Upstate Life Spring 2021 by The Daily Star

of Fancy

Birding, Citizen Science Projects Offer Educational Fun for All

Bee Kind & Plant with Pollinators in Mind

KE T’S

Flights

! TA - I E ON EE FR

SPRING 2021

Vaccination Conversation Spring Noodle Bowl

& More!

SPRING 2021

VOLUME 15

4 Bee Kind & Plant with Pollinators in Mind 8 Seeds Reap Rewards for Plant Breeder with Upstate Roots 10 Early

Upstate Life Magazine, Winner, New York State Associated Press Association First-Place Award for Specialty Publications, is published by: The Daily Star, 102 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 13820 © 2021 - All rights reserved.

14 The Old Walls Talk 16 20 Only Natural the Rails Like Never Before: 22 Ride Pedal Your Way through the Catskills 25 Cookin’ with Collins Geology Day Trip 28 30 Business Directory

Managing Editor Allison Collins

Flights of Fancy

Birding, Citizen Science Projects Offer Educational Fun for All

Protecting Our Surrounding Ecosystems

Franklin Native Flourishes at Johnny’s Selected Seeds

Vaccination Conversation

Local Experts Answer COVID-19 Vaccine Questions

Interested in advertising in Upstate Life Magazine? Call toll-free, 1-800-721-1000, ext. 235 We invite you to email your comments to: upstatelifeeditor@thedailystar.com

On the cover

Spring Noodle Bowl

Rock of Ages: Franklin Mountain History is Set in Stone

Meet the Locals

Carrie Hewlett-DeJoy and son Sam, 6, of Otego, tend geranium plants at the family’s nursery, Gretna Gardens. The garden center, 2664 State Highway, Otego, opens on April 30. ALLISON COLLINS

| Spring 2021

Editor Denielle Cazzolla

Advertising Director Valerie Secor

Inspired by Nature: John Burroughs’ Woodchuck Lodge

| UPSTATE LIFE magazine

Publisher Fred Scheller

Graphic Designer Tracy Bender

Broad Street Came Tumbling Down in the 1970s

ISSUE 2

GREENER DAYS AHEAD Great golf happens on great courses. And courses don’t get better than the ones on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. With 11 locations, 26 courses and more than 400 championship holes, the toughest challenge may be deciding which one to play first. Our golf courses and staff are ready to welcome you back to the legendary RTJ Golf Trail. Summer and fall golf packages available. We are open and will be here waiting for you. Visit rtjgolf.com.

Flights

of Fancy

Birding, Citizen Science Projects Offer Educational Fun for All

BY CAITLIN OGDEN

old upstaters tired of winter often turn their faces toward backyard bird feeders and say, to themselves or anyone nearby, “one robin makes a spring” as they hopefully watch for the first red-breasted bird to land. While the saying is mostly myth, it is true that early harbingers of warmer weather are often feathered friends returning from warmer climates to mate and nest in upstate backyards. Birdwatching, or birding, as the more serious hobbyists call it, is a fun, educational and accessible hobby for all ages. It is a way to learn about and connect with nature, to experience the outdoors and even help the environment.

| UPSTATE LIFE magazine

| Spring 2021

Top: Warbling Vireo nestlings. Middle: Birders explore the grounds, and skies, at Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca. Bottom: Northern mockingbird eggs sit in a nest in this undated photo.

A black-capped chickadee. Below: Visitors to the Lab of Ornithology traverse a boardwalk at the Ithaca property.

In Ithaca, Cornell University operates a research station and educational center known as the Lab of Ornithology. The lab includes a visitor center, closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also features public walking trails (open), with many spots for observing native bird species. Experts there research birds in New York and around the world, often with the help of citizen scientists. Citizen science is real science, conducted by laymen, at their own pace and to their own skill level, following basic guidelines set by experts. The Lab of Ornithology conducts several citizen science projects throughout the spring and summer, and getting involved is easy.

Feather by Feather The first event each year is the Great Backyard Bird Count, typically coinciding with the return of early songbirds locally, around mid-February, though participants watch birds all over the word. It’s an event anticipated annually by Andrew Mason, co-president of the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society, of which he is a 40-year member. Mason said he began birding after taking a self-described “hippy trip” with his wife Gray in a van around the country. “We bought a pair of binoculars and got hooked on it,” he said. The magic moment, Mason noted, was in the Okefenokee Swamp, in Georgia. “It was serendipity, we got hooked up with an Audubon group doing a canoe trip through the cypress swamp. A prothonotary warbler landed on a cypress knee, and I couldn’t believe it was so beautiful.” Today, Mason encourages his group to participate in the Lab of Ornithology citizen science projects, describing the Great Backyard Bird Count as the best of the bunch. “It’s relatively brief, so there is no long-term commitment,” he said. “It’s a great time of year for it in our area, as people are indoors, watching their feeders. The data they get from it is wonderful and very useful.” To participate, birders need the eBird app, created by the lab for these projects. Throughout the count, participants need only look out the window and count how many of each species they see in a given time frame, then enter the information into the app. The lab scientists use the data to track the heath of global bird populations, as well as migratory patterns and other behaviors.

Nested Knowledge For fledgling birders, the lab also offers Project Nest Watch. Robyn Bailey, project manager, said “anyone of any skill level who finds a nest reports it to the Lab of Ornithology.” Project Nest Watch originated in the 1960s, when the use of harmful chemicals and insecticides meant a lot of bird nests were failing, Bailey said. “When the book ‘Silent Spring’ was written by Rachel Carson in 1962, there began a period of concern about why this was happening,” she said. To participate, people can download the project-specific app, and begin to search for nests. “People will find nests in all stages of the nesting cycle, from the building of the nests to there already being nestlings; it doesn’t matter what state you find them in, you can report the nest,” Bailey said, noting that it can be difficult for birding novices to identify the species to which the nest belongs immediately. An easy hack, she said, is to watch the nest for the adults’ return, then identify them using a book or the Bird ID app offered by the lab. And, in the absence of cell service while birding, data can be input into all the lab apps retroactively and uploaded when the device connects to service. ä PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

The exterior of Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology is seen in this undated photo.

