Friday, August 31, 2012

The Leaping Trout Project Continues
















Here is a great shot of Dakin Morehouse with his fish from The Leaping Trout art tour  (he is a very busy guy lately). Don't forget to get out and see the other "trout" in the show. For a map of the tour and other useful information you can go to http://www.theleapingtrout.com .

2012 Lark in the Park

The 2012 Lark in the Park will be held from September 29 thru October 8. There is lots of fun for everyone. So jump in and enjoy the Catskills with hiking, paddling, cycling, fishing and family adventures. Newly opened New York City Reservoirs and other lands promise even more events!

For a complete schedule of activities, including The Catskill Mountain Club Dinner on September 30th, visit http://www.catskillslark.org/ or call 845-586-2611.

Lark in the Park is a partnership of The Catskill Mountain Club, The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, and the NY-NJ Trail Conference with cooperation from the NYS DEC and NYC DEP.

Rabies and Distemper Clinic

Shandaken is holding another rabies and distemper clinic to provide low cost vaccinations for your cats and dogs. Here are the details.

Rabies & Distemper Clinic
Town of Shandaken
Town Garage - by Town Hall - Rt 28 Shandaken, NY
For more information contact - Joyce Grant - Town Clerk - 845-688-5004

Saturday October 13, 2012
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Dogs & Cats
Rabies - $10.00
Distemper - $15.00
CASH ONLY

No Appointment Necessary

PLEASE KEEP DOGS ON LEADS AND CATS IN CRATES
BRING ANY RECENT VACCINATION RECORDS

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Mini Railroad Coming Back Soon

WCA member and ESRM President Dakin Morehouse sent me a message and some photos and videos  (see below) of the Mini RR that was running at the museum until last fall when Hurricane Irene pulled up the tracks. The volunteers at the museum have been working hard to restore service. They are almost finished. I will let you know when they are fully up and running so you can all go and pay the museum a visit and see the super fun mini.  Here is what Dakin had to say.

Just a couple shots of:
Doris and her favorite engineer (with Davy and his steamer behind),
- the pudgy engineer himself,
- and Davy - with a (friendly) cop.
Ah this second childhood is rough!
Dakin





















.... and a couple U-tubes of our Mini RR at:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqdiPWlmk8o   short pre flood steam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6zRppHbeu4  2011 - Dak pre flood monolog (7.6 min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu7L5chMiYs   2012 - rebuilt post flood run

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

WCA Scramblers Hike - October 13th

WCA member Rich Feuer is going to lead a group up the easier (west side) of Giant Ledge. Here is Rich's message regarding the upcoming hike. Sounds like it will be a lot of fun!!

First (of many) WCA Scramblers Hike:
Date: Saturday, October 13.  Giant Ledge From the West Side.
Time:  Meet at 8:15 AM in the parking area off of the bridge connecting WV Rd to East Rd (after Herdman).  We will leave promptly at 8:30 AM to car pool to the trailhead off of RT 47.  The hike will take about four hours with 1/2 hour travel to and from the hike.  If you drive directly to the trailhead on Rt 47 make sure that you meet us at the hairpin turn parking area (not the Slide Mountain parking lot).  We will start the hike promptly at 9 AM from the trailhead. 

Hike Leaders:  Richard and Tammy Feuer.  Rich is an experienced hiker (http://woodlandvalleyview.blogspot.com/2011/08/richard-feuer-reaches-new-heights.html), having summited the highest point of the 48 contiguous states). 
Who Should Hike:  This is a beginner hike, but it is uphill.  You should have the ability to walk at least 3 1/2 miles to participate.  The pace of the hike will accommodate the slowest hiker.  We will have multiple cars so hikers who feel that they cannot complete the hike can return with Tammy before completing the hike.  Don’t be afraid to join.  We want everyone to experience the joy of hiking in the Catskills. 

What to Bring:  Bring a sandwich and snack (e.g., energy bar), water or energy drink, a warm jacket for the summit and a rain shell.  Pack these items in a light backpack or fanny pack.  If you don’t have a pack, please contact Rich via email.  He will be able to carry a limited number of items in his pack for hikers who do not own packs.  You will need to bring a canteen.  Rich will bring first aid supplies.
What to Expect:  The hike is up a mountain (less than 2 miles one way).  The hike is steep in some places and requires some rock scrambling.  The pace of the hike will be a C pace for those who have been on group hikes. 

