Upstate Life summer

According to dictionary. com, the word summer is “quite old,” recorded before the year 900, with etymological roots in the Olde English sumor. “It’s related to the Dutch zomer, the German Sommer and the Sanskrit sama,” the site states. “Summer became an adjective around 1300, and terms like summer camp, summer school and summer resort (were) all first recorded in the 1800s.”

Culturally and upstate, I think we define summer as a long-awaited time for leisure, for breaks and reprieves from work but also weather. I’m writing this midway through what has felt like a very wet June. Recently, I saw someone post about “summer fever” on social media, a picture of their kids in a heated pool, the patio fire burning and the grill going, despite low temps and a steady drizzle, as if activating all the trappings of summer could make it be.

To me, summer is longed for in a way the other seasons aren’t. We “fever” for it because it holds that sense of promise: a chance to get outside, a chance to feel the sun, a chance to get away, a chance to – finally – relax.

This edition is full of places and ways to do just that. Be it with a Belgian brew and a game of disc golf at Ommegang, a cycle through upstate greenways or in the pastoral setting of the Honest Brook Music Festival; be it with a Walton-area wellness retreat, a massage session in Delhi or a hike through ancient rock faces at Cathedral Gorge, the region is ripe with ways to unwind this season.

ALLISON COLLINS

Three-year-old Karlena Cornish plays in Oneonta’s Neahwa Park in this June photo.

Honest Brook

Compositions in the Country

BY ALLISON COLLINS

Concert pianist Michael Cannon and his late partner, designer Christopher Desler, brought classical music to the countryside.

The two founded Honest Brook Music Festival in 1989 from their upstate property, the Pipa Farm on Honest Brook in Meredith, purchased in 1987. According to hbmf.org, “they wanted a weekend refuge, far away from the hectic pace of life in New York City. During their first year, Mable Pipa, from whom they purchased the farm, regaled them with stories of her late husband, Henry, singing in the barn.” Cannon and Desler, the site notes, “were determined to find a purpose for their own barn,” which provided surprisingly great acoustics and capacity for 150 concertgoers.

Baroque meets Bucolic

The annual summer series, the site states, is “committed to presenting concerts by outstanding young musicians and well-known artists (and) is held in their preserved dairy barn amid the rolling hills of the western Catskills.”

Cannon credits those factors with ensuring the festival’s longevity.

“I think it’s because of the quality of the music we’ve presented and the venue itself,” he said. “Both our audience members and our artists all say how much they enjoy performing in the barn because of the acoustics; the artists, especially, love performing there, and the audience is very responsive to this. I have to attribute some of it to the venue and some to the level of artistry that we’ve been able to attract and present.”

Michael Cannon, artistic director of Honest Brook Music Festival.

The late Christopher Desler, pictured, cofounded the festival with partner, Michael Cannon.

the musiC We present anD the artists We present are all artists of the ClassiCal musiC genre. We Don’t Do any jazz or pop or roCk; it’s all ClassiCal musiC from, preDominantly, the 17th, 18th anD 19th, anD some 20th, Century.”

That mission, Cannon said, propelled him following Desler’s 2016 death to cancer.

“We certainly both were totally involved, and his death was very difficult to deal with, but I did not think of not continuing the festival,” he said. “I never gave that a thought. It was something we had started together and a legacy of his, but also something that I, as a musician myself, wanted to keep going as much as I could.”

raising the Bar

Cannon said the selection of talent reflects his ongoing commitment to their shared vision.

“The music we present and the artists we present are all artists of the classical music genre,” he said. “We don’t do any jazz or pop or rock; it’s all classical music from, predominantly, the 17th, 18th and 19th, and some 20th, century. We present solo artists on piano and violin, and trios and quartets. We’ve had groups of artists that have different things, like one time we had a group of singers, but it’s all from the classical music repertoire.

“I choose (performers) having become familiar with them,” Cannon continued. “I teach piano and teach in New York City, so I divide my time between New York City and Delhi and, being in New York City gives me the opportunity to go to concerts and hear them perform. I’m the artistic director, so I’m the person who decides on the artists.”

This season’s roster, Cannon noted, promises more of the same.

“It’s a typical lineup of soloists and groups: we have a piano soloist for the first concert and a singer and piano on the second, a quartet on the third and a trio on the fourth,” he said. Visit hbmf.org for a complete schedule and artist biographies.

allegro audiences

Cannon said, despite pandemic-related difficulties and aging patrons, Honest Brook Music Festival audiences remain devoted.

“The pandemic was very difficult,” he said. “We had a complete season of artists booked for 2020 summer, and we had to cancel. Interestingly enough, we were able – because all the artists were out of work – to just take the season from 2020 and they performed in 2021. When we did start up in 2021, we had to limit the size of the audience … and a lot of people just didn’t come, because of their concerns about being close.

“We draw from a wide area, and we’ve had people coming from as far away as the Binghamton area and Cooperstown, but, primarily, it’s Delaware County,” Cannon continued. “A lot of our audience (members) are people from New York City who have second homes in the area. Our audience is an older crowd – we don’t have teenagers and young people – but we’re trying to reach out to expand our audience, but that’s difficult, because they’re more interested in other kinds of music. With an older audience, we’ve had some people in the area move to Florida or away … so, we lose people that way and through death, so we need to continuously be generating a new audience. It’s always surprising to all of us the number of people who we encounter who have never heard of Honest Brook Music Festival. But our audience members are all very complimentary and enjoy so much the barn itself. Being in a structure made for cows and hay and sitting listening to classical music, the ambiance is so enjoyable and the acoustics are so wonderful.”

Festival patrons, Cannon said, are central to its continuation.

top left: Concertgoers take in a classical music performance in this undated Honest Brook Music Festival photo.

from top: Concertgoers enjoy the perennial gardens adjacent to the barn-turnedmusic-venue in this undated photo.

Honest Brook Music Festival takes place in July and August. The preserved dairy barn serves as concert hall.

it’s the joy of Being aBle to present these ConCerts. at the Beginning, as a young pianist trying to Develop a Career, i kneW the most important thing is to get opportunities to perform. you Can Be a Competition Winner anD the Competition gets you performanCes, But if you’re not a Winner, you’re on your oWn.”

