“The water was colder than I thought it would be,” said Village of New Paltz Mayor Tim Rogers as he emerged dripping wet from the Dunk Tank at the Taste of New Paltz food festival last Sunday. One of nine elected officials, business-owners and other local “celebrities” who volunteered for the Dunk Tank, the mayor said that he got the plunge “at least 20 times” during his half-hour shift. “My daughter sunk me, so I’m disappointed in her.” Another who succeeded in hitting the target was five-year-old Asher Libolt, who didn’t seem to have any political axe to grind; “I dunked Mayor Rogers because I thought it would be fun,” he said, proudly wearing his “I Made a Splash” sticker.

Over the years, the youth program has participated in countless fundraising events, activities and programs, and all of that hard work has paid off.

While there was plenty to hear, see, do and eat at all three main locations — not to mention a book sale at the Gardiner Library and sidewalk pop-up shops in front of various Main Street businesses — the big news of this year’s event was the return of Majestic Park as a major scene of the action.

Due to some helping hands and major machinery, six acres of new soccer fields are currently being built at the Field of Dreams off Libertyville Road in New Paltz for the town’s youth recreation league.