After the Hike -  Hikers are welcome to relax at Tammy and Rich’s cabin after the hike. 
Limited to 10-12 people. Contact Rich Feuer at 609-617-8807 or e-mail bytegently@verizon.net

Giant Ledge is on Panther Mountain where you can see beautiful views of the valley and surrounding mountains, unsurpassed in the fall.  Woodland Valley is in the Panther Mountain watershed.  You can hike to Giant Ledge from the parking lot at the end of Woodland Valley Road across from the campground.  This is the more strenuous route to go to Giant Ledge.  You can also hike to Giant Ledge from the trailhead and parking for the Phoenicia-East Branch trail which you travel on for less than a mile before it intersects the Giant Ledge-Panther- Fox Hollow trail.  It is located on CR-47 about 7 miles south of NY 28 (Map 43 of the NY-NJ Trail Conference Southern Catskill Trails series).  This is about a 20 minute drive from Phoenicia.   
Giant Ledge from this trail is a short hike that has big rewards as far as views go. There are numerous viewpoints slightly off the trail. The finest one is probably the first one you'll encounter. Wittenberg, Cornell, and a portion of Slide are boldly in front of you. In the distance you get to see a great view of the Indian Head Wilderness and the peaks along the famed Devils Path.

The hike to Giant Ledge is very popular. It is under 2 miles one way, and is not that difficult. People of all ages and ability are able to do this hike.


Wittenberg and Cornell mountains from Giant Ledge in the fall.

Viewed from Giant Ledge. Here starting from the left is the long ridge of Plateau followed by Sugarloaf, Twin and Indian Head. I believe that is Plattekill Mountain on the far right.


Monday, August 27, 2012

Tom Pacheco At ESRM


Flying Cat Music Presents
An Evening with Tom Pacheco
Sunday, September 2
7:30 p.m. (sharp), door at 7:00
Empire State Railway Museum

70 Lower High Street, Phoenicia, NY 12464
“one of the genuine troubadours of our time”
Maverick Magazine
"quintessentially American songwriter"

Dirty Linen Magazine
"If anyone deserves to be mentioned in the same hushed tones of reverence as John Prine,

Townes Van Zandt, Tom Russell, Guy Clarke and Steve Earle, it is he."
Folk Roots Magazine
Admission is $15 or $13 w/RSVP

For information email as above
or call 845-688-9453

Link to artist's website:

Flying Cat Music proudly presents Tom Pacheco for a concert at the Empire State Railway Museum on Sunday, September 2. The show begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. with the door opening at 7:00. Admission is $15 at the door or $13 with RSVP toflyingcatmusic@gmail.comor by calling 845-688-9453. The Museum is located at 70 Lower High Street in Phoenicia, New York.



Saturday, August 25, 2012

Reminder - Shandaken Day Today

Don't forget that today is Shandaken Day and the whole town will be celebrating up in Pine Hill - 10 am to 6 pm.  To view the events schedule you can go to the town website at http://www.shandaken.us/ . It should be a fun filled day for young and old alike.


Friday, August 24, 2012

Weather Cam Update

Below is a message from the keeper of the Woodland Valley weather cam. I tried the other day to fix the link to the cam on the blog page and was unsuccessful. Blogger has recently changed it's interface with all sorts of weird results. I will try again later tonight to make it work. If I can't I will remove the icon from the blog. But you can always access it from the link below. I will keep you posted on the cam status.
- Carol


Greetings fellow weather watchers.  I've had several contacts recently on how many of you enjoy the weather station (locally and nationally).  I have received some comments that when they click on the picture on the blog the connection isn't always working.  This is not the local station or a blog problem but a communication glitch between Weather Underground and blogspot and not under our control.  If you would like the direct link to the site so you don't have to go through the blog try using the connection directly through Weather Underground   http://www.wunderground.com/US/NY/Phoenicia.html?bannertypeclick=miniWeather2  Set it up as a link on your homepage or where ever it works best for you.  You can also go to www.wunderground.com and insert our zip code (12464).  Don't forget to look around our page, there is a wealth of weather information that national inserts including hurricane information (look just above the weekly forecast and click on the tropical weather).  Finally I understand the Weather Channel bought Weather Underground a month ago but no changes are expected (for now!).  Thanks for your support.  Down the road I hope to obtain a camera that can be panned and zoomed to vary our view but for a retired guy's budget this is all I can offer for now.  

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Boreegard Shares HIs Pea Soup Recipe

Ken Hawley Botchford prepared a steak dinner for his visiting brother Henry and assorted guests recently (huge 4 inch thick hunks of beef, grilled rare and slathered in butter), that prompted me to prepare split pea soup.  The Botchford steak was reminiscent of the annual Beefsteak dinners served at the Roxmor Inn down the valley road by the Miller family ever since the 1890's, which always featured (and still do) a first course of peas porridge hot, simmered all day in 2 industrial sized caldrons.

