Upstate Life - Spring 2019

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TA - I E ON EE FR KE T’S

SPRING 2019

ROYAL The

T R E AT M E N T This car dealership will never be stuck in the mud

Summer camp not just for kids Foresee fun in 4C

A clean sweep for spring

Make your own chemical-free supplies

Try on some Dutchman’s Breeches

& More!

SPRING 2019

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VOLUME 13

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ISSUE 2 Upstate Life Magazine, Winner, New York State Associated Press Association First-Place Award for Specialty Publications, is published by: The Daily Star, 102 Chestnut Street Oneonta, New York 13820 Š 2019 - All rights reserved.

The Royal Treatment This car dealership will never be stuck in the mud

Hopped up on homegrown Beer is made with only four ingredients

Publisher Fred Scheller

Summer camp not just for kids Foresee fun in 4C

Editor Joanne Arbogast

A clean sweep for spring Make your own chemical-free supplies

Graphic Designer Tracy Bender

Try on some Dutchman’s Breeches

Advertising Director Valerie Secor

Wild Things in one garden

Interested in advertising in Upstate Life Magazine?

Call toll-free, 1-800-721-1000, ext. 235

Geology Day Trip A visit to Stony Cove

We invite you to email your comments to: upstatelifeeditor@thedailystar.com

Only Natural

On the cover

Smell the roses

Business Directory Meet the locals

From left: Jim Westcott, assistant new vehicle manager; Alberto Graham, sales; Tony Ross, assistant used car manager; Jeremie Hoyt, business manager, and Scott Hinrichs, sales manager of Royal Chrysler/ Hyundai, make up an integral part of Royal Auto NY in Oneonta.

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PHOTO BY CREATIVE IMAGING PHOTOGRAPHY

Cover Story

ROYAL The

T R E AT M E N T

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met Stephen K. Harris, president of Royal Auto NY in Oneonta, en route to interview him for this story. En route, because my car got terrifically stuck in one of the mud puddles that doubles as a driveway in early spring upstate. I called Mr. Harris to make my apologies and reschedule, but instead he said, “I’m on my way.”

Having met him, the act seems fitting: a large gesture from a larger-than-life man invested in the business and people of his community.

Together with his wife of more than 40 years, Mary Jo Hinrichs-Harris, the Vestal native is in his third decade of managing local dealerships. The Harrises, including children Tyler, Gavin and Lauren, moved to the Cooperstown area in 1996.

“MJ and I own and operate Royal Chrysler, a Fiat Chrysler Automobile Corporation new vehicle franchise, and Royal Hyundai, a

Hyundai Motor America new vehicle franchise,” he said. “This is our 35th year selling and financing new and used vehicles as well as providing original factory parts and accessories and authorized factory, service and warranty repairs. We also acquire, sell and service Chrysler and Hyundai certified pre-owned vehicles.”

Feeding a need The Harris family, he noted, has made a tradition of upstate-area business ownership.

“My family has had many businesses over the years,” he said, “starting with grocery stores. Harris’ Food line (had) 18 stores that we sold in 1980 to Great American, formerly Victory Markets in Norwich. We got into the auto business with Royal Ford in 1968.”

Harris’ father, R. Dwight Harris, even built Royal’s Oneonta facility, located at 6464 State Highway 23, before opening it in October 1984.

PHOTOS BY CREATIVE IMAGING PHOTOGRAPHY

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STORY BY ALLISON COLLINS

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

President of Royal Auto NY Stephen K. Harris with his wife, Mary Jo HinrichsHarris, co-owner of Royal Chrysler and Royal Hyundai.

This car dealership will never be stuck in the mud “Eventually we owned 11 new vehicle businesses throughout the Southern Tier of New York and northern Pennsylvania,” he said. “And over the years we have acquired multiple commercial properties, ancillary businesses and rental properties.”

Today, he said, the Harris family and associates own and operate eight stores in the Owego, Cortland, Oneonta and Cooperstown markets.

Sticking together That family feeling is part of what’s kept Royal employees with the company for nearly as long as Harris has been at the helm.

“The car business is interesting in that people get in and never seem to get out,” he said. “They may change jobs, franchises or relocate, but they seem to stay involved in one way or the other. I think that is one of the things that separates our story from some of the others — we have longevity of employment among many of our loyal employees.”

“Joel Craft, our master technician/shop foreman, is our oldest employee,” Harris said. “(He) started here in 1985. Jim Westcott, assistant new vehicle manager, has been here over

20 years and Tony Ross, assistant used car manager, almost as long. Alberto Graham, Steven Pickwick and Scott Hinrichs in sales and sales management have all been in the business for 15-plus years. Rich Goodspeed, Barry Hoyt, Paul Gore and Marc Guy have been in the service end of the business for 20and 30-plus years and the same is true of our office staff — Amy Williams had 30-plus years and Jill Guy 20-plus.”

Wide appeal Royal’s clientele, Harris said, is similarly loyal and far-reaching.

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“

The car business is interesting in that people get in and never seem to get out. They may change jobs, franchises or relocate, but they seem to stay involved in one way or the other. I think that is one of the things that separates our story from some of the others—we have longevity of employment among many of our loyal employees.

From left: Paul Gore, Barry Hoyt and Rich Goodspeed have been in the service end of the car business for more than 20 years.

“Our geographic area of sales stretches out an approximately 42-mile radius from the 13820 ZIP code,” he said. “We have sales history as far away as Mohawk, down past Margaretville, west of Norwich and down toward Hancock, Deposit and the Pennsylvania/ New York border.”

