I don't know about the rest of you but I like to recycle everything I possibly can. But last fall I was having a hard time finding a place that would accept my old (non-flat screen) television. Finally I found Cheryl Schneider of Mac Works who does recycling events periodically in Kingston. I took the television to the event and it was no problem. They accepted it and hopefully now someone else is using it or at least the parts have been repurposed. Cheryl and Mac Works are sponsoring another event coming up in 2 weeks. Here is the information I received yesterday in an email. There is one day for business recycling and one day for residential. If any of you have old electronics you need to get rid of this would be the perfect opportunity! REUSE, REDUCE, RECYCLE!!!!!!
It's Time to Recycle Your Business and Residential Electronics for FREE!
FREE Business Electronics Collection Friday, March 30, 2012. 12-4, Kingston. Registration required.
FREE Residential Electronics Collection Saturday, March 31, 2012, 9-1, Kingston. Just show up.
Just in time for Spring Cleaning! Flyer with all the details at www.themacworks.com/recycle.pdf
Sponsored by The Mac Works (a woman-owned business) and Ulster County Region Chamber of Commerce.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Plant Hardiness Zone Map
The US Department of Agriculture has recently updated it's plant hardiness zone map and put it online. This is the first interactive map from that agency. It reflects the newest data on the warming trends in our country. I thought that the gardeners among you might be interested to see this. Many of the zones are now 1/2 to 1 zone warmer. People in those zones can rethink the kinds of plants that can be grown in those places. It is all very interesting.
The map also lets you zoom into your state and county to see more precisely how the zones break out over a geographical region. So if you are a gardener or grower you can use this to get a better idea of how warming weather is affecting your specific area. Check it out!
Click the link below to get to the map.
Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
More Poetry For Trudy
After I posted the first poem in honor of Trudi Miller I got another message from WCA member and Roxmor resident Mike O'Neil. Here is what Mike had to say:
"I thought highly of Mr Wetterau's poem for Trudi. It made me want to share this poem I wrote about her too."
Trudi's Elixir
It was good, towards the end,
That I could do something to help Trudi,
that dear woman, my friend since childhood.
Besides the breathing, and the moving,
Eating had become a troublesome thing.
"I seem to have a house full of bad food," she said.
The visiting cook from the hospice
tried tempting her with chicken pot pies
and other culinary dainties
and failed.
I showed up at her kitchen door with a pot full
of her favorite summer soup.
Vichyssoise—that agreeable pureed emulsion
of fresh chicken broth, new dug potatoes,
blanched heart of leek, cream and butter,
With floating snippets of bright garden chives.
Good for what ails you.
And for a time she consumed it
to the exclusion of all else.
She ate it morning, noon, and night—
Begrudging her husband even the smallest sip
of that summertime elixir.
For a time, but only for a time.
Mike O'Neil
October 3, 2003
"I thought highly of Mr Wetterau's poem for Trudi. It made me want to share this poem I wrote about her too."
Trudi's Elixir
It was good, towards the end,
That I could do something to help Trudi,
that dear woman, my friend since childhood.
Besides the breathing, and the moving,
Eating had become a troublesome thing.
"I seem to have a house full of bad food," she said.
The visiting cook from the hospice
tried tempting her with chicken pot pies
and other culinary dainties
and failed.
I showed up at her kitchen door with a pot full
of her favorite summer soup.
Vichyssoise—that agreeable pureed emulsion
of fresh chicken broth, new dug potatoes,
blanched heart of leek, cream and butter,
With floating snippets of bright garden chives.
Good for what ails you.
And for a time she consumed it
to the exclusion of all else.
She ate it morning, noon, and night—
Begrudging her husband even the smallest sip
of that summertime elixir.
For a time, but only for a time.
Mike O'Neil
October 3, 2003
Monday, March 12, 2012
Remembering Trudi Miller
I wish I had known Trudi Miller (daughter of Paul and Alice Miller). So many people in the valley have told me that she was a fantastic person. And many of the men I have met who knew her have told me they had a crush on her. She must have been very special to inspire all that ardor.
Recently I got an email from a man named John Moncure Wetterau. He had come upon the blog by accident and found many things that stirred his happy memories. He wrote the poem below for Trudi after her death in 2003 and wanted to share it with us. She was his first love.
Trudi 1941-2003
Across the stream,
trees, gradual climb
to the ridge,
snack at the lean-to,
steeper scramble,
smell of balsam,
thin clear air,
the Ashokan
blue below,
behind:
green valley after valley,
your ashes, you—
the long sweet silence
of the mountains,
summer and winter.
Recently I got an email from a man named John Moncure Wetterau. He had come upon the blog by accident and found many things that stirred his happy memories. He wrote the poem below for Trudi after her death in 2003 and wanted to share it with us. She was his first love.
Trudi 1941-2003
Across the stream,
trees, gradual climb
to the ridge,
snack at the lean-to,
steeper scramble,
smell of balsam,
thin clear air,
the Ashokan
blue below,
behind:
green valley after valley,
your ashes, you—
the long sweet silence
of the mountains,
summer and winter.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
It's Time for Phoenicia!!
Here is a great new video pep rally from the Phoenicia School in preparation for the district dodgeball game. This video makes me laugh and dance in my seat!! Phoencia Rocks!!!!!!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Local News and Weather
I have been so busy these last few weeks that I haven't had too much time to catch you up on local news. So I thought that this morning in addition to the weather I would give you all the 411 on the major town events.
