The First of April by Dakin Morehouse

WCA member Dakin Morehouse wrote this piece in honor of opening day of trout season tomorrow, April 1st. Viva La Trout!!!!!

The First of April
For Trout Unlimited by Dakin Morehouse, 2010


How fitting it is,
One might think for no reason,
That April the First marks
The start of Trout season.

Now I don’t mean to imply
That the Day of the Fool
Refers Only to those
Who hang around pools,

Snapping lines like a whip
With a fly at the tip
In waders to their hip
- and a flask for a nip.

In hook laden hat,
Multi pocketed vest,
Net dangling from belt,
We’ve all seen the rest,

At dusk and at dawn
They swarm into streams,
In quest of the Trout
For breakfast it seems.

Snapping lines like a whip
With a fly at the tip
In waders to their hip
- and a flask for a nip.

Not a fisher myself
- no doubt you have guessed,
I enjoy their obsession,
Quite amused by their quest.

But I have to admit
For the taste of fresh Trout
Sizzling butter in fry pan -
I simply can't, live without.

Snapping lines like a whip
With a fly at the tip
In waders to their hip
- and a flask for a nip

WCA Pet Photo Contest

Greetings Woodland Community Association Members,

I hope that you are all well and getting ready for a fabulous spring/summer 2010. I don't know about the rest of you but with all the cold and the snow we have had this winter I am ready for some nice weather. I wanted to kick off the start of the good times here in the valley with a little fun and creativity. So the WCA is going to sponsor a pet photo contest. There will be 4 categories.

1. Best Overall Pet Photo
2. Funniest Pet Photo
3. Best Outdoor Pet Photo (I created this category for those of you who might not have pets inside your house but have wild animals that come and visit)
4. Best Photo by a Child Under 12

There will be one prize for the best photo in each category. The prize will be a gift certificate to either The Nest Egg, Sweet Sue's, Brios, Tenderland Home, Morne Imports or 60 Main (the winners can choose their preference) in the amount of $25.00 each.

The winners will be decided by the members of the Association. I will put all the photos in each category up to the blog and you all can email me with your votes for the best. The number of votes each of the photos receives will not be posted. Only the winner will be announced. Each photo will be randomly given a number. To insure unbiased voting photographers names will not be posted.

Here are the rules:
1. You must be a member of the Woodland Community Association to enter.
2. One entry per person, per category.
3. Please submit your photo by email to wvview@gmail.com. All photos must be digital. Scans will be accepted but I will not be able to scan hard copies. Please be sure to write in the email which category you would like the photo entered.
4. Deadline for submission is April 20th. The photos will be posted to the blog in the following week and the voting will begin. The deadline for voting will be announced when all the photos are up on the blog. Hopefully, if everything goes according to schedule, the winners will be announced by the first week of May.

Because I am a photographer and also running this contest I am recusing myself from entering (even though I have some VERY cute pets).

Well, that's it! So come join the fun and good luck!!!!

Sincerely,
Carol Seitz
President WCA

Miriam Rose Meets Itzhak Perlman

Last month WV's own budding violin star met the great Itzhak Perlman. Miriam attended Mr Perlman's concert at UPAC and then was given the wonderful opportunity to actually meet the virtuoso backstage after the performance. It was a very exciting experience for everybody involved!

New Kid on the Block

Hello. I am The Milkman. My mother is a tortoise shell, but I am a flame-point Siamese, with blue eyes and saffron color on my face, ears, paws and tail. I was born in The Bronx, and raised from birth to thirteen weeks by my devoted foster parents, Patricia and Gianrobert Wootton of Panther Kill Road.

Two weeks ago I was adopted by Cardi O'Conner and Michael Ottavi and moved to their bungalow above High Street. I share the house with ten-year-old Violet, a most patient accepting feline who loves to play chase and allows me to be me. Chow is unlimited. Life is good!

