Lots of Fun at the WCA/Menla Potuck

Everyone who came to the WCA/Menla potluck last Sunday had a great time! There was lots of delicious food and plenty of interesting conversation. We once again had the chance to visit with the folks who run the center and it was great! Many in the community who attended the dinner had never been to the center before so Michael (assistant director) graciously volunteered to take us all on a tour. We walked the grounds and peeked in some of the different buildings. He even showed us the new spa that is under construction. It was all fascinating! Many thanks to Tania (who organized the dinner from the Menla end), Michael who took us on the tour, the chef who made the dessert and everyone else at Menla who helped make this event a success!! It is a great way to get to know each other and strengthen our community!

Dennis Havel - Proud Grandfather

I thought you would all like to see the adorable photo Dennis Havel (proud grandfather) sent to me of him holding his four month old grandson Edward. Too cute!! (I mean Edward but Dennis is a close (ok maybe not THAT close) second!)

Teen Novelist in Our Midst

I thought I would post one more thing that Sarah-Maria sent to me regarding her husband. Here is what she had to say.

"I don't know if you know that my husband, Brian, is a writer, his pen name is Brian James. He has now had more than thirty titles published in ten different languages. He mainly writes novels for teens ((Pure Sunshine; Tomorrow, Maybe; Perfect World; Dirty Liar; Thief; Zombie Blondes; The Heights) as well as children's books (including the Pirate School series and the Catkid series)."
- Sarah-Maria

Brian also has a blog if you want to check it out at: http://brianjamestheauthor.blogspot.com/

We have all sorts of interesting people here in the valley. I think that it is great to learn about them all! Thanks for sending us all the info Sarah-Maria!!

Photos of Meerwiibli Clothing

When I put up the last post on the blog I didn't realize that the email that Sarah-Maria had sent me also had photos. So here are some photos of her Meerwiibli line of clothing. Sorry about that folks. The blogmistress is imperfect.

Meerwiibli

I got this message from Sarah-Maria Vischer recently.

"I wanted to share that I started making a clothing line called Meerwiibli by Sarah-Maria, Meerwiibli [mer-veeblee] means mermaid in Swiss-German (I was born and grew up in Switzerland)."
- Sarah

Here is a link to her website.

sarahmariavischer.com/

You can also check out her Etay shop by clicking on the hot link below.

Etsy - Meerwiibli

Camp Woodland Exhibit

Bill Horne, WCA member and former Camp Woodland camper, wrote me recently to let me know that the Woodstock Historical Society is having an exhibit and celebration of Camp Woodland. Below is a link to the schedule of events if anyone would like to check it out.

Woodstock Historical Society - Camp Woodland Exhibit

WCA Annual Meeting Report

The WCA had it's annual meeting on July 10th at 4:00 pm in the Roxmor clubhouse. The gathering was a great success! We had a good turnout. We went over many topics at the meeting and voted for the Officers and Board of Directors of the Association. For those of you who couldn't make the meeting here is a brief summary of the more important details.

The elected Officers of the WCA for the 2010-2011 season are:

Carol Seitz - President
Peggy Neu - Vice President
Brave Emma - Treasurer
Mike O'Neil - Secretary

The Board of Directors for the 2010-2011 season are:

Dakin Morehouse
Ann McInnis
Michele Keesee
Mike O'Neil
Brave Emma
Peggy Neu
Carol Seitz

At the meeting the Shandaken Ambulance squad did an excellent job informing the residents about their skills and services. Thanks guys!!! You do an incredible job for our town!!

I informed everyone at the meeting that starting in August the Shandaken Highway Department will be doing some much needed repairs on Woodland Valley Road just before Fawn Hill Bridge. During that time the road will be down to one lane.

The WCA Logo Contest deadline has been extended. I will send out an email shortly with the details.

To try and save printing and mailing costs the association is transitioning to a paperless system. If we don't have your email address please send it to us as soon as possible so we can get you on our list. If you would like to be removed from our email list please let us know by emailing a short note to wvview@gmail.com (no hard feelings, I promise).

WCA member Cardi O'Connor will be directing a show called 'Closer Than Ever' at STS in August. The proceeds will go to repairing the STS roof. Please go see the show and support great local community theater!!!

Thanks once again to all the folks at Roxmor for letting us use their clubhouse. You are great friends and neighbors!!

The photos below were taken by Mike Ottavi. Thanks for helping me out by taking these shots for the blog. You are the best!!!

