Rondout Valley
The Rondout Valley Cafe has been thriving since 2014 as the organizational “toolbox” has been passed successfully 4 times! Susan Dorsey, co-owner of the Rosendale Cafe and Amy Trompetter, founder of Redwing Blackbird Theatre were the original organizers, and the first Rondout Valley Repair Cafe was held in Main Street storefronts. For example, digital repairs in the lobby of the Rosendale Theatre, textile repairs in the Rondout Valley Cafe--and so on. Flyers were printed by the Canal Press.
Kelleigh McKenzie picked it up in 2015, and received the blessings of St. Peter’s Catholic Church to hold it in their large community hall. She also created our first website. A couple of years later, when Kelleigh was asked to manage Jen Metzger’s NY State Senate campaign, the irrepressible Connie Taft took it over with the help of her husband Robert and their posse of friends. And in 2019, the Marbletown Environmental Commission expressed interest in partnering for the RC as part of their “Renewable Action Plan”, and the toolbox was passed again--this time to Lonnie Kasman. The first Rondout Valley RC was held in February 2020 at the Rondout Municipal Center with a great range of skilled volunteers from the two towns.
