AFTER IRENE: THE RECOVERY ONE YEAR LATER
A JOURNAL OF COMFORTABLE LIVING IN THE CATSKILLS AND HUDSON VALLEY
Carmen
EJOGO
Whitney Houston’s Co-Star on her Sparkle Fame VOLUME 2 No. 2 SUMMER 2012 $4.99
FASHION global&eclectic
home design $4.99
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summer
71896 47358
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DISPLAY UNTIL SEPT 4, 2012
CELEBRATE
summer sweets
&SHOPPING NATURALLY, COUCH POTATO ENVIRONMENTALISM
EDITOR Akira Ohiso PUBLISHER Ellie Ohiso MARKETING DIRECTOR Aaron Fertig ADVERTISING SALES Simona Fish Leifer 516-650-8398 Sharon Reich 845-254-3103 COPY EDITOR Donata C. Marcus CIRCULATION DIRECTOR John A. Morthanos CONTRIBUTORS Vanessa Geneva Ahern James Beaudreau Carolyn Bennett Michael Bloom Philip Gabrielli Larry Gambon Jim Hanas Kevin Lightle Olivia Lightle Dan Mayers Misha Mayers Kelly Merchant Sybil Sanchez Catie Baumer Schwalb Chris Zedano CONTACT US Green Door Magazine P.O. Box 143 Liberty, NY 12754 info@greendoormag.com www.greendoormag.com 917.723.4622 facebook.com/greendoormag twitter.com/greendoormag greendoormag.tumblr.com Printed on recycled paper Green Door Magazine (ISSN # 2161-7465) is published quarterly - Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter - by Green Door Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. Subscription rate is $14.95 annually. U.S. subscriptions can be purchased online at greendoormag.com or by mail. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions. If, however, an error comes to your attention, please accept our sincere apologies and notify us. Address all letters to editor@greendoormag.com. Postmaster: Address all inquiries to Circulation Department, Green Door Magazine, P.O. Box 143, Liberty, NY 12754. No part may be used without written permission of the publisher Š2012. The views expressed in Green Door and in advertising in the issue are those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion, policy, or endorsement of the publication. 2 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012
Summer IN THIS ISSUE
4 6
GREETINGS The Road More or Less Traveled INTERIORS Designing Life A trip to Callicoon Center for the design inspiration behind Global Home.
12
FOLK Sparking Outside & In
27 28
15 17
DESIGN Movable Types
38
COVER PHOTO: CHRIS ZEDANO WWW.CHRISZEDANO.COM INSIDE PHOTO: ENSUPER
20
A revolution starts one pantry at a time according to Natural Contents.
24 Recipe: Mid-Summer Ice Pops Savor New York in the summer on a humid evening.
WELLNESS 38 Going Green 40 Couch Potato Environmentalist 41 On Trapping Mice, Not Men
43 44
Echo Letterpress is bringing back the art of the invitation.
LOCAVORE 20 All Natural
NEIGHBORS 28 Local Calendar 34 Sullivan County
Sparkle’s Carmen Ejogo talks newfound fame and how it was working with Whitney Houston.
KIDS Gift Ideas
WOODSHED The Sound of 4’ 33”
FASHION Hazy Lazy 70’s TRAVEL 44 The Bookshelf 45 RVs and CVs 48 Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern
50
LIFE 50 After Irene 52 Actions Speak Louder
54
ENDPAPER 54 Pencil Pushers 56 On Balance
2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 3
GREETINGS | AKIRA OHISO
The Road More or Less Traveled Summer is all about freedom – school’s out, vacations are in, and there is a sense of adventure in the warm breezy air. Think Dean Moriarty and Sal Paradise and read our summer book, On The Road, to inspire your own road trip. Find a beach chair, a shady tree by a stream or a convertible on Route 66; relax and enjoy our summer issue. The cover story features the beautiful and talented actress, Carmen Ejogo, who talks about her acting journey, show business and working with the late Whitney Houston in her final movie, Sparkle, set for release this summer. The movable types at Echo Letterpress in Jeffersonville make Gutenberg proud by bringing custom print designs to the masses. Vivian and Joe of Global Home give us a peak into their “modern exotic” farmhouse where family is most important; in Callicoon Center and around the world. Remember long hot summers when mom made ice pops in metal ice trays with toothpicks and plastic wrap? Chef Catie Baumer Schwalb is back with an allnatural spin on this summer classic. Sit on your stoop, blow dandelions and savor a cold icy treat. Tip: wipe your sticky hands in the cool green grass. Jim Hanas, our resident bard, reports on the serious art of pencil sharpening with Beacon resident, and Get Your War On author, David Rees. Music writer, James Beaudreau can hear the sound of silence if he listens. Musty summer cabins and vacation homes may need some help with critters and insects so find out eco-conscious and humane ways to move them along according to Vanessa Geneva Ahern. Nonagenarian, Rose Occhialino, will bring tears to your eyes as she shares three little words her beloved Mario never said before he died twenty-two years ago. Carolyn Bennett, director of the Zadok Pratt Museum in Prattsville, talks about the efforts to literally recover Prattville’s past when historic documents were submerged by Hurricane Irene. In our second book selection, The Sheltering Sky, Paul Bowles writes, “Another important difference between tourist and traveler is that the former accepts his own civilization without question; not so the traveler, who compares it with the others, and rejects those elements he finds not to his liking.” Olivia and Kevin Lightle will inspire you as they head west in search of work and themselves…in an RV. A stay at Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern in Saugerties will remind you why prior generations settled along the Esopus Creek. When we were editing this issue the overarching theme was “be yourself.” Summer is the perfect time to foster your dreams, travel in the direction of the things that make you happy and reconnect with family, fulfilling work and love. The rest is just extra luggage. My respects to fellow travelers, Levon Helms, Lou “Simon Says” Goldstein, Adam Yauch (MCA) and Maurice Sendak for inspiring millions. Rest in peace.
4 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012
LETTERS | TO THE EDITOR
I found your recent issue in Callicoon on Sunday and read it cover to cover. Finally a great local magazine that includes Sullivan East, West, South AND (drum roll, please) NORTH! I just subscribed.
I bought your spring issue at Port Authority in New York for my ride upstate and enjoyed it thoroughly. I thought to leave it with my friends in Jeffersonville but discovered they had every issue you published. I am now addicted to Green Door and can’t wait for the next issue. Thanks.
Christopher Calin J.C. Bell Brooklyn, NY I've been displaying Green Door in my shop since its debut and I just wanted to thank you for creating such a lovely and pertinent journal. I got a chill (no pun intended) when I read your description of Suicide Hill [Winter Greetings] having grown up in Port Washington (graduate of Schreiber class of '83)!! I rarely meet or know of anyone up here from the North Shore, let alone Port. Anyway congrats and I look forward to future issues of Green Door. Julia DeAngelis
Your photo-essay on the destruction a year ago in Japan was more powerful than any news coverage I’ve seen. A poignant reminder of our place and our responsibilities in the universe. Ellen Masser Wappingers Falls, NY
Green Door Magazine is the newest and best guide to “exurban” Catskills style! Get a subscription today (on line or printed on real live paper!) Jen Williams Dragon
Yay! Just got our latest editions of Green Door at Matthew J. Freda Real Estate in Callicoon...will be handing them out to all the cool kids! Lynne Freda
Have a letter to Green Door’s Editor? Email it to letters@greendoormag.com or mail to PO Box 143, Liberty, NY 12754
2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 5
Designing Life The couple behind Global Home in Jeffersonville and Beacon gives us a look at the retail inspiration in their home. BY AKIRA OHISO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MERCHANT
6 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012
HOME | CALLICOON CENTER
V
ivian Hung and Joe Giamarese worked in high-pressure corporate jobs, Vivian as an art director at Martha Stewart Living and Joe as a marketing director at Vogue. Tired of twelve-hour workdays, they sold their belongings to finance a trip around the world. Young and unmarried, it was the perfect time to jump into an adventure. They traveled to twenty-one countries and six continents taking in the colors, designs, customs and traditions of each country. Joe says, “It was an education for our eyes.” Most importantly, they learned that the family unit and spending time together is essential to life and happiness in other parts of the world. Their priorities shifted. “Waking up in the morning and doing exactly what you want to do for the day and no one telling you, ‘you gotta do x y and z’, it’s hard to go back,” says Vivian. But go back they did. They returned to their corporate jobs and the daily grind. Then 9/11 happened. They yearned for the freedom of their travels, so they moved to a sleepy Catskills town, restored a century old farmhouse and got married. During this time, they realized they wanted to share all the beautiful things they experienced during their travels. Global Home was born. The Jeffersonville location is an actual house to showcase their interior design aesthetic and style. They call it Modern Exotic where a Balinese marriage bed is paired with midmore 10 2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 7
From eclectic collections in the bathroom to comfortable and lived-in children’s rooms, the home exudes a warmth from aged and chipped picture frames paired with stainless steel and worn oriental rugs and wicker baskets. Each room reflects years of travel and collecting that come together to create a home longing to be lived in.
8 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012
Each corner of their restored, century-old farmhouse is a tableau that recreates their experiences, bringing meaning to every artifact of their travels. Every element supports their goal of uniting family and possessions into a home. They are eager to share this design language with their clients.
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get the look now
continued from 10
Steal this modern, colorful look! Green Door has made it easy when you shop local.
century modern. Think South Pacific meets The Dick Van Dyke Show. The second location opened in historic Beacon, NY in 2010. Joe says the DIA Art Foundation is nearby, creative people abound and business is steady.
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Red Taboret Stool, More Colors Available $338 Global Home Jeffersonville, NY Beacon, NY www.globalhomeny.com 845-482-3652
Myla Mirror, 27” x 47” $1500 Global Home Jeffersonville, NY Beacon, NY www.globalhomeny.com 845-482-3652
Atwood Sofa in Muskoka Surf $1999 Global Home Jeffersonville, NY Beacon, NY www.globalhomeny.com 845-482-3652
SouthHampton Shell and Iron XL Chandelier $2500 Global Home Jeffersonville, NY Beacon, NY www.globalhomeny.com 845-482-3652
6-Drawer Niagra Dresser $2400 Global Home Jeffersonville, NY Beacon, NY www.globalhomeny.com 845-482-3652
Carribean Brights Collection Striped Rugs, Woven Cotton in Many Sizes Prices Start at $84 Global Home Jeffersonville, NY Beacon, NY www.globalhomeny.com 845-482-3652
They often see themselves as design therapists when working with clients. The goal is always to help clients translate their personality on to their walls, which is often met with resistance, denial, confrontation and, hopefully, acceptance. An authentic home for an authentic self. Both are self-taught, but as Vivian says, “you either have an instinct for it or not.” Joe was turned onto luxury design when he worked for Vogue and has a knack for finding the next trend. Joe sometimes minimizes their work –“it’s not rocket science”but they both feel that design in harmony with our personalities is important. Rumor has it that their farmhouse was once a brothel, a boarding house for local tannery workers and the home of a local police chief. Vivian points out vestigial door jams and thresholds - now shut dining room windows - where tuberculosis patients once might have had wheelchair access to
HOME | CALLICOON CENTER
the front porch for air therapy. Joe plays a vintage footpowered organ laboriously, hilariously, under painterly portraits. Wooden floorboards, creaky steps and period accents are a blank canvas to splash exotic colors and country tableaux.
Design is meant to be lived in and so the rooms contain life. With children’s books and personalized art, kids become an integral part.
Their style is comfortable and lived-in where their children wear out corners of armchairs, chipped black picture frames are paired with stainless steel and frayed oriental rugs are layered to tread on. They have two children, a six-year old daughter and two-year old son. Vivian says their children don’t know how lucky they are to have both parents around in the age of two-incomes, nannies and daycare. Both love spending time at home with friends where a threehour dinner is not constrained by reservations, a waiter waiting to clear the table or a babysitter. It is a home where seasons and holidays are celebrated, their children grow up and life is lived. “Time is rich,” says Vivian. Joes says they could not have their life now back in New York City. There is just too much overhead and not enough time. Vivian adds, “No matter how much money someone throws at you, you cannot buy the family unit.” These days, they no longer have a boss telling them what to do. “Now our kids tell us what to do,” says Joe with a big smile. GD
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Sparkling Outside & In Carmen Ejogo shines in this summer’s hottest movie. PROFILE BY AKIRA OHISO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS ZEDANO
Carmen pulls up in an unassuming Hybrid SUV after a busy morning dropping her kids off at school. She is warm and friendly and I am taken aback by her affability. Carmen Ejogo is not a household name, even though she’s been a working actress for close to two decades. She was born and raised in London to a working class family. Her mother is Scottish, her father Nigerian. She began acting at age eleven, but her mother recognized her early intellect, which took precedence. Carmen attended a prestigious girl’s school in Hammersmith. “I approached my early years academically,” says Ejogo. As a child, Carmen was fed a steady diet of British television. She remembers it as being a different caliber of performance where theatrically trained actors were making kitchen sink dramas about working-class life. Shows such as Coronation Street and EastEnders told the story of Londoners she could easily identify with. “It’s a very different motivation for making television, it’s about trying to reflect society not in terms of ‘aspirational,’ but in terms of ‘reality,’” says Ejogo. As a small impressionable girl, watching American television shows like Dallas, Dynasty and Hart to Hart painted a picture of what Carmen thought America was like. “I was the working class girl growing up in London, but always had big ambitions of working and being in America.” At eighteen, she made a choice to commit herself to acting, but was quickly disappointed by the racial climate in America.
