May 2023: Home & Garden

by Joan Oldknow

by T.M. Bradshaw

by Paul Misko

by Maraleen Manos-Jones

by Carol O’Beirne

by Greg Madden

Oldknow

Donsbach Tomlinson

VOLUME 38, NUMBER 5 May 2023

PUBLISHERS

Peter Finn, Chairman, Catskill Mountain Foundation

Sarah Finn, President, Catskill Mountain Foundation

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION

Sarah Taft

ADVERTISING SALES

Barbara Cobb

Hillary Morse

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

T.M. Bradshaw, Holly Cohen, Bill Deane, Nancy De Flon, Dean Drobot, Fran Driscoll, Jeffrey Langford, Greg Madden, Maraleen Manos-Jones, Paul Misko, nuclear_lily, Carol

O’Beirne, Joan Oldknow, Pavel1964, Beth Schneck, Jen Schwartz, Jeff Senterman, Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson, Elaine Warfield & Albert Yee. Additional contributions by Hanford Mills Museum, hikertrashhusbands.com, Maude Adams Theater Hub, Quail Hollow Events, and Windham Arts Alliance

READING IS EXERCISE! by Jen Schwartz

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN REGION GUIDE

PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO

Focus on Photography

An exhibition presented by the Windham Arts Alliance

HANFORD MILLS MUSEUM OPENS FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

THE GREAT OUTDOORS by Jeff Senterman

SUPPORT THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Candy McKee

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EDITORIAL DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: May 5

The Catskill Mountain Region Guide is published 12 times a year by the Catskill Mountain Foundation, Inc., Main Street, PO Box 924, Hunter, NY 12442. If you have events or programs that you would like to have covered, please send them by e-mail to tafts@ catskillmtn.org. Please be sure to furnish a contact name and include your telephone number and e-mail address. To receive submission guidelines send a request to tafts@catskillmtn.org.

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COMEDY IN THE CATSKILLS

On Saturday, May 20 at 7:30 pm, the Maude Adams Theater Hub presents Comedy in the Catskills at the Doctorow Center for the Arts in Hunter. Produced by Hunter-based comedian, Josh Fromer, Comedy in the Catskills will feature headliner and comedy superstar Derek Drescher along with an all-star ensemble of established and upcoming nationally touring comedians. NYC based comedian Derek Drescher can be seen performing his unique brand of stand up comedy all over New York City and beyond. His resume includes performing at the legendary Skankfest comedy festival, opening up for Aaron Berg, appearing on Netflix and co-hosting the “On the Gate” podcast alongside fellow comedian Geo Perez. In addition to his comedic exploits, Derek is a mental health and recovery advocate. Other performers include: Adam Hmada, Cassidy O’Malley & local Nick Bailey.

“When people hear the word “Catskills” they almost immediately think “comedy.” Though Hunter is geographically in the Great Northern Catskills, and not physically linked to the infamous Borscht Belt traditions of Sullivan County, we’re excited to help Josh Fromer create a spoke in the Maude Adams Theater Hub dedicated to stand-up performance. You could say that with Comedy in the Catskills we’re inaugurating the Wurst Belt,” said Amy Scheibe, creative director of MATH.

Maude Adams Theater Hub (MATH) was created in January 2022 by four community theater veterans (Chris Cade, Amy Scheibe, Myra Garcia, Shannon Sambrook), and is graciously underwritten by the Catskill Mountain Foundation in Hunter, NY. MATH’s mission is to provide affordable community theater experiences while underwriting productions of all shapes and sizes via the Catskill Mountain Foundation Community Performance/ Arts Fund (CMF CP/AF).

Maude Adams Theater Hub presents COMEDY IN THE CATSKILLS

Saturday, May 20 @ 7:30 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

7971 Main Street/Route 23A Hunter, NY 12442

Tickets: $30

For details, ticket info & to get in touch, go to maudeadamstheaterhub.org OR catskillmtn.org

Produced by the Maude Adams Theater Hub in partnership with the Catskill Mountain Foundation, bringing together a stellar lineup, featuring headliner Derek Drescher

Clockwise from bottom left: Josh Fromer, Cassidy O’Malley, Derek Drescher, Adam Hmada, Nick Bailey

Always delivering a high-energy, high-level performance, Brothers Doobie - A Doobie Brothers Experience performs the full range of Doobie Brothers top hits, including some of the most complex and challenging songs performed for live audiences. Comprised of some of the best musicians and perfomers in the industry, Brothers Doobie also introduces Sean Byrne a world-class vocalist who is no stranger to commanding the stage. Brothers Doobie consistently delivers a remarkable show!

The Catskill Mountain Foundation presents

Kyle Marshall Choreography

By Joan Oldknow

On May 13, 2023, Kyle Marshall Choreography, A Partnership Project with the Catskill Mountain Foundation and The Joyce Theater Foundation, performs Alice and Ruin at the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Orpheum Performing Arts Center in Tannersville. Performers include Kyle Marshall (artistic director and choreographer), Bree Breeden, Cayleen Del Rosario, Niara Hardister, and Nik Owens. This is the first of the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s four partnership projects with The Joyce Theater in 2023. HopeBoykinDance, Olivier Tarpaga Dance, and Ronald K. Brown/Evidence will be in residence with Catskill Mountain Foundation this fall.

alice

Based on the music of Alice Coltrane, Alice is a new solo piece about transcendence and self-love, performed by Bree Breeden of Kyle Marshall Choreography, or KMC. Alice Coltrane was a composer, pianist, harpist, organist and the wife of John Coltrane. After his passing, Alice went on her own spiritual journey and built an Ashram, a Hindu religious retreat, creating a devotional space for

music and spiritual enlightenment in California. She invested her life in that spiritual journey for decades after her husband passed. KMC is using different pieces of music to hold Alice’s journey and to allow the audience to go on a spiritual journey with them.

“During the pandemic, I think it was very challenging for all of us; and for me, it was also a place where I got a lot of inspiration,” said Kyle Marshall. “Alice was someone that I found during the lockdown, and her music really informed me. My partner Edo Tastic, who is also the visual director of the company, was also moved and transformed by Alice’s music, and he was the one that actually inspired me to make this piece. With his inspiration and with my love for her music, we built a work for Bree that I think is really exciting.“

He continued: “It’s my first solo for another dancer, so it’s a really wonderful opportunity. I‘ve made dances for groups, so it is a similar connection. But I think for a solo, there’s a lot that happens for me internally that I have to learn to say, and to help shape what’s happening internally for Bree. It is kind of an exchange,

A Partnership Project with the Catskill Mountain Foundation and The Joyce Theater Foundation

Kyle Marshall Choreography, “Ruin.”

Photo by Albert Yee

where there is a lot of movement that I’ve given them in the piece, and there is a lot of conversation about how things are shaped. I might give a note to Bree about how to do something and they’ve already felt that as another body movement. We both can agree on how something might be done or how we want to try something. They’re also working in their internal impulse with the work. It’s been very humbling, it’s been a lot of learning. It’s been really exciting to learn how to communicate something that is internal and also seeing how my aesthetics and how my movement folds into someone else’s dancing. I think that’s been a kind of cool thing to play with and figure out. What am I holding on to that is just me and my choice, or how can I give them space to embody and interpret the information I am giving them? So, it’s a little bit of a back and forth with what’s right and what’s wrong, and it’s more about keeping what’s happening. It’s been a nice process to work with.”

ruin

Ruin is a new piece commissioned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art that premiered in January, 2023. The piece was originally commissioned by the museum to support an exhibition on Henri Matisse. Influenced by that, Kyle thought about early Egyptians, Greek life or similar images in ancient history. The rhythms and the circles in all of that has a very ancient earthly feeling to it. In building this work, it has a kind of ancient feeling to it, which is why they wear tunics, hand painted by Edo Tastic.

Ruin is a piece that’s thinking about rhythm, and how the body can be used to make and amplify sound. Kyle has used samples of rhythm and body percussion in the past. For Ruin, Kyle wanted to build something that would use that as the basis, building something with just their bodies. Thinking about how rhythm is both a cycle and a way of making sound and also in our daily lives. Sometimes, it’s very atmospheric. sometimes it’s songlike, other times, it’s very rhythmic and percussive, and there are layers.

Ruin involves a piece of sound equipment called a dynamic listening device which is built by Kyle Marshall himself and his collaborator Cal Fish. Consisting of different pieces of equipment including pads, buckets and coils, the device allows the dancers to amplify their bodies, record their sounds in real time and then play it back to the audience. All of the music for the piece is made by the dancers in real time. Nothing is prerecorded, nothing is arranged beforehand, and everything is human-generated.

the residency

During the Catskill Mountain Foundation residency in Tannersville, KMC will have the opportunity to really figure out how to get Ruin on a dance stage. KMC performed it at the museum in Philadelphia with a particular set up, and now they need to learn how to do it in a program. The biggest challenge is how to transport the equipment and how to set it up and quickly remove it. Kyle will also review the choreography to see if changes can be made to make the piece a bit stronger. Kyle is excited to get back into the piece and fit it for the concert stage. Ruin will be the main piece that KMC will present in Tannersville. Along with Onyx and Alice, it’s the third piece that’s going to be on KMC’s program at The Joyce Theater in the fall.

more information and tickets

Kyle Marshall Choreography will perform Alice and Ruin at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center, 6050 Main St., Hunter, NY on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 7:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www.catskillmtn.org or by contacting the box office via email at boxoffice@catskillmtn.org or by phone at 518 263 2063. Note that online ticket sales close 5 hours prior to performance time. Tickets purchased ahead are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $7 for students. Tickets purchased at the door are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $7 for students. For information about upcoming programs at Catskill Mountain Foundation, please visit www.catskillmtn.org.

about kyle marshall choreography

Founded in 2014, Kyle Marshall Choreography is a company that sees the dancing body as a container of history, an igniter of social reform, and a site of celebration. KMC believes in the creation, sharing, and teaching of dance as a way to deepen our knowledge of who we are as individuals, how we develop relationships, and ultimately societies.

KMC has performed at venues throughout the NYC area including: Chelsea Factory, BAM Next Wave Festival, Joe’s Pub, The Shed, Roulette, Abrons Arts Center, Bickford Theater/Morris Museum and the Entertainment Community Fund Arts Center. National touring has included: Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out (Beckett, MA), FringeArts (Philadelphia), and New World Center (Miami). Choreographic Commissions have included: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Baryshnikov Arts Center, “Dance on the Lawn” Montclair Dance Festival, NJPAC and Harlem Stage. KMC has been in residence at Bethany Arts Community, Monira Foundation, 92Y, American Dance Festival, The Center for Ballet and The Arts at NYU and with The Joyce Theater at 280 Gibney Dance Center. The company regularly engages in educational and repertory workshops in high school and colleges throughout the region including; Bloomfield College, Trenton Central High School, Sarah Lawrence College, Rutgers University, County Prep High School and Virginia Commonwealth University. Director Kyle Marshall was a 2021-22 Caroline Hearst Choreographer-in-Residence at the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Dance at Princeton University.

Additionally, Kyle has received a 2018 NY Dance and Performance Juried Bessie Award, a 2020 Dance Magazine Harkness Promise Award and was a 2020 Bessie Honoree for the revival of Colored. Kyle is a graduate of Rutgers University, a NJ State Arts Fellow and an adjunct professor at NYU’s Open Arts Program.

Kyle Marshall Choreography is fiscally sponsored through The Foundation for Independent Artists.

Kyle Marshall Choreography, “Ruin.” Photo by Albert Yee

“A choreographic voice like no one else’s” —The New York Times

WOODSTOCK-NEW PALTZ ART & CRAFTS FAIR

The Hudson Valley’s favorite celebration of handmade, The Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair, will return to the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz on May 27, 28, and 29. This long-standing event is a gathering of hundreds of the country’s most creative small businesses, and this Memorial Day weekend will mark its 42nd anniversary year and 80th show.

Promoted by Quail Hollow Events and consistently voted one of the top 10 contemporary craft shows nationwide by Sunshine Artist Magazine, the fair teems with handmade wares from carefully curated exhibitors. Director Ola Rubinstein explains, “The real beauty of this festival is the vibrant environment generated by gifted exhibitors and an enthusiastic public. Our artists value sharing their process and work via meaningful one-on-one interactions, and visitors enjoy learning the history of the objects and engaging with the maker of the unique pieces they purchase.”

Fairgoers can look forward to discovering uncommon, standout finds for the home, body and beyond – from wearable fiber art, to mixed media wall art, to hand-thrown porcelain table settings, large-scale garden fountains, dining room tables and everything in between. Visitors may well find that long-sought-after Adirondack chair or a one-size-fits-one jewelry piece. An exciting new addition this Spring is Bar Fiore, a vintage-inspired flower truck brimming with colorful whimsey and offering visitors an opportunity to create their own Spring bouquets.

The Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair is cherished for both the relationships it fosters and its vast array of features that appeal to every style and generation. “The opportunity to observe so many creative processes in one place is significant, especially as we continue to move away from face-to-face experiences,” says Rubinstein. Visitors will delight in ongoing craft demonstrations, a variety of small-batch artisanal and prepared-on-site foods and, of course, local wine, beer, and spirits. Live musical performances round out this broad celebration of handmade. The youngest attendees (and their parents) will appreciate a complimentary

children’s craft tent, filled with a wide range of materials — many supplied by the artists themselves.

Quail Hollow Events selects artists and craftspeople whose work is original in both design and execution, requiring the maker of the work to be in attendance. Exhibitors are specialists in one of over 10 media categories, and a select few have been participating in the event since its inception in 1982. The fair was founded by brothers Neil and Scott Rubinstein, two woodworkers who had tired of traveling from show-to-show exhibiting and selling their work. Craft fairs were what they knew, so they decided to dive into the promotional end of the business and develop events that would be centered around the diverse talents of its artists. The Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair is now run by Ola Rubinstein, daughter-in-law of Neil. Ola and her husband, Tate (Neil’s son), began managing the business in 2017, prior to which Ola had been studying and working in the academic world of art, teaching Art History. The Rubinsteins continue to value the importance of in-person platforms where artists and craftspeople can market their work and where real-world relationships between visitor and maker are cultivated. Visit quailhollow.com for more information.

DATES & TIMES

May 27 10 am - 5:30 pm

May 28 10 am - 5:30 pm

May 29 10 am - 4:00 pm

WHERE

Ulster County Fairgrounds

249 Libertyville Rd, New Paltz, NY 12561

RAIN OR SHINE — BUSES WELCOME

QUAILHOLLOW.COM

Left: Susan Shannon of Su Chi Pottery. Right: Visitors with Nicole Dubensky of Sweetpeas and Gypsies

Cauliflower Brings Green to the Catskills

By T.M. Bradshaw

Historically, up through the first half of the twentieth century, married women were uniformly referred to by their husbands’ names—Mrs. John Smith, for example. This social convention makes it difficult to research women’s activities, especially if John Smith was married more than once. Is the Mrs. John Smith in question his first wife, Alice, or his second, Josephine, or his last, Mildred? Women regained their own first names when they were widowed, so after John’s death that last Mrs. John Smith became Mrs. Mildred Smith.

Even in instances of marriages of long standing, little information was available in newspapers about women other than what typically appeared in social columns: “Mrs. Ralph Felton visited her sister, Mrs. L. Finch, of Denver Monday evening.” (Catskill Mountain News, 09/06/1929). And in cases where both spouses contributed significant effort toward the family’s support, such as in farming, the woman’s achievements were attributed to the husband. And that’s the question here: Was William F. Van

Benschoten the spark that ignited the cauliflower industry in the Catskills or was it his wife, Thankful Van Benschoten?

William was credited with the innovation in decades’ worth of newspaper mentions and in his June 1928 obituary. But perhaps a clearer picture of who started what, when, emerges in Thankful’s September 1935 obituary. All other references to their leadership in the industry cite William, and later, their son, Orson. It makes one wonder if any mention of Thankful’s contribution would have been made had she died first.

Farming follows trends and fashions just like anything else. The earliest newspaper article I’ve found concerning cauliflower in a Catskill paper is a February 20, 1885 mention in a column called “The Country Gentleman” in the Catskill Recorder. It describes the storage of 400 pounds of cauliflower seed stored in the New York City vaults of the Mercantile Safe Deposit Company, enough to result in 13 million plants. The article does not state the intended market for that seed.

The next mention I’ve found is in the September 22, 1900 Hobart Independent, referring to William F. Van Benschoten of Margaretville as a “large cauliflower raiser” who was shipping about 15 barrels of the vegetable a day for a seasonal total of between twenty and thirty thousand heads. But how did an operation of that size get started? Let’s consider the early years of the Van Benschotens’ marriage.

William was born in 1852 on a farm in New Kingston, a place settled by his great-grandfather, Jacob Van Benschoten, after the British burned Kingston. In October 1879, William married Thankful Allaben Sanford a month before her eighteenth birthday. The young couple lived with William’s parents, Nelson Van Benschoten and Agnes Miller Van Benschoten, in their small farmhouse. Thankful’s sister, Fezon, had married William’s brother, Henry, in February 1879 and they, too, lived in that same small farmhouse. In 1883, William and Thankful’s son Orson was born. A few years later, the family built a new, larger house. While cauliflower almost certainly funded the completion of that new house, it was designed to pay its own way, with a wing of eight bedrooms for the summer boarding trade. Today it is the Margaretville Mountain Inn B&B.

In what must have been a very interesting household arrangement—two young wives sharing a small space with their

mother-in-law—a new activity developed around 1890—Thankful began growing cauliflower in pots in the kitchen. The second year she grew about 200 heads, with the surplus sold to the boarding houses of Fleischmanns. Did Thankful point out the potential value of her enterprise to her husband or did he suggest they expand it to the farm proper instead of the family’s garden? Or was it the logical next step of a team working in tandem? We’ll never know. But in the third year, the crop of 2,000 heads was shipped to New York City. Prior to this, cauliflower growing on a commercial scale was limited to areas around Puget Sound in Washington State and on Eastern Long Island.

The head count continued to increase. The November 6, 1902 Columbia Republican copied the following item from the Kingston Express under a heading of Profitable Farming: “W. F. Van Benschoten, of New Kingston, has raised this year between 400 and 500 barrels of cauliflower on his farm which find a ready sale at $4.50 a barrel.” The Gilboa Monitor of May 13, 1915 reported the Van Benschotens’ intent to raise 125,000 plants that year. The report of the 1918 season’s first shipment in the July 26 Catskill Mountain News described Van Benschoten as a “veteran grower” and quoted him as saying it was “the best first load he’d ever shipped” and that the season looked promising. Numerous other farmers all around the Catskills had begun growing the vegetable as well; thirty were estimated to be raising the crop in 1918. Soon, warnings began appearing that new growers would drive the price down.

It’s interesting to follow through the old newspapers and see the arc of the business’s development and eventual decline as well as that of complementary jobs and services that grew along with the cauliflower. A 1926 ad for a nailing machine noted it was “Especially adapted for the nailing up of cauliflower crates.” A small, May 3, 1929 article reported that Halcottville had been a “very busy place” that week with the unloading of “three [train] carloads” of fertilizer and lime for the cauliflower growers. Ads offering jobs as buying agents and ads by agents seeking product appeared frequently.

Notices commented on the arrival or departure of people who lived elsewhere in the winter, but who worked on or main-

tained Catskill properties for the purpose of growing cauliflower, like Chauncey Sanford of New York City in 1924 and Howard Todd of Connecticut in 1934. Before 1900, mentions of cauliflower seeds or young plants were within lists of various vegetables offered, presumably for the home garden; over time ads dedicated solely to cauliflower listed huge quantities of plants, often over 100,000.

For the May 21, 1926 Catskill Mountain News, W. F. Van Benschoten penned a lengthy editorial against the formation of a cauliflower grower’s association, arguing that it would drive down prices and incur unnecessary bureaucratic fees. Apparently not everyone agreed because on December 1, 1933, the Catskill Mountain News reported that about eighty people had attended the 4th annual banquet of the Margaretville Cauliflower Growers Cooperative, Inc. There were also at least two other co-ops, one in Bovina and one in Walton.

Son Orson Van Benschoten also appears in several news items; in November 1924 he and his wife spent a week in New York City so Orson could attend a cauliflower rate conference organized by the New York Central Railroad. But Thankful’s contribution was invisible in the press until after her death.

After describing the progression of Thankful’s initial cauliflower experiments in the kitchen and garden, her September 13, 1935 Catskill Mountain News obituary wrapped up by describing what those experiments had grown into. “From this start has grown a big industry. The cool nights of the Catskill hills allow the vegetable to head properly and thousands of crates are shipped daily to a waiting market.”

Many thanks to Diane Galusha and the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown. It was one of the Society’s annual June cemetery tours that provided an introduction to Thankful Van Benschoten. Newspapers were accessed through nyshistoricnewspapers.org.

Catskill Adventures Then and Now

By Paul Misko

We certainly have come a long way in how we approach our Catskill outdoor adventures, especially in how we ‘gear up’ for our foray in the forest. The last few decades have witnessed big changes in technology which have greatly improved comfort and safety.

In my youth, our Boy Scout troop was still using some WWI surplus enamelware plates and cups. Many Army-Navy stores sold plenty of wartime leftovers which were sometimes in new condition or worn but quite serviceable. We bought canteens, pup tents (with wooden stakes), clothing, canvas rucksacks and lots more. It was cheap and durable, but HEAVY.

Hiking in the Catskills really started taking off in the 1860’s, soon after the civil war ended. Before then, most people only climbed a mountain to hunt or harvest timber, but as more artists and writers revealed the beauty of the forest, as well as the enticing challenge it involved, an ever-increasing number of folks headed into the mountains. By searching old journals and photographs of naturalist John Burroughs, T.M. Longstreth and others, one can trace the changes which took place over the years.

The first wave of adventurers headed into the forest in whatever clothes they typically wore while working on the job or around the house. If they were veterans, they would often wear portions of their sturdy and warm uniforms; and why not? The idea of purchasing new clothes specifically for hiking was only

for the wealthy. It is an interesting fact that, especially in the early 1900’s, it was not uncommon to see men wearing vests, ties, derbies and even top-hats on the trail, thought they were “well used” versions and rarely new. Another trend which developed, mainly concerning the young men, was to adopt some clothes with a western theme … encouraged no doubt by the plethora of cowboy stories in print, which fed their imaginations.

Women began hiking as well and would often wear the same slightly worn-out dresses and other apparel that they would wear in their daily tasks. By the late 1800’s though, some clothing was being specifically made and advertised for outdoors women. An interesting tid-bit to add, is that in some circles, it was considered bad form to help a woman as she climbed. One account from the 1890’s records a female member of the hiking group carried not only her own rucksack, but a 9 lb. rifle as well. She lagged behind but made it to the top on her own, which earned the group’s respect.

In the old days, when it rained, you got wet, but eventually more clothing was designed for the outdoors. The development of nylon, Gore-Tex, and polyester insulation were groundbreaking advances. These materials replaced canvas, wool, leather and fur. Clothing which provided better protection from the elements allowed more people to participate, who might have otherwise just stayed at home in comfort.

Geared up for an overnight, ca. 1920. Photo courtesy of Ray Painter

Here is a listing of some other categories of gear along with a brief description of how they changed:

Shelters and bedding: The earliest Catskill Campers would usually wing it, and sleep out in the open under the stars with the bears. On occasion they would quickly construct a shelter out of branches and bark. If they were lucky, they would find the remains of a hut, and in a pinch even a rock ledge or “cave” would suffice. It was common to make a mattress out of boughs, from either hemlock or balsam trees, or perhaps some leaves would be raked into a pile. Blankets were the norm, and every camper had a ‘bedroll’. Naturalist John Burroughs used a couple of civil war blankets for years. The early 1900’s saw the development of tents and sleeping bags, which got increasingly lighter and better. Tents with floors and bug netting were huge advances in comfort. Today’s tents weigh about one tenth of the early ones, and can be set up in a couple of minutes.

Fire and lighting: Folks from years ago were generally more practiced at lighting fires, as many homes still used fireplaces and woodstoves for heat, as well as wood fired kitchen stoves. Light-

ing a campfire on a day hike just to make a pot of coffee was the norm. This made the task of procuring firewood on the mountaintops increasingly difficult, something that John Burroughs mentions on his first campout on Slide Mt. in 1885. Igniting the fire was of course usually done by matches, although some of the earliest hikers were handy with flint and steel; a mostly lost art today. When I teach an outdoor skills course today, it is interesting to see how few people can get a fire started under ideal conditions. It’s a good skill to learn.

Most cooking was done over open fires, but in the early 1900’s the development of camping stoves began, and the same arc was repeated with the earliest ones being big and heavy, typically of brass, and current ones being tiny and of only a few ounces weight, sometimes made of titanium with a built-in igniter.

Night-time tasks were typically accomplished by the light of the campfire or the ever-reliable candle, which would be used held by the hand, set in a pot, or used in a fancy folding lantern.

I have read accounts where lit matches were used as lighting not only when a moment of vision was required, but also as emergency lighting on the trail. Small lanterns were made for burning various fuels such as whale oil, lard, and eventually kerosene.

You might be surprised to learn that flashlights were available as early as the 1890’s. The batteries of the day were so weak that when the switch was slid on, only a brief “flash” of light was given with the light dimming out soon afterwards. After waiting a while, you could get another “flash” of light. As you know, both batteries and flashlights improved dramatically, especially in the last decade. The latest evolution of portable electric lighting is truly impressive.

