followed by a discussion with key actors, including Bard alumni/ae Sarah deVeer ’17, Jonian Rafti ’15, Seamus Heady ’22 (producer/director), lawyer Yael Bromberg, Bard Vice President for Civic Engagement Erin Cannan, and Bard Vice President for Academic Affairs Jonathan Becker.

“The Bard student voting story is a reminder to all of us that fair elections require vigilance and engagement of young people,” Bard Vice President for Civic Engagement Erin Cannan said. “And that the fear of ‘over enfranchising’ students cannot be a reason for election officials to act illegally. This work is never finished.”

– Rebecca Edwards, Town of Poughkeepsie Supervisor

The day has come. If you didn’t vote early or by mail, in-person voting takes place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Polls will be open across New York State from 6am to 9pm (if you’re waiting in line at closing time, you are still legally allowed to cast your vote). Use the poll site link to learn more: Find Your Poll Site + remember to flip over your ballot.

We’ve seen the signs. They are…confusing. While casting a ballot in the 2024 General Election, voters are reminded to flip over their ballots to weigh in on statewide and local proposals, depending on your municipality.

Across New York State, all voters will weigh in on Prop 1, also known as the Equal Rights Amendment. This is the text you’ll see when you flip over your ballot (in New York State):

“This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.

A ‘YES’ vote puts these protections in the New York State Constitution.

A ‘NO’ vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.”

According to the New York City Bar Association Committee, despite the signs, “Prop 1 does not change existing law with respect to parental consent, or parents’ ability to be involved in decision-making about healthcare or medical procedures for their minor children, including gender-affirming care.”

In addition, the bar association added: “Prop 1 will not change current law with respect to participation on sports teams. Prop 1 prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. Prop 1 does not change existing law and has no explicit provision relating to participation on sports teams.”

After an unseasonably dry autumn, New York State officials have issued a drought watch for the Bronx, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties. No mandatory restrictions are in place under a state drought watch.

Residents in affected counties, particularly those dependent on private groundwater wells, are encouraged to conserve water whenever possible during the coming weeks.

John Lodge Stoneman was born in Detroit in 1895 and served in the U.S. Army from 1917 to 1919. Despite his honorable service, according to officials, his cremated remains were left unclaimed until Wiltwyck Cemetery Superintendent Matt Sirni accepted them in 2023.

Since then, Wiltwyck volunteers have “worked tirelessly, with the support of Congressman Pat Ryan’s office and the Ulster County Veterans Services Agency, to retrieve his Certificate of Military Service and secure him a proper burial.”

World War I veteran John Lodge Stoneman will be honored with a final resting place during a ceremony on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Ulster County Veterans Cemetery, Plains Road, New Paltz. The service will include a procession led by the Patriot Guard, with an escort from the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department.

Veteran’s Day is federally recognized on Monday, November 11, 2024. Locally, veterans can take advantage of free meals at the Culinary Institute, a free basketball game and more:

‘Life Lessons from Dinosaurs’ with author James Gurney in Rhinebeck, Train and Hobby Show in Poughkeepsie, hikes, art and more:

• DEADLINE: Enter the Hudson Valley Gingerbread Competition by November 8, 2024. Winners have a chance to win a two-night stay for two at the Mohonk Mountain House, a $1,000 gift card and more. The competition takes place on Sunday, December 8, 2024. The winning pieces will be displayed at Mohonk from December 9, 2024 through January 1, 2025. There is no fee to participate in the competition. More info: https://www.mohonk.com/competition-details/ 

• DEADLINE: Sign-up to Adopt-A-Family for the holidays by Friday, November 8, 2024. The Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation will match businesses, families and individuals with one of 24 families selected for this year’s program. Sign-up: HERE  (FYI: HVNY will be participating in Adopt-a Family this year, check back to see how you can help us give our neighbors in need a special holiday season.)

• CALL FOR ARTISTS + MAKERS: Local maker/artist/author/chef? Show off your work this holiday season – and get paid! Visit hvny.info/marketplace for more information.

Potentially record-breaking temps coming our way again this week … Ahh, embrace it + vote for your (1) favorite photo entry from the 2024 HVNY Summer Photo Contest. Winners TBA, here, in the weekly newsletter.