In the United Kingdom, race issues are less pronounced. Her Nigerian background gave her a confidence “that comes from a strong culture and a strong sense of self-worth.” She didn’t internalize the slave heritage of America. “There are limitations,” says Ejogo, “and it’s frustrating particularly for me when you have a personal taste that really aligns itself to filmmakers who don’t necessarily put you in their work.” She grew up enamored of American Directors such as Woody Allen and David Cronenberg, noting that The Purple Rose of Cairo and Rabid were seminal films in her artistic life. “I don’t really see myself in terms of race and hope others don’t either.” Despite these challenges, she broke through as the girlfriend of Eddie Murphy in the 1997 big-budget movie, Metro. Three years later, she was cast in Kenneth Branagh’s modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labours Lost. In 2000, she met her husband Jeffrey Wright on the set of Boycott, a truthful depiction of the Montgomery bus boycott that sparked the civil rights movement in America. In her late twenties, against conventional Hollywood wisdom, Carmen made the choice to step out of acting to start a family. “In this business, you hear of women having kids at forty-two and starting really late, I’ve done it backwards.” Carmen took occasional roles in film and television, but spent most of her time being a mom. She is raising a ten-year old son and six-year old daughter with her husband. They split their time between Brooklyn and Denver, NY, a small country town in the Catskills. more 14
12 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012
FOLK | CARMEN EJOGO
“I’ve never
played sexy in a movie, I’ve never gone for that kind of role.
“
2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 13
There is a sense that Carmen is on the cusp of something big with two feature films coming out this year, Sparkle and Alex Cross, as well as the television pilot, Zero Hour, co-starring Anthony Edwards of ER fame. “I’m very conscious that now I’m getting a second chance to pick up where I left off and that doesn’t happen very often in this business.”
FOLK | CARMEN EJOGO
continued from 13
Sparkle, set for release in August, will garner a lot of attention this summer as it stars the late Whitney Houston in her final movie. Houston plays the mother of a three-sister singing group struggling with fame and addiction in 1960’s Motown. It is a movie that Houston wanted to make for the last twelve years. Sadly, this was to be her comeback movie. “It will be received more seriously and with love now more than ever. That is what it deserves and what Whitney would want,” says Ejogo. Carmen shares many on-screen moments with Houston and was impressed with her openness and availability during filming. “If she was still here, she would have not shied away from being very open and honest about the fact that there are very clear parallels with my character and her life,” says Ejogo. Cast as Sister Williams, Carmen plays a glamorous ‘wannabe’ star, who objectifies herself to get what she wants, yet succumbs to the pitfalls of stardom. It is not the typical role for Carmen who has portrayed the likes of Coretta Scott King and Sally Hemmings. “I’ve never played ‘sexy’ in a movie,” says Carmen. “I’ve never gone for that kind of role.” The arc of Sister Williams’s character is sweeping and Carmen showcases the full range of her acting talent.
Carmen is grounded, confident and wise; perfect timing at this point in her career when stardom befalls the less mature. “It will always be my goal to try to push through certain doors to try and change minds,” says Ejogo.
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PHOTO: CHRIS ZEDANO WWW.CHRISZEDANO.COM
Carmen has turned down roles that may have propelled her career to a certain place, but if a character doesn’t connect with her she moves on. “I always try to make sure it’s material that is respectful of women.”
KIDS | GIFT IDEAS
Celebrate Summer Heat up your kids with these gifts.
See next page for details. 1
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE STORES
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New very Toys E s! k 6 Wee cycled Reused
& Re
6 1 “Groovin’ In The Garden” CD $12.97 Story Laurie & Friends - Andes, NY storylaurie.com
2 Beet The System Organic Onesie $20 Black Sheep Heap - Brooklyn, NY blacksheepheap.com 3 Crayon Rings $5.95 Lounge - High Falls, NY loungefurniture.com 4 Pull Duck $90 By Delaine - Narrowsburg, NY bydelaine.com 5 Trey Speegle: A to Z $25-$50 Trey Speegle Youngsville, NY littlecollector.com 6 Spark Box Toys Subscription Service starts at $22.95/month sparkboxtoys.com 7 Upcycled Cashmere Sweater by Emily Caigan $100-$120 Illuminated Baby Woodstock, NY 845.684.7024 www.illuminatedbaby.com
7 PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE STORES
DESIGN | LETTERPRESS
ECHO LETTERPRESS 4849 MAIN STREET JEFFERSONVILLE, NY 12748 ECHOLETTERPRESS.COM PHONE: 845-482-4900
Movable Types It is a familiar story – a New York City couple leaves the corporate world for a simple life in the country. Robert and Christina Fisher both worked in the corporate design world, but felt they were losing sight of why they loved design in the first place. They wanted to get back to basics. Robert, who loved coming up to the Catskills for the fly-fishing decided to buy a 19th Century farmhouse and start a new life. They had both learned letterpress printing in college. Letterpress printing is the use of moveable type (single letters) that is locked into a bed, inked, and rolled or pressed against paper to transfer the impression. Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable type press in 1440, which brought information to the masses. If you frequent antique shops or look through a Pottery Barn catalog, you may find letterpress letters for sale as design accents. With their design background and a rudimentary passion for letterpress, they felt they could make a living. They moved to the country where there was less overhead pressure. Being a bit naïve and “dangerously optimistic,” they jumped in. They purchased two printers - one a 1901 model originally run by foot power - from retired printers in Massachusetts and Sullivan County. Recently, Robert
PHOTOS: MICHAEL BLOOM
more 18
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Editor’s Picks
Beautiful custom letterpress invitations, announcements and stationery. Prices start at $255 for a set of 50.
Greeting cards printed on 100% cotton and recycled papers. Now available for purchase on www.echoletterpress.etsy.com.
Storybook Thanks
You Melt My Butter
Muchas Gracias
Garden Snips
Pig Thanks
SET OF 6 / $12
$4
SET OF 6 / $12
$4
SET OF 6 / $12
PHOTO: CHRISTINA K. FISHER
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DESIGN | LETTERPRESS
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pulled a 120-year old printer out of a basement in Liberty, NY that the owner was going to junk for scrap metal. Turns out it’s missing some parts, but Robert, who has a serious addiction to collecting old printing equipment, keeps it for cutting paper.
PHOTOS: MICHAEL BLOOM
Christina says their decision to move was about timing. Ten years ago they could not have started a letterpress business. “People are so much more comfortable buying things online,” says Christina. You’d think that luxury and custom items would need to be purchased on-site, but Christina says, “The fact is that we can sell something (online) that technically you should touch and feel before you buy it; people buy it sight unseen.” Robert says eighty percent of their business is done outside of Sullivan County. It is a strategic online business model that works in a rural area. But, local business has picked up with their custom design work. Their top sellers are wedding invitations, stationery, baby announcements and business cards. They also have a retail shop next to their printing press where they sell a wide-variety of their custom designed products. Traditionally, letterpress people are master printers and not necessarily designers, but Robert and Christina design all their
products and rarely use outside designers. first, printers second,” says Robert.
“We’re designers
Ironically, the same way the web has made it easier to start a business it is also the reason they left their web jobs in the first place. “There is something so intangible about building websites,” says Christina. Robert felt his creative process stifled. “My frustration was always (that) you pour your heart and soul into something, designing every single little widget and detail and then the tech team comes along… (Now) we are in control of that process,” says Robert. They both describe the printing process as fickle and fussy. With a 1901 letterpress you have to make sure the paper is lined up, the ink is just right and the pressure is perfect. But, much like life, the finished product is never perfect. “There are always imperfections, but it’s the nature of the process,” says Robert. And the process informs their design sensibilities. They design for the medium, which is a philosophy that is counter to our one-click culture. Robert’s advice to immovable types who are yearning for something more in life, “Follow you heart - it’s not always easy to make that jump, but you always feel good after you do it.” GD
The quaint store located just around the bend on Main Street Jeffersonville, in a refurbished 1950s gas station, is as creative as the work it produces.
LOCAVORE | ALL NATURAL
All Natural Natural Contents wants a revolution BY AKIRA OHISO
Danielle Gaebel and Jennifer Bitetto are recovering food junkies. They ate whatever the conventional food system provided - fast food drive-throughs, microwavable frozen food, and sixty-nine cent eggs from Walmart. “They’re eggs, how different can eggs be, why would you pay more?” says Danielle, sarcastically. “We were completely disconnected from the food system.” “There was nothing healthy about us,” says Jennifer. “We had no reservations about what we ate.” Four years ago, Danielle learned that if she didn’t change her diet her gall bladder risked being removed. They began to research the food industry and were horrified by the truths they uncovered. Many of the foods they ate were processed and filled with preservatives and additives. Animals were given growth hormones, fruits and vegetables were treated with pesticides, and a large majority of the food supply was genetically modified. They began to see the conventional food system as a factor in the obesity epidemic and myriad cancers and health issues that exist today. Like an addict who has a moment of clarity, they realized they could never go back.
If they wanted to have control over what 20 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012
PHOTOS: DANIELLE GAEBEL
“The world kind of unraveled before our eyes,” says Danielle. “When you start learning about this, you can’t forget all the things you learn, you can’t just turn that information off.”
Change happens one pantry at a time. A natural and organic food lifestyle is possible. GOING REGIONAL Natural Contents prides itself on finding healthy regional goods that have a good heart. SNACKING MADE EASY Organic popcorns, herbed crackers, and white corn chips fulfill your snacking urge...without the guilt.
went into their mouths, they would have to challenge the ubiquity and convenience of the corporate food industry. They soon realized that access to responsibly sourced food was harder than they thought. At first, they drove a hundred miles to a Whole Foods in Paramus, New Jersey once a month to stock up. They just didn’t know how to shop. Whole Foods was a “convenience,” a symptom of a food system they were trying to escape. If it said “organic,” it must be healthy, right? Danielle clarifies, “Just because it’s in a health food store or on the shelves of Whole Foods doesn’t mean I should necessarily be eating this.” While Whole Foods is a step in the right direction, Jennifer warns that, even so, many products on supermarket shelves are so washed down you don’t know where the food is coming from or who owns it. “Greenwashing” refers to PR spin where a company and/or products are marketed to appear healthier and more eco-conscious than they actually are. Go into a supermarket and many of the corporate food companies have slapped “Organic” and “Natural” on their products. Both acknowledge that Whole Foods is a good step for some. “It’s a personal choice that comes down to the question of ‘What are you comfortable putting in your body,’ and everybody has to answer that question,” says Danielle. In a perfect world, they would like people to “stop going to the supermarket.” Sounds radical - both know most Americans are not there yet - but they were once food junkies and know that it is possible. “When you stop going to a grocery store you are not ‘advertised-to’ any more,” says Danielle. They recommend shopping in farmer’s markets and becoming members of CSAs (Community Supportive Agriculture). Recently, Danielle became the market manager of the Sullivan County Farmers’ Markets Association where she is right at home espousing the benefits of eating outside of the supermarket model. They understand that change is hard. Health more 22 2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 21
getting started... Jennifer & Danielle have made it easy with these essentials from their website at NaturalContents.com
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Pantry Starter: Beans, Grains, Pasta $30 TruRoots Germinated Brown Rice, TruRoots Sprouted Quinoa, Farmer Ground Flour Polenta, Lundberg Brown Rice Pasta Penne, Eden Organic Garbanzo Beans (Chick Peas), Cayuga Pure Organics Black Beans
Pantry Starter: Oils & Vinegars $37.75 Bionaturae® Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, Stolor Organics Sunflower Oil, Dr. Bronner's White Kernel Coconut Oil
Chocolate Indulgence $13.25 Alter Eco Dark Chocolate Quinoa Crunch, Equal Exchange Chocolate Caramel Crunch, Taza Chocolate Cacao Puro Chocolate Mexicano
Seasoning Basics $21.25 Eden Sea Salt Hand Harvested French Celtic, Simply Organic Black Pepper Medium Grind, Simply Organic Garlic Powder, Simply Organic Onion Powder
Have Hope Change Your Soap $27 Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps Lavender Bar, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps Peppermint Bar, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps Lavender Liquid, Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds Liquid Cleaner
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food stores and Whole Foods can be intimidating for people. “People don’t know where to turn, because this information isn’t just out there,” says Danielle. That’s when they decided to start Natural Contents. Launched in October of 2011, Natural Contents is an access point for organic, non-GMO, and regional goods. “We’re limited because everyone has access problems – you can be in the middle of nowhere or in the city and have access problems,” says Jennifer. They do the hard work of finding products, reading labels, talking to farmers, and making sure the goods they sell are sourced responsibly. From recipe kits to pantry staples to home and body products, their goods are convenient for you and inconvenient for them. They curate goods that foster responsible sourcing. It is a business model that is slowly popping up around the country. They are passionate about challenging the corporate model in order that regional and local food will become easier to access. Jennifer says New York State, as a region, can collectively produce a sustainable food network, but the tipping point is a long way off. Yet, as their tagline states, “Change happens one pantry at a
time.” Their transformation is an inspiring model. I left the interview questioning everything I put in my mouth. Suddenly, I felt like there was nothing I could eat that wasn’t processed. The siren’s song of convenience called. Danielle and Jennifer are no longer lured by convenience and ubiquity. Danielle’s gall bladder is healthy, Jennifer’s indigestions issues have decreased and pounds have been shed. Their two children are no longer sick all the time. They remember the insanity of cooking separate meals for their children like they were short-order cooks. Danielle says, “Parents need to lay down the law. You’re supposed to give your kids a foundation. It’s not impossible.” They allow their children to make their own choices. If they want to go to Taco Bell they can, but Danielle and Jennifer would like them to know there are better options. There is a better way to eat. They believe that by involving their children in the process, from chopping peppers to teaching them where their food is coming from, they are laying down a good foundation. It is about empowerment and choices, not about “you can’t do this.” There is a giant chalkboard above their dining table that lists
the meals for the week. This has been a great tool to foster dialogue and questions. The children’s favorite meal is burgers and fries. Surprisingly, Danielle and Jennifer are not vegetarian, a stereotype on my part and a relief, I suspect, to many who connect a healthy diet with vegetarianism. They eat chicken and beef on occasion from sustainable farms. Natural Contents’ products are accessed regionally from Ithaca. They would like to get more local, but, at this point, cannot be sure the local farms are GMO free. “We are very mindful of GMO contamination,” says Danielle. According to the Non-GMO Project, eighty percent of foods in US grocery stores are made with genetically modified ingredients. It’s not that local farmers are knowingly contaminating their goods, but “one of the problems of local stuff is if the animals are being fed GMO,” says Danielle. “Your best deterrent is knowing your farmer and knowing where everything is coming from,” says Jennifer. If you can’t find a farmer, Natural Contents is the next best thing. You can order their goods via the web or by phone. Locally, they are arranging drop off points in select locations around Sullivan County. Pick-ups must be pre-arranged prior to first order.