“The income from the festival is primarily donations, and we haven’t had too many grants and we certainly do pay the artists,” he said. The festival’s fiscal operations are overseen by a six-member board of directors, headed by Cannon.

Personally, Cannon said, he is fueled by furthering the genre.

“It’s the joy of being able to present these concerts,” he said. “At the beginning, as a young pianist trying to develop a career, I knew the most important thing is to get opportunities to perform. You can be a competition winner and the competition gets you performances, but if you’re not a winner, you’re on your own. So, my mission has been to mostly hire young artists that are beginning a career and trying to develop a career and help them in doing that. I’m very happy to say that many artists we’ve hired years ago are now well-known artists in the classical music field.”

Reservations are suggested for concertgoers, Cannon noted, and can be made by visiting hbmf.org, though last-minute attendees can typically be accommodated. Saturday concerts take place at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday concerts at 3 p.m. The festival property is on Honest Brook Road, off Route 28 between Delhi and Meridale. Email hbmf@aol.com or call 607-746-3770 for more information. +

Adam Golka, pianist.

The Neave Trio.

The Balourdet Quartet.

Vitamin

BY MONICA CALZOLARI

More Important than You Think

According to the Mayo Clinic, more than three million people in the U.S. suffer annually from Vitamin D deficiency. Are you one of them?

Dr. Godwin Njoku, a physician in private practice in Oneonta specializing in family medicine, treats many patients who are deficient in Vitamin D. Dr. Njoku describes Vitamin D as “the oil that keeps your car’s engine running.”

“Vitamin D lubricates your entire body,” he said. “Without it, your body cannot function properly. Calling Vitamin D a supplement is misleading; it is absolutely essential to your health.”

A number of serious illnesses and conditions are related to inadequate levels of Vitamin D, including:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Infertility

• Hair loss

• Heart disease

• Type 2 diabetes

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Osteoporosis

Case study i

A lady in her sixties suffered for seven

years from fatigue, dizziness, headaches and memory problems. She could not concentrate and was falling down. She had been to see many doctors and hospitals from Oneonta to Cooperstown to Albany. No one could pinpoint why she was having these symptoms, until she came to see Dr. Njoku at the recommendation of a friend.

According to Dr. Njoku, “She had a medical file that was six inches thick.” Multiple physi-

cians and radiologists thought she had multiple sclerosis, and ordered multiple MRIs and CAT scans. Lyme disease was another theory. She was even treated for depression. She was so weak, her husband accompanied her to her appointments. When Dr. Njoku heard these symptoms during her first visit, he immediately suspected a Vitamin D deficiency. Within three weeks of taking Vitamin D supplements, she was feeling better. She has completely recovered, started driving again and returned to work.

easy to treat

A simple blood test can determine if you are deficient in vitamins essential for your immune system to function properly. Vitamin D deficiency is easy to treat. Eating foods rich in Vitamin D, getting more exposure to sunlight and/or taking nutritional supplements are recommended.

This condition is more common in women.

prevalent in new york

Living in upstate New York, where winter weather and gray skies can last for nine months out of the year, can lead to inadequate levels of Vitamin D. Lack of sunshine can also cause a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder.

vitamin D luBriCates your entire BoDy. Without it, your BoDy Cannot funCtion properly. Calling vitamin D a supplement is misleaDing; it is aBsolutely essential to your health.”

Registered Nurse Justine Pickel, left, sits with Dr. Godwin Njoku. Dr. Njoku is training Pickel to be a nurse practitioner. | MONICA CALzOLARI

Case study ii

Another doctor diagnosed a female patient with seasonal affective disorder. When Ashley Palmatier came to see Dr. Njoku, she explained that she also suffered from fertility problems and had fertility treatments that did not work. She told Dr. Njoku she often felt lightheaded. Turns out, her Vitamin D levels were low and, within six months of adding Vitamin D supplements to her diet, she conceived her first baby. Palmatier now has two children. Who else is prone to vitamin D Deficiency?

People over 65, individuals who are obese and those with darker skin pigment are also more susceptible to Vitamin D deficiencies. Are you getting enough exposure to sunlight? If you are living in a nursing home or spend a lot of time indoors, chances are you are not.

According to the National Library of Medicine, nearly 42% of American adults have a Vitamin D deficiency. According to nih. gov’s “Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Associated Risk Factors in the US Population,” if you are a Hispanic adult, that percentage increases to 62%. If you are an African American adult, the percentage jumps to 82%.

When was the last time you had a blood test?

Some people have health conditions that make it difficult for them to adsorb Vitamin D, which can lead to deficiency, too. These conditions include:

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Crohn’s disease

• Ulcerative colitis

• Celiac disease

• Cystic fibrosis

• People who have had bariatric surgery for weight loss

• People who had sections of the small intestine removed

A deficient amount of Vitamin D may also play a role in other medical conditions, including:

• Asthma

• Fibromyalgia

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Kidney disease

• Liver disease

Case study iii

Ciara Tonic, a local college student, fainted on her job. When

taken to the emergency room, the physician on duty guessed that she may have passed out from low blood sugar. Dr. Njoku discovered low Vitamin D was the culprit, instead.

Case study iv

Dr. Njoku also treats college students who complain of having a hard time focusing and were prescribed Adderall. After Dr. Njoku prescribed Vitamin D supplements to several of these students, they no longer needed Adderall to help them focus.

Common symptoms:

• Bone aches and pains

• Broken bones

• Cramps

• Depression

• Fatigue

• Muscle weakness

With so many health hazards associated with insufficient amounts of vitamin D, it makes sense to see your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms. Vitamin D helps your body ward off illness and infections. If you are getting sick frequently, with the flu, strep throat or colds, you may suffer from low levels of vitamin D.

foods Containing vitamin D

Foods that are rich in Vitamin D include fatty fishes, such as halibut, herring, salmon, sardines and tuna; cod liver oil, egg yolks, mushrooms; and items fortified with Vitamin D, such as milk, yogurt and orange juice. Although it is difficult to get enough Vitamin D through your diet alone, a healthy diet is important.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breastfed babies be given Vitamin D supplements, as breast milk contains only a small amount of Vitamin D. A deficient amount of Vitamin D can affect the calcium absorption needed for healthy bones.

