Catskills magazine - Fall 2021

BACKYARD INVASIVE: GIANT HOGWEED

REMEMBERING CATSKILLS BOTANICAL ART SHERRET CHASE VINTAGE RECIPE: CORN FRITTERS

FALL 2021

CONTENTS 4

WHAT’S NEW AT THE CATSKILL CENTER

6

FEATURED ARTIST: WENDY HOLLENDER

8

STEMMING THE TIDE OF GIANT HOGWEED

12

REMEMBERING SHERRET CHASE

22

VINTAGE RECIPE: CORN FRITTERS

26

COMMUNITY SCIENCE IN THE FALL

30

ENDNOTE

STAFF CONTRIBUTORS FALL 2021 JEFF SENTERMAN Jeff grew up spending weekends in the mountains, and when he’s not steering the ship that is the Catskill Center, can often be found atop a local peak. His column, EndNote, appears in each issue. Jeff is the Executive Director of the Catskill Center.

ALLISON DUNNE

Front Cover Image: Sherret Chase at the Catskill Center’s 50th Birthday event/Catskill Center Inside Cover Image: Wallkill Valley Rail Trail/Catskill Center

After a career in journalism, Allison joined the Catskill Center to tell stories in a different realm as the Communications Manager. She contributed the feature on Sherret Chase and is one of the magazine’s editors.

KELLI HUGGINS Kelli is an educator, historian, and native Catskillite. For this issue, she baked up corn fritters. Kelli is a Visitor Experience Coordinator at the Catskills Visitor Center. She also copy-edits the magazine.

SARAH MCGINNIS For this issue, Sarah handled the layout and graphic design work. Sarah is the Exhibit, Outreach and Marketing Coordinator for the Catskills Visitor Center.

DANIEL SNIDER-NERP Dan is the Field Projects Manager for the Catskill Center’s Catskills Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP). He contributed the piece on giant hogwood.

ABOUT US: Since 1969, the Catskill Center has protected and fostered the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of the Catskill region.

Our mission is to ensure a bright future for the Catskills by preserving our environment, expanding our economy and celebrating our culture.

Become a member at: catskillcenter.org/membership

43355 Route 28, Arkville, NY 12406 | cccd@catskillcenter.org | 845.586.2611

CATSKILL CENTER

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WHAT’S NEW AT THE CATSKILL CENTER CATSKILLS VISITOR CENTER’S NEW EXHIBIT IS OPEN! Stop by to see our total interior transformation!

The CVC is currently open daily from 9:30am - 4:00pm and is at the cab every weekend through Columbus Day. Please note: masks and social distancing are required on the property, regardless of vaccination status. Follow the CVC on social media for upcoming in-person and online events, trail conditions, and more!

OUR STAFF KEEPS GROWING! WE’RE SO EXCITED TO WELCOME ALLISON, DEAN, AND DANIELLE TO OUR TEAM. ALLISON DUNNE—Communications Manager After a career in both print and broadcast journalism, Allison joined the Catskill Center to tell stories in a different realm. Here she can combine her love of writing with an appreciation of viewing things from different vantage points. Allison has worked in financial journalism as well as for both commercial and public radio. Before landing at the Catskill Center, Allison could be heard on WAMC Northeast Public Radio as the station’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief and host/producer of a national show on women’s issues. Allison holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University with a concentration in English. In her free time, Allison enjoys competing in equestrian events, hiking, and stand-up paddleboarding.

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FALL 2021

PHOTO: VISITORS BROWSING THE NEW EXHIBITS AT THE CATSKILLS VISITOR CENTER/CATSKILL CENTER

our Fire Tower Steward

DEAN KLINGLER—Donor Relations Manager After more than twenty years in the nonprofit arts space with nationally prominent organizations, Dean has made a professional pivot to the vital work of the Catskill Center’s mission to support and sustain the environmental, economic, and cultural life of the region. Dean became a part-time Ulster County resident in 2013, but in March 2020 grounded himself as a full-time Hudson Valley dweller and discovered a deep and reverential connection to the land that sheltered him and his family.

Dean studied Literature and Photography at SUNY Purchase back when PHOTO: DEAN (L) AND DANIELLE (R)JOIN STAFF MEMBER LISA WACHTEL ON A RECENT STAFF DAY/CATSKILL CENTER

one routinely developed one’s own film and typed overheated treatises on canonical writers on a word processor. Dean and his partner Matt currently live in Bearsville, which, despite the name of the town, reveals disappointingly few actual bear sightings.

