Gorgeous Day In The Valley

Today is a beautiful day here in Woodland Valley. Temperatures are in the 40's and it is bright and sunny. There is a bit of wind but nothing too crazy. It really feels like spring today. My daffodils are finally poking through the ground in earnest. The snow is melting away quickly although it will probably take the better part of a week for the large glacier in my yard (created by the snow plow) to melt. But I have already started to think about cleaning things up and planting my garden so life is moving in the right direction. I hope it is sunny wherever you are too!

NY Rising Meeting May 3rd

There is another meeting regarding the NY Rising grant money on May 3rd 1-3pm at the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center. Find out how Shandaken and Hardenburgh are building back better!

Nada

We dodged another bullet in the past few days as that huge storm that came up the coast stayed to our south and east. We didn't get any snow at all (yippee!). Just some high winds, but nothing too crazy.
The temperatures were cold again overnight (9 degrees at my house) but are forecasted to rise over the next week.

I am also happy to report that some of my daffodils have started poking through the ground a tiny bit. It is only in the sunniest of places and only just a wee bit but it is progress!

Besides me generally lagging behind in my posts, there are a bunch of things happening as spring events start to kick into gear. So I posted a bunch of announcements again today. Be sure to scroll down and check them out. There is a lot of fun to be had around town.

Bingo!

Bingo + Barbecue + Bourbon

A Fundraiser for Phoenicia Library
At Peekamoose Restaurant and Tap Room 

Sunday, April 27, 2014
5 pm - 9 pm

Peekamoose Restaurant and Tap Room 
8373 State Route 28, Big Indian, NY 12410
(845) 254-6500
peekamooserestaurant.com
phoenicialbrary.org

$40 (Advance tickets recommended)
Tickets available at Peekamoose or Phoenicia Library

Ticket price includes:

- A full barbecue buffet (vegetarian options, too!)
- A bingo card good for the whole evening’s games, with amazing prizes from local businesses! (Buy an extra card at the event for $10 and double your chances!)
- Celebrity callers!
- Entertainment!

An array of local bourbons (and other drinks) for purchase to benefit the library!

In March 2011, a fire gutted the Phoenicia Library. All the books were destroyed and the building was left unusable. (Within a week the library resumed operations in a temporary location, with donated books.) It was a particularly hard blow in this rural town, where the library functions as a de facto community center and where it's been more popular than ever in the past decade or so. People depend on it for high-speed internet access, programming, and of course, books. (The library also check out ukuleles and fishing poles, and dogs are welcome. It's quite a place.)

The library board resolved to turn disaster into an opportunity to incorporate long-needed improvements into the rebuilt library, expanding its size and redesigning it to bring it closer to the standards of a modern library that will better serve the needs of our patrons and our community.

It will include:

- 215 square foot expansion
- Bigger, dedicated children's room
- New community room for workshops and meetings
- Wheelchair accessibility including entry ramp and elevator
- Passive House energy efficient construction - reduces heating & cooling costs by 90%

Construction has begun, and it's really exciting. But the library still needs to raise about $50,000 dollars, both to complete the building and to stock it with new books, furniture, and computers. The new library is expected to open in late summer 2014.

Devin and Marybeth Mills, the owners of Peekamoose, are great supporters of the Phoenicia Library and were eager to help host an event to raise funds for the rebuilding effort. They hail from some of New York City's finest restaurants: the Hudson River Club, Picholine, Le Bernardin, Guastavino's, Atlantic Grill, Remi Restaurant, and the famed Gramercy Tavern.

Seeking to move closer to the farms supplying their menu, they have beautifully restored a country farmhouse set among the bucolic Catskill mountains. The restaurant supports local growers by changing their menu daily, to represent the freshest ingredients available.

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/589598577801134/

Peekamoose (845) 254-6500
Phoenicia Library (845) 688-7811

Event organizer: Mark Lerner mark@ragandboneshop.com

Shandaken Community Gardens

If you would like to have a garden but don't have the space or enough light on your own property here is some information on the Shandaken Community Gardens. This sounds like a great option.