Harris attributes his widespread customer base to years of dedicated advertising, while at the same time recognizing the changing nature of public relations.

“That comes from years of direct-mail marketing for both on- and off-site sales events,” he said. “But one of the ongoing challenges at the dealership level is how to reach our customers or future customers marketing-wise. This is and has been difficult for many dealerships, particularly in rural settings, to figure out.”

“The traditional modes of reaching our customer base in prior years was simple,” he continued, naming newsprint, radio, television and direct mail as time-tested methods. “It was simple

and effective, but no longer gets the return on investment that it once did.

Now, in addition to the traditional means, we have data-mining services and sources, electronic billboards and social media outlets like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Google.”

Additionally, Harris said, he likes to spread the word by aligning the Royal name with “community nonprofits, fundraisers, public events and worthwhile causes on the local level.” He named Oneonta’s annual Ricky J. Parisian Pit Run and the Polar Bear Jump as examples.

Do what is needed A long history of dealership management has taught Harris to hone in on the future.

“The future of the auto business is, and ever has been, a changing dynamic,” he said. “While some things never change — the basics of selling and serving our customers’ needs, wants and wishes (alongside) the customer service aspect of any retail business — it’s the new products, technology,

Royal Chrysler and Royal Hyundai buildings, both located on State Highway 23, Oneonta.

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— Stephen K. Harris, president of Royal Auto, NY

training and marketing tools needed to sell and service that are ever-changing and diverging.”

Despite those evolving demands and hurdles unique to upstate enterprise, Harris remains dogged in his commitment to the industry and the area — the kind of person who sees a car stuck up to its wheel wells in mud and simply works the problem until it’s solved.

“Small local franchised dealerships have some tough sledding ahead of them, particularly in upstate New York,” he said. “We have a shrinking and aging population with not a lot going on with new growth and opportunity.

Figuring out how to market and finance our new products in this economic climate is a challenge to say the least, but we have been getting it done for 35 years and I trust we will keep getting it done.”

For more information, email Harris at SteveH@RoyalAutoNY.com, call (607) 432-9300, stop by 6464 State Highway 23, Oneonta or visit royalchrysler.com or royalhyundaiofoneonta.com.

What You’ll Find at Royal Royal’s inventory, said Stephen K. Harris, president of Royal Auto NY, reflects overall market trends, while keeping in mind the driving needs of rural customers.

“We will be selling gasoline-powered vehicles for many years to come in my opinion, even though those gas- and diesel-powered vehicles will, of course, become more fuel efficient,” he said. “I acknowledge that a certain segment of the market will shift toward hybrid/electric vehicles, particularly in the heart of major metro areas, (but) here in the country, that is not yet affordable or practical.”

“For right now and for at least the next five years, all the major auto manufacturers will be building almost exclusively trucks, SUVs and crossover vehicles,” he added. “Many car lines will disappear, unless they can be converted to all-wheel drive. Fiat Chrysler made this move several years ago and is ahead of the curve.”

As a result, Harris said, visitors to the Oneonta dealership will find top-tier “muscle cars.”

“All our small cars are gone; what remains are our ‘muscle cars,’ (such as) the Challenger, Charger and 300, all of which come in rear-wheel and all-wheel drives,” he said.

“Ever since Fiat picked up the reigns of Chrysler during the 2008-‘09 recession, our product has soared in quality and design.”

To keep up with emerging inventory and designs, Harris said, his wife and Royal Hyundai’s sales manager, Scott Hinrichs, traveled last year to the international dealer meeting in South Korea.

“They shared their experience with our staff and said people will not believe what Hyundai has cooking,” Harris said. “(There are) new SUVs — a total of seven will be available, versus the original two, including a new eight-passenger called the Palisade — and a new, small pickup truck.

“Also, the Kona was named the 2019 North American Small Utility Vehicle of the Year. The 2019 Ram 1500 is North American Truck of the Year and … for five of the first eight months in 2018, Ram trucks actually outsold Ford for the first time.

“The 2019 Wrangler is the North American SUV of the Year,” he added, “and, as of October 2018, one in every four SUVs in America is a Jeep.”

To get behind the wheel of these and other award-winning vehicles, visit Royal between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday or 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The dealership is closed Sundays. +

“

The 2019 Wrangler is the North American SUV of the Year and, as of October 2018, one in every four SUVs in America is a Jeep.

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— Stephen K. Harris, president of Royal Auto, NY

UPSTATE LIFE magazine

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New York Hops

Hopped up on homegrown Beer is made with only four ingredients

BY K. KUNZ SWOPE

barley water yeast

HOPS

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ention the word “hops” and most people recognize it as the key ingredient in flavoring beer. What exactly are hops and what has fueled the rapid growth of hop yards in the upstate New York region?

Hops are deeply rooted in the history of New York and there is hope the expansion of the craft beer industry will ensure the future economic vitality of the region, as the growth of hops rises to meet the demand.

Nationwide the number of craft breweries has doubled during the last decade. Over the last century, Washington state, Oregon, and Idaho have grown nearly 100 percent of the hops in the U.S. Prior to that time, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, New York grew 90 percent of the hops used in the United States. Otsego, Oneida, Madison, Schoharie and Montgomery were the primary counties for hops production.

In 1909, the downy mildew fungus infected many of the hops plants, putting a number of farms out of business. This was followed by an aphid infestation in 1914 that crippled the industry and caused more businesses close. The passage of the 18th Amendment that implemented Prohibition struck the final blow. The ban on the manufacture of alcoholic beverages eliminated the demand for hops.

However, over the last decade, upstate New York has seen a resurgence of the hops industry. The growth of craft breweries in New York alone has doubled since the January 2013 passage of the Farm Brewery Law, with the introduction of more than 250 new breweries.