DANIELLE TUCKER—Annual Giving Manager Danielle is a native of the Catskills region and cares deeply about preserving the area’s resources and history while simultaneously contributing to its growth and development. She came to the Catskill Center after spending several years working at a local community action agency. She has an educational background in Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies from SUNY Oneonta. In her free time, Danielle enjoys gardening, birdwatching, kayaking, and designing modern quilts.

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ART PAGE: MARISA SCHEINFELD Tamarack Lodge, Greenfield Park, NY

FEATURED ARTIST: WENDY HOLLENDER WENDY HOLLENDER is a botanical artist, author, and instructor and leads workshops in many varied locations close to home and far away. She lives in Accord, NY nestled between the Shawangunk Ridge and the Catskill Mountains where she loves to document plants throughout the growing season.

Hollender’s illustrations have been published extensively throughout the world. She has exhibited in natural history museums and botanical institutes, including a solo exhibit at the US Botanic Garden. She recently exhibited at the Lockwood Gallery in Woodstock, NY as part of the Woodstock School of Art Instructors Exhibition. Wendy has four books on botanical drawing and co-published and illustrated Foraging & Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook by Dina Falconi.

Wendy graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1976 and began a career in botanical illustration after completing a certificate at the New York Botanical Garden in 1998.

To see more of Wendy’s work, please visit: www.wendyhollender.com and www.drawbotanical.com AND LOOK FOR MORE OF WENDY’S BEAUTIFUL BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATIONS FEATURED THROUGHOUT THIS ISSUE!

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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: CRISP

THE CATSKILL REGIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES PARTNERSHIP STEMMING THE TIDE OF GIANT HOGWEED The summer season has seen the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) team hiking through forests and streams to survey for and control giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), a high-priority invasive plant in the Catskills. One of CRISP’s hogweed sites sits along roughly two miles of

This year, four Catskill Center staff members visited this site — CRISP Coordinator John Thompson; CRISP Field Projects Manager Dan Snider-Nerp; and Strike Team members Skyler Susnick and Andrew Balogh. This site can have several satellite plants growing anywhere along the 2 miles of stream depending on where seeds have settled in past years. CRISP staff split into two teams, dividing the upstream and downstream portions of the infestation.

The upstream team began the day by managing the “source population” – the largest population of giant hogweed at this site and source of the seeds that float downstream. When the source population was completely controlled, the upstream team began hiking south along the stream, surveying for satellite plants until the two teams met in the middle.

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FALL 2021

PHOTO: JOHN THOMPSON MANAGING GIANT HOGWEED IN ROSCOE, NY/CATSKILL CENTER

stream in Delaware County, which the team visits each year.

Management of this site can be tricky. Hiking through a rocky stream in rubber boots and a Tyvek suit (personal protective gear), while carrying a backpack, loppers, shovels, and occasionally a trash bag full of cut giant hogweed flowers is challenging in ideal conditions. Luckily, the heavy rain and thunderstorms from earlier in the week did not significantly impact the site visit, and after four years of consistent management, this infestation is now under fifteen percent of the size from when it was first discovered in 2017.

Also over the summer, CRISP surveyed a former giant hogweed infestation in Sullivan County. Even though giant hogweed has not been found at this site in 2 years, consistent resurveying is critical. This year, the CRISP team controlled a single stem that was found on private property. It’s likely that yard work disturbed some seeds in the soil years after the bulk of the infestation had been removed. Giant hogweed seeds can stay viable for many years depending on soil quality, so revisiting and surveying old infestation sites is standard practice for every site the CRISP team manages.

Giant hogweed first arrived in the U.S. from the Caucasus Mountains region PHOTO: GIANT HOGWEED REGROWTH IN FORESTBURGH, NY/CATSKILL CENTER

(between the Black and Caspian Seas)

as

an

ornamental

garden plant treasured for its impressively

large

flowers,

which can grow nearly three feet in width. It unfortunately escaped

from

intentional

cultivation and is now spreading in the wild in some areas of the Northeastern Though

giant

United

States.

hogweed

is

present in our region, there are only a few known populations, all of which are monitored and managed.

Giant hogweed grows vigorously in many of the same areas that other common

CATSKILL CENTER

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invasive plants enjoy – abandoned fields, pastures, roadsides, and stream sides. It flourishes in full sun but will grow in partial shade as well, and it produces a prolific amount of seeds. Hogweed can be identified by its large, deeply incised leaves (up to five feet wide), large growth habit (up to twelve feet tall), and coarse white hairs and deep purple splotches up and down its otherwise bright green stem.

