Green Door Magazine: Summer 2013 with Yoko Ono

A J O U R N A L O F R E S P O N S I B L E L I V I N G I N T H E C AT S K I L L S A N D H U D S O N VA L L E Y

My Daddy is Beautiful

A Tribute to john lennon by Yoko Ono

VOL 3 No. 2 SUMMER 2013 $4.99

WWW.GREENDOORMAG.COM

the art of doing nothing

DISPLAY UNTIL SEPT 2, 2013

A LIFE WITH MEANING

Castle in the Hudson Close Encounters Gilded Age Ghost Hunting SUMMER READING cold pickles on hot days Finding Sanctuary

COVER PHOTO: John plays with Sean during the picnic. Japan, summer 1977. photo by Nishi F. Saimaru, © 1977 Yoko Ono

John plays with Sean during the picnic. Japan, Summer 1977. Photo by Nishi F. Saimaru, © 1977 Yoko Ono

My Daddy is Beautiful Happy Father’s Day!

I know that our kids will be blessing you on this day.

Usually, we women, wearing many hats, tend to leave it to our kids to bless you.

But I’d like to make a point for this Father’s Day that we, women, appreciate and bless you, too.

For centuries, we have been in love with you.

We love you for what you are and respect you for trying to do your best.

Because we women are an intelligent, strong and powerful race of people, sometimes you must find us intimidating.

But fear not. We are in your corner. We are your partners in life.

We share and understand your struggle and your effort to stay wise and clear in our rapidly changing society.

We, especially, respect you for your decision to commit yourselves to being fathers.

It is a very tough decision to make in today’s world in which constant adjustment of your ideas and actions are demanded of you.

I don’t know if we ever thanked you.

So here it is: Thank you, and we love you.

Yoko Ono Lennon for Father’s Day 19th June 2011

TO SUBMIT your tribute: www.mydaddyisbeautiful.com 2013 SUMMER | Green Door 1

EDITOR Akira Ohiso PUBLISHER Ellie Ohiso ADVERTISING SALES Sharon Reich (845) 254-3103 MARKETING DIRECTOR Aaron Fertig COPY EDITORS Donata C. Marcus Eileen Fertig CONTRIBUTORS Vanessa Geneva Ahern Susan Barnett James Beaudreau Michael Bloom Jay Blotcher Jane Bollinger John Conway Robert B. Dimmitt Jennifer Farley Keith Ferris Jenna Flanagan Jonathan Fox Ann Hutton Steven Kurlander Sandy Long Misha Mayers Dan Mayers Kelly Merchant Kirby Olson Yoko Ono Lennon Nick Piatek Larry Ruehl Eli Ruiz Nishi F. Saimaru Garan Santicola Catie Baumer Schwalb Carla Shapiro CONTACT US Green Door Magazine Inc. 34 South Main Street P.O. Box 143 Liberty, NY 12754 Email: info@greendoormag.com Phone: (845) 55-GD-MAG www.greendoormag.com facebook.com/greendoormag twitter.com/greendoormag pinterest.com/greendoormag RECYCLE THIS, SHARE WITH A FRIEND! 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 Š2013.

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.

INSIDESUMMER2013 1 5

YOKO ONO LENNON My Daddy Is Beautiful

6

ART 6 Lowbrow Art in Highbrow Places: Ryan Cronin 8 Art for Nature’s Sake

GREETINGS Dad CLIPPINGS From Around the Region

10 12 14

LIFE Waiting

18

THE BOOKSHELF Summer Reading: Crone Age

GIFTS High Falls Mercantile SUPERNATURAL 14 Ghost Hunting in the Gilded Age 16 Close Encounters in the Catskills

20 22

TRAVEL The Art of Doing Nothing

28

NEIGHBORS 28 Local Calendar 31 Belleayre Music Festival 32 NACL Theatre’s The Weather Project 33 Happy Trails: Trailkeeper.org

34 35 36 38

FASHION Bohemian Rhapsody

42 44 46

BY THE RIVER A Clash of Cultures

50 52 54

HISTORY 22 Castle in the Hudson 26 German Jeffersonville

WOODSHED The Song Doesn’t Remain the Same LOCAVORE Recipe: Cold Pickles for Hot Days MAIN STREETS 38 YEG: The Future is Present 40 Latinos Finding Liberty

ACTIVISM Finding Sanctuary WELLNESS 46 Beekeepers Make Golden Serum 48 A Life with Meaning 49 Glow on the Go THE GREAT INDOORS 50 The Old School 51 Live the Dream INTO THE WOODS Bethel Wood’s Mighty Acorns POETRY Stewart’s: Sunday May 4, 2003 ENDPAPER 54 Sustenance in the Neighborhood 56 Regrets and Possibilities 2013 SUMMER | Green Door 3

GREETINGS | AKIRA OHISO

CLIPPINGS | AROUND THE REGION

Dad

Luck Be a Lake

Editor, Akira Ohiso, with his father, Hisaaki, in Mitaka, Japan visiting Obasan and Ojisan for the first time. December 1970.

At age 16, Sonora Smart Dodd’s mother died giving birth to her brother. Being the only daughter, she helped her father and Civil War Veteran, William Jackson Smart, raise his six children. Inspired by a sermon about Mother’s Day in 1909, she founded the first Father’s Day at a YMCA in Spokane, Washington a year later. While many politicians advocated for Father’s Day to be a holiday, it did not become a permanent national holiday until 1972 when President Nixon signed it into law.

I find it inspiring that a woman founded Father’s Day for her own father who had become a single parent. In those days, mothers bore the brunt of childrearing, while fathers knew best. Sonora understood that her father was thrust into an untraditional role as a single parent. These days, the majority of mothers continue to do more child care, but increasing numbers of men are choosing to become more engaged fathers.

Recently, another woman, Yoko Ono Lennon wrote a poem titled My Daddy Is Beautiful paying tribute to John Lennon and fathers around the world. She reminds us to celebrate fatherhood, paternal bonds and the influence of fathers in our society. The photo of John and Sean reminds us of those fleeting precious moments that we often take for granted, but wistfully remember years later.

The My Daddy Is Beautiful website, Facebook page and Flickr site ask people to upload a photo of themselves with their father to a world-wide public photo montage.

Yoko asks you to: Write his name, a note about him, to him and to yourself. If it gets to be a love letter, a poem or a very long message or as long as a novel, that’s fine.

This Father’s Day think of the sacrifices and challenges your father faced in less conscious times when a tie, a bottle of scotch or a power tool was the standard gift - symbols of banished patriarchal places. During World War II, my father fled to the mountains of Northern Japan where rice was rationed and the traumas of war reverberated from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He traveled to America as a young man to study at Yale and married my Irish Russian Jewish mother from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Enamored of America, he assimilated and accepted that his neighbors in late-sixties Long Island refused to shake his hand at block barbecues. He raised my sister and I, both very much American kids, with no handbook. Yet, in the privacy of our home, he quietly instilled in us a strong identification with our Japanese heritage, a love of the arts and a sense of adventure and courage. After decades of compromising my identity to accommodate normative culture, I am, to use writer Eric Liu’s phrase, an assimilist in recovery. Being who I am is a living tribute to my father and my children.

FOR MORE INFO www.mydaddyisbeautiful.com Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/mydaddyisbeautiful Flickr Group: www.flickr.com/groups/mydaddyisbeautiful

Lucky Lake DVD

Local filmmaker Tina Spangler documents the demise of Narrowsburg’s once thriving Luxton Lake (aka “Lucky Lake”) in a captivating short film, which screened at Sundance and Cannes. Once a 1930’s hunting and fishing retreat, the lake became a vibrant African-American vacation community in the 50’s. In 1982, luck ran out when the lake was drained. Bigoted town officials were blamed and racial tensions escalated. Dilapidated cabins and rotting rowboats became the only reminders of the lake’s rich history. In recent years, there are efforts to revitalize the lake community. Lucky Lake is available on DVD for $15 at Signature Gifts, 37 Main Street, Narrowsburg, NY. Each DVD includes a souvenir 1950s cigarette holder from the original Lucky Lake Clubhouse.

FOR MORE INFO www.facebook.com/luxtonlake

Mangia

Lazy Crazy Gelato Gelato is an Italian-style ice cream that is creamier and more dense than most American varieties, which infuse air during the freezing process. But, gelato doesn’t need to be made in Italy or enjoyed on a grand piazza. In fact, a young couple in the Catskill Mountains, Jake and Karen, makes delicious whole milk gelato on their 200-year old farm.

Their cows lead a blessed life lazily grazing on a Catskill mountainside. The gelato flavors are seasonal and locallysourced from nearby farms and artisans. Your favorite flavor may come once a year, but that’s the beauty of it.

Resist the urge to hit up a supermarket and instead enjoy a flavor in season. Mangia. Lazy Crazy Acres is available year-round at local farmers’ markets.

FOR MORE INFO www.lazycrazyacres.com

Fly Flies

Gone Fishing Guide Service Anthony Ritter has operated Gone Fishing Guide Service in Narrowsburg, NY for the past nineteen years. In addition to Tony’s hand tied flies, his service specializes in half and full-day driftboat charters on the Upper Delaware River targeting wild trout, shad, walleye and smallmouth bass.

Select one of Tony’s flies, The Admiral’s Olive Parachute, The Blue Wing Olive, or Baetis, which are a staple throughout the fishing season on the Upper Delaware River and all Catskill streams. They appear on overcast, and drizzly days - humid with no wind is the best, and depending on the time of year are a variety of sizes. You’ll find the larger size 14 Cornutas in June and smaller species of the BWO’s like 18’s and 20’s in the fall. The fly pictured is The Admiral’s Olive Parachute, which is a great pattern since it is easy to see with a nice white Z-Lon post and this pattern sits flush in the film presenting a vulnerable meal for the wild trout on the feed.

FOR MORE INFO www.gonefishingguideservice.com 2013 SUMMER | Green Door 5

ART | RYAN CRONIN

Bohemian provocateur and calculated businessman, visual artist Ryan Cronin manages to have it both ways.

The Ulster County-based Cronin, who has been creating his bold, snarky, works for two decades, manages a neat balancing act: remaining true to a maverick spirit while turning a respectable profit. The contradiction has done nothing to dim his artist credibility, showing at high-profile galleries and art fairs.

“It’s funny how it all comes around,” Cronin said. “I may be considered an outsider artist but I can still present my work in the context of the higher art world.”

Like Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons, Cronin sees art as a commercial commodity – although he appears to lack the condescension towards art world patrons that mark his predecessors.

Cronin’s credo, “Art for all, all for art” appears on his website, CronArtUSA. The name itself suggests slick, corporate branding. But his output is a gleeful poke in the eye of mainstream life.

Ryan Cronin’s art, which he creates in the barn-studio behind his New Paltz home, offers deliberate clues as to the influences and worldview of this 41-year-old man. The pieces consist of Rust-Oleum paint on plywood, suggesting a melding of modern primitivism and comic book graphics, filtered through the hardsell visual language of billboard advertising.

Cronin’s art offers an irresistible come-on, whether selling an attitude, a political thought or simply trafficking in some brain-teasing.

Cronin is not interested in complex statements.

“It should be a flash. The information is read and interpreted and then you move on – not linger too long on the message.”

For those who do linger, however, a deadpan humor – often veering into black comedy – guides many of Cronin’s works. It peeks from a piece about the U.S. military (“Unsane”) to a skewering of Wall Street (“The Empty Suit’) to a tweaking of Mayan apocalypse fears (“They’re Coming to Save Us”).

Further clues to the artist’s mindset are offered in a short video that appears on the CronArtUSA website. Director Sam Weiss depicts a workaholic with an ever-present cigarette dangling from his lips, pulling on a beer while painting in the studio. The iconography suggests a modern-day Jackson Pollock, id fully bared.

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Asked if there was an effort in this video to create a bad-boy artist persona, Cronin offers a circuitous explanation. (In the course of an hour’s conversation, one discovers that “circuitous” is his preferred way of addressing a situation.)

PHOTO: keith ferris

BY JAY BLOTCHER PHOTO BY KEITH FERRIS

“I think [the video] sort of captured the personality of myself and the work. I do sort of, you know – it’s not like I live my life everyday as a sort of off-the-hook wild child. But there is sort of an almost-recklessness to myself and to my approach to my work, you know?” The cigarette, he adds, is integral to the creative process, elevating the artist into “a meditative state”.

Does a dissolute life fuel his work? If the artist’s response is facetious, he delivers it deadpan.

“We live pretty fast, you know, fast and furious,” he says, referring to himself and wife-manager Melanie.

found pieces of wood when haunting campus construction sites at night, going through garbage, repurposing discarded doors.

He began using Rust-Oleum paint as his preferred medium after rejecting house paints and oil sticks. In the beginning, it was pure pragmatism; hardware store paint was affordable. But Cronin came to prefer the highgloss effect it gave his work over the textured look from oil paints.

The use of a working-class tool for a highminded aesthetic pursuit ultimately appealed to the contrarian. The medium became the

cronin art

Work so prolific, it is hard to choose. Here are some Green Door picks for our favorite Ryan Cronin art.

What’s yours? Found out at cronartusa.com.

lowbrow art in highbrow places The laid-back subversion of Ryan Cronin.

While still an outsider to the big art parties, Cronin is shrewd enough to know where to show up, even when restricted to the sidelines of coolness. He has crashed the hipster art fair MiamiBasel three years in a row. In 2010, he commandeered a luxury apartment complex and transformed it into a living space-cum-art gallery for the week, trying to lure art lovers from the central events. The next year, he created a popup installation of a 20-ft.-tall inflatable rabbit.

(The work was inspired, he said, by his love-hate relationship with Easter peep candies.)

message. Cronin has used Rust-Oleum exclusively in his work for the past 18 years.

“I like the idea of coming into a venue and install and then de-install easily and quickly,” Cronin said. “It asks the question, bends the platform of art.”

The artist harbors no nostalgia for the early hungry years; he is happy to see his work now hanging in upscale art venues. However, Cronin is not so jaded that he doesn’t see the humor of displaying low-culture work in a high-culture setting.

A native of Katonah, New York, Cronin was born, according to his website, “on the front seat of a late 60’s Plymouth Station Wagon.”

He attended the School for Visual Arts in Manhattan to pursue film and photography, but switched to painting and continued his studies at SUNY Purchase.

While a desire to make art propelled Cronin, he was not keen on paying his dues.

“I wasn’t concerned with stretching canvas even when I was in the painting program,” he said, “which was a little bit of a problem for my professors.”

Subsisting on a student’s budget, Cronin had to improvise when creating art. Gas pumps around town became his canvas for a series of Sharpie graffiti art. Immediacy and impulsivity were the twin engines for his work; creating art was, in his words, “a vomiting process.”

Unable to afford art shop canvas, Cronin used

“Their paint has become something that is part of my language and the vision.”

The empty suit 48” x 48” Rust-Oleum paints on board

Rust-Oleum sends the artist “a lot of paint” on a regular basis. Cronin makes no apologies for the situation. Moreover, he is poised to ink a deal with the company. He withholds details, not out of shame for selling out, but because the contract has not been finalized.

“It’s kind of funny how that works out.”

His materials have grown more refined; Cronin now paints on finish-grade plywood called luan.

Even the “vomiting process” has evolved. “Now I am living with the work more and asking myself more questions. It’s not as loose.”

They’re Coming to Save Us 48” x 48” Rust-Oleum paints on board

For those who can’t afford a piece of CronArt for the wall, there is good news: The website sells wearable art, in the form of t-shirts and infant onesies. There are plans for future merchandising, to ensure that CronArt achieves world domination.

“I’m trying to get into plastics and sculptural toys.”

FOR MORE INFO www.cronartusa.com

unsane parlor 48” x 48” Rust-Oleum paints on board 2013 SUMMER | Green Door 7

ART | KAATERSKILL CLOVE

art For Nature’s Sake

BY Garan Santicola

T

he Catskill Mountains loom large over American culture for the inspiration they have provided to painters, writers, travelers, and environmentalists alike.

Rising up from the Hudson River Valley to a modest 4,000 feet, the Catskills went largely uninhabited by European settlers throughout the days of Dutch colonialism, and these mountains remained in pristine form into the 19th century, when the tanning and logging industries gained a foothold and challenged the survival of this natural habitat.

However, the artistic force at work in the Catskills throughout that same time was so powerful it captured the nation’s imagination and helped establish roots that contributed to the American conservation movement. Today that same force is alive again with an effort to preserve Kaaterskill Clove, the deep and narrow gorge that cuts its way from the Northern Catskills into the Hudson River Valley.

The Clove, as it is commonly called, is considered by many to be the birthplace of American art. It was there our nation’s first great landscape painters stopped painting like Europeans and began to develop their own unique style. Thomas Cole’s first excursion into the region in1825 brought him to the Clove, where he created renderings of Kaaterskill Falls and the surrounding area. Those paintings drew the attention of the New York art world and ignited an interest in the American landscape that would span the century.

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Hudson River School painters coalesced around the little towns and grand hotels that sprung up near the Clove, and they took inspiration from writers of their time. Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, and William Cullen Bryant – all exalted the beauty of the Catskills in general and Kaaterskill Clove in particular, and these writers, in turn, took inspiration from the painters of the Hudson River School.

Where Nature Met Art convincingly illustrates the importance of the Clove to American Romantic landscape painters, and David Stradling’s book The Nature of New York elucidates the influence of such romantics on our nation’s early conservation movement. So it might be said that not only was Kaaterskill Clove the birthplace of American art, but that it is also of paramount importance to the history of American environmentalism.

Raymond Beecher’s book Kaaterskill Clove:

In his final book The Clove: An Artist’s

Paradise, the late Thomas Locker sheds light on the unique effect the Clove has had on painters of the Hudson River School. He writes: “It took me years of failure to discover that the conventions of classical European landscape were useless in the Clove. One can’t paint a dark mass of trees silhouetted against a light sky because in most places you can’t see the horizon or the sky. One can’t divide foreground, middle ground, distance and sky because everything is up close and in your face. The light bounces off the glittering water and disappears in the dark forest. One searches in vain for order. The sense of repose is overwhelmed by the complexity and diversity. Everything is in motion. Change is the only constant. A landscape painter in the Clove is forced to develop a new way of seeing and a different set of pictorial conventions.”

Considered the living legend of the Hudson River School during his lifetime, Thomas Locker’s Clove-inspired artwork will be on display from June 1st until Columbus Day weekend at the Zadock Pratt Museum in Prattsville in an exhibit entitled Kaaterskill Clove: Where Nature Met Art, a title taken with permission from Raymond Beecher’s book. Featured alongside Locker’s work will be the Clove-inspired artwork of three of his students, Athena Billias, Patti Ferrara, and

Carol Slutzky-Tenerowicz. These artists will also speak about their work and the influence that Kaaterskill Clove has had on them. Other speakers will be Thomas Locker’s widow, Candace Christiansen, Dr. Kevin Avery of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, geologist Dr. Robert Titus, and historian David Dorpfeld.

Zadock Pratt Museum representatives have reached out to other cultural organizations in what they hope will become a unified effort to increase awareness about the importance of the Clove and the need for its preservation in the face of the environmental strain it has been under for the past several years as tourists flock to the area in the summer months, with some leaving garbage behind, polluting the creek, and even spray-painting graffiti across the cavernous rock walls.

The Thomas Cole House, the Mountain

From Top Left, Clockwise:

Kaaterskill Falls by Thomas Locker, Oil, 24 x 30 Harriet’s View of the Clove by Athena Billias, Oil, 14 x 11 The Clove by Athena Billias, Oil, 20 x 24 Fawn’s Leap by Carol Slutzky-Tenerowicz, Oil, 21 x 28 Top of Kaaterskill Falls by Patti Ferrara, Oil, 5 x 7

Cloves Scenic Byways Committee, the Greene County Historical Society, the Mountaintop Historical Society, the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, and the NYNJ Trail Conference have all agreed to support the effort, with the ultimate goal being to submit an application to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to petition the federal government to designate Kaaterskill Clove a national landmark so that painters, writers, travelers, and environmentalists alike can continue to take inspiration from this most unique American landscape.