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A brewer is part cook, part “chemist and part magician. ”

— Kate Fisher, co-owner, Foothill Hop Farm and Brewery of Munnsville

The Farm Brewery Law of 2012 created requirements for farm brewer licensing and tax incentives for brewers with at least 20 percent of their ingredients grown in New York. In January of 2019 that percentage increased to 60 percent and by 2024 the incentives will require 90 percent of the ingredients to be grown in New York.

Taste of home Steve Miller, executive director of the Northeast Hops Alliance, has been active in the resurgence since it began. The NH Alliance educates, advises and supports hops growers and brewers in New York, Maryland and New England. The alliance promotes the production and use of Northeast-grown hops in an effort to restore it as a thriving agricultural industry.

Currently, there are about 400 acres in New York state dedicated to growing hops, with about 50-60 commercial growers. The average hop yard is 5-10 acres, but they range in size from backyard growers to farms as large as 20-40 acres.

There are more than 200 varieties of hops worldwide, with 60 varieties grown in the U.S. According to Miller, there are about 40 varieties of hops currently grown in New York. However, some brewers are not using hop varieties grown in New York, they are using hops grown in places such as New Zealand or in the western United States.

As a result, “one of the goals of the Northeast Hops Alliance is to cultivate feral or wild hops in order to create varieties of hops that are only available in New York,” Miller emphasized. He added, “The same hops grown in different places will taste different.”

Larry and Kate Fisher are seen in the tap room of their business, Foothill Hops, in July 2018.

PHOTO BY JENNIFER WAGNER AND FOOTHILL HOPS

Beers seen in the taproom at Foothill Hops, left to right, a glass of Bee Free, a sorghum gluten-free beer made with local apple cider and honey; a flight including KungFU honey blonde ale made with 12 pounds of local honey per barrel; C&W pale ale made with Cascade and Willamette hops; For Pete’s Sake, a seasonal British pale ale; and Bear Path Brown, an American brown ale.

At far right are glasses of sarsaparilla and cream soda, also made at the brewery.

PHOTO BY FOOTHILL HOPS

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Hop drops Hops, the cone-shaped female flowers of the hop plant, are used primarily for the flavoring of beer. Larry and Kate Fisher, owners of Foothill Hop Farm and Brewery of Munnsville (5024 Bear Path Road), explained, “Hops add different flavor profiles to beer, such as bitterness, floral, pine, herbal, or tropical fruit notes, depending on the variety.”

The Fishers grow 14 varieties of hops and use their own hops in their farm brewery. They are proud of their slogan, “Our hops in every drop.” Larry Fisher finds one of the challenges of hops farming to be the disease pressure in the environment but notes that the greatest reward is the many great people he and his wife get to meet.

In 2016, the New York State Grown & Certified marketing program was launched to provide consumers with a reliable means of ensuring food producers are abiding by strict food safety standards and are engaging in effective environmental sustainability practices.

The NYS Grown & Certified seal also identifies the product as grown in New York state, which capitalizes on the farm-totable and locally-sourced food movement. Craft beverage ingredients are eligible to earn the NYS Grown & Certified seal. As Miller noted, “We believe that consumers want to know that the ingredients in their beer were grown in New York.”

Making magic Beer is made with only four ingredients: hops, barley, water and yeast.

“Beer can be brewed with a single variety of hops and a single variety of malt up to about five varieties, which would be the upper limit,” according to Kate Fisher. She believes, “New York will never compete with the northwest as a major supplier of hops in the United States, but we can provide quality hops for New York breweries and other northeast breweries.”

As a small brewer, the Fishers attend many small local craft beer festivals. They can be found at events such as the 22nd Annual Tap New York! Beer & Food Festival at Hunter Mountain, Pig & Swig on the Canal at the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, along with other craft beer brewers.

These small breweries pride themselves on small hand-crafted batches of beer delicately brewed to perfection. The result demonstrates, as Kate Fisher remarked, “A brewer is part cook, part chemist and part magician.” +

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PHOTO BY KATE FISHER

Cascade hops are seen at Foothill Hops in September 2018.

The Great Outdoors

Summer camp not just for kids

Woodworking workshop

Weed walk workshop PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Foresee fun in 4C

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omething magical happens each August at Camp Shankitunk in Delhi. Adults of all ages come together to participate in a four-day camping experience at the 4C Camp for Adults.

The 4Cs are Camping to Create Caring Communities, a concept that originated in 2007 to provide an opportunity for adults to have the same kind of fun as kids who attend summer camp experience.

The magical aspects of the program come in the form of new friendships, trying new skills, feeling a sense of belonging, having fun and, as board member Judy Taggart suggests, “Letting your hair down and just being able to be yourself.”

Campfire clans Campers arrive on Thursday, most not knowing anyone, and they are assigned to a “clan.” The clans are named for natural elements: water, earth, fire and air. Immediately forming connections through their clans, campers begin to make new friends. An opening ceremony gets the weekend started and on Thursday evening the campfire is lit and is kept burning until the closing ceremony on Sunday after lunch.

Together, the campers eat delicious foods and enjoy their choice of 30 workshops offered on Friday and Saturday throughout the day, or they have the option of free time. Each camper chooses activities and workshops that are of interest to him or her individually.

The range of choices ensures there is something for everyone.

There are different workshops every year as well as ones offered

annually. Some of the past activities have included archery, horseshoes, aqua aerobics, yoga, tai chi. There are arts and crafts such as whittling (a bird or walking stick from a branch), sketch & etch, painting, cork birdhouse building, rug hooking, crochet, essential oils, welding, blacksmithing, and pottery.

