Another Case

The Ulster County website has reported that there is a 2nd case in the Town of Shandaken. Please everyone stay healthy and safe and maintain your social distancing practices.

Town Offices

The Town of Shandaken offices are closed for in-person service but still available by email or phone. They have staggered the workforce a bit to create a safe environment for workers but they are still there. You can find all the phone numbers and email addresses for the town offices on their website. Just click on the link for the exact office you need.
https://www.shandaken.us/town-offices/

The recycling center at Town Hall is also open for it's usual hours - Monday, Thursday & Saturday 7:30am to 12:30pm.

New Shandaken Newsletter

Town Clerk, Joyce Grant, has started a new newsletter for Shandaken. It is called the Shandaken Quarterly. The first issue (Winter 2015-2016) is available at local establishments all through the town. It has a lot of general information about the area as well as some special event dates and times. Look for it when you go out. And if you have something you want Joyce to include in the next issue give her a call at 845-688-5004 or drop by to see her at town hall.

The Latest Higley Farm Stand News

For those of you who have been following the Town of Shandaken's legal struggles with the Higley Farm Stand in Mt Tremper there has been some recent news. State Supreme court justice Mary Work has fined the Higleys $126,200 for ignoring zoning rules and illegally operating a farm stand in the town.

If you would like to read more about this decision you can go to: http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20160203/owners-of-embattled-shandaken-farm-stand-fined-126200

Rabies & Distemper Clinic Tomorrow

Tomorrow, September 26th. there will be a RABIES & DISTEMPER clinic at Town Hall - 7209 Rt 28 - here in Shandaken. The clinic will run from 8:30am to 10 am. Rabies vaccines are $10.00. Distemper vaccines are $15.00. Cash only for shots! No appointment necessary. PLEASE KEEP DOGS ON LEADS AND CATS IN CRATES. Bring any recent vaccine records. For more info call the town clerk at 688-5004.

Shandaken dog licensing will also be available during this event. Checks will be accepted for licensing.

There will also be a spay. neuter and surgery clinic from 10am to 5pm. For more information on spaying, neutering and other mobile services call Upstate Spay and Neuter at 845-901-4637.

Fundraiser For Shandaken's Parks

The 2nd annual celebration honoring Shandaken's Parks will be held this Sunday, September 20th in the pavilion at the Emerson. There will be a picnic lunch starting at 1pm. Tickets are $30.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids. All the proceeds will support Shandaken's Parks.

Shandaken Day This Saturday

Shandaken Day is this Saturday in Big Indian Park on Rt 28 in Big Indian. The festivities run from 10am - 6pm with games, music, food and other assorted fun for all. So come out and show your town spirit. See you at Shandaken Day!!!

Rent In One Of Shandaken's Parks

Planning a Party? BBQ, Family Reunion? Need a venue? Why not rent one of Shandaken's fabulous parks?.. Weddings, Kids parties.. $50 a day! $100 for non resident. All applications are made through Town Clerk's Office. Glenbrook, Parish Field or Big Indian Park.. plan your event now and reserve! Application>http://www.shandaken.us/…/2…/06/NEWPark-Application-Form.pdf

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.

Shandaken Metal Pick-Up Day June 15th

This year metal pick-up day will be Monday, June 15th. Your metal must be out by Sunday night, June 14th. The trucks will only ride down each road once and if your metal is not out they will not return to get it. The objects put out for pick-up must be METAL ONLY!!

As always, there is a metal bin in the Shandaken town recycling area behind town hall that is available all year round. So if you miss this pick-up you can always drop off your metal there during regular recycling times.

Elle Magazine Loves Phoenicia

There was an article posted last week on the Elle magazine site (see link below) describing Phoenicia and all the fun things to do and see here. Elle is the latest media outlet to join the list of those singing the praises of our little town. I don't see how we are going to move this summer without running smack dab into a hipster. Oh well, it is great for the local businesses who work hard and make this town a better place. So, in the end I say bring on the metrojacks (young men in long beards and flannel shirts that only occasionally leave Brooklyn) and the zip car driving tourists. I hope you enjoy your stay.

http://www.elle.com/culture/travel-food/news/a28380/the-perfect-girls-weekend-upstate/

Campfires, Recreational Fires and Outdoor Cooking OK

The NYSDEC has lifted the ban on recreational fires, campfires and outdoor cooking but the brush burning ban is still in effect through May 21st. Here is the announcement.


NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Effective Immediately: New York State has lifted the ban on campfires, recreational fires and outdoor cooking due to a downgrade of the state fire danger rating. The fire danger rating dropped from “high” to “moderate” due to milder temperatures and rain forecasted for many areas across the state in the coming days. Campfires and small outdoor fires are allowed, but DEC is urging people to be cautious so that everybody can stay protected. The ban on brush burning remains in effect through May 21.http://on.ny.gov/1Kb1hwM

Burning Ban Also Expanded

I just found out today that the Governor and the NYSDEC not only extended the burning ban but expanded it to include ALL outdoor fires of any kind. That includes campfires, fire pits and cooking on your gas grill (they are taking no chances of flying sparks) etc. Open burning of debris is the largest single cause of spring wildfires in the state. So please observe this ban in these super dry conditions.