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LOCAVORE | RECIPE
Mid-Summer Ice Pops At long last: summer at the farmers’ markets. After three seasons of patiently waiting, the weeks are here where all of New York State has burst open at its agricultural seams. Buckets of tender berries are everywhere. RECIPE & PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATIE BAUMER SCHWALB OF PITCHFORKDIARIES.COM
Homemade ice pops are a fantastic way to make use of all these tremendously flavorful fruits and vegetables, and have a healthy, portable, cooling treat ready for a mid-afternoon break. Look for produce at their height each week at the markets and start your recipes from there. This is a particularly good way to use up fruit that might be a little less pretty or just about past their peak.
If for only a week or two, freeze these delicious moments and savor New York in the summer on a humid evening, with your snow boots far away in the closet.
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PHOTOS: CATIE BAUMER SCHWALB
Since the sweetness of fruit will vary crop by crop, and variety by variety, use the recipes here as a guideline, and adjust the sugar according to your taste. However, our sweet-sensing taste buds are activated more when food is warm, so when frozen the pops will taste less sweet than the recipe at room temperature. No special equipment is needed, other than perhaps some wooden sticks from a craft store. Ice pops can be frozen in paper cups, ice cube trays, and cupcake tins. The recipes included here are for three-ounce pops, which seem to be a standard for ice pop molds and small paper cups, and are also just the right size to consume before melting sets in and much of the fruit ends up at your elbow.
Peach, Blackberry and Thyme Ice Pops SEE RECIPE ON NEXT PAGE
Iced Cappuccino Ice Pops
Roasted Strawberry with Balsamic Vinegar and White Pepper Ice Pops SEE RECIPE ON NEXT PAGE
SEE RECIPE ON NEXT PAGE
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LOCAVORE | RECIPE
Peach, Blackberry & Thyme Ice Pops A great recipe to add a couple of tablespoons of local vanilla yogurt for a smoothie pop.
Makes five three-ounce ice pops. 1 1/2 CUPS FRESH PEACHES, PEELED AND SLICED 1/2 CUP FRESH WHOLE BLACKBERRIES LEMON THYME SYRUP: 1/4 CUP SUGAR 1/4 CUP WATER 4 SPRIGS FRESH THYME ZEST FROM ONE LEMON
To make the lemon thyme simple syrup, combine the sugar, water, thyme and lemon zest in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a strong simmer, just until all of the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to steep for at least a half hour. Strain the syrup and set aside. Peel the peaches by making a shallow X in the skin on the bottom of each peach. Blanch them in boiling water for thirty seconds, transfer to a bowl of ice water to shock, and then easily slip the skin from the flesh, starting at the X on the bottom. Remove the pit and slice the fruit. Puree one cup of the peaches in a food processor or blender, and then combine with the remaining half-cup for a chunky mixture. Add 1 tablespoon of the lemon thyme syrup to the peaches, taste for sweetness, and then add another tablespoon or more if necessary.
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Makes five three-ounce ice pops. 1 QUART FRESH STRAWBERRIES, HULLED AND QUARTERED 2 TABLESPOONS SUGAR 2 TABLESPOONS BALSAMIC VINEGAR 1/8 TEASPOON FINELY GROUND WHITE PEPPER
Heat the oven to 425 degrees F. In a medium bowl, gently toss the strawberries with the sugar, vinegar, and white pepper, until evenly combined and coated. Spread the berries and their juice in a baking dish in a single layer. Roast in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on ripeness, until the berries are soft and the liquid has started to get sticky. Allow to cool completely. Transfer the berries and all juice to a food processor or blender and pulse until slightly pureed, but with some pieces of berry still remaining. Fill ice pop molds and freeze for at least six hours to overnight.
Iced Cappuccino Ice Pops An unexpected adult dessert and a cooling alternative to an afternoon iced coffee.
Makes five three-ounce ice pops. 1 1/2 CUPS ESPRESSO OR STRONG COFFEE, COOLED 1/4 CUP MILK CINNAMON SIMPLE SYRUP: 1/4 CUP SUGAR 1/4 CUP WATER 1 CINNAMON STICK, ABOUT 3 IN. LONG
Combine the sugar, water and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan over mediumhigh heat. Bring to a strong simmer, just until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to steep for at least a half hour. Discard cinnamon stick and set the syrup aside. Combine the coffee and milk, adding more or less milk to taste. Add two tablespoons of the cinnamon simple syrup, adding more depending on desired level of sweetness. Fill the ice pop molds and freeze for at least six hours or overnight. To unmold, briefly dip the bottom of the mold in a bowl of warm water. Optional: Reserve a small amount of the coffee mixture and mix with additional milk. After the ice pops have frozen add a small amount for a small white layer, and return to the freezer to finish.
PHOTO: CATIE BAUMER SCHWALB
Fill the ice pop molds half full and freeze for about 2 hours. Gently toss the blackberries with 1-2 tablespoons of the lemon thyme syrup. Set aside. Remove the ice pop molds from the freezer. Add a layer of blackberries and then top with remaining peach puree. Return the ice pop molds to the freezer to finish.
Roasted Strawberry with Balsamic Vinegar and White Pepper Ice Pops
WOODSHED | ON SILENCE
The Sound of 4’ 33” Workbench Recordings’ James on silence, aural overstimulation and yoga pants. BY JAMES BEAUDREAU
You’re at a small cafe of perhaps ten tables. In the corner is the singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar. She has a strong voice and could easily be heard over the diners in a room of this size. But she is, of course, singing into a little PA system, and her guitar is plugged into an amp. The sound is harsh, loud, and annoying. It’s also strange, this needless amplification, but everybody’s used to it. It's just one of those odd distortions of reality that people accept because it’s all around us, like yoga pants. Most people know, on a gut level, that yoga pants are not OK outside the yoga studio, but how many know that they’re enjoying their eggs less because of needless amplification? Fewer, I’d say. And it’s because most of us are more visual than aural. There are a lot of secret tortures in the world for the more aurally oriented. The ultimate in amplification transgression happens at big rock concerts. Yes, volume is a significant component of rock music, and dance music too. But too often volume is divorced from any meaning or utility – concerts are loud because we know that concerts are loud and that's all. It’s unfortunate that the main thing I remember about seeing Jimmy Page with the Black Crowes at Irving Plaza some 12 years ago is that it was an unholy noise, like a jet engine instead of a band. We’ve all been to shows like that. And let’s not get started about loud movies. Our hearing is subject to other quirks. For many people any kind of mid-tempo jazz is a soundtrack to a missing noir film and not just music. Synthesizers mean sci-fi. A certain kind of backbeat means sixties Technicolor TV. It's as if our ears are for filling rather than listening. This categorization of experience – which really applies to more than just music – is the reason for the famous “silent” John Cage composition 4’ 33”. 4’ 33” (pronounced “four minutes, thirty-three seconds”) is a composition of three movements during which the pianist plays nothing. It is one of the most misunderstood works in the history of music. Cage’s musical grenade was lobbed by pianist David Tudor on
August 29, 1952 in Woodstock, NY. The occasion was a “new music” concert for the Benefit Artists Welfare Fund at the Maverick Concert Hall. The audience that Friday evening was presumably comfortable with “difficult” modern music: other composers on the program included Pierre Boulez, Morton Feldman and Christian Wolff. Mr. Tudor closed and raised the piano lid to indicate the start and end of each movement, which he measured with a stopwatch. During the first movement the sound of the wind outside could be heard. During the second, rain began to patter on the roof. And in the third the audience could be heard talking, getting up out of their seats and leaving. This report was made later by Cage himself, who said, “They missed the point. There’s no such thing as silence. What they thought was silence, because they didn’t know how to listen, was full of accidental sounds.”1 The audience was outraged. Did they feel insulted? Condescended to? Considering the stir the piece created that evening (and many evenings after) I suspect it was more than that. I believe what happened is that 4’ 33” snapped the audience very dramatically into an uncomfortable experience: the uncategorized present moment. The experience of listening, of being present, aware and alive – this is what’s being celebrated in some of our most misunderstood music. Improv, which to many sounds like random noise, is about moment-to-moment listening (though, as with all things, even “improv” has become a genre with its own calcified conventions). The interaction in jazz happens because the musicians are present, listening and tuned to the moment. Probably all great music – all the music that touches us in a profound way – has within it, to some degree or another, an account of the realized moment. After all, to be present, where all of our experience is, is what we want. It’s also, interestingly enough, what we don't want.
1 Kostelanetz, Richard. 2003. Conversing with John Cage. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-93792-2
James Beaudreau is a musician, recordist, composer and all-around music nerd living in the "upstate Manhattan" neighborhood of Fort George. He's currently at work on his fourth album of original music and blogging about the process at www.jamesbeaudreau.com 2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 27
NEIGHBORS Events & happenings around the Catskill Mountains & Hudson Valley JUNE 1 Eileen Polk Exhibition Ongoing since May 4 and continuing until July 1, the Ai Earthling Gallery has its inaugural exhibition by Eileen Polk. Eileen Polk starting taking pictures in 1974, and she continued throughout the rest of the 70s. She was friends with many notable musicians of the Punk and New Wave scene, and her images capture an intimate view of musicians at work on stage, backstage, and hanging out in the clubs. Thursday to Sunday from 12 - 6pm. 845-6792650. Ai Earthling Gallery, Ye Olde Hippie Shoppe of Woodstock, 69 Tinker Street, Woodstock. Ulster County. 2 Soul Purpose Motown/R&B, Swing/Jump, Big Band, and Rock (classic), Saturday, 9:00pm to 11:00pm. Make a reservation for a first class dinner, 845-255-1000, then join us in the Lake Lounge at 9:00 pm for a night
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of the hot and soulful sounds you have come to expect from Soul Purpose. Make sure to bring your dancin' shoes. Mohonk Mountain House, 1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz. Ulster County. 2 Concert “Red Molly,” gorgeous a cappella ballads, bluegrass-tinged folk, and a touch of jazzy western swing, in three-part harmonies. 845-2527576. 8pm. $25 ($20 DVAA members on advanced sales). Tusten Theatre, 210 Bridge Street, Narrowsburg. Sullivan County. 2 Jazz, and New Age Solo piano and vocals and original and jazz standards with Louis Landon, Solo Piano For Love, Peace & Mermaids, Jazz, and New Age. On Saturday, from 3pm to 4:30pm. Helen Hayes Hospital, 51 N Rte 9W, West Haverstraw. Rockland County. 2 By Delaine Grand Opening Please join us for fine wine, music
and a magical experience at our new store. 3:30-7:30pm. 201-951-6484. By Delaine, 44 Main Street, Narrowsburg. Sullivan County. 2 Summer at the Vineyards Join Hurley Mountain Highway at the Palaia Vineyards on the outdoor stage! If you love acoustic-electric ‘Feel-Good Music,’ you'll love Hurley Mountain Highway. Free Admission. Wine tasting. BBQ by "Little Italy Famous Deli." Beautiful romantic views of the surrounding Schunnemunk Mountain Ridge. 845-928-5384. Saturday, 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Palaia Vineyards, 10 Sweet Clover Road, Highland Mills. Orange County. 2 Workshop Dream Interpretation. 1-4pm; $35. 845-988-7061. Lazy Pond Bed & Breakfast, 79 Old Loomis Rd., Liberty. Sullivan County. 3 Cancer Benefit Calamity Jane is playing a cancer benefit at Fast Eddies. Sunday, 2pm
to 6pm. Fast Eddies, 50 Elm St. #B, Fishkill. Dutchess County. 3 Antique Custom Car Show Antique/classic cars, trucks, hot rods, motorcycles, tractors, DJ, raffles, and food. Free kids activities. 10am-3pm; $12/car; Spectators $2 (kids free). 845-932-8923. Rock Hill Fire House, Rock Hill. Sullivan County. 3 NSC Spring Concert Spring concert by Newburgh Symphonic Chorale. Performing “Requiem” by Bradley Ellingboe. 3pm to 5pm. St. George's Church, 105 Grand Street, Newburgh. Orange County. 9 Fund Raising Country Auction This year’s auction will have many items including antiques such as furniture, prints, equipment, household items and collectibles; and like-new items including gift items, glassware, and artwork, among many other items. Food and drink will be available. 11am. 845-583-2000 or 800-745-3000. Bethel Woods Center
For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 9 Trout Parade chings bands and dogs, funny floats, music and fun. 845-439-5507. Livingston Manor. Sullivan County. 9 Triathlon Series HITS Triathlon Series Hunter Mountain will be the closest multi-distance triathlon to New York City. Hunter Mountain will be the setting for a breathtaking mountaintop race unlike any other, which will begin at the beautiful historic North/South Lake State Park in Haines Falls. June 9-10. All are invited to compete. Price varies per distance. 845-246-8833. Hunter Mountain. Greene County. 9 European Nymphing Class Learn the European style of nymphing with Aaron Jasper, that has been getting so much attention lately. Aaron Jasper is a regular contributor for Fly Tyer and American Angler magazines. 607498-5194. 9am-5pm; $150 cost includes lunch. Payment in full is required to secure your spot. Beaverkill Angler, 52 Stewart Avenue, Roscoe. Sullivan County. 10 Tractor Parade Tractors old and new, large and small, parade down Main Street at 12 noon. 845-887-4444. After the parade, stay for the chicken barbeque
and entertainment at the Delaware Community Center. Downtown Main Street, Callicoon. Sullivan County. 13 Concert Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Thompson Square on the Pavilion Stage at 7pm. 845-583-2000 or 800745-3000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 16 NY Clearwater Festival An annual festival benefiting The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Enjoy the music and storytellers, the food, and the juried craft show. Kick up your heels in the dance tent, see what’s new at the green trade/show expo, participate in riverfront and field activities, or sail the Hudson on the historic Sloop Clearwater. June 16 & 17, at Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson. Westchester County. 16 Ringo Starr in Concert Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band; Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey), Steve Lukather (Toto), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), with Mark Rivera and Gregg Bissonette. 6:30pm Doors Open. 5:30pm Parking. 8pm Show Time; $50.50, $71, $91, $172.50 Reserved $35.50 Lawn; $116.00 Lawn 4-Pack. 845-583-2000 or 800-745-3000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd, Bethel. Sullivan County.