Among the choices are also speakers on interesting topics such as “I Can Fix That!,” “Growing & Preserving Food from Your Porch,” “First Settlers of the Area” and “DNA & Family Research.”

A different woodworking project is offered each year during a popular workshop offer by board member Tom Briggs.

Secret no more Participants take advantage of the opportunity to try new activities and do things they never thought they would do. Taggart tells the story of

an 82-year-old woman’s excitement about using a chop saw for the first time, as she built a wooden bench.

Evenings end with the participants gathering together to enjoy a special campfire. It is a time to unwind, enjoy the outdoors, look at the beautiful setting around them, and be at peace as they listen to the sounds of nature. Camp organizers are hoping to have someone who plays the guitar come to camp this year so they can sing around the campfire.

The camp is a non-profit organization that operates under the auspices of the Cornell Cooperative Extension. There is a 15-member volunteer board that spends a year carefully planning the four-day experience.

The board includes Teddy Beaver and her husband Leon, who were attendees of the camp.

After their first year, they knew they wanted to be part of planning the annual event. Beaver explained that she and her husband were introduced to 4C Camp for Adults by a friend who asked if they would

BY K. KUNZ SWOPE

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be interested in camping. “We decided to go and had a great time; it was just so much fun! I was voted (for) best decorated cabin!” Beaver added.

Taggart believes 4C Camp is the area’s best kept secret. “Everyone joins together and becomes one big family. You cannot understand the impact of seeing this has had on me,” she says.

Beaver points out the advantages of trying new hobbies without the expense of buying the equipment. “We would like more men to participate and have developed programming that would particularly appeal to men,” Beaver says.

Connect to community The accommodations are rustic cabins without electricity or running water. There is a nearby bathhouse. For campers with disabilities or those who need electricity for oxygen or other medical equipment, or need to be close to bathroom facilities, there are a limited number of

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special accommodations available.

Campers also have the option of bringing their own tent or RV. In addition, the camp cook will accommodate any special dietary needs.

The back-to-basics environment, spending time in tune with the beauty of nature, and the shared experiences, create a bond among the participants.

“People tend to guard their emotions, but the camp allows people to be themselves, they feel comfortable opening up,” Taggart says.

The camp’s unique program was recognized in 2012 at the Annual Aging Services Unite Us Conference in Albany, NY. 4C Camp for Adults received the Great Ideas in Aging Award from the Albany Guardian Society. While the camp began with a focus on senior citizens, it has expanded to include adults of all ages. One young man in his twenties has been attending for several years.

Diversity is encouraged because it strengthens the sense of community that is the heart of the camp.

The theme for the 2019 camp is “Celebrating Our Global Heritage” and will include meals that reflect various countries. Participants have the option of

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People leave camp feeling they have changed and many cannot wait to return the following year.

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— Judy Taggart, 4C Camp board member

wearing a costume or item that reflects their heritage or bringing a snack that is specific to their culture. Campers will arrive on Aug. 8 and leave on Aug. 11 after lunch and a closing ceremony.

Taggart has served on the board since its inception. When asked why she believes some people feel changed by the experience, she explains that 4C Camp for Adults “provides an opportunity to revisit who they really are, because that is what happens.

“People leave camp feeling they have changed and many cannot wait to return the following year.”

Crocheting workshop

Walking stick workshop Lucile Siegel from Long Island shares her passion for walking stick carving with campers.

Luciles Siegel’s carvings pictured above.

Glass etching workshop Ann Peete displays her work from the glass etching workshop.

Pool time

4C Camp

If you go

Archery workshop

A camper demonstrates her skill at the archery workshop.

What: 4C Camping to Create Caring Communities When: Thursday, Aug- 8 to Sunday, Aug. 11 Registration: 4c-camp.org (opens in June until full) Fee: $160 for three nights, 4 days (includes, housing, meals and activities). Camperships available for those who cannot afford the full cost. Inquire by email at info@4C-Camp.org Location: Camp Shankitunk, 2420 Arbor Hill, Delhi, NY 13753 Limit: 60 campers (first registered basis) Who: Any adult age 18 or older Housing: Rustic bunk houses, special accommodations for disabled and those who need electricity for oxygen or other medical equipment, or other requirements or campers can bring their own tent or RV (no hook-ups)

For the Home

n a e l A c for p e e sw

G N I R P S

lies p p u s al-free c i m e h own c r u o y Make

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANNA KRUSINSKI

Here are a few favorite essential oil blends for a refreshing room spray: 4 Lavender & peppermint 4 Lemon & basil 4 Orange & clove 4 Bergamot & lemon 4 Rosemary & basil

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For an all-purpose cleaning spray you’ll turn to year-round, mix 8 ounces of white vinegar, 6 ounces of water, and 2 ounces of rubbing alcohol. For a subtle fragrance, you can also add up to 20 drops of your favorite essential oils. Place in a spray bottle and shake before each use. This spray can be used to clean your countertops, cabinets, glass surfaces … practically anywhere.

Spring cleaning is also a great time to refresh your floors and carpets. For a floor cleaner with a disinfecting boost, add ¼ cup of borax, 1 teaspoon of orange essential oil and 1 teaspoon of lavender essential oil to 1 gallon of hot water. Use to mop your floors and get them looking and smelling great.

Clean your wood floors with a mixture of ¾ cup of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon essential oil in 1 gallon of hot water.

