CATSKILLCENTER PLATTE CLOVE
A NOTE FROM OUR
I
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR grew up about a mile away
kingpost
from the Platte Clove Preserve;
hikers
my family home was nestled
Later, with the Trail Conference, I
into the base of the Indian
worked with groups of volunteers
Head Wilderness Area. My Dad,
as they maintained trails on the
ever the avid outdoorsman, had
site and I led the effort to replace
me out exploring trails and wild
the original bridge with a fresh
areas with him before I could even
kingpost replica.
walk. As a kid, I especially loved the
At the Catskill Center, I learned
Overlook Trail — it passes through
even more about the history and
the Preserve and into the Forest
the sense of place that Platte Clove
Preserve beyond.
represents. It’s located at the head
Some
of
maintenance
my work
earliest was
in
bridge
across
that
Plattekill
brought Creek.
trail
of a clove that has captivated
the
visitors for centuries, including the
Preserve and as a teen, I helped
Hudson River School painters who
my father construct the replica
immortalized t he C love’s vistas. The "Grand Canyon of the Catskills" was just down the street from our Preserve, as was the Grand Canyon House. The Artists’ Cabin has been home to our artist-in-residence program at the Preserve for 20 years. While building a new nature trail, we
2 SPRING 2018
Forest Preserve lands by Catskill Center acquisition and transfer to the State, and most recently discovered the
ruins
by partnering with the New York of
another
19th
century hotel. We are currently investigating the ruins and hoping
City Department of Environmental Protection
to
protect
stream
corridors in the region.
to discover more about its history by working in partnership with the
Over the last few years, we have
Mountain Top Historical Society.
worked hard to improve public access, interpretation and safety
Platte Clove Preserve is integral to
the
Center.
story
of
the
Catskill
Donated by the Griswold
family, just a few years after the creation of the Catskill Center, the Preserve was the first land held by the Catskill Center. Since its acquisition, the Catskill Center has gone on to protect thousands of acres of lands across the Catskills,
at
the
Preserve.
improvements
to
We’ve the
made
Overlook
Trail, installed an informational kiosk, created two new trails and reconstructed the Waterfall Trail to Plattekill Falls. In 2018, we will be installing a public privy and improving
the
Artists’
Cabin,
making the Preserve even more welcoming for all visitors.
including the Thorn Preserve in Woodstock, private lands across
We hope to see you there!
the region through conservation easements,
New
York
State
CATSKILLCENTER 3
CONTENTS 2 A LETTER FROM JEFF 7 PEDALING TO PLATTE CLOVE 10 THE AGE OF THE SUGAR MAPLE 18 LEAVE NO TRACE WITH WILL SOTER 20 2018 MEMBER PROGRAM SERIES 22 WARBLER WEEKEND 26 REFLECTIONS FROM A DREAM
30 CATSKILLS GREAT OUTDOOR EXPO 32 BUSINESS SUPPORTERS
SUGAR MAPLE SAP AT BUCK HILL FARM
28 10 QUESTIONS FOR KELLY SINCLAIR
2018 Fleischmann’s First Maplefest Winner 2 cups pitted dates (chopped) 3/4 cup water (boiling) 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup butter (softened) 2 eggs 1 1/8 cup self-rising flour 3/4 cup dark maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla
Laurie Merwin’s MAPLE STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING 2/3 cup heavy cream
Preheat oven to 350. Butter an 8" square pan, muffin tins or individual bundt pans. Pour boiling water over dates. Cream butter, sugar and eggs. Add dates, the water they soaked in and flour. Pour into pans. Bake 30-40 minutes. Caramel Sauce Combine 1/3 cup butter, heavy cream and maple syrup in a small pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add vanilla. Give a stir. Pour over baked cake.