Other names for me (so far): Casper, Rumi, Motorboat or Evinrude (my purr is so loud it could wake the dead), Yo-Yo (I like to bounce high in the air), Cruz (As in Penelope, we have the same profile) and Dolce. If you have another name to suggest, please be sure to let the Blogmistress know.

Sincerely Yours, The Milkman

Weather for Weekenders - 03/26/10

The weather in the valley is chilly today, in the low 30s, but bright and sunny. The weather channels had forecasted snow for last night but it never happened. We didn't get anything but rain. Thank goodness it turned out that way. I am very, very sick of shoveling at this point. The rain reduced what is left of the snow to very small patches. I can actually see my lawn again (and my daffodils peeking through). Whooo Hoooo!!! The forecast for the weekend is nice tomorrow and then clouding up on Sunday. The high temperatures are supposedly going to remain in the 40s. I guess we will see how it turns out but right now, although it is cooler again, it is beautiful in the valley.

Rice And Beans

Boreegard (aka Mike O'Neil) sent me this a few days ago. I can't believe his wonderful timing. I was just looking for a good bean recipe. I am going to try this soon. Thanks Bo!

Bo’s Beans and Rice
(and lots of other stuff too)

This recipe is guided by elements of Wendy Yukem’s “South of the Border Black Beans” which she gave me some years ago. But it departs from it radically—which is just the way these things should happen. You can rip it apart too, darlings. Reinvent and Enjoy.

Tomorrow I will present the Texas contingent of the family with pork, and I must admit that I’m paying much more attention to the frijoles than to the puerco. The tenderloin of porky will almost take care of itself—brined and soaking dark rum deep into its fabric. Tomorrow I will roast piggy slow—and will not over-cook him. 145/150 degrees on the meat thermometer and let pig rest for a bit. (There’s my advice for most all pork, by the way).

Anyway, here’s the way I’ve done the beans (if you can, always do such stewy things the day before—it allows for some chemical magic to take place, and it tastes better as a result). As of tonight, they cause a boy to salivate and beg for just one more helping.

4 pieces of bacon
2 tablespoons olive oil
medium onion chopped
2 jalapenos deseeded and chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped
3 roma tomatoes and sauce—cut up
1 tsp. cumin
bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
2 cans Goya black beans
½ red apple, chopped
cheap sherry

In a pot or a frying pan, fry bacon, remove and add oil.
Sautee alium and peppers.
Add tomatoes, bay leaf and cumin.
Cover and braise slowly for 20 minutes.
Uncover; add beans, sherry, fried bacon crushed.

Reduce until it looks and tastes right.
Add apple and the rice/barley stuff you cooked last night
(or a cup of some common cooked rice).

Mix, stir, mix. Put in refrigerator and heat up on the morrow. A dollop of sour cream? Hit don’t need it, but whotthell, whottehell.

- Boreegard

'Through the Window' Series Continues

Dennis Havel has been continuing his 'Through the Window' series and sent me these photos of his most recent subjects. Being a bird watcher myself, I enjoy seeing the varying species that frequent different parts of the valley. I hope you enjoy them too! The top photo features 2 Tufted Titmouse, the middle photo is of a Northern Cardinal sharing a snack with a Nuthatch and the bottom is a beautiful solo photo of a Northern Cardinal. The cardinals in both of these photos are male. The female is much paler, although I think equally as beautiful. Thanks for sending these photos Dennis!!

Rick Altman Trio - Sunday in High Falls

Rick Altman Trio
with Mike Ralff & Jody Sumber

Special guest Miriam Rose

An afternoon of jazz classics and originals with vibes, bass, and drums
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Noon to 3:00 pm

high falls cafe
Rt 213 & Mohonk Rd. High Falls NY 12440
845 687-2699
www.highfallscafe.com

The Wren's Nest Going Out of Business

Woodland Valley resident Nancy Heagle has decided to close her birding store, 'The Wren's Nest', located on the boardwalk in Phoenicia. She is still open on weekends until the end of March and she is having a big 'Going Out of Business' sale. There are big discounts on all items in the store! Stop by and check it out. You can stock up on everything you need for a great birding experience. She even has binoculars for those of you who want to head over to the reservoir and check out the nesting eagles. So go on down to town today and take advantage of a great sale!