Guns: Packing heat was the norm. Most outdoor adventurers brought guns on their trip in defense against the occasional bear,

Ladies almost to Wittenberg summit.

A tough bunch. Guns, axes, and whiskey … what could go wrong?

A folding candle lantern and a small lard handlamp

the rare mountain lion, and the imaginary wolf. John Burroughs carried a revolver, and so did his friend Walt Whitman. War surplus guns were cheap and plentiful, yet accidental shootings were surprisingly rare.

Trash: Until about the 1960’s, burying was the recommended means of disposal of campsite trash. Today, one can sometimes find old bottles and rusty cans under a rock on the mountaintops, now the rule is “Pack it out.” One time, while camping overnight on Wittenberg, John Burroughs and a friend were quite happy to find an old tin can which they used to heat up their cold coffee. Early recycling?

Communication: In the earliest days, in order to organize an adventure, a letter or telegraph had to be sent. The late 1800’s though, saw the appearance of the telephone. As was true with the telegraph, it too showed up first in the town’s general stores, hotels and then other businesses, and eventually the lines snaked their ways up the valleys. What is surprising is that some of the mountaintops had a telephone before most of the valley folks. The summit of Slide Mt. had a telephone at its mini fire tower in 1912, and some of the prominent Catskill mountaintop hotels had them early on as well. Walkie-talkies later followed, but then the biggest breakthrough of all … the cell phone! My first one,

purchased in 1990, weighed 5 lbs and was as big as a phone book! They are a tad smaller now.

Photography: The earliest photos I’ve seen of hikers in the Catskills were taken in the 1880’s, though there might be earlier ones floating around. These early photos were taken with huge cameras that used glass negatives, which took a lot of effort and care to transport and operate. Nevertheless, they hauled these instruments up the big mountains and deep into the valleys. The people from back then would likely fall down dead from shock if they saw our present phones which can shoot 4k video in stereo … let alone the phone calling feature.

I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into the past and a better understanding of the rougher times folks had while “roughing it.” From the stories I’ve seen and the smiles evident in the old pictures, they certainly had at least as much fun as folks do today on their adventures; possibly more.

Paul Misko is a Catskill historian with a focus on the Shandaken area, and John Burroughs. He gives presentations on history, and leads hikes with the Catskill 4000 Club. He can be contacted at climbapeak@gmail.com. His blog is at catskillforestadventures. blogspot.com.

A natural shelter and a glass negative camera on Wittenberg

Home & Garden

BANK EXCAVATING

Ulster Savings Bank

58 Main Street

Phoenicia, NY 12464

ATM available

Ulstersavings.com

845 688 5965

Ulster Savings Bank is a locally focused and operated mutual savings bank with locations throughout the Hudson Valley. As a bank with no stockholders, our profits are reinvested back into the communities we serve. We are proud to be the recipient of numerous community awards reflecting our belief that helping community changes lives. We invite you to stop by our location in beautiful Phoenicia to experience the local difference with US. Bank where you matter!

Blue Mountain Excavation LLC

11287 NY 23

Ashland, NY 12407

bluemountainexcavation.com

518 734 5173 or 518 734 3754

At Blue Mountain Excavation, we change the shape of the Earth! We move the earth your way and showcase the natural beauty. With each Blue Mountain Excavation client, we strive to touch the hearts of those we work for. Whether we build four wheeler trails or construct a pond or install a new driveway, our clients truly enjoy the results for many years. We specialize in ponds, roads, driveways, boulder scapes, land clearing, and septic systems.

Photo courtesy of Gardens by Trista

Basil Garden Supply

Inside The Gilded Carriage

95 Tinker Street

Woodstock, NY 12498

gildedcarriage.com

845 679 2607

Celebrating 27 years! Specializing in teak, wicker and mixed materials, umbrellas, hammocks and cushions. Garden, poolside, porch or deck & patio. Browse the Kingsley Bate website, and give us a call for prices. Dining tables & chairs, lounge chairs, sofas & sectionals, benches, chaise lounges, swings & rockers. We carry cleaner and sealer to restore your old, weathered teak back to its original color. Need help designing your outdoor space, we make local housecalls! Free assembly and local delivery.

HARDWARE

Houst Hardware

4 Mill Hill Road

Woodstock, NY 12498

housthardware.com

845 679 2115

Shop local with Houst Hardware, independent and family owned for 89 years. For all your projects, Houst Has IT. Benjamin Moore Paints, Equipment Rentals, Tools, Plumbing, Electrical, Organic and Heirloom Garden Seeds, Organic Soils and Fertilizers, Housewares, Weber grills, Seasonal products, Camping and Toys. Everything you need for work and play.

Windham Hardware

5390 Main Street Windham, NY 12496

518 734 4433

General hardware, housewares, plumbing, electrical supplies, window and screen repair, paint supplies, garden supplies, and keys made. Built as a Hardware store in 1887, the Hardware has been here for the residents of Windham, and those who come to visit, for over 120 years. Windham Hardware has been in the Lawrence family for 44 years, and we’re proud to be a part of this community.

Suburban Ecology: Four Tips for an Eco-Friendly Yard

Carolle Huber, Aster Plans

My yard is a refuge, both for me and my local insect and bird populations. Those of us with suburban yards can help our local environment. We are no longer gardening just for ourselves. We need to share our gardens with the local birds and insects because around the globe, we are losing species at an alarming rate, mainly because of climate change and habitat loss. A wellthought-out landscape can provide the habitat and food these important creatures need and help to keep us and our planet healthy.

Here are some easy ways to make your yard more sustainable and restore some of the balance to the ecosystem.

1. Ban Chemicals from Your Property

Insects may be annoying, but they are vital to a healthy ecosystem. The pesticide you spray to attack one pest does not discriminate. When absolutely necessary, use a homemade organic product that will not harm the environment. Google a recipe for soapy sprays for insects, vinegar sprays for weeds.

2. Love Your Lawn, But Have Less of It

Take good care of your lawn by switching to organic fertilizers. Or, better yet, just add a thin layer of compost over it in the fall and a mulch mower in the growing season. Mow high and frequently, never cutting off more than ⅓ of the grass blade. Reduce the size of your lawn if you can. Lawns use a lot of resources, water and fertilizer. Transition some lawn to a wildlife garden, with perennials, shrubs and trees. And don’t worry so much about the weeds!

3. Create a Habitat for Wildlife

By adding more plants to your yard, you can attract more birds and butterflies. Planting densely with native plants like those you see in wild areas provides them with food, shelter, and nesting sites. Remove any invasive species from your garden—Japanese barberry, multiflora rose and Japanese knotweed are the three worse offenders and they don’t support local wildlife the way native plants do.

What we each do in our own yards might seem insignificant, but if we all do just a few things to help the environment, together we can make a difference.

HOME GOODS & DECOR

Catskill Mountain Foundation Gift Shop

6042 Main Street

Tannersville, NY 12485

518 589 7500

Operated by the Catskill Mountain Foundation and located next door to the Orpheum Performing Arts Center, our shop features a curated selection of home decor items and gifts from around the Region and around the world. Open Friday through Sunday and holiday Mondays from 11 am to 6 pm.

The Gilded Carriage

95 Tinker Street

Woodstock, NY 12498

gildedcarriage.com

845 679 2607

For the well equipped kitchen and beautiful home. Cookware, kitchen gadgets, baking supplies, small electrics, dinnerware, glassware, flatware, table & kitchen linens, candles, bar supplies, local chocolates, outdoor furniture, European soaps. Our brands include Aarke, April Cornell, Bodum, Casafina, Chemex, Cuisinart, Field Company, Kingsley Bate, Le Creuset, Le Jacquard Français, Peugeot, Sodastream, Vietri, Votivo, and Wüsthof. We encourage couples to register for shower & wedding gifts as well as the online registries. We offer gifts as you make your list plus many other services.

Maverick Road

54 Tinker Street

Woodstock, NY 12498

maverickroad.com

845 202 1103

Maverick Road celebrates the artistic & maverick spirit of Woodstock, with curated items from small makers and fair trade merchants. Our mission is to create a space that celebrates beauty, humor and the natural world. We offer a selection of local pottery, prints, housewares, greeting cards & gifts, while creating an uplifting, cheerful & inspiring experience. Here’s what our customers have to say: “It smells so good in here.” … “It’s so happy in here!” … “I want to move in” … “I want to buy everything!” … “Lovingly Curated” … “Smells Like Rainbows!”

Decorating Your Home Tonya Martin, Maverick Road

Don’t choose your color scheme before you purchase decor. Instead, stock up on essentials—like rugs, upholstered furniture, and more— and let them inform your palette.

Statement-making pieces can take a home from simple to striking, but snag too many, and you may overwhelm your space. One rule of thumb to follow? Put a single showstopper in every room.

Made in the Shade Victoria Coyne, Victoria Gardens

Many gardeners find shade gardens a particular challenge, and many people believe that hostas (often munched by the deer) are their only option. I have been landscaping in the Hudson Valley for over 35 years, and I have found there are literally hundreds of plants that thrive in the shade.

Here are a few of my favorites: An ornamental perennial like Heuchera is a shade staple. Also known as Coral Bells, Heuchera is a low growing perennial that comes in an endless assortment of leaf colors from deep purple with black veining, red, pink, green, and gold—plus some combinations that look silvery or peachy. The foliage alone is spectacular, but these plants also bloom with delicate upright stalks of flowers from April to September.

If you have a spot on your property with shade and deer, don’t worry! There are even more options for deer resistant shade plants. I have been a big fan of Hellebores for many years, because they are hardy, deer resistant shade plants, and they are one of the first perennials to bloom late winter/early spring. Many varieties push their delicate blooms up through the snow, and the evergreen foliage is a welcome winter sight.

Epimediums have delicate fairy flowers in the early spring in a wide assortment of colors. For a rare, long-blooming, shade perennial, you can also use Rozanne Geranium—a low growing plant with purple blooms from spring to fall. A fall-blooming groundcover with striking blue flowers, Hardy Plumbago is also deer resistant and thrives even in tough, clay soil.

But flowers are not the only things that can add interest through the fall. Japanese painted ferns and Japanese forest grass offer foliage with color and texture for the shade all season long.

Moose Crossing

1 Reservoir Rd.

Shokan, NY 12481

rustic-cabin.com

845 657 9792

Casual, rustic and country Adirondack-style furniture, home furnishings, home decor, accessories, gifts and collectibles. Hand-crafted, Made-In-America sold wood furniture and furnishings for your home, lodge or cabin. Jewelry, blankets, pillows, rugs and clothing in Native American, Western and country motifs and styles. The best selection of natureinspired items hand crafted from artisanal craftsmen located locally and from around the country.

The Sheep’s Nest

45 Main Street

Hobart, NY 13788

thesheepsnest.com

607 434 6918

The Sheep’s Nest is boutique style gift shop carrying embellishments for you and your home. It is housed in an English Cottage that we built after visiting the English countryside. We carry an array of unique items to decorate your home as well as wonderful gifts. Candles, bath and body products, jewelry, scarves, beautiful gift cards, yarn (some from our own Shetland Sheep), and so much more. Woolen creations and other artwork is also featured from time to time.

The Shops at Emerson

5340 Route 28

Mt. Tremper, NY 12457

emersonresort.com

845 688 2828

Housed in a lovingly restored 19th century dairy barn, The Shops at Emerson is a unique shopping experience. Walk across hand-laid brick floors surrounded by original wood beams as you stroll from store to store. The home store offers distinctive furniture and décor items—room scenes and corner vignettes—wall hangings, art and accent pieces— all thoughtfully chosen and keenly displayed to inspire your inner decorator. It is the perfect store to pick up a few pieces to refresh your space or to reimagine what makes your house a home.

HOT TUBS

Best Hot Tubs

5354 Route 23 Windham, NY 12496 besthottubs.com

518 734 9100

Best Hot Tubs Windham store serves the Hunter/Windham, NY and entire Mountain Top area, including the nearby ski resorts at Hunter, Windham and Belleayre. You will find the right hot tub for your lifestyle and all the accessories you need to make your summer and winter spa experience perfect. Bullfrog Spas are the only hot tubs personalized

Navigating the Real Estate Market

Debra Danner, Catskill Regional Manager, Coldwell Banker—Timberland Properties

In today’s real estate market, purchasers need to be informed and prepared to make the best decisions. Here are some tips to help navigate the market: Get pre-approved for a mortgage: Before you start house hunting, it’s important to know how much you can afford. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage will give you a clear understanding of your budget.

Research Neighborhoods: Research areas you are interested in. Look at things like schools,local amenities and crime rates. This will help you choose a place that fits your needs.

Work with a knowledgable agent: A knowledgable real estate agent can help you navigate the market and find you the right property. They can recommend reputable services you will need along the way, and will also negotiate your best deal.

Get a home inspection: This way you have a better understanding of the condition of the property. Don’t rush into a decision: Take time to consider each property your interested in. Don’t rush in because you feel pressured or anxious.

Stay within your budget: Do not let emotions or competitive bidding drive up the price beyond what you can afford.

By following these tips and advice, you can feel confident in your decisions and approach the market with a clear understanding of what to expect.

Tips for Looking for a New Home

Thomasine Helsmoortel, Helsmoortel Real Estate

Looking for a home can be fun, as long as you keep an open mind and follow just a few of my tips.

They say the three most important things to think about when buying a home are location, location, location. You can change almost everything else, but you can’t change your home’s location. Be ready to make an offer because if you love this house, many others do also. Have your pre-approval from a mortgage broker in hand. Your offer is always contingent on inspection (unless you waive that right), so you will not lose any money until you are satisfied with the inspection. Know your must-haves. If this is your first home, consider what you can live with and what you can’t. Perhaps the kitchen isn’t ideal, but you know a few appliance upgrades will do the trick. You wanted two full bathrooms, but can you live with one and a half? Know when to walk away. With the market we are in, we can get crazy bidding back and forth, know your bottom line and stick close to it. You want to enjoy your home, you don’t want to be stressed every time your mortgage payment is due. There will always be another home. Know the best investment you can ever make is in real estate. Not only will you have a place to live, but you can also rent it, refinance it for extra cash in hand, and sell it when you have the equity you desire. When buying, think about resale. The location and the improvements to the home you purchase, will allow for a quicker sale when you move on to your next dream home.

just for you with a complete array of unique, interchangeable JetPaks. Best Hot Tubs can help you design your perfect backyard and select the right Bullfrog Spa to feature, along with many other products and services.

LANDSCAPE & GARDEN DESIGN

Aster Plans

online landscape design

asterplans.com

Designing for homeowners in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states, plant zones 5, 6, and 7. Aster Plans is a completely online landscape design service focused on sustainable landscapes that will improve biodiversity in your yard. Clients provide property surveys and photos and we deliver designs that are beautiful and full of life! Plan packages come with concept plans, plant and material lists, and even basic installation and care instructions.

Farrand’s Landscape

18 Molly White Drive Coxsackie, NY 12051

farrandslandscape.com

518 650 1347

Farrand’s Landscape is a familyowned company that opened in June of 2022. Founded on the principles of quality work and excellent customer service, we’ve quickly grown into one of the premier outdoor service companies in the upper Hudson Valley. We offer a wide range of services including grounds maintenance and landscape and hardscape installation. Whether you need

weekly mowing to take back your weekends, or are in need of an entire outdoor makeover, our team is here to help. We use state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that all of our projects are completed on time and on budget. In addiiton to providing residential services, we also offer commercial services for businesses, schools, and municipalities. Our team has the experience and expertise needed to handle any size landscape project and property maintenance work.

Gardens by Trista

176 Polen Hill Road Gilboa, NY 12076 gardensbytrista.com

607 588 6762

Gardens by Trista is a full service landscape company focused on providing each client with the individualized landscape or garden of their dreams. We know each property and client holds their own unique essence which we use to transform the land and its elements into their personalized landscape. We strive to fulfill the needs of each and every customer. Whether it be a complete design/ build for new construction or help with an existing garden that needs a rejuvenation. We also have an extensive garden maintenance division to help keep your landscape and garden in pristine condition.

Augustine Nursery

Augustine Nursery

9W & Van Kleecks Lane

Kingston, NY 12401

AugustineNursery.com

845 338 4936

We’ve been creating landscapes of distinction throughout the Hudson Valley since 1974. We started small in our hometown of Kingston. Today, Augustine Nursery has grown to become one of the leading residential and commercial landscape design firms and the “nursery of choice” among high-end landscape architects, independent contractors and discerning homeowners. We offer a stunning selection of larger scale, estate-grade trees, shrubs and plants. There are hundreds of varieties, ranging from the most popular to the new and emerging. We also offer a full menu of nursery services, from planning and design to installation and dress finish for greenscapes and hardscapes.

Kerns Nursery

4899 Route 23C

Jewett, NY 12444

kernsnursery.com

518 734 3543

Kerns Nursery is celebrating its 40th year! Offering healthy annual and bedding plants, herbs, vegetables and trees and shrubs appropriate for

the mountain top. Also, over 600 varieties of perennials. The nursery is continually restocked by our growing lot and our 7 greenhouses below. The garden shop displays an eclectic mix of home, garden and personal gifts. Gardens are open mid May through October Watch for our special Open House weekend May 20-21 ! More info on social media or kernsnursery.com.

Story’s Nursery

4265 Route 67

Freehold, NY 12431

storysnursery.com

518 634 7754

Story’s Nursery is a 35 acre nursery and garden center located in the scenic, rural foothills of the northern Catskill Mountains. Over 50 years in the horticulture field has earned Story’s Nursery the reputation for growing high quality trees, shrubs, perennials, greenhouse crops, and bedding plants. You are sure to be impressed by our greenhouses and sales yard with its extensive selection of unusual, hard-to-find plant varieties. Our garden shop carries a large selection of pottery, gifts and supplies for a one-stop shopping experience. We look forward to serving you and hope you find your shopping experience to be a pleasant one that will leave you inspired and anticipating your next visit.

Three Top Garden Design Tips

Trista Shultes, Gardens by Trista

I find when planning and designing a garden in the Catskill Mountains, there many variables to consider.

Here are my top three design tips:

1. Locale hardiness and light patterns: Taking note of your exposure and elevation are very important when choosing plant material. There are many micro-climates with quite severe differences within a couple miles of each other. Exposure, winds and soils also should be considered. I take note of native trees and plant material around the property; it is a good clue to as what will do well. Tracking the sun’s path through the different seasons is also helpful when choosing a plant pallet.

2. Implementing a natural landscape: Blending your landscape with the style of your structures is just as important as harmonizing with the natural landscape in the Catskills. With a more formal architecture, you can start with a more traditional design around foundation areas and become more relaxed with the design as the plantings move towards natural borders such as forests, streams and rocky mountain sides. It’s always worthwhile to embrace and encourage the native surroundings. I like to do this by utilizing native plants and inviting pollinators, when possible. Your landscape is an expression of your personal taste and should unfold as such.

3. Give it some time: In a new planting setting, I suggest living in your space for a season to see how the space is used and viewed, both inside and out. Follow light courses during the day and in different seasons to see the shade and sun patterns. Shade in the summer is nice, but sun in winter and early spring are also welcomed and can be achieved with deciduous trees vs. evergreen. Think about areas that need screening and the time of year that is most important. Will you be out on the patio in the winter facing the neighbor or road, or just in spring, summer and fall while the leaves are out? What outdoor activities will you be participating in? What colors do you find pleasing or displeasing? I find by asking my clients these questions, it helps to achieve the dream landscape they are striving for!

Victoria Gardens

1 Cottekill Road

Rosendale, NY 12472

victoriagardens.biz

845 658 9007

Victoria Gardens guarantees your gardening success by stocking plants in the nursery that thrive in our climate. The owner, Victoria Coyne, has been landscaping in the Hudson Valley for over 30 years. It is her extensive experience that allows her to curate so many varieties of perennials, trees, and shrubs specifically for our area and for our customers most frequently voiced problems: deer, dry soil, wet spots, and shady areas.

N&S Supply

Locations in Fishkill, Brewster, Kingston, Catskill, and Hudson, NY; and Danbury, CT nssupply.com

N&S Supply is your one-stop resource for all your plumbing, heating and HVAC needs; Whether it’s an oil or gas burner, electric or gas water heater, furnace, toilet, faucet

or custom shower, our service parts counters or our beautiful Bath Classics Showrooms will have what you need. We carry complete product lines, including all the accessories needed for any installation, with dependable, on-time delivery service available. We provide everything you would expect from a full-service distributor, including specialty products designed and manufactured to meet your needs and lifestyle. Contact us today and learn more about how we can provide the best solutions for you. Or, visit us at one of our full service locations or showrooms throughout the Hudson Valley and CT.

REALTORS

Leighton G. Ashley, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Mobile: 917 796 3351 (cell)

Email: lgashley@cbtp.com

leightonashley.com

Expertise & exceptional service. Buying or selling a home can be a complicated and stressful process. You need an experienced, skilled, and knowledgeable real estate specialist with solid accomplishments like me to assist you with the sale of your property or the purchase of a new home. As

Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden

Patricia Charbonneau, Brainard Ridge Realty

Many gardeners are enthusiastically doing their part to support declining pollinator populations by planting nectar-rich wildflowers and host plants, in efforts to provide food and habitat. You can help feed your favorite butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and more by choosing to plant varieties attractive to pollinators. Annual and perennial wildflowers like New England Aster, Black Eyed Susan, Milkweed, Coreopsis and Cosmos provide pollen, nectar and shelter for hundreds of important species.

And to quote Alfred Austin: “The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.”

PLUMBING, HEATING & HVAC

Top 10 Reasons to Consider Hiring a Lawn Care Professional Farrand’s Landscapes

Hiring a lawn care professional can have many benefits for homeowners who want to maintain a healthy and beautiful lawn.

1. Save time: Lawn care can be a time-consuming task, especially if you have a large yard or complex landscaping needs. Hiring a professional can free up your time for other important tasks.

2. Expertise: Lawn care professionals have the knowledge and experience to diagnose and treat a variety of lawn problems, from pests and diseases to soil and nutrient imbalances.

3. Equipment: Lawn care professionals have access to specialized equipment and tools that can help them work more efficiently and effectively.

4. Consistency: Professional lawn care services can provide regular and consistent care for your lawn, ensuring that it stays healthy and beautiful all year round.

5. Customization: A lawn care professional can tailor their services to meet your specific needs and preferences, whether you need regular mowing, fertilization, or pest control.

6. Safety: Lawn care can be a physically demanding task, and it can also involve working with potentially hazardous chemicals and equipment. Hiring a professional can help ensure your safety and reduce the risk of injury.

7. Cost-effective: While hiring a lawn care professional may seem like an added expense, it can actually be cost-effective in the long run. A professional can help prevent costly lawn damage and ensure that your lawn stays healthy and beautiful for years to come.

8. Increased home value: A well-maintained lawn can add curb appeal and value to your home, making it more attractive to potential buyers.

9. Environmental benefits: Lawn care professionals can use eco-friendly practices and products to help reduce your environmental impact and create a healthier outdoor space.

10. Peace of mind: Hiring a lawn care professional can give you peace of mind knowing That your lawn is in good hands and will be well-maintained throughout the year.

Overall, hiring a lawn care professional can be a smart investment for homeowners who want to maintain a healthy and beautiful lawn without the time and hassle of DIY lawn care.

a top producing Realtor on the Ulster County Board of Realtors and recipient of the Coldwell Banker International President’s Circle Award which is given to the top 8% of Coldwell Banker sales associates worldwide, I will diligently guide you through your real estate transaction from beginning through to successful close. Contact me today to discuss your real estate needs.

Brainard Ridge Realty

237 South Street Windham, NY 12496

brainardridge.com

518 734 5333

Specializing in Windham Mountain and the surrounding area for over 35 years. Visit our web site at brainardridge.com for a variety of listings both on and off the mountain: Homes, Townhomes, Rentals and Land. Whatever your needs we are here for you. Call us today!

Coldwell Banker—

Timberland Properties

TimberlandProperties.com

CatskillPremier.com

Margaretville: 845 586 3321

Boiceville/Mt. Tremper: 845 657 4177

Delhi: 607 746 7400 • Stamford: 607 652 2220

Sidney: 607 604 4394 • Roscoe: 607 290 4130

Start your real estate career today! Unrivaled agent support & the best training in the region. Call or email to learn more: Debra G. Danner, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker/Branch Manager: 518 937 0924 or Debra.Danner@ Timberlandproperties.net.

Gordon Hunter

Mountain Realty

6528 Route 23A

Hunter, NY 12442

gordonrealty.com

518 589 9000

Gordon Hunter Mountain Realty is dedicated to serving you when you’re looking for property in Upstate New York and Northern Catskill Mountains. Our professional staff specializes in properties near Hunter Mountain and Windham

Why Garden?

Pat Kerns, Kerns Nursery

When asked to contribute an article for the Guide on gardening, I wondered what to do this time. Hmm. I could “wax Poetic” on colorful joyful annuals welcoming spring? Perhaps shrubs and perennials to bring form and shape to gardens and your home environment? Vegetables, now that’s a good one, right? Everyone wants to eat healthy home-grown food proudly ripening in your own soil cared for with your own hands. Better than “farm-to -table”, it’s “home-to-table”! A short walk, and the freshest food possible, grown by – YOU! Problem is it takes lots of work, lots of good soil. No there’s enough said about that already. So, I tied it up in a nutshell. Just gardening, in itself. Why? Well, this is what happened to me.