CATSKILLCENTER 5
CONTRIBUTORS JEFF SENTERMAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
MICHAEL DRILLINGER LAND TRUST MANAGER
WILL SOTER
CO-FOUNDER OF UPSTATE ADVENTURE GUIDES
KATIE PALM
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
2018
SPRING SINCE 1969, THE CATSKILL CENTER HAS PROTECTED AND FOSTERED THE ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE CATSKILL REGION
PEDALING TO PLATTE CLOVE GOT A YEN FOR PLATTE CLOVE, BUT NO CAR?
You’re in luck!
or hop yourself up on caffeine and
Once a day, Greyhound runs a bus from NYC’s
Port Authority to the
neighboring village of Tannersville. In Tannersville, get off the bus, point
sugar at Twin Peaks Coffee & Donuts, where they make the donuts to order. Jump on your bike and pedal the 6.5 miles to Platte Clove Preserve.
yourself east, walk about a half a
Catskill weather can be fickle — plan
mile and turn into Hunter Mountain
accordingly. Have some kind of rain
Outfitters. They’ll rent you a bike and
gear in your pack, a sweater or fleece,
steer you in the direction of Platte
and a change of socks. Bring plenty
Clove.
of water, energy food, and insect
Before you roll, stuff your pockets with
repellent.
snacks from the Country Store, have
It’s tough to pedal in hiking boots
a pre-cycle milkshake at Mama’s Boy,
(and for safety’s sake, you must wear CATSKILLCENTER 7
proper hiking boots to hike around Platte Clove), so bring foot gear for the ride. WATERFALL TRAIL Be sure to hike down to the Plattekill waterfall. It is a quarter of a mile down from the kiosk. Follow the yellow markers for the Waterfall Trail. NATURE TRAIL Follow the blue trail south and cross over the wooden
there is a fire tower. The cab of the fire tower is open on weekends in the summer. For more fire tower information, check out:
catskillcenter.org/fire-tower-
project/#CatskillFireTowerHikes Of course, if you must, you could drive. If you come by car, park in the DEC
bridge. The Nature Trail loop starts
lot, which is just past the little red
on your left. It passes along the top of
cabin. Taxi services are also available
Plattekill Falls and is about a quarter
through Smiley’s Transport.
of a mile around. OVERLOOK TRAIL Continue following the blue trail markers south on the Overlook Trail. In about two miles you will see a yellow trail marker to the left. Follow these yellow markers about 100 yards to Codfish Point, the site of an old bluestone quarry. You’ll also get a wonderful view of the Hudson Valley.
HUCKLEBERRY POINT TRAIL From the parking lot, take the trail left. About a mile north, there is a trail that branches to the right and is marked with yellow trail markers. Follow this trail for about a mile and a half to get to Huckleberry Point, where you’ll be able to catch a glorious view of the Hudson Valley and points east.
If you’ve still got tIme and energy,
Since there is only one bus a day, this
continue on the Overlook trail (blue
will have to be an overnight excursion.
trail marker) for another mile or so
But that’s actually good news. There
to another yellow-marked side trail
are several B&B’s in Tannersville and
down to Echo Lake. There is a lean-
a number of restaurants where you
to at Echo Lake and camping is
can find a good dinner.
permitted. So is swimming. :) After all of that exercise and fresh air, Continue on the blue trail south for
you’ll sleep like a dream.
another mile and a half and you’ll hit the top of Overlook Mountain, where
8 SPRING 2018
- Michael Drillinger
CATSKILLCENTER 9
10 SPRING 2018
THE AGE OF THE SUGAR MAPLE In early spring, when the days begin to lengthen and warm, but nights still freeze, the Catskills can seem to be one big maple fest. Sugar shacks billow steam from their pots of boiling sap, gravity-fed collection systems make the leafless sugar maple glades into works of art — the trees networked with bright blue tubing that run the maples’ water into downslope tanks, and the smell of hot pancakes is everywhere. Sugaring served as a rite of spring for Native American tribes, who then shared the technique with early European settlers. Some say that maple syrup was served at the 1621 Plymouth Thanksgiving. The sap of a birch can also be made into a syrup, but for flavor and volume, sugar maple is the primary source for sap collection.
