VISITVortex Hudson Valley Spring 2012

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Historic HIKES Let's Go Fly a KITE GARDEN Wake Up Call EAT, STAY and PLAY HOME Improvement Tips Local Events CALENDAR

SPRING GUIDE to HUDSON VALLEY Living by visitvortex.com

Spring 2012 FREE

PLAY THE COLONIAL VIDEO at www.visitvortex.com

Look what spring has sprung!

THE ALL NEW SUBARU IMPREZA! All wheel drive. Partial Zero Emissions. Up to 43 mpg.

AND IT’S NOT EVEN A HYBRID! Stop in and see why Colonial Subaru is the best selling Subaru dealership in the region.

761 East Chester Street www.colonialsubaru.com

Kingston, NY 845-339-3333

Everything you need to make your house a home.

66 Y E AR S • 19462012

845.876.WOOD

www.williamslumber.com

Rhinebeck Salt Point hudSon hoPewell tanneRSville Red hook high FallS hYde PaRk

UNIQUE OBJECTS WITH EXCEPTIONAL DESIGN & STYLE

1209 State Rt. 213 High Falls, NY 845.687.4481 sprucedesigndecor.com

Spruce Design + Decor represents an unexpected blend of 20th Century furnishings, art, lighting and decorative objects. The eclectic mix includes an ever-changing vintage selection by both American and European mid-century masters, along with many hand selected pieces that simply have incredible style.

The shop is the result of two men’s passion for collecting and seeking out the rare and unique. They now offer their finds to you. Interior design services are also available.

CONTENTS

29 Garden Wake Up Call 40 The Dig Kids

12 Let's Go Fly a Kite

doing good

home

outdoors

community

on the 35 Banking Community

18 Historic Hikes outdoors

eating out

72 Spring Recipes

62 Thomas Cole

68 Ayumi Horie

home

home

Night at the 88 ARestaurant

how to

local history

59 Closet Clean-up

49 Maintenance Tips

featured artist

80

doing good

pen Space O Institute

the land

Hudson 96 Valley Noir events

112Transition and Resilience 124 Proprietor Profiles 135 hudson valley community

105 Local Spring Finds shop locally

WHAT’S HAPPENING

shop locally

117 High Falls

EAT, STAY, PLAY in:

132 Night Skies for 2012 outdoors

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is in the right place when you shopNEW @ PALTZ AGWAY

NEW PALTZ AGWAY 845.255.0050 145 RTE 32 NEW PALTZ, 845.255.0050 NY 12561

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145 RTE 32 NEWNEW PALTZ, NY 12561 PALTZ AGWAY

It’s a portrait of the people and places that make the area unique. Get in-depth info about MidHudson Valley local perspectives, events, and businesses right from the source—its people.

VISITvortex...BE DRAWN IN!

OUR MISSION is to help you

tell your story & spread the word.

We produce great little videos about the area and its businesses. We promote those videos and slideshows on www.visitvortex.com. And we publish this quarterly magazine to keep you all abreast of the greatest things to do and see each season in the Mid-Hudson Valley.

VISITvortex, Post Office Box 82 High Falls, New York 12440 visitvortex@gmail.com www.visitvortex.com 845-687-3470

We’ve had a cozy indoor winter, which was perfect for keeping our newborn baby boy close. We are so excited now to show him the world, the birds, animals, and landscapes. To take him to our favorite swimming holes, waterfalls, restaurants, shops, walks, and hikes. And to introduce him to the amazing people of our community. Everything is new again, seen through his eyes. This sharing in what we love is why we started VISITvortex.

We encourage all of you to get out and explore our beautiful region and experience something new.

Please call on the local businesses in this magazine to work with them on some of your spring projects; they are here for you and have so much experience and knowledge to share.

Enjoy your spring to the fullest!

—Melissa and Jesse

subscribe Don’t miss a season of the VISITvortex quintessential guide to the region. Subscribe today.

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Every three months, VISITvortex magazine inspires readers with seasonal events, hikes, recreation, home & garden ideas, and where to eat, stay, and play—not to mention hundreds of local videos at VISITvortex.com.

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One year subscription, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for $25. Send a check to VISITvortex at PO Box 82, High Falls, NY 12440. Or just call or email and tell us you’d like to subscribe. 845-687-3470. visitvortex@gmail.com

ABOUT US

SALES/OPERATIONS: Jesse Marcus CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Melissa Hewitt EDITOR: Chris Fenichel-Hewitt DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION: Tim LaSalle OFFICE MANAGER: Megan Corette PHOTOGRAPHY: Roy Gumpel & Rochelle Riservato WRITERS: Jay Blotcher, Carlo DeVito, David McCarthy, Sean O’Dwyer, Susan Piperato, Rochelle Riservato, Alysse Robin, Eric Stewart, Phoenix Trent, Tod Westlake

______________________________________ Notes ________________________________________ ________________________________________

If you’d like to advertise in this quarterly magazine, on the website, or if you’d like us to produce a marketing video for you, please call us at 845-687-3470.

VISITvortex.com | PO Box 82, High Falls, NY | Call 845-687-3470 | visitvortex@gmail.com

VISITvortex IS COMMUNITY.

Thank goodness for spring!

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Shop The Plaza

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Trust and Experience for over 100 Years

KINGSTON PLAZA

845-338-6300

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I would like to be a kite on a string and soar up over the trees.

I would like to try to reach the sky with butterflies and bees.

– from “To Be A Kite” by Londis Carpenter

Go Fly A

by Rochelle Riser vato

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Kite flying is a great way to connect an entire family to a spectacular breezy day in open fields, meadows, hilltops, and other picturesque places in the Hudson Valley that we’ve listed below.

The origin and purpose of the first kites flown thousands of years ago, even 1,000 years before paper was made, was to lift offerings and give thanks to the gods for good harvests, weather, and prosperity. Although it’s said kites were first made in ancient China with silk and bamboo, other lore tells of kites being crafted from leaves over 3,000 years ago.

But whatever flies-your-kite, this primordial creation has yet to be upstaged by a video game when it comes to easy outdoor fun. And kitemakers have become increasingly creative as the sands of time have been whisked away.

In addition to the classic designs of our youth, there are now stunt kites, in-the-wind competition kites, and kites in myriad shapes and sizes.

Would you believe the largest kite on record created by New Zealand kitemaker Peter Lynn and validated by Guinness is almost 138 feet by 81 feet? And here’s a bit more high-flying trivia:

When it comes to world history, kites were used in the American Civil War to deliver letters and newspapers; large kites were banned in East Germany so a man couldn’t be lifted over the Berlin Wall; kite flying was banned in China during the Cultural Revolution and those found flying a kite were remanded to jail for up to three years and their kites destroyed; and of course we have all learned that our own Benjamin Franklin used a kite to verify that lightning was, indeed, electricity.