16 Farmers' Market The Rock Hill Farmers Market is an organization founded to promote local, sustainable and organic agriculture, increasing economic opportunities for farmers, youth, small businesses and food artisans. 845-699-4976. June 16-Sept 8; Sat 10am-1pm. Rock Hill Dr., Rock Hill. Sullivan County. 16 Garden Party And Hat Contest Second Annual Garden Party to benefit the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance. Support this organization while enjoying an afternoon in the garden. Enter the contest (with prizes) for the Best Garden Hat, the Most Unusual Hat, the Most Artistic Hat. 5-7pm. Cutting Garden, 4055 State Rte. 52, Youngsville. Sullivan County. 17 Beach Boys Concert Beach Boys historic 50th Anniversary Tour. 8pm; $51, $71.50, $91.50, and $153 reserved seating; $31.50 Lawn seats. 845-583-2000 or 800-745-3000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 23 Fly Fishing Academy Fly Fishing Academy With HardyGreys. June 23 & 24; $450 includes lunch on both days, a Saturday night cookout hosted by the Beaverkill Angler staff, two days of instruction, all necessary equipment, plus handouts and instructional material.
607-498-5194. Beaverkill Angler, 52 Stewart Ave., Roscoe. Sullivan County. 24 Garden Conservancy Explore four private gardens in Nyack, Piermont, Upper Nyack, and Upper Grandview, open for selfguided tours to benefit the Garden Conservancy. No reservations required; rain or shine. 10am to 4pm. $5 per garden; children 12 & under free. 888-842-2442. Begin at the following locations: the Helen Hayes Estate, 235 North Broadway, Nyack; The Cain Garden, 1 Rockland Road, Piermont; the Ewig Garden, 260 South Tweed Blvd, Upper Grandview; or South Cottage, the Katzenstein Gardens, 507 North Broadway, Upper Nyack. Rockland County. 24 Working Farm Tour 1800 varieties of vegetables, herbs & flowers, greenhouse tours, planting activity. 12-3pm; Adults $6, Children $4 (5-12 yrs). 845-482-3608. Silver Heights Farm, 7381 State Rte. 52, Cochecton Center. Sullivan County. 30 Roxbury Sidewalk Festival The Roxbury Sidewalk festival will be held from 10am- 3pm. There will be live music featuring the Shoe String Band, Polish Moses, Story Laurie and Mike Herman. The festival features 60 Vendors and artisans from around the Catskill region, a wonderful food court,
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children's activities, garden tent with information on gardening, harvesting and cooking. The Roxbury sidewalk Festival is presented by the Greater Roxbury Learning Initiative Corporation. Phone 607-326-4754. Roxbury. Delaware County. 30 Dave Matthews in Concert The Dave Matthews Band with special guest Delta Spirit. Doors Open 5pm; Showtime 7pm; $47 Lawn; $87 Reserved seats. 845-5832000 or 800-745-3000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 30 Fundraising Supper Dining in the pasture among the farm animals and cut flowers. There will be an array of local food to try. There will also be animals to pet, fruity cocktails, and farm tours. All proceeds go to Catskill Mountainkeeper. 845-985-2519. Neversink Farm, 635 Claryville Rd., Claryville. Sullivan County.
JULY 7 Ricky Powell Photography Through August 26, Ricky Powell rose to notoriety during the 1980's with his photographs of the Beastie Boys, Run DMC, and many other innovators of Rap. Opening reception, 6 - 8pm. 845-679-2650. Ai Earthling Gallery, Ye Olde
Hippie Shoppe of Woodstock, 69 Tinker Street, Woodstock. Ulster County. 7 New York Philharmonic New York Philharmonic with Bramwell Tovey, conductor and Tracy Dahl, soprano. Fireworks. 6:30pm Doors Open; 5:30pm Parking; 8pm Show Time; $31.50, $36.50, $72, $82, $111 Reserved; $26.50 Lawn; $15 Student/Youth Lawn (17 & under); $60 Family Lawn 4-Pack. 845-583-2000 or 800745-3000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 7 Farmstock 2012 Working Farm Tours. For the love of horses: demos, all about chickens, 2 PM goat milking/cheese making. 12-3pm; Adults $6, Children $4 (5-12 yrs). 845-482-4764. Apple Pond Farm, 80 Hahn Rd., Callicoon Center. Sullivan County. 7 Wurtsboro Founders Day Street Fair Specials at local shops, street vendors, live music, children’s activities, art shows and more. 11am-5pm. Wurtsboro. Sullivan County. 14 Honest Brook Music Festival The festival provides an opportunity for Delaware County residents and visitors to hear first-rate classical music. Widely regarded as the premier piano trio of its generation,
Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest Since its inception in 2001, The Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival has become the premiere event to showcase the gourmet lifestyle of the Hudson Valley. On September 8th & 9th, the festival will celebrate its 11th anniversary with local wineries, restaurants, food vendors and artists featuring the very best offerings of the Hudson Valley. There will be wine tastings and seminars, cooking demonstrations, restaurant showcases and a bounty of local market goods. The festival has always featured some craft breweries and is looking to expand the micro-brew participation this year. The festival is at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds just minutes from beautiful Rhinebeck, NY. Amtrak service stops at Rhinebeck Station. Visit hudsonvalleywinefest.com for special hotel and travel deals.
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the Claremont Trio is sought after for its thrillingly virtuosic and richly communicative performances. Twin sisters Emily Bruskin (violin) and Julia Bruskin (cello) formed the Trio with Donna Kwong (piano) in 1999 at The Juilliard School. 607-7463770. Honest Brook Rd. Off Route 28, between Delhi and Meridale. Delaware County. 14 Day To Be Gay Festival A day of music, entertainment, food, drink and shopping. Celebrating the GLBT Community of the Catskills. 11am-5pm. 845-583-3141. Catskill Distilling Co., 2037 Rte. 17B, Bethel. Sullivan County. 14 Farmstock 2012 Working Farm Tours. Honey extracting and maple syrup, 2 pm milking demonstration, cheese making. 12-3pm; Adults $6, Children $4 (5-12 yrs). 845-4825047. Diehl Homestead Farm, 93 Diehl Rd., Callicoon. Sullivan County. 14 Concert NY Doo Wop Extravaganza III: The Dupress, Jay Siegel's Tokens, The Marcels, The Tymes, The Excellents, Linda Jansen (original lead singer of The Angels), Elegants. 5:30pm Doors Open; 4:30pm Parking; 7pm Show Time; $31.50, $37.00, $57.50, $72.50 Reserved; $5 discount on all ticket prices for Sullivan County residents with valid ID at Box
Office only. 845-583-2000 or 800-745-3000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 15 Working Farm Tour Children’s book reading Little Falabella the Magical Horse, horse carriage rides, pony rides/Farm animals. 12-3pm; Adults $6, Children $4 (5-12 yrs). 845-5831100. Rolling Stone Ranch, 282 West Shore Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 17 Antique Appraisal Show 2-6pm; Free admission; $7 per item appraisal fee. Professional appraisal of antiques and collectibles.845-4348044. Sullivan County Museum, 265 Main St., Hurleyville. Sullivan County. 19 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival A Who's Who of Bluegrass in the Beautiful Catskill Mountains. Thursday – Sunday, July 19-22. Main Stage Music : Thursday 2pm to midnight, Friday 11am to midnight, Saturday 11am to midnight, Sunday 10:30am to 3:30 pm. Dance Tent bands play until about 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. On the Walsh Farm, 1 Poultney Road, Oak Hill. Greene County. 20 Summerland Tour 2012 Summerland Tour 2012 featuring Everclear. 7:30pm. $29.50 Lawn;
$41.00 - $71.50 Reserved. $60.00 Lawn-4-Pack. 845-583-2000 or 800-745-3000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 21 Rocky Horror Show An evening at the Rocky Horror Show benefiting gala Catskills. Theatre Package: Pre-performance cocktail reception and ticket. An event not to be missed - on stage and off. 845-794-1194. Forestburgh Playhouse & Tavern, 39 Forestburgh Rd, Forestburgh. Sullivan County. 21 Civil War Encampment 2 spectator and 2 non-spectator battles will be fought. There will be scenarios all day, which will likely include the spectators. July 21-22; adults $10/day or $11/Weekend; Senior Citizen $8/day or $9/ weekend; Group of 8 or more $8/person/per day or $9/weekend. 570-224-7650. Walnut Mountain, 73 Walnut Mountain Rd., Liberty. Sullivan County. 21 Farmstock 2012 Solar powered farm, 2 pm milking, demonstration, hayrides, barnyard animals. 12-3pm; Adults $6, Children $4 (5-12 yrs). 845-4825729. Gieger Dairy Farm, 30 Likel Rd., Jeffersonville. Sullivan County. 21 Storytelling The Yarnslingers return for another bout of storytelling. The subject will
be "The Kitchen Table." 6:45-9pm. 845-482-3333. Domesticities & The Cutting Garden, 4055 State Rte. 52, Youngsville. Sullivan County. 21 Anastasia Rizikov on Piano Honest Brook Music Festival series. At age seven, Canadian pianist Anastasia Rizikov made her orchestral debut performing Polunin’s Concertino in A minor with the National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Mykola Diadiura. Now 13, Anastasia is already showing signs of being “one to watch.” 8pm. 607-746-3770. Honest Brook Rd. Off Route 28, between Delhi and Meridale. Delaware County. 21 Battle Of Minisink Memorial Ceremony in rememberence of the Battle of Minisink fought at Minisink in 1779. Revolutionary re-enactors, in campsite, memorial service, speakers. 2-4pm. 845-4348044. Minisink Battlefield, Barryville. Sullivan County. 21 Rhinebeck Antiques Fair Summer antiques show featuring over 200 top quality antiques dealers. Saturday. Held indoors, Rain or Shine. 845-876-1989. $8 for adults & children under 12 are free. Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Route 9, Rhinebeck. Dutchess County.
21 Windham Chamber Music Festival 15th Anniversary Gala Concert on Saturday at 8pm. 518-734-3868. Program: Haydn: Symphony #88, Wagner: Siegfried Idyll, Schumann: Violin Concerto in D Minor. $35 General Admission, $30 Seniors, $25 Contributors, $5 Students. Windham Civic & Performing Arts Center, 5379 State Route 23, Windham. Greene County. 22 River Run 5K race down River Road, a beautiful, flat course along the scenic Delaware River. Novice to experienced runners; walkers welcome. 10am-5pm. Part of RiverFest, the region’s favorite street festival, celebrates art, music, and ecology. Poster auction at 1 p.m. Live music and great food. 845-252-7576. Downtown Narrowsburg. Sullivan County. 27 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival A four-day community of folk music and dance on July 27th, 28th, and 29th. Over forty acts will perform their music on four different stages: the Main Stage, an intimate Workshop Stage, a family - and kid-friendly Family Stage and an expanded Dance Stage, with over 8000 square feet of beautiful wooden dance floor under the big tent. Call 860-364-0366. Rte 23, Long Hill Farm, Hillsdale. Columbia County.