CATSKILLCENTER 11
"Many trees don’t really give off sap
leaves can be yellow, orange or red,
or at least enough to collect," says
or a combination of the three and the
Catskill Forest Association Director
higher the content of sugar trapped in
Ryan Trapani.
the leaves, the more brilliant the color.
A black birch might take 100 gallons
A CATSKILL FOREST WITHOUT MAPLES SEEMS BEYOND COMPREHENSION BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MULTIPLE FACTORS CURRENTLY PLACE THE TREES AT RISK.
of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup, while sugar maple might be between 33 and 50. Continued evaporation results in maple cream and maple sugar. New York State is a major source of maple products. According to The NYS Maple Producers Association, sugar bushing (the gathering of sap
The
from sugar maples) brings an annual
Beetles, invasive earthworms, and
average of $25 to $40 million in
historically high populations of deer
maple product sales and maple-syrup
feeding on maple saplings, combine
tourism to the Catskill area.
with air pollution to make a maple-
The red maple is New York state’s most abundant tree, with sugar maple
threat
of
Asian
Longhorned
less future a terrible but likely possibility.
coming in a close second. Together
Native to Asia, the Asian Longhorned
they comprise a considerable portion
Beetle
of the Catskills’ hardwood forest and
was first discovered in the US in
in autumn, provide the mountains
1996 on trees in Brooklyn.
with their shockingly vibrant hues.
Longhorned Beetle is a wood-boring
Sugar maple leaves contain three pigments – xanthophyll, carotene, and anthocyanin — that color the trees’ foliage in fall. Sugar maple trees and
12 SPRING 2018
(Anoplophora
glabripennis)
Asian
insect and it is suspected that it was imported on wood pallets. Infestations have been found in Long Island, Manhattan and Queens. In 2008, a large number of Asian Longhorned
Beetles were discovered in both urban
particularly nitrogen-rich and provide
and rural forests around Worcester,
good forage for earthworms who find
Massachusetts.
maple leaf litter highly palatable.
The larva bores into a tree and feeds on the living tissue that carries nutrients and the layer responsible for new growth under the bark.
After
several weeks, the larva tunnel into woody tissue of the tree. Infested trees do not recover. Once a tree shows evidence of the Asian LongHorn, there is no remedy; it must be cut.
of earthworms, such as the Jumping
"We must completely prevent the Asian Longhorned Beetle from getting to the Catskills. If it establishes here, it would be devastating to our forests", says
Catskill
Species
Thompson says, "Invasive varieties
Regional
Partnership
Invasive
Coordinator
(CRISP) John Thompson. Because the Asian Longhorned Beetle is moved from region to region on wood matter, it is now against the law to transport any non-kiln-dried wood,
Worm, are aggressive, breed at high rates, and survive at high densities, so they just kind of overwhelm the system and leave the soil void of nutrients."
Thompson points out
the worms’ eggs are moved in soils, compost and mulch. "There’s really no good solution to avoid the worms, but one way to prevent them is to make your own compost and don’t move it.
including firewood and wood chips
"Another thing you can do is to buy
more than 50 miles in New York State.
bare root stock plants instead of
The leaves of the sugar maple are
plants sold in soil."
CATSKILLCENTER 13
14 SPRING 2018
CATSKILLCENTER 15
16 SPRING 2018
WORM EGGS CAN ALSO TRAVEL IN THE MATTER ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF A HIKER’S BOOT AND THOMPSON RECOMMENDS THAT BOOTS AND SHOES SHOULD ALWAYS BE BRUSHED CLEAN OF RESIDUAL SOIL AT THE END OF A WALK OR HIKE.