FOR MORE INFO Zadock Pratt Museum Route 23, Main Street Prattsville, New York www.prattmuseum.com 518-299-3395 Runs through October 14, 2013 2013 SUMMER | Green Door 9

LIFE | MISS MONTICELLO DINER

BY STEVEN KURLANDER PHOTOS BY NICK PIATEK

38 years working Miss Monticello Diner.

It’s a given that in the early morning hours at the Miss Monticello Diner in the village known as “the Crossroads of the Catskills,” you’ll be served by a waitress named Connie (Breen) McKenley who is dishing out egg specials, grilled muffins and hot buns, pancakes and French toast.

Everyone in town knows Connie, who has been serving breakfast for decades. She has her regulars, her diner groupies, those who have sat in her section of the diner for years. In fact, in June, Connie will celebrate her 38th year working at the diner.

In this day and age, it’s very hard to find a dedicated employee who has worked for one company that long. What really makes Connie unique? She is a professional waitress, through and through.

“I’m from the old school in terms working and waitressing,” says Connie. “The minute I hit my area, I stay there for the shift and am very attentive to my customers. If someone’s fork drops, it gets picked up right away; if they are eating a messy dish, they have extra napkins without asking.”

According to Connie, waiting tables is more than just serving food, it also means being a bit of a therapist.

Connie was born in Georgia and spent a brief portion of her childhood in Germany while her father served in the Army.

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PHOTOS: nick piatek

“What makes waitressing hard is that you are dealing with a lot of personalities that all eat differently. People want their food the way they want their food and sometimes you just have to stand there and listen to people, to their stories, to their complaints and just be their friend.”

waiting

Otherwise she has been a resident of Monticello for most of her life. She started working for the original owner Carl Salomon as a bookkeeper two years after graduating Monticello High School.

She did that job for 16 years, eventually managing the diner.

After ownership changed in 1991, the present owners Jimmy and Dimitra Nikolados asked her to stay on as a waitress.

“They treat me like one of their family,” says Connie. “When my husband died, Dimitra was very good to me, bringing me platters of food. She’s got a big heart. They are wonderful people to work for.”

In the tough times that have defined the Catskills, many small businesses have come and gone, but there are always one or two that survive, even thrive, and characterize the history and resiliency of the place and its people. In Monticello, once the epicenter during the thriving Borscht Belt era, the Miss Monticello Diner has always been the anchor on Broadway, the main street. It’s one of those hometown businesses that still exist in a world of big box stores and chain restaurants.

The Miss Monticello Diner makes fresh hamburgers, the fish come from the Fulton Fish Market and their soups, salads and desserts are homemade. There is a baker on the premises who bakes all the pies, breads and the amazing baklava.

The Miss Monticello Diner is a Catskills institution and it tenaciously continues, proudly surviving in a tough economy.

Generations have driven south on Route 42, made a right turn by the Village Hall and found the same familiar diner.

0 2013 Summer | Green Door 11

GIFTING | HIGH FALLS MERCANTILE

shopping high Larry Ruhl from High Falls Mercantile finds your perfect Summer splurge.

High Falls Mercantile opened in 2004 out of a passion for exceptional style and a desire to offer things Larry couldn’t seem to find anywhere else.

The Mercantile is about creating an effortless mix for comfortable living spaces that marries new designer pieces with unusual and somewhat eclectic items with history for a balanced feel. The patina of a great old piece is the perfect complement to well-crafted design and materials provided by some of the best producers around today.

reclaimed barnwood gives this artisan chair its rustic appeal Handmade Cherry Chair Artisan Crafted in the USA $2,200

Handmade Pottery Pitcher

by Eigen Arts from $80

synthetic-free & repels bugs

modern & traditional at once

OutScent Parfum

by Jao $50

Honeycomb Pillar Candles

by Perin Mowen for HFM From $33

Hand Crafted Cherry Side Table Artisan Crafted in the USA $950

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FOR MORE INFO High Falls Mercantile 113 Main Street High Falls, NY 12440 845-687-4200 www.HighFallsMercantile.com

PHOTOS: courtesy of high falls mercantile

eco-friendly beeswax candles

framed in vintage recycled wood

Sugarboo Little People Painting

by Rebecca Puig $75

summery festive floral stitching Merben Cotton Floral Pillow 16�x22� $125

hand-loomed in durable cotton

Stone Soup Tote

by Dash & Albert $60

handpainted and distressed

Coffee Table with Tapered Leg

by High Falls Mercantile From $1,275 2013 Summer | Green Door 13

SUPERNATURAL | GHOSTS

ghost hunting in

THE GILDED AGE A trip back in time to the Gerry Mansion in Andes, NY.

BY AKIRA OHISO PHOTOS BY KELLY MERCHANT

I pull into the parking lot of Hogan’s Country Store in Andes, NY to meet a group of ghost hunters who will be taking me to the old Gerry Mansion, a blue-blooded estate of the Gilded Age that is full of history, intrigue and ghosts. The estate sits on part of 500,000 acres granted to bank magnate Robert Livingston in 1709 under the 2 million acre Hardenburgh Patent. When Robert J. Livingston died in 1892, he left the land to his only daughter, Louisa M. Livingston, who married Elbridge T. Gerry, the founder of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and descendant of Elbridge Gerry, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and Vice President to James Madison.

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I meet Lillian Brown, Hazel Dunlin and Joanne Callahan. Lillian is a psychic medium, Hazel owns Avalon Moon in Delhi, and Joanne is a realtor, but all are part of a group of local ghost hunters who explore abandoned castles and homes in the area. We drive up Biggar Hollow Road and into the 2,000 acre estate. As we ascend – ultimately to 2,000 feet – I begin to realize that a minivan with two-wheel drive and three toddler seats is not equipped for the rugged dirt terrain. At one juncture, a huge tree hangs over the road and we drive right under it. I remember reading somewhere that there were plans to turn the estate into a Land Rover training course.

Over the years, the estate has switched owners and investors who all had plans for the estate, yet today it continues to remain unused and vacant. It’s currently owned

by ADG Broadlands LLC. We pass a man standing next to an old carriage house who waves as we pass. The man is Andy Wos

In his 20 years living on the estate, Andy has never had a paranormal experience, but has heard stories from many who have. His girlfriend, Cheryl Terrace, who lives on the estate with him, says people have heard the sound of running horses in the night even though the horse stable is no longer in use.

Elbridge T. Gerry, son of Elbridge T. Gerry Sr., was well-known for breeding horses and harness racing. Many champion horses were bred at Lake Delaware Farm near Aknusti.

Brother Robert L. Gerry was a two-time winner of the US Polo Championship, winning in 1939 with the Bostwick Field Team and 1940 with the Aknusti Team.

On our visit to the horse stable, Lillian senses a lot of activity. The stable is circular with stalls on the outer side. Horses were walked around the stable during the winter months, when it was dangerous for prized horses to venture out. Lillian is not scared by the energy and sees the strong impression of a man. “There is an older man wandering here, like he’s keeping an eye. I would not be afraid to stay here in the middle of the night,” says Lillian. Hazel had a similar impression. Her notes from the experience read: Horse Barn: male 50s, 5’9”, dirty blond gray hair. Irish? Riding boots, blazer, riding jacket, small hat. Stands upright. Proper. Neat. Loves the horses. Takes pride in his work/ownership.

Likes to continue being there.

In a follow up email from Lillian: “I met a gal who works at the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce who I mentioned the

PHOTOS: KELLY MERCHANT

In 1908, Elbridge T. Gerry’s son, Robert Livingston Gerry, married Cornelia Harriman, daughter of railroad baron E.H. Harriman. Four years later, they built

a 20,000 square foot colonial Georgian mansion called “Aknusti,” an American Indian word for “expensive proposition.” Very much a relic of the Gilded Age, the summer mansion was once a bustling estate that employed over 100 servants and staff. It was also state of the art for its time with fireproof technology, intercoms and elevators. In 1979, the Gerry family sold 2,000 acres including the mansion, but still retained an adjoining 1,700 acres where they have a vacation lake home to this day.

who has managed the estate since 1993 after answering a newspaper ad.

IT WAS LIKE A FORCE THAT PUSHED ME AGAINST THE WALL or gasoline and I could not get rid of the taste - it was horrible. I turned to Hazel and asked her to smell my breath and she said my breath smelled like gasoline.”

Did someone start a fire with gasoline? Does this experience relate to the death of Colonel V.L. Bennett?

Gerry estate to and she said she knows exactly who it is - his name was Mr. Moore.”

Andy couldn’t confirm a Mr. Moore, but corroborates the peaceful feeling they felt.

“This building is going to be saved, it’s a special place and a lot of people feel good about it.” A February 11, 1938 article in The Catskill Mountain News reports that a Colonel V.L. Bennett was burned to death in an early morning fire in his cottage on the Gerry Estate. The fire was started by a kerosene lamp. He was a British thoroughbred trainer employed at the Aknusti stud farm of Robert.

L. Gerry.

As we enter the mansion, Lillian turns on a tape recorder. The mansion is musty and cold. We walk in to a large living area and Andy talks about a fire in the winter of 1953 that destroyed much of the original floor plan. “Officially, they said it was spontaneous combustion in the coal bin, but others say it was to cover up a robbery.” Ironically, the fireproof technology contained the fire inside, instead of keeping it out. “The whole layout was changed and it was not as grand as it once was,” says Wos. “Robert Gerry vowed to restore the mansion, but died four years later.”

On a second visit to the estate Lillian talks about an experience that may relate to the fire.

“My mouth filled with the taste of kerosene

Over the years different owners sold off the furniture and abandoned belongings.

Eventually, lack of maintenance and no heat degraded the mansion to its current state.

“Years ago it was fully furnished,” says Wos. “It literally looked like the Gerrys were out for the day, all the tables were set, all the beds were made, but no one was living here.”

I think of Miss Havisham’s dusty wedding banquet as we follow the psychics down a dark hallway. Lillian and Hazel enter a bedroom with a metal bed frame. “When I walked into the room I had the immediate feeling of something around my neck,” says Lillian. Hazel’s note: Bedroom left front of front door. “I hate this room”. Sickly, restrained, locked up and angry.

Elderly female would shout from room.

They begin to wander down a stairwell into the basement. Paint is scalloped on walls.

The air gets colder. Andy explains that Argentinian contractors once spent a summer working in the basement and slept in the mansion at night. They ended up leaving because they were afraid of unexplained noises in an adjacent wine cellar. They blockaded a connecting orifice in the wall.

Hazel and Lillian snap photos of areas where they feel a presence. Light orbs are seen in some of the photos. While light orbs have been explained as low-light effects in photography, they have also been interpreted as a range of paranormal phenomenon.

“Unless you’re capturing it with a conventional camera - not a digital camera - it’s very hard to tell if you are picking up dust, moisture,

or if the light is reflecting in a particular way,” says Lillian. My photographer, more a skeptic, doesn’t see what they are seeing on their cameras, but reports that her camera is shutting off inexplicably.

We enter a large kitchen area that connects to the wine cellar and servants quarters.

You can imagine at one-time servants and kitchen staff preparing grand dinner parties for high-profile guests like the Roosevelts, Harrimans and Vanderbilts. My romantic nature imagines plotting servants in a dark wainscotted hallway. The three psychics are drawn to a pantry area off the kitchen. Andy tells me quietly of rumors that a servant named George committed suicide in the servant wing.

Barbara Miller, a self-proclaimed skeptic and neighbor of Lillian, came along on the second visit to the mansion because she loved old architecture and was fascinated by the history of the estate. “When I first got there I was going to prove them all wrong,” says Miller, talking by phone from her home in Walton, NY. “Then I entered the kitchen.”

Barbara walked down into a pitch-black cellar with no windows. On the first visit, Lillian said, “There’s something down there.” There CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 15

For thousands of years, mankind has looked skyward, wondering if we are alone in the universe. Archaeological evidence has unearthed mysterious clues in the form of cave paintings, strange artifacts and puzzling structures scattered around the globe that perplex scholars and cause heated debates to this day. In his 1968 controversial book, Chariots of the Gods (Berkley Publishing Group) author Erich von Däniken hypothesized that the technologies and religions of many ancient civilizations were given to them by ancient astronauts who were welcomed as gods. The book, which has sold more than seven million copies worldwide, is considered by many to be a “bible” of sorts for flying saucer enthusiasts.

While still on the fringes of mainstream science, the subject of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) has captured the modern world’s imagination since June 24, 1947, when salesman and pilot Kenneth Arnold reported seeing “nine objects flying in a “V” formation” over Mount Rainier, Washington.

Arnold told a reporter that the UFOs “flew erratically, fluttering and tipping their wings, like a saucer if you skip it across water” – and a worldwide subculture was born. (www.wired.com)

The web site ufoevidence. org informs that just around the corner, the Hudson River Valley came under scrutiny when “thousands of witnesses 16 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

When asked about sightings in Sullivan County, Milione first launched into a meeting he recently had with a gentleman in Montgomery, in Orange County NY. “On my way to interview someone in Mongaup Valley, I stopped to chat with a guy who had contacted me days before,” he shared. “He didn’t want to give me his real name, but once I met him in person, it was clear that he was in earnest about his experience.

The witness claimed that he observed a triangle shaped UFO that was able to make multiple 90 degree angled turns 300 feet above him before shooting away at very high speed.” Milione, who has worked extensively with government projects over the years, paused for a moment before continuing. “Even UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) still can’t do that.”

As for Sullivan County, Milione said that he has spoken with “dozens of witnesses” who have shared similar stories.

“While working on UFO Hunters with the History Channel I heard about ‘Ley Lines’ discovered in Upstate NY that researchers believe connect the entire planet, so I planned a trip to the Catskills to investigate.” Ley Lines, which Wikipedia defines as “alleged alignments of a number of places of geographical and historical interest, such as ancient monuments and megaliths” is a phrase first coined in 1921 by the

illustration: Markus Gann

On the heels of Arnold’s startling claims, Hollywood jumped on board and the steady progression of films and novels based on the premise that “we are not alone” has captivated audiences ever since. What was once considered mere science fiction has now entered the mainstream, and although still considered by many as a subject relegated to kooks, weirdos and overactive imaginations, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is underway reaching every corner of the world, even here at home in the Catskills.

reported strange lights and boomerang-shaped crafts moving silently through the sky over New York” between 1982 and 1995 and the ongoing study of the infamous “Hudson Valley Sightings” was born. Speaking to Green Door Magazine, scientist, researcher and UFO hunter Dr. Ron Milione had a great deal to say on the subject. “During the Hudson Valley Sightings, the very first reports of silent black triangles began to emerge” he shared “but when questioned, The Stewart National Guard denied any connection or having the ability to demonstrate same.”

amateur archaeologist Alfred Watkins, in his books Early British Trackways and The Old Straight Track. Milione, who studies the mathematical equations of the lines, believes that there is “definitely something to it” and he continues to seek answers to the questions that emerge from his ongoing research into the UFO phenomenon.

“Something beyond our technology is out there,” he said in closing. “These things are here by design, not by chance, and for some reason, The Catskills gets a lot of action in the night skies.”

A call to UFO researcher Preston Dennett revealed even more about this area of the country and the plethora of ongoing reports flooding the region. Dennett has written several books on the subject, including UFOs Over New York (www.schifferbooks. com) and believes that the state, and in particular- the Catskills, is “a hotbed of activity.” When asked to elucidate, Dennett shared that his extensive research revealed that the entire Upper Delaware River Valley has “more reported sightings, per capita, than any other area in the United States.”

Referring to an excerpt from his book on the New York connection, Dennett continued. “The ‘Hudson Valley Sightings’ was one of the most intense UFO waves in world history, lasting at least four years and involving hundreds of objects and thousands of witnesses. Around the same time, a small town known as Pine Bush began to attract attention as a hotbed of continuing UFO activity.”

The Pine Bush incident that Dennett referred to has been described as “America’s most uncelebrated UFO hotspot, which first came into the public perception in 1987, when it was mentioned in passing in Dr. J. Allen Hynek and Philip Imbrogno’s, Night Siege: The Hudson Valley UFO Sightings.” (www.ufoevidence. org) The internet source goes on to say that “though Pine Bush played only a minor role in the Hudson Valley UFO

flap of the mid-1980s, it was just outside of Westchester and Putnam counties, where the bulk of the sightings were taking place.”

Dennett suggested that Green Door Magazine simply “start asking around” and we did just that, bringing the subject up with neighbors when the opportunity arose.

Not surprisingly, many were hesitant to be identified, but once assured anonymity, folks from all walks of life opened up. A young man in Hortonville, NY shared an experience that he believes constituted an actual “alien abduction” that “haunts him to this day.” A grandmother from Narrowsburg, NY revealed a story that she claimed she had “never told a living soul” of “bizarre lights hovering over Route 52” that she and her husband observed a few years ago and that neither of them “could identify or ever forget.” A local artist who resides in Jeffersonville, NY became agitated and excited while recalling her “weird experience” near The Villa Roma Resort as she and a friend parked their car overlooking Callicoon, NY, observing a “saucer-like craft, silently hovering over the Beechwoods” before it “zoomed off and out of sight, in a split-second.”

SUPERNATURAL | UFOS

Close Encounters in the Catskills

BY Jonathan Fox

It would appear that the UFO phenomenon is alive and well in the Catskills, and that although the subject is still widely discussed behind closed doors, the increasing popularity of television shows based on the subject coupled with social media and internet sources devoted to the topic has grown exponentially, with no visible end in sight.

Dr. Milione’s belief that “we’re definitely being visited and studied” includes his theory that mountainous regions like the Catskills are a “perfect location to observe unidentified flying objects, and for them to observe us.

I think Shakespeare was right” he mused, quoting Hamlet, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

Jonathan Fox lives in Sullivan County and writes about the world of Arts & Leisure for The River Reporter newspaper, reporting on the world of entertainment in the Catskills.

His weekly column - “In My Humble Opinion” is a favorite for readers on line & in print and his followers also tune in weekly to hear about his adventures with Dharma, the Wonder Dog on Ciliberto & Friends on Thunder 102 Radio. Contact: ufosxst@yahoo.com 2013 SUMMER | Green Door 17

THE BOOKSHELF | SUMMER READING

Crone Age Nearing her sixtieth birthday Marcia Nehemiah was invited to a party of eight octogenarian women who had gathered to celebrate, support and mentor each other. For Marcia, it began a journey of self-discovery that challenged an internalized view of herself as an aging woman in American society. “I grew up and grew older with very clear messages about what makes a woman valuable,” says Marcia.

Marcia began to realize her fifties were a decade of worry and anxiety. “There was this undercurrent of discomfort about aging and I didn’t know what was beyond fifty.” Developmental psychologist Erik Erikson, known for his eight stages of human development, called the last stage “Ego Integrity vs. Despair.” The task of this stage is to reconcile the past and be at peace with your accomplishments. This leads to wisdom. If you feel guilt or are not happy with the way your life turned out you develop despair.

After decades of ambition, children and career, the fifties can be a period of transition. Marcia marveled at how these eight women exuded confidence, took risks and lived in the moment.

When she asked them how old they felt, they said “ageless.”

Marcia knew she had to interview these women. “It was really selfish. I wanted to write this book to see what these women could teach me.”

Marcia became fascinated with the word “Crone,” which described a post-menopausal women of ancient times revered for her wisdom, healing powers and quiet leadership.

Over time, men began to fear Crones for their proximity to death and suspected occult powers. “Crone” was redefined by patriarchy to describe cantankerous and spinsterly old women. Marcia titled the book Crone Age to reclaim the terminology and reestablish its ancient meaning.

Men become distinguished when 18 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

they wrinkle, sages when they lose their prowess and portrayed as such in the media. “As a woman, our culture emphasizes youth,” says Marcia. “We don’t see many women in their sixties, seventies and eighties.” Other cultures revere their elders as founts of wisdom, but America is uncomfortable with aging.