28 Antique Appraisal Day From 1-4pm. Per item fee for appraisals of individual antiques and collectibles by a professional appraiser. 845-434-8044. Sullivan County Historical Society, 265 Main St., Hurleyville. Sullivan County. 28 Callicoon Street Fair Vendors line the main streets of Callicoon. Food, live music, and entertainment. Wander along the historic streets, view the architecture, and admire the beautiful Delaware River. Music by Fiddlin' Around. 10am-4pm. Phone 845-887-3016. Downtown Main Streets, Callicoon. Sullivan County. 28 Cooking Fresh From The Garden Join Danielle and Jennifer from NaturalContents.com for a cooking demonstration with food harvested from our garden. 2-4pm. 845-4823333. Domesticities & The Cutting Garden, 4055 State Rte. 52, Youngsville. Sullivan County. 28 Farmstock 2012 Fowl play: permaculture with chickens and ducks, 1 PM DIY hoop house construction and inproduction hoop house tour, permaculture-based gardening techniques. 12-3pm; Adults $6, Children $4 (5-12 yrs). 845-2929126. Roost N' Roost Farm, 64 Mineral Springs Rd., Livingston Manor. Sullivan County.
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28 Old Time Fair And BBQ This year’s fair includes old fashioned activities such as horseshoe pitching, corn shucking and lady’s skillet throwing, children’s old fashioned games, ice cream making demonstration and tasting, Chestnut Creek ball race, pie auction, local history exhibits, spinning and quilting demonstrations. Plenty of free parking and admission is free, with only a nominal fee for some games and food. 845-985-7700. Fairgrounds, Rte. 55, Grahamsville. Sullivan County. 28 Ulster County Fair An old fashioned good time county fair, including rides, agricultural exhibits, crafts, local specialties, events, and entertainment. 845-2551380. 249 Libertyville Rd., New Paltz. Ulster County.
AUGUST 2 Exhibit Across the Great Divide Photographs by Roberta Price. This special exhibition is a loving photographic diary of Roberta Price's seven years as a resident of Libre, a commune in the Huerfano Valley in northern New Mexico. Through Dec 31. Admission included in regular Museum ticket price. 845-583-2000. The Museum At Bethel Woods, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County.
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4 Shandalee Music Festival Dozens of musical performances through August 18. 845-439-3277. 442 J. Young Road, Livingston Manor. Sullivan County. 4 Summerfest/Anglers Market Classic tackle sale and flea market. 845-439-4810. Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum, 1031 Old Rt. 17, Livingston Manor. Sullivan County. 4 Concert Two iconic rock icons, Joe Cocker and Huey Lewis and the News will join forces at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45.00 to $127.00 for reserved seating and $26.50 for Lawn. 845-583-2000 or 800-745-3000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 5 Honest Brook Music Festival Soo Bae, cello, Pei-Yao Wang, piano, at 4pm. 607-746-3770. Honest Brook Rd. Off Route 28, between Delhi and Meridale. Delaware County. 7 Big Time Rush Concert Big Time Rush with special guests Cody Simpson and Rachel Crow. 5:30pm Doors Open; 7pm Show Time; $26.50 Lawn; $36.50-$81.50 Reserved; $86 Lawn-4-Pack. 845-583-2000 or 800-745-3000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County.
THE IRENE RECOVERY ONE YEAR LATER HOME GOODS Margaretville, NY
WINDHAM SPA Windham, NY
This summer will mark one year since Hurricane Irene carved its destructive path through the Catskills. The Delaware County town of Margaretville was hit hard. Many remember the memorable video of Margaretville’s Main Street turned into a veritable river. The town lost its Freshtown, local CVS and many small businesses and homes. A year later Margaretville still waits for Freshtown and CVS to open. Dorothy Maffei, owner of Home Goods in Margaretville, says, “Things are so much better and we are tired.” For those who lost almost everything, the process has been long and slow, but “recovery is a process,” says Dorothy. “There is still so a lot to do.” The upside is that the community has pulled together. Churches, volunteers, and recovery agencies continue to help Margaretville rebuild. Local residents and businesses are glad summer is coming, so come visit and support Margaretville’s continuing recovery. For more information on how you can help contact Dorothy Maffei at (845) 586-4177.
Antonia Schreiber, owner of the Windham Spa, in Windham, New York is open for business less than a year after Hurricane Irene destroyed much of her wellness shop. On her website in the “About Us” section, she shares a personal video of the damaged spa days after Irene hit. The boutique spa offers facials, hand and foot care and a variety of therapeutic massages. Visit www.thewindhamspa.com
“THE WAVES” BY RYAN E. CRONIN ©2010 WWW.CRONARTUSA.COM
10 Concert Brad Paisley; The Band Perry; Scotty McCreery. 6pm Doors Open; 7:30pm Show Time. 845-583-2000 or 800-745-3000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 11 Working Farm Tour Free range eggs and heirloom vegetables. "inspiration within reach" bountiful entertaining backyard, raised beds constructed of fieldstone and greenhouse, operated Petpal Sitter Service. 845-583-4531. 12-3pm; Adults $6, Children $4 (512 yrs). Fairytale Farm, 75 Burr Rd., Cochecton. Sullivan County. 12 Reflexology Workshop Reflexology & Accupressure Points for Self-care. 1-4pm; $15. 845-9887061. Lazy Pond Bed & Breakfast, 79 Old Loomis Rd., Liberty. Sullivan County. 13 Delaware County Fair An annual country fair. Mon, 7pm Demolition Derby, Tues, 7pm 4H & Fire Fighters' Parade, Weds, 7pm NYTPA Modified Truck & Tractor Pull, Thurs, 7pm Street Legal 4x4 Pickups , Invitational Big Rig Truck Pull , Invitational Super Farm Tractors, Fri, 1:30pm IBR Professional Bull Riding, 7pm Demolition Derby, Sat, 7:30pm Country Music Performance. 607-865-4763. Walton. Delaware County.
14 Altamont Fair The fair has over 100 years of bringing the city and country together. It is a combined fair for Albany, Schenectady and Greene Counties. A family event offering rides, attractions, food, agriculture, museums, a circus, a petting zoo, and more. Through August 19. 518-8616671. Route 146, Altamont. Greene County. 17 Little World's Fair Great entertainment and family events including fireworks on Saturday night and Sherry Lynn on Sunday. Phone 845-985-2500. Grahamsville Fairgrounds, Rte. 55, Grahamsville. Sullivan County. 18 Working Farm Tour Horse grooming, hands-on horse care, harnessing and driving, demonstration. 12-3pm; Adults $6, Children $4 (5-12 yrs). 845-4824686. Oak Ridge Farm, 222 Hessinger-Lare Rd., Youngsville. Sullivan County. 18 Hudson Valley Ribfest BBQ ribs, contests, entertainment and vendors. 11am - 10pm. $5 Admission (kids under 12 are free). Through Sunday, 11am - 5pm. Ulster County Fairgrounds, 249 Libertyville Road, New Paltz. Ulster County. 19 Kelly Clarkson in Concert Global superstar Kelly Clarkson and
Grammy nominated The Fray are joining forces for a 30+ city co- headlining summer tour at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $41.00, $51.00, $61.50, $71.50 and $97.00 for reserved seating and $31.50 for Lawn. 845-583-2000 or 800-7453000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 19 Dutchess County Fair A six day agricultural fair that includes rides, food vendors, agricultural and craft exhibits, and competitions. This annual fair always runs during the third full week in August, The fairgrounds hosts numerous outstanding events throughout the year. Crafts at Rhinebeck, Classic Car Shows, Antique Shows, a Sheep and Wool Festival and Wine and Food Festival are just some of the popular events. Through August 24. 845-876-4003. Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 11 Race Track Way, Rhinebeck. Dutchess County. 25 Farmstock 2012 Herbs and vegetable growing, canning and preserving, demonstration. 12-3pm; Adults $6, Children $4 (5-12 yrs). 845-482-4369. Channery Hill Farm, 77 Keller Rd., Callicoon Center. Sullivan County. 26 Concert Multi-Platinum country rocker Jason Aldean will bring his 2012 My Kinda
Party Tour to Bethel Woods on Sunday, August 26, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. Reserved seats are $86.50 and $36.00 for Lawn. 845-583-2000 or 800-745-3000. Bethel Woods Center For The Arts. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County. 26 Working Farm Tour Hay rides with educational information, tour of milking process, view of bottling plant, selling fresh milk. 12-3pm; Adults $6, Children $4 (5-12 yrs). 845-583-6059. Bethel Creamery, 522 Happy Ave., Swan Lake. Sullivan County. 26 Hortonville Field Day The Hortonville Fire Department's annual parade and field day starts at noon on Main Street, followed by games and food (including a chicken BBQ) at firemen's field. Main St. & Firemen's Field, Hortonville. Sullivan County. 29 Columbia County Fair A fun for the family county fair. 518-392-2121. Wednesday 3pm to 11pm, Thursday-Monday 10am11pm. 142 Hudson Ave., Old Chatham. Columbia County.
To be included in the next Neighbors, submit your entries by August 1st to neighbors@greendoormag.com. Use subject line: Neighbors Submission.
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NEIGHBORS | SULLIVAN COUNTY
Sullivan County If you haven’t visited Sullivan County lately you’ve been missing out! With gourmet eateries, eco-shopping, art galleries, theatre, concerts and more, it’s the perfect getaway!
Theatre
Global Home Jeffersonville, NY
Forestburgh Playhouse Forestburgh, NY
They sell imported goods from around the world: Balinese marriage beds, glass paintings from Senegal, Moroccan tea tables, antique Chinese Ming style chairs, exotic art, jewelry and more. Global Home also provides a decorator service to its clients. They recently opened a second store in Beacon.
The mission of the Forestburgh Theatre Arts Center is to provide a venue for the performing arts, specifically live theatre, music, and dance, for the cultural enrichment of the people of Sullivan County. Founded in 1947, it is the oldest continuously operating professional summer theatre in New York State.
FOR MORE INFO 4929 Main Street Jeffersonville, NY 12748 845.482.3652 www.globalhomeny.com
FOR MORE INFO 39 Forestburgh Road Forestburgh, NY 12777 845.794.2005 www.fbplayhouse.org
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THOSE FEATURED
Shopping
NEIGHBORS | SULLIVAN COUNTY
DYBERRY WEAVER Narrowsburg Hand-loomed, hand-dyed. Enough said.
Don’t Miss
Coffee House
Art Gallery
Java Love Coffee Roasting Co. Kauneonga Lake, NY
Catskill Art Society Livingston Manor, NY
An artisan coffee roasting company committed to coffee with integrity. With the roaster right in the shop, you’ll experience the drama of coffee roasting while enjoying quality coffees from around the world. Plus, don’t miss their famous cold-brewed ice coffees and espresso, perfect for summer sipping.
The Catskill Art Society is a non-profit cultivating public interest, participation, and enjoyment of the arts. Making use of its new Arts Center, located in the lovely hamlet of Livingston Manor, CAS delivers programming that is diverse, dynamic, and life enriching.
FOR MORE INFO 10 Horseshoe Lake Road Kauneonga Lake, NY 12749 845.583.4082 www.javaloveroasters.com
FOR MORE INFO 48 Main Street Livingston Manor, NY 12758 845.436.4227 www.catskillartsociety.org
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NEIGHBORS | SULLIVAN COUNTY
Don’t Miss
MAIN STREET FARM Livingston Manor A locavore’s paradise.
Great Outdoors
Benji & Jake’s Kauneonga Lake, NY
Fly Fishing Roscoe, NY
Best pizza ever! With two decks overlooking Kauneonga Lake, diners can enjoy beautiful sunsets, a variety of unique pizzas and other fresh, natural and local foods sourced at nearby farmer’s markets. The restaurant also features live music, craft beers, wines and specialty cocktails.
Welcome to Trout Town, U.S.A. In June 2011, Roscoe was named the Ultimate Fishing Town by the World Fishing Network. Having competed against 300 fishing towns over a period of three months, Roscoe won the title by receiving 267,434 votes from anglers and countless supporters of this special place.
FOR MORE INFO 5 Horseshoe Lake Road Kauneonga Lake, NY 12749 845.583.4031 www.benjiandjakes.com
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FOR MORE INFO Exit 94 off of Route 17 info@roscoeny.com www.roscoeny.com
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THOSE FEATURED. BENJI & JAKE’S PHOTO: FRIENDSEAT.COM
Restaurant
NEIGHBORS | SULLIVAN COUNTY
WILLOW & BROWN Livingston Manor Unique home gifts and clothing.
Don’t Miss
Farmer’s Market
Concerts
Catskill Harvest Liberty, NY
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Bethel, NY
Now in their 5th year of operation, Catskill Harvest is a gourmet market and garden center featuring hundreds of local food and garden suppliers. Their sister company, Catskill Harvest Home, offers a complete landscaping and construction services - from garden installations to renovations to new home construction.