History and fun-facts aside, just pick a day when a soft breeze strokes your face but doesn’t blow your hairpiece off. Now hold up a wet finger or watch tall grasses sway to and fro to verify which way the wind is blowing—and get the kids, your boyfriend, your bff, or go it solo—but just get out there and fly a kite!

And did you know that April is National Kite Month? It’s dedicated to the sport of kite flying, a venture co-founded by the American Kitefliers Association and the Kite Trade Association International. There are global kite events to help introduce people to the fun of kite flying, the rich history of kites, the stunning artistry of

OUTDOORS

The smallest kite in the world that actually flies is .196850 inches high; the longest kite in the world is 3,394 feet long; the longest “kite fly” is 180 hours; some Japanese kites weigh over two tons; the highest a single kite has ever flown is 13,600 feet above sea level; and the fastest recorded speed of a kite is over 120 mph.

kitemakers, and how kites can be used as educational tools.

Locations for Kite-Flying:

As easy as it may seem to find a place to fly a kite, there are many locations that do not allow kite flying unless it is a “regulated activity.”

According to New York State Parks rules and regulations, kite flying is not permitted at any state park unless it is a regulated activity event; however a park official stated it may be according to an individual park. If you do choose a state park and are asked to leave, please do so.

However, many kite-fliers go to a local open field or school field when they are not in use.

One local kiter said he flies at the Dutchess Radio Control Field on County Route 56 in Millbrook and at the New Paltz High School athletic field—provided neither have an event going on.

Another kite enthusiast said he goes to Kingston Point Beach during the spring. It’s a hit or miss situation—but public school fields, when not being used for sports or school events, and open fields and meadows, provided they are not private lands, are often available to kiters.

In addition, all the Department of Environmental Conservation preserves allow kiting, but most don’t have open fields unless one hikes above the tree lines.

a kid, back when kite flying was one of life’s pleasures? It’s a simple structure— or perhaps not so simple, but something that is basically made of paper, wood, ribbon, and string. It catapults you back to childhood and can bring out the fun-loving kid in everyone.

visitvortex.com

R

emember the days when you were

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Dutchess/Columbia County:

Olana – The 250 acres of gorgeous, artistdesigned (Frederick Church) landscape hosts a long hill, called the Sienghenburgh, that not only offers a spectacular view but is perfect for kite flying, which is welcomed. Open 8am to sunset daily, year round. There is a vehicle use fee of $5 per car on weekends and holiday Mondays April to October, from 10am to 4pm.

All other times admission to the grounds is free.

The Olana Partnership of NY State Parks; 518828-0135.

Stringham Park – Home to the Town of Lagrange’s soccer program, this is known as a hot spot for kiters. 78 Stringham Road, Lagrangeville. Directions at lagrangeny.org.

Stony Kill Environmental Education Center – 1,000 acres, mostly woods; however there are areas that kites can be flown. Wappingers Falls.

845-831-1617; stonykill.org.

Longdock Park – A huge grassy peninsula jets out to the Hudson, perfect for kite flying. New meadow area to be completed 2013. Beacon.

845-473-3330; scenichudson.org.

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Poet’s Walk – Incredibly picturesque park with open fields, gazebos, and trails. Red Hook.

845-473-3330. scenichudson.org.

Harrier Hill Park – Wide open meadows for kite flying. Gazebos for picnicking and family fun.

Hudson. 845-473-3330; scenichudson.org.

Ulster County:

Ulster County Community College – The college campus presents an opportunity to liberate yourself—become ungrounded and enjoy the open space so perfect for kite flying. In fact, the college encourages kite flying as a de-stresser for students. 491 Cottekill Road, Stone Ridge.

845-687-5000; sunyulster.edu.

Hudson Valley Kite Event:

Kites Over the Hudson – This annual (park-regulated) event has been hosted by Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site for 30 years, with the 2012 event taking place on August 25 from 2 to 4pm. The first 150 children under the age of 15 will receive free kites. For more information call 845-562-1195 or visit nysparks.com.

Where to BUY KITES:

Hurley Country Store – 2 Wamsley Place, Hurley. 845-338-4843.

J & J’s Hobbies – 37 N. Front Street, Kingston.

845-338-7174.

The Parent Teacher Store – 63 N. Front Street, Kingston. 845-339-1442. 2600 South Road, Poughkeepsie Plaza Mall. 845-559-0037.

Toys “R” Us – Hudson Valley Mall, Kingston.

845-382-2222. 463 South Road, Poughkeepsie. 845-473-5178.

Hobby House – 1890 South Road, Poughkeepsie. 845-297-3341.

Hobby Lobby – 1895 South Road, Poughkeepsie. 845-298-3235.

For specialty kites and unusual styles: winddancekites.com, intothewind.com, imperialkites.com, kitesrus.com, wheretobuykites.com, kitesonline.com.

You’ll need a plastic kitchen garbage bag, butcher cord or thin garden twine, one 35” stick and one 40” stick (you can use garden stakes, dowels, straight twigs, or wooden skewers), scissors, tape or glue, and ribbon. Optional for decorations: Markers, stickers, glitter, and more.

1.

Take the two sticks and cross the shorter, horizontal one, called the “spar” about one-third down from the top of the vertical stick, called the “spine”. Now tie them together at the intersection with a piece of string by wrapping the string around the back of the main stick and then continually crisscrossing the string from front and back a few times—for a nice secure, non-wobbly fit. Make sure that both sides of the crosspiece are equal in width. If you want extra hold, put a dab of glue on the knot.

2.

Lay the “sail” flat, or in this case the garbage bag, and if you want to decorate with markers or stickers, now is the time to do it! Then place the stick frame face down on top.

Cut around it, leaving enough at the tips so that you can wrap the plastic around the stick ends.

Then secure the wrapped plastic with tape to hold in place on the stick. Make sure that the plastic is tight.

Now, tie a piece of string on the horizontal stick halfway from the end to the vertical stick; leave a v-shaped slack of string that will look like an upside-down triangle. It should not be tight across, leave the slack. Then knot-tie the string on the right side of the vertical stick halfway to the end.

OUTDOORS

3.

4.

Then tie the end of a big ball or a “reel” of string to the bottom portion of the vertical stick (this is the bottom of your kite) and loop it up and around the slacked string, tying a simple knot at the intersection of the two strings (so it forms a triangular pyramid shape). This is called the “bridle”.

5.

Next, take your brightly colored ribbons and tie a couple of 2-foot lengths to the end of the kite to help balance it. This is called the “tail”. You may wish to attach a small weight, like a simple metal washer, if the ribbons don’t seem heavy enough for your kite. ..........................................................................

You’re done!

Now find a nice open field (that allows kiting) on a windy day with some mild, not heavy gusts.

The best way to launch the kite is to have someone hold it while slowly backing up into the wind. Have your friend let the kite go while you let the string out, a little at a time as it soars into the bright, blue yonder. Or you can just run wildly into the wind and launch it! Works either way.