Women dye their hair and resculpt their bodies to meet an unattainable beauty standard.

Reality TV follows plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills touting their scalpels of youth, and celebrities show how far people will go to avoid the aging process.

“One of the things we don’t do in our culture is guide people through their old age,” says Marcia.

There are guides throughout life, from childhood to adulthood, but it stops in the last stage of life. Seeing older people and the aging process makes us confront our own mortality, so we shove them out of sight into nursing homes and communities in Florida.

In an age where visual information is king, woman are photo-shopped, smoothed over and excised by the computer to remove wrinkles, tummies and any imperfection or blemish.

Bombarded with unrealistic images of beauty, the message received is that women are valuable only for their physicality, youth and sexuality.

Asked if she would become a guide, Marcia says she has thought about it. “Some people say I was able to capture their fears when I narrated my own experience and feelings about approaching the last part of my life.” Crone Age is a guide post that reframes how we think about aging. It will inspire, comfort and empower anyone, not just women, who has thought about her or his own mortality and old age.

A criticism of the book is that it did not portray a more diverse group of women. The eight

Reclaiming the wisdom of the aging woman with Marcia Nehemiah. woman profiled were accomplished, financially secure and white. If poverty, class and race come into play, the aging process may be quite different. “Some said there could have been a broader sample, but it was a personal book,” says Marcia.

In hindsight, she would have included more diversity.

The media portrays retirement on sunny golf courses. Societal stereotypes continue to misrepresent older adults as living in Floridian communities, playing bingo and enjoying early bird specials. “I don’t want to denigrate people who like to play golf or move to retirement communities, but I am not one of them,” says Marcia. “All of those things are great if you do them with all your heart and soul; and if you found it because it makes you feel alive - that’s what makes life the richest.”

Dr. Sherwin Nuland, author of The Art of Aging, talks about aging as a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you believe your older years will be miserable, they most likely will be.

It becomes an inevitability. The last stage of life is not a fait accompli, but a developmental stage that is still developing. “Why bemoan age, when you can celebrate life,” says Marcia.

Albert Camus once said the four conditions of happiness are life in nature, creativity, love of another human being and freedom from ambition.

All these conditions are non-material and of the mind, which means, in theory, they transcend life circumstances and, hence, anyone can attain happiness.

Attaining happiness, though, requires acceptance of “self,” becoming less ego-driven and, as

BY akira ohiso

Camus said, letting go of ambition.

“Ambition” is tough because in many ways it defines our goals, careers and financial status. Marcia doesn’t regret ambition, just that she doesn’t have it anymore. “We have tasks to do at periods of our life. It wouldn’t be expected for someone in their twenties to think about life when they are eighty.” In earlier stages of life, people need validation from the outside world.

People have told Marcia to find a book agent, but Marcia doesn’t want or need the validation. For her, the positive responses to the book and its service to others is the reward. In moments of indecision, she knows herself well enough to ask, “What is it that I want from my life? Not what is it that I have to accomplish?”

Marcia hikes, writes poetry, and spends time with family and friends.

Her health is good, but she knows her corporeal form will inevitably decay. “I can’t deny the fact that there are physical manifestations - the body doesn’t last forever and you start to feel that- but it’s not the psychological feeling of not being worthwhile because I’m getting older.”

Looking back, she has no regrets about her life. “It had to be what it was to get me here.” When asked if she could distill the book to a simple take-away message, Marcia used the last line of the book, a quote from Cervantes, “Until death, it is all life.”

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Crone Age is available at amazon.com

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 19

TRAVEL | EMERSON RESORT & SPA

The Art x Doing Nothing

In 2005, a fire burned down the former Emerson Inn, an 1847 Victorian once known as the Cockburn House, on Route 28 in Mt. Tremper, NY. Despite the fact that a fire is often a tragic end for most businesses, the owners of the Emerson moved across the street to an old dairy farm and rebuilt. In addition to rebuilding the Inn, an entire resort complex including a new spa, convention space and shopping outlets was added.

The complex gracefully blends a 19th century farmhouse and barn with the new structures.

The Inn As you enter the lobby of the adult-only Inn, twelve Ralph Waldo Emerson portraits in pop-art repetition greet you. The resort’s namesake, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “Nature” in 1836, an essay inspired by the stark beauty of the area. The essay prompted the American Conservation Movement, which led to the establishment of the 600 square-mile Catskill Forest Preserve that surrounds the Emerson.

The Pan Asian decor is inspired by 17th-century Rajasthani palace doors the owner found on his travels. The doors are an architectural focal point and accentuate the entrance to the spa. Sparse interiors are a blend of modern furniture, monastic white walls, ethnic wood and gold and purple hints of the Silk Road. There are 26 suites with luxury amenities perfect for couples’ getaways, bridal showers and corporate retreats. Lush canopied beds are fit for dynastic rulers.

Felled trees lined the creek as a result of Hurricanes Irene and Sandy.

A staff member explained, apologetically, that felled trees could not be removed, perhaps owing to a local environmental ordinance. I learned felled trees provide habitats for rodents and insects and barriers against future floods. It was refreshing to see nature without cosmetics.

The Spa Step across the river rock threshold and through the Rajasthani entrance and you enter a realm of peace and tranquility. I slipped into a robe, sipped

Emerson Resort and Spa in Mt. Tremper perfects the art. by akira ohiso

PHOTOS: courtesy of emerson resort & spa

I resisted the urge to plug into 21st century distractions. Instead, I walked along the banks of the Esopus Creek listening to its eternal rush, a sound city dwellers mimic on sleep machines to drown out the clamor of city life.

I thought about an Emerson quote I read in my welcome package: “Every natural fact is a symbol of some spiritual fact.”

lemon water in the relaxation room and was spirited away for a full-body Swedish massage. As a newbie to massage, the Swedish technique of kneading with oils was a good introduction. I felt rejuvenated and enjoyed a deeply restful sleep that evening.

The four-star spa offers a variety of massage traditions and packages. The locker rooms offer steam, sauna, private showers and ablutions to pamper yourself. There is an outdoor jacuzzi, fitness center with personal training, yoga studio and instructor-led classes.

The Lodge A few weeks later my wife and I returned for a stay at the Lodge, the childfriendly counterpart to the Inn, with our three young kids in tow. Hearing the pitter-patter of children in adjacent rooms was a relief for weary parents accustomed to hushing their kids in adult-centric accommodations.

Complimentary cookies and milk were waiting for the kids.

The duplex rooms have sleeping quarters on the second floor and a living space and kitchenette downstairs. The decor accentuates the roughing-it experience city folks are seeking. Escape to rooms with log-cabin walls, Adirondack rugs and bedding, painterly nature scenes and a ranch-style staircase. In the summer, it’s a throwback roadside stay as you drive right up to your room door. In the winter, it’s a cozy ski lodge with Hunter and Belleayre skiing nearby.

For dog lovers, The Catamount Dog Park is just a bones throw from your room. The park is spacious and equipped with doggy shower, running water and a special area for smaller dogs. With a playground next to the dog park, the family can recreate in one area. I met a music producer from Manhattan at the playground with wife and kids. He was on an extended weekend getaway and chose the Phoenicia area, which is quickly becoming the next enclave for ex-Brooklynites. During the warmer months, you can sit poolside with mountain views.

Dining The resort has two restaurants. The Phoenix, an elegant dining space, is currently being renovated to accommodate large events such as weddings, corporate retreats and conferences. The Phoenix opens into the Great Room, a more intimate event space for dancing, dining and entertainment.

It’s perfect for a fireside after-dinner respite. You can read in the balcony

library, play a board game with the kids or sip aperitifs from The Phoenix bar.

The Catamount has a relaxed atmosphere with a roaring fire, casual bar and comforting American fare. Burgers, steaks and less-than-salubrious salads are decadently savored. Local patrons and skiers in colorful jumpsuits mingle. Boisterous children are at home in the hearty convivial atmosphere.

Leisure The area offers year-round outdoor recreation in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. There are scenic hiking trails for every level, water-tubing and trout fishing along the Esopus and horseback riding on trails Emerson may have beaten. Ride the Catskill Mountain Railroad along the scenic Esopus as 19th century travelers once did when the region and nation were growing.

During the winter months, you can rent cross-country skis or snow shoes from the resort’s ski shop and explore the nearby trails. For extreme sport enthusiasts, there is rock and ice climbing on the Shawangunk Ridge. The resort has on-site shopping with local gifts, antiques, clothing and kaleidoscopes. The Country Store is home to the world’s largest kaleidoscope.

With Woodstock, Kingston and Phoenicia a short drive away, there are unlimited arts and culture options to choose from. The annual Woodstock Film Festival and Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice are reasons to come for an extended stay.

Still, there is something about doing nothing on vacation. In Alain de Botton’s The Art of Travel, he wonders whether the modern vacation with its hectic itineraries, jet lag and fatigue are better enjoyed from a distance via pictures or the mind where you don’t actually have to go anywhere.

While it’s nice to vicariously peruse photos of pristine natural settings, I think Botton was getting at savoring simple moments and it is the experience of a particular location which can be refreshing and restorative.

A vacation with no expectations means slowing down, consuming less, being in nature and recuperating from civilization. It’s an art form The Emerson has mastered quite well.

FOR MORE INFO Emerson Resort & Spa 5340 Rt. 28 Mt Tremper, NY 12457 877-688-2828 www.emersonresort.com

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 21

HISTORY | BANNERMAN CASTLE

Castle in the Hudson STORY & PHOTOS BY Robert B. Dimmitt

As you approach Bannerman Island for the first time it is hard not to be awestruck by its massive castle ruins.

The litany of Who? What? When?

Where? How? will quickly spark your imagination You will hear tales of early America, of a true Horatio Alger, of intrigue, setbacks and successes as your guide begins to recount the events that have touched this island. What a great way to spend half a day in the Hudson Highlands!

Bannerman Island was formerly named Pollepel Island and is comprised of 6.5 rocky acres located about 1,000 feet from the eastern shore of the Hudson River, near Fishkill, New York in the Hudson Highlands region. There are several theories on the origins of the island’s name ranging from Native American translations (“small island” or “divider of the water”) to folktales, to a derivation based on the type of cactus that used to be found on the island. Native Americans and Dutch sailors plying their trade along the Hudson thought the island to be haunted and rumors of goblins lurking in the area were plentiful. During the Revolutionary War, the island was the eastern point of a line of iron clad, pointed timbers placed just below the water line to thwart British ships (a “cheveaux-de-frise”). In the late 1800’s the island became a haven for bootleggers and prostitution, prompting one local citizen, Mary Taft of Cornwall, to purchase the island in 1888 to put an end to the vices corrupting the area.

22 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

By the age of 20, Frank struck out on his own with his father’s blessing and opened Francis Bannerman Sons. The new business grew rapidly and over the course of the next 34 years it would move 4 times to increasingly larger quarters, eventually locating on a full city block at 501 Broadway in New York City. Bannerman’s catalog (a collector’s item today) also grew from an initial run of 8 pages to ultimately 400 pages, noting Bannerman’s as the Largest Dealer in the World of Military Goods.

Bannerman’s armaments and military goods outfitted armies, navies, Broadway productions, and even Wild West shows and at the Broadway location he maintained a 2-story museum of relics dating back to the Stone-Age. In 1898, Bannerman purchased 90% of the surplus from the SpanishAmerican War and soon found he had a dilemma. With over 30 million rounds of ammunition and gunpowder from the purchase needing to be stored, he found local officials in Brooklyn and Manhattan none too keen about it being moved to his existing locations. Bannerman soon learned of Pollepel Island about 50 miles up the Hudson and believed it to be an ideal location for a new arsenal.

He purchased the island from Mary Taft in 1890 with her one stipulation that no alcohol was to be allowed onto the island for consumption (not an issue for Bannerman who was proprohibition).

Beginning with the construction of an initial arsenal/warehouse and a separate supervisor’s house in 1901, Bannerman Castle evolved and grew over an 18 year period at the direction of Francis Bannerman, who designed all of the 20 separate construction

PHOTOs: ROBERT DIMMITT

FOR MORE INFO Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc. 845-831-6346 www.bannermancastle.org

The story of Bannerman Castle, however, starts with Francis Bannerman, who in 1854 emigrated with his parents from Scotland at the age of 3 and settled in Brooklyn, N.Y. Bannerman’s father was involved in acquiring scrap and reselling it at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. When his father left to join the Union Army, 10-yearold Francis worked three jobs to help support his family. It was the last of these jobs that would change the course of Bannerman’s life. In the evening Bannerman would use a boat and an old anchor as a grappling hook to find

scrap in New York Harbor, primarily rope and chain, which he would then resell. He was so successful at his third job that he built his first warehouse at age 11 and his second one at age 12.

When his father returned from the war they started what was thought to be the first army-navy store.

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 23

HISTORY | BANNERMAN CASTLE

projects that took place on the island during that period (many on the back of hotel paper or napkins). The initial arsenal was expanded with two more castle-like additions and then further topped off by a massive tower years later in 1909. Heavily influenced by Bannerman’s proud Scottish heritage and his extensive travels abroad, influences of Scottish and Moorish castles, the infamous architect Gaudi, existing New York structures, and an Antwerp fortification can all be seen in his designs.

Bannerman moved on to the creation of a family residence for his wife and three boys in 1908 as well as gardens, a harbor, towers and nooks and crannies around the island where his family or guests could retreat for contemplation.

He summered on the island and frequently hosted outings for children from various organizations. Following his death in 1918, construction on the island stopped, although his wife and sons continued the business through the 1950’s but not without significant challenges along the way.

In 1920, the island’s magazine blew up with such intensity that part of a magazine wall flew across the water to block the train tracks on the Eastern shore and structures on the island were damaged and not rebuilt. In the 1930’s, legislation caused the Bannerman business to shrink to only the sale of soft goods such as uniforms, helmets and boots. The business that Frank Bannerman built from scratch to the largest military goods dealer in the world, a business capable of outfitting whole armies from uniforms to armaments, was in a decline. In the 1950’s, the Bannerman family had the island’s warehouses cleaned out for the last time. Even by that time, workers are said to have found a massive inventory of helmets, stacked three feet high covering the entire third floor of the five-story warehouse complex.

By the 1960’s and with no buyers willing to tackle the upkeep of the massive castle and residence, the Bannerman’s sold the island to The Rockefeller Foundation’s Jackson Hole Preserve, who in turn donated the island to N.Y. State. Soon after, in 1969, the island was faced with 24 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

yet another test, when fire, fueled by the arsenal’s creosote covered floors, gutted all of the buildings on the island. Vandalism plagued the island through the 1970’s and New York State declared this “scenic ruin” offlimits to the public.

In 1993, the Bannerman Castle Trust was formed by a group of concerned citizens who recognized the importance of preserving what was left of this historical structure and island.

Soon after, the Trust was recognized as the official “friends” organization with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation. This group has worked tirelessly, creatively and passionately for the preservation of Bannerman Castle, racing against the continued erosion of the structures from the elements. While a harsh winter and high winds contributed to the partial collapses of the castle in 2009 and in 2010, plans are in place to stabilize the remaining structure and initial stabilization of the family residence has been completed. There is still plenty to see on Bannerman Island.

Today, Bannerman Castle can be accessed during the months of May through October by passenger tour boat or kayak in conjunction with programs organized by the Bannerman Castle Trust. Volunteers from the Trust serve as tour guides.

They dispense a depth of history and anecdotes, which truly give life to the island. Boat trips depart from the banks of the West Hudson River in Newburgh or on the East Hudson River shore at the Beacon Ferry Dock, directly across from the MetroNorth Beacon Station, making this a convenient car-free day trip from Manhattan. Tours typically last two and a half hours. Kayak tours leave Beacon, Cold Spring, Cornwall and Newburgh. Visitors planning a trip should take note that the island is steep in places and there are up to 72 steps involved in walking up from the dock to the top of the island.

The Bannerman Island Trust schedules a wide range of events during the year, and tour times are subject to change, so it is always best to check their website at www.bannermanislandtrust.com when making plans.

BB

Be sure to read Images of America: Bannerman Castle by Bannerman Trust founding members Thom Johnson and Barbara Gotlock as well as Charles Bannerman’s The Story of Bannerman Island, available through the Trust during your tour. To round out your visit, other places of interest in the immediate area include Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, the West Point Museum near Highland Falls and Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison, to name a few. And consider becoming a member of the Trust with a tax-free donation via its website – it is an organization where every dollar received makes a huge difference in moving the Trust’s preservation projects forward.

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 25

timeline 1830s First Settlers Arrive 1842 An influx of Swiss settlers establish Winkelried 1846 Charles Langhorn builds Jefferson House hotel

HISTORY | GERMAN JEFFERSONVILLE

Monticello Businessman Largely Responsible for Germans in Jeffersonville

1849 Post office established

BY JOHN CONWAY

1882 Beck Hotel Opens

Why are there so many families of German heritage in and around Jeffersonville?

1887 Jeffersonville is linked to Liberty via telegraph 1900 Jeffersonville Fire District officially formed 1911 Bus service Jeffersonville to Liberty established 1912 - December Beck Hotel burns 1913 First National Bank of Jeffersonville is chartered 1914 - January First National Bank of Jeffersonville opens 1914 - January Jeffersonville is electrified 1918 - May Eagle Hotel fire destroys much of downtown 1924 Jeffersonville incorporates as village, William Lieb (Editor, Local record) elected first President of the Village Board of Trustees 1937 Lake Jeff Dam built 1939 Jeffersonville school building completed 1945 Frederick W.V. Schadt elected Mayor (serves until 1987) 1958 School merges with Youngsville District 1968 Addition to Jeff-Youngsville School 1974 Kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst kept at Jeffersonville

26 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

It is a curiosity that has long intrigued newcomers to the area, and the answer might surprise even long time residents with a fair knowledge of Sullivan County history.

It is mostly because of the work of a Monticello man named Solomon W. Royce.

The area we today call Jeffersonville was originally settled in the 1830’s, and by the following decade had already become home to a large population of German and Swiss immigrants who named the place Winkelried, after the legendary 14th century Swiss military hero.

According to James Eldridge Quinlan, writing in his History of Sullivan County, it was estimated that by 1847, “two hundred and fifty German families were in Cochecton, Callicoon, and Fremont, and in 1855, the State census shows that of the 2,649 residents of that nationality in Sullivan, 1,924 were in those towns. In addition to these, there were 171 from Switzerland in Cochecton and Callicoon.”

Quinlan writes that Royce, who was a surveyor, “had charge of large tracts of land owned by William H. Denning and other non-residents, and seeing the importance of the Callicoon region, and knowing that great results would follow if he could induce thrifty and industrious foreigners to improve the country, he caused to be printed large numbers of circulars and handbills in the German language, in which were set forth the advantages of settling in the north-western (sic) section of Sullivan. These were placed in the hands of those who had recently landed on our shores,

and a few families were induced to try their fortunes in the busch.

These adventurers, although they endured many hardships, were generally pleased with the country and induced others to follow them.”

building the first hotel in 1846.

Langhorn suffered from some pulmonary ailment, and had been told by his doctor to settle in an area abundant with hemlock trees, so he chose that sparsely settled part of Sullivan County.

Through Royce’s efforts, families with names such as Lutz and Huff and Becker and Mueller and Abplanalp purchased lots and made new lives for themselves in the wilderness.

“The future village at that time was nameless, and was little better than a rude clearing in the woods,” Quinlan wrote. “Nevertheless, the idea prevailed that it would speedily become a place of importance, and to this idea probably Jeffersonville owes its existence.”

Royce, whose mother was a direct descendant of a pilgrim who had crossed on the Mayflower’s very first voyage, had come to Monticello shortly after its founding by the Jones brothers in 1804, and although respected, was not financially successful.

But he made what Quinlan called “a handsome fortune” through his speculation in developing the lands of the Callicoon region, and stimulated the growth of what was to become one of the county’s largest communities.