And for carpets, baking soda is wonderful for deodorizing. Simply sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet (or focus on the high-traffic

rpets before vacuu n ca mi ro ng e . nd e v a

l

Around the house

areas of the room), let sit for 30 minutes, and vacuum as usual. For a subtle scent, you can also add ground lavender flowers to the baking soda.

We don’t often think of it, but it’s a good idea to clean your blinds to help prevent build-up of additional dust in your home.

Mix a simple solution of 5 ounces of vinegar and 3 ounces of water and wipe off dust and dirt with a microfiber cloth. To make this tedious task easier, you can also find blind-cleaning wands that are specially designed to wipe down blinds, making quick work of a typically time-consuming job.

We all love when our home smells clean and fresh, and with so many essential oils to choose from, there’s no reason not to make your own natural room spray. Mix 3 ounces of vodka with 12 ounces of water and add up to 15 drops of your favorite essential oils. This spray is also wonderful for refreshing your bed linens, pillows, mattresses…even couches and other fabric-covered furniture!

baking soda a inkle nd Spr gro un d

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pring is in the air! Just as the world is awakening outside, it’s also a great time to freshen up your home with some spring cleaning. And the best way to get the job done is with natural ingredients…many of which you probably already have in your pantry.

In the kitchen

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1. Rejuvenate wooden chopping boards with a squeeze of fresh lemon. 2. A paste of baking soda and water will keep your stovetop sparkling. 3. This tool makes quick work of the tedious task of cleaning blinds. 4. Make your own natural cleaning spray, perfect for sprucing up every room in the house.

Prime cooking areas like the stovetop, oven, and microwave are notoriously troublesome to clean because they tend to accumulate grease, oil and food build-up.

To get your stovetop sparkling, mix up 1/3 cup of baking soda and 10 drops of essential oils with enough water to create a paste. Apply to the stovetop and wipe down with a clean cloth.

We all dread cleaning the oven, but the process can be made so much easier with just baking soda and vinegar. Create a cleaning solution with 1½ cups of baking soda and ¼ cup vinegar (optional; add 20 drops of essential oils). Start by removing the racks and cleaning them in the sink, then use the remaining solution in the oven, leave it on overnight, and wipe it clean with a wet cloth.

For the microwave, use a microwave-safe bowl to heat 2 cups of water and the juice of two lemons. For extra grease-cutting power, let the bowl sit in the microwave for a few minutes before wiping clean.

Wooden chopping boards also need regular cleaning, and all it takes is some lemon juice! Apply the juice to the board and let sit for a few minutes before wiping clean. This also works great for removing stubborn food stains on plastic dishes.

Some of my favorite essential oils for kitchen cleaning include: 4 Basil 4 Lemon 4 Orange 4 Rosemary

In the bathroom When it comes time for a bathroom deep-clean, you need all the power you can get. And with a few simple ingredients, your bathroom will be sparkling clean and smelling fresh, naturally!

Create an all-purpose scrubbing powder by mixing 1 cup each of baking soda, borax, and salt (for extra cleaning power, add 20 drops each of tea tree and peppermint essential oils). Use for cleaning and scouring any bathroom surface that needs it.

For the toilet bowl, combine ¼ cup of baking soda with 1 cup of vinegar and add 20 drops of tea tree essential oils. Use the toilet brush to apply to the sides of the bowl and let sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing. Flush to rinse clean.

Finally, for grout stains, combine baking soda and water to create a paste and apply to the grout. Spray on vinegar, then scrub and wipe clean.

In the Garden

Try on some Dutchman’s Breeches

F

ew wildflowers are as unique as the blooms on the Dicentra cucullaria, better known as Dutchman’s Breeches. It produces lovely white flowers that look like tiny pantaloons. The overall appearance of the plant resembles several pairs of tiny pants hanging upside down on a clothesline, with delicate fern-like foliage beneath.

It is a spring ephemeral, which means it blooms in early spring for a short time and then disappears until the following year. Specifically, when the sun shines abundantly on floor of the forest, before the trees bloom and block the sunlight to the understory.

Wild Thing

Dutchman’s Breeches are beautiful native wildflowers that you can enjoy in the forest or plant in your garden.

Sean Robinson, Ph.D., associate professor of biology at SUNY Oneonta, curator of the Jewell and Arline Moss Settle Herbarium, noted, “It grows well in dappled sunlight in well-drained acidic soil that is kept moist, but not wet. It will grow to a height of about 6 inches.” It mixes well with other plants, but particularly with ferns.

Robinson discussed the importance of native plants. “People should recognize native plants, animals and organisms that interact with these plants can provide a resource for

wildlife,” he explained.

Bees depend on early spring flowers to feed, which supports pollination. Size matters when it comes to bee tongues, and some bees do not have tongues long enough to reach the sweet nectar inside the long legs of the Dutchman’s Breeches. Bumblebees and honeybees are longtongued bees that serve as effective pollinators of Dutchman’s Breeches.

Both bees are also strong enough to pry the hinged petals of the bloom open to provide access to the nectar.

With the bee population in decline, plantings such Dutchman’s Breeches can support bees, which are so vital to the ecosystem.

COLUMN BY K. KUNZ SWOPE

Dutchman’s Breeches is a perennial plant that will continue to grow and bloom and provides a great way to welcome spring to your garden year after year.

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In addition, due to the toxins in Dutchman’s Breeches, deer and rabbits tend to avoid them, which is desirable in areas where gardeners struggle to keep flowering plants from animal consumption.

Dutchman’s Breeches is known in American Indian lore as a love charm among the Menominee. Young men would throw the plant at a woman they were attracted to with the hope of hitting her. The belief was that in doing so, it would make the woman follow the man as if she were under a spell. The Iroquois believed when the plant was applied to the legs, the individual would be able to run faster.