“Birds are accessible in so many ways, but if you haven’t experienced peeping in a nest and seeing the babies, you’re missing out. It’s special, especially for families. — Robyn Bailey, project manager of Project Nest Watch

”

Bailey cautioned that nest watchers should always respect nest residents. “Make sure you keep observations brief, and never handle the eggs or the nestlings,” she said. “While most birds are reluctant to abandon nests, even when a predator has visited, make sure not to visit a nest at night, when you may startle the parents.” Project Nest Watch data has contributed to more than 130 studies, including information that led to basic understanding of how many eggs birds lay per species, Bailey said. “Recently, the research has become more globally interconnected,” she said. “A 2020 study on noise and light pollution revealed the effects (those factors) have on nesting birds. Light pollution makes sense, because they use light more than temperature to tell them when to start nesting. However, it was learned that birds in areas with more noise pollution can’t hear mates as well.” Bailey said the nest watch is unique because “baby birds are a great way to experience nature.” “Birds are accessible in so many ways, but if you haven’t experienced peeping in a nest and seeing the babies, you’re missing out,” she said. “It’s special, especially for families.”

The interior of the Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca. 6

| UPSTATE LIFE magazine

| Spring 2021

Feeding Flight Project Feeder Watch is another citizen science project offered through the lab, focusing on what happens at your personal feeder. Dr. Emma Grieg leads Project Feeder Watch, which she said began in the 1970s when scientists recognized that the popularity of backyard bird feeding presented an opportunity to gather data on the birds. The event runs November through April and can be joined at any time. The project is appropriate for all age levels and birding skill levels, and the data can be collected on the app or written down and uploaded via a browser. There is an $18 participation fee, but that goes toward supporting the project and lab research. Grieg noted that, annually, about 25,000 participate across the U.S. and Canada, with roughly 65% of participants renewing their involvement. This makes the data set wonderful from a scientific perspective, she said, with long-term pictures of the bird populations in specific areas. “You can say ‘Hey, look, the birds have changed over the years not because we change how and where we count, but because the birds themselves are changing,’” Grieg said. Dozens of scientific papers about changing bird populations, invasive species, changing climate and changing habitats have stemmed from data collected during this project. One theme appearing repeatedly, Grieg said, is that how humans manipulate habitat and environment around their homes, and whether or not they feed birds, impacts where birds are and where they move. This project has shown how human activity, such as feeding, creates

new habitats for birds. Whether you have a young, budding scientist on your hands or simply enjoy watching backyard birds, citizen science projects through the Lab of Ornithology provide opportunities to combine fun activities with making real and positive environmental change. Birding is a low-cost, family-fun activity that can even be done safely in the era of COVID-19. And the skills learned in your backyard can be taken on the road, with a ride to scenic Ithaca and the walking trails of Sapsucker Woods, the land adjacent to the Lab of Ornithology. Taking time to stop and notice the beauty around us – from the bright cardinals and finches to the glossy blackbirds, to the ever-increasing bald and golden eagles – helps remind us how special the place we call home is and, with the help of the Lab of Ornithology, that beauty will be preserved for generations of birds, and people, to come. +

Spring 2021 | UPSTATE LIFE magazine | 7

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Bee Kind

& Plant with Pollinators in Mind

pstate New York is home to an abundance of pollinators and it’s important to keep it that way. Among these pollinators are birds, small mammals and many insects. With spring comes bulb planting and gardening, bringing an opportunity to incorporate elements into our outdoor landscapes that ensure surrounding ecosystems thrive. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension, an institution that encourages locals to transform their backyards into “pollinator paradises,” there are three key components to achieving such a goal:

BY CHRYSTAL SAVAGE

| UPSTATE LIFE magazine

| Spring 2021

• Provide your pollinators with shelter from the elements According to CCE, many native bee species don’t reside in hives as is often assumed; instead, bees use brush piles and other forms of shelter. If a backyard brush pile sounds unattractive, the site recommends making the shelter appear as an intentional aspect of your garden or backyard design, with a variety of structure types for multiple species that will remain intact and accessible year-round. CCE suggests a wattle fence of bent twigs, a rustic arbor or bench made of natural, untreated wood or a split-rail fence to maintain a clean aesthetic while still serving pollinators. And, according to Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, man-made bee homes and rock walls are also beneficial and visually pleasing. • Ensure a variety of nectar-producing plants for all pollinators “Many flowers provide nectar,” the CCE site states, though not all solitary pollinators can “handle” larger flowering plants. Introducing a variety of sizes, heights and plants in a number of families, including mint and carrot, will not only add visual appeal to the garden, but will prove beneficial to native pollinating insects. CCE mentions dill and golden alexander and, according to a 2018 Better Homes and Gardens article, the Top 10 pollinating plants to add to your yard include the torch lily, bee balm, lavender, spider flowers, salvia, catmint, beardtongue, fuchsia, anise hyssop and thyme. • Use pesticides knowledgeably, and only as necessary According to CCE, it is important to know if plants you introduce to your garden have been pre-treated with pesticides. The site recommends gardeners avoid spraying flowering plants or remove blooms before spraying with low-residual treatments, and then only during times of low pollinator activity, such as evening and early morning. Treehugger.com provides eight natural pesticide sprays that can be made using common household ingredients, including vegetable oil, natural soap, neem oil, diatomaceous earth, garlic, chile peppers and tomato leaf. Each spray has its own purpose and can be modified as necessary. If changing your landscaping or adding new plants to the mix seems daunting, it is worth considering artificial nectar or sugar water to sustain pollinators that require sugars frequently, given their high-energy burn. Hummingbird, butterfly and other similar feeders are a simple and cost-effective way to ensure your local pollinators are not only surviving, but thriving. +