Burning Ban Extended

By order of the NYSDEC & Governor Cuomo's office, the open burning ban is extended through May 21st due to ongoing dry conditions here in the Catskills.  Unless the ban is extended again you will be able to get your burning permit at Town Clerk's office on Friday May 22nd.

Burning Ban In Effect

As the weather warms and we are all starting to clean up our properties remember that there is a burning ban in effect until May 14th. Fires spread quickly at this time of year due to the lack of green vegetation and the abundance of dry leaves and grasses. So make sure you don't try and burn any of the excess debris that is lying around from the winter.

Once the ban is lifted on May 15th Joyce Grant, the Town Clerk, will be issuing burn permits from her office in Town Hall. For more information go to the DEC website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/80920.html

Town Hall Offices Closed Today

Due to the ongoing snow the town hall offices are closed today.

2015 Town Budget

The 2015 Shandaken town budget is available for all residents to view online at the link below. It has comparisons to last years budget to put everything in perspective. Since we all finance this budget it is good to take a look and see where your tax dollars are being spent.

http://www.shandaken.us/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/2015-14-Town-of-Shandaken-FINAL-Budget-Comparison-11-6-14.pdf

Prescription Drug Disposal Box

To prevent old medications from being flushed down the toilet and entering the watershed there is now a  MedReturn box at the Shandaken Town Hall. it is located just inside the back door, right in front of the assessors office. You can take any unused or out of date meds and drop them into this box. That way they will be safely disposed of and stay out of the reach of children and away from our water supply.

Free Audio Driving Tour of Rt 28

Chichester resident and all around nice guy, Brett Barry, has produced a free audio tour of scenic Rt 28 right here in Shandaken. Many local residents participated including WCA member Harry Jameson. Here is some information about the audio tour and link to download it. Thanks for bringing this to us, Brett!

FREE AUDIO DRIVING TOUR OF SCENIC ROUTE 28 NOW AVAILABLE

New York –– September 17, 2014 –– A free one-hour driving guide featuring unforgettable sounds, stories and characters of the Central Catskills is now available as a free digital recording.

Produced by Brett Barry of Silver Hollow Audio, the guide can be downloaded at drive28.com, to be played on mobile devices while traveling along 50 miles of NYS Route 28 between Olive in Ulster County and Andes in Delaware County. CDs may also be ordered on the website, and will be made available to area outlets later this fall.

The program is not so much a site by site tour guide detailing specific locales – though many are mentioned – but rather a collection of narratives by 11 people who share stories of love, work and play in the Catskills. They speak of history and legend, nature and outdoor fun, music and food, poetry and art, and in their voices we get a sense of the region’s heart and soul. 

The project is the first of a series of themed audio tours to promote the proposed Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway (Route 28). Official State designation of the Byway is still awaited, but the coordinating organization, the Central Catskills Collaborative, is wasting no time promoting travel on the beautiful highway that traverses two counties, four towns, two villages and some of the most breathtaking scenery in the East.

“Guides” heard on the audio tour were interviewed in appropriate environments, allowing us to hear, for example, the gurgle of Rochester Hollow stream and the clank of dishes at the Phoenicia Diner.

Speakers include Bill Rudge of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation discussing the Catskill Park, and Diane Galusha of the Catskill Watershed Corporation, explaining the region’s significance as the source of most of the water for New York City.

Columnist and gourmand Joe Munster describes some memorable meals at local restaurants; and Mike Cioffi, explains how he went from being the owner of a theatrical scenery company to proprietor of the Phoenicia Diner. 

Fishing guide Mark Loete expounds on the quiet thrill of flyfishing; and Harry Jameson takes listeners along for a ride on his Town Tinker Tube Rental bus full of excited Esopus Creek tubers.

Mary Lou Stapleton, whose family goes back several generations in the Oliverea Valley, tells the legend of Winnisook, the “Big Indian” that gave that hamlet its name.

Bill Birns talks about the evolution of the historic village of Fleischmanns, and explains the attraction and resonance of the nature essays of Catskill native John Burroughs. Musician Steve Koester tells how Burroughs’ essays inspired him to compose a suite of songs, some of which, played by the John Burroughs Locust & Wild Honey Mountain Orchestra, are heard in the audio guide.

Tom Tar explains how winter skiing and summer concerts make Belleayre Mountain in Highmount among the busiest places on the Byway; while at the end of the tour, George Ballantine remembers growing up in sleepy Andes, where he later created a public park on the crystal clear Tremperskill stream.

New York actress and part-time Catskills resident Kathleen McNenny provides narrated segues throughout the audio guide, and broadcast journalist Rolland Smith recites an excerpt from John Burroughs’ essay, “Speckled Trout.”

The project was supported by the New York Council for the Humanities, in coordination with the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development. Local sponsors include The Emerson Resort, and Keegan Ales.

Brett Barry and Silver Hollow Audio have produced hundreds of audiobooks, broadcast promos, and public radio segments, from their audio studio in Chichester, NY.



For information and interviews:

Brett Barry, Silver Hollow Audio, 845-688-7333; brett@silverhollowaudio.com

Carol O’Beirne, Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce, 845-586-3300; carol@centralcatskills.com

Phoenicia Bulletin Board

Don't forget to check the bulletin board on Main St in Phoenicia for upcoming events. Town clerk Joyce Grant has been working very hard to keep it current. The flyers are updated every week so everyone can be aware of the upcoming town happenings and events. Thanks Joyce for doing such a good job!