Halloween Parade Today

The Phoenicia Halloween Parade is today at 2pm. As always, the wonderful Phoenicia Rotary will be on hand to give out free cider and deserts after the march down Main St. Don't miss this super fun, hometown gathering. It is a great way to celebrate the holiday!! See you there!

Beautiful Fall Colors

WV resident Tommy Healy sent me these lovely photos of the valley he took over the weekend. It has been a beautiful autumn this year with some of the nicest colors I remember in a long time. 

The weather has been bouncing up and down between fairly balmy and downright frigid but mostly it has been bearable. But everyone is having their wood delivered and gearing up for the long winter. Why does the spring and summer go so fast and winter seem endless? 

Anyway, thanks for the great photos, Tommy!

Fall Poetry From Boreegard

Even the Most Imperfect Love Apples


Back from a hot family visit in Texas,
The cool October New England air,
Requires an inspection of the hallowed
Northern home ground, even after a mere week’s absence.

I fill the empty bird feeders,
And soon the crow caws,
The titmouse lands, and the
Cardinal pip pips from his tightly held branch.

In the wilting summer garden,
Elements of sweet basil still stand,
Guarding the diminishing supply of
Tomatoes against the voracious foraging deer.

I pick even the most imperfect Love Apples,
Roma, Early Girl, Big Boy, Celebrity,
Spotted, cracked, embarrassed by worm riddled bottoms,
Victims of too much rain, they cling to withered vines.

In the autumn kitchen I lave them in warm water,
Dry them and treat them as gifts from GOD,
Which surely they are.
For nothing has such sweetness and inner red intensity.


Boreegard
aka Mike O'Neil

Good Grief, Flurries!!!

It seems like it is a little early in the season to start to post about weather but alas we had some flurries of snow today that I feel I should mention. They didn't last long or stick to the ground but it was still strange to see snow.

We also had our first frost last night. And tonight is even colder so any fragile outdoor plants that didn't get done in by last night's dip in temperature will surely meet their demise this evening.

The leaves are peaking at this point and the colors this year have been outstanding. Since we had such a dry summer I didn't know what to expect as far as leaf color this fall, but they haven't disappointed. Any of you who have been out of the valley for a while should think about taking a drive and visiting. The show won't last long!

Holz Hollywood NYC Book Signing

The HOLZ HOLLYWOOD book signing in NYC on Thursday was a huge success. George was joined by fellow Woodland Valley resident David Hershkovits (founder/editor-in-chief of Paper Magazine) and the fabulous actress Bebe Neuwirth to talk about the process of photography from all aspects. It was an interesting and informative conversation that provided a real behind the scenes look at the creative process of making great images. There were many other celebrity friends, art directors, photo editors, stylists, make-up artists and models that came to help George celebrate his achievement. I enjoyed the evening immensely. Bravo, George and congratulations on 30 years of great imagery!

Mini Cooper Print Campaign Shoots In WV

Last Monday some of you might have noticed that the Woodland Valley bridge was closed all day. That was because a BMW/Mini Cooper photo shoot that was taking place on the bridge. The production company chose Woodland Valley as one of the stops on their multi-day, multi-city print campaign tour. The company had the town close the bridge to traffic for the day and set up their production vehicles on part of the Romer Mountain Park property. Everything went very well and the folks involved said that the shoot was a great success! So watch for the Woodland Valley bridge in any Mini Cooper ads you might see.

Holz Hollywood Event In NYC

If you are going to be in the city this Thursday October 15th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm here is your chance to attend another fabulous HOLZ HOLLYWOOD event. George is going to be hosting an evening of art and conversation and signing his books at Rizzoli - 1133 Broadway in Manhattan. Joining George will be fellow Woodland Valley resident David Hershkovits (founder/editor-in-chief of PAPER magazine) and also the incomparable Bebe Neuwirth. Sounds like a great evening to me. Hope to see all you city dwellers there!

BTW, here is a link to David's story in PAPER about the upcoming event. http://www.papermag.com/view/gallery/5605bc39b6de82458ce31e52

Catskill History On WIOX

I got this message from Paul Misko and thought I would pass it on to all of you.

Hi All,

If you are interested in some Catskill history. Wed, 6 p.m. go on computer and click on wiox radio in Roxbury, home page and listen to the quiz show. A Woodland resident will be competing. www.wioxradio.org

- Paul Misko

Some Woodland Valley History From Rolf Reiss

WCA member and valley historian, Rolf Reiss sent me some awesome Woodland Valley photos along with some history to match. Here is Rolf's message to me. 

All the photos are at least 100 years old (excluding the brochure from 1927). Almost all of the them can be attributed to long time summer resident and Woodland Valley Park Association member Charles Newman. 

The first photo of the well dressed young men preparing for an overnight adventure includes three Newman family members, Ben Longyear, Joe McGrath, George Foster and Dave Hilson. They seem to have all of the essentials of the day including blankets, canteens, axes, six shooters and a coronet.

The inscription on the photo of the lady in the wicker rocker (second photo) being carried by two gents reads " Woodland Valley Taxi 1907"

I especially love the third photo of the two daredevils perched on the log over the Woodland Valley stream. 

On the back of the photo showing the two beleaguered hikers, Charles Newman signed his name and wrote " I am so tired of hiking the Whittenberg Mt." Many of us who have visited that peak surely know how he felt.

The post card showing campers somewhere in the valley was postmarked at the Woodland Post Office on Aug 6, 1913 and reads " This is what we are doing. We are crazy about the place. Will Archer is here with us but we didn't see much of him. Will stay three weeks. Best, Love Mary."

The next photo is of a summer outing somewhere in the Woodland Valley Park Association.

The last photo is a post card from the Beech Knoll Club. Included with the swimming hole post card is a brochure from the 1927 season. The drawing on the cover depicts the beautiful home built by the artist Thomas Craig now owned by Ed Twerdak. Evelyn Craig (Thomas's daughter) was still alive in 1978 when I moved here and mentioned to me that John Burroughs had told her that "the most beautiful view in all of the Catskills was from the porch of her home".

- Rolf

PS - Here is an update I just received from Rolf.

"I was recently told that the home where Ed Twerdak lives was NOT built by Thomas Craig although he did live there. I think that it was perhaps one of the Beech family who had it constructed but I have to do more research on that." 

- Rolf

Strainer Removed By NY Army National Guard

The strainer that took the life of Jordan Engler on Labor Day weekend was removed today by the NY Army National Guard. The work was made possible by an emergency declaration issued from Governor Cuomo's office yesterday that allowed the removal of stream debris in advance of the approaching hurricane Joaquin.

To read more about the removal and see photos here is a link to the Watershed Post article.
http://www.watershedpost.com/2015/soldiers-remove-deadly-strainer-esopus-warning-sign-installed

Earlier this week Jordyn Engler's father spoke publicly for the first time about the events of that tragic day. http://www.watershedpost.com/2015/father-girl-who-drowned-esopus-creek-speaks-out

Such a sad story. My heart breaks for this family. My they find some peace.