The Clean Air Bill was passed in
A
the 1990’s and placed controls on the
discharge
from
coal-burning
electricity producing plants. Since, air conditions have greatly improved, but rather than focusing on emissions
recent
Michigan
Technological
from specific companies, proposed
University
study
explains,
new rules take a regional approach to
"Sugar maples have a particular characteristic
making
vulnerable to earthworms.
them Since
ninety percent of their roots grow in the top few inches of soil, the trees rely on leaf litter to prevent this soil
measuring air pollution levels. According to Bill Wehrum, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, the proposed changes in regulations will "reduce the regulatory burden for industries and states."
from drying out." Final regulations have not yet been "With their litter gone, maples can slowly die of thirst." Environmental stressors, such as acid
announced and the topic continues to be under heated political debate. -Heather Phelps-Lipton
rain, increase the maples vulnerability to stressors such as earthworms. A 1991 New York Times article, Sugar Maples Sicken Under Acid Rain’s Pall, explains that, "sulfuric and nitrous gases from coal furnaces rise into the air, moving east with prevailing winds and falling to earth as acid rain. This acidic rainfall removes important nutrients from the soil and can also hinder photosynthesis."
CRISP’s mission is to is to promote education, prevention, early detection and control of invasive species to limit their impact on the ecosystems and economies of the Catskills. It is a program of the Catskill Center. CATSKILLCENTER 17
visit Platte Clove Respect other people’s experiences
Also - think about how all of your little choices can impact a big ecosystem.
You’re going to Platte Clove to
Products like bug spray can harm
connect with nature and have a
trout by harming the bugs that they
good time, but is your good time the
feed on. If you’re planning to swim, its
same as everyone else’s good time?
best to go without.
Be careful not to overwhelm your destination.
Dispose of your waste properly
If it’s a peak time and you have a large
I’m talking about garbage and human
group, consider going another day or
waste.
maybe choose a location that’s not quite as accessible.
Travel on durable surfaces
Its best to use the loo before you head out, but if you’re out there and nature calls, dig a cathole at least 200
That’s a good one for Platte Clove!
feet away from water or a trail (the
There are great new trails on the
minimum legal distance), or about 50
preserve property — stay on them.
adult strides. In theory, toilet paper biodegrades
If you go off trail and you lose your
if disposed of at proper depths in
footing and slip, you could drop close
catholes; however, in practice, it’s
to 100 feet in some locations.
best to pack it out in a Ziploc bag.
Plan ahead and prepare. Understand the rules and regulations of the area Catskill Forest Preserve is managed
Wipes and feminine products must be carried out. If you want to know more, here are some great books out there on the subject, like How to Poop in the Woods.
a little bit differently than our state, town, and municipal parks and the
In the majority of the Catskills,
rules for Platte Clove differ a bit from
(including
all of these. Take some time and
Preserve) if you carried it in, you must
familiarize yourself with the rules,
carry it out and that incudes all trash.
which are posted at the Preserve or
"If there’s room for it on the way there,
can be found on the Catskill Center’s
there’s got to be room for it on the way
website.
back."
18 SPRING 2018
at
the
Platte
Clove
Platte Clove is a very pristine area and the goal is to preserve the wilderness character; hence there aren’t trash cans or dumpsters, like those you would find at a state campground.
Don’t steal someone else’s wow Think about how impressed you are
WITHOUT LEAVING A TRACE
with that thing that that thing you want to take — but leave it, so everyone can have that experience. Take a picture of it. Draw a sketch of it. Write a poem about it. But don’t take it.
Minimize campfire impacts Campfires are like caveman television — you don’t like the show? Throw an-
WITH WILL SOTER lumber up and around a mountain to find food; If they can find it somewhere else easier, you’d better bet they’re not going up and over that mountain to find that patch of berries anymore.
other log on and change the channel!
They’re going to rummage through
It’s a lot of fun, but understand when
a camp site over and over again. For
it’s okay to have a fire, how big a fire
their sake, pack up your food waste
you can have, and how you can make
and carry it out with you.
certain there is no evidence that a fire was there. Plus, at Platte Clove, no fires are allowed.