By all accounts, his good fortune was well deserved. After paying even a modest price for their lots, many of the German immigrants were nearly penniless, and they encountered many problems, financial and otherwise. Royce had a knack for showing up in the community just as times seemed most desperate and typically rescued the situation, whether by providing financial help or food or some needed service. “He was as kind to these strangers as if they were his own kindred,” Quinlan wrote.

Royce died in 1859 at the age of 81, leaving behind eight sons and a daughter, many of whom remained in the town of Callicoon.

Charles F. Langhorn also helped fuel the growth of the area, by

Langhorn, an ardent admirer of the Declaration of Independence and its principal author, called his hotel the Jefferson House, and as the community grew up around it, Quinlan says, “the name followed as a natural consequence.”

Langhorn’s hotel was the first building to be painted in the area, and was so substantially built that with some repair was still operating as a hotel as late as 1871.

By that time, according to Hamilton Child’s Gazetteer and Business Directory for Sullivan County, Jeffersonville had grown to include four churches (Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Reformed), three hotels, six stores, a printing and newspaper office, one saw mill, two grist mills, two wagon shops, one brewery, one furniture store, a tannery, two harness shops, one mineral water manufactory, and a school. Its population at that time was about 500, which ranked it behind only Monticello (1000), Wurtsboro (650) and Liberty (600) in the county.

The newspaper office printed a German language newspaper, The Sullivan Volksblatt, as well as the weekly Local Record, which had been started in Callicoon in 1868

by W.T. Morgans, later a well-

known inventor. The paper was moved to Jeff in 1870, and was published there by D.J. Boyce and A.P. Childs.

The tannery was owned by E.A. Clark & Company and contained 182 square vats, consumed 5,000 cords of bark annually, manufactured about 50,000 sides of leather a year, and employed about 35 men year around, more during bark peeling season. The brewery was that of Valentine Schmitt, “a manufacturer and dealer in lager beer,” for which there was apparently an eager market right close by.

Manville Wakefield wrote in his 1970 book, To The Mountains By Rail, that a spot check of hotel and saloon bills in 1897 revealed that in the community of 500, over 3,000 kegs of beer were consumed. A good portion of this beer was served at the dining room of the Beck Hotel, which had 45 rooms when opened by John Beck in 1882, and had grown to accommodate between 150 and 200 guests by 1912.

The establishment was empty on December 12 of that year, when, according to Wakefield, “Mr. Beck placed an oil lamp in the bathroom on the second floor to keep the water from freezing in the pipes. It is believed the oil lamp exploded; but in any event, Mr. Beck had just enough time to rouse his sister-in-law, Miss Christine Ruppert, and make an escape from the second floor.

Two hose carts were brought to bear, but it wasn’t until the water pumps in Bollenbach’s grist mill were set in motion that the pressure increased enough to save adjoining buildings.”

The community was not so fortunate a few years later, when the fire of May 10, 1918

destroyed a major part of its business district.

Fire broke out in the kitchen of the Eagle Hotel in the early morning that day, and quickly spread to the Goubelman Building and then the Lichtig Building on the south, and to Eddie Homer’s home and cafe and Beck’s Department Store on the north. The flames also destroyed Becker’s Drug Store and the Holmes & Martin automobile dealership, along with its inventory of six cars.

The community was devastated beyond recognition within just a few hours, but was quick to rebuild, and Jeffersonville continued to grow and prosper, becoming the sixth and last of Sullivan County’s incorporated villages in 1924.

0

Pretzel Logic Trained pastry chef, Sarah Flynn of Brandenburg Pastry in Jeffersonville, NY, was born and raised in Seelow, a small town in Brandenburg, Germany.

She met her husband Errol, a Jeffersonville High School Graduate, when he worked in Germany after college. When the global economy collapsed and Errol’s company went bankrupt, they did the next logical thing and moved to the Catskills to open their own German bakery.

Brandenburg features authentic pastries, cakes and breads from scratch, recipes Sarah didn’t learn in culinary school, but from her German grandmother. One of Green Door’s favorites is their soft butter pretzels made with lots of butter. The pretzels are soft, dense and crunchy with chunks of white salt. Available at area farmers’ markets. www.brandenburgpastry.com 2013 SUMMER | Green Door 27

NEIGHBORS Happenings in the Catskills & Hudson Valley JUNE 2013

1 Black Swan Sailing Through October 30. Sat-Sun 9am-9pm; Weekdays 5pm-9pm. 845-542-7245. $50-$65 per person. Two and a half hour cruise any time of day, a sunset cruise, a day cruise or a two-day getaway on the Hudson River aboard their 36’ Catalina Sailboat. Limited to six guests. Kingston waterfront. Ulster County.

1 NACL Season Opening: Struck A multi-media journey into the mind, soul, and altered dimensions of a woman’s brain as she experiences a cerebral vascular accident (stroke.)

7:30pm, June 2 matinee at 4pm.

Individual Tickets: $20/$10 Student.

845-557-0694. NACL. 110 Highland Lake Rd. Highland Lake. Sullivan County.

1 HITS-on-the-Hudson Olympic-level, equestrian show. Watch as the best riders and horses in the world compete for prize money and ribbons.

Free. All day. HITS Showgrounds, 454 Washington Ave. Extension, Saugerties.

Ulster County.

1 Alice, The Looking Glass Dances 2 pm until 7pm. Family friendly.

Students perform dance pieces within a narrative framework based on “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll. $15 adults, $12 children under 12, $10 groups of 10+. 845-831-6070. The Bardavon Opera House, 35 Market Street. Poughkeepsie. Dutchess County.

1 Maritime Cup Regatta The Friends of Kingston Sailing Club and the Hudson River Maritime Museum presents. The first signals are at 11am on Saturday and 10:30am on Sunday. Breakfast, on-site registration, and skippers’ meetings will be held from 8:30am on Saturday. Saturday: Barbecue party, beer, and wine at the HRMM. Free for all skippers and crew.

Sunday: Snacks, beer, wine, and awards ceremony. Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston.

Ulster County.

1 Maestrosities A clown troupe that provides an entertaining goofball concert laced with sight gags and verbal quips. Great for ages 7 and up. Tickets are $21 in advance ($17 for members) and $25 at the door ($21 for members) 845-2551559. Unison Arts Center, 68 Mt. Rest Road, New Paltz. Ulster County.

1 Forest Hike Learn about sustainable forestry practices, tree identification, watch wildlife or enjoy being outside. Moderate 2 mile hike. Free registered participants.

Space limited. 845-985-2291 ext 397.

Frost Valley YMCA, 2000 Frost Valley Road, Claryville. Sullivan County.

1 Spring Dance Recital New Paltz School of Ballet. 3pm on June 1 and 2. “Dancing Through Time,” featuring ballet and jazz dances, with special guests from Ballet West and the television show Breaking Pointe, Katie

28 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

Critchlow and Trevor Naumann. 845255-0044. $15 Wallkill High School, 90 Robinson Drive, Wallkill. Ulster County.

1 Grand Fondo Catskills Join Floyd Landis on a weekend of cycling scenic roads. The Saturday Devil’s Kitchen Hill Climb will test your stamina and strength on America’s Most notorious climb. The 3-mile climb on June 1 and 2 starts in the hamlet of West Saugerties and climbs 1400 vertical feet to the Town of Hunter. Racers compete individually on time for age group and overall prizes. Hunter Mountain, Route 23A, Hunter. Greene County.

2 The Lyric Quartet Music set to words inspired by great bard. 3pm. 845-747-4247. Parksville USA Music Festival 2013, Methodist Church, Short Ave., Parksville. Sullivan County.

2 Stuart Bigley Gallery at Unison presents the paintings, drawings and photographs of Stuart Bigley through July 28. Opening reception is 4-6pm. 845-255-1559.

Unison Arts Center, 68 Mountain Rest Rd., New Paltz. Ulster County.

2 Art Exhibit - bau 100+1 Through June 2. Features 100 works of art from its represented artists and special guest artists from the Art Hub of Beacon and Region. 845-440-7584. bau Gallery, 506 Main St., Beacon. Dutchess County.

5 Jazz with Rich Jenkins Jazz in the Tavern with Rich Jenkins, 6-8pm. 570-226-2993. The Settlers Inn, 4 Main Ave., Hawley, PA. Wayne County.

6 Willow & Brown Reopening The popular store reopens after a fire at a new location. 47 Main Street, Livingston Manor. Sullivan County.

6 Mountain Jam Fest IX 4-day festival through June 9, packed with well known performers. Featuring national recording artists and local bands, Phil Lesh and friends will be returning after 6 years for a headlining performance featuring 2 sets of classic Grateful Dead music. Hunter Mountain, Route 23A, Hunter. Greene County.

7 Martee Levi Colorist Martee Levi explores the infinite variety of form and color in surprising combinations. Artist reception on Friday, June 7, from 6 to 8pm. The exhibition is on view from June 7 through June 30 at the Marina Gallery from Thursday to Sunday from 12-6pm. Free. 845-2653618. Marina Gallery, 153 Main St., Cold Spring. Putnam County.

7 Country Living Fair June 7-9. Fun, festival atmosphere with cooking, crafting, and other DIY demonstrations, as well as fantastic local food. A unique shopping experience featuring nearly 200 vendors offering antiques, gifts, home décor, jewelry and more. 866-500-FAIR. Admission is $13 in advance and $16 at the door; three-day

weekend passes are available for $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 5pm.

Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Route 9, Rhinebeck. Dutchess County.

8 Trout Parade 10th Annual Livingston Manor Trout Parade, Sullivan County’s own version of Mardi Gras. Rain or shine. 1pm. Wilkes and Bernard Photography will provide professional instant portraits of you and your family at the CAS Arts Center at 48 Main Street, with proceeds to benefit CAS. 845-436-4227. 48 Main Street, Livingston Manor. Sullivan County.

8 High Peaks Tour of Homes High Peaks Tour of Homes fundraiser for the GCHS. Sites are located alond Rt 23A from Haines Falls to Lexington.

Headquarters at the Ulster and Delaware Railroad Depot in Haines Falls and at the Methodist Church in Lexington. 10am4pm. Advance tickets: $25/person. 518731-6490. Greene County.

8 1st Annual Marlboro Fit Day A day full of fun activities focused on healthy living, fitness and athletics.

The 5K course (3.1 miles) begins and ends at the entrance of Cluett Schantz Memorial Park and winds through the rolling countryside hills. 8am to 4pm.

845-236-9162. Cluett Schantz Memorial Park, Route 9W, Milton. Ulster County.

8 Secret Garden Tour A tour of the best and most beautiful private gardens in Putnam County. This

award-winning, country driving tour will bring you to private homes and sites with formal gardens, perennial flowering landscapes, pastoral fields and water gardens throughout Putnam County. This year’s tour also includes Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring and Boscobel’s Gardens in Garrison.

10am to 4pm. 845-278-7272.

31 International Blvd., Brewster.

Putnam County.

8 Gaite Parisienne 2pm to 6:30pm. Stroll through Paris with Poughkeepsie City Ballet in their delightful new production. A mystical Raconteur will take you on a journey filled with singers, angelic harpist, waltzing dancers and high kicking can can girls that will explode into a dazzling and colorful production.

845-802-3703. $15 adults, $12 students/seniors/members, $10 group of 10+. Bardavon Opera House, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie. Dutchess County.

9 An Evening With Crystal Pite The Nederlands Dans Theater a.k.a. NDT1 returns to Rosendale Theatre on Sunday, for a 2pm screening, featuring two contemporary works by one of the “hottest choreographers on the planet.” $10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under.

845-658-8989.

Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale. Ulster County.

9 Tractor Parade Tractors old and new, large and small parade down Main Street at noon. Chicken Barbeque. 845887-4444. Delaware Community Center, Callicoon. Sullivan County.

9 Farewell Concert The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra ends its 33-year history with a production entitled Man and Nature with Music Director Nathan Madsen.

This show features works by Faure, Beethoven, and Robert Honstein. 3pm. 845-679-6900. $20 adults, $5 college students with ID, free students K-12.

Woodstock Playhouse, 103 Mill Hill Rd., Woodstock. Ulster County.

11 The Odd Couple Get ready for laughter at this classic Neil Simon comedy on June 11 and 16 at 8pm. Don’t miss the hilarious results of this odd pairing. 845-794-1194.

Forestburgh Playhouse, 39 Forestburgh Rd., Forestburgh.

Sullivan County.

13 Taste of Country Music Inaugural Taste of Country Music Festival featuring Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson & Family, Trace Adkins, Billy Currington, Justin Moore, Hunter Hayes, Joe Nichols, Gloriana, Dustin Lynch, Blackberry Smoke and more. Through June 15.

Gates open at 6pm Thursday and 11am Friday / Saturday. 3 - Day passes starting at $120. Hunter Mountain, 64 Klein Avenue, Hunter. Greene County.

14 We Happy Few June 14 to July 6; 10am: We Happy Few. Matt Pozorski, sculpture & drawings. Closed Mondays.

845-252-7576.

Delaware Arts Center, 37 Main St., Narrowsburg. Sullivan County.

15 Celtic Women Concert at 8pm. Celtic Women.

Foursome of celestial sirens perform breathtaking renditions of contemporary ballads alongside traditional music from Emerald Isle. Fee. 845-5832000. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel.

Sullivan County.

15 Abigail Levine Performed in darkness, lit only by moving LED candles, choreographer Abigail Levine’s Distance Measures borrows elements from mathematical models of chaotic systems. www.mounttremperarts.org or call 845-688-9893. Tickets $20.

Mount Tremper Arts. 647 South Plank Road. Mt. Tremper. Ulster County.

PA. Wayne County.

16 Photography Now 2013 Through June 16, a group show featuring documentary works by eight artists. 845-679-9957.

Wed.-Sun. 12-5 p.m. and by appt. The Center for Photography at Woodstock, 59 Tinker St., Woodstock. Ulster County.

18 Joseph & Technicolor Dreamcoat June 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29; 8pm: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Musical of Biblical proportions.

Family and honesty triumphing over jealousy and doubt.

845-794-1194.

Forestburgh Playhouse, 39 Forestburgh Rd., Forestburgh. Sullivan County.

20 Hot Tuna 6:30pm: Hot Tuna. Featuring Woodstock alumni, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and Jefferson Airplane founding members Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen.

845-583-2000. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County.

15 Maria Zemantauski Trio 8pm-10pm.

845-255-1559.

Tickets are $25 in advance ($20 for Unison members) and $30 at the door ($25 for members) 845255-1559. Unison Arts Center, 68 Mt. Rest Road, New Paltz Ulster County.

21 The Miracle Worker June 21; 8pm, 22; 8pm, 23; 2pm, 28; 8pm, 29; 8pm, 30; 2pm: The Miracle Worker. Presented

by Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop. 845-436-5336. Rivoli Theatre, 5243 Main St., South Fallsburg. Sullivan County.

15 The Subtle Body A play in English and Mandarin about the transmission of ideas across time and culture.

This historical comedy tells the story of 18th-century British doctor John Floyer and his wife Charlotte, who travel to China to research Chinese medicine.

7:30pm. $20/$10 Student. 845557-0694. NACL. 110 Highland Lake Rd., Highland Lake.

Sullivan County.

22 Barnfest 12-5. Two stages of live music, kids activities and more. Free, please register. 845-482-5400. catskillmountainkeeper.org.

Andy Lee Field on Rock City Road. Woodstock. Ulster County.

15 Audubon and Friends Too The art show that opened the new Wulff Gallery at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center (5/4 thru 6/16) has an accompanying Craft show with artisans displaying their bird, butterfly and wildlife wares. Admission is free. 10-4pm. The Pavilion at the Fly Fishing Center, Livingston Manor. Sullivan County.

15 Bill Brovold Musician Bill Brovold performs original music in the gallery window. 347-387-3212. 7-9pm.

Imogen Holloway Gallery, 81 Partition St., Saugerties. Ulster County.

22 Fly Fishing Field Day Fishing workshops and activities on Neversink River, Workshops with all skill levels, beginner to advanced fly fishers. 845985-2291 ext 217. Frost Valley YMCA, 2000 Frost Valley Road, Claryville. Sullivan County.

23 Fields of Vision Works by SUNY New Paltz Art Faculty curated by Carl Van Brunt. Wednesday-Sunday: 11 am - 5 pm, Suggested Donation $5. 845-257-3844. Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, State University of New York, New Paltz. Ulster County.

16 Vanderbilt Gardens Free guided tours of Vanderbilt formal gardens June 16, July 21 and August 18, between 1 and 4pm. 845-229-6432. Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Route 9, Hyde Park. Dutchess County.

23 Middlemarch DDT, Wormholes inspired by quantum physics, insect mating rituals, texting emoticons, George Eliot’s Victorian novel Middlemarch, and a growing sense of disconnect, this piece explores the question: what happens when we lose the ability to communicate? Featuring Dorothy Abrahams and Daniel Piper Kublick. 4pm. $20/$10 Student.

845-557-0694.

NACL, 110 Highland Lake Rd., Highland Lake. Sullivan County.

16 Blues & BBQ Ongoing every Sunday through Labor Day, a rotating line-up of live music. $28 includes selections from the grill. 6-9pm.

On the deck at Glass-wine.bar. kitchen., 119 Falls Ave., Hawley,

29 Upper Delaware BioBlitz Biologists and volunteers gather to collect, identify and catalogue as many living things as possible on a demarcated property in a 24-hour period. The public is invited to experience 2013 SUMMER | Green Door 29

the diversity of life on the host property owned by the Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Starlight, PA. 9am to 3pm. 570-224-0580. Wayne County.

July 12, 13, 16-20, 23-27, 30-August 3, 10am.

845-252-7576. Delaware Arts Center, 37 Main St., Narrowsburg. Sullivan County.

29 3rd Annual Riverside Brewfest Featuring 30 craft breweries and over 60 beers, wines, food trucks, hand rolled cigars and live music by The Phil Massaro Elektrik Symphony, Rick Surrano’s 1-4-5 and Conehead Buddha. 518322-9578. You must be 21 or older to attend. $35/ Saturday only, $50/Saturday and Sunday, $30/ Sunday only. At the Gate Tickets: $40/Saturday only, $55/Saturday & Sunday, $35/Sunday only.

Saturday 12noon-6pm, Sunday 1-6pm. The Historic Catskill Point, 1 Main Street, Catskill.

Greene County.

13 Athens Street Festival Live music all day on 3 stages, over 150 vendors, classic car show, carnival rides, lighthouse tours, huge fireworks display. 11am to 10pm. Athens Riverfront Park, Water St., Athens. Greene County.

JULY 2013

2 Dave Matthews Band 845-583-2000. 5pm. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County.

2 9 to 5 July 2-6, 9-13, 8pm. If you loved the movie, you’ll really love the musical. 845-794-1194.

Forestburgh Playhouse, 39 Forestburgh Rd., Forestburgh. Sullivan County.

4 Independence Day Celebration Parade through town starting at 7pm, followed by BBQ, DJ and activities at the base lodge. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9pm. 518-734-4300.

Clarence D. Lane Road Windham. Greene County.

5 Joy Taylor Solo exhibition by Joy Taylor in the main room, Robert Otto Epstein featured in the East Wing, with window installation by Heather Hutchison. Artists’ Reception, Friday, July 5th 6-9pm. Through August 11. 347-387-3212. Imogen Holloway Gallery, 81 Partition St., Saugerties. Ulster County.

6 Memorial Window Unveiling of Memorial Window in honor of Francis Curey, WWII awarded Medal of Honor. 845-4348044. Sullivan County Historical Society, 265 Main St., Hurleyville. Sullivan County.

6 Founders Day Street Fair Specials at local shops, street vendors, live music, children’s activities, art shows and more. 845-2833361. Veteran’s Park, 3rd St., Wurtsboro. Sullivan County.

6 Giant’s Ledge Hike Short but challenging trail, 3 miles. Free. Space limited. 845-985-2291 ext 397. Frost Valley YMCA, 2000 Frost Valley Road, Claryville. Sullivan County.

7 Latino-Cuban Jazz Ensemble Whirlwind of jazz with special Cuban touch. 3pm.

845-747-4247. Parksville USA Music Festival 2013, Methodist Church, Short Ave., Parksville.