My intention was to approximate that marvelous soup, and I believe I did.  Here's how you might do it too.

o  Rinse 1 lb. of split peas and place in a large pot.
o  Cover with 10 cups of water.
o  Add the smoked pork ribs you'd liberated from the previous month's pig roast (or failing that, add a reasonable facsimile--several smoked ham hocks, or a hambone).
o  cover and simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours--stirring occasionally.

Then, add:

o 1 cup chopped onion.
o  1 cup chopped celery.
o  1 cup chopped carrots
o  1 large jalapeno pepper--cored, deseeded, and finely chopped.
o  2 large cloves of garlic--minced and chopped
o  1 bay leaf.

o  Simmer, covered, for 1/2 hour.
o  Remove bones, meat, bayleaf, and set aside.
o  Puree 1/2 of the soup in a food processor and return to pot.
o  Dice the meat and return to pot.  Stir until hot.
o  Add salt and pepper to taste (this is a very dull soup indeed without a bit of salt added).

SERVE.

Boreegard
August 14, 2012

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Gorgeous Day For A Party

The weather was cool and clear yesterday for the annual Dershowitz Summer Party. The turnout was excellent too and everyone had a great time!! Many thanks to Nat Dershowitz who so graciously opens his lovely home to us each year. And thanks to everyone who brought food and drink to share. My motto at these parties is "eat early, eat often".  And there was no shortage of delicious culinary delights. The fabulous food just kept arriving with every wave of new people!! Great food, great place, great people, GREAT FUN!!























































Photos by: Carol Seitz

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

CMRR - Twilight Limited














TWILIGHT LIMITED SPECIAl 
Saturday August 18th
The ticket office opens at 7:30 and the evening's events begin at 8:00pm. As dusk turns into night, enjoy light refreshments and live musical entertainment by Earl Pardini and the Slide Mountain String Band. Our train will bring you out on the line to view the beautifully clear night sky before returning to Mt. Tremper.
2012 Twilight Limited departs Mt. Tremper Station.
Adult — $14.00 :: Children (ages 4-11) — $8.00

Children under 4 ride free with paid adult fare 
for more information call (845) 688-7400

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Onteora - Land In The Sky

WCA member Joe DeSarle just sent me a link to his newest creation on YouTube. Joe writes, photographs, sings, and plays all the instruments on the video! Wow, that's a lot of creativity in one man!! Thanks for sharing this, Joe!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Shandaken Day 2012



This year Shandaken Day will be held on August 25th from 10am - 6pm on Main Street in Pine Hill. The celebration will pay tribute to the hamlets of Pine Hill and Highmount. There will be food, live music, games, crafts and of course, lots of fun!! So come and celebrate our great town!! See you all at Shandaken Day!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Phoenicia Library Drawing Workshop

This just in from the Phoenicia Library

DRAWING WHAT YOU SEE
COME JOIN US SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 AT THE LIBRARY 10AM - NOON
COME OUTSIDE WITH US TO LEARN TO OBSERVE AND DRAW NATURE USING ART SCHOOL TECHNIQUES.  AGES 8 AND UP, TEENS ENCOURAGED, PARENTS WELCOME TOO.  BRING HAT,  DRINKS, BUG AND SUN SPRAY.
WITH MICHELLE SPARK

(Our regular Saturday Art Hour at 1PM will be on hiatus until next week).

Our apologies, our You Tube Workshop for teens has been postponed.  We will endeavor to reschedule it in the coming year because there was so much interest.  This DRAWING WHAT YOU SEE workshop, sponsored by Mid-Hudson Library System and New York State, we feel will appeal to teens and their families as well.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Craig Bickhardt At ESRM


For those of you who have never seen one of the Flying Cat Music shows at the Empire State Railway Museum now is your chance. The series is an amazing way to seeing live acoustic music close to home. This Sunday they are presenting Craig Bickhardt. And of course Woodland Valley's own Dakin Morehouse will be on hand representing the museum and start the show. Check out some of what the folks from Flying Cat had to say about the show:


We are so excited about this one!!! Please share with all of your friends. Craig Bickhardt performance of "This Old House."
On Sunday, August 12, Flying Cat Music proudly presents Craig Bickhardt in concert at the Empire State Railway Museum in Phoenicia. The door opens at 7:00 p.m. with music beginning at 7:30 sharp. Admission is $12 with RSVP to flyingcatmusic@gmail.com or $15 at the door. For information call 845-688-9453. The museum is located at 70 Lower High Street in Phoenicia.