Respect wildlife You throw an apple core out the window of your car, a deer comes over to get that apple, the deer gets hit by a car. All because of an apple core that’s biodegradable, right? Animals struggle to find food in nature and the availability of humansourced food can alter their behavior significantly. There’s the saying that, "a fed bear is a dead bear". They’ve got a big body to CATSKILLCENTER 19
Become A Member This extraordinary, four-part educational program series is reserved exclusively for Catskill Center members
CATS KI LLC E N TE R 2 0 18
EXCLUSIVE MEMBER PROGRAM SERIE S
20 SPRING 2018
JULY AVENUE OF CHANGE—THE INFLUEN CE OF THE HUDSON VALLEY ON THE CATSKILL FORESTS MICHAEL KUDISH MARGARETVILLE, NEW YORK
AUGUST RENEWABLE ENERGY AT HANFORD MILLS A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE RESTORATION AND OPERATION OF THE MILL’S RENEWABLE POWER GENERAT ION EAST MEREDITH, NEW YORK
SEPTEMBER THE BIOLOGICAL INHERITANCE OF CATSKILL FORESTS: BURIAL GROUNDS AND HUMAN TRACES ON THE LANDSCAPE JOHN THOMPSON MARGARETVILLE, NEW YORK
OCTOBER FALL COLORS PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP / ON LOCATION FRANCIS X. DRISCOLL TANNERSVILLE, NEW YORK
Your tax-deductible donation supports healthy ecosystems and vibrant communities throughout the Catskill region. Catskillcenter.org/membership Or complete this form and mail to:
Member Benefits Individual ($35) Family ($50) Senior/Student ($25)
CATSKILL CENTER P.O. BOX 504, ROUTE 28 ARKVILLE, NY 12406 NAME
FREE SUBSCRIPTION to the Catskill Center’s quarterly newsletter with news from the Catskill Center and across the Catskill Region.
ADDRESS
10% DISCOUNT on purchases at the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center and all Catskill Center facilities with presentation of member card.
MEMBER ONLY INVITATIONS to the Annual Gathering, lectures and special events. ACCESS TO THE CATSKILL CENTER ARCHIVES at the Erpf Center in Arkville. Please contact the Catskill Center to schedule an appointment. MEMBER PACKAGE Members receive a membership package in the mail, including a member card and Catskill Center cling sticker.
CITY STATE
ZIP
PHONE
MEMBERSHIP LEVEL $35 — Individual $50 — Family $25 — Senior/Student $100 — Partnering member $250 — Benefactor $500 — Leadership Circle $1000 — President’s Circle
AMOUNT CARD # EXPIRATION SECURITY #
CATSKILLCENTER 21
22 SPRING 2018
WARBLER WEEKEND In the trees of the Catskill mountains, 27 species of warblers build nests and raise their young and (at least) 9 other species have been documented travelling through the region. Often referred to as "the butterflies of the bird world,"
ILLUSTRATION CREATED BY WILLOW LYTLE
warblers are amazing in their diversity.
CATSKILLCENTER 23
The Catskill Center’s annual bird
night’s keynote address: "Moments of
conference, Taking Flight: Birding in
Magic and Humiliation from the Life
the Catskills has deemed the 2018
of an Unabashed Bird-Lover".
event a "Warbler Weekend".
There will be a hike to the top of
Scott Whittle and Tom Stephenson,
Hunter Mountain to hear the pre-
the authors of The Warbler Guide will
dawn song of the Bicknell Thrush with
headline the weekend. They will
Steve Chorvas of the John Burroughs
present a Saturday night keynote
Natural History Society, and Scott
address, lead workshops, and guide
Whittle and Tom Stephenson will lead
walks.
a "Field Birdsong Walk".
Taking Flight 2018 will take place
Part birding festival, part technical
Memorial Day Weekend - May 25
conference
through May 27 - and will be centered
realization that the Catskills is an
at the Emerson Resort and Spa in Mt.
indeniable,
Tremper, New York.
birding destination, the concept of
IN MAY, SOME BIRDS ARE MIGRATING AND SOME BIRDS ARE NESTING. THE DENSITY OF ACTIVITY MAKES IT A WONDERFUL MONTH FOR BIRDING.