Report for the Fisherman

With the opening day of fishing season rapidly approaching it seemed like a good idea to give the WV fisherman a report on the conditions of the stream. Right now the Woodland Valley Creek is running very cloudy. It might still just be sorting itself out from the heavy rains of last week but it might be more problematic. For those of you who know the valley well I will tell you that the Dougherty Brook up here at the valley's end has been running muddy for the last several months. I am beginning to suspect that there is a clay strata that has opened in one of the prior high water events. Until that heals itself, it is likely that it will continue to dump cloudy water into the creek. Later next week when everything has settled down from the rain (and I have more time to investigate) I will try and figure out the source of the turbidity and report further. Only 13 more days until opening day on April 1st! Get those waders ready!

Weather for Weekenders - 03/19/10

The weather here in the valley in the last couple of days has been gorgeous. Spring is definitely in the air!! My daffodils are starting to poke their heads through the ground. In the beginning of the valley the snow has mostly melted away. Up here at the end there is still quite a lot around. Of course how much you still have depends on where your house sits and how much sun it gets. The larger piles of snow were so deep that even with the consistently warmer temperatures they are taking a long time to melt. It looks like it will be a while before it is all totally gone. But the beautiful days have lifted everyone's spirits. I think spring is settling in to stay!

Inspiring Poetry

WCA member Bill Horne sent this in to us. He did not write it but says it conveys how he feels about the valley. I totally agree.

Here are things not made by hands,
The clean wind, the clear sky,
Gray mist on green lands,
The owl’s hoot, the loon’s cry,
Falling waters, dancing light,
Full moon on a frosty night,
White drifts, whirled high,
These, the gifts not made by men,
The things which do not die,
Men must die but here will be
Life and immortality.

-Eliot G. Parkhurst

Velsani Antiques in New Video

Antique dealer and WCA member Ivan Velilla is seen in this video about the Emerson Spa that was featured on the 'Off Manhattan' website about fun car-free getaways from Manhattan. Check it out when you have the chance!

OffManhattan - Car Free Getaways - Emerson - Belleayre

All Good

Everything is fine in the valley. It rained very hard last night but nothing seems to have flooded. The Esopus rose to about 10 feet but has since receded. It looks like the worst part of this storm missed us. Whew!!

No Flooding

Despite flood watches and dire predictions, we haven't had any flooding at this point in Woodland Valley. It rained all day yesterday (Saturday) and it continues to rain at this moment (very early Sunday morning) but hopefully we won't get enough to cause problems. The Esopus is high but not in flood stage (it was 8 ft the last time I checked). The weather in the valley is cold and damp. The heaviest rain is forecasted to fall from now until late morning. Keep your fingers crossed that it isn't too bad.

Yoga Classes Resume

Cardi O'Connor is back from her trip to Florida and will resume her classes on this coming Sunday. Here is the message I got from her a few days ago.

Greetings!

I am glad to be home in Phoenicia, and will be back in the studio beginning this Sunday, March 14th. While in Florida I happily discovered an excellent yoga teacher and studied with her several times a week. I learned plenty, and am looking forward to sharing some new approaches, insights and asanas with you!

Hope to see you soon!

Best Wishes, Ricarda

Regular schedule:

Sunday: Open-Level Yoga @ 9:30 am till 11:00 am
Monday: Open-Level Yoga @ 9:30 am till 11:00 am
Monday: Stretch Class @ 5:30 pm till 7:00 pm

Place: Catskill Mountain Physical Therapy
Located in the 1890 House, corner of Bridge St. and Main St., Phoenicia

Aoife Clancy In Concert at the ESRM

Dakin Morehouse, President of the ESRM sent me this message regarding the upcoming concert at the station. Sounds like it will be great!