Early Seeds Reap Rewards for Plant Breeder with

Upstate Roots BY ALLISON COLLINS

A hand holds a trio of Cook’s ‘lunchbox’ peppers.

or Franklin native Kevin Cook, something new is always taking root. The 53-year-old, who resides in Maine, became vice president of research and development for Johnny’s Selected Seeds in late 2020, but the seeds of his interest were planted in youth. “It was 4-H,” he said. “I joined when I was 8 years old, and I would say it was the 4-H club and local leaders that exposed me. I started competing at the county fair with my vegetables and competed in (vegetable) identification and judging contests. “Then I won the New York State contest at the state fair and, when you do that, they send you to a national convention to compete,” Cook continued. “When I did that, I was probably in 10th grade and … they had a video of jobs in horticulture. They showed a clip of Ecke Ranch, the company that bred and produced poinsettias, and they talked about a plant breeder. That was the first time I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ I was also breeding rabbits at the time, so I had those two projects going … but I hadn’t thought about breeding plants until that point.”

| UPSTATE LIFE magazine

| Spring 2021

Breeding Bounty Today, with decades of cultivation to his credit, Cook said the demand for plant breeders is blossoming. “There are lots of plant breeders,” he said. “There are breeders for all the plants you know and drive by – alfalfa, sunflowers – and fruit breeders. All the things that you eat, somebody bred. “We need plant breeders to develop new food to bring to market,” Cook continued. “We’ll always have a job, because there’s always something to do; you’re never finished. There will always be a new test or bug or drought.” The demand for plant breeders, Cook said, is driven by several factors. “It can be (breeding something to be) more nutritious or new types and colors that didn’t exist before,” he said. “People are looking for diversity in their food … so there’s that aspect that’s coming from the consumer, and the other thing is, with diseases and growing crops and climate change, the variety that existed in the past might not exist in the future.

Kevin Cook, a native of Franklin working as a plant breeder for Johnny’s Selected Seeds, is seen in this undated photo.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

2 5

“There’s always pressure on the farmers on price,” Cook continued. “The farmer doesn’t get paid what you paid in the grocery store, so they’re always looking for varieties that yield more; if a variety can produce more, they can make more.” As a result, Cook said, breeders must consider practical and fanciful factors. “There are consumer traits, such as flavor and color,” he said. “Those are the traits that

make you want to eat it – does it have a cool shape, is it nutritious, does it taste good – and those are important because those are what you recognize. You’re going to remember that this (variety) was the best if we make it a different shape or color or make it distinctive. Then there are all the other traits it takes to get it to the table: it needs to yield well, grow well, be resistant to fluctuations in environment and it needs to be somewhat disease resistant. ä

1 & 5. Various breeds of harvested tomatoes are labeled and numbered. 2. A Johnny’s Selected Seeds truck is seen at the end of rows of growing crops. 3. A group of peppers from Cook’s ‘lunchbox series’ is seen in this undated photo. 4. Boxed multi-colored tomatoes, from Cook’s ‘cherry series’ are seen in this undated photo.

Producing through a Pandemic Though Cook said the pruning of his previous position with Syngenta barely preceded the pandemic caused by the spread of COVID-19, the timing proved fruitful. “I was part of a big layoff two weeks before Christmas, so I went looking for a job and found this awesome job at Johnny’s and I got it just before COVID,” he said. “I thought, ‘This is remarkable.’ I didn’t do it on purpose, it just happened, but I knew Johnny’s as a kid and always respected it.” The pandemic has also prompted industry-wide growth, Cook said. “People were all of a sudden thinking more about where their food came from and realizing we did have issues with food distribution,” he said. “We saw a breakdown in the food distribution

that had people thinking they were going to grow their own or support something grown locally … and that goes back to (breeding) variety, because (growers) have to have varieties that will work in all different parts of the country, not just northern California and Florida. That’s why you’re seeing a proliferation.” Cook said breeders, seed sellers and growers are expecting another noteworthy season this year. “It’s repeating all over again … and will be exactly the same or even more so,” he said, citing huge spikes in seed sales through 2020. “What that means is that there are more home gardeners that stuck with it from last year or more people that are going to try. And, because people are still going to buy local, farmers are having more customers. It’s a whole pull-through effect that’s happening all over the place.”

I’m doing peppers and tomatoes, but now I have oversight for all of “ the different breeding programs for Johnny’s, including pumpkins. It’s

much more diverse to look at and that’s got me really excited. It’s like all the vegetables you could possibly think of. There’s lots of stuff I didn’t even know about.

”

— Kevin Cook, vice president of research and development for Johnny’s Selected Seeds

“Plants get viruses and, lots of times, the viruses are transmitted by insects,” Cook continued. “Viruses can be devastating to a plant, just like to a person, so for a crop to survive, you breed it to have genetic resistance. Growers will pay more for a virus-resistant variety because they can protect themselves by growing a variety that’s resistant to as many viruses as possible. It’s like insurance, but that takes a lot of time and a lot of work. There’s a lot that goes into it.”