A world-class cultural center right at the site of the original 1969 Woodstock festival. Today, Bethel Woods draws some of the hottest talent in its amphitheater that can accommodate 15,000 both under cover and on a natural sloping lawn, with the unique backdrop of the surrounding Sullivan County countryside.
FOR MORE INFO 2758 State Route 52 Liberty, NY 12754 845.292.3838 www.catskillharvest.com
FOR MORE INFO 200 Hurd Road Bethel, NY 12720 866.781.2922 www.bethelwoodscenter.org
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WELLNESS | EDUCATION
Going Green Sullivan County Community College is preparing students for green industry. BY AKIRA OHISO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BLOOM
Five years ago, Michael Fisher, Chair of the Division of Professional Studies, began the process of implementing the first sustainability curriculum at the college – Green Building Maintenance & Management. The impetus for the curriculum came from a 2005 New York City Green Buildings law that required new buildings and refitted buildings to meet a set of green standards. The school was paying attention to such a law because about half of the student body resides in, or comes from, metropolitan New York. Michael developed the curriculum and received state approval, but the hardest part was finding a qualified instructor in a new field. Months before the 2008 fall semester, Michael was still without an instructor so he taught the curriculum himself. In its first year, the program enrolled twenty-two students. Now at the end of year four, the program averages between thirty and forty students. When Helena Le Roux Ohm, Director of Sustainability, joined the staff, she thought the Green Building Maintenance & Management curriculum was technically sound, but had no soul. Michael says Helena instilled an ethical and moral approach to the curriculum, which he believes is part of the reason the program is successful. “You’re doing this but there’s a reason to do it other than it’s a good way to go out and make 38 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012
money,” says Michael. “There has to be a life commitment.” There is diverse mix of students of different ages and backgrounds. They seem to bring something special with them whether passion, life experience, or career changes. “The students are dedicated to making the world better,” says Larry Reeger, Assistant Professor of Wind Turbine Technology. Michael learned New York State has enormous wind potential. As a result, he developed the Wind Turbine Technology curriculum, which began in the fall of 2011. While searching for fieldwork sites, Michael found a wind farm on a ridge in Weymart, Pennsylvania about 50 miles west of the college. The wind farm is owned by Next Era Energy and has fortythree turbines producing energy that goes back into the local grid. Locally, a wind study done in 2005 by Dick Riesling, Executive Director of Sullivan Alliance For Sustainable Development (SASD), concluded that there is viable wind in Sullivan County. Again, it was a challenge to find a qualified instructor. There were many theorists out there, but no one, it seemed, who could actually run a turbine. “It was so bad we were interviewing people via Skype in Belgium,” says Michael. At a cocktail party, they met a woman who turned out to be the wife
FOR MORE INFO Sullivan County Community College Sustainability Programs 112 College Road Loch Sheldrake, NY 12759 845.434.5750 www.sullivan.suny.edu
of Larry Reeger, a wind turbine technician at the Weymart wind farm. Lucky for them, Larry was ready for a change.
PHOTOS: MICHAEL BLOOM
Larry teaches a technically oriented program. Students get hands-on training maintaining a vertical wind turbine on campus. The turbine is part of the college’s sustainability complex, which also includes a solar panel installation, a geothermal pump house, a straw bale construction, and a community garden. The complex is primarily for teaching purposes, but viable energy from the solar panels and wind turbine goes back into the grid to offset electrical costs. The geothermal pump house cools and heats the entire campus. So where do students go after they graduate? Michael explains: “There are major corporations in this country that are saying that for each one of their installations they want someone who is responsible for sustainability. Walmart, of all people, is doing that.” Since a 2007 pilot program, Walmart has installed solar panels at locations in California and hopes to have one hundred thirty stores generating solar energy by 2013. A recent Forbes article by William Pentland reports, “In 2010, a third of all new commercial construction was green, amounting to a $54 billion market for commercial green
buildings. By 2015, green buildings in the commercial sector are expected to triple, accounting for $120 billion to $145 billion in new construction and $14 billion to $18 billion in major retrofit and renovation projects.” The program’s goal is to turn out students at an entry-level who can make good decisions. Graduates receive an Associates of Applied Science (ASS) degree. Helena says about half the students enter the workforce in areas such as HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning), project management, energy efficiency and site planning. The other half continues on to four-year programs in a variety of disciplines from architecture to environmental economics. Ideally, the college would like students to graduate and stay in Sullivan County, but with limited local industry, Michael says, “we are training students for jobs that aren’t here yet.” In a half-empty culture where little has replaced the resort industry, Michael is optimistic. He talks about a proposed sustainable fish and vegetable farm at the old Apollo Mall in Monticello, a solar farm in Fallsburg and, of course, the casinos. “If those Casinos come they are going to have to be sustainable.” Michael believes all these plans are poised for economic growth and sustainable development in Sullivan County.
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WELLNESS | ENVIRONMENT
10 Tweets for Eco-Couch Potatoes So short, you won’t have to expend energy to read ‘em! BY SYBIL SANCHEZ
If you are an eco-couch potato or armchair environmentalist, these tips are for you. After all, who says living our values must be difficult? Especially not here in the Hudson Valley, home of locavore style. Whichever side of the Green Door you sit on – eco or couch-potato – Kermit would be proud, for today it’s easy being green! Using the reduce, reuse, recycle model, here are ten tweets to help you be more eco-friendly without spending a lot of time or energy: Do Nothing. You expend no energy in your natural state, especially if you don’t drive. #eco #catskills Use Nothing. Waste not want not is universal, and still leaves you in your natural state. #eco #catskills Throw Nothing. If you are doing and using nothing, what do you have to throw out? #eco #catskills Share. Couch potatoes be kind! Sharing with your neighbors, loved ones, friends and others uses less. #eco #catskills Go Local. Cousin to organic. A couch potato’s dream. It saves energy, adds quality and supports your homies. #eco #catskills No Scents. Going au naturale is less work, money, artificial chemicals and packaging. Bonus: Better for your health! #eco #catskills Clean Green. Use what you already have (vinegar, baking soda) or just buy green. When you actually clean, that is. #eco #catskills Go Outside. You don’t even have to move your couch, just find a porch or stump to sit on. #eco #catskills
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Shop Second hand or Borrow. How much easier to have products someone else vetted for you! #eco #catskills Turn It Off. Let your electronics, car and water be lazy too by turning them off when you’re not using them. #eco #catskills
ILLUSTRATION: ALBERT CAMPBELL
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WELLNESS | PEST CONTROL
On Trapping Mice, Not Men Hudson Valley Good Stuff’s Vanessa explores eco-friendly rodent and pest solutions for the green home buyer BY VANESSA GENEVA AHERN
Good news for Hudson Valley homeowners! There are humane ways to get rid of rodents, and green ways to get rid of bats, bugs, and hungry rabbits and deer determined to get first dibs on your vegetable garden. I asked expert Rhonda Minshall, owner of Hudson Valley Organic Pest Control in East Greenbush, NY, and James McHale Jr., CEO of JP McHale Pest Management in Buchanan, NY, who received a PhD in Entomology from Cornell University, about the greenest ways to get rid of pests.
try using an organic ant bait that uses boric acid such as InTice. To ward off mosquitoes at your barbecue, set oscillating fans in the fly zone, and get low voltage lighting because lighting attracts insects (and bats too). Don’t pile mulch too high around trees because a lot of mosquitoes like mulch. Use decorative stones because they drain better.
If you don’t mind a strong minty smell in your house, try dabbing peppermint oil on the places where you suspect mice trespass. Mice hate this smell, and will avoid the mintyscented areas. You can also try sound waves. “They are little units that plug into any outlet and make a high-frequency sound that the mice can hear, but we can’t,” says Minshall.
There are plenty of biological and organic products to detract hungry rabbits and deer such as fox urine and garlic treatments. McHale says your garden will smell like a pizzeria during the garlic treatment day, but besides that, it works very well. Treatment with natural products has to be applied every few weeks or after rain, and it is important to follow the label instructions.
Figuring out the conduits where the mice are entering your home is the first line of defense. “Make sure the garage doors are sealed and there are no openings around pipe chasings. Rodents can get through holes a size of a dime. They don’t have any bones in their bodies. It’s all cartilage so they can just wiggle through,” says McHale. Try placing instant foam or steel wool in those areas to block them from coming in the house, suggests McHale.
A do-it-yourself trick to protect your vegetable garden is to sprinkle chili powder around the base of plants. “Reapplication needs to occur after it rains. Exclusionary tactics such as chicken wire or oven racks may work as well,” says McHale. Planting rabbit resistant perennials in the area such as Day Lily, Hosta, Yarrow, Iris, or Yucca can also help. In your herb garden, try planting Catmint, Thyme, Lavender, Mint, Oregano, Rosemary and Lemon Balm to turn off pests.
Pet owners should transfer pet food into Tupperware containers to which the mice can’t break-in. If you spot droppings, be diligent about vacuuming them away as this will disrupt their pathways.
“Bats are very ubiquitous especially in homes in South Salem and Katonah where there are lots of trees. The bats swoop down, and then come and hang out in the shutters. They roost under the shutters. Put a little dab of Vaseline behind the shutters. That will make them uncomfortable and they will go away,” says McHale.
Minshall says we can expect more bees this summer since we had such a mild winter. Bees like very hot sunny places in or near your house. Minhsall says that growing a tree to shade a hot bee spot will provide shade and help keep them away. McHale suggests spraying down with a garden hose all flowering plants on days you want to be outside since this mimics a rainstorm. To trap wasps, you can strategically place traps filled with orange soda or Grenadine around the yard’s perimeter, which will attract and trap foraging wasps. “Wasps get very aggressive in late August as the queens drop down below the leaf litter to overwinter. The workers are left without a leader and hover around garbage pails that have sucrose based products in them,” explains McHale. For ants,
Tree limbs make great pathways to an attic for raccoons and squirrels, especially if there is a vent in the attic. Make sure your gutters and leaders drain away from your house. Only put your garbage out the days your collection is scheduled and use sturdy garbage cans with lids. I learned this lesson the hard way years ago when an animal ripped through the garbage making gashing holes in the bags and having a field day, littering my driveway with dirty diapers and coffee filters. GD Vanessa Geneva Ahern writes for various consumer magazines and is founding editor of HudsonValleyGoodStuff.com. She has conquered her fear of mice. 2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 41
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FASHION | SUMMER
What To Wear HAZY LAZY 70’S In time for summer, Misha, from Clementine Vintage Clothing in Andes, shows us how to wear the latest carefree trend. TOP Floral Corset Blouse $20
HAT Straw Fedora $35
SHORTS High Waist Denim Shorts $20
JACKET Trench Coat $45
NECKLACE Feather Necklace $20
BAG Needle Point Shoulder Bag $45 SWEATER Navahoe Sweater $45
PHOTOS: DAN MAYERS WWW.DANMAYERS.COM
CAMISOLE Gauze Boxy Tank $20
BAG Macrame Shoulder Bag $35
SKIRT Spider Mum Chinasory Skirt $35
SHOES Woven Sandals $35
SCARF Hankerchief Scarf $10
SHOES Ankle Bootie $45
STYLED BY MISHA MAYERS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN MAYERS FOR MORE INFO Clementine Vintage Clothing 72 Main Street Andes, NY 13731 (845) 676-3888 www.clementinevintageclothing.com 2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 43
TRAVEL | THE BOOK SHELF
Summer Reading ON THE ROAD Jack Kerouac
THE SHELTERING SKY Paul Bowles
The highly anticipated film adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road is scheduled for release this summer. With a cast of young stars like Kristen Stewart, of Twilight fame, it is assured that legions of young people will spend their allowances and summer paychecks being introduced to the beat philosophy of the fifties, perhaps by default. Released in 1957, On The Road was a freewheeling, stream-of-consciousness style reaction to the buttoned-up conformity of the fifties. Traveling across America by the seat of their pants, Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty lived for the moment and traveled wherever life took them. Desperate for meaning and fulfillment, they had nothing to lose by diving deeply into the liquid “now” of life. Similar to the beats, young people today are disenfranchised by the false promises of the American Dream. College graduates can’t find jobs, the economy has exposed deep systemic corruption and our country is polarized by politics. There is no longer fulfillment in contributing to old belief systems and ideologies. Young people are “occupying” their lives and searching for deeper meaning. On The Road is an existential escape, a break from reason and a perfect read for summer.
The “sky” is the vigilant companion in Paul Bowles 1949 novel, as three young Americans, Port Moresby, his wife Kit, and their friend, Tunner, travel aimlessly through North Africa after World War II. Kit and her husband Port are trying to rekindle their 10-year marriage. Perhaps travel will fix things or at least make them forget. Tunner, the ugly-American type, is along for the ride. As they drift through Morocco, Tangiers and eventually the Sahara desert, they slowly become disconnected from the trappings of civilization. Western belongings are lost and discarded as they travel deeper into the desert. A descent into madness, The Sheltering Sky, is an allegory of American myopia and arrogance in a foreign land and the inability to comprehend, which ultimately leads to destruction. Not even the sky can shelter us. This is a summer read that will wash over you like gauzy sheets layered one at a time. If you choose to keep reading, you will be forced to think about the fragility of your own life. But, unlike your fellow travelers, you will have the luxury of a beach chair to clutch when the emptiness become too much to bear.
