Pete Oberbeck Catches A Beauty

Pete Oberbeck caught another beauty recently (the first real beauty Pete caught was actually his lovely wife, Sally). He showed me his big catch back on Memorial Day weekend but I forgot to post it. He was very cagey about the exact location of his conquest. When I asked him, he just told me to write that the fish was caught "in an undisclosed location". Just like a fisherman, they never want to reveal there secrets. But it is a beautiful specimen wherever he found it.

Rebecca Ffrench In Rhinebeck

I just found a couple of photos on my phone that I forgot to post. The first is a shot of Rebecca Ffrench at her event in Rhinebeck at the bluecashew. I stopped by to see her on my way to visit my friend on that side of the river. It was a great event full of yummy treats. Remember to check out Rebecca's book The Ultimate Blender Cookbook when you get the chance. Here is a link to it on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Blender-Cookbook-Healthy-Recipes/dp/1581572956/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1435616153&sr=1-1&keywords=rebecca+ffrench+blender

The other photo I forgot to post I will put up tomorrow.

Volunteer For The FoV

The Phoenicia Festival Of The Voice is seeking volunteers for this year's festival. Here is the email that they sent to me. If any of you are interested please contact the FoV at the email address provided below.


Phoenicia Festival of the Voice
July 29 - August 2, 2015 and over the next
2 months (June-July) as we gear up our
6th Annual Festival

The Phoenicia Festival of the Voice needs volunteers to help w/ prep during June/July) & during the Festival (July 29 - August 2) which will present world-class Opera, Broadway, Choral, Early Music & Aboriginal singers.

- Backstage crew support/stage hands

- Help building the main field stage & fencing around the perimeter

- Security

- Housing/hosting the artists in, or near to Phoenicia

- Food preparation for the artists' meals & post performance parties (also setting up/cleaning up)

- Street greeters/directing parking/Ushers

- Transportation of artists

- Assembling & distribution of artists' gift packages

- Placing & taking down signage in & around Phoenicia

-Answering phones in the Festival office in Phoenicia

If you are qualified for any of these tasks & want to share in an unforgettable musical/community experience.

More info or email Infovolunteers@phoeniciavoicefest.com

Shandaken Summer Recreation Program

Shandaken Summer Recreation Program is open to children who reside in Shandaken who have graduated kindergarten but have not graduated 12th grade.

Summer Camp will operate daily from 9am until 4pm on Tuesdays through Thursdays from July 07, 2015 through August 13, 2015, and two field trips are scheduled:

HOWES CAVERNS on Wed. July 29th, 2015
ZOOM FLUME on Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Applications will are available at http://www.shandaken.us/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/2015-SUM-REC-APP.pdf, or at Town Clerk’s Office. Call 688-5004 for more information.

The Catskills Hit Page Six

Get set for a busy summer here in the Catskills. Looks like another arbiter of taste has deemed this "the place to be". In the words of Shandaken resident Amy Rosen, "good grief".

http://pagesix.com/2015/06/23/ny-nightlife-guru-says-catskills-are-the-new-montauk/

Growing Mushrooms

Recently I put this post to my Facebook page. But for those of you who are not connected to me there, I wanted to share my mushroom growing story with you too. So here it is.

This Christmas Harry and I received a mushroom growing kit from The Imaginary Farmer as a present. The basics things came immediately but you could wait and send for the spawn whenever you are ready to start growing. Since my house is so dry during the winter I didn't send for it until just a few weeks ago. But it arrived and I grew and harvested my first Hantana Phoenix oyster mushrooms this week. It was SO MUCH FUN!!! They were so beautiful I almost couldn't pick them. But my hunger won out in the end and I stirred fried them with the last of my ramps from the woods, garlic scapes and bok choy from the garden. They were DELICIOUS!! Thanks to Owen Tallman at The Imaginary Farmer for patiently answering all of my many questions. I must have emailed him 10x. If any of you out there want to grow some mushrooms check out the kits from the Imaginary Farmer. They are inexpensive, easy and best of all, FUN!

Father's Day Poetry From Boreegard

FATHER’S DAY DILEMMA

My daughter and my wife each say,
What do you want for Father’s Day?

I want WORLD PEACE is what I tell ‘em,
Gimme Pachem please instead of Bellum.

My wish is so outside the box,
That I’ll settle for some nice new socks.

Boreegard  June 19, 2015

Shandaken Art Tour 2015

The Shandaken Art Tour is happening again in July. Here is the information I received this morning about it.
  

Shandaken Art Studio Tour  

Date: July 17 - 19,  2015

Description: Over 30 artists with open studios and artworks on display in Phoenicia, throughout the town of Shandaken and beyond, in styles to suit every taste and budget. Open studios from 11-5 Sat and Sun July 18-19, plus indoor group exhibitions at various locations. Arts Upstairs gallery gala opening reception from 6-9 on Sat July 19. Sculpture parks for public viewing at Brunel Park, Boiceville; Catskill Interpretive Center, Mt. Tremper; 49A Sculpture Park, Highmount. Word of Mouth performance and kick-off party Fri July 17 7 pm at Mama's Boy Cafe, Phoenicia.