A Variety of Veg Cook, who received his doctoral degree in philosophy, horticulture and breeding from Oregon State University in 1995 and his master’s degree in science, horticulture and plant breeding from Texas A&M University before that, has helped earn several plant-related patents. “There are variety patents and trait patents,” he said. “In some cases, the variety has been patented and it’s very specific. A trait patent is different and harder to get. It’s much more far-reaching, because then you have a patent on a trait that goes in all the peppers and it’s not variety-specific.” One such patent with which he was involved, Cook noted, was awarded in 2016 for a very dark-colored pepper with “twice as much lutein and (therefore) more nutrition.” Peppers and squash are two of Cook’s specialties. In a previous position with Syngenta Seeds, Cook created 15 varieties of summer squash, including zucchini, straightneck, crookneck and scallop. He also led and managed breeding programs for hot and sweet peppers, including open field blocky, cascadura, Roshni, Roshni sky, kimchi dry, jalapeno and ancho. Among the many pepper varieties Cook has developed are rising sun, bayonet, cutlass, Bastille, daydream and Marlie and Shitara, both new last year. “First, I was a summer squash breeder,” he said. “I spent 10 years Home Of The

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developing new varieties, then moved into peppers and did that for 15 years. Though Cook said his work at Johnny’s began focused on blight-resistant, high fruit-quality tomatoes and high-quality color and snack peppers, his areas of expertise are quickly expanding. “I’m doing peppers and tomatoes, but now I have oversight for all of the different breeding programs for Johnny’s, including pumpkins,” he said. “It’s much more diverse to look at and that’s got me really excited. It’s like all the vegetables you could possibly think of. There’s lots of stuff I didn’t even know about. “Now, I have responsibility for everything in that catalog and it’s enormous,” Cook continued. “So, I need to start becoming an expert in all these other areas of vegetables that I’ve never really spent time on and that’s exciting for me.”

Propagating Potential Cook said he credits his rural, small-town roots with cultivating readiness. Cook graduated from Franklin Central School, a K through 12 facility in Delaware County, with the Class of 1985. “We walked through the same doors from ages 5 to 18 and the class sizes have stayed the same for probably 100 years,” he said. “But because of being in a small school, you get a lot of attention and we had great teachers. There were four people in my calculus class; you can’t not do your homework, so that’s a little different than being at Cornell with 2,000 people in one class. “A lot of people told me when I made that step to Cornell that I wouldn’t make it or I’d never be able to go from this small school to this big university,” Cook continued, “but I loved it. I think coming from a small place was actually better and I was more prepared … so I would say, if you really love what you’re doing, you should just pursue it. If you have a dream, you really need to follow it.” +

Vaccination Conversation Local Experts Answer COVID-19 Vaccine Questions

T CONTRIBUTED

A Bassett Healthcare Network worker administers a COVID-19 vaccination earlier this year.

When you get a “shot, whether it’s

for flu, COVID-19, measles, whatever, you aren’t only taking an important step to protect yourself, but you’re helping in the ongoing fight to keep deadly viruses at bay and protect the most vulnerable.

”

— Maia Decker, Regional Pharmacy Manager for Bassett Healthcare Network

| UPSTATE LIFE magazine

| Spring 2021

BY CAITLIN OGDEN

hough 2020 will likely be remembered for the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 may be remembered as the year of the COVID-19 vaccine. Since the emergence of SARS-COV-2 in late 2019, the virus causing COVID-19, scientists at the world’s top pharmaceutical companies have been racing to create a vaccine capable of defending the world’s population from this deadly virus. Vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have been given emergency authorization for use in America and Europe, and an Astra Zeneca vaccine has been given emergency authorization in Europe and other parts of the world. Russia and China also have developed vaccines proving successful at stopping severe disease. As vaccines become available with increasing speed, many have had questions about the vaccines, wanting to feel they have all the facts before putting something in their body. Questions range from concern about how quickly the vaccines were created to concerns around side effects and eligibility and how and where to get a vaccine. Local pharmacists Kelly Rudd, Director of Network Pharmacy Services with Bassett Healthcare Network, and Maia Decker, Regional Pharmacy Manager for Bassett Healthcare Network, offered answers.

Anatomy of a Vaccine The vaccines created by Pfizer and Moderna use what’s known as messenger RNA, or mRNA. “mRNA is a single-stranded molecule that carries genetic code from DNA,” Rudd said. “The mRNA carries that code and teaches the body’s immune system how to recognize and attack the SARSCOV-2 spike proteins that are on the outside of the virus. Once the mRNA has delivered its message, it is broken down by the body and goes away.”

Rudd noted that, while the COVID-19 vaccine is the first mRNA vaccine to be granted authorization, that isn’t cause for alarm. “Every type of medication in use today began as new technology, but that doesn’t mean that scientists haven’t thoroughly studied and tested it,” she said. “mRNA vaccines have been studied for years, and a very similar vaccine was created for the original SARS virus, but it didn’t complete Stage 3 trials before SARS subsided naturally, something that we see no sign of COVID-19 doing.” “None of the vaccines authorized in the U.S. are based on vaccine technology that is brand-new and untested, and all of the vaccines have undergone three levels of trials to test their safety and their efficacy,” Decker echoed. Decker said the Emergency Use Authorization, the authorization granted by Food and Drug Administration to the Pfizer, Moderna and, recently, Johnson & Johnson vaccines, is given when analysis of the risks and benefits of a drug is completed and it is determined that the known and potential benefits of receiving the drugs outweigh the known and potential risks.

Vaccine Verity Conflicting claims from websites and social media accounts have circulated, causing some to be hesitant about getting the vaccine. This hesitancy puts the American and global fight against COVID-19 at real risk, Rudd said, explaining that roughly 70% of the population must receive the vaccine to develop what’s known as herd immunity, when there are so few hosts for the virus available that it can no longer replicate and the virus dies out. Herd immunity is critical to protecting the most vulnerable people, especially immunocompromised individuals or those unable to receive a vaccination due to a medical condition.

“When you get a shot, whether it’s for flu, COVID-19, measles, whatever, you aren’t only taking an important step to protect yourself, but you’re helping in the ongoing fight to keep deadly viruses at bay and protect the most vulnerable,” Decker said. As for claims that the COVID-19 vaccine will cause infertility, implant tracking information or in other ways harm the recipient, Rudd and Decker agree that if someone encounters such a claim, they should reach out to their doctor or pharmacist and ask questions. “There is nothing wrong with asking these, or other, questions,” Rudd said. “It is easy to see an article shared by a trusted person, like a family member or friend, and assume they are sharing facts. Unfortunately, they may be inadvertently spreading misinformation. “Luckily, there are many resources for people with questions, including the FDA website and the Center for Disease Control,” she continued, “and of course, there is always their family pharmacist or doctor.”