Here are simple plans for a plastic bag diamond kite that kids can make with adult supervision.

visitvortex.com

Want to MAKE A KITE?

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Historic Hikes: Discover the Area’s Hidden Past

by Susan Piperato

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The John Burroughs Sanctuary, a national historic landmark located in West Park, Ulster County, provides a satisfying hike, views of nature, and literary lore. At the center of this 170-acre preserve is Slabsides, the log cabin that was hand built in 1895 by naturalist and writer John Burroughs less than a mile from the family home at Riverby. For 25 years, until the end of his life, Burroughs wrote at Slabsides— named for the rough, bark-covered strips of lumber covering its outer walls. Visitors to the humble, one-room cabin included Teddy Roosevelt, John Muir, and Henry Ford. The cabin, placed on the US National Register of Historic Places in 1968, still holds Burroughs’s original rustic furniture, writing desk, and books.

Although the cabin itself is only open for tours twice a year, visitors are always welcome to peer through the windows and picnic on the porch.

The sanctuary’s slightly hilly terrain is easily navigable for children, but not so level that it becomes humdrum for the avid hiker. And there is plenty to see aside from the cabin, including two large ponds where beavers can be observed, and a celery swamp planted by Burroughs that still produces edible stuff here and there.

Left photo: Gail Dedrick

Right photo: Boston Public Library

Trail construction is constantly being improved thanks to funding from New York and a sizable group of volunteers. In 2011 a stone pathway was built around and over immovable bedrock, and a 70-foot boardwalk was built through the celery swamp and finished off with a 55-step stone stairway.

The sanctuary is open year-round with free admission, and an open house is held twice a

OUTDOORS

John Burroughs Sanctuary Trails

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Spring is the season for discovery, when everything comes alive again and the world seems new. Three hikes—in Ulster, Dutchess and Greene counties— offer a chance to explore nature’s fresh bounty and the region’s bountiful history too.

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year in May and October. This year’s open house takes place on May 19 from noon to 4:30pm and features nature walks and talks, as well as tours of Slabsides.

To visit Slabsides, from Route 9W in West Park, turn west onto Floyd Ackert Road (between The Global Palate restaurant and the post office), cross the railroad tracks, and follow Floyd Ackert Road about a half mile to the foot of Burroughs Drive on the left side of the road. Park there and head up the hill on foot, or drive up the hill and park at the green gate on the right, then walk through the gate and up the gravel road for a fairly level 0.3 mile toward Slabsides. For more information on programs and a downloadable map, visit research.amnh.org/burroughs.

N

Hudson River

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grounds is mostly paved and offers amazing views of the Hudson River from several points.

Dogs are welcome on the trails, but bicycles are only permitted on certain stretches.

From the FDR National Historic Site, cross Route 9 to head out on the 2.5-mile Val-Kill Trail and 1.5-mile Val-Kill Loop. This is where Eleanor Roosevelt walked and picnicked with her grandchildren, visiting foreign dignitaries, neighbors, and the Roosevelts’ beloved Scotties.

“If beauty were good for the soul, then I wish I could have taken the whole world to walk with me this Saturday at Hyde Park,” she wrote after one of her walks. Many of her “My Day” columns, and even her draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, were written following her walks.

Riverfront Park on Route 41 is a good starting point for a hike as it’s halfway between the Roosevelt and Vanderbilt sections of the trail.

There is plenty of parking space, plus a picnic pavilion and playground, and an old railway station to check out.

The Vanderbilt Loop starts about 0.2 mile north of Riverfront Park, accessible via a short road shoulder walk. The 2.4-mile trail takes you on a dirt path away from the park and then along a ridgeline overlooking the Hudson back to the park. The upper segment of the trail near the Vanderbilt Estate’s meticulously landscaped

The Roosevelt Trail begins 0.6 mile south of Riverfront Park and also requires a road shoulder walk to get there. This 1.2-mile section of the trail cuts through the woods on its way to Springwood, FDR’s home that’s now the FDR National Historic Site, and just south of the house are plenty of spots for great Hudson River views.

The trail to and from Val-Kill, that “shack in the woods” that FDR joked that he had built for his wife, features an antique fieldstone wall to follow along past deeply wooded areas and see wildflower meadows, groves of white birches and hemlocks, and a vernal pond that appears

OUTDOORS

If trails could tell stories, Hyde Park’s Roosevelt, Val-Kill, and Vanderbilt trails would be well worth listening to. The 10-mile historic road network connects the national historic sites of the FDR estate; Top Cottage, FDR’s retreat; Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt’s retreat; and the sumptuous art deco Vanderbilt estate. Exploring the entire loop of trails is possible in about three-quarters of a day, but it’s easy to pick up one or two of them for a few hours.

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FDR, Val-Kill and Vanderbilt Estate Trails

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Vanderbilt Mansion Grounds

with spring rains and disappears in the summer heat. Watch for salamanders. The climb up Dutchess Hill from the FDR National Historic Site to the fieldstone Top Cottage—which FDR designed for his favorite childhood play spot and where he entertained Britain’s king and queen—is well worth it. At the peak of the hill, which is the summit of the trail network, you’ll not only be able to stroll Top Cottage’s grounds but you’ll be able to see the village of Hyde Park.

Roosevelt Farm Lane is part of the network that connected the Roosevelt Home, Val-Kill, Top Cottage, the Home Farm, and FDR’s tree plantations, and can be accessed from any of those sites. The Roosevelt family farm, known as the “Home Farm,” stretched along the east side of Route 9 from the current site of the Hyde Park Drive-In Theater south for nearly a mile.

Until 1945, the flat, fertile lands along Routes 9 and 9G were used for growing crops, while the rocky, wet interior land was only suitable for growing trees. To the east, along Route 9G, FDR leased land to a series of farmers, but 21 acres of the interior of the land were heavily planted with trees Val-kill Trail 22

Left photo: Delusion Productions

by FDR—Norway spruce, tulip-poplar, and red and white pines—between 1912 and 1944.

After FDR’s death in 1945, the property was subdivided, with some of the land along Route 9 developed for commercial use. But the core of the land remained largely undeveloped.

It was acquired by the Scenic Hudson Land Trust Inc. in 2001, and transferred to the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site in 2007.

Dogs are welcome on the trails, but bicycles are only permitted on certain stretches.

The grounds of Val-Kill, Top Cottage, Vanderbilt Estate, and FDR National Historic Site are accessible year-round, from sunrise to sunset. The FDR National Historic Site is open throughout the year as well, from 9am to 5pm. The three other sites are open April through October. Guided tours of each site are available throughout the day, the last tour is 4pm. Tickets are $8, with children under 15 admitted for free. For more information, call 845-486-1966 or visit historichydepark.org.