Thanks also to everyone (Dawn Eig, Lynn Davidson, Michele Keesee, MJ Reiss, Tammy & Richard Feuer, James Koop, Bill Horne, Mickey & Mo Winograd and Aileen & Jeff Schwartz) who brought food to the meeting and/or helped us set up & clean up (Dakin Morehouse, Brave Emma, Jon Ritter & Becky Huber and many others)! Everyone pitched in to make this a very successful event!!

Boreegard Muses on the Tick

Consider the Joy of your Spouse

Consider the joy of your spouse,
When after much pain and aggravation,
You suspect that a foreign object,
A dam LIVING sucking foreign entitity,
Has decided to attach itself to the
Nether quarter of your arse.

You cannot see it of course,
Oh shucks to have eyes in the back of one’s head.
“Darling,” one finally says,” If
I drop trow, will you please
Inspect the suspicious area?”

She is completely happy to do so.

Eventually, with steady tweezers,
The offending bloodsucker is removed,
And hopeful salves are administered.
But darling, there are no guarantees.
And prayer may be the choice.

Boreegard
aka Mike O'Neil

Menla Pot Luck Reminder

Dear Community Association Members,
The potluck with our good neighbors at the Menla Center is scheduled for this Sunday July 25 - 3 pm at the Delos Center on the Menla property. PLEASE RSVP by Thursday this week if you are coming. Remember, the good folks at Menla are providing the dessert, and we are providing the dinner. I will be getting the paper goods and drinks from WCA funds. Please let me know what you are bringing when you RSVP. As always, please RSVP to wvview@gmail.com .
Best,
Carol Seitz
PS - There are some great birds at the center. I am going to bring my binoculars and birding books and see what I can spot while I am there. Anyone who would like to join me is welcome.

Blond Raccoons in Woodland Valley

I got this message the other day from Linda McDonald.

"Thought you'd like to see this! I took this back in the late 1980's. This is one of 2 BLOND raccoons that were in the Woodland Valley Park area a year or two before the rabies epidemic, that started in 1990. We were all surprised to see them at the time. We believed the two that we did see here (sometimes together) were from the same litter, which also included normal colored babies."
- Linda

I Googled 'blond Racoons' and apparently they are a normal, although rare, variation of raccoon coloring. I never knew they existed. Thanks for sending this Linda!!

Rick Altman Trio at Mama's Boy

WCA member Rick Altman and his trio will be performing at Mama's Boy (on the corner of Main St and Church St in Phoenicia) this Saturday July 17th 2010 from 5-8 pm. There will be a special appearance by Miriam Rose. Don't miss a chance to see these great musicians right here in town!!

Leaping Trout Art Project

If you haven't checked out this great art project happening right here in Phoenicia now is the time. WCA member Dakin Morehouse has his submission in the Empire State Railway Museum. Here are more details about the work.

Leaping Trout Art Project:
The Ashokan-Pepacton Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited supplied 29 Catskill artists with an aluminum blank cut-out of a leaping trout to create an image upon it.
The purpose of the project is to stimulate community awareness of the conservation issues facing the Esopus Creek and the Ashokan Watershed. The final works of art will be on display throughout our local community and auctioned off to help raise funds to support the efforts of APWCTU.

For the website of the Leaping Trout Art Project, including where to see all the different artwork, visit:
http://www.theleapingtrout.com/where.html

Check out the Saturday, July 10, edition of the Kingston Daily Freeman. Front page article about the Leaping Trout Project -

The website version of the article can be accessed at http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/07/10/news/doc4c3800e445c62579241933.txt

The art will be auctioned off in October.

Wildlife in the Valley

Hawley Botchford sent me these photos of the natural world just outside his door. The first photo is of a small bird nest. He placed a dime inside to give you an idea of scale. The other two photos are of a recent nighttime visitor to the Botchford property, a gorgeous porcupine. We are so lucky to have such a great variety of wildlife here in the valley! Thanks for sending these Hawley!

Susan Breslow Reviews 'Gasland'

I recently got this note from Susan Breslow about an online review that she wrote. Check it out.

"Here is a link to a review I wrote about the new documentary 'Gasland' -- it's about the dangers of drilling for natural gas, which is a topical issue in the Catskills and an important one beyond: 'Gasland Movie Review - and Call to Action'.

On Saturday, July 17 at 7:30pm, you can join filmmaker Josh Fox (recently seen on The Daily Show) at a special screening of his film Gasland, which won the Documentary Special Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. The screening will be held at the Harry Simon Auditorium at The Onteora High School in Boiceville. A discussion with filmmaker Josh Fox and Congressman Maurice Hinchey will follow.

Dennis Havel - Grandfather and 'Snack Czar'

Dennis Havel's new little grandson came for a visit to Woodland Valley recently. His name is Edward. He is four months old and quite the little cutie (see photo below)!