Rickets is a disease that causes softening of bones in children, resulting in fractures and deformities. Although rickets is not common in the U.S., exclusively breastfed children from six months to two years are more prone to this disease.

Vitamin deficiency is preventable and treatable. Get checked today.

Fatty fishes, such as halibut, herring and salmon are rich in Vitamin D. So are sardines, tuna, cod liver oil, egg yolks, mushrooms and items fortified with Vitamin D, such as milk, yogurt and orange juice.

Most adults should get 1,500 to 2000 international units (IU) of Vitamin D daily.

about Dr. njoku

Dr. Njoku was born in Cameroon, Africa and grew up in Nigeria. His parents sent him to a seminary to study to become a priest in middle school and high school, but he decided he preferred science. He came to the United States at 19 and graduated from Howard University. Next he attended the University of Maryland Dental School for nearly four years. Realizing he did not want to become a priest or a dentist, he applied to Ross University Medical School and studied medicine in the Caribbean for two years. He completed his residency in New York City at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Queens. Dr. Njoku worked at Fox Hospital for 10 years before going into private practice six years ago.

Reflecting on what he likes best about medicine, Dr. Njoku said: “Helping patients get positive results after receiving a proper diagnosis is what brings me joy and satisfaction.

“Medicine gives me the opportunity to be human, patient and compassionate,” he continued.

Dr. Njoku is training Justine Pickel, RN, to be a nurse practitioner and to recognize how prevalent Vitamin D deficiency is in upstate New York. +

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11am to 8pm

Dr. Godwin Njoku, a family practice physician, is pictured at his 460 Main St., Oneonta office. | MONICA CALzOLARI

Liberty Family Medicine is the name of Goodwin Njoku’s private practice in Oneonta. | MONICA CALzOLARI

CURBSIDE DELIV ERY•CARRYOUT •CAT ERING

Hit the Trail! Cycle the Catskills

BY LEIGH INFIELD

Picture yourself cycling along a shaded trail, foothills on one side, a meandering brook on the other. Dappled sunlight casts shadows on the trail and the silence is broken only by the twittering of birds and the sound of your tires, finding their rhythm. Off the beaten path, you are a world away from the cares of daily life.

Cycling is a wonderful way to experience the beauty of the Catskills. The region is home to trails that provide breath-taking scenery: bucolic farmland set against gentle foothills, winding creeks and impressive water expanses. As you cycle one of these trails, you can imagine hearing the echo of Native American footsteps as they hunted, or the click-clacking of train wheels on now-defunct tracks.

Catskill scenic trail, Bloomville-roxbury

The Catskill Scenic Trail stretches 26 miles in an inverted U-shape from Bloomville to Roxbury along what was once the route of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad. Cylcers can spot some of the weathered railroad ties lying alongside the trail. Relatively flat, conditions vary from packed dirt and gravel to grass. At times, cyclers can view the Delaware River, burbling as a small creek before it becomes the mighty Delaware River hundreds of miles away.

Wonderfully varied, the Catskill Scenic Trail often emerges from under a canopy of trees to open fields, where cows graze undisturbed. Cyclers might find themselves traversing a farmer’s field on a path no wider than a thin line. (And yes, it’s legal). Due to the length of the trail, cyclists have the option of taking it in smaller sections, each ending at a village well worth exploring.

Starting at Bloomville, the western end of the trail takes riders through the villages of South Kortright, Hobart and Stamford. There is parking and trail access at each of these points. In South Kortright, the trail picks up across county Highway 18, where the Belle Terre mansion, formerly the private estate of the McLean family, can be spotted through the trees.

Enjoy the vista of reservoir and mountains from the Ashokan Rail Trail.

Farmland is seen along the Catskill Scenic Trail.

The trail also takes riders past the backyard pavilion of the restored Hidden Inn, open as a pub and restaurant. There is a sign pointing to the inn in both directions on the trail. Then it’s on to Hobart, known as the “Book Village,” where cyclers can stop and browse eclectic bookstores. Stamford is known as the “Queen of the Catskills” for its fine old hotels, many restored as charming bed and breakfasts.

From Stamford, the trail transitions to its eastern portion, running through Grand Gorge and ending in Roxbury. Slightly more rugged, this part of the trail follows the East Branch of the Delaware River. Visit catskillscenictrail.org for trail map, villages along the way and where to park.

ashokan rail trail, West hurley-Boiceville

Another cycling adventure awaits cyclers of the Ashokhan Rail Trail. The 12-mile trail is steeped in history and runs from West Hurley to Boiceville, along what was the main line of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad. Founded in 1866, it was once advertised as the only “all-rail route” to the Catskills.

The Ashokan Trail is a joy to cycle, providing spectacular scenery along the way. Riders will cycle a straight, crushed-stone path, wider than most trails, abounding with red maples, birch and eastern white pine trees on both sides. Riders will travel through protected wetlands and on to a 525-foot boardwalk. The route crosses the historic 2,850-foot-long, 60-foot-tall Glenford Dike that enabled the passage of trains.

It is the trail’s spectacular views of the Ashokan Reservoir that make the cycling experience so memorable. Through the trees, the reservoir appears to the right of the trail as cyclers come from the Boiceville trailhead toward the Woodstock trailhead at West Hurley. A third trailhead, the Ashokan Station Trailhead, is in the center of the trail at Shokan.

As riders cycle, history unfolds. Historic plaques alongside the trail open windows to train and reservoir history. Riders will learn about the communities lost to the building of the reservoir in the 1900s. Small towns with railroad stations, churches and stores were

removed to make way for the construction of the reservoir, which brought much-needed clean drinking water to the growing population of New York City.

Men, many of them immigrants, labored to complete this massive engineering feat. Stone walls and foundations remain visible along the reservoir, reminders of the displaced towns and people.