Giant hogweed stands out for more reasons than just its striking size and appearance; it can also be dangerous to the unaware. Hogweed plants contain in exposed skin. Exposed skin becomes extremely sensitive to the sun, which can lead to severe burns. To limit exposure, when CRISP staff manage giant hogweed, they wear full-body protective gear (Tyvek suits), eye protection, gloves, and rubber boots.

If you think you have been exposed to giant hogweed sap, wash the area with soap and water as quickly as possible, and keep it covered with long sleeves or pants for 48 hours. If a burn develops, talk with your doctor.

If you think you have seen giant hogweed on your property in the greater Catskills area, take a picture without getting too close, and contact CRISP Field Projects Manager Dan Snider-Nerp at dsnider-nerp@catskillcenter.org. CRISP staff will manage any giant hogweed plants in the Catskills region, at no cost.

NEED HELP identifying a plant? Tag us on Instagram @CatskillCenter 10

FALL 2021

PHOTO: CRISP STAFF MEMBERS (L-R) DAN SNIDER-NERP, JOHN THOMPSON, AND SKYLER SUSNICK/CATSKILL CENTER OPPOSITE PAGE: ILLUSTRATION BY WENDY HOLLENDER

chemicals in their sap, called furanocoumarins, which can cause phototoxicity

CATSKILL CENTER

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MEMORIES AND MUSINGS ON SHERRET CHASE CHASE

Catskills were home base. Childhood

SPENT MOST OF LIFE ADVOCATING

exploration had borne a deep interest

FOR

CO-

in botany and forestry, which he

FOUNDED THE CATSKILL CENTER

studied at Yale, Cornell, and Harvard,

FOR

AND

conducting research in the field

DEVELOPMENT. CHASE PASSED

of genetics and the hybridization

AWAY IN JUNE AT HIS HOME IN

of maize (corn). Sherret Chase’s

ASHOKAN AT AGE 102.

groundbreaking work in “doubled

SHERRET THE

SPAULDING CATSKILLS.

HE

CONSERVATION

haploids”

has

Chase’s roots in the region first

corn

took hold when his Aunt Carmelita

improvement of other field crops,

Hinton, his father’s sister, hiked

and has high economic value in the

through

field of agribusiness.

the

Woodstock

Valley

breeding,

revolutionized facilitated

the

PHOTO: SHERRET CHASE/HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON

in 1920 and discovered a nearabandoned farm - the Winchell

Under

Chase’s

leadership,

the

farm. Chase’s grandparents bought

Catskill Center focused then - as it

it, and his family began trekking

does today - on the Catskill region.

200 miles in a Model T Ford from

It set twin goals of conservation and

Wayne, Pennsylvania to the Ashokan

development. “Those two ideas may

farmstead every summer and holiday.

have seemed antithetical to some,”

His deep kinship with the Catskills

Chase said, but the goal was to use

began with those pilgrimages.

the two principles together to protect against “mis-development” of the

By 1933, Chase’s immediate family

pristine Catskill region. The goal was

were full-time residents of Olive,

that ideas of conservation would

in the homestead on Ticeteneyck.

guide appropriate development.

All through high school, college, and graduate school - interrupted

- Excerpt from “Natural Resources:

by three years’ service in the Army

50 Stewards of the Catskills”

Air Corps during World War II - the CATSKILL CENTER

13

CATSKILL CENTER BOARD CHAIR

Ginsberg, and Joseph Aronson Sr.,

MARGARET (PEG) DIBENEDETTO

they laid the groundwork to launch

Sherret Chase wrote a paper during

the Catskill Center for Conservation

his fellowship at Harvard University

and Development (CCCD).

entitled “The Catskills: Past, Present, Potential.” He foresaw the possibility

I grew up occasionally answering

of the worst case scenario for

the phone for my mom and on the

the Catskill Mountains - natural

other end could be any of these

resources ripe for plundering, with

giants of whom my 13-year-old self

no one minding the hen house. He

knew nothing, but I still remember

also saw the plight of the economy

the voices and the fiery discourse

of mountain communities with few

and the passion they all had in the

opportunities to turn their fortunes.

furtherance of their cause. I was

Former U.S. Ambassador Kingdon

on the periphery of this roiling, as

Gould reached out to Sherret after

yet unformed organism they were

reading the essay, and together

birthing, but I understood that

with Armand Erpf, they formed a

something important was happening.

band of champions for the region.