Sunday--March 14 at 7:30 sharp
Flying Cat Music Presents

Aoife Clancy in Concert

The Empire State Railway Museum
on Lower High Street, Phoenicia

$15 suggested donation with RSVP to: flyingcatmusic@gmail.com $18 without RSVP
for info call 845-688-9453 website: http://www.aoifeclancy.com/

Flying Cat Music has the luck of the Irish to present Aoife Clancy in concert at the Empire State Railway Museum in Phoenicia on Sunday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. Aoife Clancy is heiress to one of Ireland’s proudest musical lineages and a star in her own right. For those with Irish blood, or those who are Celtic at heart, her concert offers an ideal chance to kick off Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations just a wee bit early. Daughter of Bobby Clancy, of the legendary Clancy Brothers, Irish music is Aoife’s native tongue, though her personal musical horizon extends well beyond it into contemporary and traditional Americana.

After time spent touring the world sharing musical stages with some of Ireland’s most celebrated acts – including the Clancy Brothers, in 1995 Aoife was asked to join “Cherish the Ladies,” one of the most sought-after and acclaimed Irish-American groups in history. Between 1995 and 2000, Aoife was lead vocalist for the band, performing at the Atlanta Olympics, on “Good Morning America,” at Carnegie Hall, and at countless other major venues. Celtic Album, a 1998 recording of a performance with the Boston Pops Symphony, earned the group a 1999 Grammy Award nomination. After leaving “Cherish the Ladies” to follow her personal musical muse, Aoife Clancy performed with the Boston Pops again in 2005 when she was invited to be a featured soloist along with world renowned Welsh harpist Caitrin Finch.

Aoife’s solo work can’t be pigeon holed as Celtic alone. As Mike Jackson of the Canberra Times says, “she has a breadth of styles that make her concerts fascinating. Her singing would melt packed ice with its warmth and richness.” Or as Scott Alarik of the Boston Globe states, in reviewing Aoife Clancy’s latest CD, Silvery Moon, “Whether she’s delivering an ancient Irish ballad, an American folk classic, or an urgent contemporary song, Aoife sings with the same gorgeous naturalism as if she were experiencing the emotions in the songs for the first time.” Equally at home with a guitar or Bodhran in hand, Aoife Clancy is one performer who should not be missed.
The Flying Cat Music Railway Museum Concerts present nationally and regionally acclaimed musicians in an exquisite and intimate acoustic setting.

Weather Station, Deer and General Goings On

The Woodland Valley weather station is back in full operation. Hawley Botchford sent me this note a couple of days ago.

"The weather station is up and running fine. We learned when the electricity goes off the modem for the station has to be restarted. The other modem (wireless internet) comes on automatically. We thought the backup battery had gone out since snow was covering the solar panel but that was not the case. I bought a new battery so I'm ready when it does go out."
- Hawley

For those of you who don't already know you can get to the WV weather station by clicking through on the link to the Weather Underground on the right side of this blog. Scroll down to the bottom of the page where you see all the local weather stations. The WV one should be at the top. I think it is excellent that we can get such an accurate reading of the valley's conditions at any time.

On another note, even though the snow has melted down making the road normal width again I would advise you to continue go more slowly than usual. I have seen quite a few herds of deer on Woodland Valley Road. They are there for several reasons. First, they can search for food in the ground that is beginning to reappear on the shoulder of the road. Second, when the snow is still deep up in the higher elevations and it has melted and crusted over on top the coyotes try and run the deer and get them to cut their legs so they will fall and they can hunt them more easily. (Sorry, I don't mean to be a bummer but that is what happens.) So the deer have been sticking to the roads. Remember to go slow. You don't need one of those bad boys coming through your windshield.

The highway department has been out all week cleaning up the mess along the road from the storms. They are chipping up everything that would be potentially hazardous to motorists. Many of you who haven't been to the valley in a while can expect to find a lot of tree limbs around your yard. Most people seem to have been very lucky though. I haven't heard of too much really serious damage.