Sullivan County.

12 Art in Bloom Group art show w/interpretive floral arrangements.

13 Hudson Valley Marketplace Every weekend from 9 to 5, find a wide range of fine goods and services plus, farmers market, food court, entertainment and activities for the whole family. Hudson Valley Marketplace, 130 Salt Point Turnpike, Poughkeepsie. Dutchess County.

14 Transformations! Weekend of Chamber Music Summer Festival 2013 Free outdoor concert.

Thursday MusicTalks! programs in North Branch and Bethel; two Saturday night main events, free Friday rehearsal at the Eddie Adams Barn, return to Callicoon Farmers’ Market. July 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27. 845-932-8527. Eddie Adams Barn, North Branch Road, Jeffersonville. Sullivan County.

14 Catskills Irish Arts Week An intensive week filled with non-stop excitement with over 40 + classes ranging from Fiddle, Song, and Dancing Art through July 18. Concerts and Dances Admission is $10 and children 12 and under are free. 518-634-2286. Various locations throughout Durham & East Durham. Greene County.

14 Pre-Columbian Remix On view until July 14 are more than 90 works by four contemporary artists who fuse Aztec, Incan, and Mayan art forms with pop-culture and other 21st-century imagery. Tues.-Sun. 12-5pm. $5, $3 seniors & students, under 12 free. 914-251-6100.

Neuberger Museum of Art, SUNY Purchase campus, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase. Westchester County.

16 Spamalot Lovingly ripped off from classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail. July 16-20, 23-27; 8pm. 845-794-1194. Forestburgh Playhouse, 39 Forestburgh Rd., Forestburgh. Sullivan County.

18 Body As Landscape Group Exhibition of contemporary artists who explore the human relationship to the landscape.

Through July 18. 5pm to 7pm. 917-714-8451.

Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, 1701 Main Street, Peekskill. Westchester County.

18 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 4-day outdoor festival presenting the best in bluegrass & acoustic music, dancing, workshops, family activities, camping, jam sessions, festive foods, crafts, and thousands of fans. 888-9468495. Walsh Farm, 1 Poultney Road, Oak Hill.

Greene County.

19 Alice in Wonderland

NEW! modern farmer

With a homestead in nearby Hudson, NY, Modern Farmer is a new quarterly print magazine and digital hub devoted to contemporary farming and food. Farming is no longer a disconnected industry and lifestyle far removed from the supermarket aisles. Today, a growing movement of consumers are interested in knowing about where their food comes from.

The quarterly will bring the global farming and agriculture world to your village and, in the process, show how connected we all are to the earth and FOR MORE INFO www.modernfarmer.com each other.

30 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

Dwight Yoakam, Doobie Brothers Highlight Diverse Belleayre Lineup Country star Dwight Yoakam and rock icons the Doobie Brothers highlight the diverse lineup for the Belleayre Music Festival’s 22nd season.

Dwight Yoakam kicks things off in hardcharging fashion on Saturday, July 6.

Dwight traces the roots of his stardom to country music, but offers a universal appeal that spans genres.

Up next on Saturday, July 13 will be the Manhattan Transfer. The music shifts to the ultimate in classic rock when the legendary Doobie Brothers hit the stage with their hitfilled show on Saturday, July 20.

The Belleayre Festival Opera presents Bizet’s “Carmen” on Saturday, July 27. The Catskill Mountain Jazz Series will span five extraordinary performances. On Thursday, August 1, the series opens with the Sammy Figueroa Latin Dance Explosion in the Jazz Club. The phenomenal Pedrito Martinez Havana Quartet will light up the Jazz Club on Friday, August. 2. The Paquito D’Rivera and the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band performs on August 3. Keyboard wizard Bill Charlap will play the Jazz Club with his trio on Friday, August 9. Next up on Saturday, August 10 is Kenny Barron’s All-Star Quintet.

It’s Broadway at Belleayre on Saturday, August 17 when song-and-dance legend Ben Vereen takes the stage.

The festival presents Comedy in the Catskills II with Harrison Greenbaum performing on Friday, August 23. Veteran funny woman Rita Rudner headlines on Saturday, August 24.

The season closes in theatrical rock style with The Music of Pink Floyd on Saturday, August 31.

FOR MORE INFO Tickets are available via Ticketmaster 800-942-6904, ext. 1344 www.belleayremusic.org

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 31

NACL THEATRE The Weather Project A Creative Collaboration of Science, Arts and Community BY sandy long

July 19, 8pm, July 20, 8pm, July 21, 2pm: Alice in Wonderland. Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop. 845436-5336. Rivoli Theatre, 5243 Main St., South Fallsburg. Sullivan County.

19 Farm On! Fundraising Dinner Benefit for the FarmOn! Foundation funding educational programs and scholarships in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension for Hudson Valley Students to continue studies in Agriculture Education.

6:30-11:30pm. $150 per plate.

Sponsor an Agriculture Student for $100 in your name. 518-3259437. Copake Country Club, 44 Golf Course Road, Copake Lake.

Columbia County.

20 Natalie Merchant Natalie Merchant with Hudson Valley Philharmonic will perform to pavilion only concert featuring Randall Craig Fleishcer, conductor.

6:30pm. Fee. 845-583-2000. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County.

“Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it,” observed Mark Twain. That truism will be tested, as the nationally recognized NACL Theatre, based in Highland Lake, NY embarks on its biggest initiative ever—The Weather Project.

In an unprecedented effort to expand its commitment to community engagement, NACL is launching a year-long theatre and science project that asks local communities to help create a work of science and art about the weather, energy and sustainability.

“The weather is a perfect subject for a community conversation,” says Tannis Kowalchuk, project director.

“Everyone is affected by the weather; everyone talks about it. The weather can be a prism that allows us to view our colorful multiplicity as a community via science, personal stories, history and imagination. It’s an opportunity to explore deep issues of history, environment, climate and our future.”

The project has received major support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) as one of 80 national Our Town Grant awardees to garner $50,000.

Launching this summer, residents of Sullivan, Wayne, and Pike counties can take workshops on stilt walking, theatre creation, soundpainting, visual art, weather data collecting and energy efficiency. Other initiatives include weathervane-building, collecting weather stories from elders, a curated art exhibit, chorus, and historical and scientific research.

NACL will partner with the Town of Highland,

32 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development, Western Sullivan Public Libraries, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Eagle Institute, local schools, artists Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble, Spiral Q Puppet Theatre, and filmmaker Tina Spangler.

NACL operates an innovative performing arts center at its church-turned-theatre and has presented over 80 theatre groups, poets, dancers, musicians and filmmakers in its mission “to create a culture of creativity.”

Artists Kowalchuk, Brad Krumholz, Brett Keyser and the ensemble have created 20 new plays, including STRUCK, The Little Farm Show, Shakespeare’s Will and Darwinii: The Comeuppance of Man. The company offers a farm-modeled CSArts (Community Supported Arts) program, youth education and a residency program for professional artists.

20 Windham Chamber Music Gala Orchestra Concert. Robert Manno, conductor; Darcy Dunn, mezzo-soprano; Stephen Gosling, piano; Donald Batchelder, trumpet.

8pm. $35/general, $32/seniors, $30 contributors, $5/students.

518-734-3868. 5379 Route 23 (Main St.) Windham. Greene County.

21 River Run 5K race down beautiful, flat course along scenic Delaware River. Novice to experienced runners; walkers welcome. 8am. 845-887-5155.

River Road, Callicoon. Sullivan County.

21 Manhattan in the Mountains Through August 1. Renowned artist-faculty members from the Manhattan School of Music, including concert artists and musicologists, will be coaching talented young musician-honing their musical skills. 518-263-2000.

Catskill Mountain Foundation, Route 23A, Hunter. Greene County.

24 Piano Passions Allen Yueh, solo piano presented with Shandelee Music Festival.

8pm. 845-583-2000. Event Gallery, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County.

The project will culminate August 9, 2014 in the Town of Highland with a performance featuring residents, professional performers, scientists, musicians, visual artists, students and a host of weather-related exhibits.

26 Love, Loss Uses clothing and accessories to trigger memories to tell funny and often poignant stories that women relate to. July 26; 8pm, 27; 8pm, 28; 2pm. 845-436-5336. Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, Rivoli Theatre, 5243 Main St., South Fallsburg. Sullivan County.

“The goal of The Weather Project is to achieve a symbiotic relationship between artists, town leaders, and residents as the community moves toward designing a sustainable future where both art and energy are abundant and renewable local resources,” notes Kowalchuk.

26 Tim McGraw Tim McGraw with Brantley Gilbert, Love and Theft at 7pm. 845-5832000. Pavilion Stage, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County.

FOR MORE INFO www.nacl.org www.facebook.com/theweatherproject Follow @naclweather on Twitter

27 Weekend of Chamber Music Grand Finale Concert & Gala Reception, includes a Harbison world-premiere violin sonata, Bach, Haydn, Reger, Mozart, Stravinsky.

Adams Barn, Jeffersonville. 8pm, pre-concert talk 7 p.m. Gala Meetthe-Artists Reception follows.

Admission $30.

27 Annual Tannersville Crazy Race Racers built from beds, flower pots, garbage can or anything you can imagine and race down Main St. Festival from 11am to 4 pm with live DJ and vendors lining both sides of the street. Race Time 2pm.

Free. 518-858-9094. Main Street, Tannersville. Greene County.

27 Civil War Weekend Daily routines of Civil War soldier from Union and Confederate standpoints. Full scale battles unfold. Re-enactors entertain various scenarios. Authentic 19th Century Atmosphere. Bring light lawn chairs. July 27 & 28; 9-5pm.

570-224-7650. Walnut Mtn., Walnut Mtn. Rd., Liberty. Sullivan County.

27 Callicoon Street Fair Food, live music, and entertainment.

845-887-3016. 9am. Wander along historic streets, view architecture, and admire beautiful Delaware River. Downtown, Main Streets, Callicoon. Sullivan County.

27 Old Time Fair and Barbeque Corn shucking and skillet throwing, ice cream, blacksmithing, spinning and quilting demonstrations, local history exhibits, pie auction, country music, good food and chicken BBQ. 845-985-7700.

11am. Grahamsville Fairgrounds, State Rte. 55, Grahamsville.

Sullivan County.

27 Open Studios July 27-28, from 10am to 4pm.

607-326-7073. Two dozen artists including potters, weaver, painters, sculptor, Catskill woods furniture designer, wooden bowl turner, leather clothes designer, print makers, open their studio doors in and around Andes, Margaretville, Arkville, Halcottsville, and Roxbury.

Delaware County.

27 Two Row Wampum 400th Anniversary of the first agreement between the Iroquois and Dutch settlers. Native People will be paddling side-by-side down the Hudson River from Albany to NYC as an enactment of this symbolic time. Through August 10. 336-255-3206. Albany. Albany County.

28 Powered by Clocks Sightline Theater, My Machine is Powered by Clocks. Following the overlapping storylines of four time travelers, the physical theatre of Sightline explores the perplexing paradoxes of time, memory, and regret through text, dance, sound, and image. $20/$10 Student.

4pm. 845-557-0694. NACL. 110 Highland Lake Rd., Highland Lake.

Sullivan County.

28 Rip Van Winkle’s Raft Race Enter your own wacky raft or just come to enjoy the day and cheer your favorite competitors. Noon at the Riverfront Park in Athens. The finish line will be at Dutchmen’s Landing at the end of Main Street in Catskill. Awards, food, vendors and live entertainment. Rain date: August 4. 518-943-7117.

Dutchman’s Landing, Main St., Catskill. Greene County.

28 Bounty of the Hudson Largest annual gathering of wineries and producers in the Valley. July 28 & 29. Over 20 wineries and dozens of local food vendors will be in attendance.

Enjoy food, wine, and live music.

Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery, 331 Mckinstry Rd., Gardiner. Ulster County.

28 Afternoon of Chamber Music Claudia Hu, piano, Helen Shen, piano, and Doris Lee, piano with Shandelee Music Festival. Doors open 1:30pm. 845-583-2000.

Event Gallery, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel. Sullivan County.

30 Grease July 30-31, August 1-3, 6-10.

845-794-1194.

Forestburgh Playhouse, 39 Forestburgh Rd., Forestburgh. Sullivan County.

AUGUST 2013

2 Tour of the Catskills Bicycle road race drawing over 800 racers from throughout the world. Held over 3 days, beginning with a Friday individual time trial, and two epic road stages on Saturday and Sunday. 518-2632008. Greene County.

3 Coxsackie Riverside Festival Music, entertainers, activities, craft vendors, great food and so much more for the whole family.

518-258-6905. 11am to 10pm.

Coxsackie Riverside, Reed St., Coxsackie. Greene County.

8 Hudson Valley Jazz Festival Featuring musicians from the Hudson Valley and beyond through August 11. 5pm to midnight. 917-903-4380. The Hudson Valley Jazz Festival, Warwick. Greene County.

9 Bluegrass in Greenville 3 day outdoor music festival with performances by bands from up and down the east coast.

Camping, food, and vendors. $48/person for the weekend. Ahle Farm, 5143 Rt 81, Greenville.

Greene County.

10 The Weather Project Kick-Off 1pm to 10pm; an arts and science project that will culminate in a massive community theatre performance in the Town of Highland in 2014. Bring the whole family, and find out about The Weather Project. $20/$10 Student. 845-557-0694. NACL. 110 Highland Lake Rd., Highland Lake. Sullivan County.

10 German Alps Festival Germans and non Germans alike come back each year to attend this festival which offers plenty of food, drink, German music, activities and entertainment for all. August 10 & 11. Hunter Mountain, Rt 23A, Hunter. Greene County.

16 Fun, 2, 3, 4!

16 creative games teaches a different mathematical skill.

845-471-0589.

Tues.-Sat. 9:30am-5pm. Sun. 11 to 5. $7.50 Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, 75 N. Water St., Poughkeepsie.

Dutchess County.

16 Monticello Bagel Festival August 16-17. Parades, the world’s largest bagel chain, inflatable rides and games, a Best Bagels contest, the Bagel Triathlon, and more. Main St, Monticello. Sullivan County.

16 Ancient Wisdom Rising A weekend of teachings, stories, ceremony to enliven your connection with nature and spirit through August 18. Blue Deer Center, Margaretville. Delaware County.

17 Art Installation Douglas Wirls and Christina Tenaglia in the main room, window installation by Marlena Marallo of Arm-of-the-Sea Theater. Reception Sat. August 17th, 6-9. Through September 29. 347-387-3212. Imogen Holloway Gallery, 81 Partition St., Saugerties. Ulster County.

17 Take a Hike This 3-mile challenging hike does involves uphill hiking, but the reward is a breathtaking view. Be sure to wear sturdy footwear, bring water, a snack and of course your camera. 845985-2291 ext 397. Frost Valley YMCA, 2000 Frost Valley Road, Claryville. Sullivan County.

17 International Celtic Festival Fantastic entertainment from the Emerald Isles, plus worldclass Irish-American bands and dancers. Dozens of authentic Irish vendors, traditional foods, and plenty of beverages. Adults: $16, Kids 12 and under: Free.

Hunter Mountain, 64 Klein Avenue, Hunter. Greene County.

18 The Pigeoning Robin Frohardt and Company.

4pm. $20/$10 Student. 845557-0694. NACL. 110 Highland Lake Rd. Highland Lake. Sullivan County.

20 167th Dutchess County Fair Through August 25 from 10am10pm. Dutchess County Fair, Route 9, Rhinebeck. Dutchess County.

24 Black Wizard / Blue Wizard Epic duel between two opposing wizard philosophies in a modern and mundane age. 7:30pm.

20/$10 Student. 845-557-0694.

NACL. 110 Highland Lake Rd. Highland Lake. Sullivan County.

24 Archery Shoot & BBQ Summer 3D Archery Shoot & BBQ picnic. It’s a great way to spend time outdoors with the family. All ages are welcome. 845-985-2291 ext 217. Frost Valley YMCA, 2000 Frost Valley Road, Claryville.

Sullivan County.

31 Daedalus String Quartet Starts at 8pm. $25 general, $22 seniors, $20 contributors, $5/ students. 518-734-3868. 5379 Route 23 (Main St.) Windham.

Greene County.

Want to be listed? Email us!

neighbors@greendoormag.com

by August 1, 2013 or anytime for our calendar at greendoormag. com/neighbors.php

Happy Trails trailkeeper.org For many visitors to the Catskills, a hike can seem like a daunting proposition. Reading maps, walking for miles and visions of Alaska grizzly bear movies can turn newcomers off. Catskill Mountainkeeper, an environmental non-profit that advocates to protect the Catskill Mountains, launched Trailkeeper.org to increase land stewardship and promote the Sullivan County Catskills as an outdoor tourism destination.

Trailkeeper is a one-source outlet for hiking that is accessible to all. Perfect for weekenders and city folks, the site offers a user-friendly imagine-yourself-here experience from the comfort of your cubicle. “Enjoy the opportunity to read and explore a map at your computer given Trailkeeper as resource,” says Lisa Lyons, owner of Morgan Outdoors, a sporting outlet in Livingston Manor. “When you do you start to see yourself in this other world and you can go there.”

Catskill Mountainkeeper partnered with local environmental organizations and businesses as well as The NYNJ Trail Conference and The National Park Service who provided GPS and trail data. Erin Burch, Outreach Coordinator for Catskill Mountainkeeper, maps trails and trains hiking volunteers to use GPS apps on their smartphones. “We are encouraging people to get outside and utilize the existing land and trails as well as increase land stewardship,” says Erin. Sullivan County has a wealth of public land and trail systems that even local residents don’t know about.

The Hiking 101 section provides information on safety, appropriate gear and hiking etiquette. Trails are labeled for all hiking levels. A beginner trail is flat, with no loose rock and is a manageable distance. A moderate trail has elevation changes, uneven surfaces, stream crossings and requires more stamina. A strenuous trail has prolonged elevations with longer trails that can last up to a full day.

Lisa Lyons is a great resource for first-timers who are a bit skittish. She can recommend local trails, rent appropriate gear and provide hiking tips. “It’s amazing how many people come back as if you gave them some very important drug that they needed,” says Lyons.

For city dwellers, a hike is a chance to tune into something new yet ancient that they may have forgotten in their fast-paced Manhattan lifestyle. Being silent in nature and listening does wonders for our well-being.

Lisa will not deny that she has run into the indigenous black bear on occasion, but says there are easy-to-learn safety tips. She advises hikers to listen and be aware their surroundings.

Sound and noise are a strong deterrent. Some hikers carry bear bells to move bears along.

Lisa stresses that black bears are not carnivorous and don’t have much interest in people, but cautions not to get between a mother bear and her cub. “I sing ‘She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain’ when I hike and they run the other way,” says Lyons.

Trailkeeper is planning to expand their services to Ulster County this summer. “There’s an extensive trail system in New Paltz and Woodstock, says Burch. “I will be out on the trails in Ulster County getting GPS data.” They will improve website and mapping functions as well as promote the joys of hiking in an unpaved world using grant funding.

Plan a hike in the Catskills this summer and make a weekend out of it. Trailkeeper.org is updated regularly with hiking events, area attractions and local lodging, shopping and dining. Public campgrounds and local B&Bs are great lodging options. Campgrounds offer tent or car camping where you can just pull up and set up next to your car, which is perfect for beginners. The Sullivan, a Manhattan-style hotel along Route 17, is also an option for city folks who may crave modern amenities after a day on the trails.

Visit www.reserveamerica.com for camping reservations. Many trails have free parking where you don’t have to feed a meter or worry about the constraints of time. You can also volunteer to maintain map trails or donate to help support Trailkeeper’s mission.

OTHER USEFUL SITES Morgan Outdoors www.morgan-outdoors.com Sullivan County B&B Association www.sullivanbandbs.com American B&B Association www.abba.com The Sullivan www.the-sullivan.com

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 33

FASHION | SUMMER STYLE

what to wear

Bohemian Rhapsody

Clementine Vintage Clothing in Andes says this Summer is about unconventional artiness. Romantic, free-spirited fashion.