Fast forward 50 years. CCCD board

With advisors such as Alf Evers, Bill

and staff not only wielded weighty

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FALL 2021

PHOTO: SHERRET CHASE AT THE FALL GALA 2018 WITH (L-R) JEFF SENTERMAN, PEG DIBENEDETTO, AND HELEN CHASE/CATSKILL CENTER

THOSE WHO WORKED WITH CHASE HAVE BEEN REMINISCING ABOUT THEIR WORK WITH HIM OR THE TIMES THEIR PATH CROSSED WITH HIS, AND WE ASKED A FEW TO SHARE THEIR MEMORIES HERE.

decisions and influence to rebuff

was there. Also, Sherry had been

poor political proposals on state and

a navigator on a bomber in WWII,

local levels, but also discouraged

and my mom had flown all sorts of

poor practices by individuals and

aircraft in WWII, so they really had

businesses, and advocated for proper

that in common. Sherry’s wife Kenny

conservation measures.

and my mom also got along very well, so there was a natural extension of

Local economies of the Catskill

family friendships. I knew Helen’s

mountains

by

younger sister Alice better than I

embracing tourism as an economic

knew Helen, but Helen and I renewed

driver.

was

our friendship when I joined the

without

Catskill Center Board some seven

PHOTO: SHERRET CHASE WITH MAURICE HINCHEY AND HELEN CHASE/COURTESY OF HELEN CHASE

to

had

However,

encourage

benefited the

trick

tourism

overstretching the natural treasure.

years ago.

Ever

the

Sherret, as I said, was ever the

scientist, Sherret, or Sherry as many

the

gentleman,

ever

scientist. I’m not sure if he was

called him, seemed larger than life in

a realist or an optimist, but one

both height and demeanor. He was

instance illustrates his exceptionally

polite in conversation but was always

good disposition, and willingness to

itching for some farm talk. What

turn his wit to any situation. At some

about the corn? The genetics??!!

point, I mentioned I was on my way

He and my mom got on so well

to Puerto Rico —either my family was

because she’d farmed with my dad

going on vacation, or I was going to

for 25 years so the agriculture link

work with farmers after Hurricane

CATSKILL CENTER

15

Maria. Sherret and I had a five-month conversation about Puerto Rico.

Sherret had been there many years before, doing research on maize.

He talked with a distant mistyeyed fondness of the food, and the would I be in the same area he’d worked in, and perhaps the family was still around. Our conversations meandered, and finally I asked why he’d been there doing research for three years.

Sherret replied that

he’d been trying to develop a strain of maize that could grow in Puerto

I hope Sherret was pleased with the

Rico’s hot climate.

Catskill Center 50 years on. I hope it had realized the potential he’d

In an amused, raspy voice, he said, “We

imagined, the result he’d anticipated.

tried for three years. We kept trying.”

I hope it continues to do the work he

“Were you successful?” I asked.

began.

“No,” he said, “but we learned something very important.” “What was that?” I asked. And with even

CATSKILL CENTER’S FIRST FULL-

more amusement in his voice and

TIME DIRECTOR, PETER BORRELLI

a twinkle in his eye, he said, “We

Peter

learned that you can’t grow corn in

Center’s first full-time director, hired

Puerto Rico!”

in 1973. He recently recalled an act

Borrelli

was

the

Catskill

of preservation and Sherret Chase’s No disappointment in three years

enthusiasm

of work with nothing to show for it.

Center’s involvement in the sale of

Ever the scientist. The result you get,

the Thomas Cole house in Catskill.

whether anticipated or not, is still an

(Borrelli says Chase had recalled the

answer, and thus, worthwhile.

matter shortly before his passing.)

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FALL 2021

about

the

Catskill

PHOTO: SHERRET CHASE WITH HIS HONORARY DOCTOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE FROM NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY/DION OGUST

generosity of his host family, and

PHOTO: SHERRET CHASE RECEIVING AN AWARD AT THE CATSKILL CENTER SUMMER GATHERING IN 2013/HELEN CHASE

The Cole house had gone from a Cole

Center was more of a catalyst and

descendant to the Catskill Center,

enabler in those days. He recalls

which tried to have the home and

Chase once saying that there were

studio of the founder of the Hudson

limits to what we could do, but no

River School of American painting

limits to the useful purposes we

turned into a state or national

might serve.

historic site. The Catskill Center ended up selling the site to two New

Borrelli also recalls the Catskill

York City art collectors who formed

Forum, which afforded an academic

the Thomas Cole Foundation under

approach to the region. He says

the Catskill Center’s direction.

Chase’s point of view was that we couldn’t do everything but there isn’t

In 1998, the collectors sold the house

anything we shouldn’t be interested

to the Greene County Historical

in. “Though he was a scientist,

Society, which held it until the

advocacy was something Sherry

federal

believed in very strongly,” Borrelli

government

stepped

up

with help from U.S. Senator Charles

says.