Widespread Rollout & Where to Go Locally Rudd and Decker have both been vaccinated and said they were confident in their decision. “No matter what, we know for certain that COVID-19 disease can kill,” Rudd said. “It has killed over half a million Americans in a year. We also know it can cause real, lasting damage to our bodies, even if we have mild symptoms of the disease. While taking a new vaccine may be scary, we are confident it is safe and we are equally confident that the COVID-19 virus is dangerous.” President Biden recently announced hopes for vaccination eligibility among every adult by May 1. At the time of writing, vaccine rollout has happened in categories determined by vaccine availability. Elderly people and people in nursing homes and congregate care facilities had first access to the vaccine due to their vulnerability and, from there, New York State has gradually expanded availability based on age, job and health-related risk factors. In mid-March, the state, along with help from the Bassett Healthcare Network, the National Guard, the State University of New York College at Oneonta and surrounding county departments of health, opened a vaccine clinic at SUNY Oneonta in the Fieldhouse building. This clinic is a mass-vaccination site, with a goal of vaccinating 1,500 people a day, until all New Yorkers wishing to receive the vaccine do. The clinic is administering the Pfizer vaccine, and those interested should visit am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ to check eligibility and sign up. The SUNY Oneonta clinic intends to serve the Mohawk Valley Region, but there are no residency requirements, beyond state, to utilize the clinic. Scientific innovation has driven the country from its beginning, and the recent dedication of doctors and scientists has given us the gift of a chance – a chance to relegate this virus to the past. +

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Broad Street

Came Tumbling Down IN THE

1970s

Top: A north-looking view of Broad Street is seen in March 1976, with the Oneonta Hotel in the distance. DAILY STAR FILE PHOTO. Middle: Before it moved to Chestnut Street in 1950, The Oneonta Daily Star was on the western side of Broad Street. Bottom: The Oneonta YMCA was once on Broad Street, until 1965 when a new facility was built on Ford Avenue. PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED.

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| Spring 2021

Broad Street, looking south from Main Street in March 19 railroad depot in the distance. DAILY STAR FILE PHOTO.

h 1976, with the TO.

ecades ago, many a newcomer to Oneonta, whether visiting or relocating, couldn’t help but miss a street upon arrival at the city’s railroad depot. If someone wanted to stay overnight or more permanently, they needed first to take a walk on Broad Street. Broad Street was once found in the downtown area now home to the Clarion Hotel and Muller Plaza. It was a thriving roadway, providing access to many of the city’s businesses, until the 1970s.

The Old Walls Talk

above businesses on Broad Street. There were restaurants and bars, too, with lots of the latter. Bars popped up initially for the railroad workers, but as Oneonta developed into a college town after World War II, Broad Street became a place for students to imbibe, as well.

Urban Renewal Brought Unrest

Broad Street thrived until the mid-1960s. By that time, railroad passenger service to the city had ended. Like many other American cities, Oneonta underwent an ambitious urban renewal BY MARK Trains, Tracks & a Thoroughfare program. Broad Street, among other sections of SIMONSON downtown Oneonta, was directly in the crosshairs Until the arrival of the Albany & Susquehanna of this program. Railroad in 1865, later known as the Delaware & Hudson, Oneonta was an isolated community. A simple From Day 1, the city’s urban renewal process was controwooden train depot was established on today’s Market Street versial. On one hand, the process would bring modern and where, until recently, Stella Luna Ristorante was located. That modernized buildings; on the other, people argued, it would landmark was a much-improved depot, built in 1892. displace residents from their homes and businesses would cease to exist or be forced to move and rents would be higher. Plus, Eugene D. Milener, author of “Oneonta: The Development the process was slow. A typical federal urban renewal project of a Railroad Town,” wrote, “The decision to cut Broad Street took 12 years to complete. Lots of land would lie vacant. was firmly made in 1863.” By then, people knew the railroad was coming. August 1968 brought the first sign of coming change, when the Department of Housing and Urban Development approved “That year, some buildings were moved in preparation,” a $4.1 million grant to the Oneonta Urban Renewal Agency. Milener’s text states. “The actual cut was made in 1864. But it It was earmarked to help 34 families relocate from the project was not until 1866 that the Board of Trustees formally aparea. In all, 21.5 acres and 116 buildings were slated for new proved the brief straight Broad Street thoroughfare. And there is development. Oneonta leaders were pleased to take a step to no hint of controversy about the street which was so critical in rebound from “urban blight” in the city. making the shopping district accessible to the A&S depot.” The most visible signs of that process can be seen today at From there, the street flourished. Just about anything anyone the Bassett Healthcare site, at the corner of Main and Chestnut needed was on Broad Street – hotels, a YMCA, a newspaper streets; the Clinton Plaza; the city parking garage; and several and places to purchase a gravestone, automobiles, furniture, clothing and more were all right there. Many lived in spaces buildings on South Main Street. ä A view of Broad Street, looking north toward Main Street, sometime in the late 19th century. The Central Hotel on Main Street is seen at the end. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO.

From left: The one-time Broad Street locale is seen in 2007, with Muller Plaza and the Clarion Hotel decorated for the holidays. The Main Street-facing view from 2006, with the front entrance of the Clarion Hotel. MARK SIMONSON PHOTOS.

City historian Mark Simonson grew up in Oneonta, but like many, left to explore opportunities elsewhere. He returned in 1997. Before returning, Simonson worked in public relations, marketing and broadcast journalism. He worked locally in Norwich and the greater Binghamton area, and for a short time in Boston. Simonson was appointed Oneonta City Historian in 1998. Since then, he has been doing freelance research and writing for a twice-weekly column in The Daily Star. Additionally, Simonson has published books about Oneonta and local history in a five-county region. Through his years of research, Simonson has come across many interesting stories about old buildings in the upstate region. He will share those stories in this and upcoming editions of Upstate Life.