The Ashokan Rail Trail is open year-round, from dawn to dusk. There is ample parking at all three trailheads and portable toilets at each. Visit ashokanrailtrail.com.

ashokan promenade, olivebridge

For yet another glorious view of the reservoir and the surrounding Catskill Mountains, don’t miss cycling the nearby Ashokan Promenade. There is no direct connection from the trail, so return to Route 28 at Boiceville to the Reservoir Bridge Road, which leads to the promenade’s parking lot off 28A on the western end.

The promenade is in two parts. Paved and flat, it runs along the southern edge of the reservoir for 2.8 miles. From the western end’s parking area, riders will cycle on an elevated road over the dam, offering spectacular views of the reservoir and the mountains in the distance. There are benches to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet and an inspiring view.

At the end of the elevated road, riders enter a wooded section, passing a survey tower dedicated to the chief engineer of the reservoir project, Waldo Smith. From there, the promenade crosses a highway intersection and continues eastward on a path ending at a circular cul-de-sac known as “The Frying Pan” in Olivebridge.

susquehanna greenway, oneonta

For great views of the Susquehanna River, head to Oneonta’s Susquehanna Greenway. Three trails make up the Greenway: Silas Lane Loop, Mill Race and New Island, with a new section, still in the planning stages, connecting the three.

The Greenway lives up to its name. At times, riders will cycle on a packed-dirt path through a corridor of green trees and dense vegetation, only to come upon long, beautiful stretches of grass-covered path. (Bicycles with wider tires are recommended). The trails provide glimpses of the Susquehanna through the trees. Wildflowers grow along its banks and wildlife sightings are frequent.

top right: A cyclist stops to enjoy the view from the bridge over the Esopus on the Ashokan Rail Trail. above: The Ashokan Promenade is not to be missed. Cycling along its two sections provides views of the reservoir, backgrounded by the Catskill Mountains. | CONTRIBUTED

The Silas Lane Loop was the first of the trails to be completed. Its location off Silas Lane Road, near transfer station property, may seem like an unlikely spot for the entrance to a nature trail. But, from the parking area’s kiosk, walk straight to the trail and it goes either right or left to complete the smaller of two loops; the more scenic part of the trail is accessed from the right.

The Susquehanna River flows peacefully to the left. As riders cycle along the wide, dirt-packed trail, the noise of nearby highway traffic is reduced to a hum. Signs along the path identify the abundant flora and fauna and give historical facts about the Native Americans who once lived in the area. There are benches along the way and a pavilion with picnic tables. At a small meadow, the trail loops back on the left to a long, straight grass-covered stretch. Riders will come to a road where they can turn right, back to the kiosk, or continue straight for the full loop, another two miles.

The Mill Race is a small stream, branching off from the Susquehanna River and traveling through Oneonta before rejoining the Susquehanna. The Mill Race Trail follows the stream at the northern edge of Neahwa Park. Though shorter than the other trails, it is not short on beauty. Riders can access the trail through Catella Park, where parking is available. Catella Park itself is reached through Neahwa Park.

The Susquehanna River will be cyclers’ companion along stretches of the 4.3-mile New Island Trail. Once surrounded by water, New Island still holds the feeling of being an island, as it is closed to cars and accessible only by foot or bike. Tucked between Interstate 88 and the river, the trail is a small gem. From the trail, it is easy to forget that you are near a city and a busy highway. Access the trail from Catella Park on David W. Brenner Road.

Whatever trails you hit, have fun! +

top: The Susquehanna River is seen flowing beside the Silas Lane Loop Trail.

Bottom: The Susquehanna Greenway Trail lives up to its name, with beautiful greenery along a grass-covered path.

Uplands Center: The

A Community Asset

We offer Day-long retreats for loCal nonprofit organizations of Caregivers anD Changemakers. it’s our Core mission to support these tWo groups. more BroaDly, We Want to Be a resourCe for the Community, WhiCh involves learning aBout What the Community neeDs anD responDing to that.”

BY CHELSEA FRISBEE JOHNSON

Tucked in the hills of Walton, visitors and locals alike are delighted to discover the Uplands Center, a nonprofit retreat center that hosts groups seeking renewal, learning and growth. While much of the organization’s focus includes hosting changemaker and caregiver groups from farther afield, the Uplands Center has intentionally created programming for the local community, as a way to share their space with others in the area.

Renee Hardenkamp, director of retreat operations and environmental programming, said: “We offer day-long retreats for local nonprofit organizations of caregivers and changemakers. It’s our core mission to support these two groups. More broadly, we want to be a resource for the community, which involves learning about what the community needs and responding to that. In the last four years, we’ve offered art workshops, educational nature walks, support for those who are in recovery, mindfulness workshops and more. These are all open to the public!”

Local participants in day-long retreats have included Delaware Opportunities, ARC of Delaware, the Audubon Society and Womxn for Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (WIDE). The Upland Center has also enjoyed working with the Walton School District, offering “Advisor Days” for teambuilding and connection with sixth- and seventh-grade students, Hardenkamp noted, as well as a social-emotional learning program for middle school and high school students.

“It’s really rewarding to get kids to the Uplands Center,” she said.

The Uplands Center also hosts free monthly women’s circles and occasional donation-based community yoga classes within their state-of-the-art retreat facility, which includes a yoga room, lap pool, fitness area and art studio with sweeping views of the surrounding hills, a “Wellness Walk” nature trail and organic garden.

“Having the Uplands Center as a space to cultivate a sense of community within Delaware County has been really great – to have people meet others who are interested in similar programming and make connections,” Hardenkamp said.

left: Sweeping views of the hills greet visitors to the Uplands Center. above: Event participants release milkweed seeds during ‘Metamorphosis,’ an art workshop at the center.

