An event took place in New Paltz 50 years ago that didn’t grab headlines, but created a lasting legacy: Harris Dariotis, a 26-year-old immigrant from Greece, and his friend George Demosthenous had a foundation built in a mall parking lot and assembled a prefab diner, manufactured in three sections in New Jersey, on the site. They signed the lease in March 1969 and opened the Plaza Diner to the public in November.

Over his 43 years in business, owner Bob Freeston has always had a reputation for being supportive of local artists and not-for-profit endeavors. If there was a way to make your printing dreams come true at a price you could scrape together, Bob was the guy to make it happen. While the presses ran, you could hang out at the shop, talk politics and philosophy and how the world might be made a better place.

The partners behind the project believe it will fill a critical local need: affordable, convenient, utilitarian space for entrepreneurs and businesses.

The Town of Lloyd has a brand-new eatery, this one outside the Highland hamlet – just across the street from the Rocking Horse Ranch, in fact, in the building that most recently housed the restaurant Piccolo Fiore, Paese Mio before that and in the old days, a tavern called McCabe’s.

The Wisdom of Women networking group meets monthly from September through June, taking the summer months off. Each meeting has a different topic, addressing women’s issues in the workplace or focusing on health and wellness information that helps women thrive.