Schumer. The property became a National Historic Site in 1999. Borrelli

Borrelli says Chase did not presume

says it was the Catskill Center that

to know the answers; he was always

ultimately saved the day, and the

still learning. And he echoes what CATSKILL CENTER

17

many who knew Chase have said:

at the time of that hike in the ‘70s.

Sherry operated on many different

He also spent time collecting twigs

levels, able to bring together people of

and leaves from various trees—oaks,

diverse backgrounds. “He was able to

hickories,

get people with different viewpoints

Tonshi and Little Tonshi Mountains.

and positions in life concerned,” said

In fact, Kudish says he recalls at

Borrelli. Borrelli described Chase

least three field trips from the Chase

as soft spoken and selfless, urging

house.

and

more—on

nearby

people to consider other views.

During our hike in early August, 2021, Kudish pointed out different CATSKILL CENTER MEMBER

trees, including a few chestnuts. He

MICHAEL KUDISH

then told me about Chase’s work on

Author,

researcher,

professor

Michael

and

retired

Kudish

restoring the American Chestnut tree

has

after a blight fungus took out the

dedicated his life to studying the

Northeastern population more than

history of the Catskill forest. His book

a century ago.

of the most comprehensive natural

Chase, who studied tree breeding,

histories of the Catskills ever written.

genetics, and reproductive forest

He also happens to be a Catskill

tree biology, encouraged work being

Center member and keeper of several

done to develop a resistant strain

stories involving Sherret Chase.

of the American Chestnut tree. One

Kudish relayed his memories to the

method, tested at the SUNY College

Catskill Center’s Communications

of

Manager Allison Dunne.

Forestry, uses a transgenic American

Environmental

Science

and

Chestnut tree with a single gene I had the fortune of hearing some of

of oxidase oxalate (OsO), which

the stories as Kudish and I hiked up

is found naturally in wheat and

the very mountain he and Chase had

other plants. This is the promising

climbed in the 1970s - Ticeteneyck

parent to pollinate the traditional

(part of the Phoenicia-Mount Tobias

American Chestnut tree and will

Wild Forest), just a mile down the

result in a practically pure tree,

road from the Chase home. Kudish

except for the one gene from wheat.

was teaching at Paul Smith College

Another method uses Chinese blight-

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FALL 2021

PHOTO ON OPPOSITE PAGE: SHERRET CHASE/DION OGUST

“The Catskill Forest: A History” is one

resistant strains, but results in a less

and it was during this meeting that

pure American Chestnut tree. Kudish

Kudish excitedly dragged into the

called Chase a great scientist and

hotel’s ballroom a thicket of willow

geneticist.

shoots, rendering Kudish himself barely visible. He believes that upon

Along with a number of meetings,

showing the willow specimens in such

forums, and consultations about

grandeur, Chase was embarrassed.

various trees, there was, for Kudish,

“He didn’t want to mix the formality

a memorable, if not infamous,

of the meeting with the informality of

occurrence, also in the early 1970s.

the woods,” said Kudish.

Chase was involved in genetic studies on willow trees, on some half-

Kudish says Chase had the vision

a-dozen species, and Kudish lent a

to

hand, collecting willow branches for

Catskill Center for Conservation

these studies.

and Development) that would help

establish

a

nonprofit

(the

get people together in the region The Catskill 3500 Club was holding

to talk about those very issues—

a meeting in the (now former)

conservation and development—and

Governor Clinton Hotel in Kingston,

to be judicious about the latter.

"THIS TYPE OF ORGANIZATION ... WOULD GO FAR TOWARD ASSURING THE FUTURE OF THE CATSKILLS AS A PRODUCTIVE, HEALTHY, AESTHETICALLY PLEASING ECOSYSTEM OF WHICH WE HUMANS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART." — from The Catskills of New York, Past, Present, Potential by Sherret Chase, printed in American Forests magazine, August 1967 CATSKILL CENTER

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SHERRET SPAULDING CHASE LEGACY SOCIETY Sherret Spaulding Chase was the Founding President of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development after he, and a group of Catskills enthusiasts with a passion for the bright future of the region, founded the Catskill Center in 1969.

Today, the Catskill Center works to protect both the environmental and economic well being of the Catskill region. This mission began with Chase when he determined the two were not contradictory goals; rather, they could work together by prioritizing conservation to foster beneficial development. This revelation is the foundation of Chase’s deeply-rooted Catskills legacy.