Community events this summer at the uplands Center include:

• aug. 5, 10 - 11:30 a.m., forest Bathing Walk - A walk to explore nature through the senses

• sept. 2, 11 a.m. – noon, Community hike - A guided hike of the Uplands’ Brook Trail

• sept. 17, 4 – 6 p.m., Community farm-to-table Dinner - Includes a garden tour, harvesting produce, cooking demo and meal

top, clockwise: The Uplands Center offers occasional donation-based community yoga classes. The Uplands Center includes a lap pool, yoga room, fitness area, art studio and more. Uplands staff are seen tending the center’s organic garden.

a rural refresh

The Uplands Center has been a non-profit organization since 2017, but the land and facilities have a much longer history. The center covers 290 acres, the remainder of two dairy farms owned by the settler families of Alexander Tweedie and Levi Hanford, who moved there in the 1800s. Philanthropists Arthur and Joann Rasmussen bought the Uplands property in the 1980s, then lived there from 1990 until their passing, at which time they donated the property to become a 501 c-3 nonprofit foundation called the Uplands Foundation, the principal funder of the Uplands Center. Much of their philanthropic work in the area centered around conservation, and their environmental consciousness is reflected in the work of the Uplands Center, too.

“Oftentimes we hear from multiple people at each event that they had no idea this type of place existed in our area, and there’s a lot of interest in it and curiosity about its history,” Hardenkamp said. “People feel restored and peaceful after their time here. The setting itself is conducive to creating a calm inside and out, so people leave with a lightness, visibly refreshed and rejuvenated and wanting more.”

The Uplands Center is interested in continuing to support local groups of changemakers and caregivers, and invites new organizations to come use their space for strategic gatherings, restoration, renewal and team bonding.

“We would love to expand our outdoor nature-based offerings and have the Uplands Center be a place where people, children and families can learn about the land and cultivate a sense of reverence for

this place we call home,” Hardenkamp said. “We would love to keep hearing from the community what they want and what’s needed. We want to be a responding resource in that way.”

Hardenkamp noted that individuals or organizations interested in connecting should contact her at renee@uplandscenter.org.

To learn more, visit uplandscenter.org. +

top to bottom: Groups enjoy the walking trails and scenery of the Uplands Center. Event participants from Delaware Opportunities are seen in a strategic planning session at the center.

people feel restoreD anD peaCeful after their time here. the setting itself is ConDuCive to Creating a Calm insiDe anD out, so people leave With a lightness, visiBly refresheD anD rejuvenateD anD Wanting more.”

Perfect Potato Salad

By allison Collins

finished potato salad makes a great side to any summer barbecue.

Ididn’t grow up eating potato salad. My mother had (and has) an aversion to anything eggy, but especially hardboiled eggs, so it wasn’t until I started doing my own cooking that I began making and eating this summertime staple. Now, it is a fixture at our cookouts and warm-weather meals. I’ve been making it for roughly 12 years. It’s what I bring if attending a potluck or a barbecue and, usually, I get asked for the recipe. And, even my mother loves it.

I think hard-boiled eggs have their place, and certainly bacon and cheese and scallions, just maybe not in potato salad. To me, this recipe is how potato salad should taste: potato-forward flavor, creamy-tangy dressing, all accented by fresh dill with lots of black pepper. It’s quick and easy to make and it keeps well. Also, dill is abundant this time of year.

Dill is an annual herb, belonging to the celery family. According to several online sources, it has been used in culinary applications for millennia, with growing origins in the Mediterranean. Herbsociety.org notes: “The earliest known record of dill as a medicinal herb was found in Egypt 5,000 years ago, as a ‘soothing medicine.’” The name “dill,” the site continues, means to “calm or soothe.” And, it states, dill seeds were sometimes known as “meetinghouse seeds,” because “they were chewed during long church services to keep members awake or kids quiet … (or) to freshen the breath and quiet noisy stomachs.” It is considered rich in antioxidants and a good source of vitamins A and C and magnesium. If growing your own dill, herbsociety.org says early-morning harvesting is best. “The higher moisture content of the plants when harvested at this time results in better flavor and the possibility of seed shattering is minimized.” The site also recommends keeping dill plants’ tops trimmed regularly, to ensure a continuous supply. “Dill weed is best harvested before the plant is fully mature and before the flower buds have opened,” it states. Fresh dill can be kept, refrigerated, for several days, or stored in a cup of water, stems down.

Though you can use dry dill, the fresh herb livens this potato salad up, giving it what I think of as the smell and flavor of summer.

Cookin’ Collins WITH

Garnish potato salad with remaining dill.

PHOTOS By ALLISON COLLINS

1. I like to use red-skin potatoes in this recipe, but any small- to medium-sized potato would work.

2. Potatoes should be cut in cooked in bite-sized chunks, but don’t make them too small or they’ll get mushy during cooking. 3. Allowing the potatoes time to steam and rest after cooking keeps them tender. 4. Fresh dill, onion and celery boost the flavor of this potato salad. 5. These ingredients combine to make a creamy-tangy dressing.

6. While the cooked potatoes rest, combine dressing ingredients. 7. Stir dressing ingredients and set aside.

Ingredients:

roughly 3 pounds of red potatoes, cut into bite-sized chunks

¾ c. mayonnaise

¼ c. sour cream

2 tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 tbsp. whole-grain mustard

½ c. fresh, chopped dill (or 1 tbsp. dry dill)

½ c. chopped celery (about 2 ribs)

½ c. chopped red onion (about ½ an onion, depending on size)

Black pepper

Kosher salt

½ c. milk

½ lemon

This recipe is modified from Ina Garten’s potato salad recipe at foodnetwork. com

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Salt the water. Add cut potatoes to boiling water and let cook for about 20 minutes, or until potato pieces are fork tender.

When potatoes are ready, strain. Return the potatoes, still in the colander, to the empty cooking pot and cover the hot potatoes with a clean dish towel and allow to steam for about 30 minutes.

While potatoes rest, in a large bowl, assemble the dressing. Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, mustards, chopped celery and onions, dill and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.

In a separate container, pour milk and squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the milk. Allow to sit for about five minutes. The original recipe calls for buttermilk, which I don’t often have on hand, and this is an easy substitute. Add the soured milk into the mayonnaise mixture and stir. Set dressing aside.