SWEATER Geometric Sweater $30 BAG Leather Trim Mesh Bag $35 JACKET Canvas Track Jacket $35 SHORTS Track Shorts $20

PONCHO Orange Poncho $55 BAG Leather Circle Bag $45

BAG Woven Shoulder Bag $25 Woven Cross Body Bag $25 HAT Straw Hat $30 SWIMSUIT Crochet Swimsuit $20

DRESS Chrysanthemum Halter Dress and Swimsuit Top $45 SHOES Harache Cutout Heels $35

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 34 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

photo: dan mayers

SHOES Perforated Heels $25

SHOES Leather Braided Heels $25

WOODSHED |

The Song Doesn’t Remain the Same

BY JAMES BEAUDREAU of jamesbeaudreau.com

It’s a windy April evening and I’m waiting to cross at the corner of Broadway and Twelfth Street in Manhattan; an LP in an orange plastic bag at my side. I had just been to Other Music, one of New York City’s last (and greatest) outposts of physical music media. The music I’m carrying could be contained in a completely weightless charge of magnetism on the phone in my pocket, but instead it is annoyingly banging against my knee in the wind. Yes, I’m one of those people who still buys records. I realize that for the majority of the population this is like preferring papyrus scrolls to paperbacks, but so be it. There are collectors for all kinds of music media; even the lowly cassette has been making a comeback in some hip twenty-something circles. No one, of course, needs any of this anymore.

And even among the faithful, all the old arguments are falling apart.

Argument: “The physical work of playing vinyl makes you slow down and listen with full attention!”

Answer: Um, have some discipline and listen to your digital files in an organized way – there’s nothing stopping you.

Argument: “The sound quality of digital sucks!”

Answer: If Neil Young can make peace with digital audio, so can you.

Argument: “Digital is killing album art!”

Answer: I bet you can find some album art online; zoom in on your laptop. Not only will it be big, and crystal clear, it will actually be made of LIGHT. The bottom line: There’s no reason to hold on to these obsolete doodads when every bit of music you could ever want can be stored ephemerally, weightlessly, invisibly, in a gossamer pattern of magnetic charge on a hard drive.

But that’s just it. How can you love a magnetic charge?

I can’t. And many other otherwise reasonable souls, who had no trouble discarding their rotary phones, beepers, and picture-tube TVs have found themselves with a touch of anachronistic insanity when it comes to LPs, CDs and cassettes. For those of us who count music, along with food and shelter, as a basic prerequisite for life on Earth, music is too important to be reduced to a ghostly charge on a phone.

For our ancestors, music was indeed embodied. If there was no one there to play it or sing it, you didn’t hear it. It’s only very recently that this could be otherwise. In August 1877, Thomas Edison made the first audio recording, of his voice on a tin foil cylinder. Electrical recording, which is “recording” as we understand it today, was invented only in 1924.

Through these inventions music gained an incredible freedom – to be enjoyed in private or in company, almost anywhere, via nice fat gadgets you could hold in your hand or store on a shelf; evocative devices with personalities.

A vinyl record, for example. A wonderful invention. You can actually see the sound inscribed on the disc, etched in a shrinking circle, terminating at an iris-like paper label surrounding a tiny, focused pupil.

Or cassettes; little mechanical marvels. Have you looked at one recently? It’s amazing that they work at all. That this precariously fragile magnetized ribbon, wrapped around a couple of spools, could consistently deliver its message over and over is amazing. And as if in acknowledgment of its substitution for the “real thing,” the cassette shell looks like an ancient abstract rendering of a face.

It was the CD that took us to the limit of what we could love in a music object. Cool, mirrored, futuristic, it was no coincidence that it wasn’t packaged in a sleeve, but in a “jewel case.” A CD is a key made of frozen information, like the crystals in Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. Its information can only be set free with a laser beam, which, in my opinion, borders on magic. Each CD holds a finite, emotionally comprehensible quantum of information, an album, or maybe two. As futuristic as it is, a CD is still an item with a sole purpose; devoted to a specific piece of art; not like our hard drives, phones, or – how ephemeral can you get? – certainly not like a “cloud” that can hold everything, nowhere.

In our post-physical music world, there’s no longer a particular “thing” connected to Led Zeppelin IV. For some of us, this is a little too much to bear. And so we’ll heave a 12inch slab of vinyl in a plastic bag, and tolerate it flopping against our knees as we cross the street, and look forward to our ancient decoding rituals.

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 35

LOCAVORE | RECIPE

.

buying time Cold Pickles for Hot Days

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BY CATIE BAUMER SCHWALB of www.pitchforkdiaries.com

T

here were so many days, not long ago, when there was very little I wouldn’t have traded for a fresh homegrown tomato and cucumber salad. Then, after surviving the lean winter months of the Catskills, almost suddenly we are thrust into an overabundance of cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, and peppers. I cannot come up with any more rearrangements of our counter tops to make room for one more mixing bowl of cherry tomatoes.

“Why do the inhabitants of Lake Wobegon lock their cars in the month of August?

So their neighbors won’t leave bags of zucchini on the back seat,” jests Garrison Keillor. Sort of.

I certainly do not resent this embarrassment of riches, nor the neighborly produce tucked in our mailbox. However, knowing how fleeting this season is I feel a huge responsibility to relish it all, not letting any go to waste. And that, frankly, can be exhausting.

Ah-ha! Food preservation. Tapping into the wisdom of generations before me who had similar dilemmas, particularly with refrigeration having not yet been invented. And even more importantly, Ah-ha! Variation! For how many times a week can we really enjoy the exact same tomato and cucumber salad?

Pickling helps buy some time with fresh vegetables, giving you a few more weeks in the fridge and less fodder for the compost. And quick pickling is a happy marriage of outstanding texture and somewhat immediate results, for those of us who don’t want to either wait for three weeks of fermentation or fire up hot steamy canning equipment.

Not surprisingly for all these reasons, quick pickles are a very important part of the table for so many different culinary traditions. Ranging from Japan’s tsukemono, Korea’s kimchi and banchan, Mexico’s escabesche, and my own grandmother’s cut glass relish tray. These pickles are the pause, the sour, bright, crunchy break between the mouthfuls of fatty meat and drippy cheese. Or between the bites of a succulent pork taco, or mouthfuls of glutinous rice. Perhaps they are the world’s cuisines common culinary thread, if not just a delicious, healthful way to savor all summer has to offer.

36 Green Door | SUMMER

Sweet Pickled Butternut Squash and Beets Makes about one quart of each vegetable.

1 small butternut squash, about 1 lb, cut into ½ inch cubes, yielding 3 ½ cups 1 lb fresh beets, about 4-5 large, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes, yielding 3 ½ cups 4 tablespoons kosher salt 4 cups apple cider vinegar 3 cups apple juice 1/2 cup light brown sugar 2 tablespoons honey 2 star anise 2 cinnamon sticks 10 whole cloves 10 cardamom pods, crushed 10 black peppercorns ½ teaspoon whole coriander seeds ½ teaspoon whole yellow mustard seeds Place the cubed squash and beets in separate colanders (or one at a time), over a bowl. Toss each with two tablespoons of kosher salt. Place a few layers of paper towels on top, and weigh down with a plate. Allow to sit for two hours in the refrigerator, stirring half way through. Remove the cubed vegetables from the colander and discard any collected juice. Do not rinse the vegetables.

At this point, the vegetables should be crisp-tender from the brief salt cure, and are ready to eat. They are a very simple form of a Japanese tsukemono, or what my friend who is a wonderful Korean cook calls her “immediate (unfermented) kimchi.”

PHOTO: CATIE BAUMER SCHWALB

In the meantime, in a heavy bottomed saucepan, over medium heat gently toast the star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, peppercorns, coriander and mustard seeds, for a few minutes until they just start to become fragrant. Add the vinegar, apple juice, brown sugar and honey. Bring to a gentle boil until sugar and honey are dissolved, and then turn down to a simmer for five minutes.

When ready, pack the cubed squash and beets into separate glass containers.

Cover each with half of the brine and spices. Put the lid on the containers and refrigerate. The pickles will be ready to eat in a few hours, but will be much better after a day or two. They should keep for several weeks in the refrigerator, but certainly use caution if the jar looks like it might have turned.

Since winter squash and beets are available from late summer through much of winter, these pickles are a wonderful accompaniment for roasted game meats of colder months, as well as a bright, crunchy interlude on the Thanksgiving table.

Spicy Carrots and Jalapeño Escabeche Makes about one quart.

12 whole fresh jalapeño peppers ½ lb carrots, peeled (12 young carrots, or 6 large) 1 head garlic, cut in half horizontally ½ small white onion Cut in 3-4 thick wedges through the root end 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cup white vinegar 2 cups apple cider vinegar 1 cup water 1 teaspoon dried oregano Mexican oregano if available 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon sugar 3 bay leaves 4 cloves With the point of a sharp knife, make three small cuts in each jalapeño pepper, at the tip and on each side, to allow the brine to better infuse the pepper. If the carrots are small, they can be left whole, if large, cut them into 1/4 inch slices.

In a sauce pan large enough to hold all of the vegetables, heat the oil. Add the carrots, onion, and garlic halves and sauté on medium heat for a few minutes to soften the vegetables. If they start to brown, lower the heat. Add the oregano, salt, cloves and bay leaves, and sauté gently for a couple of minutes more. Add the peppers, white vinegar, cider vinegar, water, and sugar. Bring to a gentle boil just until the sugar dissolves and then lower the heat to a simmer for 10 minutes.

Remove the pot from the stove and cool.

Pack the vegetables in a glass container, and fill the container with the brine, making sure all of the vegetables are submerged. Put a lid on the container and refrigerate.

Quick Cucumber, Apple and Ginger Salt Pickles Makes about one quart.

2 cups cucumbers, Kirby, English or Japanese, cut in 1/8 inch slices 2 cups firm, crisp apple, like granny smith or pippin, cored and cut in 1/8 inch slices 2 inch piece of fresh ginger, cut in 1/8 inch slices 2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 tablespoons sugar zest from half a lemon Toasted sesame oil and rice vinegar, optional Combine cucumber, apple, ginger, salt, sugar and lemon zest in a bowl.

Gently massage the sugar and salt into the vegetables and fruit, trying to get in between all the slices.

Place the mixture in the refrigerator and allow it to macerate for twenty minutes to one hour. Use within a maximum of 3 hours.

Drain any liquid and serve cold, drizzled with a small amount of toasted sesame oil and rice vinegar, if desired.

The pickles will be ready to eat within a couple of hours, but much better after a day or two. They should keep for several weeks in the refrigerator, but certainly use caution if the jar looks like it might have turned.

These pickles are outstanding with cocktails and cold beer, added to guacamole, dips and potato salads, or tucked in hearty soups and sautés. In addition, the brine can be used as a marinade, brushed on roasted meats, or whisked into a vinaigrette.

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 37

MAIN STREETS | YOUTH ECONOMIC GROUP

The future is present in Youth Economic Group.

BY AKIRA OHISO | PHOTOS BY NICK PIATEK

“I

didn’t really see a future for Liberty,” says Rose Fontana, a fifteen-year old Liberty High School student and member of Rural Migrant Ministry’s Youth Economic Group (YEG). YEG is a youth-run program committed to empowering young people and their communities. The group stays true to RMM’s mission by raising awareness about farm worker rights, environmental issues and social justice.

In parts of Sullivan County, vacant storefronts and dilapidated buildings are familiar sights. Unemployment and homelessness plague the county. With few opportunities, young people can easily succumb to feelings of hopelessness and a sense that they have no future. Drugs and crime are often the path of least resistance. “In high school, I see so many of the people I used to know doing drugs and drinking alcohol just out of pure boredom,” says Elizabeth Grese, a junior at Liberty High School.

Rural Migrant Ministry identified a need for more youth opportunities in the community where leaders could be nurtured, inequities challenged and self-determination and empowerment actualized.

“YEG provides jobs and a positive atmosphere because there aren’t many of either situation,” says YEG Director Jillian Rahm. Aside from ordering pizza, driving YEG members and minimal oversight, Rahm leaves much of the day-to-day running of the group to the members.

Since 2011, YEG has met every Thursday in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church in Liberty growing a small business called

38 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

Basement Bags. Sparked by a donated hobby press, the group decided to design silkscreen bags with messages that inspire and raise awareness around social justice issues. Through a fundraising effort, they were able to upgrade to a commercial silkscreen press, which has increased the quality and quantity of their bags. “At first, I doubted the idea of a youth-run business but I can’t believe where we are now,” says Joel Aguilar. “We have grown so fast and only keep growing.”

YEG sources fair-trade bags from a woman’s cooperative and uses 100% biodegradable dyes. Sundays are designated production days where bags are dyed and silkscreened. No two are alike because the dying process is unpredictable and varied, but that’s what makes each bag unique. Director Jillian Rahm is in contact with fashion label DKNY who is interested in silkscreening DKNY designs on the YEG bags.

PHOTOS: NICK PIATEK

Last summer, the group faced a tough obstacle when a member became a disruption. “We all had to sit down together and make a decision on a member of the group who wasn’t doing what the group wanted,” says Mae Bonnaci. It was a learning experience that facilitated the group to create membership guidelines and group rules.

As YEG has grown, membership has become more selective due to the lack of space in the church basement. “If we had more space we could give more kids an opportunity,” says Thalia Lucas, a senior at Monticello High School. For many members, it’s a close-knit family.

Mae Bonnaci had no heat last winter and was thankful to have the

group’s support. “YEG has given me so many opportunities and introduced me to so many people in my life I now consider close friends,” says Monticello senior Taylor McCormack.

YEG is looking at storefronts on Main Street in Liberty to expand Basement Bags. Aside from a larger production space, they envision a multi-use drop-in space for teens, films, yoga, open-mic night and a range of educational, social and empowerment opportunities could be made available. “What do you want your reality to be?” challenges Rahm.

To fund their future home, the students wrote grant applications and will be holding a first annual fundraiser in Sullivan County in July.

To date, funding has not come from the local community, but the goal is to let them know YEG is here. “I want basement bags to be a household conversation,” says Mae Bonnaci.

Supporting YEG helps teens develop skills in leadership, design, business and public speaking. It gives teens a sense of security, purpose and confidence. “Beyond changing the community it changes us internally,” says Mae Bonnaci.

FOR MORE INFO Basement bags are sold at area events and can be purchased online at www.ruralmigrantministry.org. The bag are also available at Floyd & Bobo’s Bakery and Cafe at 98 Main Street in Liberty.

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 39

MAIN STREETS | LIBERTY

Latinos Finding Liberty

BY ELI RUIZ Photos by NICK PIATEK

carlito’s classic cuts

el mariachi

Liberty Main Street’s Spanish businesses bustle and grow.

When I was three my mother decided to move to the small Sullivan County town of Liberty.

The year was 1980. Tourism, for many years the lifeblood of most businesses in the area, had long before, experienced its peak in the 50’s. From the 60’s forward, “Main Streets” throughout Sullivan County have been trending downward.

Sullivan County was once termed the “Borscht Belt.” referring to a beet-based soup particular to areas of the former Russian Empire and introduced to the United States by Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants. The Borscht Belt era began when a wave of middle and working class Jewish New Yorkers and their families began to frequent the many resorts, hotels,

“It’s like a little melting pot right here on Main Street.” bungalows and summer camps of Sullivan County – particularly in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.

Some of the early and more prominent of these resorts include Brickman’s in South Fallsburg, The Concord Resort in Kiamesha Lake, Kutcher’s Hotel in Monticello, The Brown’s Hotel in Loch Sheldrake and Grossinger’s in Liberty.

By the 60’s, air travel became more affordable and vacationers were able to plan trips to more exotic locales. Similarly, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 presented the Catskill’s seasonal Jewish clientele with a host of new, and formerly “exclusive” resort options to choose from. The “Borscht Belt” soon lost much of its lustre, and the reality today is that many of the town and village Main Streets have quite literally begun to fall apart. Today the area is better known for its stale economy and the rampant fraud and abuse of government services like Medicaid, Food Stamps and Unemployment Benefits.

Sullivan County’s unemployment rate of 10% hovers well above the national rate of

anthony’s barber shop

40 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

tianguistengo

longest state route at 397 miles. While the old route steered motorists into Liberty, the new highway completely bypassed it, accelerating the decline. “When that highway came in and gave folks the ability to go to the mall, that affected the local economy here just as much as anything else,” says Barbuti. “Imagine if all the cars on the highway today were still forced to pass through town.”

In 1998, Ideal Snacks, the soy-based contract snack manufacturer, officially opened its doors with a 30,000 square foot facility in Liberty, where Main Street meets Mill Street. Ideal Snacks Corp. employs a mainly immigrant workforce and is, undoubtedly, Liberty’s largest employer.

In late 2005 an Oklahoma-based biscotti manufacturer Nonni’s Food Company expanded its operations to the old United Beverage facility in the Liberty hamlet of Ferndale. Much like Ideal Snacks, Nonni’s maintains a mostly immigrant workforce, and has played a role in attracting more Latino immigrants to the area.

Since Ideal Snacks began operations, no less than ten Latino immigrant owned businesses have popped up on Main Street. Anthony Martinez, owner of Anthony’s Barber Shop, says, “It was like a ghost town. It was just a desolate strip with lots of boarded up storefronts.

Once Ideal Snacks opened, though, things took a turn and my clientele literally tripled.”

PHOTOS: NICK PIATEK

variedades mary corp.

7.7% adding even more pressure to an already strained system.

Only one, Krug’s Stationery, remains open for business today.

As a child, I attended The Assemblies of God Pentecostal Church on Liberty’s Main Street, as well as the elementary school. The first home I lived in with my mother was on Main Street. I remember having my first slice of pizza at the old Italian Delight Pizzeria, where owner Sal Moreno was always good for a free slice on Tuesday evenings after bible school. I remember my mother dragging me to Katz’s Bakery on her weekly trips for rolls and pastrami for my grandfather. I remember attempting to run up the “Going Down” escalator at Sullivan’s Department Store, the only place this side of Middletown where one could get a decent shirt. I also remember being fitted for a few tuxedos at Town and Country back when it was still a clothing store, getting my school supplies at Krug’s Stationery and stopping by Woolworth’s after school to buy Pop Rocks with my weekly allowance.

To get a bit of a first-hand perspective of what life was like during the height of the tourism boon in 1950’s Liberty, I spoke with lifelong resident, business owner and current Town of Liberty Supervisor, Charlie Barbuti. He recalls a Main Street with four clothing stores with names like Seiken’s Men’s and Lady’s Wear, Amber’s, Green’s Department Store and Town and Country; restaurants like Singer’s, Corey’s Italian Restaurant and Dukes; and Polley’s Shoe Store. “These were the types of places where you went in and they already knew your size, your sister’s size, and your mother’s size,” says Barbuti. “You’d go into the old restaurants and they knew your usual.”

Difficult matters were only compounded for Liberty upon completion of the State Route 17 (now future I-86) freeway alignment project that started in the 1950’s and continued into the 1980’s, making the roadway New York’s

With names like Tianguistengo, Variedades, La Mexicana and El Mariachi, these businesses cater mostly to the Latino community with products their patrons consider staples and would otherwise be difficult, or require some travel, to find. “You’ve got all these businesses now owned by people from Panama, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru,” says Martinez. “It’s like a little melting pot right here on Main Street.”

All of the recent activity on Liberty’s Main Street have not been lost on Barbuti: “You take this wave of immigrants who are coming in now with their ambitions, their kids and families and what you really have in them is a version of the American dream. That’s what America is supposed to be all about, and I’m of the opinion that we’re fortunate to have a Latino community here working so hard for a piece of that dream and helping rebuild this community.”

Eli Ruiz attended Liberty High-School and graduated from Oneonta State College in May of 2002 with a Bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Speech Communications. He lives in Monticello, N.Y. and work as staff reporter for the century-old Sullivan County Democrat newspaper.