I started my enthusiasm when my grandmother had some plants and flowers behind our brick house in Queens. I used to love going out with her. I wanted her to grow corn. Then the back yard got cemented so we could have a pool. Well, no complaints from me.

In college, I would go visit the greenhouses and then bring backsmall plants for my window sill. I became very, involved with cactus. I eventually inherited a beautiful collection of lithopsfrom an expert grower! For my wedding my brother gave me a small greenhouse. I worked in the Windham Greenhouse for Phillip Van Valen, for a few years and Storys’s Nursery in Freehold. No one even sold more than a few perennials back then. Bob was landscaping. With twin babies at home, I startedgrowing perennials and selling them. The first summer I brought in $2000, mostly because of a couple kind neighbors. Then it exploded. Why? Because of loving what I did. Andsince then, I have had so, so, many local young people helping me grow the plants we offer at Kerns. I could teach and pass on this – whatever it is – passion? Now 40 years later. It just feels good to spread annuals, perennials, and more beautiful alive things though out our mountain top and way beyond. I love color and yes as a kid and an artist I had to have the biggest box of crayons! So that is what I cannot help doing with plants – I had to start a nursery to experience as much as I could; color, shape, form, intriguing attributes of each and every living green thing under my fingers.

Mountain ski resorts, including Hunter, Tannersville, Jewett, Lexington, Prattsville, Windham, and Ashland. We know the Catskill Mountains and look forward to showing you all that is available to see, do and live in our wonderful world.

Top Tips for Home Buyers

Heather Rieker, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Grist Mill Real Estate

First, find a great buyer’s agent to represent you. Your agent will work in your best interest and help you navigate the sometimes complicated buying process.

Grist Mill Real Estate

265 Main Street

Saugerties, NY 12442

gristmillrealestate.com

845 246 3200

Our real estate office in the heart of the historic village of Saugerties is highly regarded by clients and customers alike, known for their strong market expertise, exemplary individual service, and an enviable familiarity with what makes the area such a desirable place to live. Although we serve our local community, our largest sales market is NYC, and more recently homes for residents from Orange, Westchester, Rockland, and Dutchess counties. Established in 1974, Grist Mill Real Estate is proud to provide experienced service to our buyers and sellers. Knowledge of the Saugerties market is the most important service we offer our customers.

Before you start looking, have a clear financial plan in place (whether financing or paying cash). If financing, get a prequalification so you know how much house you can afford. Talk to several lenders to see what loan products they offer, and try to use a local lender who knows the local market. Factor in expenses like closing costs, moving expenses, and repairs. Avoid viewing properties that you can’t afford, as that will just add frustration to the process!

Keep an open mind, but be clear on non-negotiables and realistic on which home projects you can take on. Things like flooring, wall colors, etc. can be changed; location cannot. Finishing a basement to create more space might be doable … depending on your budget! Be VERY careful about forgoing a home inspection. Even if the property is being sold “as-is”, you can consult with an inspector to ensure you know what you are taking on.

Don’t be afraid of houses with multiple offers or bidding wars, especially in this market of limited inventory. It can be stressful bidding against other buyers on a house you love, but stick to your budget and make the best offer you can. When deciding how high you want to bid, think about the price at which you would be disappointed if another buyer got the property, versus the price at which you would be relieved you aren’t spending that much.

When negotiating with a seller, try to put your emotions aside and focus on your goals. Your agent can be your buffer to keep things on track.

Heart Land Realty

49 Reed Street

Coxsackie, NY 12051

HeartLandUpstate.com

518 731 2145

Whether you are looking to buy a home, or looking to sell, the team at Heart Land Realty can help you through the process. We are locally owned and staffed by individuals who have spent years living and working in this area. Our office allows our staff and customers a warm, friendly atmosphere while affording the privacy that is needed to conduct real estate transactions. The staff at Heart Land Realty are all leaders in the field of real estate and are ready to guide you through every aspect of your real estate transaction. Come by and visit our office in historic downtown Coxsackie. Our office is open 7 days a week. And remember, Heart is where the home is.

Helsmoortel Realty

148 Burt Street

Saugerties, NY 12477

helsmoortel.com

845 246 9555

Helsmoortel Realty has been offering professional and friendly service for over 20 years. We are perennial “Top Producers” and also have earned the “5 Star Professional Award.” We care very much about our buyers and sellers and work towards seamless transactions. Our business has been primarily based on referrals, which we feel is the biggest compliment of all. Owner and Broker, Thomasine Helsmoortel ABR, GRI, SRES, SRS, has served clients in Ulster County and the Hudson Valley for over 20 years.

John S. Pumilia,

Associate Broker, Shaw Country Realty

Property Management

5359 State Route 23

Windham, NY 12496

516 909 1021

windhamnyproperties.com

With unparalleled industry knowledge, experience, and local expertise, I’m the Windham, NY Real Estate and property management expert you’ve been looking for. Whether you’re buying or selling, I can help you get the best deal. I feel that having the right real estate agent means having an agent who is committed to helping you buy or sell your home with the highest level of expertise in your local market. This means also to help you in understanding each step of the buying or selling process. Because I’m a member of the Columbia-GreeneNorthern Dutchess Multiple Listing Service (MLS) I can show you any listing that is posted on my website. This commitment level, a long with my 35 years experience as a carpenter and contractor in residential construction has helped me build a remarkable track record of delivering results.

Carol Shaw, Broker/Owner

Shaw Country Realty

5359 State Route 23

Windham, NY 12496

518 734 3500

With offices in Windham and Hunter, NY, Shaw Country Realty has been your Mountain Top experts since 1985. Let Shaw Country Realty sell your property or find your weekend escape: land, townhouses, condos, homes, commercial property and seasonal rentals. If you are looking to sell your home, please let us know. We can accommodate your needs and walk you right through the process. Local Counts! We use a wide network of local attorneys, banks,

Powell’s Tree Care

Ian Powell of Powell’s Tree Care began doing tree work over 20 years ago. Prior to opening his own company, Ian worked for the forest service for eight years. He and his wife Shannon later decided to open their own tree business, and 10 years later Powell’s Tree Care is one of the best tree care companies in the Region.

With over two decades of experience, Ian is involved with every job from start to finish. All jobs are cleaned once complete, including any debris. Powell’s Tree Care has modern equipment and the skills to keep your property pristine. We won’t leave ruts in your lawn or oil stains on your driveway.

Ian and the crew are experienced in everything from delicate pruning of fruit trees and ornamental landscapes to large technical removals. Our tree care service knows how a tree should be pruned and trimmed to preserve and promote health. Ian takes pride in tree care, not just removal. Visit powellstreecare.com for more information.

contractors, and other services. Why is local better? The personal touch from people know know the mountaintop area and its uniqueness. Keeping it personal and friendly is the Shaw way!

Powell’s Tree Care

Earlton, NY

PowellsTreeCare@gmail.com

PowellsTree.com

518 378 0664

Powell’s Tree Care is your source for the best tree care in Greene County. We offer pruning, removals, viewscaping, woodscaping, storm and emergency clean-up, cabling, fertilization and stump grinding. Remember to always leave this type of work to professional arborists or tree experts. Ian Powell has two decades of experience, is on site at every job and takes pride in leaving the work site clean and mess free. We excel at tree care and tree care only.

SHEDS

Mountain Sheds

11111 State Route 23

Windham, NY 12496

mountainshedsny.com

518 588 9353

We carry Backyard Outfitters sheds and Adventure Play Sets. Our sheds are custom-made to fit your personal needs. We have deluxe cabins, playhouses, utility sheds, mini barns, single & double garages, animal shelters, wood sheds and chicken coops. We have several buildings in stock for immediate purchase, or you may customize your building with different options available. Sheds are open to browse seven days a week. Our inventory displays different options, along with colors, and sizes. These buildings are made locally with Superior Mennonite craftsmanship using the highest quality materials. We offer a buy or rent-to-own option with no credit check.

STONE AND MULCH

Blue Stone and Mulch LLC

11287State Route 23

Ashland, NY 12407

bluestoneandmulch@gmail.com

518 734 5173 or 518 734 3754

Blue Stone and Mulch has been in business for over 10 years, with over 20 years’ experience in excavation, stone, and mulch. We are master craftsmen at affordable prices. We bring creativity, experience, knowledge and expert guidance to help fit every budget. We are excited to show you some of the work we have done and to discuss how we can create what you envision!

Rachael’s Top Gardening Tips Story’s Nursery

Don’t rush the season! Putting tender plants out before their time will only stunt their growth. Early planting is okay for cold hardy plants like perennials, shrubs, and cool season vegetables and bedding plants; but you are better off waiting until the soil warms a bit to plant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and tender flowering plants.

Fertilize when planting. Espoma Bio-Tone is an excellent organic fertilizer for new plantings. It contains microbes and mycorrhizae which helps reduce transplant loss and ensures superior plant growth. For established beds use the appropriate Espoma fertilizer for maintenance feeding such as Rose-Tone, Garden-Tone, TreeTone etc. Organic fertilizers are recommended over chemical fertilizers. They gradually break down for consistent feeding and will not burn your plants. An early spring application is recommended and another in early summer.

Mulch mulch mulch! Mulching around your plants will retain moisture in the soil and help reduce the growth of weeds. Put down a good 3-4” for best results. Straw, composted bark and grass clippings are good choices. Refrain from using wood chip products as they rob the soil of nitrogen as they break down. Also take care to not pile up the mulch around the base of trees and plants which may cause crown rot and disease.

Allow ample room for each plant. We all get a little impatient waiting for plants to fill in. We plant them to close together then wind up having to move them later because they are too crowded. Planting too close to a walkway, deck or patio will result in plants encroaching into unwanted areas. Read your plant tag for the appropriate spacing for each cultivar to avoid this. If you are planting a bed with shrubs or perennials, you can always plant some annuals in between for a season or two until your plants start to fill in.

Gardening is supposed to be a stress reliever. Enjoy the process, take notes and learn from your mistakes. Happy gardening!

The Pleasure and Importance of Planting for Pollinators

By Maraleen Manos-Jones

Whenever a butterfly, bee, or bird visits my gardens, it makes me pause and look more closely. Their beauty enchants me and lifts my spirits. It is hard to imagine that we are on the precipice of losing so many, endangered by habitat loss, the abundant use of toxins, and climate change, among other factors. We have all become more aware of the perils facing our pollinators since their demise would profoundly affect the production of our food, with the loss of about a third of fruits and vegetables besides innumerable flowers. We cannot replace habitats, but by creating beautiful non-toxic mostly native gardens, we can nourish, aid, and abet our pollinators while helping ourselves.

Over a million individuals have created pollinator gardens that are registered with the Pollinator Partnership. Many communities have created public gardens along our Scenic Byways. There are now pollinator gardens in front of libraries and town halls, acting as models and inspiration in their municipalities. Because we all know that without insects, there would be no birds; without bees, no honey or many foods; without bats, many more mosquitoes; and without butterflies, a loss of inspiration, hope and pollination. We all have a part to play and can enjoy the process.

Most of us do not have an estate like Sir Winston Churchill’s in Sussex, England where he raised 1500 butterflies a season starting in 1946. No matter what size garden you have, be it a window box, a front or backyard, or 40 acres, putting your hands in good, rich, organic soil acts as an anti-depressant. A substance in the soil, Mycobacterium vaccae, stimulates serotonin production leading to a happier and more relaxed state of being. It influences neurons in a similar way as an anti-depressant, only with no negative side effects.

Every window box adds a nourishing place to nectar and rest on pollinators’ meanderings. Many years ago, I was thrilled when a monarch successfully emerged on milkweed in a planter outside my city window. City butterflies need our help too.

Even if you are new to gardening, you will find that native plants are easier to tend and need less watering in addition to attracting local butterflies, birds and bees. For those afraid of bees and wasps, I find a laissez-faire attitude works well; I pay no attention to them, nor do they pay attention to me.

Choosing the right plant for the right place does wonders for its health and hardiness. Is there full sun, partial shade or deep shade? Is the area dry or wet? What kind of soil, clay or sandy?

Here in the Catskills, there are always rocks of all sizes with which to contend. Plan your garden for bursts of color, at least three of every flower. It is important and a joy to always have something blooming from early spring through late autumn.

What are weeds but gifts that we humans haven’t planted? Those little bursts of bright yellow dotting our lawns that we’ve been taught to hate, the ubiquitous dandelion, is one of the earliest flowers to provide for the early spring bees and butterflies, besides being beneficial to us humans. The early leaves before flowering are nutritional and tasty in salads, the flowers can be made into wine, and tea made from the dried roots supports our immune systems, just as the nectar gives a boost to the immune systems of bees and butterflies. They look cheerful in lawns, not in my garden beds. Fortunately there is a tool that looks like a mini-crowbar that easily digs up the roots, which I then dry for tea.

Lawns cover about forty million acres in the U.S. and use more herbicide per acre than the Big Agricultural sector. Clover was very much a part of lawns up until the early fifties when it also became the target of the herbicide/fertilizer industry. Clover absorbs nitrogen from the air and directs it into the earth as a natural fertilizer where it is easily utilized by grass and other plants. In addition to bees and butterflies adoring its delicious nectar, it is a host plant for Sulphur and White butterflies. Violets look beautiful in a lawn besides being the host plant for Fritillary butterflies. By transforming lawns into more natural landscapes, we can collectively help save our pollinators, improve water quality, and improve our own health.

There are simple steps that increase the health of your lawn while decreasing the need for chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and watering. One such step is to leave grass cuttings on the lawn, which decreases the need for any nitrogen fertilizer by fifty percent. There are many approaches to creating colorful pollinator friendly mini meadows in your lawns. Mow paths through the property. Create small circles scattered amidst the grass where you loosen the soil, add organic compost, seeds or seedlings and mulch. Water well. Encourage them with your words and deeds.

There are over seventeen thousand species of butterflies worldwide, about seventy species in the Northeast. Each species

of butterfly has taken millennia to develop a particular relationship with a specific plant. Each species lays her eggs only on the host plant that will support her caterpillars.

Monarchs lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed, which is being eradicated by extensive use of Round-up, whose main ingredient is glyphosate. Traditionally, milkweed grew alongside cornfields, but now no more. Iowa alone has lost about 98% of its milkweed due to the application of this herbicide. This has had devastatingly negative effects on the monarch population, one of the most iconic, beloved, and well-known butterfly species in the United States.

Milkweed not only supports monarchs, but many species of pollinators are attracted to its sweet smelling flowers; when they are blooming in early summer, they infuse the air with a vanilla, cinnamon, honey aroma. The seeds spread in the fall, airborne on their silken threads, blowing in the wind. The seeds need to striate, that is overwinter by freezing, thawing, soaking, before sprouting in late spring. You can hasten that process by soaking seeds for 48 hours, putting them in the freezer for another 48, repeating the process at least three cycles, then planting, scratching the earth before covering the seeds with a thin layer of soil at the edges of your property. You can now find various species of milkweed at many nurseries.

Where we buy our plants has a profound impact on pollinators. Almost half of all garden plants are bought in big box stores where most plants are grown from seeds treated with a pesticide called neonicitinoids, neonics, for short, which expresses in every cell of the plant: the stem, leaves, flowers, nectar and pollen. It is persistent, lasting for months or even years in the soil and waterways. A team of international scientists synthesized information

from over a thousand published peer-reviewed studies concluding that neonics pose a serious threat to pollinators. When bees ingest a large dose of a neonic pesticide, they die immediately. They also concluded unequivocally that neonics accumulate in a bee’s system affecting smell, memory, reproduction, feeding behavior, flight, and the ability to fight disease over time, contributing to their decline.

Ask the nursery if their plants are pesticide free. Many more nurseries have designated sections for pollinator plants. You don’t want to lure the pollinators to their death. The bottom line is what the multi-billion dollar pesticide industry understands. Money talks: if most, perhaps all of us, stopped buying the poisons that are being peddled, possibly we could alter the trajectory ahead.

A sprinkling of annuals among your native perennial and vegetable gardens augments them with a variety of nectar sources and an array of colors, cleomes, cosmos, sunflowers, and zinnias among them. Planting flowers amidst your vegetables makes them more robust. Some flowers, like marigolds, offer protection to tomato plants, others are delicious in salads, such as nasturtium or borage.

Bushes and trees are host plants to many local butterfly species besides offering shelter from the storms: Azaleas, Blueberries, Dogwoods, Spicebush, Turtlehead, along with Birch, Cherry, Hackberry, Oak, Plum, Walnut and Willow trees among them.

Buddleia Davidii, Butterfly Bush, a non-native, flowers early summer until the first frost, and is a great source of nectar for all the pollinators, but needs continual deadheading, cutting off of the spent flowers, to keep it constantly blooming.

While enjoying your morning coffee notice how your plants are doing. It is easier to deal with problems, such as aphids, in the early stages. There are many books and online sources for planting and tending to your pollinator gardens, some listed at the end of this article.

I hope you stop by the Pollinator Garden in front of Kenco Outfitters on Route 28 for inspiration. Although I initiated the creation of this garden, many helpers offered time, energy, and funds. All the local nurseries donated plants, as did many local folks. It became a community effort to welcome humans and all living creatures to the Catskills.

The effect of a butterfly’s wing can be felt around the world and beating wings beating no more has enormous implications. When we create healthy gardens, we nourish our pollinators and ourselves while helping to create green corridors for their safe passage. We can save our planet one garden at a time.

About the author: Butterflies have inspired Maraleen Manos-Jones for fifty years. She is the recipient of the 2022 Pollinator Advocate Award from the Pollinator Partnership. She is an author, artist, educator, master gardener, and environmental activist. Visit her website at spiritofbutterflies.com

Resources to Learn More

Websites

pollinator.org/guides

xerces.org/pollinator-conservation nps.gov/subjects/pollinators/northeast-card.htm catskillnativenursery.com/plant-lists-for-wildlife.html

Books

Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy

Mini Meadows by Mike Lizotte

Butterfly Gardening by Xerces Society/Smithsonian Institution

Butterfly Gardens by Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Pollinator Gardens Along the Byway

Birds, Bees, Butterflies

They add color and joy to our lives, but more than that, they are an indispensable part of the food chain.

These small, hardworking, creatures give us the food we eat by pollinating home gardens as well as more than 100 farm crops that sustain 90% of the human population. Our economy, too, is therefore linked to their survival.

But the winged creatures that do so much for us are under stress from:

• Chemicals: We have added to our environment hundreds of toxins that harm pollinator nervous systems and are suspected to contribute to Colony Collapse Disorder that has devasted the honeybee population in recent years.

• Habitat loss: Replacing open fields where wildflowers grow with buildings, roads, manicured lawns and unnatural gardens has removed living space and food sources for pollinators.

To lend pollinators a hand, the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway has hung out the welcome sign! Here’s how you can help:

• Plant for the pollinators. Keep your yard and garden organic. Shop carefully for seeds—ask the vendor I they contain neonicotinoids, an herbicide used to treat many mass-produced vegetable and flower seeds. It is deadly to bees and butterflies.

By Carol O’Beirne

• Don’t Mow! Allow weeds and wildflowers to grow until they finish flowering to provide much-needed nectar for pollinators. Dandelions, for example, are one of the season’s earliest food sources for bees. Milkweeds are an important food source and nursery for the threatened Monarch butterfly.

• Avoid insecticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. Most herbicides contain glyphosate, which is harmful to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. It is also indicated as a carcinogen for humans. The Woodstock Pollinator Pathway website has helpful information about the use of insecticides and their impact on Pollinators. Visit woodstocknypollinatorpathway.org

Take Action:

Become a citizen scientist. Learn about invasive plants and insects that are altering our ecosystem. You might want to sign on as a spotter with the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership. Be aware of public initiatives. Learn what the NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environment Conservation is currently changing its ways to provide pollinators with revised mowing protocols on city lands in the NYC Watershed avoiding cutting weeds and wildflowers before they flower, and preserve milkweed, which Monarchs particularly rely on for food and habitat.

Visit ScenicCatskills.com for more information about pollinator gardens along the CMSB.

Left top & bottom: Building a pollinator garden at the entrance to the village of Margaretville. Center: The completed garden

Right: Barbara Hagstrom at the pollinator garden at the entrance to Pine Hill

Catskills Spring in the

THE ARTS

Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum

7971 Main Street Hunter, NY 12442 catskillmtn.org

518 263 2063

The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum is the home of the Steven E. Greenstein Piano Collection, a one-of-a-kind collection of historic pianos and musical artifacts. A destination unlike any other in the United States, the Piano Performance Museum offers a unique glimpse into the development of pianos in Europe and America over the past four centuries. Open on Fridays and Saturdays 11am to 3pm by appointment. Email ppm@ catskillmtn.org or call 518 263 2063 before your visit, to ensure that the museum will be open.

Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts

34 Big Hollow Road Maplecrest, NY 12454 sugarmaples.org

A program of the Catskill Mountain Foundation, Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts offers short term adult workshop programming in ceramics, painting, drawing, fiber arts and weekly classes in ceramics and fiber arts during the summer season. Weekly classes in painting, drawing and ceramics continue during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. All classes are led by artists who are renowned and celebrated in their field. The summer Art Explorers program provides opportunities for local youth to explore their creativity through art exploration.

Photo by Jeffrey Langford

Photo by Holly Cohen, golightlyink.com

ATTRACTIONS

Gilboa Museum

122 Stryker Road

Gilboa, NY 12076

gilboafossils.org

607 437 7132

The Gilboa Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the heritage of Gilboa, NY and the cultural treasure of the Devonian Period Gilboa Fossils. The Museum features videos about the fossils along with historical displays about the area and the town of Gilboa. We are excited to announce the opening of the Juried History Center at the Gilboa Museum. Funded by a generous grant from Nicholas Juried, this history center will enable us to preserve and present the amazing history of the region. The Gilboa Museum also has several new, permanent displays, including logging saws, antique farming and barn tools, artifacts from the original town of Gilboa and large Devonian tree size fossils. The museum is open every weekend from 12:00pm to 4:30pm from May 27 to Columbus Day Weekend in October.

Hanford Mills Museum

51 Co Rd 12

East Meredith, NY 13757

hanfordmills.org

607 278 5744

Experience a story of innovation, ingenuity and entrepreneurship at a historic working mill site. Hanford Mills Museum offers insights into

the past and lessons about the relationships between people, the things they make, and the places they live. Join Hanford Mills as we celebrate our 50th anniversary season! Visit hanfordmills.org for more information about visiting the museum and our 2023 schedule of programs and events.

BOOKSTORE

Briars & Brambles Books

Route 296 & South Street

Windham, NY 12496

briarsandbramblesbooks.com

518 750 8599

Briars and Brambles Books

is your go-to Indie Bookstore in the heart of the Catskill Mountains. Briars & Brambles

Books is a dream come true for owner & part-time Windham resident, Jen Schwartz. Jen has combined her love of books with her experience as a long-time library volunteer and past library board president to create an inviting, knowledgeable and professional atmosphere. Jen’s hand-picked team includes: a rare-book aficionado, a former teacher with her own line of children’s decor, and a college student with remarkable curiosity. The Briars & Brambles team understands that being a bookseller involves so much more than simply “selling books” and is committed to providing unparalleled personal attention.

CAR DEALERSHIP

Thorpe’s GMC

5964 Main Street

Tannersville, NY 12485

thorpesgmcinc.com

518 589 7142

Thorpe’s unmatched service and diverse GMC inventory have set them apart as the preferred dealer in Tannersville. With a full-service team of sales and service professionals, visit them today to discover why they have the best reputation in the area. They offer one of the largest GMC inventories in New York, and their trained sales staff will help you every step of the way.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Central Catskills

Chamber of Commerce

Margaretville, NY 12455

centralcatskills.com

ScenicCatskills.com

845 586 3300

The Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce works to advance the economic and community vitality of the many hamlets, villages and towns in our region and promote and foster events, programs and initiatives that will support its members. Collaboration and innovation will inspire community enhancement and quality of life opportunities for all who live, work and visit our communities.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Main Street Community Center

5494 NY-23

Windham, NY 12496

mainstreetcenter.org

518 734 4168

The Main Street Community Center strives to build a caring, welcoming and inclusive environment to benefit all of the communities on the Mountain Top. Centrally located in Windham, the building contains multiple rooms, including two bathrooms (one is handicap accessible), a large sitting area, a conference room, individual workspaces with computer monitors and a large screen TV, free WIFI, access to printers, and a studio for creative activities. The Artist’s Hideaway provides individual lockers for artists to safely store their supplies. There is plenty of on site parking. The Center has an ever increasing offering of classes, programs, and events for people of all ages.

Phoenix Web Collective

7947 Main Street

Hunter, NY 12442

phoenixwebcollective.com

518 628 5101

Mutual aid resource on the mountain! Local Artist Shop, Makers’ Space, and our Free Mart—a place where you can get gently used and vintage

clothing, home goods, food, toys, books, music, movies, jewelry, electronics, and more for free or “pay-what-youcan.” We also host small events and workshops. All are welcome!