- The Onteora School Board voted recently for the "bookend" plan for the Woodstock, Phoenicia and Bennett Schools. Phoenicia and Woodstock will teach grades K-3 while Bennett School will house grades 4-6. This was apparently the only plan on the table that would keep all three elementary schools in the area open. There were 2 other plans proposed but both of them called for the closing of the Phoenicia School. The vote was 6-1 by the board in favor of the "bookend" approach.
- The Shandaken Town Board approved the Farm Stand Law at a special meeting held recently. The vote was 4-0 in favor of the new law, Alfie Higley did not attend the meeting. If you would like to read a more in-depth article regarding the passage of this law you can go to Kingston Daily Freeman - Shandaken board OKs new law regarding farm stands.
- If you have a Verizon Wi-Fi Network Extender at you home please contact the Shandaken Ambulance with this life saving information!!! The ambulance service would like to compile a confidential list of locations where paramedics can transmit cardiac info to receiving hospitals – while in transit with patients. This can be done by momentarily stopping in front of a business or home and connecting to the extender from the cardiac monitor while still in the ambulance.
Please call or email the Shandaken Ambulance Service if you have an extender.
688-7188 – email: car78@shandakenambulance.org
- On the weather front, it is GORGEOUS in the valley today!! Temps are in the mid-60s and it is sunny. The snow is melting quickly with the warmer temps. We are expecting rain later on today but the nice weather is great while it lasts. If you are coming for the weekend be careful of left over icy spots on the shady portions of some properties. Some folks have patches of ice and snow left that can send you flying if you are not paying attention.
- The Onteora School Board voted recently for the "bookend" plan for the Woodstock, Phoenicia and Bennett Schools. Phoenicia and Woodstock will teach grades K-3 while Bennett School will house grades 4-6. This was apparently the only plan on the table that would keep all three elementary schools in the area open. There were 2 other plans proposed but both of them called for the closing of the Phoenicia School. The vote was 6-1 by the board in favor of the "bookend" approach.
- The Shandaken Town Board approved the Farm Stand Law at a special meeting held recently. The vote was 4-0 in favor of the new law, Alfie Higley did not attend the meeting. If you would like to read a more in-depth article regarding the passage of this law you can go to Kingston Daily Freeman - Shandaken board OKs new law regarding farm stands.
- If you have a Verizon Wi-Fi Network Extender at you home please contact the Shandaken Ambulance with this life saving information!!! The ambulance service would like to compile a confidential list of locations where paramedics can transmit cardiac info to receiving hospitals – while in transit with patients. This can be done by momentarily stopping in front of a business or home and connecting to the extender from the cardiac monitor while still in the ambulance.
Please call or email the Shandaken Ambulance Service if you have an extender.
688-7188 – email: car78@shandakenambulance.org
- On the weather front, it is GORGEOUS in the valley today!! Temps are in the mid-60s and it is sunny. The snow is melting quickly with the warmer temps. We are expecting rain later on today but the nice weather is great while it lasts. If you are coming for the weekend be careful of left over icy spots on the shady portions of some properties. Some folks have patches of ice and snow left that can send you flying if you are not paying attention.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Weather Over The Weekend
I thought I would post a little weather update for those of you who were not in the valley over the weekend. We have had some minor snow showers on and off over the past few days but it never amounted to much. The temperatures have been going up and down significantly. Last night was in the low 20's but today is in the high 30s. It is a bright sunny day here in the valley.
The forecast going forward into the week is calling for temperatures in the 50s and 60s. The snow from last week has continued to melt and, if the weather channel is right about the temps, might be gone by the end of this week. As usual we will just have to wait and see.
The forecast going forward into the week is calling for temperatures in the 50s and 60s. The snow from last week has continued to melt and, if the weather channel is right about the temps, might be gone by the end of this week. As usual we will just have to wait and see.
"The Woods" In Brooklyn
Coming back to the East Coast for a limited one-week engagement, THE WOODS (WCA member Max Nova is executive producer) opened Friday March 2nd and will be running through this Thursday March 8th at the Rerun Gastropub Theater at 147 Front Street, Brooklyn. Check out the website below for exact dates and times.
Anyone finding themselves in Brooklyn this week might want to check this out!
THE WOODS DO DUMBO
Free Computer Classes in Phoenicia
For all those in the valley who are looking to bone up on their computer skills, The Town of Shandaken, The Phoenicia Rotary and the Phoenicia School are sponsoring free computer classes in the Phoenicia School. Everyone is welcome. Let them know what you would like to learn and they will try and address your needs. Here are the details:
FREE Computer Classes for Adults. Sponsored by Town of Shandaken, Phoenicia Rotary & Phoenicia School.
Schedule: Wednesday evenings 5:30 – 7pm. At Phoenicia School.
April 11, 18, 25 – May 5, 9, 16, 23, 30 – June 6, 13,
Call Town Clerks Office for info or to sign up: 688-5004
Friday, March 2, 2012
That's Ah Moray
Tommy Healy sent me a photo and couple of links to videos he shot on a recent diving trip to Florida. The videos are really beautiful. The first is of a wreck dive on the "lady go diver" dive boat. They explored the wreck of the Sea Empress. That boat is a flat bottomed pipe barge that lies in 70 feet of water a mile off Boca Raton Inlet. Tommy said that the ship reminded him of an under water aircraft carrier. There is a moray eel in one of the videos. Yipes!! Cool looking but a little scary!! Thanks for sending us your videos and photo Tommy. When I can't be diving myself I love to see where other people have gone.