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 41

BY THE RIVER | CULTURE CLASH

a clash of cultures

I do not mean to make us sound like our lives are all about dearth and drudgery. There are countless ways to find joy and happiness here despite the challenges and sometimes hardships. We find joy in the natural beauty of our surroundings and in the companionship of friends and family. We find camaraderie and security in close-knit communities bound together by time-honored country traditions – pot luck suppers and pig roasts, church fellowship and volunteering, helping each other when someone faces trouble, whether by holding a fundraiser or dropping a few dollars into a jar in a local store.

Into this mix come strangers from a completely different culture – city and suburban people – who live differently and perhaps even think and understand the world differently from their country cousins. What results – plain and simple – is a clash of cultures.

There’s nothing new about this clash of cultures, of course. It goes back to the time of the world’s first cities. Aesop, of fables fame (620 to 564 B.C./ Greece), told the story of the City 42 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

Mouse and the Country Mouse (www.yankeeweb.com/library/ storytime/fables/fables_38.html But I want to share a different story, a true story to illustrate this clash of cultures.

About ten years ago at a contentious local government meeting (I don’t really remember what people were fighting about) a young woman rose to speak – the daughter of an elected local official. To the assembled crowd, surrounded by her country neighbors, she turned to address the city transplants. “This community is not a retirement home,” she said pointedly, “and all of you people should go back to where you came from.” Country heads bobbed in agreement. I was taken aback, even though I had grown up in a rural village, attended a one-room schoolhouse, and considered myself sufficiently toughened up by 15 years of living and working in Manhattan. I was stunned to realize that this woman was serious. I soon learned that unless your family has been here going back several generations, you can never be “from here,” even if you reside here for the rest of your life and live to be 110. After considerable thought about the young woman’s comments, it came to me that lurking behind it was fear – fear of change, fear of losing a precious way of life.

I continue to think about this clash of cultures on a regular basis, yearning both for better understanding and for possible solutions. With that in mind, let me offer some thoughts along the same lines as Raymond Williams, who wrote a groundbreaking book of cultural analysis, The Country and the City, published in 1973. Williams concluded that simple dualistic explanations of how city people and country people are different were fruitless and that a solution, if there is any, lies in the shared experience of living in a knowable community.

Overcoming stereotypes like city “slickers” and country “bumpkins” will not be easy. But if the answer lies in discovering and experiencing a knowable, shared community, it at least seems doable, in fact, not only doable, but necessary. As the 21st century progresses, the world all but certainly faces uncertain times – the consequences of climate change, the exponential growth of world population and with it, ever increasing demands for food and energy. The idea of building strong, resilient local communities that would provide refuge and sustenance seems to make more and more sense.

To achieve this in our beautiful Upper Delaware Valley, where there already exists a foundation for strong local communities, both country people and city people, who each have so many skills and so much wisdom to offer, must be involved. And, think about it – we all treasure what is special about this region.

BY JANE BOLLINGER from The River Reporter www.riverreporter.com

In closing, let me offer these words of advice from the Syracuse Cultural Workers Collective printed on their prescient poster, “How to build community.”

“Turn off your TV. Leave your house. Know your neighbors.

Look up when you are walking.

Greet people…. Plant flowers.

Use your library. Play together.

Buy from local merchants. Share what you have…. Fix it even if you didn’t break it. Have pot lucks. Honor elders. Pick up litter.

Read stories aloud. Dance in the street. Listen to the birds…. Help carry something heavy. Barter for your goods. Start a tradition. Ask a question. Hire young people for odd jobs. Organize a block party. Bake extra and share. Ask for help when you need it. Sing together…. Take back the night.

Turn up the music. Turn down the music. Listen before you react in anger. Mediate a conflict. Seek to understand.”

0

Jane Bollinger is the managing editor of The River Reporter, a weekly newspaper covering the Upper Delaware River region.

She is a former head writer at Good Morning America and has lived fulltime on a deadend dirt road near Honesdale, PA since 1994.

illustration: Zarja

For all of its boundless scenic beauty and abundant natural resources – clean air, clean water and open spaces – the Upper Delaware River Valley, like the rest of rural America, struggles to thrive economically.

The insufficient quality of local jobs condemns many to meager lifestyles. A lot of residents work two jobs to support their families. When our children grow up, few of them stay.

Later in life some will return, drawn by the beauty of the place they called home. Others will retire here, contributing to the area’s already aging population.

Without the vitality of youth and their contribution, what does the future hold for the Upper Delaware region?

The urban/ rural divide?

SUPERNATURAL | GHOSTS CONTINUED from PAGE 15

is a wine closet in the back of the cellar where Lillian and Hazel both felt a presence. Hazel explains: “When I visited the basement during the first visit, Andy, the caretaker, accompanied me and I was able to connect with the energy by the wine cellar door - the same location where the workers had barricaded the opening in the wall from the other side of the basement. On the second visit, I couldn’t even bring myself to go down the stairs to investigate the wine cellar.”

Barbara had a terrifying physical experience. “It was like a force that pushed me against the wall,” says Barbara. “It was not good. It was evil. It’s not a place I would go back to.” Lisa Beers, another ghost hunter who was videotaping on the second visit, said, “She had a visceral reaction that couldn’t be faked.”

In the kitchen, Lillian says that she hears a male voice whisper “You bitch” in her ear. “When Lisa played back the tape you can hear a raspy male whisper,” says Lillian. Lisa says, “you hear a low visceral growl.”

Hazel’s notes from the first visit: Main house: kitchen - top of basement stairs, female energy, ‘in charge type’ personality, domineering, strong-willed, quick to fly off the handle.

Similar to feeling by wine cellar in basement, but it moved up the stairs.

Dark hair. Cook? Long dark dress. Energy is angry, causes me uneasy feeling and a strong desire to leave room.

Lisa Beers, a trained nurse who lives in Trout Creek, has a history at the Gerry estate. Twenty years ago, she provided nursing care to two older members of the Gerry family who lived at the vacation lake home. “That house was also haunted,” says Beers. “The elevator would just open and close.” She tells of an experience where she went down to the basement and saw a woman in a house-dress and apron walk right by her. When she returned to tell a cook and a groundskeeper of the “rude woman” they didn’t know who she was talking about. “Nobody could tell me who she was.” Andy has not heard about hauntings in the Lake House, but did says the two elderly family members used to have a driver chauffeur them around the estate imagining and reminiscing about the old days.

FOR MORE INFO www.avalonmoon.com www.catskillhauntings.blogspot.com Broadlands is private property. Visits by appointment only.

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 43

PHOTOS: KELLY MERCHANT

44 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

ACTIVISM | ANIMAL SANCTUARY

W

ith the world seemingly spiraling into violence, a visit to a simpler place filled with the promise of human kindness, friendly animals and a back-to-basics mentality may be just the emotional respite for visitors to Ulster County this summer. Catskill Animal Sanctuary, a safe haven for horses, unwanted pot-bellied pigs, and ten other species of neglected or abused farm animals has put together its most comprehensive summer program to date.

Finding Sanctuary Visit Catskill Animal Sanctuary this summer: tours, cooking classes, day camp and overnight stays.

BY JENNIFER FARLEY | PHOTOS BY KELLY MERCHANT

On Saturdays and Sundays through October, there are guided tours of the 80-acre main campus, suitable for all ages. Snacks are available on site.

“Tours are 90 minutes and begin every half hour starting at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The final tour of the day is at 4 p.m.,” says Outreach Director Michelle Alvarez, a former public-interest lawyer who volunteered at CAS for over a year before joining the staff in 2009. “But you should try to book as early as possible for overnight stays at The Homestead, vegan cooking classes, and Camp Kindness.”

You can make reservations online, as well as learn more about CAS, by visiting www. casanctuary.org.

Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for senior and kids under 12. The money goes to support the not-for-profit; an impressive 85 percent of every dollar CAS receives as income or donations goes directly towards its emergency rescue and educational programs.

Founded in 2001, Catskill Animal Sanctuary has rescued over 2,500 animals and worked in tandem with law enforcement to bring animal abusers to justice, established itself as a leading advocate for the abolition of factory farming, placed hundreds of animals in loving homes, and educated people on why and how to go vegan.

Visiting CAS is fun, and on a pretty day, few places are as scenic in a certain way as a farm with rolling hills in the Mid-Hudson Valley.

But rescuing animals is just part of the CAS mission. They want to help people understand why a plant-based diet is healthier for them and the planet. Hence the Compassionate Cuisine program, which offers guests chefs from the region and a variety of classes. Most classes are held in the evenings and are suitable for adult cooks of all experience levels who are interested in learning more about vegan techniques, health and nutrition.

The series kicks off with “Five Ingredient Vegan” on May 23, $50. Taught by guest chef Jenne Claiborne, attendees will learn how to make an impressive meal with dessert using only five ingredients per dish. The final one, “Wrap and Roll,” taught by CAS’s own chef Linda Soper-Kolton, will demonstrate how to create tasty lettuce, nori and rice-paper wraps.

It costs $45 and takes place October 3.

There’s also Camp Kindness for children ages 9-13; it’s a day camp offered in six one-week sessions costing $350 per person. Campers learn about a different species each day, assisting with animal care and working in the organic garden. In a fast-moving week, they learn to think critically about having compassion for animals and the planet.

“By providing ‘up close and personal’ experiences with farm animals, we hope to help people understand that in the ways that truly matter, we are all the same,” says CAS Director and Co-Founder Kathy Stevens. “Farm animals are intelligent beings and have a rich emotional life - they have best friends and enemies, they mourn the loss of loved ones, they feel fear and loneliness, fall in love and feel physical pain just like us and the beloved companion animals with whom we share our homes. If you wouldn’t eat your dog or cat, why would you eat a pig, cow, turkey, goat or chicken?”

Stevens, a regular Huffington Post blogger, has just published an updated paperback version of her acclaimed book Animal Camp: Reflections on a Decade of Love, Hope, and Veganism at Catskill Animal Sanctuary, which is available beginning May 15 in bookstores and online, and may be purchased at the on-site gift shop, along with t-shirts for both kids and adults.

Visitors may also stay overnight, or for a week at a special rate if their kids are enrolled in the day camp, at The Homestead Guesthouse, $115 to $295 per night. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, too, for an additional fee of $20 per night, in the renovated 1813 farmhouse. There are three guest rooms, which share a communal bath, and a suite with a kitchen, private bath, and separate bedroom that can accommodate families traveling with several children willing to sleep on provided air mattresses. The Homestead features original wide-plank floors, exposed brick walls, and gorgeous fireplaces. Guests receive a complimentary vegan breakfast, a VIP pass to spend time with the over 200 animals on the premises, and a free tour. In accordance with government rules for non-profits, to reserve a room, you must be a CAS member - membership starts at $40 for an individual, and entitles you also to reduced admission to most events.

FOR MORE INFO Catskill Animal Sanctuary 316 Old Stage Road Saugerties, NY 12477 www.casanctuary.org 845-336-8447

2013 SUMMER | Green Door 45

WELLNESS | BEEKEEPING

Local Beekeepers Make Golden Serum

By Jenna Flanagan

T

he best cure for seasonal allergies may not be in the pharmaceutical aisle but rather at a health food store or local farmers market. Eating local honey is a big part of a homeopathic regime and New York State’s Hudson Valley is home to hundreds of professional and amateur organic honey producers.

One such producer is Todd Windmark, owner and proprietor of HoneyBrook Honey Farms in Pine Bush, NY. He says raw wild flower honey is the best cure for seasonal allergies. It’s an amber colored honey with a popular bouquet of flavor that complements just about any food. Its medicinal qualities come from the variety of flower nectar contributing to the honey thereby allowing your immune system to build up a resistance to the irritation from each flowers’ pollen.

Buckwheat honey is another popular honey import. It comes from the Pacific Northwest where tons of it is produced and shipped 46 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

HoneyBrook Farms produces its honey in lots of different forms. Creamed honey or ‘honey spread’ is actually the same as traditional syrup honey, it has just been allowed to crystallize.

As with anything else, different nectars make different spreads and Windmark says clover nectar makes the creamed honey.

Even better for the immune system and body is honey pollen. Eaten as a food, it’s over 30% protein and is also rich in vitamins, minerals, beneficial fatty acids, carotenoids, and bioflavonoids which are antiviral, antibacterial and helpful in lowering cholesterol, stabilizing and strengthening capillaries.

If you have severe allergies, Windmark recommends you start with small quantities in the winter and increase your ‘dosage’ as your body develops a tolerance.

That way by spring, you should be breathing freely!

“Raw pollen is the world’s most natural food.” In fact, Windmark says Olympic athletes eat pollen while training to help them chisel their bodies to competitive perfection.

To make each type of honey, the bees are ‘released’ near a field of either buckwheat blossoms or a clover field. Wild flower honey comes from ‘free range’ bees that get to pollinate wherever they please.

So isn’t honey just honey? What’s the difference between a slightly more expensive locally produced organic jar and the less expensive generic store brand? The answer

Windmark says is filler.

As recent study by Senator Charles Schumer found several generic brands of honey are produced in countries like China and instead of pure bee nectar, they are using man made glucose and high fructose corn syrup to ‘bulk up’ and sweeten their product. In some cases the report suggests they even ‘flavor’ the fructose corn syrup to make it taste like honey. Windmark says you’ll find no filler in HoneyBrook Farm product as well as most products of New York’s honey producers.

HoneyBrook Farm is home to as many as eighty thousand honey bees each summer. The bees only live about 4 to 6 weeks because as Windmark points out, “they literally work themselves to death cleaning and protecting the hive, collecting nectar and taking care of the Queen.” He says a good hive can produce about 80 lbs of honey a year. Some beekeepers will harvest all of the hives honey, leaving the bees to starve to death but Windmark insists he only harvests a portion of their honey so the bees have enough to live off during the winter months, a common practice among local beekeepers.

After its removal from the hives, Todd strains his honey through a cheesecloth to remove any “beebody parts.” Heating honey, he says, over 112-degrees kills the live enzymes and subsequently removing all health benefits.

When worker bees go from flower to flower collecting nectar, they carry the substance in their stomach. When they get back to the hive it gets ‘transferred’ or regurgitated into another bee before finally getting ‘deposited’ into the honeycomb to sustain their young. This process is where the healing enzymes in pure honey come from. Eating foods

that contain those enzymes can help the body prevent and fight diseases like cancer and arthritis.

It also saves your body from having to make its own digestive enzymes, an energy depleting process.

Commercial honey, on the other hand is intentionally heated to kill those enzymes. Commercial producers also remove the pollen because it makes honey crystallize, and not appealing on a grocery store shelf. However, if you come across crystallized honey and you want it in a syrupy form, just add a little hot water and it will ‘go back.’ Unlike most organic foods, honey doesn’t have a shelf life so keep it as long as you want.

You can find HoneyBrook Farms on Facebook or on the shelves of Adams Faircare Farms or at Earthgoods in New Paltz. In the winter, off-season, you can also get your pure local honey straight from the farm. Regardless of which brand you choose, most local honey producers follow the same processing guidelines as Todd Windmark. You can also visit the Empire State Honey Producers Association online at www.eshpa.org for a list of state certified organic honey producers.

Despite the claims of Windmark and several other organic honey producers, local honey may not be the allergy relieving serum many people believe it to be. In 2001 the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology released a study on ‘Effect of ingestion of honey on symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis’ and in it they found that, “This study does not confirm the widely held belief that honey relieves the symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.”

FOR MORE INFO www.honeybrook-farms.com

drawings: Hein Nouwens

Wildflower honey is something you have to specifically look for, Windmark says that’s because clover honey is most commonly mass-produced. It has a familiar light golden color and popular mild taste. He says it only works medicinally if you’re allergic to clovers, but he warns, buyers beware. Most pure clover honey is imported from Canada. Clovers thrive in the limestone rich soil and while Canadian clovers and American clovers may look the same, but they produce slightly different pollens. Windmark says there’s no use in building up immunity to pollen that’s not found naturally in your region.

The same would also go for orange blossom honey, imported from California.

all over the country. Buckwheat honey is easily recognizable for its dark color, strong, bold and sometimes bitter taste.

Medicinally, Windmark says, it works well as a natural cough suppressant.

aLIFE with WELLNESS | OMEGA

M E A N

Carla Goldstein of the Omega Institute

BY SUSAN BARNETT

FOR MORE INFO

I N G

Omega Institute 150 Lake Drive Rhinebeck, NY 12572 877.944.2002 www.eomega.org 48 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

Why do people leave the city for the country? Most versions of the story involve a guy who’s always wanted to be a farmer or a woman longing for the simple life. Maybe it’s a family with dreams of chickens, goats and open fields, or an artist who needs to be closer to nature to fuel his or her creativity.

They’re looking for peace, quiet, and a little elbow room.

existed; a place that was interested in connecting the dots, discovering the interconnectedness of everything.”

But there are people who move to the Hudson Valley and Catskills not to leave society. They want to change it. And this is where they’re finding their life’s work. There are not one but two farm animal shelters, dozens of environmental groups, and groups devoted to local, sustainable economies.

“I was raised with that philosophy in my water,” she observed. “First it was handed down, then I lived it.”

These residents have moved to the Valley and the Catskills driven by a sense that there is more to life than a paycheck, more than ambition. They are successful professionals and they have no interest in dropping out. Their goal is to align their work with their ideals.

They arrive looking for the perfect lifework balance, pursuing work that feeds their souls.

Carla Goldstein is one of those seekers who found what she was looking for in the Hudson Valley. Goldstein is the co-founder of the Women’s Leadership Center at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck. She is also Omega’s Chief External Affairs Officer.

An attorney and a feminist, she was working for Planned Parenthood in New York City eight years ago. But she’d been coming to the area for years.

She and her husband had a summer home they owned with friends. Then she joined her co-workers at the Omega Institute Service Summit.

“I fell in love with Omega,” she remembered. “It transformed the way the thirty of us who were there worked together. So I brought my family to Family Week and it changed our family dynamic, too.”

Then a job opened at Omega. Goldstein moved into the weekend house full time.

“When my husband and I got married, we promised each other we’d each get a decade. The first decade was his and we lived in the city,” she said. “When we hit year 12, I got the Omega job. I reminded him it was “my” decade. And we moved with our two daughters.”

Her husband, an attorney, commuted back and forth to the city before finally moving upstate full time.

“I was so joyful that a place like Omega

Goldstein’s idealism is rooted in her childhood. She described herself as a child of the 60’s and her parents were involved in the social movements of the day – civil rights, human rights, women’s rights.

She was raised by a single mother when divorce was not common. She grew up in Florida where she saw racism and violence. And her pivotal memory was as a young woman at Florida State University where she heard Eleanor Smeal read the actual words of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment.

“I heard her, and I had to wonder – what is all this about? Why is this even an issue? I’ve learned it’s about power, insecurity and fear. That’s what holds us back from holding each other with respect and compassion. The more we understand how connected everything is, the more we align our lives to take care of each other.”

Goldstein’s work is ‘big picture’ kind of action. She is creating a global network of empowered women and men, a world of “compassion and empathy.”

She compares her work to building circuitry.

“There are amazing nodes of people trying to change our direction. Omega is one of those hubs. We’re modeling, teaching, voicing how we can live more sustainably. We’re training people to develop their inner core and to change how power is used.”

Power is a theme for Goldstein, one that is explored at Omega’s annual Women and Power Conference. That event brings together influential women from around the world to share insights into global issues and create connections with the goal of finding answers. For Goldstein, power needs to be redefined.

“When we began the Women’s Leadership Center, part of our vision statement included helping women use leadership to change the nature of power. We’ve traditionally thought of power as domination- power over. We envision power as being collaborative – power with. There’s a hunger for shared use of power. The game has rules that were written without women. Instead of learning the rules, how do we change the game?”

WELLNESS | GLOW ON THE GO

Cold-pressed juice delivery arrives in the Hudson Valley.