Meanwhile, Dennis offered to help organize some snacks for tomorrow's annual summer meeting but objected to the title of 'Snack Coordinator' that I had offered on the blog. He wrote and told me he would much prefer to be addressed as the 'Snack Czar'. I agreed to Dennis' terms, and so he has been officially named WCA 'Snack Czar'. Viva La Snacks!!!

Festival of the Voice Needs Volunteers

This was sent to my by the folks who are organizing the festival. Several WCA residents are already involved with the event. Maybe others have time to lend a hand to what promises to be a great weekend. Here are the details.

The Phoenicia Festival of the Voice needs volunteers immediately1

Your help inviting and welcoming visitors would mean so much to bringing world-class music to our beautiful area. Scheduled for August 13-15th. Further details at www.phoeniciavoicefest.com. If interested in volunteering please email rmtodaro@hotmail.com (indicate Volunteer in the subject line)

Melinda Stickney-Gibson at the Kouros Gallery

Anyone who finds themselves in the city tonight should go and check out the opening reception of the 'Dialogues' show organized by WCA member Melinda Stickney-Gibson. Besides bringing all the art together, Melinda's work is also in the show. Here are the details.

Dialogues explores the visual conversation between artists and their work within the studio, the connection between the work and those viewing it, and the discernible vocabulary between individual pieces of art in a gallery setting.

Exhibitions may be previewed on our website: www.kourosgallery.com

Reception for the Artists: Wednesday, July 7th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

KOUROS gallery
23 East 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021
t 212-288-5888 f 212-794-9397

Invasive Species Presentation

For all of us here in the valley who swim, fish, tube and enjoy both the WV stream and the Esopus, this upcoming presentation might be of interest.

FREE Presentation about the Threats of Invasive Species in the Catskills' Forests and Streams

Rock snot? It's a funny name, but when this invasive algae takes over streams it's no joke. On Thursday July 8 at 6:30pm, the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program (AWSMP) will host Leslie Surprenant, the Invasive Species Management Coordinator from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to present "Rock Snot, Bad Bugs and other Bio Bullies" at the AWSMP Office located at 6375 State Route 28 in Phoenicia. The FREE program is open to the public. Please RSVP to Colleen at 845-688-3047.

Surprenant will discuss the threat of invasive species to the Catskills' forests and streams.

With the fishing, boating and camping season upon us, Leslie will focus on aquatic and forest invasive species such as didymo algae (aka "rock snot") and asian longhorned beetle to help us understand how we can help prevent the their spread. She'll also suggest non-invasive plants for landscaping. The program is perfect for anglers, anyone who enjoys any type of water recreation, home owners and outdoor enthusiasts.

The Ashokan Stream Management Program is a partnership between Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, Soil and Water Conservation District and New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

For more information about CCEUC community programs and events call 845-340-3990 or visit us online at www.cceulster.org or follow on www.facebook.com


www.ashokanstreams.org

AWSMP is funded by NYC Department of Environmental Protection.

Meeting Reminder/Snack Coordinators Needed

Next Saturday July 10th at 4:00 pm in the Roxmor clubhouse we will be holding our annual summer meeting. Since this is our only official meeting of the year, all WCA members are strongly encouraged to attend. We will be discussing various issues effecting the valley and electing officers for the coming year.

We need people who are willing to organize and bring snacks to the meeting. We still have drinks and paper products from the train party. And Mo and Mickey Winograd graciously donated 2 large boxes of assorted chips so we have that covered, but here is a list of other things we still need.

Fruit Platter
Veggie Platter
Cheeses (2 or 3) and crackers
A cake and/or brownies
Different kinds of Cookies

If you are willing to organize any one of these items please email me at wvview@gmail.com. You will be fully reimbursed by the WCA at the party.

Thanks in advance for your help!! See you at the meeting!

Best,
Carol Seitz
WCA President

Logo Contest Reminder

This is just a reminder that the deadline for the WV logo contest is this Monday night July 5th. Please send your entries to wvview@gmail.com as soon as you can. Get your creative juices flowing this holiday weekend and send us an entry for the contest. The prize is $100.00 in cash and a $25.00 gift certificate to Sweet Sue's. So don't forget to send your submissions by Monday!!

Dennis Havel - Groundhog

We share this beautiful valley with all sorts of magnificent creatures. Recently Dennis Havel got some great photos of one of them. Here is what Dennis had to say about his neighbor.

"I finally got a shot through the window of the groundhog that lives nearby. He's about 18" long. A big handsome boy!"