When potatoes are cool enough to handle, pour them into the bowl containing the prepared dressing. Gently stir to combine, moistening the potatoes until well-coated. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Garnish with any remaining chopped dill and serve potato salad cold or at room temperature. +

Self-Care with Chelsea CORNER

Interwoven Wellness Collective

BY CHELSEA FRISBEE JOHNSON

This month, I interviewed Kelsey Adams, co-owner of Interwoven Wellness Collective in Delhi, which opened its doors in May, offering massage therapy, acupuncture and many wellness practitioners and events.

Summer is a time of movement and opportunity to be outdoors, connecting with nature, which Adams highlights as one of her top recommendations for self-care at this time of year. So, make a point to find time to splash in the water, lie in the sun and enjoy the quick-moving summer months of our area.

tell me about the interwoven Wellness Collective

Interwoven offers acupuncture and massage, and we also have an infrared sauna lounge. The reason I called our wellness space a collective instead of a center is because I would like to collaborate with as many wellness practitioners as possible and bring them into the space to offer the community a variety of healing and wellness modalities. Collaboration, community and wellness in a safe container are the things most important to us. We have already held a biodynamic breathwork class that had a great turnout. Participants leaving the class (had) a stronger sense of self, lighter brighter energy and the feeling of a community that supports their healing journey.

This summer, we will be offering yoga classes, a journey dance class, sound baths, shamanic drumming journeys and more breathwork classes. We hope to keep bringing in new energies for healing and wellness to serve the community. What drew you to start your practice in Delhi?

We started our practice in the Delhi area because, when we moved here a year ago, as the people in the community would find out that I was a massage therapist and Tobias, my partner, was an acupuncturist, (they) would say, “We are so in need of wellness options in the Delhi area.” We moved here hoping to become a part of the community, so it made complete sense to contribute in the only way we knew how: offering wellness. The enthusiasm we were receiving inspired us to start something earlier than we expected. We thought we would live here for a couple years, getting to know the community and then open something, but the excitement and welcoming energy we received was so profound it inspired me to open as soon as I could find a space. The community has been so supportive and welcoming to our practice. The chamber of commerce promoted us right away and continues to offer promotion any time we need it; all the other business owners welcomed us and send so much business our way; Nini Ordoubadi, Interwoven’s neighbor and fellow female business owner, has promoted us in the community and on her social media and has taken me under her wing (and been) an incredible source of advice and support. Being in this community feels like home, and we are so honored to be welcomed with such incredible warmth and support.

top: Benefits of using an infrared sauna include detoxification, improving circulation and repairing/ regenerating cells. Bottom: Interwoven Wellness Collective aims to bring in many wellness practitioners to offer yoga, sound baths, shamanic drumming journeys and more.

Kelsey, Tobias and family.

how do massage & acupuncture contribute to your clients’ overall wellness?

Massage and acupuncture modalities allow people to stop and take a breath, breathing fresh energy into their bodies, mind and spirit. It gives the awareness that we are more than just a physical being, that our mind, body and spirit are all connected. Acupuncture is based on clearing the meridians, which are the energy channels of the body. If those channels are blocked, illness, mental fatigue, inflammation and low vitality can become indicators of the blocked flow. The acupuncture needles clear the blocked pathways of each meridian channel, allowing for a more connected, healthy and vibrant way of being in the world.

The type of massage that is offered is a dynamic combo of energetic clearing and physical manipulation of muscle and tissue to release trapped tension, stress, muscle constriction and addressing chronic pain by releasing holding patterns embedded in the body, and creating an open flow of movement and energy throughout. When one is connected to their body through wellness maintenance, it creates a connection to their own healing abilities and empowers them to stay connected to their health.

What are the top three wellness practices you recommend to clients at this time of year?

The top three wellness practices I recommend in the summer are:

1. Putting your bare feet on the earth, in the water, dirt or sand. We receive negative ions and electrons from the earth through our bare feet. These ions and electrons are absorbed and help detoxify our bodies from free radicals, heavy metals and even air pollution. It’s easy to access, it doesn’t cost anything and anyone can do it!

2. Movement, movement, movement. Moving our bodies is what keeps them running smoothly: like grease is to the wheel, movement is to the body. Dancing, yoga, jump roping, hula hooping, swimming, hiking and walking are my favorites of the summer. The more you move your joints, the more flexibility your body retains.

3. For mental wellness, my favorite practice is gratitude. When we focus on the positive aspects of life we can reduce the feelings of stress, anxiety and mild depression. Studies have shown that one

thought of gratitude immediately increases happiness by 10% and reduces negative emotions by 35%. This is an anytime, anywhere practice. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend giving it a whirl. Try it while you’re twirling a hula hoop!

What’s your favorite self-care practice during summer?

My favorite self-care practices in summer are being outside as much as possible, listening to as much live music outside as possible, dancing outside with bare feet, swimming in ponds and the ocean, hiking, mountain biking and embracing all the healing energies the natural world has to offer. The earth is where all wellness starts for me.

What inspires you about your work?

Seeing people find their connection to themselves as powerful autonomous beings with the ability to nurture and curate their own health and healing is what inspires me the most. I do the work that I do for that sole reason.

how can people learn more about interwoven Wellness?

People can learn more about the classes and events that we offer by going to interwovenwellnesscollective.com and clicking on the “Events” button. We try to offer something new every week. +

Chelsea Frisbee Johnson is a life coach, writer and spiritual leader who loves helping people find more joy and peace in their life.

‘The breathwork class at Interwoven Wellness Collective facilitated by Taryn Capozzi helped me reach parts of myself that I usually don’t have access to. Being with six other wonderful women during the experience was crucial; it provided a genuinely safe space for me to shed my restrictive cocoon and move my body in ways that I usually don’t even feel comfortable doing alone.’ - Mindy Kurtmer, Delhi resident

Interwoven Wellness Collective in Delhi offers massage therapy, acupuncture, infrared sauna and more.

Brewery CeleBrates 25 years

As an unusual building was being built in Middlefield in 1996, there were probably a few who wondered what the structure would amount to. Unnamed at the time, this barn was set to become a brewery, when microbrewing in our region was in its infancy.