FAIR

Woodstock-New Paltz

Art & Crafts Fair

May 27-29, 2023

Ulster County Fairgrounds

249 Libertyville Road

New Paltz, NY 12561 quailhollow.com

A Hudson Valley favorite, The Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair, returns for its 42nd anniversary year and 80th show this Memorial Day weekend at the Ulster County Fairgrounds. Visitors will delight in hundreds of juried artists and craftspeople in over 10 media categories, alongside ongoing demonstrations, live musical performances, small-batch artisanal and prepared-on-site foods, local wine, beer, and spirits, and a children’s craft tent. Hours are 10 am-5:30 pm May 27 & 28; 10 am-4 pm May 29. Rain or shine. Buses welcome.

ICE CREAM

The Ice Cream Station

76 Main Street

Phoenicia, NY 12464

845 688 3333

Amidst the restaurants and shops crowded along Main Street in Phoenicia, a dessert oasis awaits you inside the Ice Cream Station. The name of the place says it all: a bounty of traditional and unique ice-cream flavors is ready to be scooped into a dish, cone, milkshake, or whatever else strikes your fancy. Open from May through late October, The Ice Cream Station offers hard and soft ice cream, shakes, cones, sundaes, malts, candy, and homemade fudge. The Ice Cream Station is owned by the Kirk Family, who also operate The Nest Egg just up the road.

LIVE PERFORMANCES

Catskill Mountain Foundation 2023 Performing Arts Season

Doctorow Center for the Arts

7971 Main St., Hunter, NY 12442

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

6050 Main St.

Tannersville, NY 12485

catskillmtn.org

Ticket line: 518 263 2063

2023 marks our 25th Season of bringing the arts to the mountaintop, and we’re celebrating with our largest season yet! Join us for over 70 performances of classical, pop, and jazz music, theater, dance, and events for families in our two stunning venues in Hunter and Tannersville. Performances in May include Go Home Tiny Monster with The Gottabees on May 6, Kyle Marshall Choreography on May 13, Comedy in the Catskills (a production of the Maude Adams Theater Hub) on May 20, The Brothers Doobie on May 27, and the Academy of Fortepiano Performance Faculty Concert on May 28.

Colony

22 Rock City Road

Woodstock, NY 12498

colonywoodstock.com

The Smartest Rendezvous in the Catskills. Situated in the heart of Woodstock, NY, the Colony is unlike any other. The moment you step inside our historic venue, you’ll instantly

feel the welcoming vibe and spirit of a true Catskills artists’ haven. Stop by for a bite to eat, kick back with your favorite libation and enjoy some of the area’s best shows. Although our building is nearly a century old, our amenities include modern state-ofthe-art sound and lighting systems and seasonal outdoor dining and music in our beer garden. Contact us to book your special wedding or private event.

LODGING

Emerson Resort & Spa

5340 Route 28

Mt. Tremper, NY 12457

emersonresort.com

845 688 2828

Emerson Resort & Spa is a hidden treasure surrounded by the splendor of the Catskill Mountains. Open spaces and oversized windows expose stunning views and bring the beauty of the outside in. Enjoy spacious accommodations in the contemporary Inn or Adirondack-style Lodge, nature-inspired spa treatments, mouth-watering meals at Woodnotes Grille or Spa Bites, The Shops at Emerson and the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope.

Photo by Holly Cohen, golightlyink.com

Greenville Arms

11135 State Route 32

Greenville, NY 12083

greenvillearms.com

518 966 5219

Originally built in 1889, our historically registered Inn is situated on six acres of gardens, lawns, and woodlands. The Queen Anne Revival-style main house, renovated Carriage House, and recently constructed Cottage building are host to 16 guest rooms open year-round to guests. Every guest room is uniquely decorated with a blend of antiques and modern amenities. A hot, cooked-to-order breakfast is included with each room.

Hampton Inn

1307 Ulster Avenue

Kingston, NY 12401

Kingston.hamptoninn.com

845 382 2600

Additional location in New Paltz:

4 S. Putt Corners Road

New Paltz, NY 12561

Newpaltz.hamptoninn.com

845 255 4200

Our hotel is near I-87, with several restaurants within walking distance. Historic Downtown Waterfront and Uptown Kingston are both just four miles away with many local shops and dining options. Spend some family time at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, seven miles away. An hour drive or less from 3 popular ski mountains. Unwind in our indoor saltwater pool. Enjoy complimentary hot breakfast and free WiFi.

Windham Manor

1161 Co Rd 10

Windham, NY 12496

windhammanor.com

518 944 1448

Our serene 45-acre property features a beautiful twelve-bedroom Victorian mansion, a newly-constructed luxury reception barn, and breathtaking mountain views. The Main House, which can accommodate up to 24 overnight guests, offers 12 private bedrooms, an on-site gym, a full spa, a large kitchen, ADA accommodations, and sprawling communal areas. It’s the perfect space for any small reception and is also ideal for a weekend getaway with friends or family; a wellness retreat; or a corporate offsite event. Just a few steps west of The Main House, The Barn at Windham Manor can hold up to 300 guests for dinner and dancing. With beautiful tall ceilings, tons of natural light, and no detail spared, the space offers the perfect mix of classic mountain charm and unique modern luxury. We also offer various outdoor wedding ceremony locations throughout the property—one more beautiful than the next!

Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Mountain

Cinema

7971 Main Street

Hunter, NY 12442

catskillmtn.org

518 263 4702

Top Hollywood, foreign & independent films just a mile west of Hunter Mountain and a short drive from Windham

MOVIE THEATER

Mountain. Shows run Friday through Sunday. Also available for rental to show movies or play video games.

NATURAL FOODS

Sunflower Market

75 Mill Hill Road

Woodstock, NY 12498

24 Garden Street

Rhinebeck, NY, 12572

sunflowernatural.com

Mother Earth’s Storehouse

300 Kings Mall Ct.

Kingston, NY 12401

249 Main St.

Saugerties, NY 12477

motherearthstorehouse.com

845 336 5541 (Kingston)

845 246 9614 (Saugerties)

845 679 5361 (Woodstock)

845 876 2555 (Rhinebeck)

Since 1978, we’ve dedicated ourselves to bringing our customers whole-health products they can feel good serving to the people they love. We work with local farmers & businesses to ensure that we always know where our food comes from. We are devoted to providing a large selection of clean & sustainably sourced food, high-quality organic produce & all-natural products. When you buy from us, you’re buying from a company that is committed to promoting well-being for you & your environment.

Founded in 1978, Mother Earth’s Storehouse is proud to serve you from two different locations, all in the Hudson Valley region of New York. No matter which store it is you encounter, you will be greeted by the best possible customer service our employees can provide, as well as a grand selection of high quality organic and natural products. Come to any of our convenient store locations and see for yourself. Sign up for a Mother Earth’s rewards card today and start saving!

PHARMACY & NATURAL WELLNESS

Wellness RX LLC

53 Main Street

Phoenicia, NY 12464

pharmacyforthepublicgood.com

5980 Main Street

Tannersville, NY 12485

wellnessrxllc.com

518 589 9500

Pharmacy for the Public Good is excited to announce its first nonprofit community pharmacy in Phoenicia. Stop in and meet the team and browse our wide selection of tradi-

tional and natural medicine! Follow our journey at pharmacyforthepublicgood.org. Also visit our pharmacy Wellness Rx in Tannersville, and online at wellnessrxllc.com.

PHOTOGRAPHER

Francis X. Driscoll

Photography: Images of the Northern Catskills

Work available for purchase at: Tannersville Antiques & Artisans: 518 589 5600

Rustic Mountain Antiques: 518 589 1202

Smitty’s Nursery: 518 734 3489 francisxdriscoll.com • 518 821 1339

A frequent contributor to the Guide magazine, Francis X. Driscoll is an award-winning nature photographer whose work involves total immersion in a setting so that he might capture that rare glimpse. His primary subject is the Catskill Forest Preserve. He shares his craft with others by leading hikes, conducting workshops and giving private instruction.

PRINTING SERVICES

Catskill Mountain Printing Services

7971 Main Street Hunter, NY 12442

518 263 2001

Your one-stop shop for fast, personal service for all of your printing needs. Graphic design services are available, and we can print green!

RADIO STATION

WRIP 97.9FM

wripfm.com

Streaming at rip979.com

RIP 97.9 is the radio voice of the Mountaintop and Valley. Broadcasting 24/7 with the equivalent of 6,000 Watts of power, we are the only radio station covering the entire region between the Hudson Valley and Oneonta. WRIP is independently owned and operated. WRIP is heard on these FM frequencies: 97.9 in Windham and Hunter, 97.5 in Durham and Greenville, 103.7 in Catskill and Hudson, 104.5 in Stamford and Delaware County, and streaming worldwide at rip979.com.

REGIONAL INFORMATION

Catskill Visitor’s Center

5096 State Route 28

Mt. Tremper, NY 12457

catskillsvisitorscenter.org

845 688 3369

The Catskill Visitor’s Center is your gateway to Catskills, where you can learn about the vast outdoor recreational opportunities in the area as well as discover the rich cultural and natural history of the Region.

RESTAURANTS

A Slice of Italy

1316 Ulster Avenue

Kingston, NY 12401

asliceofitaly7115.com

845 336 7115

For years we have been providing the Kingston area with finest Italian dishes, pizza, hot and cold subs, salads and more made with the freshest ingredients and served with five star customer service. We have a full bar featuring a range of red and white wines, bottled beers, beers on tap and liquor. We also cater, and pride ourselves on being able to deliver our quality restaurant dishes right to your door. Whatever the event, no matter how many or how few, we are there for you. Open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm, closed on Sundays.

Arkville Caboose

43285 State Route 28

Arkville, NY 12406

845 586 1122

facebook.com/ ArkvilleBreadBreakfast

Since 2009, the Arkville Caboose offers some of the best breakfast and lunch this side of the mountain, perfect for fueling up before or after a day exploring the Catskills. Located in an old caboose, right alongside the historic Delaware-Ulster Railroad tracks, this is not just a restaurant but also a roadside attraction. The Caboose has all of your breakfast favorites and a seriously fine lunch menu that changes daily.

Bear Cantina

In the Bearsville Center:

295A Tinker St. Woodstock, NY 12498

thebearcantina.com

845 684 7223

Contemporary Mexican made fresh! All of your favorites are here: burritos, tacos, quesadillas, fajitas, chimichangas and more, with several meat, fish, chicken and vegan options, and a kids menu. Enjoy streamside dining with both indoor & outdoor seating. View our full menu and place your order on the Clover app.

Open Monday-Thursday 3-9 pm; Friday-Saturday 12-10 pm; Sunday 12-9 pm.

Binnekill Tavern

746 Main St.

Margaretville, NY 12455 binnekill.com

845 586 4884

Binnekill Tavern, located in the center of Margaretville, is a warm, friendly tavern featuring “Mountain Comfort Food”. The dining room provides riverside views and a large copper fireplace. The kitchen expertly cooks modern tavern classics like Lamb Meatloaf, Pork Schnitzel, burgers, homemade soups, daily seafood specials and much more. The Tavern serves an extensive list of inventive hand-crafted cocktails, local beers on tap and a well curated wine list. Open for dinner Thursday-Sunday from 4 to 8 pm, and lunch Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 pm. Reservations recommended.

Brandywine

11157 State Route 23 Windham, NY 12496 brandywinewindham.com

518 734 3838

For the past 35 years, this fullservice Italian restaurant has offered great food and impeccable service. Share wonderful memories with your loved ones as we fill your table with delicious Italian cuisine. Born and raised in Southern Italy, owner Louis Caracciolo has mastered the art of Italian cookery. We guarantee that we know the formula to capture the rich flavor of your favorite Italian dishes.

Che Figata Bistro

10 Reed Street

Coxsackie, NY 12051

chefigatabistro.org

518 731 2220

We are a small village, family owned Italian restaurant with a BIG passion for food. Consider this a place where everybody knows your name, where you can gather, laugh and be merry. We’ve got something for everyone here in downtown Coxsackie! A wide selection of antipasti, salads, burgers & sandwiches, pasta, risotto, meat & fish dishes, plus a weekly changing brunch menu serving breakfast and lunch dishes. Serving lunch Thursday & Friday 11 am to 3 pm; Saturday brunch & lunch 10:30 am to 3 pm; dinner Sunday 3 to 8 pm, Monday 4 to 9 pm, Wednesday through Saturday 4 to 9 pm. Closed Tuesday. Also offering in house & off-premises catering.

Chef Deanna

1645 County Highway 6 Bovina Center, NY 13740

chefdeanna.com

Weddings and special event catering, with delivery available for larger events! Chef Deanna has been on the cutting edge of the sustainable food industry for over 15 years. Surrounded by farmers and local food makers, Chef Deanna creates beautiful dishes using her Sicilian heritage and her love of everything sweet and savory.

First Capital Poke Bar

310 Wall Street Kingston, NY

firstcapitalpokebar.com

845 514 2801

Poke is a traditional Hawaiian dish made of fresh fish, limu (seaweed), inamona or kukui nut (candlenut) and sea salt. From its original form, Poke has evolved into a local “must have” at every social event, celebration or gathering. Poke, once thought of like a pupu or appetizer, is now commonly eaten as a meal in the form of a Poke bowl — fresh Poke on a bed of hot steamed rice or on a fresh crisp salad. Our seafood products are sourced from responsible producers and vendors that have the highest standards in assuring your seafood will be safe and wholesome. Open seven days: weekdays 11 am to 9 pm and weekends 12 to 8 pm.

Gracie’s Luncheonette

969 Main Street

Leeds, NY 12451

graciestruckny.com

518 943 9363

Our diner-style burgers, fried chicken sandwich, loaded fries and donuts are our signature menu items. All of our breads, pastries and desserts are made fresh in house every day. We make all of our own condiments and even our own cheese. We buy whole beef from Josef Meiller’s farm in Pine Plains, NY and we grind

our own special blend for our burgers as well as cut our own steaks. We also cure and smoke our own bacon, pastrami and other meats. All eggs, dairy, produce and other meats are all sourced as locally as possible. the potatoes for our French fries are even grown right in Catskill at Story’s Farm and hand-cut daily!

High Falls Cafe

2842 Route 209

North Marbletown, NY 12484

highfallscafe.com

845 687 2699

Family owned and chef operated since 2005. Scratch kitchen, our dishes are made to order using fresh ingredients. Daily specials. Live music and events weekly. Reservations are highly suggested. Open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday 11:30 pm to 5 pm, dinner 5 pm to 9 pm. Sunday breakfast 9 am to 1 pm and lunch 1 pm to 3:30 pm. Bar open later all nights and closes at bartenders discretion. Closed on Mondays. Check out our menus and event calendar at highfallscafe.com or like us on Facebook for daily updates at facebook.com/highfallscafe1

IMAGES OF THE NORTHERN CATSKILLS

By Francis X. Driscoll

Hunter Mountain Brewery

7267 Route 23A

Hunter, NY 12442

HMBCatskills.com

518 263 3300

Over 15 home brewed beers on tap including seasonal ales, IPA’s, porters, stouts, lagers and more. Available for in house and take out in our 64 oz growlers or canned four packs. Weekly specials include taco Tuesdays, sushi Thursdays, and prime rib Fridays. Stop in for the best views and brews on the mountain top. Hours of operation: Tuesday through Thursday 3 to 9 pm, Friday-Sunday 12 to 8:30 pm. Closed on Mondays.

Jessie’s Harvest House

5819 Main Street

Tannersville, NY 12485

jessiesharvesthouse.com

518 589 5445

Jessie’s Harvest House Restaurant and Lodge is a welcoming & cozy place to gather, featuring a delicious menu of American-style cuisine and elevated comfort foods, with locallysourced ingredients, a friendly tavern, and rustic country lodging. Familyowned & family-run, we love to share all the freshest foods our area has to offer! Catering is available.

Peekamoose

Restaurant & Tap Room

8373 State Route 28

Big Indian, NY 12410

peekamooserestaurant.com

845 254 6500

Devin and Marybeth Mills

hail from some of New York City’s finest restaurants: The Hudson River Club, Picholine, Le Bernardin, Guastavino’s, Atlantic Grill, Remi Restaurant, and the famed Gramercy Tavern. Seeking to move closer to the farms supplying their menu, they have beautifully restored this country farmhouse set among the bucolic Catskill Mountains. The restaurant supports local growers by changing their menu daily, to represent the freshest ingredients available.

Tabla

6033 Main Street

Tannersville, NY 12485

tablacatskills.com

518 589 4008

Upscale Mediterranean-style taverna serving small plates and drinks. At Tabla we are committed to serving up great food and drink highlighting local produce when available. On the menu are tapas-style dishes—such as crispy octopus, harissamarinated carrots, and garlic shrimp. Main dishes include a spice-rubbed rotisserie chicken, a grilled whole branzino, and steaks. There’s pizza on the menu as well: everything from a classic margherita to a kale pesto. Pair your meal with a cocktail from the extensive drink menu, which includes classic cocktails such as martinis and negronis, signature cocktails, and low and no ABV offerings. We are a restaurant invested in our local community, and to that end we have implemented a Living Wage fee.

Tito Bandito’s

Taco & Tequila Bar

302 Main Street

Pine Hill, NY 12465

titobanditos.com

845 254 3113

Tito Bandito’s is the spot to enjoy modern Mexican cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails. Our menu features traditional and inventive tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and much more. The bar serves local and Mexican beer on tap, specialty margaritas, and an extensive tequila list. Fun and casual. Indoor and outdoor seating. Take-out.

Woodnotes Grille at Emerson Resort & Spa

5340 Route 28

Mt. Tremper, NY 12457

emersonresort.com

845 688 2828, option 6

Contemporary cuisine, locally sourced and classically crafted, prepared with fresh ingredients and unforgettable flavors that hone in on the local spirit. Enjoy our Spa Bites menu with a variety of cheese and veggie boards, flatbreads, housemade soups, sandwiches, freshly prepared açai and smoothie bowls, seasonal specialty cocktails and more!

Camp Catskill

6006 Main Street

Tannersville, NY 12485

campcatskill.co

518 303 6050

Your destination sustainable gear & gifts in the Great Northern Catskills, including clothing, footwear, backpacks, and hiking gear. Our mission is to help you feel good about what you buy, what you wear, and the gear you use (and reuse) in the wild. It’s our belief that having the right gear lets you spend more time outside in nature, which in turn connects you directly to the importance of preserving the natural wonders of our world. That’s why we work with brands that care about their impact on the planet and its people, and why we’ve committed to donate 1% of our revenue to environmental nonprofits here in the Catskills.

The Nest Egg

84 Main Street

Phoenicia, NY 12464

thenesteggcountrystore.com

nesteggshop.com

845 688 5851

An old-fashioned country store in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, offering relaxed shopping and mountain hospitality. You’ll find lots of specialty and artisan crafted foods here, from local maple syrup, honey, jams, jellies and preservers, to nostalgic candies and gourmet chocolate, to gourmet peanut butter, and more!

The Nest Egg is also your source for mountain clothing and souvenirs, including Minnetonka Moccasins, t-shirts & sweatshirts, local area books and hiking maps, candles, soaps, incense, jewelry, toys, puzzles, games and souvenirs. Our home-made delicious fudge is worth the trip! Owner Robin Kirk’s family has owned The Nest Egg since 1968.

RETAIL

Catskill Center for Conservation & Development

43355 Route 28

Arkville, NY 12406

catskillcenter.org

845 586 2611

Since 1969, the Catskill Center has led the effort to protect and foster the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of the Catskill Region.

411 Main Street

Catskill, NY 12414

greenecountyedc.com

518 719 3290

SERVICES SPAS

Greene County Economic Development Corporation

Your gateway to establishing your business in Greene County. Their team connects entrepreneurs, developers, and corporate leadership with resources, municipalities, and investment incentives for job-creating businesses.

Emerson Spa

5340 Route 28

Mt. Tremper, NY 12457

emersonresort.com

845 688 2828

Emerson Spa provides a serene experience that combines our natural surroundings with the deep relaxation effects of stone therapy and custom design treatments to suit each guest. Please call for a reservation.

MENLA | Dewa Spa

375 Pantherkill Road

Phoenicia, NY 12464

menla.org

Menla is a hidden oasis in the heart of the Catskill mountains. Featuring wellness and spiritual retreats as well as exclusive getaways, and the world-class Dewa Spa. Immerse yourself in the magic of pristine mountain forests. Explore hiking trails, encounter wildlife, and discover a rich tapestry of wellness experiences and activities. Dewa Spa’s unique architecture and Tibetan accents evoke peace and tranquillity. Eastern

and Western treatments, such as Tibetan KuNye massage, herbal baths, Shirodhara, sounds baths, energy readings, and customized facials are a few of the lavish therapies found on our spa.

WINES & LIQUOR

Elevated Wine & Spirits

7261 Route 23A

Hunter, NY 12442

518 263 4184

We’re always expanding our selection of traditional, organic, biodynamic, and natural wines, plus bartender-selected spirits including single village mezcals and small batch bourbons. From Barefoot Chardonnay to Cru Beaujolais, from Fireball to Fred #5, we are a wine & spirits shop for anyone at any budget. Local spirits too.

Town & Country Liquors

330 Route 12 Saugerties, NY 12477

townandcountryliquorstore.com

845 246 8931

Our selection of wines and spirits is among the best in the Hudson Valley. Our friendly helpful staff is here to assist you in finding the right beverage: we have a huge selection of wines and spirits from all over the world.

New York Zipline Adventures

Located at Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl Route 23A

Hunter, NY 12442

ZiplineNewYork.com

518 263 4388

New York Zipline Adventures at Hunter Mountain is one of the largest zipline adventure destinations in North America, and was the first world class tour of its kind in the states. Tours are designed as challenge-by-choice outdoor adventures. They are known for their professionally trained and enthusiastic guide staff that combines education and entertainment with superior safety standards. Thrilling adventures are waiting for you just 2 hours from NYC.

Marvelous Messy Muddy Mountain Mucking

By Greg Madden

Why would anyone CHOOSE to exercise in the mud and furthermore, why would someone PAY to participate in this mud centric free for all? Can there possibly be an answer to the above questions? Well, (insert British accent here) we muddy well hope so, then don’t we now !!

So as we turn the corner into May, firmly past the lion/lamb threshold of winter into spring, and just before the grass stain season sets in, we still have some flashbacks to colder times when the ground used to be frozen.

Our snow laden mountains, high above the Hudson Valley, are mostly melted, and this along with higher temperatures creates something we un-affectionately call “MUD SEASON” here in our Catskills.

A dirty, messy, often slippery, slushy, mushy season of brown and red clay earth seems to get into and onto everything from rugs to animal fur to clothes … well, everything. It has become our unofficial fifth season in the northeast where everything is colored mucky brown.

Last month, we took you on a journey looking at an extreme cardio form of exercise delivered by swimming through chilly, cold, err freezing, water. This month, we will roll around with you who embrace mud season as their own and immerse themselves

in mud runs. Yes mud runs, as in covered with … and totally in mud … completely !!

Whatever happened to playing soccer, or throwing a frisbee or even rowing a boat? So many extremes and all for the “joys” of exercise. Folks, there is barbed wire on some of these muddy terrains?

I blame the video games or perhaps a laundry detergent marketing executive that wants to sell soap to clean up profusely muddy athletic wear and those who don it. Not even the dirtiest of all the characters in the Peanuts Comic Strip, Pig-Pen, went for a mud run. Seems Charles M. Schulz preferred ice hockey and skating on ice. Mud and dirt just didn’t mix.

Nonetheless, it’s spring now and we have entered prime mud run season, where mud pies are celebrated, and sadly not made of chocolate brownies, graham cracker crust, pudding and flavored whipped cream.

Mud Run events and courses are grueling challenges for those who compete in them, be it against others or maybe just themselves.

According to OutdoorTrifecta.com, Mud Running origins started with French Navyman George Hebert. While traveling abroad in Africa, he was impressed at the agility and fitness of the

Photo © Pavel1964/shutterstock.com

local folks who stayed fit without a structured workout. Herbert set out to combine this form of challenging exercise he called “The Natural Method” adding in Greek and Roman traditions into his process.

So just what are they ? Mud runs are highly challenging obstacle course races that involve running, crawling, climbing, and wading through mud and other messy impediments. Don’t forget the barbed wire. For most who make the effort, finishing is winning.

To those drawn to this form of wellness activity, the appeal appears to lie in the unique physical and mental challenges they provide, as well as the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing such a demanding course combined with their passion for fitness, adventure, and outdoor activities.

Many participants enjoy the sense of camaraderie and community that is often present at these events and mud runs can also be a fun way to challenge oneself, try something new, and break out of one’s comfort zone.

There is a group that regular mudders refer to as the “one and done crowd.” They try it and immediately retire and then there are those who sign up for all the scheduled mud challenges they can find, and even some enthusiasts who set up their own “mudder” courses to stay sharp for competition.

In terms of safety, as messy as they are, mud runs can be relatively injury-free when proper precautions are taken.

Event organizers take “pains” to provide adequate safety measures, such as staffing trained medical teams and helpful personnel all along the difficult journey.

Participants are strongly encouraged, and should also, take steps to ensure their own safety, such as hydrating properly, wearing a wide range of appropriate footwear (waterproof and supportive) while following course guidelines and rules. All are warned to expect the unexpected.