SHANDAKEN COMMUNITY GARDENS (SCG) PLOTS AVAILABLE NOW FOR 2014 

Contact: 

Juliet Greenwood, Membership Coordinator 845-202-1117
shandakencommunitygardens@gmail.com
http://shandakencommunitygardens.org/
https://www.facebook.com/ShandakenCommunityGarden

Shandaken Community Gardens volunteer steering committee and members spent the 2013 season building a 26-plot garden from the ground up, growing a bountiful harvest, enjoying and donating that harvest, hosting arts and gardening events, and preparing the way for future seasons.  Now is the time for you to get involved and claim one of the beautifully prepared plots for your 2014 garden!

Within the organic, non-GMO, community-run garden located at Phoenicia Elementary School there are a number of available10ft by 10ft, raised beds with beautiful compost soil.  For annual membership dues of $25.00 per year and a one-time infrastructure donation of $25.00, you can join the group of gardeners from Shandaken and the surrounding area who shared in the creation, maintenance, and community spirit of Shandaken Community Gardens.  Scholarships are available.

The infrastructure that SCG gardeners can now enjoy includes an eight-foot deer fence with lockable gates, a shared tool shed, compost bins, water barrels and spigot for convenient "water wise" irrigation, lovely seating, a group-tended community circleflower garden, and available advice from our Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and other experienced gardeners on the steering committee.  In other words, first-time gardeners are welcome!  There are also many opportunities to participate in foodactivism on the local level, and further growth of the Gardens as a community resource for "the shared experience of growing food, flowers and herbs", as the mission states.

We officially start the season, breaking into the winter-rested ground, at the end of April!

Reservoir Food Pantry

For those in our community in need here is some good information.

RESERVOIR FOOD PANTRY OFFERING FREE FOOD IN BOICEVILLE 

 

Contact: 

Bonnie Lykes, secretary, 845-750-0791

reservoirfoodpantry@gmail.com

http://www.reservoirfoodpantry.org/

https://www.facebook.com/reservoirfoodpantry

After months of delivering to homebound clients in the greater town of Olive - the Reservoir Food Pantry now has an actual place to distribute free, healthy, fresh food to the community!  We will have lots of greens and veggies, canned and dry goods, and artisan bread.  We will be set up in Boiceville, Monday, 3/31, between 2-4pm, on Route 28; look for our sign behind Robert's Auction next to the Water Treatment Plant.  We'll be set up outdoors on the grass -- so if you are in need of great food, please come by and visit us!

For Sale By Owner

Here is some more Woodland Valley real estate. It is 1050 Woodland Valley Road and it is for sale by owner. It is has 3 bedrooms/2 baths and a detached 26x40 garage. Call 845-802-3483 or 845-802-6678 or email kpwrixon@gmail.com to get more information or make an appointment to see the property.

Computer Classes

The Phoenicia Elementary School is offering an 8 week computer class for people looking to improve their skills. Here are some of the details.

Where: The Phoenicia Elementary School

When: Wednesdays - April 23 - June 11 - 6:00pm to 7:30pm

Cost: $10.00 per session to cover the cost of the instructor

Basic Computer Skills Required

To get details or register contact Town Clerk Joyce Grant at 

845-688-5004

Senior Prom

Calling all senior citizens. There is going to be a Senior Prom sponsored by the Phoenicia Rotary. It will be Thursday April 10th at 4:00pm in the Parish Hall in Phoenicia. A full dinner will be prepared and served by the Onteora DECA students and local restaurants. For more info or to make reservations can Ken at 845-332-6702. So seniors, get out there and shake your groove thing!

Catching Up

Once again I find myself behind in my postings. I have posted 4 different things today below this message so please be sure to scroll down.

For those who would like a weather report. Things here in the valley are just fine. We had a rain storm this week that had a bit of sleet (95% rain - 5%sleet) mixed in but the sleet melted right away. The snow is disappearing more everyday. The temps are cold today (in the 20s) but it is sunny and forecasted to warm up later in the day. The ground has been alternating between the ice and mud. Typical for the valley as we transition into spring. No sign of crocus or daffodils yet but I am hoping it will be soon! Happy spring to you all!

Real Estate in Woodland Valley

WCA member Lynn Davidson asked me to post this house with acreage on the blog. For an appointment to see the property please call Lynn at 845-688-7020 to schedule an appointment.

Prime location in Woodland Valley. Two, possibly three building sites on the 34+ acre parcel with outstanding mountain views and bordered on two sides by state land. Artesian well and bluestone quarry on the land. Double wide is well constructed with 2x6 construction which allows for more insulation. Enter through sliding glass doors to den which opens up to great room with fireplace. Master bedroom has full bath and walk-in closet. Carpets easily removed. 