Taking Flight was hatched in 2016 and
and
yet
borne
from
the
under-recognized
has attracted some of the biggest names in the birder world. The event has steadily grown and is gathering a strong following.
2018’s schedule is deep with offerings — Christopher A. Nadareski, who bands the falcons that nest on NYC’s bridges, will lead a workshop on peregrine falcons.
Tod
Winston,
program
manager for New York Audubon’s Plants for Birds program, will give a workshop on "How to build a birdfriendly yard" and will present Friday
24 SPRING 2018
May 25-27 EMERSON RESORT & SPA MT. TREMPER, NY CATSKILLCENTER.ORG/ TAKINGFLIGHT
CHECK OUT 10 (+1) QUESTIONS WITH CHRIS NADARESKI ON THE BLOG AT CATSKILLCENTER.ORG/BLOG
IMAGE COURTESY OF CHRIS NADARESKI
CHRIS NADARESKI CLIMBS THE HIGHEST BRIDGES IN NYC TO MONITOR THE CITY’S FALCONS, AND IS ONE OF THE SUPER-BIRDERS PRESENTING AT TAKING FLIGHT: BIRDING IN THE CATSKILLS 2018.
CATSKILLCENTER 25
IN THE ERPF GALLERY
PLATTE CLOVE #1 SUSAN MILLER
26 SPRING 2018
Detail from THE CABIN CHRIS SEUBERT The 2017 Artist-in-Residence Program was full of enthusiastic artists who couldn’t wait for their week in the Platte Clove Artists’ Cabin. Novels evolved, sculptures were built, waterfall photos were taken, lush scenes were painted, and books were created. The artists’ works were on display through April 28 at the Erpf Center. Stay up to date with all gallery events at Catskillcenter.org/erpfgallery. — Katie Palm
CATSKILLCENTER 27
TEN QUESTIONS FOR KELLY SINCLAIR KELLY SINCLAIR WAS ONE OF 11 ARTISTS WHO WERE AWARDED RESIDENCIES AT THE LITTLE RED CABIN ARTISTIN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM AT PLATTE CLOVE IN 2017
Did you have a specific project in mind for the residency? KS: I take mostly landscape and nature imagery because I live in the middle of the Catskills In the woods is where I feel most at home, and carrying the camera with me on my daily walks is a natural extension of that. I did not have a specific project, just to photograph the land and water there. Do you feel like having that density of time at Platte Cove affected the way you work? KS: Yes. Being there, I felt a total fire of inspiration and the time was so precious, I knew I needed to get in all
Do you live as a photographer?
that I could.
KS: I don’t. I have been taking pictures since I was in high school and it’s a total passion. My husband and I run a wholesale business reproducing his artwork onto tee shirts and greeting cards, and we also have a store in Woodstock. I do sell my photography there. What do you create your work with? KS: I have a Fuji XT1 and it’s digital. I grew up using the darkroom and really loved that, and when the whole digital thing happened, I was really resistant, but now I love it because it’s so accessible. I have a little studio in my house where I do all my own printing.
28 SPRING 2018
Plan
Have you ever had any other
What month of the year were you
residencies?
there?
KS: I haven’t, no.
KS: I was there in September after
Did you have a regular schedule that you gave yourself, or did you let your day be fluid?
Labor day, which was great. The weather was fine and the light was beautiful.
KS: It was fluid, but I woke up
Did
early, I had some coffee and a little
KS: I didn’t see any animals, no.
breakfast, and then went out with my camera until I got hungry and came back for lunch, and then I went out again in the afternoon to do more exploring.
you
see
any
animals?
Is there anything else that you wish I had asked or that you’d like to share about your time at Platte Clove? KS: It was an amazing experience and I’m s ograteful to have had
How did you feel about the work
the opportunity. As an artist and
that you created while you were
photographer, it was fuel for my fire.
there? KS: I really connected with that land and with my vision and I feel like I was able to portray that.
The cover of this newsletter is one of Kelly’s Platte Clove photographs.