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| Spring 2021

20850 State Highway 28

Only l a r u t a N

Inspired by Nature: John Burroughs’ Woodchuck Lodge

BY ANNA KRUSINSKI “To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter ... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.” — John Burroughs, Leaf and Tendril After a cold and snowy winter, the fresh air and sunshine of spring beckons us outdoors to witness earth coming back to life. Just as nature comes alive, we, too, feel drawn to stretch our winter-weary muscles and reinvigorate our senses. If you’re looking for a beautiful spot to enjoy a springtime stroll, take a trip to John Burroughs’ Woodchuck Lodge, the New York State historic site on Burroughs Memorial Road in Roxbury. Woodchuck Lodge was the birthplace and summer home of renowned 19th-century literary naturalist, John Burroughs. Born in Roxbury in 1837, Burroughs returned to the area in 1910 to spend summers in his family’s farmhouse, which he dubbed Woodchuck Lodge. Today, visitors can pay tribute to Burroughs at his memorial site, which overlooks a peaceful panorama of fields and woods set against the stunning Catskill Mountains. It is a truly inspiring and reverent spot to bask in nature’s beauty and ponder the many ways in which the site left an indelible mark on Burrough’s writings and philosophy.

“Those hills comfort me as no other place in the world.” — John Burroughs, on the Catskill Mountains In his early years, John Burroughs spent his days exploring and observing nature among the hills and forests of his family’s homestead. The lessons and insights he nurtured as a young boy took root, forming the groundwork for what became an illustrious writing career. In his lifetime, Burroughs wrote 27 books, selling more than 1.5 million copies. He also joined the Harriman Expedition in 1899 to explore the coast of Alaska with John Muir and a select group of scientists and artists. Given Burroughs’ success and the impact he has had on millions of readers throughout the past century, one can’t help but feel fortunate for the opportunity to visit the very place where it all began: Woodchuck Lodge. When in need of nature’s respite, take a drive to Roxbury and visit John Burroughs’ memorial site. You may even want to sit a spell at the overlook and connect with the awe-inspiring beauty that sparked the creativity of one of our nation’s greatest writers. “I have loved the feel of the grass under my feet, and the sound of the running streams by my side. The hum of the wind in the treetops has always been good music to me, and the face of the fields has often comforted me more than the faces of men.” — John Burroughs, The Summit of the Years

Above photos from left: John Burroughs is seen at Woodchuck Lodge in Roxbury in 1922. John Burroughs sits on a porch at Woodchuck lodge, circa 1900-1918. Writer and naturalist John Burroughs is seen at Riverby, on the Hudson River, in this 1919 photo. PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED. 20

| UPSTATE LIFE magazine

| Spring 2021

Bringing Spring Indoors As spring treats us to the beauty of tender blooms and warmer days, it’s time to open your windows and brighten your home. Let’s take a cue from John Burroughs’ time and look to the Victorians who would often infuse the fresh, clean aroma of lavender into their living quarters. Throughout the Victorian period, lavender was used to perfume linens, furniture and even walls. It was also commonly used in potpourri to freshen rooms and bring a bit of the outdoors into the home. To freshen your home, try this fun and easy recipe for a scented room spray. This recipe uses my Lavender Breeze scent, which can be found online at Willow & Birch Apothecary, but feel free to substitute with your favorite springtime essential oils. In a spray bottle, mix 3 ounces of vodka with 12 ounces of water. Add up to 15 drops of Lavender Breeze essential oil blend, or your favorite blend of essential oils. Shake before each use. This spray is wonderful as a room spray and for refreshing your bed linens, pillows, mattresses … even couches and other fabric-covered furniture. +

Anna Krusinski is the owner of Willow & Birch Apothecary, shopwillowandbirch. com, a Victorian-inspired apothecary and perfumery in Bloomville, New York, where she creates natural bath and beauty products. Contact her at anna@ shopwillowandbirch.com. Editor’s note: At the time of publishing, the lodge at Woodchuck Lodge was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the grounds containing the John Burroughs Memorial Site and adjoining Mine Kill State Park are open. For more information, visit jbwoodchucklodge.org.

Posie’s Vintiques

Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Sunday 12-5

Look for us just off Route # 28

6 Center Street Milford, N.Y. 13807 607-286-4025

Diana Friedelr

Psychic-Intuitive Reader, Teacher, Medium and Healer; Minister, Institute for Spiritual Development • Confidential Psychic Readings 607-433-2089 • Intuitive Energy Healings

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Sybil’s Yarn Shop With the Knittybiddie

Closed the entire month of June for our annual break. We will be reopening Thursday July 1st. (607) 286-4061 sybilsyarnshop.com

65 S. Main St. Milford, NY 13807

Riders enjoy the natural beauty and peace the Catskill Mountains have to offer in this undated photo.

Ride the Rails Like Never Before: Pedal Your Way through the Catskills BY GABRIELLE ARGO

The Catskills, NY OPENING DAY MAY 1, 2021

| UPSTATE LIFE magazine

Railroad travel has been a tradition in upstate New York for more than 200 years, and now there’s a new way to enjoy the region’s scenery on the tracks. Rail Explorers offers trips though the Catskills, using pedal-powered rail vehicles ideal for couples, families and groups of friends. The Explorers, built for comfort and practicality, feature two-seaters or quads (four seats) with compartments for personal belongings. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a romantic day with your partner or

| Spring 2021

gather family and friends for a group experience, the rail trail is a great way to spend a spring or summer day soaking up the beauty and stillness of abandoned railroad tracks that wind through some of the most stunning passages of the Catskill Mountains.