With any physically demanding activity, there is always a risk of injury, be it severe or minor. One can expect different levels of skill challenges such as climbing, jumping and other high-impact activities that can put participants at risk of leg sprains, muscle strains, and other injuries that may need bandaging. It’s important for participants to listen to the vibe of their bodies and know their limits before injuries take place and then to seek medical attention if they experience any pain or discomfort during or after their run.

The thrill of the challenge seems to be a large draw for most who compete, but for many attendees, the excitement the filthy faithful crave are the social rewards.

A mud run can easily be reduced to one’s desire to combine activities they love. For example, blending family reunions, with a summer barbeque, and even modified war games, or perhaps a Halloween costume affair, a rigorous bachelorette excursion, and commando spring break all twisted into one mud covered extravaganza and brown gooey ball of humanity. Pig-Pen would fit in and likely approve as these would be his people.

At the start of the festivities there can be all sorts of colorful uniforms for teams or those needing to express connection as these participants wish to stand out and then … well MUD HAPPENS and immediately everyone is as ONE !!

Cross country runners often compete with only coaches, race officials and family nearby, but Mud Runs have spectators. These have to be the fans who like bullfighting, hockey fights and watch train wreck videos on the internet. You know, those rambunctious and crazed fans !!

Some believe “mud runs fulfill a repressed childhood need to play in an environment that contradicts hygienic standards expected of civilized adults. Physical sports or workout routines guarantee that participants break a sweat. Mud runs hold the additional allure of becoming drenched with mud and water without fear of disapproval or repercussion. Others believe the events “channel a primal need for competition and survival in the wild,” according to MudRuns.net.

So as we head for the showers, we again ask as to why would these mud caked spackled gladiators choose to participate in such messy shenanigans? Perhaps their sloppy addiction is as easy to assess and drawing on the likes of George Leigh Mallory who was queried as to why he would scale Mount Everest, his retort, “because it was there.”

And there you have it, exercise to make the laundry detergent marketing executive happy … “got soap?”

Greg Madden, is the Development Manager at Wellness Rx Pharmacy where he also practices alternative healing modalities like Tui-Na Medical Massage and BioPhoton Light Therapy. More at IlluminatingWellness.care.

WellnessRx, Pharmacy for the Public Good is America’s first nonprofit Community Pharmacy and Wellness Center in Tannersville, NY (WellnessRxLLC.com) and in April in Phoenicia, NY (PharmacyforthePublicGood.org), both located on Main Street.

Photo © Pavel1964/shutterstock.com

Academy of Fortepiano Performance Festival

By Joan Oldknow

The Academy of Fortepiano Performance Festival returns to the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum in Hunter for the sixth year from May 28-June 5, 2023. The festival offers fortepiano classes, lectures and performance opportunities to students visiting from world-renowned university music programs. These students receive instruction in the special requirements of early pianos, and learn how their sounds and techniques match the music of the composers of their time.

Maria Rose, one of the Festival’s founding faculty members, talks about the importance of the historical perspective that the Festival provides: “You’re listening to music, but you are also looking at history. You’re hearing the music through a lens of history. It’s a learning process. We revitalize it all the time. It’s a continuous process that never ends … There’s a lot we don’t know.”

The Festival begins with the faculty concert, “Memorializing the Masters: Works by Mozart, Hüllmandel, Beethoven, and Clara Schumann” on Sunday, May 28 at 8 pm at the Doctorow Center for the Arts. Faculty members Audrey Axinn, Maria Rose, and Andrew Willis will be joined by special guest Keiko Shichijo for this concert.

One of AFP’s founders, Audrey Axinn is a sensitive and vibrant performer on historical pianos and a teacher of historical piano performance at The Juilliard School and Mannes School of Music. She was the associate dean and a member of the team that launched Juilliard’s new international branch campus in China.

Maria Rose, a native of the Netherlands, is a brilliant performer on historical pianos, covering a wide range of repertoire. She also holds a PhD in musicology from New York University and has published many articles on piano performance practice.

For several decades, faculty member Andrew Willis has explored the historical development of keyboard instruments and their performance practice while maintaining a commitment to the study, performance, and teaching of the widest possible range of repertoire. A Professor of Music at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Willis teaches piano, fortepiano, and harpsichord performance and leads courses on keyboard literature and performance practice.

Pianist and fortepianist Keiko Shichijo is a special voice in both the Classical and new music worlds. Her traditional Japanese sensibilities combined with her knowledge of European historical performance practices shape her unique vision, and this is reflected in her feeling for the music, the instruments and the story behind them. Hailing from Japan and residing in the Netherlands for more than a decade, she is active around the world playing both solo and chamber music. She is a piano and fortepiano professor at the Fontys Academy for Music and Performing Arts Tilburg in the Netherlands, a piano professor at KASK & Conservatorium School of Arts Gent in Belgium.

During the festival, students will attend lectures and classes, go on a mid-week hike, and prepare for the June 4 student concert at the end of the festival.

Clockwise from top left: Audrey Axinn, Maria Rose, Andrew Willis, Drew Minter, Robert Levin, Keiko Shichijo

On June 3, Robert Levin will teach an afternoon master class and give an evening lecture-recital. Levin is a retired Harvard professor who regularly gives master classes and is completing unfinished works by Mozart. He is famous among musicians as a performer, lecturer, musicologist, author and composer. Levin is presently Visiting Professor at The Juilliard School.

Every year since the Festival began, students have asked, “Can it be longer?” They love Hunter and they love the whole experience. Axinn and Rose started talking originally about a chamber music week, since their experience is that everybody wants to play chamber music on the fortepiano. They decided, however, that there is just not enough time to manage the regular program and also have chamber music ensembles. The idea came about to alternate chamber music with vocal music as an extra week after the Academy of Fortepiano Performance Festival.

Thus, a new addition to the Academy of Fortepiano Performance Festival this year is a Vocal Week extension of the program from June 6 through June 12, with a faculty concert on June 10 at 8 pm and a student concert on June 11 at 2 pm. Led by Drew Minter, who is very well known in the Baroque world, the vocal week promises to be a highly anticipated learning experience for all participants. Minter is an international star in Baroque Opera who happens to live in the Hudson Valley. Usually he is teaching and unavailable during the summers, so Axinn and Rose are excited that Minter is able to teach in the AFP Vocal Week this year. Minter is a beautiful singer and, unbeknownst to many people,

an accomplished painter. He is also a certified in the Feldenkrais Method, which will be offered to participants each day during the vocal week. Audrey Axinn is thrilled with the new addition to the Festival: “When you add another instrument such as a singer’s voice to the solo piano, you add another dimension. It has a profound effect on the singer, to be singing with a fortepiano, as opposed to a modern piano. It allows the singer to create a sound that’s porous and allows breath to flow and be more expressive. This is going to be amazing.”

The festival will be preceded by the AFP Technicans Workshop for piano technicians who are interested in learning the special requirements of fortepianos. This workshop began in 2022 and allowed experienced and not so experienced technicians and tuners to attend lectures and see the inner workings on early instruments. Maki Masayuki and Richard Hester will again organize the AFP Technicians workshop, which will be held on May 25-27, 2023 in Hunter.

Tickets for all public events can be purchased online at www. catskillmtn.org or by contacting the box office via email at boxoffice@catskillmtn.org or by phone at 518 263 2063. Note that online ticket sales close 5 hours prior to performance time. Tickets purchased ahead are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $7 for students. Tickets purchased at the door are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $7 for students. For information about upcoming programs at Catskill Mountain Foundation, please visit www.catskillmtn.org.

A Greene County Garden in May

By Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson

Gardeners lucky enough to have a fringe of woods, small or large, at the edge of their property can enjoy the luxury of forest bathing, if only in miniature. Known as shinrin-yoku (literally “forest bathing”) in Japan, this stress reliever can be as simple as a walk in the woods. Japanese research has shown that, in addition to increasing oxygen levels in the air around them, many trees and other plants exude “phytonicides,” essential oils that support immune health. This research may help explain why people feel so happy in the woods.

Insects and small animals enjoy a patch of woods, too. Butterfly larvae overwinter in bark or leaf litter. Birds nest in the trees and feast on insects and berries. Squirrels forage in the undergrowth. If ponds form in hollows, frogs may live in them.

The benefits of wooded areas don’t end there. Gardeners who protect and cultivate them help their communities and the natural environment as well as themselves.

Interlaced together, the root systems of trees and shrubs help stabilize the soil on slopes. Trees growing on the banks of rivers, streams and creeks can absorb large amounts of water, protecting

nearby areas by reducing the impact of floods. Under the trees, earthworms, beetles and smaller insects break down fallen leaves and woody debris, mixing them into the soil and improving its texture so it can hold more water. This lush soil is a haven for mycorrhizae, a beneficial fungus which helps carry nutrients to the roots of trees and other plants, further improving the soil at the same time.

The symbiotic relationship among trees, mycorrhizae and soil organisms helps reduce global warming. In spring and summer, leaves draw carbon out of the atmosphere. Trees use this carbon to build the structure of their branches, trunks and root systems. Carbon in their extensive roots systems stays buried deep underground during the life of the tree and long afterward, keeping it out of the atmosphere where it would otherwise contribute to climate change. It’s easy to enjoy a thicket of trees and shrubs for its beauty alone, or for the delicious feeling we get from “bathing” in and breathing the air around them. And all the while, they are helping wildlife we may not even notice, the neighborhood we live in, and the health of our planet.

Thicket in spring

ACADEMY OF FORTEPIANO PERFORMANCE

MAY 28-JUNE 5, 2023

With a vocal week extension June 6-12!

MEMORIALIZING THE MASTERS: WORKS BY MOZART, HÜLLMANDEL, BEETHOVEN AND CLARA SCHUMANN

Audrey Axinn • Maria Rose

Andrew Willis • Keiko Shichijo

Sunday, May 28, 2023 @ 8:00 pm

Tickets Purchased Ahead: $25 adults/$20 seniors/$7 students

At the Door: $30 adults/$25 seniors/$7 students

The renowned faculty of the Academy of Fortepiano Performance will present a diverse program of music played on historical pianos from the Catskill Mountain Foundation Piano Performance Museum, Steven E. Greenstein collection. The sound world of the 18th and 19th century masters is recreated as the music is performed on the instruments of their time.

MASTERCLASS & LECTURE-RECITAL WITH ROBERT LEVIN

Saturday, June 3

Masterclass in the afternoon

Lecture/Recital @ 8:00 pm

STUDENT CONCERT

Sunday, June 4 @ 8:00 pm

WORKSHOP FOR FORTEPIANISTS AND VOCALISTS: “THE GERMAN LIED REPERTOIRE”

Led by Drew Minter

June 6 - June 12

VOICE & PIANO FACULTY CONCERT

Drew Minter • Audrey Axinn

Maria Rose • Other Guests

Saturday, June 10 @ 8:00 pm

VOICE & PIANO STUDENT CONCERT

Sunday, June 11 @ 8:00 pm

All events take place at the DOCTOROW CENTER FOR THE ARTS

7971 Main Street • Hunter, NY 12442

Left to right: Audrey Axinn, Maria Rose, Andrew Willis, Keiko Shichijo, Robert Levin, Drew Minter

Reading is Exercise!

By Jen Schwartz, Briars & Brambles Books, Windham

Is reading exercise? YES!

The Oxford Dictionary defines exercise as a physical or mental activity that you do to stay healthy or become stronger. The brain may not be a muscle, but to keep it healthy and functioning at its best, you still need to exercise it. Research shows that reading triggers processes within the brain: First, the left frontal lobe of your brain activates to understand letters and words. Second, the anterior temporal lobe analyzes the flow of words and their tense. Finally, the limbic system activates emotions for you to accept and retain information. Have your ever felt so connected to a story that it’s as if you experienced it in real life? There’s a good reason why. When it is actively engaged, the same neurological regions are stimulated so the brain does not make a real distinction between reading about an experience and actually living it. Think about the response you have while you are reading a heart-pounding thriller or a steamy romance.

Like all exercise, you get the maximum benefit when you do it regularly. Many of my customers will say they have gotten

out of the routine of reading and are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of getting back into it. Makes total sense. Think about it, you likely wouldn’t run a marathon or climb a mountain if you hadn’t been steadily building up to it. The best way to get out of a “reading slump” is to select a book that is short, entertaining & easy to read: mystery/thrillers and rom-coms are usually safe bets. I also recommend looking at books in the Young Adult section (I think Contemporary Fiction is a more suitable name for the genre) or collected/short stories. The goal is to choose a book you are going to look forward to reading. Perhaps, this a rationalization I give when I choose to pick up a book instead of a set of weights, however, given the heft of some hardcover books, reading may give you a good arm workout as well!

Photo © Dean Drobot/shutterstock.com

A Partnership Project with the Catskill Mountain Foundation and The Joyce Theater Foundation

Photo by Albert Yee

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN REGION GUIDE PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO

Focus on Photography

Windham Arts Alliance Show at the Main Street Community Center

5494 State Route 23, Windham NY 12496 (518) 734-4168

May 5, 2023 to July 28

Opening Reception and Music by the Songbirds May 6, 2023, 4pm to 6pm Francis Driscoll Hands-On Workshop May 20, 9 am to 3pm

Windham Arts Alliance is very excited about the new show, “Focus on Photography,” that will be at the Main Street Community Center from May 5 through July 28. This show has been planned to give an opportunity for artists who focus on photography to display their works. The variety of approaches and interpretations and techniques makes this a truly eclectic show.

The word FOCUS brings many ideas to mind. We can find an image that rivets our attention to a certain subject or idea. Photography provides the opportunity for the viewer to see what attracted the photographer’s attention and made a subject important enough to study or look at in depth. In the hands of an experienced photographer the mood and even a fleeting experience can be captured and made immortal. Contributing photographer Beth Schneck says, “As time passes, photographs remain, glimpses into a time and place imprinted by memory. The memories they elicit are felt deeply, and conjure a story for the viewer.”

An opening reception on Saturday, May 6 at 4:00 pm will truly celebrate the arts, with music by the Songbirds. An offshoot of the Greene Room Players Community Theater, the Songbirds is a group of nine talented singers under the direction of Linda Nicholls, founder and director of Greene Room Players. For over 10 years these talented ladies have performed for private events, benefits, our Mountaintop community and surrounding areas to standing room only audiences. Their repertoire includes a variety of

music that includes Broadway tunes, folk music, Doo Wop, standards, holiday, patriotic, and much more. The “Birds” are Glenda Lauten, Kelly Transue, Louise Le Brun, Cara Dantzig, Jody Nicholls, Wini Baldwin, Myra Garcia, Chris Pierce and Susan Kleinfelder. The talented Jenni Cawein, concert pianist, accompanies the Birds for select performances. Harmonies are beautiful! Voices exceptional! Lots of fun for them and their audiences! Come and hear some of your favorite tunes sung by your favorite singers!

WAA hopes you join us and maybe find the photograph that makes you feel, in the words of Beth Schneck, “a ground-trembling experience, one that imprints the image into your mind for years into the future, so in this way you know the power of a photograph. Great photographs, like the soul, need not be explained.”

The Windham Arts Alliance would like to thank the Main Street Community Center for generously sharing their beautiful space with WAA and the Community. This show is open to all photographers—new, emerging and professional.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered in Greene County by CREATE Council on the Arts.

Beth Schneck says, “Photography is all pervasive in 2023, almost everyone carries a camera in their pocket. This is something only the pros, or those enamored with photography, did before smartphones…. Though as we know, everyone can capture a stunning photograph from time to time. But to do it consistently, always ready in the moment, as well as the ability to visualize images in advance and know how to create them, are some of the many advantages of a photographer with years of experience. I love the entire process of photography—interacting with many interesting people, visualizing and sensing images, feeling the beauty of light falling on an object, and seeing and sharing the results. The camera is not just a tool to capture light, it is an extension of my mind’s eye, and allows me to view the world from a distinct perspective.”

“Frosted Willows,” by Beth Schneck

We have asked the artists to explain what made them select their subject matter. Another meaning for focus is, “to concentrate attention or effort. And giving proper sharpness due to good focusing.” Nancy De Flon takes this idea and creates her picture “On the Horizon.” She tells us that she chose this picture for the spring show “because of its bright colors and its simplicity—and because it depicts one of my favorite places…. The bright complementary colors seem to justify the horizon’s location at the center of the picture, and I chose a filter that would tame the unruly winter grass while still leaving the trees and structures sharp and recognizable.”

“On the Horizon,” by Nancy De Flon

Not all photographs emphasize a realistic interpretation of the world. Jeffrey Langford chose two photographs of the snow to enter in the show. His photographs Snow Study 1 and Snow Study 2 focus on how natural forms can create abstractions. He says, “They both illustrate some of the graceful abstract designs that untouched snow can make.”

“Snow Study I,” by Jeffrey Langford

Bill Deane has taken a different approach and is changing his work by focusing on using software to edit his photos and create a painterly quality to his new works. He states, “I have been working with existing images and recent photos with consideration to modify them with software to become “Photo Art”. The Scottish Loch piece in particular gave me the opportunity to explore available colors that we don’t usually see with the naked eye. Textures also become quite different and interesting. I also find borders make an interesting effect to the image.”

“Scottish Loch,” by Bill Deane

Creativity is a large focus of photography and with the addition of digital editing photographers have access to new means of expression. Elaine Warfield tells us that she is entering a photograph called “Horses on Kaaterskill Clove.” Here she is working with “an artistic rendering using Photoshop to combine interesting elements from several photographs. The background image is a photograph taken from Twilight Park at the top of the mountain overlook Kaaterskill Clove in the early morning. The two horse images were taken at a Gypsy Vanner Farm in Virginia, also in the early morning. The images were combined to create a new artistic piece.”

“Horses on Kaaterskill Clove,” by Elaine Warfield

Focus also means creating a clear image. It is the point at which rays of light converge or from which they seem to diverge. How does each photographer use this concept to create their work? Francis Driscoll says, “The main subject should be in acceptable focus and exposed well.” His close up of a spring flower illustrates this. By understanding the media, he is able to blur the background so the objects he is emphasizing stand out.

Fran is excited to share his knowledge with the community, providing a free workshop. Participants will meet Fran in the parking lot behind Briars and Brambles on May 20 at 9:00 am. They will have the opportunity to take their camera and join Fran on a photography excursion. This is a rare opportunity to pick Fran’s brain and learn how he takes his beautiful photographs. He will demonstrate how he chooses his subjects, and what to focus on to get artistic photos. You will begin to understand what is involved to see the world through your camera lens and to produce exciting photographs. Later, he will follow up at the Main Street Community Center with an introduction to basic editing techniques.

You can register for this all-day workshop at mainstreetcommunitycenter.org/registration. Seats are limited. There is a registration fee of $10 to hold your place.

“Spring Flower,” by Francis X. Driscoll

Hanford Mills Museum opens for 50th Anniversary Season

More Exploration Days Planned for the Season

Hanford Mills Museum will open for its 2023 season on Wednesday, May 17. The museum will be open Wednesdays through Sundays 10 am to 5 pm through October 15. Guided tours of our water powered sawmill, gristmill, and woodworking machines will be offered each day at 10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm and 3 pm. You can reserve your tour ahead of time by visiting hanfordmills.org or calling 607 278 5744.

Throughout the 2023 season, Hanford Mills Museum will again be hosting several Exploration Days. In 2022, Exploration Days were successful in allowing visitors to explore the mill and hear from Hanford Mills staff members and local presenters about a variety of topics ranging from music to coopering and blacksmithing. Last year’s presenters at Exploration Days included musician Tim Iversen, cooper Bob Allers, and artist Lisa Tessier. The first Exploration Day of 2023 will take place on June 17 and will focus on science and technology. Other topics spotlighted at Exploration Days throughout the 2023 season will include the sustainable use of metals and lumber.

“We are delighted to welcome visitors back to Hanford Mills for our 50th anniversary season,” said Kajsa Harley, Executive Director. “We look forward to expanding our Exploration Days again in 2023 and bringing back some visitor favorites, including

our Metal at the Mill Exploration Day that will feature the Dan Rion Memorial Antique Engine Jamboree. Hanford Mills will also highlight its 50th anniversary as a museum with an exhibit and a celebration later in the season.”

Check hanfordmills.org and their social media channels for details about the Exploration Days and other events at Hanford Mills Museum in 2023.

About Hanford Mills Museum

Hanford Mills Museum operates an authentic water- and steampowered historic site, which includes a sawmill, gristmill, and woodworking shop. The mission of Hanford Mills Museum is to inspire audiences of all ages to explore connections among energy, technology, natural resources, and entrepreneurship in rural communities with a focus on sustainable choices. The museum is listed on the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places.

Hanford Mills is located at 51 County Highway 12 in East Meredith, at the intersection of Delaware County Routes 10 & 12, just 10 miles from Oneonta, and 15 miles from Delhi. For more information, visit hanfordmills.org or call 607 278 5744.

Piano Performance Museum

Discover this extraordinary collection in performance, music education, and cultural exploration

NOW OPEN ON FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS!

The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum reopens to the public on Fridays and Saturdays, from 11am to 3pm. The docent tour is approximately 30 minutes. Masks are required. Visitors will be asked not to touch the pianos or other artifacts on display in the museum. CMF staff have established healthful guidelines for your visit to the museum to provide as safe an environment as possible for visitors and staff. We welcome you and look forward to showing you our extraordinary collection of historical pianos from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Doctorow Center for the Arts

7971 Main Street, Route 23A, Hunter, New York • www.catskillmtn.org

Hours: Fridays & Saturdays 11am-3pm.

Please email ppm@catskillmtn.org or call 518 263 2063 to confirm hours of operation

The CMF Piano Performance Museum is funded in part by the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation

Featuring the Steven E. Greenstein Collection

The Catskill Mountain Foundation

Photo by Jeffrey Langford

THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN THE CATSKILLS

By Jeff Senterman

Spring always seems to take a while to get started here in the Catskills, but we know that by the end of May we’re coming right into the start of the Catskills summer season!

May is a busy time for the trails of the Catskills. Throughout the month, volunteer trail maintainers and trail crews, and staff from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be out on the trails, clearing them of winter tree falls and brush, freshening up trail markers and getting everything ready for the busy summer hiking season.

Catskills Great Outdoors Expo Saturday, June 10, 2023

The popular Catskills Great Outdoor Expo returns this June on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at the Catskills Visitor Center in Mount Tremper, NY. The Catskills Great Outdoor Expo is your opportunity to learn about all the best the Catskills have to offer in hiking, paddling, bicycling, fishing, and all outdoor recreation activities. This one-day Expo will feature dozens of exhibitors, along with expert presentations, free samples and raffles—plus the famous Catskill Center Gear Sale. More information is available at catskillsoutdoorexpo.com.

Catskill Park Updates Now Available Online

Local recreational opportunities are always changing, and by visiting the Catskills Visitor Center’s Trail Conditions blog, you can stay on top of those changes. Staff at the Visitor Center are regularly posting updates related to the Catskill Park, Catskill trails, Catskill campgrounds and camping, Catskill boating, and more at catskillsvisitorcenter.org/trail.

Streamside Acquisition Program Helps Local Communities Getting the Facts Straight

The Streamside Acquisition Program, or SAP, aims to protect water quality in streams in the northeastern Catskills through the purchase and protection of streamside lands. By doing that, the SAP also helps to mitigate future flooding, which has devastated parts of our communities in recent years. The SAP only purchases eligible properties, and only if the property owner is interested in selling.

Key points include criteria for eligible properties, such as that lands be within the drainage basin of the Schoharie Reservoir. Another important part of the program is that the SAP

Palenville Overlook. Photo courtesy of the Hiker Trash Husbands, hikertrashhusbands.com

focuses on lands outside of areas formally identified by municipalities as areas intended for future growth. The SAP will not reach out to landowners in these areas unless invited to do so by the municipality through a formal resolution. Honoring community goals is important.

“We regularly reach out to town officials to ask how the SAP can complement community goals,” said Lee Alexander, Streamside Acquisition Program Director. “Some towns have asked us to prioritize floodplain protection, while others have worked with us to help create streamside trail networks. We love working collaboratively with towns to implement the SAP in ways that enhance community goals while also protecting water quality.”

Besides helping to ensure community flood resilience by keeping undeveloped wetlands and floodplains from being developed, the SAP preserves the tax base, as the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) pays property taxes on lands acquired through the program. The SAP focuses on properties that make the biggest difference in protecting water quality: floodplains, wetlands, and lands within 300 feet of streams. SAP staff encourage landowners to keep their more developable lands in private hands.

The Catskill Center runs the SAP in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP). It is one of many programs required by regulators, such as the New York State Department of Health, to help protect the City’s drinking water at its source. The SAP furthers the mission of the Catskill Center to protect and foster the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of the Catskill region. You can learn more at catskillcenter.org/streamside.

Hike the Catskills with the Hiker Trash Husbands

For years, my husband and I have been trying to find ways to better communicate the love that we have for the

#RecreateResponsibly in the Catskills

Time in nature, and outdoor recreation has proven to be essential for all.

Especially during uncertain times, all of us, from seasoned outdoor enthusiasts, to families heading out to their local park for the first time, can turn to community and simple reminders about how to safely & responsibly recreate outdoors while caring for one another.

The Recreate Responsibly guidelines came together to offer a starting point for getting outside to keep yourself and others safe while working to maintain access to our beloved natural spaces.