Visit www.ShandakenArt.com or Phoenicia Art Studio Tour event page on facebook for map, previews of art, and other info. Free brochures with maps at tourist information booths and many shops in area.

All events free

Contact Email: dave@esopuscreek.com

Rebecca Ffrench Book Event In Rhinebeck

WCA member Rebecca Ffrench will be appearing in Rhinebeck at the blue cashew to chat about her book. She will be blending up samples too! Try to catch her if you are in the neighborhood.

Saturday, June 20th 2015, 2 to 5 pm
bluecashew Kitchen Pharmacy
6423 Montgomery Street, Suite 3
Rhinebeck, NY
845-876-1117

Movie Night For Kids

Here is a message from Liz Potter about tonight's movie night for kids.

Just wanted to let you know that this Friday at 6:30 is the Phoenicia Library's first Kids Movie Night. It's free, and there will be snacks available by donation. We'll be showing Paddington, which is a 2015 movie that Rotten Tomatoes says "Paddington brings a beloved children's character into the 21st century without sacrificing his essential charm, delivering a family-friendly adventure as irresistibly cuddly as its star." And gave it a 98% positive rating (highly unusual). Bring your Teddy Bear and fav pillow. BTW films strictly for grownups occur the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month. You can friend me on Facebook if you'd like to keep current on what the group is choosing to show
- Liz Potter

Davey - O At ESRM

Flying Cat Music presents singer-songwriter and Buffalo, New York, native Davey O. in concert on Saturday, June 20, at the Empire State Railway Museum in Phoenicia. The doors open at 7:00 p.m. with music beginning at 7:30 sharp. Admission is $12 or $10 with RSVP to flyingcatmusic@gmail.com. Email for information or call 845-688-9453.

In case you missed it the first time around, you can read the full press release for this concert here: http://flyingcatmusic.com/press-release-for-davey-o-on-62015/

Here are two videos of Davey performing live. The first is a superb cover of the song, "Long Black Veil,"  the second is one of his originals, The Absence of Madalaine."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZiWZkwF85Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGH4vTXE7_4

Memorial for Mary Brown Gillespie

I got word last week that Mary Brown Gillespie a long time Woodland Valley resident passed away back in May. I only had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of times but she was an intelligent and gracious women. Many generations of her family both past and present have resided in Woodland Valley. Her son Brownie Gillespie sent me the message below and asked me to tell you that there will be a memorial for her on July 11th at their home here in the valley. Here is Brownie's message.

I wanted to let you know that my mother, known by most as Woozy Gillespie died in May. She loved Woodland and the family house in the valley. It was built for her grandmother in the mid-late 1800’s, and Woozy spent a year at the house during the depression and also many summers. Seven generations later it is still a gathering place for our family. We will be having a memorial celebration in her honor on July 11 and we welcome anyone who knew her to come by. I am attaching an invitation made from one of her paintings.

Brown Gillespie

www.browngillespie.com

Welcome Tallulah Grace Conner!

Tallulah Grace Connor was born on Wednesday (6/10/15) at 11:02pm. Everyone is home and her two big brothers were very excited to meet her. Congratulations to the entire Connor family!! And welcome to the valley little Grace!!

Ricarda O'Conner Workshop & Yoga Class

WCA member Ricarda O'Conner has a yoga class and a Meditation, Intention and Zero Point Field Workshop this coming weekend. Here is the info Ricarda sent to me.

Greetings,

So happy to tell you that I will be teaching my stretch/restorative yoga class in Woodstock this summer.

Place: Woodstock Yoga, 6 Deming Street, Woodstock    http://www.woodstockyogacenter.com

Day: Sundays (BEGINNING NEXT WEEK, ON SUNDAY JUNE 14TH)

Time: 5:30 - 7:00 pm

Hope to see you on the mat!

and

My next workshop, MEDITATION, INTENTION and THE ZERO POINT FIELD is:

Sunday, June 14th @ 2:00 - 3:30 pm     

This workshop is designed to tune-up your conscious awareness, help you tap into your most vital joyful power, and boost your ability to transform every area of your life. Although the workshop has a basic structure it is different each time, reflecting the unique energy and intention of the participants. 

To read a brief description of the workshop, click on the link: 

http://www.ricardaoconner.com/news.html#meditation

            

Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Place: Sage Center for Healing, 6 Deming Street, Woodstock, NY (downstairs in the yoga studio).

Cost: Only $20

To save your space, register by simply calling or emailing:  sagehealingcenter@gmail.com  845-679-5650  Or just drop in!

Looking Forward to Seeing You!

Best Wishes,

Ricarda

845-688-5006

www.ricardaoconner.com

Mike O'Neil Remembers His Pop

It’s become my habit over the years to celebrate my father’s birthday by sending a piece of his writing to friends and family.  Being a creature of habit and a first class packrat has its advantages—though I hardly think my wife would agree.

By the by, He would be 106 today, were he still alive.