CATSKILLCENTER.ORG/BEQUESTSANDWILLS
nned Giving leave what you love
CATSKILLCENTER 29
Ah, the Catskills — hundreds of wild
There will be expert outdoor education
miles to hike, bike, paddle, ride a zip
presentations, raffles, the Catskill
line or spelunk a cavern.
Center Gear Swap and free samples.
If
you
want
to
ski,
snowshoe,
snowboard, watch birds or tie flies, you can do that too. But the Catskills encompasses six and a half counties and it can be tricky to discover all of the outdoor adventures that the region offers. Problem solved! This year, dozens of Catskill outdoor-focused exhibitors will gather at the Best Western Plus Hotel and Conference Center in Kingston, New York for the first Catskills Great Outdoor Expo.
30 SPRING 2018
Presenters will include hiking clubs, paddling outfitters, climbing guides, skiing/mountain biking centers, gear outfitters, cultural attractions, local trail food producers, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York City Department
of
Environmental
Protection. The Catskill Center hosted their first gear swap as a spring fundraiser in 2017 and it was such a well shopped smash, that Executive Director Jeff Senterman thought to gather "as
many of our outdoor activity-related
York State and beyond.
friends as we can", and introduce
"We’re excited to help those who love the out-of-doors discover activities and points of engagement that will allow them to connect with the Catskills in fresh and unexpected new ways."
them to a growing audience of springfevered Catskill adventurers.
SAYS SENTERMAN,"SPRING IS HERE AND WE ALL WANT TO GET OUTSIDE AND MAKE THE MOST OF OUR GLORIOUS CATSKILLS. WHAT BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE, THAN TO GATHER OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND KICK OFF THE SEASON TOGETHER!" The Catskill Center is honored to be working on nurturing the community of Catskill outdoor-centric businesses and organizations and connecting them with people from across New
10AM - 5PM
May 5
KINGSTON BEST WESTERN PLUS HOTEL + CONFERENCE CENTER CATSKILLCENTER.ORG/ OUTDOOREXPO CATSKILLCENTER 31
Supporting the
CATSKILL CENTER
HIGH SPEED INTERNET ~ Speeds up to 100Mbps*
CABLE TELEVISION ~ Over 250 channels with HD and 4K channels included*
DIGITAL TELEPHONE ~ Unlimited long distance within the United States* *Some restrictions may apply. Subject to service availability.
“Connecting Our Communities.”
Main Office:
579 Main Street Margaretville, NY
www.mtctelcom.com | (845) 586-2288 32 SPRING 2018
Wifi. Guidance. Maps. Sculpture Trail. Snacks. Restrooms. Events. Books. Hikes. Treasures.
CAtskill Interpretive Center 5096 Route 28 Mount Tremper, NY 12457 845-688-3369 / catskillinterpretivecenter.org
CATSKILLCENTER 33
34 SPRING 2018
MY FATHER AND HIS FAMILY More and more I think of the still summers under the apple tree, when I took turns on the swing with my sister and cousins, the adults in their lawn chairs, watchful with murmured laughter. The soft dirt, rich with a smell only rich dirt gives. The pine cones, not resting or nestled, but simply being pine cones that have fallen from a high place.
I call my father, and he tells me of the weather. The height of snow or intensity of summer. He says nothing of his day apart from the house, nothing of people, though possibly the deer who wander the yard or chip-punks who burry seed in our flowerpots. When I visit home, there are moments I’ll sit at the table with him both of us watching the birds at the feeders. My mother will repeat a question and we’ll turn; I know my eyes are full of nothing, like his.
GENEVIEVE PFEIFFER
GENEVIEVE PFEIFFER WAS A 2016 PLATTE CLOVE RESIDENT ARTIST
My grandparents were silent at times I thought my grandfather mean, that he didn’t want to talk with me; now there is so little I know how to say.
CATSKILLCENTER 35
Spring 2018
The Catskill Center for Conservation & Development PO Box 504 43355 State Highway 28 Arkville, NY 12406
NON-PROFIT.ORG U.S.POSTAGE PAID CRST.NET 12550