The weather has been glorious all week. Sunny and in the 40s and 50s during the day. The snow has melted a lot. But there is still a lot laying around. The forecast for the weekend is for some serious rain. I am unclear whether I think that there is enough snow around for things to start flooding when it melts. I guess we will just have to wait and see. That's all for now folks.

Anniversary Poem by Boreegard

Woodland Valley's own Poet Laureate, Mike O'Neil, created this piece for his wife on their 44th anniversary. With all the weather we have been having I haven't had a chance to post it. Thanks for sharing Bo!!


Notes on the Eve of the 44th

We have reservations for the Mill on the River
For tomorrow night.
Our favorite local place to eat and drink,.
Though it is not the Poste Couche in Frankfurt.

The Poste Couche was a high tone
Restaurant on Rueter Wege,
Where on our first anniversary,
They treated us rather snottily.

That is, until I insisted on inspecting the cork.
My daddy’d taught me that,
And after I squeezed it and smelled it,
The staff treated us with a proper respect.

This will be our 44th official year together,
Though in Deutschland we were together,
In her B.O.Q. and in the countryside,
Before we tied the official knot.

How delicious were those days,
Before the children came,
When she would listen to me sing,
And I would stroke her hair and more.

She, nursing the sick and weary,
And me guarding the perimeter,
With a proper high powered .45 pistola,
And a billy club painted black.

Slim and muscled we were,
And surrounded by friends,
Dragooned into the service,
By the process of the draft.

But in the end, happy for it all.
As memory slides away, and
One forgets the inevitable ugly parts,
Happy for it all, after 44 years.


Boreegard
aka Mike O'Neil

Feb. 21, 2010

Ulster County Mobile DMV

Being originally from an urban area sometimes it is the simplest things about living in a small town that really make me happy. One of those things is the Ulster County mobile DMV. Every Friday the DMV bus is parked in back of town hall. The town residents can then go and take care of any business they have with the DMV in a clean, friendly and efficient atmosphere. For any of us that have waited hours on line down in the city only to get to a surly teller, this seems quite amazing!! So next time you need to go to the DMV know that once a week the bus is conveniently located behind Town Hall. The hours of operation are 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM with an hour out (meaning they are closed) for lunch between 1:00 pm and 2:00 PM.

Weather for Weekenders - 03/05/10

The weather today is pretty good. It is a mostly sunny day here in the valley. The snow has been melting more and more everyday. There is a significant reduction in the big piles at my house. Of course, this is a relative statement, so if you are coming up for the weekend be prepared to deal with lots of remaining drifts which are very icy at this point. Again, make sure that the person who plows for you has done your driveway. It will be a lot of work at this point to hack through what the plows have left on the side of the road. If you are going to brave it alone, have a shovel and an ice chopper ready!

Drive slowly coming up WV road especially if you are coming all the way up. The road down by Grandview is not bad but it is narrower than usual farther up the valley and trying to pass another car coming in the opposite direction can be tight. There are also still a lot of fallen branches by the side of the road. So take it slow!!!

The forecast for the next week is good with highs in the mid-forties. Let hope the snow continues to melt rapidly!!

Light Snow Today

We are getting some more light snow today. Right now we have about 1-2 inches up here at the top of the valley. I can't believe that we are still be getting more powder! I would have thought that the heavens had run out by this time. The temperatures are in the high 20s right now but I think they will be reaching into the 30s later today. At least that is what is forecasted.

Yesterday was the first bright sunny day we have had in about 10 days. It was lovely and warm and put a dent in melting some of the snow we have lying around. It will be quite a while before it is gone though. So if you venture up the the valley this weekend expect to see some big piles. But the weather stations are calling for better conditions in the next ten days. I certainly hope that turns out to be true.

On another note, those of you who have noticed that the 'Woodland Valley' weather station on Weather Underground is down should not be concerned. The Botchfords are fine and their house is fine. I talked to Steuart last night and he told me that the station uses solar power and there is so much snow on top of it that the battery isn't recharging. But the situation is no more serious then that and 'Station Botchford' should be back in business in no time.

Alexander Mallon - Chain Saw Work

I got this message from Alexander Mallon the other day.