Way out west in the Cascades, in a first growth forest settler's cabin, near the entrance to Mount Rainer National Park, tacked up on the log wall near the trophy elk's head and a pair of broad old-fashioned snowshoes is this piece of writing from an old magazine.  I think it bears reading again. 

Happy Birthday, Pop.

M.O’N.  6/9/15                                                                                                                  

  

UP A LAZY RIVER

Man would not be man if, somewhere in his heart, he was not a bum—if he did not nurse a recurring dream of indolence and irresponsibility, and did not yearn to stretch out on a tropic beach or under a western watering tank and let his whiskers grow and occasionally have a shot of something rousing from a bottle.  It is a dream which has a way of growing stronger in summer, but in most strata of society a fellow just can't hustle off to hunt for Tom Sawyer's island, or for pearl oysters—he can't, indeed, even doze off on the courthouse steps at noon—without causing a raise of eyebrows and a wag of tongues.  Fish, however, are a bum's best friend.  Not the lusty salmon, nor the leaping trout, nor any fish which must be pursued, but the flounder and the catfish—fish which inhabit the tide flats and the back eddies of slow rivers, fish which may be lured to the bait from a recumbent position.  Millions of men annually escape that constricting maze erected over the centuries by their women with no more equipment than is reflected in the still life to the left.  They escape in every country under the sun—the photograph was made by W. Eugene Smith in a Portuguese tidal inlet off the Gulf of Cadiz—and, though the red wine in the jug might be white mule, or cider, or muscatel or rye in other parts of the world, it is a picture which reflects a universal aspect of the masculine soul.  A man need not row a weather-beaten boat such as this Portuguese fisherman's craft more than a dozen strokes to achieve Purpose and, hence, a suspect but unassailable license for bumhood.  After that languid series of motions he is free to drop an anchor (a tin can full of cement), bait his hook, float his bobber upon the softly gurgling flood, pull out the cork, tilt his jug, lower his hat over his eyes and sink back into that comatose and reflective state in which man reaches true nobility of character.  In the process, although the odds are against it, there is a chance that he might even catch a fish.

--Paul O’Neil
Sports Illustrated 1956

Long Path Hike On July 5th

Sorry I haven't posted for a few days. I have been super busy. But I am back now with something that I think will be fun and it is right in the neighborhood. On Sunday the 5th of July there is going to be a group hike of the Long Path in Woodland Valley that will finish with a fun barbecue (with food by the Catskill Rose) at the Woodland Valley Campground. If you don't want to make the 6 hour hike you can just go to the barbecue. The hike is brought to you by Catskill Mountain Wild, Storehouse and the Catskill Rose. Here are the details I got from the Facebook page about the event.

Join us for a 12-mile hike of the new section of Long Path, guided by Jeff Vincent of Catskill Mountain Wild. We’ll finish the day off with a barbecue at Woodland Valley Campground with food provided by Catskill Rose. This is an outstanding trail, with many nice features and views. It’s a moderate hike with an initial ascent and then rolling terrain throughout. It will take approximately 6 hours to complete at a leisurely pace. We will shuttle people back to their cars at Storehouse or the trailhead. Please wear appropriate footwear and bring lunch and water.

The doors at Storehouse will open at 9am and we will depart for the trailhead at 9:30. The hike will start at 10am SHARP from the trailhead at the end of Lane St. in Phoenicia. The barbecue will start at 4pm. You DO NOT need to participate in the hike to go to the barbecue.

Map of trailhead parking: http://goo.gl/maps/R2xsm

We hope to see you there!

Violet Snow Leads Nature Walk

Many of you went on the plant ID walks that Violet Snow gave for the Woodland Community Association in the past couple of years. She is giving a contemplative nature walk up in Roxbury this Saturday and I thought some of you might be interested. Here is the text of the email I received from Violet.

I'm leading a contemplative nature walk in Roxbury (Delaware County) on Sat., June 6, 1 pm. Free. Details below.

ROXBURY – Wild Saturday at John Burroughs’ Woodchuck Lodge on June 6 will feature an easy ramble to observe flora and fauna with Violet Snow, a journalist and former herbalist.

 

The 1 p.m. walk is a program of Headwaters History Days (www.headwatershistorydays.org).

 

Snow, who wrote a nature column for the Phoenicia Times and Olive Press for nine years and continues to write for the Woodstock Times, will lead a “Slow-Down Nature Walk” in the vicinity of the Lodge, 1633 Burroughs Memorial Road, Roxbury. This is not a hike or a plant ID class, but a chance to examine nature and discuss what is observed. 

 

Participants will be guided to slow down, tune in and share their perceptions, much as John Burroughs did a century ago.

 

The Lodge, where the noted literary naturalist spent the last ten summers of his life, 1910-20, will be open for free tours from 11 to 3 both Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7. Books, notecards and the new “Afloat and Afoot” audiobook, will be available for purchase.

 

Visitors are encouraged to stop at nearby John Burroughs Memorial Field State Historic Site where Burroughs is buried in a former cow pasture on his boyhood farm.

 

For more information on this historic site, its 2015 events and for information on John Burroughs and his work, visitwww.woodchucklodge.org.