Craig Bickhardt is a performer and songwriter extraordinaire. Very few artists are fortunate enough to ever reach the peak of their chosen craft but Bickhardt has done so on multiple occasions, both as a singer and as a songwriter. In his long and artistically rewarding career, Craig has had his recordings released on four labels including Warner Brothers and Capital Records. In 1982, Bickhardt performed one of his original compositions, “You Are What Love Means To Me,” for the soundtrack of the Academy Award winning film “Tender Mercies.” It became the movie’s closing them.


Craig Bickhardt has a passion for telling stories and that comes through in all of his writing. Depth lurks in the melodic beauty of his songs. Hear them as they were intended, by the writer who gave them life, in the warm, acoustic embrace of the Empire State Railway Museum.


Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Another Awesome Festival Of The Voice

The Festival of the Voice wrapped up on Sunday ending a four day long string of great events. I went to as much of it as I could. It was all fantastic. For me it was the first time in a long time that I didn't have to work or host the party, so I was in heaven. I could just kick back and enjoy the music. Sorry to say that since I was in relaxation mode I only took a few snapshots with my phone, mostly of WV friends. Anyway, the festival was a resounding success. I can't wait to see what they will do next year.







Monday, August 6, 2012

Poetry At Art Upstairs

On Thursday August 9th there will be a poetry reading at The Arts Upstairs. Among other fabulous local poets, WCA member Davida Luninabes is scheduled to read. Here are the details:
A Great Poetry Reading
Thursday August 9, 2012 - 7pm
The Arts Upstairs Gallery
60 Main St. Phoenicia, NY 12464

with
Sparrow, Anique Taylor, Violet Snow, Alan Fliegel,  
Dan Sofaer, Davida Luminabes, 
Sunday Dawne-Marie, Michelle Spark, Marc Sloan

....and maybe even 
LQ, Christine Moss, D. Alex Bird, Jesse Owen 
and various other selected local superstars.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

The Leaping Trout Project



Another fabulous thing going on here in the Catskills is "The Leaping Trout Art Project".  The details of the event are below. Woodland Valley's own Dakin Morehouse has a piece in the show. Check it out. Only in the Catskills could people find a way to merge fishing and art! I love this place!!


The “Leaping Trout Art Project,” a volunteer, community-based initiative, aims to raise awareness of the critical importance of water quality in the Catskill Watershed, the major source of water for New York City. The project is sponsored by the Ashokan-Pepacton Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Starting with identical 36-inch aluminum cutouts in the shape of a leaping trout, 35 local artists transformed the blank “canvas” into a rich and varied mosaic of artwork for the public to enjoy. The resulting collection is remarkable for its diversity of style, media and message; participating artists have created works using paint, hammered metal, glass, fabric, feathers, photography, col- lage and sculpture, to name a few. Styles and colors range from realistic to conceptual, and from delicate pastels to fluorescent brights.
The trout will be on view at various local establishments throughout the spring and summer, and you can find them by following this Leaping Trout Art Trail map. In addition, you can explore the collection, learn more about the participating artists — and place bids for the artwork — at www.theleapingtrout.com.


In the fall, at the conclusion of the 2012 fishing season, the artwork will be gathered together for a group show at The Arts Upstairs, on Main Street, Phoenicia. Other exhibitions and a live auc- tion are being planned as well. Stay tuned at www.theleapingtrout.com! 

Friday, August 3, 2012

Trout For Helen And Phil

Here is another fine poem from Woodland Valley's poet laureate Mike O'Neil aka Boreegard.

                              Trout for Helen and Phil                                                        
                                                             
           Helen’s late husband Fred simply whistled it seemed,
           And lithe browns and silvering rainbows leapt into his wicker creel.
           He knew the brook better than most men know their way home.
           He saw his swift upstream fly as a trout would,
           And so caught many.

           Phil’s clan did not angle for trout, they went down to the brook
           And tickled them.  Stroking their flanks and bellies softly, softly,
           They gulled the fish--hypnotized them,
           Heaved them up onto the bank, dispatched them quickly, 
           And carried them home for dinner in a burlap sack. 

            Sometimes when I catch a few extra, I deliver trout to one or the other,     
            Or both of them.  There are few appetites to match Phil’s or Helen’s
             Liking for this fresh-caught prize. I imagine it is not just the subtle taste
            Of the flesh they savor, but the delicious memories and rare evocation
            Of youth that each bite brings. There is no finer meal.


                                                                 
            Boreegard

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Festival Of The Voice Starts Tomorrow

This is just a reminder that the International Festival of the Voice starts tomorrow, August 2nd. There will be a lot of great performances going on all weekend. For more information about the schedule or to get your tickets you can go to their website (link below). I am planning on going to as many different events as humanly possible. See you all there!!

http://www.phoeniciavoicefest.com