Our hope in creating the Sherret Spaulding Chase Legacy Society is to allow you the same opportunity to leave your own philanthropic impact on the land you love.

Legacy Society members are supporters who have included a gift to the Catskill Center through their estate plans. We urge anyone who has included the Catskill Center in their plans to let us know, so we can give you the opportunity to be honored by the Catskill Center and included in the Sherret Spaulding Chase Legacy Society’s membership.

Secure the health of the Catskills for generations. catskillcenter.org/plannedgiving

YOUR LEGACY THE FUTURE OF THE CATSKILLS 20

FALL 2021

BUSINESS MEMBERS ALLENTOWN ANIMAL HOSPITAL

LAURELSIDE 3 LLC

ALPINE ENDEAVORS

LVDV OPERATIONS, INC

BLAIR COLLECTIBLES

MANHATTAN COUNTRY SCHOOL FARM

BREEZY HILL INN

MARGARETVILLE TELEPHONE COMPANY

BUGGED OUT

MARK LOETE PHOTOGRAPHY

CENTRAL HUDSON GAS & ELECTRIC

NEW YORK CENTRAL MUTUAL FIRE

CORP.

INSURANCE COMPANY

CHAZEN ENGINEERING, LAND

PHOENICIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

SURVEYING & LANDSCAPE

PHOENICIA LODGE

ARCHITECTURE CO., D.P.C.

PINE HILL TRAILWAYS

COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

RED SQUARE DESIGN

COMMUNITY BANK N.A.

SAFECO ALARM SYSTEMS, INC.

COSMIK ICE CREAM

SCHWARTZBERG & KENYON PLLC

ERICKSON’S AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

SILVERHOLLOW AUDIO

ESOPUS CREEK CONSERVANCY

SLUITER AGENCY, INC.

FLOWING SPIRIT HEALING

SPRING GLEN MEADOWS, INC.

GATES VENTURES

TIMOTHY TAYLOR GALLERY

GREEN LABEL HOMES

TUTHILLTOWN SPIRITS DISTILLERY

HOOKED ON KZM

VLY MOUNTAIN SPRING WATER, INC.

HUDSON VALLEY APPRAISAL CORP.

WALNUT GROVE FARM

HUDSON VALLEY ENGINEERING PC

WIEDENKELLER INSURANCE

HUNTER FOUNDATION, INC.

WOODSTOCK CHIMES FUND

IMMUNESHEIN, LLC

WOODSTOCK LAND CONSERVANCY

KAATERSKILL MARKET

ZEN MOUNTAIN MONASTERY, INC.

LAMONT ENGINEERS, PC

ZONE 4 LANDSCAPES LTD

Thank you for your support.

We would like to recognize these businesses for their generosity. When you do business with them, you support the Catskill Center and the entire region.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO BECOME A BUSINESS MEMBER, VISIT WWW.CATSKILLCENTER.ORG/BUSINESSMEMBERSHIP CATSKILL CENTER

21

Vintage Recipe

CORN FRITTERS

KE LLI HUGG I N S As you drive through the Catskills in

You can experiment with flour; I tried

summer, you’ll see farm stands all

these with an all-purpose gluten-free

over with large signs proclaiming,

flour and they were great. I chose to

“Local Sweet Corn.” While most of us

lightly pan fry mine, but you could

probably eat this beloved seasonal

deep fry them or even experiment with

staple right off the cob, corn is a

baking them. Serve with the toppings

versatile ingredient. This recipe is a

of your choice; they work well with

very simple, classic local corn fritter,

both savory and sweet sauces, like

using fresh corn kernels instead of

spicy aiolis or maple syrup.

cornmeal.

CORN FRITTERS (makes about 12) Catskill Center Founding President

3 ears of fresh corn

Sherret Chase was a plant geneticist

½ tsp salt

who worked on corn hybridization.

2 eggs

His work went beyond the lab and into

1 cup of flour, or enough to make a

local fields, including experimental

thick batter

trial plots at Shaul Farms in the

Enough oil to lightly pan fry

PHOTO: CORN FRITTERS/CATSKILL CENTER

Schoharie Valley. Shaul’s has long been one of my family’s favorite farm

Cut corn kernels from the cobs and

stands and, fittingly, it is where I got

mix in a bowl with the salt and eggs.

the corn to test out this recipe.