Tracking History Several trail options offer varying tour opportunities on the historic Ulster & Delaware Railroad along Esopus Creek in Ulster County. As far back as the 1870s, when railroads were exploding as the preferred method of travel across the United States, the U&D Railroad was known by many as “the only all-rail route to the Catskill Mountains.”

Top: Ulster & Delaware’s former railroad station in Phoenicia is pictured in the late 1800s. Bottom: Ulster & Delaware’s railroad station in South Gilboa is shown sometime in the early 1900s.

DRAPERY | CARPETS INTERIOR FURNISHING FABRICS

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

During its most extensive operations, the U&D stretched from Kingston Point through the Catskill Mountains to its western terminus in Oneonta, expanding hundreds of miles through Ulster, Delaware, Schoharie and Otsego counties. The service benefited passenger and freight customers, frequently traveling from New York City. In 1932, the rail line was acquired by The New York Central; passenger trains operated through the early 1950s, though far less frequently, and regular passenger service ended entirely midway through the decade. Today, the skeleton of the U&D Railroad persists throughout the region, with some portions still used for tour traffic in the Hudson Valley and freight carriage. In Otsego County, the line’s former terminus station is what is known contemporarily as The Depot Restaurant in Oneonta.

All Aboard! Rail Explorers pedal tours begin at the former U&D junction hub in Phoenicia. Along with the imprints of decades and centuries past, pedaling passengers can rediscover the landscape once considered the premiere connection of industry and tourism to upstate New York. Passengers glide along quiet, partially overgrown tracks canopied by Catskill forests and cross rail bridges that have stood the test of time. If interested in a Rail Explorers excursion, pack a lunch, anticipate a glorious disconnection from cell service and allow approximately two and a half hours for adventure. Rail Explorers is a safe activity for all ages. Book a trip by visiting railexplorers.net or call 1-877-8338588. +

Producing Historic Reproductions 143 Ben Baxter Road Cherry Valley, NY 866-384-2729 • thistlehillweavers.com

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Spring Noodle Bowl S pring’s flavors, for me, are a mix of light and fresh while still feeling hearty. This Spring Noodle Bowl is just that – it’s chock full of early-season veggies, such as asparagus, Swiss chard and radishes, alongside that classic symbol of renewal, the egg, but with the warming richness of a full-bodied broth. The earthiness of the mushroom blend roots the dish, and the balance of fresh and filling makes it perfect for the start of the spring season. Plus, it’s a nutritional homerun without feeling frilly. Radishes are a quick-growing crop, with harvest happening just three weeks after sowing, and they add a crisp, cool crunch to many spring dishes. The Old Farmer’s Almanac calls radishes “one of the easiest vegetables to grow,” and suggests early-spring and fall plantings, as the heat of high summer will ruin the roots. Seeds should be sown four to six weeks before the last expected frost, and the almanac encourages planting a “round of seeds every 10 days or so, while the weather is still cool, for a continuous harvest of radishes in the late spring and early summer.” Radishes are a good source of vitamins C and B2, as well as the blood pressure-regulating mineral, potassium. Asparagus is another early-season crop, typically available in New York from late April and early May through mid-June. It,

Cookin’ WITH

Collins

too, does best in cooler temps and, while requiring particular soil conditions, will produce for decades once established. And, according to the almanac, it’s a nutrient powerhouse, delivering “a dense assortment of … folate and other B vitamins; selenium, copper, potassium and other minerals; and vitamins K, C, E and A.” It is also “among the foods highest in prebiotic fiber,” the almanac notes, meaning it provides “indigestible carbohydrates that ferment in the large intestine and provide food for bacteria beneficial to health.” Asparagus is also considered anti-inflammatory and, because it is high in fiber, digests slowly and keeps you feeling full longer. And though Swiss chard, a member of the beet family, tolerates summer’s heat, it, too, is typically a cool-season crop. “Chard is a superfood,” the almanac states, noting its high levels of vitamins A, C and K. “It doesn’t have that bitter taste that a lot of other greens have, (making) it a good substitute for spinach or kale, if you’re not a fan of those superfoods.” But this noodle bowl is more about method than anything else. The elements – the protein, the vegetable, the broth – can all be modified and mixed up according to taste. Mostly it’s a fun, slurpy way to enjoy a savory spring meal. ä

The elements – the protein, the vegetable, the broth – can all be modified and mixed up according to taste. Mostly it’s a fun, slurpy way to enjoy a savory spring meal.

COLUMN & PHOTOS BY ALLISON COLLINS

SHUTTERBUG75 | PIXABAY.COM

Spring 2021 | UPSTATE LIFE magazine | 25

1. Early-season veggies, including radishes, Swiss chard and asparagus, lend fresh, light flavor to this noodle bowl. 2. A variety of mushrooms – I used porcini, shiitake, oyster and baby bella – helps deepen the noodle bowl’s earthy flavor. 3. The combination of Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste and ramen broth enriches the noodle bowl’s base. 4. Toss veggies with olive oil and garlic before roasting.

SPRING NOODLE BOWL Ingredients: Swiss chard, one bunch, rough lower stems trimmed 1-2 cloves garlic, chopped Asparagus, one bunch, stems trimmed Radishes, thinly sliced 8-10 oz. mushroom blend – porcini, shiitake, oyster, baby bella 1-1.5 lb. pork loin Olive oil 1 lb. pasta of choice 32 oz. ramen broth ½ - 1 tsp. anchovy paste 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce Eggs (optional) Scallions, chopped Sesame seeds (optional)

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Reconstitute porcini mushrooms according to package directions. Wash, trim and slice all other mushrooms. Set aside.