Car & Travel Publishes Catskill Vacation Issue

Recently Car & Travel magazine did an issue about traveling around the Catskills. The Graham & Co was mentioned in the piece. If you would like to read it online you can follow the link below.  It won't be long now until Phoenicia and Woodland Valley fill with visitors from all parts of the world.

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aaa_ny/ct_201403/index.php#/24

Gurf Morlix At The ESRM

Gurf Morlix in Concert

for Flying Cat Music

Sunday, March 23

7:30 p.m. (sharp), door at 7:00

Empire State Railway Museum

70 Lower High Street, Phoenicia, NY 12464

Admission is $18 or $15 with RSVP

to flyingcatmusic@gmail.com

For information email as above

or call 845-688-9453

Link to artist's website:

http://gurfmorlix.com/

Ave Primavera By Boreegard

Although it doesn't feel like it, yesterday was the first day of spring. To celebrate that fact and share some more poetry, here is another fabulous seasonal offering from Boreegard.

AVE PRIMAVERA

Jesus’ favorite season was spring of course,
Riding with slender palm leaves in his hand,
Buddha liked going barefoot through the new grass,
Letting its tender leaves tickle his toes, and later
Geoff exclaimed and prologued his love of the virgin greening,
With his “Whan that Aprille” and his “shores sote.”

Robin, goldfinch, nuthatch, jay,
Celebrate the flowering bush and limb
On the warming mountainside,
With sweet songs and pip-pip-pippings,
While down by the stream in the wet places,
Skunk cabbage pushes its determined self
Up through the glistening muck,
To give the honey bee its first taste
Of pollen after so many sullen winter days.

The young sun warms us,
And warms the billion billion seeds that Nature
Has caused to rest in armored dormancy.
See them thicken and sprout,
At first pale weaklings—
Prey to the hoe and the voracious pecking birds,
And then strong contentious things, fighting for their share
Of the life-giving elements.

Wake up, slugabed,
Winter has left us and,
It’s time to stir once again—to prune and mow and plant,
To stretch and scratch,
To wet a trout line,
And slap the pesky mosquito.

AH SPRING!



Boreegard

Bo Writes Again

WCA member Mike O'Neil (aka Boreegard) wrote an amusing poem recently. Here it is for your reading pleasure.


VLADIMIR VLADOVICH PUTIN

I’m Vladimir Vladovich Putin,
Some call me a K.G.B. thug,
I’m a happy go lucky fellow,
Come—I give you a Russian bear hug.

Just look at the Sochi Olympics,
You’ll see that I’m mellow as wine,
I’ve sent my hockey team packing,
A vacation they’ve won in the mines.

And yes there’s this fuss in Crimea,
Where they’re just about ready to vote,
They’ll return to their real mother Russia,
The country on which they all dote.

Yes, I’m Vladimir Vladovich Putin,
I’m a straight shooting kind of a lug,
Come, Comrade, I just want to squeeze you,
Come tovarich, I’ll hug and I’ll hug.

Boreegard
March 17, 2014


Study this.  There will be a short quiz next week.

Back To Talking About Weather

Sorry I haven't posted about the weather in a while. I have actually been on the road a bit and away from home. But now I am back, so here are the current conditions.

After a few days of temps in the 40's, today's readings are back into the teens. It is bright and sunny but needless to say, cold. But in that stretch of warm weather, a lot of the snow melted. There is still quite a bit left but no where near the amount that there was at the height of the winter.

There is no sign yet of my daffodils, so spring is still a bit out of reach. But the light has changed and the warm weather is drawing nearer. And I have seen more birds and animals which is a good sign too.

On that note, please drive slowly down WV road. I have seen a lot of deer around as they come down off the snowy peaks to find food. So be careful driving.

So that's all for the current weather report. Hope to see you all soon in the valley!

Power Outage In WV Today

There was a power outage in the valley today. The lights went off about 2:00pm and didn't come on again until 4:30pm. Rumor has it that is was caused by a transformer fire near the VFW hall. NYSEG was on it immediately though so the outage was a short one. The lights are back on now and all is well in the valley.