"I'm offering chainsaw work. Please call for rates. If folks truly have NO money but are in need I would be willing to help out - I know how that can be!

Please pass on the word if you can."

- Alexander Mallon
(845) 688-9751

WV Ski History

The following was sent to me by Woodland Valley historian Rolf Reiss. Thanks for the great photos and information Rolf!!

"Its still winter so I thought I would pass along a couple of photos of what recreation looked like 70 years ago here in the Woodland Valley. Enclosed are two photos of the Simpsons Ski Slope . It was a wonderful Mom and Pop (or in this case Brother and Brother) ski area where many of us learned to ski in lace up boots on wooden skis with screwed in metal edges. I also cannot forget those leather "safety" straps that attached your ski to your ankle making sure that when you fell your skis would bang into you as you tumbled down the hill. As can be seen from the photo it operated early on with no tow or lift of any kind. I can't imagine today crowds of people taking a long train ride from New York City to Phoenicia to hike all the way up and then ski down. What enthusiasts they were! The other photo shows five happy gents atop the slope decked out in their woolens and leather boots. Most of them seem to be carrying satchels but the man on the left also appears to have an army blanket over his shoulder. Not something you often see today on the slopes. Here are a couple of links to websites with more photos and information on the Simpsons Ski Slope."
- Rolf


History of the Simpson Ski Slope

Ice Harvesting at the Simpson Ski Slope

The Daily Star - First Ski Slope in NY
Ski Areas in NY

Catskill Center - A Sense of Place

Photos from Jim

Jim Frain sent me these photos. They are beautiful and really show how deep the snow was a few days ago. It is much better now. The bottom two are of the Woodland Valley Stream. In some places you couldn't even see where the water was located. Thanks for sending us these Jim!!

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Dennis Havel sent me this photo. He wants us to remind us all to be happy in our work!!

Recovering from 'Snowmageddon'

The snow has finally stopped (at least for now). The valley is digging (and melting) out of this last storm. As far as I know everyone has power and phone again. The plow guys and gals have mostly caught up with their work. Most driveways are clear (but not all so remember to check before you come). Some people who have left cars on their properties while they are down in the city will have some work ahead of them digging themselves out. But maybe by next weekend it will have melted enough to be an easy job, let's hope so.

We are very, very fortunate that the temperatures have been in the 30s because the large piles of snow seem to be melting at a good rate.

Basically the valley is back to normal. The road is still much narrower than usual at the end of the valley but I would say that is only an issue in the last 2 miles. Drive slowly and carefully if you come up this end. There is not much room to pull over.

There are still a lot of broken tree limbs all over the road and on individual properties but once the snow is melted that won't be too hard to clean up.

Other than that I think we have survived. All in all, while it was inconvenient, it wasn't too bad. I look at it this way, I had water, a wood stove and plenty of food. Plenty of help was always in reach. It wasn't like we were the Donner Party (by the way, kudos to the WCA member who made the documentary about them, it is one of my favorites). We weren't stuck for months with nothing. I always find it helpful to retain my perspective. So all is well at this point but if I wasn't looking forward to spring before, I am now!!!!!

PS - If you can't get to your property to check on it yourself please do send someone else to make sure everything is OK. Most houses are fine but a couple of people have had problems.

More on the Model T

Paul Misko sent me this information regarding the photos of the Model T that I posted previously.

Hi,
I can pin point the locations of the pics taken on the Model-T journey from Winnisook to Woodland, as I know this route well. The "Mile Post" was taken at the current Giant Ledge trail junction. The "Bridge" , which is no longer there, was located halfway between Winnisook Lake and the Giant Ledge trail junction. This was the perfect auto to take on this rough road, as it had a 10" ground clearance, and a frame built to "twist" on uneven ground without breaking. Note that the wheels had wooden spokes, and the windshield wiper was hand operated. Imagine trying to drive one of these in the rain while sipping a coffee, and text messaging. Still, one sweet ride.
- Paul Misko