Drizzle enough oil to coat a frying pan and, over medium-high heat, sear pork loin on all sides. Transfer pork loin to a roasting pan and place in heated oven to continue cooking. Keep the drippings in the frying pan, add more oil if needed, and saute mushroom blend over medium heat, three to four minutes. Add Worcestershire sauce and anchovy paste to mushroom blend, stirring to incorporate. Cook one to two minutes. Add broth to mushroom mixture, stirring gently to loosen any fried-on bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat and allow broth to simmer gently. While the broth is warming and the pork is cooking, bring two pots of water to boil: a large pot for the noodles and a smaller pot for the eggs, if using. About 15 minutes into the pork loin’s cooking time, toss asparagus and Swiss chard with olive oil, salt and pepper and chopped garlic. Place vegetables on a roasting pan and place in oven, alongside the pork, for 15 to 20 minutes, being careful not to burn the Swiss chard. When pasta water is boiling, salt

the water then add noodles and cook according to package directions. When cooked, drain pasta and set aside. When egg water is boiling, carefully place eggs in pot and boil for five minutes. After five minutes, remove eggs to a bowl of cold water for two minutes, then to a dry towel to rest. When cool, carefully peel eggs but wait to cut until ready to serve. Remove roasted asparagus and Swiss chard from oven. Remove pork loin from oven when internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, about 35 minutes, depending on the size of the pork loin. Allow pork loin to rest about five minutes, then slice. Layer your noodle bowls. Drop in a handful of cooked pasta and line the bowl with roasted asparagus and Swiss chard. Ladle hot broth and mushrooms over noodle-veggie mixture, then place pieces of sliced pork on top. If using, slice soft-boiled egg vertically in half and place halves in bowl. Garnish with sliced radishes, scallions and sesame seeds. Serve hot.

5. Sear the pork loin on all sides before placing it in a hot oven to finish cooking. 6. Saute the mushroom blend until tender, then add in broth. 7. Have garnishes such as radishes and scallions sliced and ready before assembling the noodle bowls. 8. Gather all the finished elements before assembling the noodle bowls.

TIPS:  Any kind of leafy, dark green – kale, collard or spinach – can be used in place of the chard, if desired.  To save time and make for easier assembly, have the vegetables prepped and ready before beginning to cook the pork.  Ramen broth has become readily available as the popularity of noodle bowls and Asian-inspired dishes increases, but if difficult to find, chicken or pork broth would work well, too.  Anchovy paste looks gross but adds great depth of flavor, so I don’t recommend omitting. For roughly $3 a tube, it’s an inexpensive secret ingredient in this dish, but also salad dressings and sauces. +

Serve finished noodle bowls hot.

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Rock of Ages:

For many, a trip up Route 28 to the top of Franklin Mountain is a very routine drive (except in the winter!). We have driven it often ourselves, but our travels are always different from routine: they are journeys through time. We watch the road with our eyes, but in our minds, we’re looking deep into Oneonta’s past. And there is a lot to see: a land dating to the Devonian period, roughly 380 million years ago. Anywhere you might travel, there were equally ancient times, but most of those pasts have been lost. What makes Franklin Mountain different? The answer lies in the scientific evidence found in examining the geology. There are rock outcroppings along the road, and they preserve the geologic history here.

Franklin Mountain History is Set in Stone

Devonian Deposits & Tropical Times

A Rocking Sight Getting onto Route 28, follow the sign to Delhi and head uphill. It’s an ascent of about 800 feet. If you are a geologist, you are acutely aware that there is bedrock

just beneath the surface, but what kind of bedrock? There isn’t all that much to see for a while, but then, there it is, on the left side of the highway. It’s an outcrop of stratified rock alongside the road – a series of gray and brown sandstones mixed with red shales. The photo at left details one of those sandstones overlying some of the red shale. Stratified rocks such as these are spread out across the Catskills. Do you like hiking in our picturesque mountains? Then you will soon start seeing similar rocks almost anywhere you hike. So, and this is important, if we can understand the rocks bordering the road on Franklin Mountain, then we can understand the rocks throughout the Catskills.

Sandstones can be seen lying atop red shales in this undated photo.

BY ROBERT AND JOHANNA TITUS

Most sandstones like these began as sands in Devonian river channels. Those red shales are interpreted as onetime floodplain deposits. They started out as

Geology Day Trip

Tree root fossils can be seen in this undated photo. 28

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| Spring 2021

Pale floodplain soil sits atop red shales.

finer sediments, deposited on the river floodplains typically by the very thing its name suggests: floods. We even found one horizon where the red floodplain deposits graded upward into a very pale horizon; the pale stratum was once floodplain soil. All of this was something called the Catskill Delta, a landscape resembling today’s Mississippi River Delta. The Catskill Delta lay spread out beneath the then-rising mountains of western New England. Countless rivers flowed across the broad floodplain of that delta. Here and there we have found the fossils of tree roots. Back then, there was a subtropical climate here. That allows our mind’s eye to populate such a delta with a primitive tropical jungle, widely called the Gilboa Forest. This is perhaps the oldest-known fossil forest ecology anywhere on Earth. Scientifically, that is important.

Taking a Deeper Look If you get the chance to follow our path,

then continue the drive until reaching the top of Franklin Mountain. You will see more outcroppings of the delta along the way. Note the many sandstones and shales that lie just beneath the surface. Envision the rivers that once flowed here. See the red floodplain soils with their forests of primitive trees. But more than anything, see the evidence of time’s passage, right there in front of you. Those 800 feet of stratified rock took a long time to be deposited. How long? Well, we can only make an educated guess, but we believe it was a little less than two million years. That’s a lot of history locked up in some roadside rocks. Please remember this the next time you take the Franklin Mountain drive. But, given how busy the road often is, we caution against stopping and getting out. Instead, remember that when you see sandstones, they represent rivers; when you see red shales, those came from floodplains. +

Contact the authors at randjtitus@prodigy.net or find The Catskill Geologist” on Facebook. Also, read their blog at thecatskillgeologist.com. PHOTOS BY ROBERT AND JOHANNA TITUS

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

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Cody-Shane Acres

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Restaurants

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

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Posie’s Vintiques

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