Read on to learn the primary tips on how to responsibly recreate outdoors. Each edition of the guidelines have been developed by bringing together topline issues and experts to distill key concepts that when implemented, build a community of care in the outdoors.

Learn more at recreateresponsibly.org

Know Before you Go

Check the status of the place you want to visit for closures, fire restrictions, and weather.

Plan and Prepare

Reservations and permits may be required. Make sure you have the gear you need and a back-up plan

Build an Inclusive Outdoors

Be an active part of making the outdoors safe and welcoming for all identities and abilities.

Respect Others

There is space for everyone and countless outdoor activities. Be kind to all who use the outdoors and nature differently.

Leave No Trace

Respect the land, water, wildlife, and Native communities. Follow the seven Leave No Trace principles. Learn more at LeaveNoTrace.org

Make It Better

We all have a responsibility to sustain the places we love. Volunteer, donate, and advocate for the outdoors.

outdoors and for hiking, to our friends and family who don’t necessarily get out as much as we do. One of the ways we discovered how to do that was to start a YouTube channel about our hiking adventures. Thus was born the idea for The Hiker Trash Husbands, which you can now find on YouTube at youtube.com/thehikertrashhusbands. The channel includes lots of hikes in the Catskills.

For both of us, The Hiker Trash Husbands is not only a way to show friends and family our hiking adventures, but an effort to provide positive LGBTQ+ representation in the hiking world. We’re looking forward to showcasing our own hiking adventures, along with finding other queer outdoors folks to highlight as we build this effort out. You can learn more by visiting our website at hikertrashhusbands.com.

If you’re in the Catskills and have cable provided by MTC, you can catch our videos on CatskillsAir, MTC Channel 1.

Visit the Catskill Park’s Visitor Center

Located at 5096 Route 28 in Mount Tremper, NY, the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center (CVC), is the official visitor center for the Catskill Park. Operated and managed by the Catskill Center, staff are available at the CVC with information, maps and all the advice needed to plan a Catskill adventure. The CVC is open every day, except for Tuesdays, from 9:30 am to 4 pm. Visitors can get their Catskill questions answered in person, receive tourism literature, and make purchases at the CVC’s shop that includes hiking maps, regional books, and much more. CVC staff are also available to answer questions about the Catskills and the Catskill Park via email at info@ catskillcenter.org or phone at 845 688 3369.

In addition to tourism services, there are 1.5 miles of trails on the CVC’s grounds, including the 0.5 mile ADA accessible Interpretive Loop Trail, which are open to the public daily. The 80-foot tall Upper Esopus Fire Tower is also open daily to visitors, offering unrivaled views of the surrounding mountains and Esopus Creek valley. Picnic tables are available on site for those who wish to enjoy a picnic lunch.

Microspikes and snowshoes are now available for rent and sale at the CVC! Stop by and check out how you can ensure you’re better prepared for your adventures in the Catskills.

Visitors can explore the ever expanding resources available online for the CVC on the web at catskillsvisitorcenter.org, the CVC’s Facebook page at facebook.com/catskillsvisitorcenter, and the CVC on Instagram @catskills.visitor.center.

Catskill Park Advisory Committee

Composed of representatives from local governments and organizations, the Catskill Park Advisory Committee (CPAC) was established by the Catskill Center in consultation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The Committee is chaired by the Catskill Center, and provides a forum for communities, user groups and stakeholders of the Catskill Park and the Catskill Watershed to discuss issues of regional importance. The purpose of the Committee is to provide assistance, advice and guidance to the DEC, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and other land managers in the management of the New York State Forest Preserve, the Catskill Park and the Catskill Watershed.

Meetings are held quarterly and are open to the public. If you’d like to learn more, join the mailing list or attend the next meeting, please contact the Catskill Center at 845 586 2611 or email them at cccd@catskillcenter.org with CPAC in the subject line, asking to be added to the mailing list. Please note that for the time being CPAC meetings will be held virtually. You must be on the mailing list to receive the email to register for the virtual meeting.

Give Back to the Catskills

The natural beauty, the majesty of the mountains, the Catskill Forest Preserve, the region’s natural and cultural resources, all need your help! By supporting the work of the Catskill Center, you support: stewardship of our Catskill Park and its vast natural resources; the Center’s collaborative spirit as we convene, create partnerships and facilitate discussions that benefit the region; and the Center’s work to support education, arts and culture throughout the Catskills.

Most importantly, know that by being a member and supporter of the Catskill Center you are helping protect and preserve the Catskill Mountains that we all love. This glorious Park will be even better preserved than before because of our collective hard work.

To support the work of the Catskill Center, make a donation online at www.catskillcenter.org/donate or donate by mail with a check made out to the “Catskill Center” and mailed to Catskill Center, PO Box 504, Arkville, NY 12406.

Jeff Senterman is the Executive Director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development in Arkville, a member of the Board of Directors for the American Hiking Society, the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce. Jeff graduated with a degree in Environmental Science from Lyndon State College and worked for many years as an Environmental Planner in New England before coming back to the Catskills. To learn more about the work of the Catskill Center, visit catskillcenter.org.

The MOUNTAIN CINEMA Open Friday-Sunday

Showing the best of Hollywood & Independent films

DOCTOROW CENTER FOR THE ARTS

7971 Main Street Village of Hunter

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

PLEASE visit catskillmtn.org or call 518 263 4702 in advance. Shows open on Friday & run through Sunday.

Ticket Prices: $11 / $9 seniors & children under 11

View each week’s schedule and view trailers for our films online at www.catskillmtn.org

• We strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance. Please visit www.catskillmtn.org and click on the film you’d like to see to choose your showing and reserve your seat!

www.catskillmtn.org • 518 263 4702

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION!

Your support matters and makes everything we do possible!

EACH YEAR, THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION

• Presents and hosts more than 20 performances and lectures.

• Offers free or subsidized arts programs that are enjoyed by hundreds of local children.

• Hosts arts residencies bringing many artists to our community for extended stays.

YES!

• Operates the Catskill Mountain Foundation Gift Shop, featuring a curated selection of books and gifts from around the Region and the world.

• Publishes the monthly Guide magazine, distributed throughout the Catskill Region, at New York State Thruway rest stops and in Albany.

• Is the home of the Piano Performance Museum, a rare collection of historic playable pianos.

• Runs a dozen studio arts programs, with students from around the U.S.

• Shows more than 100 films on our three screens in Hunter.

Please accept my donation of: $ You may also make a donation online at https://bit.ly/2E3Exny All donors are listed in our playbills and receive our weekly e-mail updates.

q

q Check if this is a new address.

Please make your check payable to: Catskill Mountain Foundation PO Box 924 • Hunter, NY 12442

Become an “Angel of the Arts”: Make this a monthly gift I would like to donate $__________ monthly. q Check Enclosed

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

This is just a sampling of all of the events in the Catskills this May. To request that your event be included in future calendars, please email tafts@catskillmtn.org

Please call ahead or visit the website for each event to confirm details, including any admission costs.

ONGOING

Delhi Farmers Market

Stop by for your fresh produce and products straight from the farm!

Location: Courthouse Square, Delhi

Hours: Every Wednesday, 9am-2pm

Online Meditation with Bushel

Bushel is hosting online meditation sessions that include guided meditation, group interaction, and support. New sitters and seasoned sitters are welcome. Meditation sessions are free and open to all, but donations are welcome to support this program.

Location: Join via Zoom

Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30-7:00 am More Info & Zoom Link: bushelcollective.org/meditation-calendar/

THROUGH MAY 6

Art Exhibit: “The Bold and the Beautiful”

This two-person exhibition will feature handwoven tapestries by Tabitha Gilmore-Barnes and handmade rugs and wall hangings by Liza Oesterle. Come explore the bold colors and imagery created by these two local artists.

Location: Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main St, Stamford

More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org

THROUGH MAY 8

Mohonk Tulip Festival

Experience the beauty of spring on the mountaintop as our Victorian Show Garden comes to life with a scattering of tulips and the wonder of our budding natural landscape. In celebration, we welcome a variety of teas including raspberry hibiscus, rooibos red, jasmine green, and berry fusion alongside daily crafts, garden tours, campfires, music, and specialty demonstrations with Mohonk’s Beverage & Pastry Team. Some activities require overnight accommodations.

Location: Mohonk Mountain House 1000 Mountain Rest Rd, New Paltz

More Info: mohonk.com

THROUGH MAY 13

The HRFA’s Annual Fred Rung Memorial Striped Bass Derby

The Hudson River Fishermen’s Association’s annual Fred Rung Memorial ‘Catch & Release’ and ‘Catch, Tag & then Release’ Striper Derby returns to the Hudson River. This is a no-kill Derby. Submit a proper photo as defined in the rules and release the fish.

More Info: thehrfa.org/derby

THROUGH MAY 29

Solo show: Victoria A. Scott, “Frontier Horizons”

Recent original monoprints

Victoria Scott’s woods are a domestic idyll: trees, tilting ground and a studio clinging like a birdhouse to a sleep slope, another layer the soft curves of the western Catskills.

Location: Longyear Gallery, 785 Main Street, Margaretville

Opening Reception: April 29, 3-5 pm More Info: longyeargallery.org

THROUGH JULY 23

The Historic Woodstock Art Colony: The Arthur A. Anderson Collection

Illuminating America’s first intentional art colony, this exhibition presents over 100 artists whose paintings, sculptures, and works on paper together form an artistic history of national and international significance.

Location: The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz 1 Hawk Drive, New Paltz

More Info: newpaltz.edu/museum

MAY 3

First Annual Youth Summit

Bardavon Presents is happy to collaborate with Ulster County Youth Bureau director Nina Dawson to present the First Annual Youth Summit at UPAC! Featuring great entertainment and useful information for families. All for free!

Location: Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston

Time: 5:00 pm

More Info: 845 750 0953 or bardavon.org

Marji Zintz & Bruce Milner

Vocalist/keyboardist Bruce Milner (formerly of the band Every Mothers’ Son, which had a chart-topping hit in the 1960s) and vocalist/ guitarist Marji Zintz play well together, expertly performing music you know and love to hear to get your feet tapping and your heart singing!

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 4

Open Studio Stamford

Open Studio at the Headwaters Arts Center offers the opportunity to gather with friends and fellow community members to work on your own creative projects while in great company!

Location: Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main St, Stamford

Time: 4:00-6:00 pm

More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org

Movies from the Balcony: Memoria

The winner of the 2021 Cannes Jury Prize, Thai auteur Apichatpong Weerathesakul’s Memoria is only available to screen in theaters and will never be available for home viewing. The film’s breathtaking visuals and meticulous sound design create a revelatory viewing experience. Plus happy hour in our Upstairs Lounge, featuring a pre-show musical performance by Kingston-based ambient musician J. ASHDOWN. Movies from the Balcony: A Free Series at UPAC is a NEW social gathering & movie series at UPAC.

Location: Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston

Time: 7:30 pm

More Info: 845 750 0953 or bardavon.org

Rachel Feinstein - Standup Comedy

Rachel Feinstein is a nationally touring comedian and actress. AV Club says “Feinstein’s acute observations create silly, sympathetic characters keeping her subtly, exquisitely attuned to her audience.” Rachel will next be featured on Amy Schumer’s Parental Advisory which was filmed as part of Netflix Is a Joke and will be released on the platform June 11. She has had three Comedy Central specials, including her one hour special Amy Schumer Presents Rachel Feinstein: Only Whores Wear Purple

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band

Renowned singer, songwriter, musician, artist and best-selling author Josh Ritter released his anticipated new album, Spectral Lines, on April 28. One of today’s most thoughtful and prolific voices, Ritter has released ten studio albums including 2019’s widely acclaimed, Fever Breaks, of which NPR Music praised, “He remains a hydrant of ideas while embodying an endless capacity for empathy and indignation, often within a single song.”

Location: Levon Helm Studios 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: levonhelm.com

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION

TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH THE ARTS

THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS & SUPPORTERS!

MAY 5

First Fridays Catskill

Stroll Main Street, Catskill on the 1st Friday of every month for an all-day celebration of our community. Local shops are open late, most until 8 pm, offering specials like sips & snacks, pop-ups, music, discounts, and FUN!

Location: Main Street & Bridge Street, Catskill

More Info: firstfridayscatskill.com

Cinco De Mayo Dance Party with DJ Dave Leonard

DJ Dave Leonard will be unleashed spinning his eclectic blend of funky, soulful and groovy high energy dance music all night.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

Mixed Media Workshop with Celia Buchanan

An exploration of multimedia techniques using stencils and resist techniques incorporating watercolor inks, soft water-soluble wax pastels, liquid acrylics, and beyond.

Location: Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main St, Stamford

Time: 11:00 am–4:00 pm

More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org

The Gottabees: Go Home Tiny Monster

After a sudden storm, Sylvie and her loving family of homespun creatures find themselves in need of a new home. Luckily, they have an audience full of people who can help them out! Go Home Tiny Monster is a wildly creative theatrical ode to a community’s generosity. Recommended for ages 3 and up.

Location: Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971 Main Street, Hunter

Time: 2:00 pm

More Info: catskillmtn.org

The Helm Family Midnight Ramble featuring Arleigh Rose of Sister Sparrow

MAY 5 & 6

Catskill Mountain Foundation is supported in part by New York State Council on the Arts, the Greene County Cultural Fund administered by the Greene County Legislature, The Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation, The Royce Family Foundation, The Samuel and Esther Doctorow Fund, The Orville and Ethel Slutzky Family Foundation, Platte Clove Bruderhof Community, Bank of Greene County Charitable Foundation, The Greene County Youth Bureau, Marshall & Sterling Insurance, All Souls’ Church, Stewarts Shops, Windham Foundation, and by private donations.

Vintage Base Ball: Bovina Dairymen vs. Brooklyn Atlantics (Sat.); NY Mutuals & Eckford Base Ball Club of Brooklyn (Sun.) The teams of the Delaware County Vintage Base Ball Association are dedicated to producing historically-accurate and competitive nineteenth century base ball in a family friendly environment. All games are free and we welcome everyone to join us.

Location: Creamery Field Vintage Base Ball Park, County Route 6, Bovina Center More Info: delcovintagebaseball.org

MAY 5-JULY 28

Windham Arts Alliance: “Focus on Photography”

This show has been planned to give an opportunity for artists who focus on photography to display their works. The variety of approaches and interpretations and techniques makes this a truly eclectic show.

Location: Main Street Community Center, 5494 Route 23, Windham

Opening Reception: May 6, 4:00-6:00 pm

Photography Workshop with Fran Driscoll: May 20, 9:00 am-3:00 pm

More Info: mainstreetcenter.org or 518 734 4168

MAY 6

Greene County Women’s League

2nd Annual Mother’s Day Craft Fair

Over 35 handcraft vendors, Chance Auction, 50/50 and food available.

Location: Historic Catskill Point, 1 Main Street, Catskill

7971

Time: 10:00 am–3:00 pm

More Info: 518 965 4998 or greenecountywomensleague@gmail.com.

Born inside the hallowed walls of Levon Helm Studios, the Midnight Ramble has preserved and furthered Levon Helm’s legacy for nearly two decades. Arleigh Rose hails from the Catskill Mountains, where she started singing with her parents’ band at the age of 9. As a teenager she began writing songs on the piano. Together with her brother Jackson, she hosted informal jams at family house parties. These harmonic hootenannies were attended by many and became the stuff of local legend. In 2008, Arleigh and Jackson formed Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds and toured the country for the next decade.

Location: Levon Helm Studios 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: levonhelm.com

Emo Night Brooklyn

A late night DJ-based dance party blasting all of your favorite emo and pop punk jams. We may even invite some of your favorite artists and bands to surprise you and join the party!

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:30 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 6-7

Woodstock Rock Art and Poster Show

The second annual Woodstock Rock Art and Poster Show. The inaugural WRAPS was a huge success last May. Over 40 exhibitors ranging from painters to printers, body artists to serious art collectors gathered to share their love for and knowledge of the art form known simply as “rock poster”. In our second year we plan to make it even bigger and better.

Location: Bearsville Theater, 59 Tinker Street, Woodstock

More Info & Tickets: bearsvilletheater.com

A Celebration of Globally Honored Short Films

Co-presented by Asbury Shorts USA

An eclectic mix of award-winning short film comedy, drama, documentary and animation se-

lections and will include a few shorts produced and directed by local area filmmakers. The two-day screening is recommended for ages 16 and way above.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale

Time: Saturday @ 7:00 pm with community meetup, Sunday @ 2:00 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

MAY 6-28

Rock Junket Rock n’ Roll Walking Tours

Rock Junket’s popular 2 1/2-hour music-focused walking tour of Woodstock, NY is better than ever with exciting new additions!

Location: Tours begin @ Bearsville Theater, 59 Tinker Street, Woodstock

Times: Saturdays @ 2:00 pm, Sundays @ 11:00 am

More Info & Tickets: bearsvilletheater.com

MAY 6-NOVEMBER 18

Kingston Farmers Market

Weekly farmers market hosting local food vendors, music, and workshops.

Location: Ulster County Courthouse, 285 Wall St., Kingston

Time: Every Saturday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

More Info: kingstonfarmersmarket.org

MAY 7

Día de las Familias

Celebrate Latin culture, food, music, and the arts at the Ashokan Center!

Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge

Time: 10:00 am-3:00 pm

More Info: ashokancenter.org

Hunter Synagogue Tour

Join Carol Slutzky-Tenerowicz, historian, as she tells the story of this beautiful building, built in the Queen Anne style, listed on the register of National Historic Places. A Jewish-American Heritage Month program. Registration required.

Location: Hunter Synagogue, 7879 Main Street, Hunter

Time: 1:00 pm

More Info & Registration: 518-589-6657 or mthsdirector@mths.org

Arts Around Greenville

Studio Tour Preview Party

Preview party for the second annual Arts

Around Greenville Studio Tour which covers a 12 mile radius from the heart of Greenville. Enjoy refreshments, live music, and beautiful art work. Come meet the 25 artists, get a tour map, and view a sampling of the work that will be available to tour on the weekend of May 20-21 from 11-5 at their studios and group display locations.

Location: North Barn, George V. Vanderbilt Town Park, Town Park Road, Greenville

Time: 2:00-5:00 pm

More Info: cpog.org

Two Dark Birds

Two Dark Birds is a band from the Catskill Mountains led by songwriter Steve Koester and drummer Jason Mills. They are joined by Josh

Roy Brown (lap steel), Tyler Wood (keys), and Derek Nievergelt (bass). Since 2008, they have released four critically acclaimed albums, as well as the 2022 EP Porous

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 9

Amnesty International Mid-Hudson

9th Annual Human Rights Film & Panel Event

“From Beacon to the Border” with Filmmaker Andrea DeGeorge Garbarini

In the summer of 2018 a group of outraged grandparents from Beacon, NY took a road trip to McAllen, TX to protest the policy of separating migrant families at the US Mexican border.

“From Beacon To The Border” documents their journey, and the growth of the Grannies Respond Movement from its origin as an idea into a nationwide network of hundreds of grandparents who assists immigrants and refugees at bus stations across the country.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale

Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

MAY 10

Follow the River Lecture Series: “Seasons of Life”

As the seasons change in the Hudson Valley, so does the life one might encounter. From unique backyard winter birds to dazzling assemblages of dragonflies at a local pond, we are surrounded by life each month of the year. How do we go from a few hardy, cold-tolerant winter species to an abundance of diversity in the late summer? This lecture will examine the phenology of biodiversity as we travel through a year in our local area of the Hudson River watershed.

Location: Hudson River Maritime Museum 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, and virtual on Zoom

Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: hrmm.org

palpable charisma and luminous smile, both of which captivate audiences from all audiences. Vieux Farka Touré has clearly established himself as one of the world’s rare musical talents and guitar virtuosos with a distinct style that always pays homage to the past while looking towards the future.

Location: Woodstock Playhouse, 103 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock

Time: 7:30 pm

More Info: woodstockplayhouse.org

Samba/Bossa Nova Night with the Peter Einhorn Quartet

Samba/Bossa nova Night With The Peter Einhorn Quartet! Featuring Peter Einhorn, Rich Syracuse, Matt Garrity & Gil Oliveras!

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 11

The Temptations & The Four Tops

Backed by a tight rhythm section and blazing brass ensemble, The Temptations, often referred to as “American Music Royalty,” are world-renowned superstars of entertainment, revered for their phenomenal catalog of music and prolific career. The Four Tops sixties track record on Motown Records is indispensable, with an extraordinary run of instant classics.

Location: Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston

Time: 7:30 pm

More Info: ticketmaster.com

Vieux Farka Touré

Often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara,” Vieux Farka Touré uses elements of rock, Latin music, and other African influences. His live performances are highly energized and Vieux is known for dazzling crowds with his speed and dexterity on the guitar, as well as his

Hari

Kondabolu -

Standup Comedy

Hari Kondabolu is a comedian, writer and podcaster based in Brooklyn. The NY Times called him “one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today” and described his 2018 Netflix special Warn Your Relatives as “an incisively funny and formally adventurous hour that reveals a comic in command of his powers.” The special was named on many “Best of” lists, including for Time, Paste Magazine, Cosmopolitan, E! Online, and Mashable. He was also named one of 2018’s “Comics To Watch” by Variety. Hari currently hosts the new Netflix food competition series Snack vs Chef along with Megan Stalter.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 12

Harvest & Rust - A Neil Young Experience

It’s hard to represent the wide-array of Neil Young’s influential material in one show, but that’s exactly what the band Harvest & Rust does. Based in Western Massachusetts, the core members of Harvest & Rust often augment their show with other well-known local musicians to reproduce every era of Neil Young’s music. Be it the chart-topping Harvest material (including Old Man, Heart of Gold, etc.) to the electric explorations of Rust Never Sleeps (Hey Hey My My, etc.), as well as songs from Neil’s time in Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Buffalo Springfield, you’re in for a night of “complete Neil”.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

Yasmin Williams

Based in Alexandria, VA, Yasmin Williams is an acoustic fingerstyle guitarist with an unorthodox, modern style of playing. She utilizes various techniques including alternate tunings, percussive hits, and lap tapping in her music to great effect.

Location: West Kortright Centre, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith

Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: westkc.org

Joel Schlemowitz and Dawn Elliot’s Magic Lantern Show

Joel Schlemowitz and Dawn Elliot’s Magic Lantern Show on the bluestone patio. Rain date May 14.

Location: D&H Canal Museum, 1315 Main Street, High Falls

Time: 7:30 pm

More Info: canalmuseum.org

MAY 12-14

Scottish String Fling 2023

World-class Scottish traditional musicians and teachers, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, welcome intermediate and advanced string players for a fantastic learning experience that’s tremendous fun for all.

Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge

More Info: ashokancenter.org

MAY 13

16th Annual Rip Van Winkle

Wine, Brew & Beverage Festival

Enjoy tastings of wine, brew and craft beverages all day, as well as live local music, food and craft vendors. Voted Best Large Scale Community Event for 2022 in Greene County. The RVW Wine, Brew and Beverage Festival is presented by the Fortnightly Club of Catskill, recipient of the 2022 Not for Profit of the Year of Greene County, NY. All proceeds benefit the community. Hosted by the Fortnightly Club of Catskill

Location: Historic Catskill Point, 1 Main Street, Catskill

Time: 11:30 am-5:00 pm

More Info: fortnightlyclubofcatskill.ticketspice. com/rip-van-winkle-wine-brew-beverage-festival

Student Exhibition: “Fruition”

Exhibition of work by students at Sugar Maples

Center for Creative Arts.

Location: Art Studio at Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts, 34 Big Hollow Road, Maplecrest

Time: 3:00-5:00 pm

Amayo (formerly of Antibalas)

Former frontman of Antibalas, Amayo was “credited for bringing Afrobeat to a global audience, leading it to become a genre of itself.” - Soundcheck, WNYC He composed the GRAMMY-nominated Fu Chronicles album for “Best Global Music Album of the Year” 2020. It was the launchpad for Amayo’s solo career – where Kung Fu meets Afrobeat. His unique blend of styles creates a magical landscape for Chinese & African rhythms. Amayo sings traditional Yoruba & Edo lyrics and plays piano, electric keyboard, organ, and the Gbedu Spirit Drum. His band features chekere, guitar, bass, flute, violin, drums, percussion and horns.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

Kyle Marshall Choreography performs Alice and Ruin

A Partnership Project with the Catskill Mountain Foundation and The Joyce Theater Foundation

Founded in 2014, Kyle Marshall Choreography (KMC) is a company that sees the dancing body as a container of history, an igniter of social reform, and a site of celebration.

Location: Orpheum Performing Arts Center, 6050 Main Street, Tannersville

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: catskillmtn.org

The New Amsterdams + Kevin Devine with Brother Bird

Musician Kevin Devine’s upcoming 10th LP

Nothing’s Real, So Nothing’s Wrong is a beautiful, surreal, cinematic bedroom-rock fever dream. The New Amsterdams began as a solo project in Lawrence, Kansas to then-lead singer for The Get Up Kids Matt Pryor. In 2000, he released his debut album Never You Mind, which was comprised largely of acoustic tracks with sparse accompaniment. Brother Bird is the Nashville-based solo project of Caroline Swon.