Top photo: Wally Gobetz

Here’s one hiking and biking trail that more than lives up to its name: The 19-mile Catskill Scenic Trail winds through a bucolic valley dotted with small towns and farms, from Grand Gorge to Bloomville, along the Delaware River at the western end of the trail, and from Roxbury to Grand Gorge at the eastern end. Springtime is the best time for this hike, when the woodland is a world of unfurling leaves and all the farms’ fields are fertilized and sprouting the green shoots of the harvest to come.

Bloomville

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It’s possible to go for miles without seeing anyone CR18 else, except for a lot of grazing cows. Although there may be some muddy spots on the trail leftover from the spring thaw, you’ll be rewarded by wildflowers and a landscape so soft and green that it vies with Ireland’s.

On the eastern portion of the Catskill Scenic Trail between Stamford and Grand Gorge.

Photo: Russ Nelson

OUTDOORS

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CR18 Hobart 10 The trail can be accessed at several CR18 points, but the Catskill Revitalization Corp. recommends using the designating parking area South Kortright at the historic train depot at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and South Street in the Village of Stamford.

Although there is only a 400-foot change in elevation over the entire trail, Stamford is at its peak and it is downhill in both directions from there. The restored train station serves as an information center as well as the office of the Catskill Revitalization Corp., which owns and

manages the Catskill 23 Scenic Trail and the Delaware and Ulster scenic railroad. But Stamford also has a romantic side: It is situated Grand Gorge at the bottom of Mt. Utsayantha, which means “beautiful 330 spring,” and is associated with a tragic legend.

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Utsayantha was a local American Indian maiden who was said to have borne a child by a white father, angering her father, the chief, so much that he killed the white man by splitting his head open with a tomahawk and drowned the baby in a nearby lake. The despairing Utsayantha followed her father to the lake and drowned

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The Catskill Scenic Trail

Stamford

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herself as well. Upon discovering her body, the chief carried his daughter up the mountain and buried her there. Her gravesite was thought to have been placed in 1862, but many still doubt its authenticity. Tourist development of the site, however, began in 1882 with the construction of a carriage road, observation building, and wooden fire tower. The structures were refurbished through the Mt. Utsayantha Project in 2006, and the monument placed there in 1926 still stands.

YOU CAN SEE BEAVERS MAKING DAMS AND BUILDING LODGES Former passenger railroad station on Catskill Scenic Trail

Head east from Stamford for a 5-mile trek along the Delaware River to Grand Gorge, where you can see beavers making dams and building lodges—and where you’re likely to find a tree or two felled across the trail.

Further along the trail, you’ll pass some strange rock formations along the eastern branch of the river as you head toward the village of Roxbury.

Or go west for a 4-mile walk to Hobart—Maple Street is a good source for both cafes and used bookstores. From Hobart, the trail passes through a farmyard featuring some rather bold turkeys and past the Belle Terre rehabilitation center on the way to South Kortright. From there, it’s on to Bloomville. You’ll cross several bridges back and forth across the river— and pass some prime fishing spots—before reaching the Sheffield Farm Dairy Plant, which was the site of the first milk pasteurization center in the US. Then cut across Route 10 and take a short path downhill to reach the Agway Road parking lot and the trail’s end.

For more information, visit catskillscenictrail.org.

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Catskill Scenic Trail between Stamford, NY and Grand Gorge, NY. This rails-to-trails bike path was a freight train line near the Delaware River.

Top photo: Kristen Havens Bottom photo: Russ Nelson

coME hErE FroSt VallEy

allyEar! yMca Join uS For our Spring EVEntS: Saturday, March 10 Free Guided Maple Sugaring Hike Saturday & Sunday, March 17 & 18 and March 24 & 25 Free Maple Sugar Open House Tours

photo by David Johnson

Spring into Nature at Mohonk Preserve

Friday-Sunday, March 23-25 Women’s Wellness Weekend Friday-Sunday, april 13-15 Volunteer Work Weekend

Experience great hiking, biking, bird watching, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Discover reemerging plants and animals in our forests, fields, and streams.

Our Visitor Center is open free of charge daily 9am5pm; the land is open daily, sunrise to sunset. Memberships and day passes are available at all trailheads.

Saturday, april 14 Free Guided Hike to Pigeon Brook Sequoia Loop and our NADP Station Saturday, april 29 Free Healthy Kids Day tEl: 845-985-2291 WEB: frostvalley.org

In the Catskill Mountain High Peaks!

2000 Frost Valley Road, Claryville, NY

photo by David Ramage

FROST VALLEY YMCA

Mohonk Preserve

saving the land for life

www.mohonkpreserve.org 845-255-0919 25

SERVICE 2012

Arts & Crafts Sawmill Recreation Vendors Food & Beverage Tent

Maple Products Wood Products Forestry Equipment Logging Competition

FREE ADMISSION!

Saturday, July 28th

Taxi boards at East Strand Street Kingston

Hudson River Water Taxi provides an opportunity for tourists and visitors to dine, shop & explore both Rhinecliff and Kingston’s Waterfront.

TAXI FARE

$12 per person Round Trip more info:

*water taxi is not handicap accessible*

CASH ONLY

www.hrwatertaxi.com

1-800-843-7472

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HOME

Wake Up Call for The Garden

ORGANIZE & PREP YOUR TOOLS Even if the weather outside is still chilly, one can begin the gardening season by tidying up that disorganized shed or garage. If your garage is like mine, this is no easy undertaking. However,

a little spring cleaning never hurt anybody, and it is far more pleasant to begin the season with an organized work space than with a cluttered disaster area—especially since it is likely to become more cluttered and disastrous as the season progresses. To begin, consolidate all of your gardening tools in one area. Visit the local hardware store and consider purchasing hooks or hangers to organize your tools on the wall and open up needed floor space. A lidless garbage can makes a convenient catch-all for long-handled rakes, shovels, and gardening stakes. While you’re organizing things, make sure that your tools are clean and in good working order. A tub of soapy water, a stiff wire brush for scrubbing, and a can of oil all come in handy.

Then, either repair or replace what is needed.

Access to a bicycle pump is also a good idea for maintaining those wheelbarrows and garden carts as few things are more annoying than filling a wheelbarrow with soil or gravel only to find that the tire has gone flat over the winter. If your favorite hand tools have wooden or green plastic handles, consider dabbing on a bit of brightly

colored exterior paint so that they are easily spotted if accidentally left in a planting bed or in the lawn. If space permits and you have a sturdy old table, consider using it as a potting bench. Such a setup is far better (and far less messy) than potting up plants in the kitchen sink, which is what I used to do. Also, write down a wish-list of desired garden tools, trees, or shrubs and present this to friends and family who may be wondering what to get you for that upcoming birthday.

SPRING GARDEN CLEAN-UP On a pleasant early spring morning, few things are more satisfying after a long, cold winter than getting outdoors and puttering about in the yard. Now is the time to cut back any remaining spent foliage from last season’s growth in your perennial beds to make way for new growth in the spring. If you have a compost pile, great! Add

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If you are like me, by the time the snow finally melts, you are itching to get outside and play in the dirt. Though snow may still threaten as late as April, there are lots of projects one can do now to get a head start on a great garden.