WCA Member Peggy Neu Gives TED Talk

WCA Vice President Peggy Neu gave a great TED talk about the Meatless Mondays campaign. She has worked tirelessly promoting this idea and is an excellent speaker. Check out what she has to say.

Hikers With Dogs - Be Aware

While we are on the subject of dogs, this article was posted online about a gentleman that hiked all over the Catskills with his faithful Lab. The dog was poisoned deep in the woods. It was published on the NY/NJ Trail Conference blog. If you have a dog that hikes with you please read this article and beware!

http://blog-tw.nynjtc.org/?p=596

Surgery For Riley

There is a dog in the Shandaken dog shelter named Riley. He is a very adoptable dog (I know him personally and he is a big love bug). Unfortunately, Riley has a dislocated knee cap and needs surgery. SAVE (Shandaken Animal Volunteer Effort ) is trying to raise money to pay for that surgery. Here is a link where you can donate if you are able and feel so inclined. 

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/surgery-for-riley/148333

Joe DeSarle At The Landmark Grille

Saturday March 15th, WCA member Joe De Sarle will be gracing The Landmark Grille on Rt 28 in Boiceville with his wonderful vocal stylings. The show starts at 8pm. There is no cover charge. It promises to be a great night. I am sure you are all looking for a fun evening out after being stuck in the house all winter. So here is your chance to hang out and meet new people and listen to some great music. See you there!

The Woodland Echo

Many of you know our esteemed resident, Dakin Morehouse to be a great guy. What some of you do not know is that he served as president of the WCA for quite a while. He even created an old school newsletter that served the community in it's pre-blog days. It was called The Woodland Echo (see below). It was a great way to keep the neighbors connected and informed. This is a fun bit of WV history I thought you all would enjoy learning. And kudos to you Dakin, you probably would have created this blog if the technology was available in those days!

New Town Hall Proposed

Town Supervisor, Rob Stanley, is proposing a new town hall east of Phoenicia (near the Phoenicia Diner) using NY Rising grant money. This is a very interesting proposal. For the full story check out the link below.

http://www.woodstockx.com/2014/02/27/ny-rising-proposes-new-shandaken-town-hall-complex/

Keeping Tabs

Besides this blog, there are several other great ways to keep up with what is going on in our area.

For the best weather around there is http://www.hudsonvalleyweather.com . Many of us (including me) have been following the man behind this site, Alex Marra, on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HudsonValleyWeather) for the last couple of years. Although he is not a formally trained meteorologist, his passion and main interest has always been weather. He follows all of the models that are used by the large, institutional weather services and broadcasters and forecasts more specifically and accurately for our area then the rest of them. If you don't have that site bookmarked I would highly recommend it.

Also for weather there is Hawley's Woodland Valley weather station. You can get to it through this blog (it is listed in the permanent right hand column, just click on the icon to go through to the page) or go directly to it at http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Phoenicia,%20NY . It is a great way to know the exact weather conditions in the valley at any given moment.

For general local info, Joyce Grant, our terrifically tech savvy Town Clerk, keeps the Town Website,
http://www.shandaken.us and the town Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Town-of-Shandaken-NY/126504960715128 fully updated. Both places are great ways to find info and updates on all things Shandaken.

Another terrific way to keep in touch is the Upstaters group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/175922352436144/. It was started by Michael Keogel and is an excellent source of local information. You can get recommendations on everything from dentists to where to go for great night out. Just throw out your question or add information to the group and the other members can reply. I think it is a private group so you have to ask to join but that really isn't a problem. And for people looking to keep in touch with the broader community while they are away this is a great option.

Of course there are the regional newspapers such as the Kingston Freeman and The Watershed Post but these other sites will bring you information that is a little closer to home.

Free Holistic Clinic

FREE HOLISTIC COMMUNITY
CLINIC

Thursday, MARCH 6, 2014, 4-7pm
Ongoing holistic wellness clinic to help recovery from the disasters our communities have weathered. Providing Massage, Cranio Sacral Therapy, Reiki, Matrix Energetics, EFT, Homeopathy, Reflexology, and more!

LOCATION: Parish Hall, Phoenicia, across from the Catholic Church on Main Street.
For Questions Call: 518-989-6216

WALK-IN’S WELCOME, NO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY
Brought to you by Healthcare is a Human Right, your local practitioners, Family of Woodstock, & The Massage Therapy Foundation.