PHOTO: ARENA CREATIVE
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TRAVEL | RVING
RVs and CVs Traveling West in search of work and a way to find yourself again. BY OLIVIA LIGHTLE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN LIGHTLE
In 2010, my husband and I joined the increasing ranks of unemployed professionals following the Recession. After consulting family and friends, we came up with a simple plan to seek employment and rediscover the beauty of America. We borrowed my in-law’s motor home and embarked on our second trip around the United States. Our plans included leaving resumes in our wake with the hope of catching potential employers’ interest.
PHOTO: KEVIN LIGHTLE
We left our home in the Catskills on a beautiful spring day with the scent of possibility wafting in the air. We had plenty of things to reflect upon as we traveled down the highway. I had been out of work since late fall, when my grant-funded position expired. Kevin had reached a point in his career where he’d met his personal goals and the cumulative strain of working with 24/7 responsibilities for over thirty years showed. We needed to regroup and figure out what to do with ourselves. We were both frustrated and angry that our commitment to work had resulted in no jobs and little recognition for all we had done. This was truly a time to weigh our options and learn how to reinvent ourselves. more 46
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TRAVEL | RVING
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: BIG BEND IN TEXAS, PUEBLO VILLAGE IN NEW MEXICO, GREAT DISMAL SWAMP IN VIRGINIA
We arranged to pick up the motor home in Virginia, visiting family members along the way. We spent a day preparing our conveyance – a twenty-two foot motor home. As lifelong tent campers, we were a bit dubious about the whole prospect of driving a recreational vehicle (RV) across country. We had mental images of retirees – women with beehive hairdos alongside their husbands in sans-a-belt slacks and golf shirts – tooling down the road in a Winnebago. What type of hopelessly middle-classed dream of the sixties were we about to embark upon and were we really ready to embrace our middle-aged selves? My mother-in-law assured us that we would “love” it once we grew accustomed to the RV lifestyle. A curious neighbor stopped by during our preparations to see what the commotion was all about and knowing our job situation (or lack thereof ) questioned the wisdom of our taking a trip without any sure job leads. Quenching a sense of guilt we ignored his gentle barbs, knowing we needed to break away after so many years of all consuming work and little time for self-reflection. We were anxious to get as far away as possible from our reality and spent the first two weeks of our trip driving long hours to lose ourselves in the heartlands of America. There was a surreal sense of escape as we drove further westward. We found the conveniences the camper offered beginning to grow on us – especially in light of the cool spring weather. Although 46 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012
we gained newfound confidence in the camper, we still battled our lifelong tent-camper mentality – only fellow primitive campers can understand the derision held for RVs. As people that abhorred RV generators running in the wee hours of the morning, we felt a sense of turncoat-ism for relinquishing our tent and becoming part of the camper set. We noticed a lessening of our sense of desperation for being unemployed as we discovered many people frequenting campgrounds in a similar plight. The Grapes of Wrath existed in America and we were part of a growing trend of flight to seek employment by traveling. As weeks passed in the motor home, we discovered how little we needed to be comfortable. The mobility of the camper enabled us to recognize the obligations home ownership brings and the freedom one gains from traveling arbitrarily, which served to increase our wanderlust. We considered several employment alternatives as people who increasingly wished to travel and work. We met many people on our travels that chose the RV life including oil-riggers, who worked at various sites six months at a time and stayed at local Kampgrounds of America (KOA), and seasonal hosts, who earned a small stipend and a free campsite in exchange for monitoring campgrounds. We learned of programs that provide a free site, base salary and occasionally free propane for those willing to maintain facilities or manage campground stores. Rather than
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: EARTHSHIP IN TAOS, THE THREE GOSSIPS IN UTAH FOR MORE PHOTOS VISIT FACEBOOK.COM/GREENDOORMAG
PHOTOS: KEVIN LIGHTLE
dismissing these low paying positions as beneath our professional abilities, we began to appreciate the simplicity they offered. With a sense of acceptance, we realized that one has to let go of visions of hope to secure high paying positions to those of resolve to do what it takes to stay afloat in the economic climate in which we existed. This was beyond us individually and echoed in conversations we had with other exiles from suburbia. We adjusted to living in the moment and rallying against the media push of needing more to make us happier. After nearly two months of being on the road, we came to the bittersweet conclusion of our trip. It was hard to envision sitting in a house as reality was beginning to nudge at our consciences. No solid job leads had surfaced during our trip and although we had put our house up for sale prior to leaving the Catskills, no offers materialized. We were at peace with returning to New York but felt our house was something to downsize in light of our newfound desire to eliminate “stuff ” from our lives. We divested ourselves of our television, excess furnishings and extraneous items collected over the years and currently enjoy an austere household. The lure of the road continues to beckon us and we jump at opportunities to travel. We ended up acquiring the motor home from my in-laws and Kevin accepted a job with a
company that requires him to maintain a virtual office in our home and travel around the state. I accompany him frequently and commenced working on an online Master’s Degree. Being mobile rather than pursuing the American dream of working in the same job for years in order to retire happily ever after has become a goal for us. A lifestyle on the road is actually quite attainable but requires shifts in one’s mindset. We found ourselves reprioritizing what was important and decided earning a big income is not paramount. Until we took this trip, we viewed it important to advance up the ladder of corporate America but after witnessing scores of people on the trip who were seeking employment while RVing, we feel that there is merit in living simply without the requisite mortgage. We look forward to eventually selling our home and heading out again on the open road. In the meantime, we camp whenever we get an opportunity and that keeps the fire in our bellies to one day be free of our mortgage. Home really is wherever we are. GD Olivia is a community gardening advocate and is currently completing her volunteer work to earn her certification in the Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program. She operates a spice business, which can be accessed at catskillmosaic.com. Kevin provides consultation and training for electronic documentation for disability providers and uses his art and photography background to explore all outdoor adventures. Follow their travel blog at idlelightles.wordpress.com. 2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 47
TRAVEL | HOTEL REVIEW
Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern 30 rooms with a view in Saugerties. BY AKIRA OHISO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MERCHANT
History Located on historic South Partition Street in Saugerties, NY, Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern is perfectly situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the Esopus Creek Falls. The hotel was built in the footprints of the Martin Cantine Paper Mill, which was in operation from 1888 to 1975. The mill burned down in 1978. Since then, the decaying property sat vacant, reminding residents of Saugerties once prosperous past. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern opened in late 2011. The design pays homage to the past with stonework that blends into the landscape along the rocky Esopus. Young saplings on the grounds aspire to be mighty oaks. The 30-room boutique hotel has the unique touch of balconies in every room from which you can take in the beautiful falls. Two king suites are available with spacious living areas, extended balconies, a second floor bedroom and rustic fireplace. With a 400-seat event space, Diamond Mills is ideal for weddings and conferences. Location Just 2-hours from New York City, weekenders can leave work at five and arrive in Saugerties by seven. Saugerties is also a nice stopover for summer travelers on their way north or south
along the thruway, which is just minutes from the hotel. For business folks looking for a bit more than the chain hotel experience, Diamond Mills will transport you away from the daily grind. With the hassles of air travel, a staycation at Diamond Mills is idyllic. The hotel is a short walk to the shopping district where fashion boutiques, antique shops, restaurants, cafes, chocolatiers and bars compliment the historic character of Saugerties. A charming J.J Newberry sign and Mansard roof blend well with trendy boutiques and hipster hangouts. The Room My room was on the ground floor near the lobby and reception areas. The room had two luxurious queen beds with lots of pillows. Like all the rooms in the hotel, I had a balcony view with comfortable outdoor seating from which I could enjoy an evening digestif. During turndown service, hotel staff delivered two chocolate truffles prepared by Executive Pastry Chef Andrew Comey with a single white tulip in a vase - an elegant touch. The dĂŠcor is neutral earth tones with clean crisp lines. Bedding is textured on top with Egyptian cotton underneath. European-inspired furnishings add an understated elegance to modern touches.
25 SOUTH PARTITION STREET SAUGERTIES, NY 12477 845.247.0700 WWW.DIAMONDMILLSHOTEL.COM
All the rooms have flat-screen TVs, fully stocked mini-bars with local products, iPod docking stations and room service from the Tavern. In the morning, I enjoyed a delicious continental breakfast a few steps from my room. The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today were fanned out at my doorstep. The bathroom is simple and white with an oversized walk-in shower. The ceramic floor is heated for cold winter months during ski season at nearby Hunter Mountain. Two fluffy robes with the Diamond Mills’ insignia were laid out at the foot of the bed. The Tavern As a graduate of the Culinary Institute of American, Executive Chef Giuseppi Napoli understands the bounty of the Hudson Valley and uses homegrown foods whenever possible. He presents an upscale American menu infused with hints of the Mediterranean. A classic tavern salad with iceberg lettuce, bacon and blue cheese dressing and filet mignon wrapped in bacon are decadent yet delicious. There is a nice selection of raw seafood to start or an artisanal cheese and charcuterie board to pair with a bottle of wine. Braised Pork Cheek and
Foie Gras Tortellini is an elegant pasta entrée that is true to Chef Napoli’s Italian roots. Pilsner Battered Fish & Chips (with a Pilsner) or Free-Range Chicken Breast Capricciosa show the scope of the menu. There is a well-rounded international wine list and local craft beers. The main dining room is perfect for a romantic dinner by the rustic fireplace or for a family of four enjoying Sunday brunch. Master Pastry Chef & Baker, Andrew Comey, also a CIA graduate, will wow you with rustic baked goods, crusty breads and masterpiece desserts. The bar speaks easy with wood accents, Edison lights and white octagonal tiled floors. It is perfect for the twentysomething web designer enjoying an after work aperitif or the baby boomer executive closing a deal. The mezzanine is exclusively for “The Vicious Circle” or an intimate gathering of friends. The library and mezzanine are available for small private events. The Skinny Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern confirms that Saugerties, NY is a must-see destination for a luxurious night, two, or five. GD
LIFE | RESTORATION
After Irene Director/Curator of the Zadock Pratt Museum talks Irene, one year later. BY CAROLYN BENNETT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LARRY GAMBON
I became Director/Curator of the Zadock Pratt Museum in 2009. I’d held the same title at the same institution for five years in the mid-1990’s before moving on to become a professional grant-writer. Those five years were the intellectual glory years for me. Not only did I get to read about American history – especially the history of Greene County, NY where I’ve lived more than half of my adult life – but I was able to play in the fields of local and regional history as well. Zadock Pratt, Jr., after whom the Pratt Museum was named, was Town Founder of Prattsville, a modern oasis in the American wilderness by early nineteenth century standards. Pratt had come to town from nearby Lexington, NY named after those early Americans, brave and true, who had fought in the War of Independence and, following the war, moved on to the New York frontier to forge a hard-scrabble life of leather tanning and normalcy. Zadock Pratt was King of the Tanners, having built the world’s largest tannery in Prattsville in 1824, after applying the “factory” model to his business, a very modern twist on a very ancient art. Pratt didn’t stop there. He laid sidewalks, planted trees, built a match factory, hat factory, felt mill, two academies, two churches, an opera house, several dry goods stores, a hundred houses made of hemlock for his workers, and even brought the first printing press to the Catskills, creating one of America’s first planned communities. Somewhere in between all this activity, he found the time to build a grand Federal-style house for himself, and his growing family. In 1976 that house would officially become the Zadock Pratt Museum. In 2011, it – and almost everything on its first floor – would be badly damaged by the flood waters of Hurricane Irene that washed away a good deal of the Town That Pratt Built as well. Hurricane Irene not only robbed Prattsville of many of its homes and businesses along Main Street, but it robbed the 50 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012
town of much of its history with them. That’s where the Pratt Museum comes in. The Museum was founded by local townspeople in 1959 and officially incorporated in 1963. The doors of its present location, the original Pratt Homestead, ca 1828, were opened in 1976 after a complete restoration of the building. Previously it had served as an apartment complex in the early to mid 20th century. From its inception, Pratt descendants and the townspeople had been generous to the growing little museum and gave freely to its collections. The Ingersoll family was especially generous, donating Pratt furniture, portraits, books, and early photographs. And it was those items that were hardest hit by the storm. I remember entering the Museum a few days after the flood. It had been hard to convince the local authorities to let me over the bridge into Prattsville since it was in imminent danger of collapse, but once they confirmed that I was indeed the Director and Curator of the Zadock Pratt Museum they all but carried me over the bridge on their shoulders – they were that kind, as was everyone during those early days – or should I say “daze” because that’s what we were in. I wandered about the Museum in several inches of glue-like red clay, my shoes sticking to those historic wide-board hemlock floors, thinking that the first floor looked like a scene from the Titanic. In fact, Pratt’s dining room table, fully set with flo-blue dinnerware, had shifted from the center of the room to the back corner without a cup, dish, or spoon out of place. However, the worst discovery that day was in the Carriage House behind the Museum. That’s where we stored our books, photographs, newspapers, files, and other paper ephemera. While the Museum had taken on three feet of water, through some fluke of fate, the Carriage House had flooded seven feet, soaking all of our paper collections. Gone were the hundreds of black and white photographs of local people from the 19th and
FALL ART SHOW Yellow + Blue COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION
Yellow + Blue, open to all artists, recognizes and promotes excellence in Catskill or Hudson Valley artists or original artworks, particularly those with creative approaches to recycling, upcycling and using repurposed materials. Judging by a professional jury consisting of the Green Door editorial team, local artists and gallery representatives. Original artwork by local artists or depicting local upstate New York subject matter in any medium is eligible. All entries must be received by July 23, 2012.