Article and photos by Eric Stewart

29

these clippings to the heap. If you don’t have a compost pile, consider making room for one in an out-of-the-way corner of the yard. Most all organic waste is suitable for composting with the exception of diseased plant material, kitchen scraps containing meat byproducts, and/or waste from household pets. A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn’t want to touch it, don’t add it to the pile.

Now is also the time to cut down those hardy, decorative grasses that were left standing to provide winter interest. These should be cut as low as possible in order to make way for the fresh young shoots.

While doing this, note which ones may need to be divided when the weather permits. A clump that shows new growth around the perimeter with a “dead zone” in the middle is an ideal candidate for division. Rake out debris from planting beds and from under shrubs.

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This is also an excellent time to cut back any damaged or dead limbs from shrubs and trees as their branching structure is easily seen and accessible. For flowering shrubs and trees (such as forsythia, lilac, hydrangeas, crabapples, magnolia, etc.), save major pruning for later in the season after they have bloomed so as not to cut off this year’s floral display.

GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY Pansies and violas are readily available early in the season at garden centers and nurseries and are perfect for providing a bit of spring color.

Also, take a look at areas of your garden that could benefit from the addition of some spring flowering bulbs. Make a mental note of these locations for fall planting. Though bulbs such as tulips and deer-resistant daffodils and alliums are best planted from October to December, you can cheat Mother Nature and purchase bulbs already sprouting in nursery pots and plug these in where desired right now for a quick jolt of color. This is also true for tall, dramatic bi-annual foxgloves which also flourish in cool spring weather and bloom in shades of white and pink.

Hellebores—a deer-resistant, early-blooming perennial that features large, shiny-green leaves and drooping flowers in a wide variety

of colors—are also commonly found this time of year and make an excellent addition to partially shaded beds. These plants are practically fool-proof and one of my all-time favorites. Untroubled by critters and other pests, hellebores soon grow to form clumps 12” tall and 2-3’ wide. They are especially effective on slopes, in raised beds, or anywhere that one can get a good look at their remarkable, downward facing blooms. In areas with mild winters or in protected spots away from drying winter winds, the foliage remains green all winter.

Where happy, these hardy plants reseed with abandon, and make a wonderful woodland groundcover.

Though most annuals should not be planted until after the threat of frost has passed (in our region, this usually means after Mother's

HAPPY SPRING! Now go out and plant something.

HOME

Eric Stewart is a garden designer, writer, and fine artist who lives in Accord, NY. He may reached at Greenman Garden Design, 845-687-9166 or at elsgreenman@aol.com.

ground can be worked, 4-6 weeks before the last frost.

This same stratagem is also appropriate for corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) and breadseed poppy, aka opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). Both species make wonderful flowers for the garden or the vase and bloom in shades of pink, white, and red. Incredibly easy to grow, most poppy seeds can even be sown

while a bit of snow is still on the ground.

Borage (Borago officinalis) is another wonderfully easy annual for early season sowing.

This wonderfully decorative and useful herb should have a space in every sunny garden.

Maturing to perhaps 2’ high, Borage produces masses of edible, star-shaped blue flowers which are excellent for attracting bees to the garden and make colorful additions to drinks, ice cubes, desserts, and salads. Its fragrance is said to promote a feeling of amity and goodwill. The aromatic foliage is highly textured and covered in fine, silvery, hair-like growths that catch the light and make it an interesting, deer-proof addition to less-formal herb gardens, beds, and borders.

As with poppies, Borage does not take kindly to transplanting and should be sown directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked, 4-6 weeks prior to the last frost.

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Day), there are some annuals that thrive in the cool, spring temperatures. California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is the state flower of California and a perennial in USDA zones 7-11. In our region, however, it is treated as an annual groundcover that boasts bright orange blooms and attractive, gray-green, fern-like foliage. It is ideal for use in sunny, well drained areas and is also draught tolerant.

Sow seeds of California Poppy as soon as the

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countries. It helps our farmers, local businesses and homeowners throughout the region where its depositors live and work, and prevents our local dollars from heading to Wall Street or only benefiting big corporations in other states.

Local banks understand that the vitality and health of the community as a whole is related to the fiscal health of an individual. A local bank can be thought of as a neighbor helping neighbors, a great basis for any community!

Local banks can be thought of as a neighbor helping neighbors, a great basis for any community!

A soaring advantage of local banking is that money deposited by people in our region is generally loaned back within our community, not to citizens or businesses in other states and

It makes sense, as a local business itself; a community bank has a vested interest in seeing the entire community succeed and have wealth. Big banks invest heavily in speculative trading, which doesn’t benefit local people and

could be more risk prone. In the new economy, having banks make investments that support the many facets of our community is more important than ever.

As institutions that are committed to the betterment of the community, local banks give time, services and money to support the needs of the community. One way they support local causes is through financial contributions to nonprofits that provide services to enhance the lives of the people in our community. According to Ulster Savings Bank, which has given out over six million dollars since 2001 through its Charitable Founda-

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It’s becoming common knowledge that spending money locally supports the entire community that you live in; the same logic stands for saving money locally. That is, local banking is a growing trend that is a vital part of building a sustainable community.

Whether a credit union or a community bank, people are realizing the importance of choosing a local financial institution for your checking, savings, mortgage or other loans.

by Alysse Robin

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tion and Bank Giving Program, “Our financial contributions receive the most publicity, but we take great pride in the countless hours of volunteerism by our employees. What makes us a truly well-respected community bank is not due to a particular program but to our overall depth and scope of community involvement on a day-to-day basis.”

tions via video portal and scanner any time of day, at the convenience of the customer.

Local banks have local character. They are run by people who are committed to, and often very active in the community. Local bank employees come from the community and many serve on local boards, or participate in assisting the fundraising efforts of organizations, raising funds for hurricane victims, or helping at local food kitchens. They know the community deeply and understand both its financial opportunities as well as its needs. You can meet with them face to face. They can make decisions based on more than just credit score— on the relationships and understanding of the community that they have helped to build.

The Hudson Valley is rich with vibrant local businesses and talented entrepreneurs who are busily creating their own futures.

Another advantage is that local banks also offer the same services as large corporate banks, but often with better credit card and loan terms, lower fees, and better interest rates on savings. These services include ATMs, Online Banking, Electronic Bill Pay, debit cards, and more. Since they are smaller, they are more readily able to adapt to the community’s needs and direction—including technology demands. For example, at this time, our local Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union is the only financial institution in the nation to offer a 24/7 drive-thru teller service at its branches via video portal to its central contact center.

