After six months of wrangling back and forth with the Town of Highland’s Planning and Zoning Board, on Valentine’s Day, Nonna Hall hosted a Welcome Open House and the Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce’s Golden Ribbon Cutting ceremony at her new expanded location, Hall Space by Nonneta – located at 550 State Route 55 in Eldred. For about as long as I have lived here (thirty-five years) and probably longer, the building was the site of the Eldred Power Equipment and Auto Parts Store which closed a few years ago when the owners retired. 

Nonna and Jeff Hall bought the building and began an impressive and I am sure a costly renovation and upgrade of the entire 3,000 sq. foot site. For many years Nonna, an accomplished and successful ceramicist, potter and very popular pottery teacher, had a thriving business but in a very small space on Old Brook Road in Barryville. The new Hall Space will have her pottery studio, class/instruction room and pottery shop. The renovations in this section of the building will be operational by mid-March. 

The Opening was held in the Art Gallery and Lecture Room. As everyone had chocolate covered strawberries, champagne and Valentine confections, the art exhibit featured the wonderful work of Sharon Spiak - The Story of A True Romance, The romance novel artwork which will have a show run until March 9. Also exhibited were original very elaborate romance costumes used in the art. Nona and Jeff greeted throngs of well-wishers and gave a tour of the art show and the building  which includes two completely renovated rental apartments on the second floor. It was such a great time seeing the Hall’s labor of love come out so beautifully and join with so many in the community to celebrate not only this lovely space but the very notion of love itself.

Nonna told me she considers herself fortunate to be able to revitalize an existing business space in the town of Eldred and how appreciative and grateful she was for all of the support she has gotten from the community and she hopes through the classes, the pottery shop  and art exhibits and lectures that everyone will feel welcome into Hall Space. Class schedules starting in March and the dates for the upcoming Gallery exhibitions and events will be posted on their webpage hallspaceny.com. Best of luck to Jeff and Nonna in their new digs, and I will see you at a pottery class.

AARP is sponsoring a Defensive Driving Course at The Highland Senior and Community Center on Wednesday, March 26 and Thursday, March 27 from 12:45 to 4pm. It’s a great opportunity to brush up on your driving skills and become a safer driver and learn about the new laws affecting drivers in New York State. The best part is by completing the drivers course you will get a discount on your car insurance which is good for five years. I had taken this course a long time ago and found that it did make me much more aware of my driving shortcomings, and it was very helpful keeping my awareness on safety. The cost is $25.00 for AARP members and $30.00 for non-members. If you are interested in attending the class, call David at 845-557-8519.

Three cheers for the Town of Highland Highway Department-the true “Kings of the Road” as they have been out day and night all weekend in the driving snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice for the thirteenth time this winter all to keep us safe. For the past several years I have not heard of any winter storm related car accidents in Highland. And kudos to the Town of Highland Board members who in spite of a torrent of unfair criticism voted to upgrade the Highway Department’s uninspected aged trucks and equipment- which is the best possible use of our taxes. Thank you so much to the Highway guys in those trucks and know how much you are truly appreciated by everyone in Town.