According to legend, it was also used by some native tribes to treat skin conditions such as rashes, sexually transmitted diseases, and was used as a

blood purifier. Some tribes used the roots to make a tea, which acted as a diuretic. However, it should be noted that the plant is toxic and should not be consumed.

It grows well in dappled “sunlight in well-drained acidic soil that is kept moist, but not wet. It will grow to a height of about 6 inches. It mixes well with other plants, but particularly with ferns.

”

— Sean Robinson, Ph.D., associate professor of biology at SUNY Oneonta

Robinson emphasized the importance of gardeners obtaining their Dutchman’s Breeches from a “reputable nursery that propagated the plant from native root stock or native seeds to ensure the genetics are native as well.”

The same plant grows in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but it has different genetics, so keeping the genetics native ensures sustainability. Dutchman’s Breeches is a perennial plant that will continue to grow and bloom and provides a great way to welcome spring to your garden year after year. +

On the Road

A visit to Stony Clove

COLUMN AND PHOTOS BY ROBERT AND JOHANNA TITUS

H

ave you been to Stony Clove? It’s an impressive canyon that cuts through a prominent ridge in the eastern Catskills. To get there, take Route 23 east from Oneonta and continue straight on Route 23A past Prattsville. Keep going to Route 214 and turn right. Soon, you will approach the clove.

Enter just a short distance uphill. To the south is the Devil’s Tombstone Campground with a good parking lot. Park, get out and take in the view. It’s quite something to see.

The slopes, left and right, are steep and the valley bottom is narrow. There is a fine man-made pond spread out in the foreground. It’s just a nice place.

But you need to see all this as we do; we geologists have trained eyes and that makes us so much better at this sort of thing.

climate cool down to below freezing. Heavy snows accumulate all around us. Then we see a glacier rising above the clove. We see it getting closer too. This is a frightening image and it only gets worse. With enough time, the ice begins to squeeze its way through the clove. This is a noisy affair; moving glaciers are brittle and the moving ice fractures. Great cracking sounds echo off the steep walls all around us. We instinctively back up and then flee to the south.

We are the mind’s eyes; we can do anything; we can go anywhere. We rise up into the sky and look below and then south as the Stony Clove glacier passes down the valley beneath us. But, for us, the adventure has hardly begun. We rise up even higher and our eyes are drawn into a sweep of the entire northeastern horizon.

There, we see a great sheet of ice spread out before us.

The entire Hudson Valley is filled with ice! We would have to visit Antarctica in today’s world if we wanted to see something like this.

Geology Day Trip

Half as deep Stony Clove is an ice age feature. As we stand in the parking lot and look north, we drift off into the past, to the middle of the ice age, and we see it as it had been back then.

There had recently been a break in the glaciation and the ice had melted back. It left a barren landscape behind; the forest had not returned. But otherwise things look pretty much as we have seen them, except that the clove was only half as deep as it is today. That’s curious.

But then we watch as the centuries fly by and we see the 26

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Carving the clove More centuries pass by and the climate warms up again. We watch as the Ice Age is actually ending. The ice of the area is melting away and the valley’s glacier is retreating, once again, back to the north side of the clove.

Now vast volumes of meltwater are pouring through it.

This is a raging, foaming, thundering torrent and there is simply nothing in the modern world to compare it to. We are truly awed by what we are witnessing.

Contact the authors at randjtitus@ prodigy.net. Join their facebook page “The Catskill Geologist.” Read their blogs at “thecatskillgeologist.” They are preparing a new book about the Ice Age in the Catskills.

Geologists are often made to feel small, and that is the case right now. This meltwater flow is a powerful agent of erosion and, although we can hardly see them, those steep walls of the clove are being scoured and shaped. This is the moment in time that Nature becomes a sculptress and she is carving the Stony Clove we know today. But not for long; the glaciers melt away and the flow of water dwindles and ends.

Now it is not centuries but millennia that fly by. We

watch as the bare and bleak grounds of the post Ice Age are transformed. A scrubby low vegetation returns. Then the first saplings appear. They grow into trees and those trees populate the first returning forests. Stony Clove slowly becomes the sublime landscape we know today.

Like all who come here, we had always very much enjoyed the scenery, but we had only almost no real understanding of that magnificent landscape until we journeyed into its past — its ice age past. +

Beauty

Only l a r u t a N

roses Smell the

W

hether used as an extract, oil or as whole petals, the rose is prized for its skin-loving benefits and is often favored for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Rose hip seed oil (Rosa rubiginosa) is high in essential fatty acids, making it ideal for mature skin and for those with skin damage from weather exposure like sun, wind and cold. When used in creams or as a standalone moisturizing oil, rose hip seed oil is wonderfully beneficial for softening and rejuvenating the skin.

Rose otto (Rosa damascena) essential oil is a precious commodity (it takes approximately 10,000 pounds of rose petals to produce a single pound of oil!) but its potent beauty benefits make it worth every penny. The essential oil is gently astringent and is suitable for all skin types in helping to soothe and relieve redness.

Rose essential oil is also beneficial for the scalp, which helps to promote healthy hair. To make a nourishing hair and scalp oil, mix 2 tablespoons of argan oil or jojoba oil with 15 drops of rose essential oil. Massage the mixture into your hair, beginning at the scalp and working your way down the length of your hair. Cover your hair with a towel and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse out with shampoo and conditioner as usual.

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Spring 2019

COLUMN AND PHOTOS

BY ANNA KRUSINSKI

reign

Victorian

The rose is no stranger to the world of beauty and skincare.