People can drive right up and make transac-

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Banks are a part of the critical fabric of our community. The Hudson Valley is rich with vibrant local businesses and talented entrepreneurs who are busily creating their own future, moving forward on a dream. The banks are a critical part of these business-

es. An individual’s banking choices impact a lot more than just his or her wallet—they impact the businesses and practices that those banks invest in.

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As ye sow, so shall ye reap.

Photos courtesy of The Dig Kids

40

DOING GOOD

The Dig Kids: A Down-to-Earth Community Youth Program

About The Dig Kids Program: Throughout the five-month, May to September, program five youth Garden Mentors are paid a stipend to work after school each week— totaling 10 hours a month at their main garden site at the Everette Hodge Center on Kingston’s Franklin Street. Youths must be 14 to 19 years to participate—and each selected Dig Kid can choose a Junior Gardener 13 years or younger to mentor throughout the program.

Martin noted that teenagers are typically expected to do something for nothing and although it’s important to let youths know

the value of volunteering, she said, “Paying the teenagers is more than an incentive; it’s also a way for them to learn to take care of themselves as many teens today work to help pay their family’s bills.”

Family of Woodstock’s “Kingston Cares” Joins the Effort: According to Martin, The Dig Kids got off the ground with the assistance of Megan Weiss, coordinator of Kingston Cares, a Family of Woodstock program. Weiss located the five

teenage gardeners who live in Midtown. Weiss said that she loves her connection with the Kingston Land Trust and this program. Giving much credit to Weiss, Martin said that Weiss was instrumental in introducing The Dig Kids program to the community youth, working with families to ensure youth participation, and assisting with planning, supervision, and transportation.

The kids learned how to nurture, not just what they grew, but each other and themselves.

“When I first started working at the Everette Hodge Center six years ago, the current garden area was covered in weeds and was not being used at all,” said Weiss. “The first year, I worked with a few children to remove the weeds and plant a few flowers and continued to spruce up the area, but never would have realized the potential of that small garden area without the collaboration with the Kingston Land Trust.”

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“The Dig Kids: An Urban Farming Program” for Kingston youths was created by the Kingston Land Trust with a $3,000 grant from the Columbia Foundation and a $1,000 donation from Family of Woodstock. The Kingston Land Trust was founded in 2008 by Arthur Zackiewicz and Steve Noble. Executive Director Rebecca Martin spearheaded this project, which is also funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with $360,000 over four years.

by Rochelle Riservato

41

Weiss added that when Martin came to her with The Dig Kids idea, “I knew we’d be creating something that would change the community for generations to come.

“I absolutely LOVE this program,” said Weiss.

“The program teaches youth to be aware of what they’re eating and where it comes from and provides them with skills that will prepare them for job opportunities. They pass by the garden they created every day and it serves as a constant reminder that they have the power to change the way their community looks with their own two hands. The children are proud of what they grow and are experiencing many foods (such as kale) for the first time. It’s truly a joy to be part of this program!”

Farmer Jesica Clark helps plant the program’s seeds of success: In addition to growing vegetables and tending gardens, The Dig Kids learn culinary skills, visit farms, and sell some of their crops to the community under the stewardship of another major player in the program—farmer Jesica Clark, whose past experience working with the Phillies Bridge Project successfully turned a quarter-acre vacant lot into a thriving organic farm called The South Pine Street Farm located at 27 Pine Street off Greenkill Avenue in Kingston. The Farm is a program of the Queens

42

Galley in partnership with Binnewater Ice Co. and the Kingston Land Trust; the produce is used in the Queens Galley soup kitchen.

Growing up in the city, myself, I wish I had something like this when I was younger.

Said Clark, “The lot was actually a struggling community garden for the last couple years.

I was asked to take it over and transform it into something more cohesive and productive while still having it be open and available for the community.”

Another fantastic addition to the farm is the Midtown Farm Stand that was built with materials and labor by Hugh Cummings of Hugh-Name-It-Builders of Kingston. Last season the farm stand sold fresh vegetables on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4 to 7pm, with plans to do the same for the 2012 season.

The Midtown Farm Stand gives residents the option to purchase seasonal organic vegetables at a better price because transportation and other associated costs are eliminated.

“We’re probably the closest source of farm fresh vegetables to that part of Kingston,” said Clark, who also delivers seasonal vegetables to local stores and restaurants in a farm-to-table effort.

Last year’s Dig Kids program celebrated their first harvest season by parading from the Everette Hodge Community Center’s garden to the gates of the South Pine Street City Farm.

Their guests enjoyed a barbecue of donated burgers and hot dogs from Fleisher’s GrassFed and Organic Meats prepared by program volunteers and the Maple Ridge Bruderhof community, who also helped serve up garden veggies and kid-made pickles.

Martin said, “The kids also learned how to nurture, not just what they grew, but each other and themselves. And as they picked their crops, they learned how to cook with them.”

The pilot year was a huge success according to Martin, who identified the participant youth as Syndi Alonso, Sandi Alonso, Jessica Palmitier, Brenda Olivo, and Matthew Brownlee. Eighteenyear-old Kingston High graduate Sandi Alonso said, “I loved this; it was so much fun. It was hot outside, but we did what we had to do and I even got a farmer’s tan, as farmer Jesica called it.”

The oldest participant, 21-year-old Matthew Brownlee, had never had any previous gardening experience and the closest he was to a fresh veggie was in a grocery store

Family of Woodstock’s Weiss acknowledges Kingston Land Trust Director Martin as the driving force behind The Dig Kids and urban farming throughout our area.

“If the budget allows it,” said Weiss, “we will reach out to even more youth to offer them this exciting opportunity and encourage the senior Dig Kids to become leaders and role models within the program.” Weiss’s office is located at the Everette Hodge Community Center’s garden site, enabling her to become actively involved in identifying kids she knows would enjoy the program—even those who don’t even know they’d be interested in farming.

Donations for The Dig Kids 2012 program are currently being accepted. Please contact Rebecca Martin, executive director of the Kingston Land Trust at 845-877-5263 or email rebecca@ kingstonlandtrust.org for more information and how you might be a future donor or sponsor, or Jesica Clark at 845-380-9183.

The Dig Kids program can also be found at: kingstoncitizens.org; kingstonlandtrust.org; and cceulster.org.

DOING GOOD

Expecting more participants for the second year, as word has rapidly spread and recruitment will start earlier this year, Clark’s goal for 2012 is to start training for the next generation of farmers and gardeners and “giving second year participants more responsibilities and more learning opportunities with an eye-out for program expansion—both within Kingston as well as other cities.”

Said Weiss, “I’ve worked hard to build trust with the children and families in the community and I’m glad to be able to connect them with such a spectacular program.”

produce department—however, after the program Brownlee is planning to continue this endeavor as a possible future. In fact, organizers are hoping to make him an assistant to Clark at the Pine Street Farm.

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Clark said The Dig Kids was an inspiration to her own work as a farmer because the youths showed such enthusiasm: “Growing up in the city, myself, I wish I had something like this when I was younger.”