Location: Levon Helm Studios 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: levonhelm.com

Saturday Creature Features Presents: The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

Scott Carey (Grant Williams) is exposed to an unknown mist that causes him to begin shrinking. The Incredible Shrinking Man is a poignant film that will stay with you for a long time after the film ends. Come see this solid 1950s classic on the big screen in its original theatre format.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale

Time: 9:30 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

MAY 13-14

Workshop: Cheese Slicer & Charcuterie Board

This workshop will include the materials and supplies to create a small cheese cutting board and a larger charcuterie board or cutting board made of different species of wood. This will be a two day workshop in which the first day will be picking out your wood, designing your pattern, squaring up the pieces and gluing them overnight. The next day will be trimming, sanding, finishing and adding hardware. This class is suitable for beginners and seasoned woodworkers alike.

Location: Hudson River Maritime Museum

Wooden Boat School, 86 Rondout Landing, Kingston

Registration Deadline: May 6

More Info: hrmm.org

MAY 13-25

Magic On Main—

An Intimate Parlor Experience

Join Magician Sean Doolan for a magic show in his private library located in a historic building on Main Street in Windham. Sean will weave his personal story of transitioning from a trial lawyer to a magician in interactive magical routines.

Photo by Zach Pigg

In this parlor show, Sean will demonstrate the limitations of the human mind through techniques he learned as a student of the ancient art of sleight of hand, and a lifetime as a trial lawyer. By reservation only, no walk-ins. Dates and times subject to change without notice, see website for updated calendar.

Location: 5428 NY Route 23 (Main Street), Windham

Tickets: $20/person

More Info: MagicOnMainWindham.com

MAY 14

Spring Explorations: The Magical World of Mushrooms

Explore the magical world beneath our feet with Luke Sarrantonio.

Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge

Time: 10:00 am

More Info: ashokancenter.org

Fireside Brunch with Marji Zintz and Elly Wininger

Fireside Brunch featuring: Marji Zintz 11am12:45pm & Elly Wininger 1:15 - 3:30pm.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 11:00 am

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas Concert 2023

A lively concert of Scottish fiddle & cello music with renowned performers Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas, Emerald Rae, Donal Sheets, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason.

Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge

Time: 3:00 pm

More Info: ashokancenter.org

Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute— Green River

Green River - The #1 Nationally Touring

Creedence Clearwater Revival/John Fogerty

Tribute Show is the brain child of native New Yorker Rick Horvath. Noodles as he is affectionately know, was born to perform this music. He started singing CCR songs in his very first band when he was only 13 years old.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 15-19

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain 2023 with Lisbeth Firmin

Lisbeth Firmin will once again be using Dr. Betty Edwards’ techniques from the famous Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book, combined with her own unique drawing skills, to encourage both professional and beginning students to find their unique ways of seeing. She takes the stress out of “being creative” and guides students towards unleashing their own unique energy through making art.

Location: Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main St, Stamford

Time: 9:00 am–1:00 pm

More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org

MAY 16

The Lone Bellow Trio: Love Songs For Losers Tour

The Lone Bellow Trio cast an indelible spell with their finespun songs of hard truth and unexpected beauty, frequently delivered in hypnotic three-part harmony. In a departure from their past work with elite producers, the Nashvillebased trio struck out on their own for their new album Love Songs for Losers, dreaming up a singular sound encompassing everything from arena-ready rock anthems to the gorgeously sprawling Americana tunes the band refers to as “little redneck symphonies.”

Location: Levon Helm Studios 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: levonhelm.com

MAY 17

Music Fan Series Presents: WATTSTAX (1973)

A one-of-a-kind concert film, featuring performances by the top stars of 1970s soul, gospel, R&B, blues, funk, and jazz, will celebrate its 50th anniversary re-release in a one-night-only screening.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale

Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

The Lincoln Miracle Guest speaker Edward Achorn will discuss his book The Lincoln Miracle, the story of how Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 Republican nomination for president. There is no fee to attend this lecture.

Location: Vedder Research Library, Bronck Museum, 90 County Rt. 42 (just off Rt. 9W), Coxsackie

Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: gchistory.org

Lex Grey & The Urban Pioneers

Featuring: Lex Grey, Vic Mix, Ed Wasilewski, Tim Farrell, Sonny Rock, & Brian Dewan

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 17-OCTOBER 11

Woodstock Farm Festival

The Woodstock Farm Festival is a celebration of local farmers, producers and artisans. Location: Mountainview Parking Lot, Rock City Road, Woodstock

Time: Wednesdays, 3:00-7:00 pm

More Info: woodstockfarmfestival.org

MAY 18

Movies from the Balcony: Days of Heaven

The beautifully shot Days of Heaven won many awards for its depiction of life in the early 20th century American South. A rare opportunity to see a masterpiece of the New Hollywood Cinema movement on the Hudson Valley’s largest screen. Plus happy hour in our Upstairs Lounge, featuring a pre-show performance by local theater company Definitely Human Theatre. Movies from the Balcony: A Free Series at UPAC is a NEW social gathering & movie series.

Location: Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston

Time: 7:30 pm

More Info: 845 750 0953 or bardavon.org

Setting Sun Record Release Show: The Feelings Cure

On this latest record, hyper-melodic, catchy choruses alternate with bedroom-symphonic mood pieces, baroque waltzes, and downhill, propulsive rockers, all decorated by a mixture of experimental synth and moody string orchestrations. A central element of Setting Sun is the dichotomy of somber lyrics layered over upbeat driving rhythms, and The Feelings Cure delivers in abundance. A sonic, harmonic, or lyrical surprise lurks around every corner.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 19

Water Cultures: Fiji, New York, Singapore with Professor Martha Kaplan

Vassar Geography Professor Martha Kaplan on the subject of her soon-to-be-published book

Water Cultures: Fiji, New York, Singapore

Location: D&H Canal Museum, 1315 Main Street, High Falls

Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: canalmuseum.org

ISLE of KLEZBOS Live Music for Jewish American Heritage Month

NYC-based ISLE of KLEZBOS approaches tradition with irreverence and respect. The soulful, fun-loving powerhouse klezmer band has toured from Vienna to Vancouver since 1998. Band repertoire ranges from rambunctious to entrancing: neo-traditional folk dance, mystical melodies, Yiddish swing & retro tango, late Soviet-era Jewish drinking song, re-grooved standards, and genre-defying originals.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale

Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

Masters Of The Telecaster

Featuring Jim Weider, GE Smith & Larry Campbell

With three of the most prolific rock guitarists in the world Jim Weider (The Band), GE Smith (SNL, Roger Waters band) and Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan, Levon Helm band), this is sure to be a historic night of Blues & Roots and Rock & Roll. Playing tunes from Roy Buchanan, Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Stevie Winwood and Bo Diddley to the Rolling Stones and more! The three Masters are joined by Lincoln Schleifer & Josh Dion to complete this righteous band.

Location: Bearsville Theater, 59 Tinker Street, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info & Tickets: bearsvilletheater.com

MAY 20

Vintage Base Ball: Delhi Polecats v. Saugerties VBBC

The teams of the Delaware County Vintage Base Ball Association are dedicated to producing historically-accurate and competitive nineteenth century base ball in a family friendly environment throughout Delaware County and the surrounding areas. All games are free and we welcome everyone to join us.

Location: Crawford Field, Launt Hollow Rd, Hamden

More Info: delcovintagebaseball.org

Comedy in the Catskills

Maude Adams Theater Hub

Join us for a night of stand up comedy! Featuring Derek Drescher, Josh Fromer, Cassidy O’Malley, Adam Hmada, and hosted by Nick Bailey. Pre-show and intermission cocktails available in the lobby. Bring your funny bone!

Location: Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971 Main Street, Hunter Time: 7:30 pm

More Info: catskillmtn.org

Towel Bar Basket Workshop with Martha Bremer

During this workshop participants will learn to weave a multi-use basket to hang on the wall for mail, notes, keys or even dried flowers. Basic weaving techniques, such as the over-under weave, will be taught. Both natural and dyed reed will be used to weave the sides. This is a basket for both the beginner and experienced weaver.

Location: Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main St, Stamford

Time: 11:00 am–4:00 pm

More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org

Vintage Base Ball: Fleischmanns Mountain Athletic Club v. Providence Grays

The teams of the Delaware County Vintage Base Ball Association are dedicated to producing historically-accurate and competitive nineteenth century base ball in a family friendly environment throughout Delaware County and the surrounding areas. All games are free and we welcome everyone to join us. This game is a fundraiser for the Skene Library, Fleischmanns

The ReLaTiVeS do The Rolling Stones

John Gullo & The ReLaTiVeS, best known for embodying the essence and the energy of punk rocks first wave of music, now bring you the music of one of punks most prominent predecessors, The Rolling Stones! Get ready for a super fun night of rocking out to two solid hours of authentic sounding renditions of your favorite Rolling Stones tunes circa ‘68 to ‘78! For this special show John has added horns, back-up singers, percussion, and keyboards to the band to deliver all the bells and whistles needed to re-create The Stones trademark sound!

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 19-20

Workshop: Introduction to Square Rule Timber Framing

This 2-day course is designed for students who seek experience in building timber frame structures. Participants will learn and assist in the construction of a square rule, post-and-beam timber frame structure on the HRMM campus. The group will construct mortise and tenon joints and join the structural frames. This course is suitable for both beginners and more advanced students wishing to strengthen their skills.

Location: Hudson River Maritime Museum

Wooden Boat School, 86 Rondout Landing, Kingston

Registration Deadline: May 6

More Info: hrmm.org

MAY 19-21

Old Time Rollick 2023

Emily Schaad hosts this rollicking weekend for musicians and dancers of all levels. Deepen your playing, build your repertoire, make new friends, and jam until the wee hours.

Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge

More Info: ashokancenter.org

Big Gay Hudson Valley Presents: FREEDOM: THE GEORGE MICHAEL EXPERIENCE

FREEDOM: THE GEORGE MICHAEL EXPERIENCE is an electrifying, immersive musical event celebrating the life and iconic songs of one of pop music’s brightest and sexiest stars. Conceived and sung-live by New York pop singer/songwriter Todd Alsup, this upbeat club music cabaret traces Michael’s trailblazing history, weaving historical multimedia clips and 20 of his most unforgettable hits.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale

Time: 8:30 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

MAY 20-21

Arts Around Greenville Studio Tour

Come visit the studios of 25 artists and see the hidden gems of Greene and Albany county, from beautiful settings and gorgeous vistas to wonderful interactive studio experiences and amazing local shops, food and entertainment!

Location: In various locations within a 12 mile radius of Greenville NY.

Time: 11:00 am-5:00 pm

More Info: cpog.org

MAY 21

Spring Explorations: Rockin’ Reptiles and Amazing Amphibians

Join us for a group hike around our grounds to look for reptiles and amphibians.

Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge

Time: 10:00 am

More Info: ashokancenter.org

Fireside Brunch with Doug Marcus

Fireside Brunch featuring Doug Marcus.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 11:00 am

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

Location: Historic M.A.C. Grounds @ Fleischmanns Park, Wagner Avenue, Fleischmann

Time: 12:00 pm

More Info: delcovintagebaseball.org

Old Time Open House 2023

Come enjoy rollicking old-time jam session with staff and campers from the Old Time Rollick weekend. Come early to enjoy the tasty lunch buffet!

Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge

Time: 1:00-3:00 pm

More Info: ashokancenter.org

National Theatre Live Presents: Othello

An extraordinary new production of Shakespeare’s most enduring tragedy, directed by Clint Dyer with a cast that includes Giles Terera (Hamilton), Rosy McEwean (The Alienist) and Paul Hilton (The Inheritance). Othello is filmed live on the Lyttleton stage of the National Theatre.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale Time: 2:00 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

Music on the Delaware Coffeehouse presents The B’s Intimate concerts upstairs in the Andrea Retz Paternoster room at the Walton Theatre. Admission is free, donations appreciated. Coffee, tea, and desserts available. Audiences can join in-

person or via zoom. The B’s play a mix of classic country, rock & folk.

Location: Walton Theatre, 30 Gardiner Place, Walton

Time: 6:00 pm

More Info: musiconthedelaware.org

timber frame structure on the HRMM campus. This course is suitable for both beginners and more advanced students wishing to strengthen their skills. Students will have the opportunity to purchase the structure at materials cost.

Location: Hudson River Maritime Museum

Wooden Boat School, 86 Rondout Landing, Kingston

Registration Deadline: May 12

More Info: hrmm.org

MAY 26-29

Uke Fest 2023

Expand your skills and thrive in the aloha spirit of the ukulele with host Ben Hassenger and his amazing teaching staff!

Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge

The Brothers Doobie: A Doobie Brothers Concert Experience

Always delivering a high-energy, high-level performance, Brothers Doobie - A Doobie Brothers

Experience performs the full range of Doobie Brothers top hits.

Location: Orpheum Performing Arts Center, 6050 Main Street, Tannersville

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: catskillmtn.org

Divine Sweater

Divine Sweater is a dynamic, close-knit band powered by tight vocal harmonies and a healthy dose of groove. Recently nominated for Alt/ Indie Band of the Year by the Boston Music Awards, the band consistently garners 130,000+ monthly listeners on Spotify.

Terry Reid & Cosmic American Derelicts

New Jersey’s own Cosmic American Derelicts have been performing throughout the northeast of the United States, and all over the UK, for the last 25 years, playing their own earthy style of, R&B, honky-tonk/country western, bluegrass, folk, and psychedelia, which are the key ingredients that make up the Cosmic American Derelicts 100 proof sound.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 25

SkyDaddy & What?

SkyDaddy is a jazz-funk-rock fusion band from the Hudson Valley. Composed of Tom Clancey, Dave Heinz, Pat Agresta and Joe North, the band blends catchy hooks and story-driven lyrics with improvisational space funk jams and mashups, with releases available across all major streaming platforms. What? is a a horn-led funk band based out of the Hudson Valley.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 26

George Von Beck – Rondout’s Alleged Lunatic by Taylor Bruck

Lecture by Taylor Bruck.

Location: D&H Canal Museum, 1315 Main Street, High Falls

Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: canalmuseum.org

Professor Louie and the Crowmatix “Roots Music Royalty” Professor Louie & The Crowmatix shows’ presents a diverse set list from this stellar roots crew with original & select cover songs from their 16 albums released on Woodstock Records.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 26-27

Workshop: Square Rule Timber Framing 2 This 2-day course is designed for students who took Introduction to Square Rule Timber Framing. Participants will learn and assist in the construction of a square rule, post-and-beam

More Info: ashokancenter.org

MAY 27

The Nude Party

A septet formed at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina playing electro-pop and stripped down country. Their communal Catskills studio is not far from the West Kortright Centre and they will perform here as the last concert on their spring tour.

Location: West Kortright Centre, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith

Time: 4:00 pm

More Info: westkc.org

Mushroom Walk & Farm Tour with Medicinal Mushroom Tea

John Michelotti of Catskill Fungi will guide us as we explore the wide world of fungi, from wild mushroom identification to mushroom cultivation. We’ll tour an outdoor mushroom growing “laying yard” and learn about (and taste!) medicinal mushrooms.

Location: Wild Hudson Valley, 408 Lake Mills Road, Cairo

Time: 4:00 pm

More Info: wildhudsonvalley.com

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

MAY 27-28

46th Annual East Durham Irish Festival

Come and enjoy the biggest Irish American Event in the Catskill Mountains. Vendors, food, music, dancing and much more! Kids 13 and under are free!

Location: Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre, 2267 Route 145, East Durham More Info: eastdurhamirishfestival.com

MAY 27-29

Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair

A Hudson Valley favorite, The Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair, returns with hundreds of juried artists and craftspeople in over 10 media categories, alongside ongoing demonstrations, live musical performances, small-batch artisanal and prepared-on-site foods, local wine, beer, and spirits, and a children’s craft tent. Rain or shine. Buses welcome.

Location: Ulster County Fairgrounds, 249 Libertyville Road, New Paltz

Times: 10:00 am-5:30 pm May 27 & 28, 10:00 am-4:00 pm May 29

More Info: quailhollow.com.com

MAY 28

Memorializing the Masters: Works by Mozart, Hüllmandel, Beethoven and Clara Schumann Academy of Fortepiano Performance Faculty Concert

The sound world of 18th and 19th century masters, performed on the instruments of their time.

Location: Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971

Main Street, Hunter

Time: 7:30 pm

More Info: catskillmtn.org

Jess Williamson with Al Olender

Uke Review 2023

Treat yourself to a fabulous evening concert by six fantastic ukulele players.

Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge

Time: 7:30 pm

More Info: ashokancenter.org

Endless prairies and ocean waves; long drives and highway expanse; dancing, smoke, sex, and physical desire – the core images of Jess Williamson’s new album Time Ain’t Accidental revel in the earthly and the carnal.

Location: Levon Helm Studios 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: levonhelm.com

Neil Chin

Art Explorers

Adventures that allow your children to explore their creativity

Birds, Bugs & Bears

The Art Explorers will learn fun new techniques for drawing, painting, and clay. We will be looking to the flora and fauna for inspiration each day!

Students will explore landscape painting, participate in group art discussions, and investigate the natural world. Together as a group, we will learn, cultivate creativity, and collaborate in the beautiful Catskill Mountains.

SESSION DATES

Week 1 August 1-4

Week 2 August 8-11

AGES 5-14

The Catskill Mountain Foundation presents

National Dance Institute

Two Week Residency

For children in Grades 3-8

JULY 10, 2023 – JULY 21, 2023

MONDAY-FRIDAY, 9AM-3PM

Week 3 August 15-18

Sessions run Tuesday - Friday, 10 am - 4 pm

Program location: 34 County Route 56 • Maplecrest, NY 12454

To register, contact Hillary at morseh@catskillmtn.org or 518 263 2001

To register, contact Hillary at morseh@catskillmtn.org or 518 263 2001

PERFORMANCE: CELEBRATING DR. MAYA ANGELOU

SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2023 @ 7:00 PM

ORPHEUM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 6050 Main Street, Tannersville, NY 12485

All Tickets: $15

Tickets available at catskillmtn.org or 518 263 2063

2023 SUMMER COURSES

34 Big Hollow Road | Maplecrest, NY 12454

On

SWEET & SALTY: CONE 6 SALT FIRING

Instructor: Sara Patterson

Dates: June 23 – 27

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $65

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

This workshop gives participants the opportunity to work with one of the country’s first studio potters to pursue soda firing at cone 6. Students will be invited to bring bisqueware and their own cone 6 glazes [if they have] to fire in our nearly new soda kiln. There will be studio glazes available, as well. This is a hands-on workshop so there will be wheel throwing demos, discussions, and time to make work in addition to the glaze firing.

SURFACING

Instructor: Michael Kline

Dates: July 14 – 18

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $60

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

In this hands-on workshop we will focus on wheel thrown pots and embellishment of the clay surface. Participants will be guided through fun exercises to familiarize themselves with markmaking and the structure of pattern using brushwork, stamping, and incising. We will make clay stamps to be used to decorate the surfaces of our pots. We will discuss and demonstrate strategies for pattern with brushwork, pigmented wax resist, and inlay. Students will find patterns that are meaningful and appropriate for their forms.

CERAMICS CERAMIC SCIENCE FOR THE ARTIST PLUS!

Instructor: Dr. William M. Carty

Dates: June 16 – 20

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $95

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

Whether you’re a recent arrival to the glaze and clay calculation world, or you’ve previously studied this fascinating science, this NEW workshop will blow your mind. For the first time in a workshop, students will explore color response in glazes, that they invent, to both oxidation AND reduction atmospheres. Glaze and claybody formulation, the role of metal oxides and stains, the introduction of opacifiers, and causes of defects will be taught step by step. Testing “wild clays” will also be included in our explorations. Students are encouraged to bring in their triumphs and curiosities for discussion and sharing.

EVOCATIVE ANIMAL HEADS IN CLAY

Instructor: Russell Wrankle

Dates: June 23 – 27

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $50

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

Starting with simple featureless plaster animal head forms (Dog, Rabbit and Vulture provided by the instructor) we will jump start your exploration of narrative, emotional, and conceptual potential of animal heads in clay. You will spend time learning facial features and then embellish with texture, expression, and nuance. Russell will share his building methods, including solid construction, and sculpting facial features using basic tools and sprigs. Image presentations of historic and contemporary examples will provide context and inspiration. Individual guidance will help you create unique sculptures that are personally relevant. Pieces will be bisque fired at the end of the week.

THE WHOLE ENCHILADA: A BEGINNER’S JOURNEY IN CLAY

Instructors: Marilyn Katz, Gail Rutigliano, Karen Stern

Dates: June 30 – July 2

Course Fee: $300

Lab Fee: $50

Skill Level: Beginner

Have a blast getting creative and a little messy in this workshop with three Dynamos! Come be a part of a new paradigm in learning how to work with clay … under the guidance of three amazing artists. Try your hands at wheel throwing, hand building, glazing, and firing … each technique important to building skills and knowledge fast. You’ll feel like you’re in excellent hands because these Instructors know how to work with clay, enthusiastically share their knowledge, and set the right pace and environment for fun learning.

LUSH & LAYERED SURFACE: DECORATION TECHNIQUES FOR GREENWARE

Instructor: Taylor Sijan

Dates: July 7 – 11

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $50

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

Are you looking to learn how to create rich depth on the surfaces of your ceramic work? In this skill-building workshop, Taylor will demonstrate how she creates layered surfaces on unfired porcelain. Students will experiment with decorating techniques such as stamping, slip trailing, carving, and underglaze painting using paper resists on tiles and simple forms. Strategies for harmonious, asymmetrical surface compositions on vessels will be introduced. Students will depart the workshop with greenware and bisque-fired work to glaze at home.

BUILDING THE ROCKET KILN: LOW EMISSION WOOD FIRING

Instructor: Lisa Orr

Dates: July 21 – 25

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $100

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

This informative and exciting workshop will offer participants the opportunity to work together in the construction of the “Rocket” wood-fired kiln. The project will involve the conversion of an electric kiln into one that can fire fast and lean using wood as its primary fuel. Students will enjoy learning kiln building and firing principles and should come prepared to make pots and work cooperatively. There promises to be loads of demonstrations, discussions, and presentations on this renowned Instructor’s experiences as a studio potter, world traveler, and advocate for low-resource practices.

GEOLOGICALLY BIOLOGIC

Instructor: Coleton Lunt

Dates: July 22 - 25

Course Fee: $400

Lab Fee: $60

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

Engaging in a mutual dialogue with clay, students will learn to let the process unfold in intuitive ways. Employing wheel, coil, and slabs, we will investigate ways to build sculptural vessels that defy gravity, expressing dynamic movement. We will discuss formal evolution through the lens of the biologic world, while we analyze the process of making as it relates to geology and natural weathering. Staining clay will be demonstrated as well as blending various stoneware’s together. Minimal or liner glazes will be used to highlight the patterns and color of the natural clay.

Chandra DeBuse

CLAY AS CANVAS

Instructor: Mallory Wetherell

Dates: July 28 – August 1

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $55

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

In this hands-on workshop, students will learn how to apply graphic imagery onto porcelain surfaces. Participants will begin by creating a variety of simplified ceramic forms to serve as their canvases. Students will be taught how to convert found imagery into stencils, which will be transferred onto their bone-dry ceramic forms. Working with a variety of underglaze washes, students will experiment building complex surfaces and graphic images on clay. Students are encouraged to bring to class a variety of images for reference.

into different techniques for surface decoration at the greenware stage. We will combine texture, carving, underglaze inlay, brushwork, and resist techniques to create layered, colorful surfaces. We will discuss how function, form and surface work together to create well-designed pottery forms. Bring your sketchbook and get ready to embark on a playful discovery of form and surface techniques.

BY DESIGN: PROTOTYPING, MOLD MAKING AND SLIP CASTING

Instructor: Hiroe Hanazono

Dates: August 11 – 15 (5 Days)

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $75

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced During this five-day workshop, students will learn methods for designing and fabricating models and molds. Students will begin by designing an object on paper, then learn how to create their prototype using a variety of materials such as plaster, clay, and wood. These prototypes will then be used to create either single or multipiece molds. Demonstrations will also cover the slip-casting process. Students will have the opportunity to make casts of their projects, however because this is only a five-day workshop, students will take their bisque home.

CRYSTALLINE GLAZES & VOLUPTUOUS BOTTLES

Instructor: Jon Puzzuoli

Dates: August 12 – 15

Course Fee: $400

Lab Fee: $75

STORYTELLING IN SCULPTURE

Instructor: Hirotsune Tashima

Dates: July 28 – August 1

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $60

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

This hands-on workshop is guaranteed to be a unique opportunity to study sculptural techniques using clay to explore personal and cultural ideas. Participants will be introduced to ways of realizing their own concepts through representational sculpture. Techniques for building large scale works will be demonstrated along with discussions about materials, challenges, and problem solving. Aspects of modelling the Figure will be explored with the intention of telling stories being central to these five action-packed days.

SURFACE DESIGN FOR POTTERY

Instructor: Chandra DeBuse

Dates: August 4 – 8

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $60

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced (a little experience will be helpful)

Exploring surface techniques on hand-built pottery will be the focus of this workshop. After using templates with soft clay slabs to construct pottery forms like plates and cups, we will dive

THE REAL BIG BURN: GENERAL MAYHEM

Instructors: Steve Cook and Bruce Dehnert

Dates: August 25 – 29

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $100

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

If you love to fire. If you love lots of different effects. Or if you’re short on atmospheric firing experience, this intensive workshop is your ticket. You will participate in different types of firing, achieving results in a short time. We’ll fire soda, wood, gas reduction, raku, and pit! Emphasis is placed on glaze/surface preparation and firing techniques through demonstrations, lectures, and hands-on participation. You bring the bisque-ware, and we deliver the heat.