Now in its second quarter century, that barn has become a place for people to gather and enjoy good times and good beverages: Brewery Ommegang.

The Walls Talk

BY MARK SIMONSON

It was a simple start, as the Oct. 11, 1995 Daily Star reported: “A Cooperstown beer importer hopes to open a small brewery in Middlefield by next fall that specializes in making custom Belgian beer.

“If the remaining town approvals are garnered, Donald Feinberg’s still unnamed brewery would be the third microbrewing venture to spring up in Otsego County recently and tap into the public’s ris-

ing demand for finely crafted beer.

“Fourteen years ago he founded the beer importing business, Vanberg and Dewulf, which specializes in Belgian and French beers. In Cooperstown for five years, the business is now located on Pioneer Street.”

Feinberg was looking to build a 10,000-square-foot barn-style structure on county Route 33, to employ eight people. Today, Ommegang employs 50 year-round, with about 50 additional on staff during the summer tourism months.

The 1995 article continued: “Feinberg said town officials have been helpful in guiding him throughout the planning process, and he looks forward to becoming part of what he said appears to be a renaissance of Otsego County’s brewing heritage.

“‘Otsego County was once the hops growing capital of the country,’ he said. ‘This area used to be an intricate part of brewing in America.’”

Brewery Ommegang, seen in June 2023. | MARK SIMONSON

it

The two other microbrewing pioneers of the time were the Cooperstown Brewing Co. in Milford, and the DryTown Brewery in Oneonta. The latter stopped production and closed its Roundhouse Road operation in late 1996. finding fruition

Feinberg and co-owner Wendy Littlefield broke ground on the brewery in the summer of 1996. It was named Brewery Ommegang, for a centuries-old pageant in Brussels. The word variously means “coming together” or “walking about.”

By July 1997, the brewery was just weeks away from initial production and the farmhouse-style building was near completion.

As The Star of July 10 reported, “One of the wings now houses the enormous stainless steel brewing tanks, while the other will be reserved for bottling and aging. And details are appearing: stained glass windows, a fireplace, wooden doors with ornate metal hinges.

“Public response to the structure, Feinberg said, has been strong.

“‘The building seems to be a hit, but now the beer has to be a hit,’ he said. ‘I’m saying that the beer had better live up to the building.’

“Belgian beers differ greatly from mass produced American beers. They more closely resemble wines in the way they are painstakingly crafted and meant to be consumed. They are flavorful, hearty, intricate and often potent.

“‘Our beer takes two months to make,’ Feinberg said.

“The operation will remain small in scale, with Feinberg hoping to reach production levels of 100,000 cases a year within three years. Ommegang has the capacity to make 200,000 cases a year.

“By contrast, Feinberg said, the Utica brewery that produces Saranac beers brews six-million cases a year.”

ommegang on the rise

No doubt the beer lived up to the building, as by 2006, Ommegang produced a commemorative five-millionth bottle. The demand for the beer led to the expansion of brewing facilities, increasing capacity some 40% by 2008.

By the mid-2000s, not only was Ommegang increasing production, but the brewery was fast becoming a tourist attraction; a visitor center opened in 2011, complete with a tasting room, store, 100-seat cafe and outdoor patio.

The grounds in Middlefield behind the brewery make a natural amphitheater, and starting in 2013, Ommegang began its Summer Concert Series, which continues today. Some of the initial acts included Wilco, Lyle Lovett, Jack White, the Avett Brothers, John Prine, Bonnie Raitt and the Old Crow Medicine Show.

Since 2016, Ommegang has been supporting local agriculture. Working with Cornell University, the brewery established an experimental hop yard to promote regional hop farming. Ommegang introduced “Hopstate NY,” a beer made exclusively with New York-grown hops.

top: Brewery Ommegang, seen under construction from county Route 33 in December 1996. right: Employees of Heavy Duty Products, Henry Main, on tank, and Fred Murray are seen taking measurements in July 1997 for a pipe to connect to a beer-brewing tank at the brewery. |

Was nameD BreWery ommegang, for a CenturiesolD pageant in Brussels. the WorD variously means “Coming together” or “Walking aBout.”

Fore! Players in the brewery’s Summer Disc Golf League begin here on a typical Friday evening in the summer months.

A new band performs weekly on the stage near a bonfire in the natural stone fire pit as part of the Fire Pit Friday series, happening through Sept. 29. Visit ommengang.com to see who’s up in coming weeks.

Directions to brewery attractions.

A recent view of the outdoor patio from the natural amphitheater behind the brewery.

PHOTOS By MARK SIMONSON

In recent years, the brewery has expanded its tap house, tasting room, cafe and kitchen, as well as a covered patio and an expanded store, all to host several hundred visitors at a time. Ommegang’s parent company, Duvel Moorgat, an early investor in the business, became the sole owner in 2003.

Each July, August and September, hundreds arrive to “come together and walk about” at the brewery on Friday evenings. Brewery Ommegang hosts a Summer Disc Golf League. Disc golf is played much like golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc. The object is to complete each hole with the fewest throws, rather than strokes. A hole is actually a target.

At Ommegang, players warm up at 5:30 p.m., with Round One at 6 p.m. and Round Two at 7. There is no registration or cost, and the game is played in random doubles.

While disc golf goes on, others arrive to enjoy the Fire Pit Fridays Summer Concert Series from 7 to 10 p.m. A new band performs each week, attendance is free and blankets and chairs

are welcomed. Along with live music and a bonfire, beer and food are available for purchase. The series ends Friday, Sept. 29, with the Grateful Upstate Toodleoo Band.

Also through summer, there is Sunday Brunch Bingo from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For complete information about events and visiting the brewery, visit ommegang.com. +

Historian Mark Simonson grew up in Oneonta. He has worked in public relations, marketing and broadcast journalism. Simonson was appointed Oneonta City Historian in 1998. He writes a historical column in The Daily Star and has published books highlighting local and regional history.

Here, Simonson shares stories about old buildings of interest in the upstate region.