20th centuries. Gone were the fourteen scrapbooks of 20th century Prattsville history that had been recently donated to the Museum by a local resident; in those books were the names and photographs of the townsmen who had served in WWI, WWII and beyond. Gone was the leather-bound book of Minutes that had been held in the Old Stagecoach Inn at the west end of town (it, too, had been devastated by the flood) in which the first town meeting had been recorded in 1832. After the initial shock of loss, the task of recovery beckoned us forward.
For further information, contact akira@greendoormag.com or visit www.GreenDoorMag.com/ArtShow.html
PHOTO: LARRY GAMBON
Thanks to the efforts of a wise Board of Directors and several hundred volunteers from all over the Catskills and New York State, including many second homeowners who rushed to save the history of those whose homes had been destroyed by the flood, preservation efforts began. Almost all of the Museum’s paper collections were blotted dry, wrapped in wax paper and transported lovingly to cold storage where they would remain in a state of frozen animation until they were picked up and placed into a freezer truck and transported to Allentown, PA. There they remain to this day, to be brought back to life and returned to us so that we may once again make them available to researchers who wish to study this small but important early American town. When will that be? At this point, we’re not sure. It depends on our ability to fundraise and secure grants. We’re trying hard on both fronts. If you’d like to support the Zadock Pratt Museum in its efforts to restore its flood damaged buildings and collections, please consider visiting us this summer or fall to see the exhibit "After Irene," which will open at the Zadock Pratt Museum on Saturday, June 30, 11 AM-5 PM with an opening reception at noon. This is an exhibit of Larry Gambon’s photographs of the flood, which were framed for the show by Windham artist Ray Shearer. Shearer made these frames, which he milled from the storm debris of the town. The exhibit is being held on the Museum’s first floor, which has been professionally cleaned and de-molded since the flood, and will allow visitors a rare view of the inside of the building post-flood. The exhibit will run June 30-Oct. 15, 2012, 11 AM-5 PM, Fri.-Mon. Free admission. Free-will offerings accepted. GD 2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 51
LIFE | MARRIAGE
Actions Speak Louder The magic of three little words. BY ROSE OCCHIALINO
I long ago forgave my beloved husband, Mario. Not for something he did, but rather for what he didn’t do: say the words “I love you.” He was uncomfortable voicing endearments, a failure I thought about rarely when he was here. But now that he is gone, it has often crossed my mind. How stupid of me! We had a charmed marriage and raised two fine sons: Ted, a law professor, and Richard, a retired Air Force colonel, now practicing dentistry. This is not to say that Mario and I didn’t bicker occasionally. I was the fiery one, a true Scorpio. He was a mild Capricorn. It was I who held the grudge, but only for a short while. “Do you want to be friends again?” I would ask, tired of giving him the silent treatment. “But I’m not angry at you,” was his usual reply. And then everything was pleasant again. It is 22 years since Mario died. I think of him several times a day, remembering the happy times. Occasionally I search for a flaw in him. He wasn’t all that perfect, I think. But the only trait that sometimes bothered me was his reticence to utter the three magic words. Mario couldn’t have been more kind, more loving, more supportive during our half-century together. Mario lived in Albany; we met when I left my home in Poughkeepsie at 19 to take a state job. We had been engaged only a month when I discovered I had tuberculosis and would require sanitarium care. The following day I was placed in Bowne Hospital, now the site of Dutchess Community College. Mario moved in with my family in Poughkeepsie, so he could visit me daily. What might have been an ordeal was made easier by my fiancé’s constant presence.
Mario’s loving nature enriched my life. He catered to my every whim, wild as some of them were. I was a yard sale addict. He often took over my share of the Saturday morning housecleaning so I could make my rounds, after which he would carefully wash and shine my “treasures” before adding them to the growing piles in the basement. Once the two boys were in college, we took lovely vacations to visit our children and grandchildren, other times to Europe, wearing out our Eurail pass as we went from one place to another, lingering longer in Italy, our ancestral country. On rare occasions, I would travel without him, to babysit the grandchildren in Albuquerque or to an Elderhostel with a friend. When I arrived home, there would be a tiny bunch of flowers on the kitchen table, a collage of magazine cutouts with a short poem of his own composition, and the message 52 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ROSE OCCHIALINO. PORTRAIT OF ROSE: KEITH FERRIS
We were married six months after my hospital discharge. We had our first son, Ted, before Mario entered the Navy during World War II. The war over, we had another son, Richard. Mario worked as a car salesman; I became a freelance court reporter. We saved enough money to build our dream home. Life was beautiful!
But still I longed to hear those special words. One evening as he brought me my customary cup of tea, I coyly asked: “Do you love me, Mario?” His reply: “Do you think I would be here if I didn’t?’ We were at an Elderhostel at Smith College in 1989 when Mario became ill. We rushed home and he was hospitalized that evening. A series of tests disclosed stomach cancer. The prognosis: six months. Mario accepted his fate with stoicism and good grace. I did not. The sparkle of our lives together was gone. Every time I looked at him, I thought, “Next year this time, he will not be here.” One day, a few weeks before the end, I dumped the contents of a drawer on the kitchen table and began a search through the photos and bits of memorabilia. “What are you up to now?,” Mario asked. “Looking for the cards you made me,” I explained. They are now tucked away in an envelope in a safe place, more precious to me than diamonds. The cancer was insidious; he became weaker each day. One morning, as I tended to him, I confronted him. “Do you love me, Mario?” His answer was brisk and slightly peevish. “I love you, I love you, I love you!” I had interrupted him in the journey he was taking, one on which I could not accompany him. Two years later, now widowed, I opened my handkerchief drawer one day. It was a drawer I rarely used. There I came upon a piece of blue scrap paper. Dated the same day I had found the “Welcome Home” cards, it read, “I know I don’t tell you often enough, but I love you and I always will.” One afternoon I was watching a movie at a small local theatre. In one scene, Joanne Woodard asks Paul Newman if he loves her. Paul replies, “Do you think I would be here if I didn’t?’ I whispered to the empty seat beside me, “He stole your line, Mario.” I broached the subject of Mario’s nonverbal manner one evening on the telephone with my son Ted. “Dad was not vocal about his feelings for me,” I complained. “He never said, ‘I love you.’” Ted’s reaction was quick and to the point: “Dad lived his love, Mother.” And indeed he did.
Rose Occhialino of Poughkeepsie is a volunteer proofreader at The Culinary Institute of America. She is 91 years young.
2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 53
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COMING THIS FALL YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS: • Film: Woodstock Film Festival • Art: Christie Scheele • Music: Sarah Fimm Fairweather Friends • Architecture: Amy Lewis • Life: Sophia Passero • Upcycling: What’s (Old) New • Fashion: Bundle Up for Fall • Neighbors: Harvest Festivals • Locavore: Spring Lake Farm • Recipe: Fall Feast • Full Circle: Bagels & Breads • Sports: Boys of Fall • Poem: Opening Day • Getting Ready: Firewood • Woodshed: James Beaudreau • Endpaper: Ichabod Crane
COURTESY OF ALBERT SHAHINAIN FINE ART. AFFINITY/NARROW, OIL ON LINEN WITH FRAYED EDGES ON BOARD, 48"X12"
“Welcome Home” with the word “love” in bold letters.
ENDPAPER | ARTISANAL PENCIL SHARPENING
Pencil Pusher
Beacon’s David Rees pays homage to Hudson Valley artisans. (We think.) BY JIM HANAS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEREDITH HEUER
“Just because something makes you smile or laugh... doesn't mean it's a joke.” This koan-like aphorism appears on the front page of artisanalpencilsharpening.com, a website set up by Beacon’s David Rees to promote an unlikely business – pencil sharpening on demand. As a U.S. Census volunteer in 2010, Rees, 39, learned that he enjoyed sharpening pencils more than knocking on doors. “They actually had us sharpen pencils on our first day of training,” he recalls. And so Artisanal Pencil Sharpening was born. For $15, Rees will hand sharpen a #2 pencil and send it to you in a secure plastic tube, along with all the shavings collected during its creation, and very specific details about its production. My pencil, for example, was sharpened with a knife under natural lighting conditions. And it is very, very sharp. But all of this is a joke, right? A Portlandia-style dig at the vogue for artisanal everything, from oat beers to mustache waxes? Well, maybe – but perhaps not only. “The business walks a line between being an art project and being a real business,” Rees concedes. “I mean, it is a real business. I really do sharpen people’s pencils, and I’m good at it.” Of course, Rees is also good – very good – at being funny. When Rees fled Brooklyn for Beacon in 2005, he was enjoying the success of Get Your War On, his brilliant, clip-art-based comic, which became a regular feature in Rolling 54 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012
Stone and scathingly encapsulated the left’s frustration with the Bush Era. “My ex-wife and I just wanted to get out of the city and get a house and have a garden and be able to go for walks in the fresh air and stuff,” he says. “We weren’t huge fans of city living.” In a demonstration of Seinfeld-like restraint, Rees ended Get Your War On when Barack Obama was sworn in, but stayed on in Beacon, even as his marriage crumbled. He lives in a two-story from 1920 on the north side of Beacon, which has been gaining a reputation as an artists’ enclave since the DIA Art Foundation opened an outpost there almost a decade ago. “It feels like there are 10,000 photographers and photo editors living in Beacon,” Rees notes dryly (as always). Impressive for a town that only has a population of 15,541, according to the 2010 Census, a fact Rees should know all too well. After Get Your War On, he was at loss for what to do next. “I was desperate,” he says. “That’s why I started working for the Census. It’s just dumb luck that I got this job working for the Census and that inspired my next project.” That, along with Beacon’s artsy vibe. As he explains: “People making stuff by hand and charging a premium for that just really took off in the last five or six years, which coincides with my move to Beacon. Obviously Beacon and the Hudson River Valley were a big inspiration for how I marketed my pencil sharpening business, what with all the farmers’ markets and expensive bacon and marmalade and what not. So I feel like I owe Beacon a lot.” After churning out 500 bespoke pencil points, Rees rolled up all he learned into How to Sharpen Pencils (Melville House, 2012), an absurdly thorough and very funny guidebook to his craft. Although later chapters veer toward the absurd, and even the metaphysical, Rees is quick to note that, “there are no false
facts about pencils in the book.” The author knows his stuff, in other words, as was evident at a February appearance in the hipster capital of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where, as if on cue, the show was delayed while musicians recorded an Alan Lomax-style acetate in the next room, and the entire back row was taken up by bloggers and magazine writers, intrigued by Rees’s wry experiment. Self-consciousness was in the air, in other words, as Rees applied his poker face (and an apron) before walking the crowd through the principles of his trade. The audience was appreciative, peppering him with technical questions about pencil sharpening, none of which came close to stumping him – although he did at one point come close to cracking himself up, turning upstage to recompose himself. Not that everyone appreciates the act. “There are people who insist that it’s all just a huge joke, just like a fake internet website, and they get mad about that. Or there are other people who think I’m sharpening pencils for bankers and hedge fund managers who are so rich they are paying a guy to sharpen their pencils. People can like it or dislike it for lots of different reasons. And that’s fine. It’s like a Rorschach test. People see what they want to see in it.”
Rees, meanwhile, says he will eventually leave pencil sharpening behind. “I’m going to shutter the business at some point,” he says. “I get really impatient with creative projects and once I feel like I’ve seen it through and explored all the angles, then I want to move onto the next thing. I’ve taken this project much farther than I thought I would.” He might also return to Brooklyn, he says, although he doesn’t sound as sure. “I have good friends in Beacon, and it’s completely beautiful, especially this time of year,” he says. His friends include New York Times Magazine critic Sam Anderson, with whom he hosts a popular comedy night in town, and photographer Meredith Heuer, who contributed instructional photos to the book, all taken at Beacon Studios, a collection of artists’ spaces housed in Beacon’s abandoned high school. “Last week when it was unseasonably warm and the trees were just starting to bud, I was thinking ‘Why would I sell my house and move back down to Brooklyn, where every single tree you see is like this precious gem that you want to protect. Because in Beacon, we’re lousy with trees. You don’t even think about them. “We’ll see,” he says.
Jim Hanas is the author of the short story collection Why They Cried (Joyland eBooks/ECW Press 2010). He lives in Brooklyn.
FOR MORE INFO www.artisanalpencilsharpening.com
2012 SUMMER | GREEN DOOR 55
ENDPAPER | THE ROSE
On Balance
PAINTING BY PHILLIP GABRIELLI “A ROSE IN THE BALANCE” 26” X 22” ©2010
In the Tarot, the rose is considered a powerful symbol of balance and equilibrium. The beauty of the rose expresses promise, new beginnings and hope, while its stinging thorns represent the challenges that we may have to endure along the path of life. The rose is a poignant symbol of the beauty that is ready to unfold within each of our hearts, and a reminder that we must take the opportunity to savor the beauty around us in this time of year. The rose brings balance to our lives. And that which we call a rose, by any other name would not smell as sweet. 56 GREEN DOOR | SUMMER 2012