BY Vanessa Geneva Ahern of hudsonvalleygoodstuff.com

Rhinebeck resident Kim Santoro started a cold-pressed juice delivery service called “Glow on the Go” in January 2012, after she discovered that drinking green juices and smoothies made her feel better inside and out when she was struggling with an unexpected life change.

“Everyone was telling me that I was glowing, so I thought I must be doing something right,” says Santoro who radiates good health, and looks more like a 20-something, than her real age of 33. She says juicing gave her something positive to reach for instead of binge eating or turning to alcohol, common vices that she could have chosen.

After tasting three of her signature cold pressed vegetable juices, I felt a surge of alertness and energy. I tried the Bunny Brew: carrot, orange beet, spinach, orange, which Santoro calls the veggie juice version of chocolate milk. Then 3D Glow: kale, celery, parsley, carrot, which was refreshing as ice tea. All Green Machine has kale, romaine lettuce, celery, cucumber, apple, lemon. Glow on the Go’s smoothies are made in a Vitamix, and are more filling with banana, whey protein, flax oil, homemade cashew milk.

The juices are delicious, and she doesn’t overpower their essence with ginger or lemon.

Santoro makes the juices in a commercial kitchen in a Rhinebeck area restaurant using a hydraulic cold-press Norwalk juicer. The benefits of using this high-end juicer is that the minerals are extracted straight from the pulp without heat, so the end result is purer juice that can be kept in your fridge for 3 days or frozen for up to 6 months.

Santoro gets her organic produce from Red Barn Produce in New Paltz and looks forward to working with local farmers beginning in the summer.

Santoro plans on changing the menu often to keep things interesting for her customers.

Green juices are great for weight loss. The other juices with root vegetables can provide energy as well, but with more calories.

Most of her customers are looking to just add the drinks into their diet. “They are probably not eating great. I’m happy to help those people who want to do it once in awhile. I know how good it can feel,” says Santoro.

Santoro started changing her diet a year ago, removing gluten, sugar, dairy, and limiting red meat to once a week. Santoro has a morning juice around 7, then a smoothie around 9 am (nut bar in between), salad and rice for lunch, juice with lunch, smoothie around 3:30pm. Her day ends with a sensible dinner with a juice at night before 7pm, often followed by dark chocolate.

Right now the delivery works well for Santoro’s lifestyle as a busy mom of 3 kids under 6, but “Glow on the Go” is ready to take off, and she is considering many options including farmers markets, local health food stores, and maybe opening a store in the future. She asks her customers to give her 2-3 days advance notice when they want to start a cleanse, depending on the juice cleanse, and delivers over onehundred 16 ounce jars of juice a week to Kingston and Rhinebeck locations.

FOR MORE INFO facebook.com/Glow.Kimberly glow.kimberly@gmail.com 2013 SUMMER | Green Door 49

THE GREAT INDOORS | PALENVILLE

The Old School History can be yours.

BY SUSAN BARNETT

A glance out the round windows feels like a visit to the Scottish highlands.

Look past the stone walls and tiled roof to the rolling, manicured lawn. Beyond the grass and artfully placed stones are the hills, softly green with pine, even as a light snow falls.

But we’re not in the highlands. It’s Palenville and we’re in what was once the old Palenville school.

It’s a grand three-story limestone structure right at the intersection of the roads from Tannersville, Saugerties and Woodstock. For seventy years, it was where the local children spent each day, learning the three R’s in huge, bright classrooms and racing outside to the metal slide and jungle gym still there, waiting for recess to return.

The school stands apart in Palenville and I wondered if perhaps it was a sign of past affluence. Realtor Clare Brettschneider, who is listing the building for sale, said no.

“There were people in the town who thought it was too much, back when it was built in the late 1800’s.”

Lysander Lawrence, a wealthy New York City businessman, built it as a tribute to his wife after her death – the Rowena Memorial School – wanting to give something to the town they’d both loved.

There were people in the town who felt it wasn’t practical. The town was so divided it’s said there were some who proposed it be torn down, just so everyone could be friends again.

When jewelry designer and inventor Steven Kretchmer and his wife, Alma found the school in the mid 80’s it had been abandoned for 15 years.

Brettschneider said it was a wreck.

“I’ve got pictures showing what it was,” she said on a late winter day as we toured the home. “They rebuilt it from the bottom up.”

Kretchmer turned the main floor, with two classrooms and a small workspace, into a showroom and workroom.

His respect for the building’s history is evident everywhere – the woodwork and floors have all been restored, the blackboards preserved, each window refitted with double paned glass while keeping the original wood frames.

The grand central staircase leads to an incredible upstairs living area, a blend of city loft, antique home and schoolhouse that has to be seen, to be believed.

The main living area is completely open, with thirty-foot high pitched wooden ceilings echoing the pitches of the roof.

“The owner restored the old school clock, then used its round shape as inspiration to open windows all around the top floor in the same shape,” Brettschneider pointed out.

Although the school is on a main road, the height of the windows and the sound barrier created by the building’s stone walls create the illusion of total privacy, with lower windows facing out toward the park-like back yard.

The “island” guest room is reached by a small walkway from the living room and has its own full bath. Upstairs there is a massive master bedroom and a sumptuous master bath with windows and skylights looking over the mountains.

The kitchen is fitted for a gourmet chef, with lots of light and a hidden surprise. The walls include blackboards, which extend around the room. And two walls with blackboards,

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originally made to be raised and lowered with a crank mechanism, now can be lifted to separate the kitchen from the living area with just the push of a button.

Extra baths, a laundry room and a full, finished lower level that once served as the school’s gymnasium complete the building, and even the old metal fire escape is still in use, serving as a side entrance.

It was clearly a labor of love for a man who was considered a revolutionary in the world of jewelry design.

Kretchmer was the first to use metal alloys like blue gold, and patented a new type of magnetic platinum called Polarium, as well as a high compression machine which allowed him to create a unique tension setting that makes rings with gems that appear to float in place. He won numerous awards for his work and has been called the Tiffany of his generation.

The school has been for sale for several years. Kretchmer died in a motorcycle accident in Woodstock in 2006. His wife died, too. His daughter moved to Palenville from Arizona and continued her father’s work, then decided to move back west. Why, you might wonder, hasn’t something this incredible been snapped up yet?

“I have shown this place more than any other listing I’ve ever had,” Brettschneider said. “Everyone falls deeply in love with it. They want to live here. And they just can’t figure out what to do with the first floor.”

No doubt someone will think of something.

FOR MORE INFO Clare Brettschneider Westwood Metes & Bounds Realty clare@westwoodrealty.com 845-616-4330

LIVE YOUR DREAM Have you ever sat in your Manhattan cubicle and fantasized about getting out of the rat race, but didn’t know how? Well, now you can.

BY AKIRA OHISO INTERIOR PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BLOOM

FOR MORE INFO Email inquires to: NYupstatestore@gmail.com www.rivermarketny.com

In the serene destination town of Barryville, NY where second-homeowners and weekenders recreate on the beautiful Delaware River, you can own a thriving gourmet General Store and trade the current volatile market for a more stable local market. Located on Route 97, the main thoroughfare to the Upper Delaware River Valley, the market is a regular stop and gathering place for locals, weekenders, day-trippers and NYC second-homeowners. With a 2-bedroom apartment above the market, your commute is express.

The market is a turnkey business with established branding, loyal clientele, website, computerized inventory management system, 4 pump self serve gas station, 4,000 square feet of space and a daily view of the Delaware River. Step back in time, simplify, slow down and live your dream.

INTO THE WOODS | CREATIVITY

Mighty Acorns

BY AKIRA OHISO Photos by MICHAEL BLOOM

Bethel Woods Center for the Art’s youth & family programs take root.

B

ethel Woods Center for the Arts is known for presenting a wide-variety of legendary musical performers old and new. Where did these legends get their start? Most likely as young people inspired by an artist, musician, or artistic mentor. Now in its second year, the youth and family programs at Bethel Woods are committed to education and community outreach through the arts.

Saturdays at the Woods is an interactive experience for young people in grades K-9 that unleashes the imagination and celebrates selfexpression through the art of creative writing.

The World Stage Series is an initiative with a goal to empower youth to be positive, engaged members of their community and the world, by fostering a respect for themselves and their talents, as well as exploring the diversity in the world.

where did legends get their start?

Jules Massenet’s Cendrillion (Cinderella) was performed by opera students from Manhattan School of Music to a sold-out audience of local elementary school students.

The series also presented Kofi and Sankofa Drum and Dance ensemble, a celebration of Ghanaian art and culture.

Maxwell Kofi Donkor once said: “Drumming is the heartbeat of humanity. It balances both positive and negative energies in the individual

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and ultimately in the community. Drumming heals.”

Othello performed by the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival introduced young people to The Moor of Venice in an age-appropriate performance. Jazz Exploration highlighted America’s art form, in an afternoon that celebrated jazz standards. The performance included historical vignettes of jazz and stories behind the pieces.

School-aged children experienced the visceral tempo and rhythm of jazz.

Summer Stages offers teens and young adults an immersive workshop in the performing arts. This season’s workshops include All That Jazz, Broadway in Bethel, Youth Opera Experience and the Counselor-intraining programs.

Young musicians in grades 6-8 will enjoy an immersive experience in jazz, from music instruction, solo and ensemble work, to jazz history and specialty classes.

Culminating in a final performance, All that Jazz is a great way for the budding instrumentalist to grow as an artist, fine-tune their abilities and delve into an exciting musical style. Broadway in Bethel is a musical theater workshop for teens in grades 7-10 in which participants engage in the experience of rehearsing, designing, and performing a musical theater piece. The workshop will culminate in a final performance of the rock and Motown musical The Wiz. The Youth Opera Experience will partner with the Delaware Valley Opera. Young people in grades 2-6 will participate in rehearsing, designing and performing the operetta Babes in Toyland.

FOR MORE INFO Need-based and talent-based scholarships are available.

To register for Summer Stages: www.BethelWoodsCenter.org/community/ youthandfamilies.aspx

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POEM | STEWART’S

Stewart’s:

Sunday May 4, 2003

BY Kirby Olson

Mr. Stewart gives our kids harmonicas, talks about his store.

The counters are a 100 years old, “nothing works right,” and all the fixtures are broken.

Tristan wants out and stands by the door, Lola wants up in mom’s arms.

Riikka thinks the shop historical as I gaze at compasses and maps.

Now I’m at the corner of Main and Elm in Oneonta outside Mama Nina’s Pizzeria.

The Blazers are leading the Mavs by two, cars go by in a dream of motors, I dream and I think and I think: Mr. Stewart has never married—has no family.

The department store is grandfathered, no one will take over when he closes it.

Now in his late 80’s he talks about the past, a good listen if you’re in no hurry.

ENDPAPER | GARDENING

Sustenance in th Some people approach small-scale agriculture on purpose, planting their retirement years on land that calls out for cultivation. We did so tentatively, moving here from suburban New Jersey where a landscaping service swooped in every week to trim and clip and keep us presentable. We occupied our three acres on this quiet country road for a half-decade before we dug up a chunk of the lawn to sow vegetable seeds. Even then, we enlisted the couple who live up the road to share the work and the rewards with us. They had just made the big move from Manhattan to be here full time. The house they’d always spent their weekends in is now engulfed in trees and gets little direct sunshine, so cogardening on our property appealed to them.

One wet spring, our husbands rented a sod cutter to carve out a 20’ by 30’ plot of ground in our sun-drenched yard.

They surrounded it with a deer-deterring fence and built raised beds to get our crops out of the rocky clay. In four growing seasons, we’ve brought in many cubic yards of topsoil, composted steer manure from a local farm, bags of peat moss, composted horse manure from another neighbor’s horse farm, bags of lobster manure – I suppose this is from the coast of Maine – anything we can beg for or afford to buy. Every year, we rotate our crops and amend the soil as best we can. We mulch with grass clippings or loose straw.

We pull a lot of weeds.

Our “Grey Garden” is where we blunder, trial-and-error, like true and devoted amateurs. I search the Internet for interesting experiments, like planting potatoes on top of newspaper sheets, heavily mulched with straw. The mice and voles enjoyed easy access to our spuds that summer, so the following crop we buried deep in the dirt. I’d assumed, since Wendy managed to keep flowers alive around her front porch for thirty or so years, that she was an experienced gardener. She’d talked about digging potatoes and picking beans as a girl in New Zealand. Turns out I’ve had more vegetable-growing experience, so she often defers to my schemes, mumbling endearingly about how bossy I am.

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54 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

Once we hauled in a dozen bales of straw to experiment with “straw bale gardening,” a method that calls for treating the medium with high-powered fertilizer before placing seedlings directly into the compacted bales. The hitch was acquiring the high-powered fertilizer. We obviously do not fit the profile of terrorists, but were viewed with suspicion when we approached one nursery after another, asking for ammonium nitrate. It’s not readily available, we learned, for reasons of homeland security. We settled for a fertilizer with the highest content of nitrogen formulated for home gardening. By the end of the growing season, some veggies had done well; others were a total bust, keeling over into the uncultivated pathways – not the results I had viewed on YouTube clips.

Amongst us nouveau country folk, keeping chickens is now hot. Another neighbor, also quasi-retired from a highpowered city career, is on her second flock. She acquired baby chicks and nursed them through adolescence, first in her bathtub under a heat lamp, then in a make-shift pen

he Neighborhood in her husband’s man cave out near their horse stable. They had the run of the yard for a couple of years, only being cooped at night in a small chicken hotel surrounded by a low movable fence. It was pleasant to stroll up the driveway and see them scratching under bushes and pecking morsels from the grass. But after too many heart-breaking incidents of predatorattack and one inexplicable disappearance of eight teenaged pullets, Stewart built a fully enclosed shelter for the fowls.

Meredith likes to name her girls after the females of rock ‘n roll songs, so we’ve known “Roxanne,” “Maybelline,” “Aimee,” and an illustrious brood of others. Once, “Angie” became “Andy,” ushering in a resident male to herd the hens around. The current rooster is “Mick,” named for a certain cocky Cockney, yet decidedly less condescending. I saw two hens nab bits of green stuff right out of his beak, and he didn’t object.

Now they lay more eggs each day than their devoted keeper can use, so we get cartons of multi-colored ovoids on a regular basis. In exchange, I sometimes offer the hens whole heads of escarole or leftover cornbread or skins sieved from my latest batch of apple butter.

One day my grandson and I visited emptyhanded. They clucked expectantly, pacing back and forth in their cage like two-legged wildcats at the zoo. We pulled dandelion and plantain leaves from the grass and poked them through the chicken wire, to appease them.

BY ANN HUTTON

being pecked by the group, Meredith feels guilty. What would a real chicken farmer do with an ailing hen? None of us wants to speculate. Animal husbandry is a challenge, and not one for the faint of heart.

I don’t keep animals, but I paid a young couple $300 to walk our property and give us tips on how to incorporate more edibles, thus increasing our vegetal food production while decreasing the contrived nature of our surroundings. All that grass with no ruminants to munch it is unconscionable if we continue to mow it down every week with a gas-guzzling tractor. Ethan Roland and Dyami Nason-Regan of Appleseed Permaculture in Stone Ridge recommended we buy a hand scythe. Instead, we turned an acre of lawn into a wild field, letting the critters and weeds take over. I can visualize a goat or two meandering around out there. So far, my husband is not convinced.

Permaculture goes way beyond the vogue of raising veggies organically. Ethan and Dyami had us tasting weeds from the edges of the lawn. We nibbled flowers off what we thought were purely ornamental shrubs. They suggested adding vertical growing space in fruit and nut trees, privacy barriers to provide berries for both us and the local deer population, and seasonal fungi underneath everything. They had us ask: How can this plot of land proliferate in harmony with nature? Considering its shape and ecoclimate, how can we cultivate vegetation that will beneficially support all living things on it while enriching, not depleting, the soil?

In his play, he absorbs the mechanics of food This professional consultation was expensive food for production, understanding that a grocery

illustration: ohn mar

I don’t think she anticipated the amount of attention these chickens would require, however.

Aside from a healthy diet and protection from predators, they want understanding. Hen psychology. If one comes up lame or suffers

On the other hand, a bumper crop of anything out of either of our garden plots gets distributed up and down the road—cucumbers, arugula, tender lettuces, scallions, kohlrabi. Wendy and I trade home-grown veggies with Meredith, along with occasional samples of our culinary preserves. Last fall I made apple-tomato ketchup, pale and sweet, to douse on omelets.

Once Meredith shelled hundreds of hickory nuts she’d stolen off the ground from the squirrels, turning them into pesto with basil and garlic from her garden. Wendy is partial to canning jams and chutneys, and salting green beans like her mother did in New Zealand.

Co-gardening and sharing the harvest is an arrangement that makes us all feel neighborly, and it works because none of us are yet totally dependent on what we can produce for ourselves. We dabble at growing our own food, still secure in the availability of year-round store-bought goods. If the girls down the road are not laying, I can head to the local market for eggs – or for produce grown in another hemisphere, for that matter. Still, the novelty of eating food that emerges from our own dirt is gratifying.

thought, something home gardeners normally indulge in for free every winter, pouring through seed catalogues and coffee table garden books and dreaming of horticultural abundance in the coming year. People might say, “$300 would buy a lot of eggs and lettuce!” They’d be right, of course. But we have a lot to learn and need to learn it fast if we want to enjoy long term results, such as garlic next summer – it must go into the ground in the fall – or our own cider from apple trees that will need a few years to start producing.

“My grandson, five years old, dug in the soil after we’d harvested last year’s veggies. He rearranged bean stakes from a pile in the corner of the garden, pretending to get the empty beds ready for planting in the spring.”

In his play, he absorbs the mechanics of food production, understanding that a grocery shelf is not his primary source of sustenance. As we all inch our way to greater self-reliance, we gain an earthbound knowledge of the soil and the interdependence of species, an appreciation for the blessed cycle of growing seasons, and the grace of good neighbors. And – eggs or no eggs – awakening each day to the sound of Mick’s sunrise song is pure satisfaction.

The take-away maxim for home gardening is: you live and learn, especially when every year brings unpredictable weather conditions. One September we’ll have butternut squash vines overtake the whole garden and produce forty squashes. The next year, we’ll be lucky to get a dozen fruits off the same number of plants.

Ann Hutton contributes to various publications in the Hudson Valley region, while toiling away on a memoir about riding her motorcycle across the country. She lives and gardens on a quiet road outside of Stone Ridge, New York. www. annhutton.com

shelf is not his primary source of sustenance.

The ins-and-outs of keeping chickens for eggs and pleasure have impressed upon our neighbors what a huge responsibility animal husbandry is.

They’ve had horses for years, and have settled into the feeding, shoeing, grooming, and riding routine, sometimes absorbing partial costs by boarding other horses with their three. If Meredith’s chicken coop is a hotel, her stable is a resort complex, replete with a horse-sized shower stall and Stewart’s mother’s crystal chandelier hanging in the tack room. She pipes in rock ‘n roll to keep them content.

Tomatoes have been so disappointing for two years that I’ve supplemented my seasonal canning with boxes of fruit from the local farmers’ market. We’ve learned to stagger our plantings to prolong the growth of certain crops – and to hesitate less if it seems as though an entire bed just needs to be yanked out and composted.

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2013 SUMMER | Green Door 55

ENDPAPER | POSSIBILITIES

PHOTO by CARLA SHAPIRO www.carlashapiro.com

I search for deserted houses that are dilapidated, crumbling, flooded or burned out. Their stillness has a mystery that attracts me, their structure a worn splendor. These buildings have both charisma and decay. I fill rooms with furniture, pictures, and flowers eliminating the emptiness but accentuating the loneliness. I move life and soul into a barren room, fresh hope into an abandoned house. I search for vacant structures, move in, set up, and photograph. My furniture creates potential in the barren space, dichotomizes new and old, strong and fragile, protective and dangerous. I have created mementos of what might have been in a former time. We have entered into an era of nostalgia because realities are so disturbing. There is sadness in what is, and hope in what can change.

- Artist Statement

56 Green Door | SUMMER 2013

photo: carla shapiro

Regrets & Possibilities