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HOME

Spring Home Maintenance Tips

by Rochelle Riservato

So take a couple of hours to assess your home in the suggested places and decide what you’ll need to do. If maintenance is needed, dedicate a few hours each weekend and you’ll be done in no time.

And for those big jobs—do yourself a favor and hire a professional!

Roof

First, make sure you’re comfortable using a ladder and walking on an oftensteep incline. The Hudson Valley got hit with some strange weather this past fall and into the winter with torrential rains and an early snowstorm. And what gets hit the worst?

The top of your home…your roof. The pounding

of rain, the expansion and contraction of ice, and the subsequent run-off can create havoc on the roof’s shingles. They can loosen and expose the wood underneath. Check around roof vents, skylights, and chimneys for leaks. Small repairs on something that shields your home from the elements can save you major, costly repairs. If you found a small leak that you can do a selfrepair on, the next time it rains make sure you check your ceiling for wet spots. And remember

if roof shingles are curled, buckled, or starting to crack—it’s time for a new roof.

Attic

For unfinished storage attics, make sure to keep gable vents open year-round if your home has no ridge vent. This ensures proper ventilation.

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Remember the small problems on our checklist below can lead to big problems down the road, if not tended to. Some of them are even safety issues that can definitely save lives—and your home.

W

ith the warm weather upon us, and sprigs of green spouting about—you may be thinking of spring cleaning. However, what good is ridding yourself of clutter and lacey winter cobwebs if there are even more important springtime tasks you shouldn’t skip. Plus, these are ones that will protect your house—not just make it look good. What good is a house that looks neat and tidy if major maintenance is not tended to?

49

Now inspect the underside of your roof and the insulation for any discoloration or deterioration.

Stains, even dirt stains, can be from a leak that has dried up. Also make sure that your insulation is not obstructing any vents. Look for any black mold or green algae. This can be easily killed with just a mild solution of bleach and water. You may want to hire someone to do this if you find mold, but it’s not necessary, just tedious. Next, look for any animal nests as small critters can fit through the smallest openings. Lastly make sure you have enough insulation—the recommendation is R-38, which is 12 inches of blown-in insulation or batt or roll insulation. If you have less than that, you’re not getting optimum energy efficiency. Remember it will keep your home cooler and use less electricity for your air conditioner as you move into summer.

Air Conditioning Units or System

Check portable AC units to make sure they are working and filters are cleaned—warm weather will come sooner than you think. An air conditioner not only cools you down, but an efficient air conditioner lessens moisture and humidity from the home, which can actually damage the foundation if left unchecked. Get in the habit of changing or cleaning the filters of both a 50

central system and portable units once a month as dust and dirt decreases efficiency. Central AC systems require that the hose connections are not leaking and the drain pans are draining properly—so check those. If a condensate drain hose becomes clogged, it may be a build-up of algae. If this is the case, use a wet-vac to suck out any blockage. And while you’re at it, clean out the ducts also.

Basement

Whether your basement is finished or not—check walls and floor for dampness. If you have a dehumidifier, make sure you clean it regularly. Also check for water stains or any signs of leaching through the foundation. With all the flooding we’ve been experiencing in the Valley, many homeowners have had to do major repairs—so keep a close watch on a sump pump, if you have one, and make sure it’s working efficiently.

Water Heater

The average, planned obsolescence of a water heater is from eight to twelve years. It’s best to check for evidence of any leaking or rusting at the unit’s

base—and if this is the case, you should replace the heater. In areas with hard water, it may be necessary to drain the water heater to get rid of sediment build-up in the tank. This should be done twice a year to keep the heater working efficiently.

Foundation

As said before, we’ve experienced horrific flooding conditions, which can cause major erosion around your home’s foundation. If you see any gaps from soil washaway, fill them in with dirt to guard your home’s foundation from unprotected exposure to spring and summer rains. A cracked foundation can become a maintenance and financial disaster.

Before spring rainfalls, look for cracks or flaws and seal them right away. Also check for lowlying areas of your yard near your home’s foundation that may pool water during torrential rains. If you find that winter has presented dips and unlevel ground, level off these depressions with firmed soil. The same applies to other areas of the yard; if you see “ponding” divots, it’s best to level those out too, so that they don’t become breeding grounds for pesky mosquitoes.

Plumbing

Drip, drip, drip. Not only is a leaky faucet annoying to hear, but it is also wasteful.

So replace washers as needed, even if your cat loves to sit in the bathtub and leisurely lick the leak. And don’t forget to check for under-sink and dishwasher leaks—and repair as necessary. While it’s springtime and

Tile Tackling

If you have floor tiles in the bath or kitchen, check the grout or caulk for cracks.

Even the smallest crevice in between the tiles can eventually lead to expensive repairs. Reseal with gout or caulk if needed.

And a good habit to get into is to tell all the family shower-takers to wipe down the shower walls and tub to ward off soap and scum buildup as this can cause mold and even damage caulking around the tub and walls.

Refrigerators

Your fridge is one of the biggest electricity eaters in the home—so making sure that your door seals are airtight is important. To test this, close the door over a dollar bill and if you can easily pull it out, the door latch may need readjustment or the seal may need replacing. Believe it or not, a tiny bit

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of air leakage can result in higher utility bills.

And it’s also a good time to clean the back coils as that’s another cause of inefficiency.

Now go stock up on food, treat yourself, as a full fridge and freezer uses less energy than an empty one.

Fireplace

If you have a fireplace, make sure to leave the damper open for enhanced ventilation if your home is not airconditioned. It’s also a good time to check your chimney for soot build-up.

Safety Equipment

Check all smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers to make certain they’re in best working order. Replace batteries in appropriate devices as needed. A good rule of thumb is to change batteries when we “spring” our hour ahead for Daylight Savings Time.

Keeping your utility bills down and extending the life of your appliances is extremely important in our economy. Just a few minutes can save money—and save lives! Move your dryer away from the wall and check and clean the vents. Also make sure the dryer filter is cleaned each and every time you use it. This is a major source of fires in the home and it’s simple to remedy. Now check the filters in the air conditioner units and the stove hood. Make sure that heating and cooling vents are clean and not obstructed by furniture and window-dressings.

Now change the filters in your furnace. This will not only increase efficiency, but you’ll reap the benefits of a clean home environment with dust and lint-free ducts.

not hot enough for you to sweat doing these chores—make sure your pipes aren’t either. In addition make sure your drains are running freely and your washing machine hoses are not bulging, cracked, or damp. Lastly, inspect your water heater for leaks and corrosion.

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Appliance, AC, Heating Filters and Vents

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Gutters and Diverting Water

Would you believe that more water damage happens to gutters in the spring? It’s true as winter’s freeze-andthaw cycle, along with snow loads, shorten the life of your gutters and downspouts. So check them for broken clamps that may have happened with the weight of ice and snow.