By the miD-2000s, not only Was ommegang inCreasing proDuCtion, But the BreWery Was fast BeComing a tourist attraCtion; a visitor Center openeD in 2011, Complete With a tasting room, store, 100-seat Cafe anD outDoor patio.

BY ROBERT AND JOHANNA TITUS

The Catskill Geologists

Over the years, we visited many preserves in our Catskill region. We love to hike the trails and take in the scenery that each preserve offers. We have the added pleasure of unraveling the geological mysteries that lie just beneath the surfaces. Have you ever been to the Ashokan Center? That’s on Beaverkill Road, along Esopus Creek in the town of Olivebridge. Visit ashokancenter.org/product/day-pass2/ to purchase a day pass.

The Ashokan Center is primarily an outdoors education and music center run by musicians Jay Ungur and Molly Masom. You may well remember them for their music “Ashokan Farewell” in Ken Burns’ series “The Civil War.” That music was written right at the center. If you get on the mailing list, you will find that they sponsor many events year-round.

The center is located along a narrow stretch of Esopus Creek. It is so narrow that this part of the creek is called Cathedral Gorge. Take a look at our first photo. What you can’t see in our photo are the vertical cliffs of bedrock rising above the gorge, but they are there, to left and right. Most people hike the trail there and admire this picturesque canyon. We are different; we are good at admiring scenery, but we are also curious about how it came to be. What is the geological history here?

hidden history

Part of the answer was easy and obvious: there had, long ago, been a powerful current running by here. We stood at the bottom of the canyon, imagining the whitewater surge that had eroded this ravine. We envisioned powerful, cold torrents passing by, beveling down into the underlying rock and carving this canyon.

But there must have been more to the story. Where did this flow come from, and why was there so much water? We did what we so often do –we got our maps out and started looking for answers.

Far upstream, we found Stony Clove and instantly put together a story. Stony Clove Creek is a tributary of Esopus Creek, entering from the north. The Clove is deep and narrow; it must have been formed by another massive torrent. We had gotten one step closer to the source of the Cathedral Gorge torrent.

ice age impact

We began thinking about what the Ice Age did here. See our second illustration. It displays a melting and retreating glacier in the east. Behind it is a sizable glacial lake, called Lake Grand Gorge. Its waters could not escape to the east, so they were forced to cut through the mountain and create Stony Clove in the form we see today. It was that flow that continued on and carved Cathedral Gorge.

There are several locations in the gorge where you can climb up and look down into the canyon. +

above: Cathedral Gorge at the Ashokan Center. | ROBERT TITUS Below: This illustration depicts a melting and retreating glacier in the east. | CONTRIBUTED

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Business Directory

Advertising & Media (Publishers, Public Relations, Marketing)

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

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

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

Oliver’s Campers Inc. 6460 State Hwy. 12, Norwich, NY 607-334-3400 •oliverscampers.com

Construction & Building Services (General Contractors, Construction, Engineers, Architects)

Windows & Doors Kitchens & Baths

A&J’s Windows & Doors Kitchens & Baths 4189 State Hwy. 28, Milford, NY 607-286-7856 anjwindows.com

Gilbert Plumbing & Heating P.O. Box 96, Gilbertsville, NY 607-783-2289 • www.gilbertph.com

Home Foam Insulation Denver, NY • 845-594-7413 www.homefoaminsulation.net

Construction & Building Services (General Contractors, Construction, Engineers, Architects) Titan Drilling Corp. 264 Co. Hwy. 38, Arkville, NY 1-800-GO-TITAN • 1-845-586-4000 titanwelldrillingny.com

Meet the Locals

Drilling Corp.

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

Entertainment (Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Travel, Events, Museums) ASSOCIATION GALLERIES 22 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 607-547-9777 • cooperstownart.com

Home & Garden

(Home & Garden, RemodelingBath & Kitchen)

purecatskills.com

ServiceMASTER by Burch 607-988-2516 servicemasterbyburch/com

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

Casual Dining, Fast Food)

BROOKS’ House of BBQ 5560 State Hwy. 7, Oneonta, NY 607-432-1782 • brooksbbq.com

Shopping & Retail (Appliances, Clothing Apparel, Accessories, more...)

Sybil’s Yarn Shop 65 South Main St., Milford, NY 607-286-4061 • sybilsyarnshop.com

The Sheep’s Nest 45 Main St., Hobart, NY 607-434-6918 • www.thesheepsnest.com

Franklin Stage Company Franklin, NY • 607-829-3700 franklinstagecompany.org

Iroquois Indian Museum 324 Caverns Rd., Howes Cave, NY iroquoismuseum.org

Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center 1378 State Rt. 30, North Blenheim, NY 1-800-724-0309 nypa.gov/BGVisitorsCenter

Finance & Insurance (Banks, Financial Advisors, Insurance)

Rosemary Farm Sanctuary 1646 Roses Brook Rd., S. Kortright, NY 607-538-1200 • rosemaryfarm.org

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

Social Eats Café Project 607 546 Main St., Oneonta, NY www.socialeatsny.com

Shopping & Retail (Appliances, Clothing Apparel, Accessories, more...)

Cooperstown Cheese Company 3941 NYS Hwy 28, Milford, NY 978-257-4635 or 607-222-9875

Open Saturdays Year-Round

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

Diana Friedell Spiritual Counseling, Psychic Readings 607-433-2089 dianafriedell.com

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market 101 Main St., Cooperstown, NY in Pioneer Alley cooperstownfarmersmarket.org

Homestead Pet & Farm Supply 3 Railroad St., New Berlin, NY 607-847-6173 Like us on Facebook

Your Hometown JewelryStore Since1970!

3 Dietz St., Oneonta, NY 607-432-0770 • telekyjeweler.com

3Dietz Street •Oneonta, NY 607-432-0770 Tues.- Fri. 10-5, Sat. 10-1 www.telekyjeweler.com

Clinton Plaza, Oneonta, NY wolfwilde.com

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

85 Scotch Mountain Rd., Delhi, NY 607-746-4653 • golfcourse.delhi.edu

ONEONTA SPORTS

The College Golf Course at Delhi 132 County Hwy. 47, Oneonta, NY 607-432-0624