Add flour slowly, using enough to create a stiff batter that won’t spread

I’ve purposely left this recipe in its

in the pan. Drop tablespoons of batter

simple, original form, but I encourage

into the hot oil, preferably in a cast

you to experiment to make it your own.

iron pan. Be careful of potential oil

You can add additional vegetables or

splatters. Cook until golden brown on

spices and herbs to the filling if you

one side and then turn and brown the

like—jalapeños would add a nice

other side. Place cooked fritters on a

kick—as long as you make sure your

paper towel to remove any extra oil.

batter stays thick. A little baking

Serve with the sauce of your choice

powder can make your fritters lighter.

(see suggestions above). Enjoy!

CATSKILL CENTER

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FALL 2021

Your tax-deductible donation supports healthy ecosystems and vibrant communities throughout the Catskill region.

Catskillcenter.org/membership Or complete this form and mail to:

Become a Member Individual ($35) Dual / Family ($50) Senior/Student ($25) BENEFITS INCLUDE: SUBSCRIPTION to the Catskill Center’s quarterly Catskills magazine with news from the Catskill Center and across the Catskill Region.

OPPOSITE PAGE: ILLUSTRATION BY WENDY HOLLENDER

10% DISCOUNT on purchases at the Catskills Visitor Center, all Catskill Center facilities and Campmor in Paramus, NJ with presentation of member card.

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MEMBERSHIP LEVEL $35 ­— Individual $50 ­— Dual / Family $25 ­— Senior/Student $100 ­— Partnering member $250 ­— Benefactor $500 ­— Leadership Circle $1000 ­— President’s Circle

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CATSKILL CENTER

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FALL COMMUNITY SCIENCE: LOCAL RESOURCES

BY ANN PETERS The benefits of community science opportunities for the Hudson Valley are numerous. One of the greatest personal and communal benefits is how these small acts of studying and helping nature connect us to the larger ecosystem of the Hudson Valley. This fall is the perfect time for such explorations.

Hiking at local parks can introduce us to vernal pool locations near roadways in anticipation of “The Big Night” for amphibians in March/ April. Taking canoe trips on local waterways, even a guided tour with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) at Norrie Point, can introduce us to waterway wildlife and conservation concerns. These experiences give us a bigger picture of the importance of the glass eel migration that is monitored every spring.

Volunteering with local environmental organizations such as Scenic Hudson or local land trusts and preserves for trail maintenance and invasive species studies teaches us to identify the flora and fauna around us and how they might be impacting native species of plants, animals, and insects.

Esopus Meadows Preserve, a Scenic

Hudson park, has a phenology trail that introduces and guides hikers through the Nature’s Notebook app, documenting seasonal changes. (www.scenichudson.org/our-work/environmental-education/ phenology/) 26

FALL 2021

For the past 18 months, COVID has made a big impact on environmental organizations’ volunteer efforts, studies, and calendars. It is a double-edged sword with more people visiting and appreciating local trails and parks, but trail maintenance efforts being cancelled due to COVID safety concerns. As more people are vaccinated and we have a better understanding of outdoor group safety protocols, local organizations have slowly started to put volunteer and exploratory events back on their calendar. A few to consider are: Scenic Hudson: www.scenichudson.org/get-involved/volunteer Kingston Land Trust: facebook.com/KingstonLandTrust/events Woodstock Land Conservancy: www.woodstocklandconservancy.org Ashokan Rail Trail: https://ashokanrailtrail.com/volunteer/ Local libraries are also planning canoe tours, and seine fishing with the DEC at Norrie Point, as well as hikes and other nature exploring adventures.

Check your library’s calendar for events and ask about neighboring libraries

ALL PHOTOS BY ANN PETERS

libraries’ event calendars as well.

Environmental organizations have been utilizing everyone’s familiarity with Zoom, and are scheduling professional webinars on a variety of environmental conservation topics, that are open to the public and easily accessible. Joining the mailing list of the DEC website (https://www.dec. ny.gov/) is a great way to receive email updates on webinars and online CATSKILL CENTER

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training. Cornell University’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (https://hudson.dnr.cals.cornell.edu/events) has a special focus on Conservation Planning in the Hudson Valley and offers webinars for local municipality leaders and other planners. These webinars can be very specific to land use and planning topics but can give great insight into what our local environmental experts are recommending for navigating the ongoing human and environmental balance.

A literary trend within the past decade are nature science books with autobiographical themes. Authors share their scientific, childhood, and ancestral experiences with citizen science topics such as amphibian migrations, eels, and Monarchs. I highly recommend the following books: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer The Book of Eels by Patrik Svensson The Last Butterflies by Nick Haddad Environmental History of the Hudson River by Robert E. Henshaw The Homing Instinct: Meaning and Mystery in Animal Migration by Bernd Heinrich It is fun to look inside a microscope for specific environmental projects, but I encourage you all to look around and really explore our local habitat through a more macro lens. Go hiking, attend a lecture, read a book, join a mailing list, etc. Our efforts as volunteer scientists will be that much stronger, more helpful, and have a renewed passion as a result of a better understanding of the big picture and our role in helping our local environment.