THE REAL BIG BURN: GENERAL MAYHEM

SESSION II

Instructors: Steve Cook and Bruce Dehnert

Dates: September 1-5

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $100

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

If you love to fire. If you love lots of different effects. Or if you’re short on atmospheric firing experience, this intensive workshop is your ticket. You will participate in different types of firing, achieving results in a short time. We’ll fire soda, wood, gas reduction, raku, and pit! Emphasis is placed on glaze/surface preparation and firing techniques through demonstrations, lectures, and hands-on participation. You bring the bisque-ware, and we deliver the heat.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced Create dramatic effects on your pottery with crystalline glazes and learn to throw beautiful bottles during this four-day workshop. We will start by prepping and glazing your premade bisqueware. While the pieces are firing, we will dive into the glaze chemistry and kiln programming that crystalline glazes require. Post-firing techniques will be taught. During the second day of the workshop there will be throwing demos of wide bellied bottles that are most flattering to crystal growth. We will have plenty of time for hands-on throwing and trimming. On the third day of the workshop, we will glaze another batch of work and get it into the kiln.

FUN WITH VESSELS THAT POUR

Instructor: Susan Beecher

Dates: August 18 - 20

Course Fee: $400

Lab Fee: $50

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

This hands-on workshop will focus on making beautiful pouring vessels while improving your throwing skills and demonstrating new altering techniques. We will work on such pots as: Batter Bowls, Pitchers, Gravy Boats, Soy Bottles & Teapots. Then we will move on to various surface enhancement techniques such as slip brush work, sgrafitto & wax resist. All levels of skill are welcome, but some wheel experience is necessary. Ages 15 to adult.

FIVE DAYS WITH ADJECTIVES

Instructor: John Gill

Dates: September 8 – 12 (5 Days)

Course Fee: $600

Lab Fee: $75

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

John Gill is widely known for his unique approaches to constructing colorful planular vessels that enjoy both contemporary and historical associations. Gill’s expressive hard angulars challenge gravity with cantilever and colliding with surfaces that feature dynamic painting. There is undeniably magic in his hands and a plausible logic guided by the idea that working with function opens up possibilities. Join us in this workshop that could change your trajectories in thinking and creating. Gill has been in the field for a long time working with many people, absorbing stories, and working intuitively in response. Gill likes to put together forms in simple yet activated relationships. He comes to materials with simple tools and ideas, solving problems in the moment.

Hirotsune Tashima

2D PROGRAM

INTRODUCTION TO OIL PAINTING

Instructor: Nathan Loda

Dates: June 16 - 18

Course Fee: $300

Lab Fee: $30

Skill Level: Beginner and Up

This introductory course will provide students with the basic principles and techniques when working with Oil Paint. Students will be introduced to paint-handling techniques, color mixing, composition, and different methods for developing a representational painting. Using an exciting direct method of applying paint, and the indirect method of application featuring monochromatic underpainting prior to color application, participants will learn how to construct a dynamic image. Favorite photographs will be used to learn fundamentals of alla prima landscape painting. Throughout this enjoyable workshop, emphasis will be placed on lots of individual support.

MURAL BOOT CAMP

Instructor: Monty Montgomery

Dates: June 23 – 27

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $75

Skill Level: Beginner - Advanced

Rarely does the opportunity arise to take a workshop in mural painting. This dynamic approach to large scale image-making is of an esoteric nature because so many elements must be considered. In this hands-on workshop, students will be introduced to developing a vision, choosing surface and medium, and considering aspects of society and culture. Instruction will cover use of tools and equipment, and the forever pesky budget and pricing concerns when developing proposals. Because muralism is usually a public art form, this renowned artist will lead discussions regarding the challenges that entails.

STEP BY STEP: METHODS IN CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE PAINTING

Instructor: Eileen Murphy

June 30 – July 2

Course Fee: $300

Lab Fee: $30

Skill Level: Beginner to AdvanceD

In this workshop, participants will consider all aspects of making a successful landscape painting, from beginning to end. Our beautiful Catskill mountains offer one of America’s most special settings for developing a ‘painter’s eye’ towards capturing dynamic views on canvas. Exploring compositions that go beyond the traditional horizontal rectangle, students will learn shadow modeling, various mark-making techniques, and differentiating textures of subject matter. Both art historical and contemporary examples of compositions will be introduced and discussed.

CYANOTYPE WORKSHOP

Instructor: Julia Whitney Barnes

Dates: July 7 – 11

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $50

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

Participants will learn the basics of how to make cyanotype prints from mixing chemistry, coating paper and/or fabric, and utilizing the always amazing Catskill sunlight to develop the prints. Approaching printmaking from an experimental perspective, students will be introduced to myriad options for stenciling using found objects. Also, there will be exciting opportunities to create and print with photographic negatives and learn about toning and other techniques using wet technique, natural dyes, and household materials like coffee and tea. This exciting workshop will be comprised of enjoyable discussions, heaps of demonstrations, and presentations.

EXPANDING YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS THROUGH PAINTING

Instructor: Karin Lowney-Seed

Dates: July 21 – 23

Course Fee: $300

Lab Fee: $35

In this three-day workshop you will explore ideas and techniques using your own personal story to direct your art. How do we manifest that in our art? The process of discovery comes from sharing, listening, and learning within the safety-net we will create during this course. We will work on gestures, markings, color, texture, and language building a narrative to expand your creative process. We will also experiment with play, color and emotions that allow you to take bigger risks that allow you to advance your ‘voice’.

PLEIN AIR OIL PAINTING

Instructor: Mara Lehmann

Dates: August 25 – 27

Course Fee: $300

Lab Fee: $40

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

This workshop is meant for intermediate to experienced level painters who have already taken beginning courses. We will be focusing on the use of values as a method of achieving spatial distance and feeling of atmosphere in our landscapes. Also, the emphasizing of focal points using contrasting patterns of light and shadow to add drama. There will be demonstrations, discussions, and lots of individual attention. Portions of this intensive workshop will be held outdoors in the stunning Catskills.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Instructor: Gabe Brown

September 8 – 10

Course Fee: $300

Lab Fee: $30

BEGINNER WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP

Instructor: Loreen Oren

Dates: July 21 – 23 (3 Days)

Course Fee: $300

Lab Fee: $50

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

This workshop is designed for beginners and students who wish to continue working with watercolor. Techniques such as wet-on-wet, weton-dry, scumbling and “dry brush” will be demonstrated at each class. Students will learn how to create patterns, layers, color relationships, brush strokes and effects in watercolor painting. Also, an in-depth exploration of various types of paper will be conducted during class time. Find joy and celebrate in the fabulous unpredictability that makes watercolor painting so unique.

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced Methods and Materials is designed for those interested in not only the basic understanding of paining techniques and applications, but advanced knowledge of practical uses. Ideal for beginners as well as those wanting to perfect their craft with a better understanding of how to apply specific methods to individual studio practice. You will learn how to mix a variety of painting mediums, applications of ground on various substrates, paint mixing techniques, presentation, and preparation of artwork for transportation. Primarily focusing on oil, this workshop will also include water media such as acrylic, ink, and watercolor.

FIBERS EMBROIDERY ON PAPER

Instructor: Nick DeFord

Dates: July 14 – 18

Course Fee: $500

Lab Fee: $35

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced Embroidery is a fantastic means of embellishing fabric, but we will take the needle and thread to paper to explore the drawn line as a stitched line. We will cover basic stitching techniques of

Nathan Loda

embroidery, and then move on to the intricacies, challenges, and surprises of putting a needle to paper. We will discuss various surfaces that are possible, working individually with students and their own ideas. Contemporary artists who utilize embroidery will be introduced. Assignment prompts will encourage students on ways that embroidery gives meaning to their other works on paper. This class welcomes anyone interested in taking their stitches to the next level!

FIELD BASKET

Instructor: Wendy G. Jensen

Dates: July 29 (one day only!) 9am – 5pm

Course Fee: $125

Lab Fee: $75

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

Using rattan, this basket begins with a double spoked base with tapered secondary stakes; students will learn to weave and shape the sides of this handsome, utilitarian round basket. The basket is finished with a sturdy rim and leather side handles. Shaping, rimming, scarfing and lashing will all be taught. Approximate dimensions: 13”D x 8”H.

NONTRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO SCULPTURE

Instructor: Karen Margolis

Dates: August 4 – 7

Course Fee: $400

Lab Fee: $50

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

This workshop explores sculpture from inside out, how to communicate through form, materials, and process. Students investigate their inner drives to create assemblages as extensions of individual feelings. The workshop introduces alternative approaches to working with principles of sculpture, using various methods of material penetration, adhesion/attachment, and treatment of surfaces to express line, form, space, texture, mass, and volume. Combining personal and found objects with alternative techniques and tools, students explore conveying meaning within form, focusing on how objects articulate content based on arrangement and deconstruction.

NATURAL DYES AND PIGMENTS FOR PAINTING

Instructor: Patricia Miranda

Dates: August 18 - 21

Course Fee: $400

Lab Fee: $50

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced This workshop will explore the history of color through the creation of natural dyes and pigments. Participants will create color from natural materials combined with water-based binders, from gum arabic to distemper to egg tempera. We will explore the language and meaning-making potential of color, and how material carries content through history, context, and aesthetic properties. Conceptual and practical considerations of the environmental impact on materials will offer a guide to maintaining a sustainable and safe painting practice. Participants will come away with a set of handmade watercolor paints, a color swatch book, and exploratory paintings created using their handmade paints on paper.

RUG HOOKING

Instructor: Tina Harp

Dates: August 25 - 27

Course Fee: $300

Lab Fee: $85

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced Rug Hooking is a traditional art form. Beginning with a complete kit, students will learn how to hook a simple 8 x 10 picture using hand-dyed strips of wool. Learn how color and texture function in this intriguing craft technique. Because this tool is portable, students will be able to continue working on projects outside class hours, and the next morning will be spent going over how the colors create textures, how to fix a mistake as well as lots of show and tell. Demonstrations and lots of individual attention are guaranteed.

REPURPOSE, REUSE, RETHINK: UPCYCLED TEXTILE CRAFTS WITH FELT, EMBROIDERY, AND SEWING

Instructor: Lynn Loflin

September 1 - 3

Course Fee: $300

Lab Fee: $35

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

This 3-day workshop focuses on the repurposing of felted wool, clothing, and other textiles. Participants will learn traditional skills and techniques in embroidery, dry felting, mending, patchwork, sashiko, fabric collage, and sewing, telling a more personal story. We will reimagine existing clothing, making a vest or jacket from a felted wool sweater. Other projects that can be made over the 3 days are gloves, belts, sashiko/ boro denim repair, shoulder bags, pouches, and hats. There will be demonstrations, heaps of individual attention, and the rich history of felted clothing in our region. Come join our reimagining of what wearable art can be.

WEEKLY CLASSES CLAY FOR SENIORS WEEKLY

Instructor: Susan Beecher

Dates: July 12 – August 30

Time/Day: 10 am – 1 pm. Wednesdays.

Course Fee: $220

Lab Fee: $65

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced. 65 years old and up!

This class is offered to senior citizens living in the Mountaintop area who enjoy working with their hands in a supportive, fun, and lively community. This 8-week course will focus on hand-building techniques that appeal to all skill levels. Come and learn to make special projects while enjoying our beautiful studio. Decorating and glazing are also taught, so bring your wonderful ideas!

WEEKLY WEAVING I

Instructor: Tina Harp

Dates: June 7 – July 26

Course Fee: $250

Lab Fee: $45

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

Weaving is an ancient art form that involves interlacing threads to create fabric. Using a 4-harness loom, students will learn to warp a loom, weave it off, and properly finish. Studio time is available and most students have the ability to create two separate woven pieces. By the end of this 8-week course, one will have the basic skills and knowledge to try this on their own. No prior experience is needed.

WEEKLY WEAVING II

Instructor: Tina Harp

Dates: August 23 – October 11

Course Fee: $250

Lab Fee: $45

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced This continued weaving course is designed for students who have some basic knowledge of weaving. This class will build upon the existing skills of the student and learn more advanced techniques. Learning how to create more complex patterns, expanding the use of color and texture and how to trouble shoot common problems that arise. During this 8-week course, students work at their own skill level. Studio time is available for weaving off the loom which creates time for a couple of finished pieces.

Susan Beecher

If a course is marked as FULL, please call our office at 518-263-2001 to be placed on the waiting list.

OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

APRIL

“Cash on Cash”

Maude Adams Theater Hub

Saturday, April 1 @ 7:30 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Note: alternate ticket prices apply. An evening of music and storytelling about Johnny Cash presented by Robert Burke Warren, who has recently edited a book by the same title.

“Like Courtiers in the Presence of the Master”

Piano Sonatas with Violin

Accompaniment Around 1800

Antonia Nelson, violin Maria Rose, piano

Sunday, April 2 @ 2:00 pm Piano Performance Museum

Doctorow Center for the Arts

FREE, but seating is limited. Email boxoffice@catskillmtn.org to reserve your seats.

Antonia Nelson and Maria Rose will perform various works for violin and piano to showcase some of the historical pianos at the Piano Performance Museum. In the late-18th century solo piano music was rare and served mostly to show off the virtuosity of the composer/performer—or they were used for teaching. In social performance settings the piano was almost always joined by optional other instruments. The program will include sonatas by Mozart, Hüllmandel, and Dussek.

Ibex Puppetry:

Ajijaak on Turtle Island

Saturday, April 8 @ 7:30 pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

The story of Ajijaak, a young whooping crane who has been separated from her family in a Tar Sands fire caused by the monstrous Mishibizhiw. She must make her first migration from Canada down to the Gulf Coast on her own, finding her voice and a family through the interconnectedness of all of creation. Ajijaak on Turtle Island brings communities together through puppetry, music, traditional dances, animations, and kites.

Moss Ensemble

Saturday, April 15 @ 8:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Join this quartet of world-class performers for an evening of adventurous and beautiful music. Expect pieces by Chopin and Haydn and works from living composers, as well as stories that help illuminate the music. Featured among the evening’s offerings are a song cycle by Windham’s esteemed impresario/conductor/ composer Robert Manno and works by Andes’ remarkable violinist/ counter-tenor/composer Marshall Coid.

Ticket sales are now open!

Visit catskillmtn.org

Unless otherwise noted, ticket prices are as follows:

Purchased in Advance: $25 regular; $20 senior; $7 student/child

Purchased at the door: $30 regular; $25 senior; $7 student/child

DOCTOROW CENTER FOR THE ARTS

7971 MAIN STREET HUNTER, NY 12442

Chanticleer

Saturday, April 22 @ 7:30 pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

The GRAMMY® Award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer has been hailed as “the world’s reigning male chorus” by The New Yorker. Founded in San Francisco in 1978 by singer and musicologist Louis Botto, Chanticleer quickly took its place as one of the most prolific recording and touring ensembles in the world, selling over one million recordings and performing thousands of live concerts to audiences around the world. Their repertoire is rooted in the renaissance, and has continued to expand to include classical, gospel, jazz, popular music, and a deep commitment to the commissioning of new compositions and arrangements.

VIRTUAL!

International Fortepiano Salon 15:

“More than Just Notes: Rhetoric & Ornamentation in Classical Piano Music”

Sunday, April 30 @ 2:00 pm

Canadian fortepianist Anders Muskens and Tobias Cramm on rhetoric and early Romantic improvisation.

MAY

The Gottabees

“Go Home Tiny Monster”

Saturday, May 6 @ 2:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Recommended for ages 3 and up

After a sudden storm, Sylvie and her loving family of homespun creatures find themselves in need of a new home. Luckily, they have an audience full of people who can help them out! Go Home Tiny Monster is a wildly creative theatrical ode to a community’s generosity.

Kyle Marshall Choreography: Alice and Ruin

A Partnership Project with the Catskill Mountain Foundation & The Joyce Theater Foundation

Saturday, May 13 @ 7:30pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Founded in 2014, Kyle Marshall Choreography (KMC) is a company that sees the dancing body as a container of history, an igniter of social reform, and a site of celebration.

Community Ballet Class Recital

Orpheum Dance Program

Saturday, May 20 @ 2:00 pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center For ballet class parents only

We are THRILLED to celebrate our 25th Anniversary of bringing Arts to the Mountaintop with our most impressive season yet!

Photo by Stephen K. Mack

Anders Muskens.

Photo by Eduardus Lee Tobias Cramm

Photo by Theo Cote

Comedy in the Catskills

Maude Adams Theater Hub

Saturday, May 20 @ 7:30 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Note: alternate ticket prices apply. Join us for a night of stand up comedy!

Featuring Derek Drescher, Josh Fromer, Cassidy O’Malley, Adam Hmada, and hosted by Nick Bailey. Pre-show and intermission cocktails available in the lobby.

Workshop on Maintaining Historical Pianos, Harpsichords and Clavichords

May 25 - May 27

Piano Performance Museum

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Visit academyfortepiano.org

Following last year’s successful workshop, the second Piano Technicians Workshop will be offered, directed by Masayuki Maki and Richard Hester.

The Brothers Doobie: A Doobie Brothers Concert Experience

Saturday, May 27 @ 8:00pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Tickets Purchased in Advance: $30 regular; $25 senior; $7 student

At the Door: $35 regular; $20 senior; $7 student

Always delivering a high-energy, high-level performance, Brothers Doobie - A Doobie Brothers Experience performs the full range of Doobie Brothers top hits.

Academy of Fortepiano Performance Workshop for Fortepianists and Vocalists:

“The German Lied Repertoire” led by Drew Minter

June 6 - June 12

Piano Performance Museum

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Visit academyfortepiano.org

Voice and Piano Faculty Concert

Drew Minter, Audrey Axinn, Maria Rose, and others

Saturday, June 10 @ 8:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Voice and Piano Student Concert

Sunday, June 11 @ 8:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Labyrinth Baroque Ensemble

“Resistance is but Vain: Staging Charms and Perplexities of Love in Songs from Late 17th Century London Plays”

Saturday, June 17 @ 8:00pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

The Labyrinth Baroque Ensemble, founded in 2015 by director, lutenist and scholar Richard Kolb, performs music by Purcell, Eccles, and contemporaries, created by Artistic Director Richard Kolb with staging by mezzosoprano Tracy Cowart.

Academy of Fortepiano Performance Festival

2023 Workshop: Style, Affect and Ornamentation

May 28 - June 5

Piano Performance Museum

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Visit academyfortepiano.org

An inspiring and practical immersion into the world of historical pianos.

Academy of Fortepiano Performance Faculty Concert

Memorializing the Masters: Works by Mozart, Hüllmandel, Beethoven, and Clara Schumann

Audrey Axinn, Maria Rose, Andrew Willis, fortepiano with guest artist Keiko Shichijo

Sunday, May 28 @ 8:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

The sound world of 18th and 19th century masters, performed on the instruments of their time.

Masterclass and Lecture-Recital with Robert Levin

Saturday, June 3

Masterclass in the afternoon, Lecture/Recital @ 8:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Academy of Fortepiano Performance Student Concert

Sunday, June 4 @ 8:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Saturday, June 24 @ 2:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

American Music on American Pianos “Embraceable Gershwin”

Joanne Polk, piano

Jeffrey Langford, lecture

s s s

Is there anything sweeter than a Saturday matinee with pianist Joanne Polk performing arrangements of songs by George Gershwin while Jeffrey Langford walks us through the life and times of the composer? Turn

s s s

Drew Minter as Aristea from Cesti’s L’Orontea.

Photo courtesy of Haymarket

Opera Company

Ticket sales are now open! Visit catskillmtn.org

Unless otherwise noted, ticket prices are as follows:

Purchased in Advance: $25 regular; $20 senior; $7 student/child

Purchased at the door: $30 regular; $25 senior; $7 student/child

OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

JULY

OMNY Taiko Drummers

Sunday, July 2 @ 2:00pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

FREE CONCERT

Catskill Mountain Foundation 25th Anniversary Celebration Weekend

Bernie Williams Collective

Friday, July 7 @ 8:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Cécile McLorin-Salvant

Saturday, July 8 @ 7:30 pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Dancers from the New York City Ballet

Perform a Tribute to Jacques d’Amboise

Sunday, July 9 @ 2:00 pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

25th Annual Putnam County

Spelling Bee

Maude Adams Theater Hub

Friday-Sunday, July 14-16

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Note: alternate ticket prices apply.

As You Like It

Catskill Mountain Shakespeare

July 15-30

Outdoors & Under the Tent at the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Red Barn, Main Street, Hunter

Note: alternate ticket prices apply.

Dividing the Estate, by Horton Foote Horton by the Stream

Saturday & Sunday, July 15 & 16 @ 2:00 pm

Saturday & Sunday, July 22 & 23 @ 2:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Visit hortonbythestream.org

Note: alternate ticket prices apply.

National Dance Institute Mountaintop Residency

Performance:

A Tribute to Maya Angelou

Saturday, July 22 @ 7:00pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

All Tickets:$15

Hunter International Music Festival

July 23 - August 6

Piano Performance Museum

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Visit huntermusicfestival.com

Wael Farouk Piano Recital

Hunter International Music Festival

Thursday, July 27 @ 7:30pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

American String Quartet Hunter International Music Festival

Saturday, July 29 @ 7:30pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

AUGUST

Cabaret

Maude Adams Theater Hub

Friday-Sunday, August 3-5

Outdoors & Under the Tent at the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Red Barn, Main Street, Hunter

Note: alternate ticket prices apply.

Hunter International Music Festival Faculty Concert

Friday, August 4 @ 7:30 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Orpheum Dance Program

Friday, August 11 @ 7:30pm

Saturday, August 12 @ 7:30pm

Sunday, August 13 @ 2:00pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Cécile McLorin-Salvant July 9

Photo by Shawn Michael Jones

Catskill Mountain Shakespeare July 15-30

Common Ground On The

Mountain: Professor Louie & The Crowmatix, Greg Dayton, Walt Michael & Company

Saturday, August 19 @ 8:00 pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Tickets Purchased in Advance:

$30 regular; $25 senior; $7 student

Tickets Purchased at the Door:

$35 regular; $20 senior; $7 student

Pianists in the Mountains Festival

August 21 - August 27

Piano Performance Museum

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Visit pianistsinthemountains.com

Pianists in the Mountains

Jeffrey Langford, lecture

Monday, August 21 @ 7:30pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Pianists in the Mountains

Joanne Polk, piano

Inesa Sinkevych, piano

Tuesday, August 22 @ 7:30pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

SEPTEMBER

Dedication

Maude Adams Theater Hub

Friday-Sunday, September 15-17

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Note: alternate ticket prices apply.

Hope Boykin Dance

“...a STATE of love”

A Partnership Project with The Joyce Theater

Saturday, September 16 @ 7:30pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Olivier Tarpaga Dance

“Once the dust settles, flowers bloom”

A Partnership Program with The Joyce Theater

Saturday, September 23 @ 7:30pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

OCTOBER

Ronald K. Brown/Evidence

A Partnership Program with The Joyce Theater

Saturday, October 7 @ 7:30pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

No Strings Marionettes: The Hobbit

Wednesday, October 18 @ 3:45 pm

Thursday, October 19 @ 3:45 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Apollo’s Fire: The Road to Dublin

Saturday, October 21 @ 7:30pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

The Rocky Horror Show

Maude Adams Theater Hub

Friday-Sunday, October 27-29

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Note: alternate ticket prices apply.

VIRTUAL!

Academy of Fortepiano Performance

International Fortepiano Salon #16: With Guest Dunya Verwey of the Geelvinck Museum, The Netherlands

Saturday, October 28@ 2:00 pm

NOVEMBER

Romantically French: Music of Debussy, Ravel and Cécile Chaminade

Dr. Joanne Polk, piano

Dr. Jeffrey Langford, lecture

Saturday, November 4 @ 2:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Once Upon a Time

Darcy Dunn, mezzo-soprano

Julia Mendelsohn, pianist

Mark Singer, baritone

Saturday, November 11 @ 8:00 pm

Doctorow Center for the Arts

VIRTUAL!

Academy of Fortepiano

Performance International

Fortepiano Salon #17

Saturday, November 18 @ 8:00 pm

Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra

Robert Manno, Conductor

Simone Dinnerstein, piano

Saturday, November 25, 7:30pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

DECEMBER

The Nutcracker Ballet

Orpheum Dance Program

Victoria Rinaldi, Director

SIX PERFORMANCES

Saturday, December 2 @ 2:00 & 7:30pm

Sunday, December 3 @ 2:00pm

Saturday, December 9 @ 2:00 & 7:30pm

Sunday, December 10 @ 2:00pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

The Hot Sardines: “Holiday Stomp”

Saturday, December 16 @ 7:30pm

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Tickets Purchased in Advance: $30 regular; $25 senior; $7 student

Tickets Purchased at the Door: $35 regular; $20 senior; $7 student

Simone Dinnerstein Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra November 25

Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzuco The Hot Sardines December 16

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