In ancient Egypt, Cleopatra was said to have bathed in rose water, which is hailed as one of her beauty secrets for soft, supple skin.

The rose also reigned supreme during the Victorian era when it was beloved for its delicate, distinguished fragrance and could be found in everything from perfumes and facial powders to skin creams and soaps.

“We next come to the queen of flowers, the rose […] And well does the perfumer turn that sweetness to account; for he compels the lovely flower to yield its aroma to him in every shape, and he obtains from it an essential oil, a distilled water, a perfumed oil, and a pomade.

Even its withered leaves are rendered available to form the ground of sachet-powder, for they retain their scent for a considerable time.” – Eugene Rimmel, The Book of Perfumes (1867)

Anna Krusinski is the owner of Willow & Birch Apothecary (www.shopwillowandbirch.com), a modern Victorian apothecary and perfumery in Bloomville, NY where she creates natural bath and beauty products. Contact her at anna@ shopwillowandbirch.com.

Petal

power

If you’ve planted roses in your garden, you can harvest the flowers, which can be used in a variety of beauty recipes.

Treat yourself to an at-home steam facial! Place dried rose petals in a heat-proof bowl and bring a pot of water to just below boiling. Pour the hot water over the petals and steep for 2 minutes while you wash your face

DIY

with your favorite gentle cleanser.

Position your face over the steam and cover with a light towel — take caution to keep enough distance to avoid any steam burns. Steam for 1 minute at a time, up to 3 minutes total.

To finish off your steam facial, splash your face with cool water and apply your favorite moisturizing cream.

rose water

1. Pick at least three cups of rose petals. (Any variety is suitable, although more fragrant flowers will produce a more fragrant rose water.) Shake out the petals to remove any insects or debris.

2. Prepare a sterilized jar by washing in hot, soapy water and setting in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes.

3. Place the petals in a saucepan and fill with distilled water to cover the petals.

4. Cover and heat on low, making sure not to allow the water to simmer.

5. Once the petals have lost most of their color (about 20 minutes), strain the liquid into your sterilized jar and allow to cool.

6. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Use your home-brewed rose water as a gently astringent facial toner by applying with cotton balls, or use in a spray bottle as a toning mist for your whole body. It’s also perfect for making homemade moisturizing creams and lotions. (Check out sites like www. humblebeeandme.com andhttps://blog.mountainroseherbs.com for recipes ideas.) +

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Business Directory Meet the Locals Advertising & Media (Publishers, Public Relations, Marketing)

Construction & Building Services

Entertainment

(General Contractors, Construction, Engineers, Architects)

(Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Travel, Events, Museums)

“Quality you can trust.”

Clapper Construction

Otego, NY • 607-434-1512 www.clapperconstructionNY.com

Delaware & Ulster Railroad

Rt. 28, Arkville, NY 845-586-2 • www.durr.org The Franklin Railroad and Community Museum

572 Main Street Franklin, NY 13775

The Daily Star 102 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 607-432-1000 www.thedailystar.com

Empire Shed Manufacturing

118 Aker Drive, Cobleskill, NY 518-231-6084 • www.empireshedmfg.com

Auto, Motorcycle & Campers

The Franklin• johncampbell8@gmail.com Railroad and 607-829-2692 Community Museum

Hours Open: Last Sunday of Each Month, 1:00pm to 5:00pm or by Appointment Call 607-829-5890 or 607-829-2692

572 Main St., Franklin, NY Admission: Free Handicapped Accessible Find us on 607-829-2692 johncampbell8@gmail.com

Titan Drilling Corp.

264 Co. Hwy. 38, Arkville, NY 1-800-GO-TITAN • 1-845-586-4000 www.titanwelldrillingny.com

The Gilboa Musuem

122 Stryker Rd, Gilboa, NY 607-588-6894 • www.gilboafossils.org

Oliver’s Campers Inc.

Hanford Mills Musuem

Tweedie Construction Services, Inc. 90 Crystal Creek Rd., Walton, NY 607-865-4916 • 607-865-4913

Stringer’s Body Shop

Cody-Shane Acres

90 Crystal Creek, Walton, NY 607-865-4913

Melissa Manikas 29 Pioneer St., Cooperstown, NY 607-547-2886

(Medical Centers & Clinics, Dentists, Rehabilitation Centers)

Hearths A’Fire

7352 State Hwy. 23, Oneonta, NY 607-436-9549 www.hearthsafire.com

ASBURY GARDENS

NEW

ASBURY GARDENS DESIGN/BUILD LANDSCAPING

NEW

NEW DIVISION WINDOWS • SIDING • ROOFING DECKS • EXTERIOR PAINTING

New Asbury Gardens

248 River St., Oneonta, NY 607-432-8703 www.newasburygardens.com STOP DOWN TO OUR GARDEN CENTER!

OPEN IN APRIL! (weather permitting... call ahead) Get Get AAJump JumpOn OnYour YourSpring SpringClean-Up! Clean-Up! Mulching Mulchingand andEdging Edging Cleaning Cleaning and and Sealing Sealing Services ServicesFor For Walks and Patios, Walks and Patios, Pond Clean-Up And More!

Clean-Up And More!