Ann Peters is an avid outdoor explorer, a Rover Scout and Otter Scout leader with the 91st Sojourners - BPSA, a homeschool mom to two kids, and a volunteer for the Catskill Center. This is part three of Ann’s series on community science in our local area—her previous pieces can be found in the spring and summer issues of Catskills magazine, available at catskillcenter.org/catskills-magazine.

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FALL 2021

NEW ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

PHOTO: KELLI HUGGINS WITH A COLLECTION OF CATSKILLS-THEMED TITLES/CATSKILL CENTER

WEEKLY BOOKSTAGRAM FEATURE

Each Monday on the Catskills Visitor Center’s social media pages, Visitor Experience Coordinator Kelli Huggins will highlight a different book set in the Catskills. You can expect an eclectic mix of all genres—with a few surprises thrown in along the way—as well as info on local booksellers.

Visit the CVC on Facebook (@CatskillsVisitorCenter) or Instagram (Catskills.Visitor.Center) to check it out!

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ENDNOTE — Remembering an Enduring Catskills Visionary

Before I ever thought I would be

that meeting, I was able to hear

leading the Catskill Center, and

firsthand about Sherret’s work

well before I learned its ins and

at the Catskill Center, along with

outs, I knew of Sherret Chase. I

stories from both Sherret and

had heard my father speak of

Helen about the role he played in

Sherret’s foresight in efforts to

the Catskills over the decades. I

protect the Catskills. I knew of

continued to see them at FPAC

Sherret’s endeavors to blend the

meetings and developed a deeper

goals of both conservation and

understanding of both Sherret’s

development

and Helen’s commitment to the

a

single

organization. I learned how Sherret

Catskills and the Catskill Center.

loomed large in the history of the Catskills and the Catskill Park.

I could also see the respect that Sherret had earned from his years

I first met Sherret, appropriately

of work in the region. The more

I believe, at a Forest Preserve

I

Advisory

involved

professionally

(FPAC)

in the Catskills, the more our

meeting where I was representing

paths interconnected. I became

another organization at the time.

a member of the Friends of the

He and his daughter, Helen Chase,

Catskill Interpretive Center, which

had invited the Committee to

Sherret led to keep alive the idea

hold a meeting at their house in

of an interpretive center for the

Olive in Ulster County, overlooking

Catskill Park. It was thanks to

the Ashokan Reservoir. As part of

Sherret’s leadership of this group,

30

Committee

was

FALL 2021

PHOTO: HELEN AND SHERRET CHASE/HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON

within

and his close collaboration with

As evidenced by Catskill Center

Jim Infante, that we have the

archives,

Catskills Visitor Center in Mount

calm, dedicated, and determined

Tremper today. He brought people

attitude to his leadership. His type

together, just as he did when he

of leadership was responsible

founded the Catskill Center in 1969,

for

and kept them working together

that first created the Catskill

with a common purpose — to

Center;

ensure progress toward the goals

politics in such projects as the

of conservation and development.

proposed Belleayre development;

His strength in effecting such

and bringing the dream of an

collaboration

broad

interpretive center for the Catskill

spectrum is one I appreciate and

Park from idea to reality. When

believe I carry out today.

Sherret spoke, people not only in

across

a

the

Sherret

brought

meeting navigating

of

a

minds

challenging

the Catskill region but beyond When I arrived at the Catskill Center

listened. His years of knowledge,

in 2015, it was both a wonderful and

experimentation, and dedication

terrifying experience to know that

to preserving and advancing the

the founder was still active in the

needs of the Catskills region had

organization I was about to lead.

earned the public’s ear.

I had nothing to fear, though, as Sherret and Helen both welcomed

I

me with open arms, helped me

determination,

find my footing, grounded me

most of all, love of the Catskills.

in the collective history of the

Sherret was a visionary, and

organization,

volunteered

thanks to his advocacy for the

assistance

Catskills, we live in one of the most

their

services

and and

whenever I needed. It was amazing

will

miss

his

guidance,

dedication,

and

beautiful places on earth.

to read about something from the Catskill Center’s history, and be able to ask questions of the person who formed part of that history.

And Helen serves as vice chair of our Board of Directors today.

JEFF SENTERMAN Catskill Center Executive Director CATSKILL CENTER

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FALL

2021

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