Visit us Pond online at www.newasburygardens.com Visit us online at www.newasburygardens.com

248 RIVER ST., ONEONTA

Big

Indian Park

248 RIVER ST., ONEONTA Pure Catskills 607-432-8703

607-432-8703 44 West Street, Walton, NY 607-865-7090 www.purecatskills.com

Iroquois Indian Museum

324 Caverns Rd., Howes Cave, NY 518-296-8949 • www.iroquoismuseum.org

Symphony Medical Supply

Big Indian Native American Cultural Center, Inc 8293 Rt. 28, Big Indian, NY MaryLou: 845-254-4238

Price Chopper Plaza, 5626 State Hwy 7, Oneonta, NY • 607-643-0257

Non-Profit Organizations (Family, Community & Civic Organizations)

Northeast Classic Car Museum

(General Contractors, Construction, Engineers, Architects)

24 Rexford Street, Norwich, NY 607-334-2886 • classiccarmuseum.org

COOPERSTOWN ART ASSOCIATION GALLERIES

22 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 607-547-9777 • www.cooperstownart.com

Aqua-Tec Water Services Inc.

Gilboa, NY 1-800-853-5453 • 607-588-9413 www.waterwellsandpumps.com

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State Farm Insurance

Rehabilitation & Nursing Center 330 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 607-432-8500 • chestnutparkrehab.com

(Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Travel, Events, Museums)

Construction & Building Services

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Ben Novellano 209 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 607-547-2952 • 607-263-5170 (Morris) www.bieritzinsurance.com

51 County Hwy. 12 East Meredith, NY 607-278-5744 www.hanfordmills.org

Entertainment

6464 State Hwy 23, Oneonta, NY 607-432-9300 • www.royalchrysler.com

155 River St., Oneonta, NY • 607-432-4982 www.stringersbodyshop.com

Bieritz Insurance

Chestnut Park

Royal Auto

Est 1943

CarpetsPlus COLORTILE

61 South Main St., Oneonta, NY 607-353-7433 Carpetsplusoneonta@hotmail.com

bieritz insurance

Health & Fitness

6460 State Hwy. 12, Norwich, NY 607-334-3400 • www.oliverscampers.com

BODY SHOP

Clinton Plaza Drive, Suite 8A Oneonta, NY 607-267-4542 • www.allstarbts.com

GILBOA MUSUEM

(Automobile Dealers, Auto Body & Painting, Auto Clubs, more...)

Stringer’s

Home & Garden (Home & Garden, Remodeling Bath & Kitchen)

All Star Bookkeeping & Tax Service

The Cooperstown Crier 102 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 607-432-1000 www.coopercrier.com

Finance & Insurance (Banks, Financial Advisors, Insurance)

Shandaken Historical Museum 26 Academy St., Pine Hill, NY 845-254-4460 shandakenmuseum@gmail.com

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Heart of the Catskills Humane Society United Health Services

607-762-2200 • www.uhs.net

P.O. Box 88, 46610 State Hwy. 10 Delhi, NY • 607-746-3080 www.heartofthecatskills.org

Business Directory Meet the Locals Personal Services & Care

Restaurants

Shopping & Retail

Shopping & Retail

Shopping & Retail

(Salons & Spas, Funeral Homes, Driver Training, more...)

(Full Service, Casual Dining, Fast Food)

(Appliances, Clothing Apparel, Accessories, more...)

(Appliances, Clothing Apparel, Accessories, more...)

(Appliances, Clothing Apparel, Accessories, more...)

Crystal Palace Barber Shop 18 Dietz St., Oneonta, NY 607-386-0363

Fiesta Mexican Grill & Cantina 19 Clinton Plaza, Oneonta, NY 607-431-9898 www.fiestamexicanoneonta.com

TREMPERSKILL COUNTRY STORE American Homesteader

6167 State Hwy. 12, Norwich, NY 607-334-9941 • americanhomesteader.net

Plaide Palette

Cherry Valley, NY 607-264-3769 • www.celticart.com

Sports & Recreation

Faithful Friends Pet Crematory 1977 State Hwy 23, Morris, NY 607-263-2363 www.faithfulfriendsofmorris.com

(Golf Courses & Country Clubs, Sports Facility, Sports Team)

The Red Barn Clubhouse

2322 Rt. 7, Cobleskill, NY 518-254-0275 • www.cobleskillgc.com

Morris Tent Rental

26 Mills St., Morris, NY 607-263-9916 www.morristent.com

Tremperskill Country Store

1024 County Hwy. 1, Andes, NY 845-676-3244

Tiger Asian Cuisine

195 Main St., Oneonta, NY • 607-441-3396 www.tigerasiancuisineoneonta.com

Cooperstown Natural Foods

61 Linden Ave., Cooperstown, NY 607-547-8613

Heartwood Gift Barn 8072 State Hwy. 12, Sherburne, NY 607-674-2500 heartwoodgiftbarn@gmail.com

Posie’s Vintiques

6 Center St., Milford, NY • 607-286-4025 email: posiesvintiques@gmail.com

Southside Mall

5006 State Hwy. 23, Oneonta, NY 607-432-4401 www.shopsouthsidemall.com

Ouleout Creek Golf

13501 St. Hwy 357, North Franklin, NY 607-829-2100 • www.ouleoutgolf.com

Tuning In - Tuning Up

Oneonta, NY 607-433-2089 www.tuningin-tuningup.com

Kate’s Upstate

The Tepee

134 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 607-322-4068 www.katesupstate.com

7632 US Hwy. 20, Cherry Valley, NY 607-264-3987 info@thetepee.biz

Lyon Mountain Blue Barn Antiques

Candy Shop & Gift Shop 114 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 607-547-5565 • tinbinalley.com

Restaurants (Full Service, Casual Dining, Fast Food)

2527 Roses Brook Rd., Hobart, NY 607-538-1768

Tin Bin Alley

Arkville Bread & Breakfast

43285 State Rt. 28, Arkville, NY 845-586-1122

Dante’s

416½ Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 607-432-2020

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