Also check them for foliage that wasn’t cleaned out during fall. Spring rain is the optimum time to make sure that all drainage areas are unblocked. Believe it or not, trapped moisture in your gutters can make your home susceptible to moss and mildew and cause maximum damage to roofs and walls. And, make sure that your downspouts are open and pointing at least two feet away from the foundation.

Storm Windows and Screens

The drastic changes in temperature between winter and spring can wreak havoc on caulking or rubber seals around your home’s windows and outside doors. Take time and look—it’s an easy fix and your energy bills will reflect the time invested. If you have removable storm windows—take them off, clean, and store them and replace with

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screens. And don’t forget to patch holes in door and window screens—to keep out mosquitoes and other tiny biters.

Siding and Paint

If your home’s exterior paint job is chipping and cracking, it’s time to remove damaged paint to protect wood from rotting. Scrape off failing paint and sand it down so all edges around the area are smooth. Now prime the bare wood and paint it with a high quality matching paint. And while you’re inspecting for paint damage, look for cracks and holes. If you have vinyl siding—go have some ice tea, but come back with a power washer as dirt build-up is unsightly and the perfect color you picked out may not be so perfect any longer.

Trees and Shrubs

Although this is an outside task, it will benefit your home’s interior during the dampness of spring. Keeping overgrown tree branches at least seven feet away from your home’s exterior will discourage moisture and mildew growth. Also by trimming back or eliminating any wildly growing vines, you will keep

them from growing under siding and cracking it—thus giving a clear invitation to moisture and insects into the home.

Outdoor faucets

If you’ve drained and turned off outside faucets for winter, turn them back on and prime if needed. Check for leaks around turn-off valves.

Windows, Doors and Insulation Just like water will find the teeniest place to run through, so do drafts.

So seal drafty doors and windows. You may be wondering why as spring has the most luscious fresh air—but think of summer’s heat, soon to come. Do you want hot air leaking in and cool air leaking out—causing your AC units to overwork? So check for drafts and replace seals as needed. Also look for peeling, chipping paint; a clue for water leakage.

Seal open areas between the window or door frame and walls to block water from coming into the home, which will result in damage, moisture build-up, and potential mold growth. Not to mention, ants, spiders, and other unwanted guests creeping through.

Some of the maintenance tasks listed may not be your cup-of-tea or you may feel unqualified to tackle these projects. If that’s the case, please call on a professional.

A local company called Thermal FootPrint uses thermal imaging to look at the thermal map of a building. This map identifies areas of displaced insulation, poor weather seals around doors and windows, cold air infiltration, wet insulation, moisture in wood trim, and wet areas under built up roofs or stucco. By addressing these conditions, significant savings in heating and cooling costs, as well as reducing the need for major repairs in the future, can be realized.

This service is useful for existing homeowners to better utilize energy dollars. Buyers of new and existing homes can discover potential energy loss or wet areas that may otherwise go undetected.

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Grout AFTER

Here’s what she did STEP by STEP:

pillowcases were shuffled in with the tableclothes.

Unwanted pillows filled in the empty spaces. A camping mattress was shoved into the far corner.

Now everything that came into the poor closet came in mismatched messes.

Teenagers reached in to drop stuff inside. The closet felt sad and tired.

FIX-UP

BEHOLD

any warping

the glory of neat & tidy

8.

2.

5.

EMPTY & CLEAN

FOLD, FOLD, FOLD fold ’em up

start fresh

1.

ASSESS the situation

4.

3.

6.

SORT, CATEGORIZE AND DECIDE MAKE PILES » keep what you need to sort through » donate what you don't what you have

7.

WHO NEEDS THESE Friends, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Trash

Its shelves began to sag and its door wouldn’t close right anymore. One day a nice lady saw the depressed closet and knew she could help.

Organizing can seem like a daunting project.

Lauren Perkins is a professional organizer.

She will take care of it for you and she makes it affordable. All you need to do is make decisions on what to keep and how the space can best be used. She also provides relocation, home staging, and redesign services.

For more information call or email, 845-594-7381 virgoworks@yahoo.com

The closet felt full, needed.

Then came dishtowels, tablecloths, curtains, and even scrap fabric! Children ruffled through it. The sheet sets were separated, the

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T

here was once a closet empty and lonely. One day a family came and began to fill the closet with sheets and blankets and towels.

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8 Steps to a HAPPY CLOSET

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Traversing the Boundless: Thomas Cole House Honors One of America’s Most Iconic Artists

by Susan Piperato

top: Kaaterskill Falls, Stop number 5 on the Hudson River School Art Trail. Photo Š Mark McCarroll. Courtesy Thomas Cole National Historic Site. right: detail- Thomas Cole, Falls of the Kaaterskill, 1826.

Oil on canvas, 43 x 36 in. Private collection.

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If any artist gave the Hudson Valley cultural legitimacy it was Thomas Cole (1801-48). His landscape paintings—the foundation for one of America’s most important and prolific artistic movements—inspired writers from Burroughs to Poe to Irving to Hemingway and landscape architects like Andrew Downing. And Cole’s work continues to draw visitors from around the world, both to explore Thomas Cole Mountain, the Catskills’ fourth-highest peak that was named in his honor, and to visit Cedar Grove, his 19th-century farmhouse and studio—now beautifully preserved as the Thomas Cole National Historic Site—in the Village of Catskill.

As founder and leader of the Hudson River School of Painting, Cole celebrated as well as bemoaned the fact that the Hudson Valley boasted exceptionally picturesque and dramatic mountains, cliffs, forests, waterways

and valleys, and yet, unlike the great rivers of Europe, lacked ruins of great buildings left by people come and gone.

“The Rhine has its castled crags, its vineclad hills, and ancient villages,” Cole wrote in “Essay on American Scenery” in 1836. “The Hudson has its wooded mountains, its rugged precipices, its green undulating shores—a natural majesty, and an unbounded capacity for improvement by art. Its shores are not besprinkled with venerated ruins, or the palaces of princes; but there are flourishing towns, and neat villas and the hand of taste has already been at work. Without any great stretch of the imagination we may anticipate the time when the ample waters shall reflect temple, and tower, and dome, in every variety of picturesqueness and magnificence.”

Ultimately, however, and happily for generations of viewers since Cole’s time, he decided, as he wrote in “Essay on American Scenery,” that “American scenes are not destitute of historical and legendary associations—the great struggle for freedom has sanctified many a spot, and many a mountain, stream, and rock, has its legend, worthy of poet’s pen or the painter’s pencil.”

Cole’s works attracted the attention of well-established painters and he was made a Fellow of the National Academy while still in his twenties.

An Englishman born in Lancashire, Cole and his parents and sister made their way to America in 1818, settling in Steubenville, Ohio. There the teenage Cole met an itinerant portrait painter named Stein, from whom he learned the basics of oil painting. But Cole learned

LOCAL HISTORY

–Thomas Cole, from “The Wild”

So while Cole devoted his artistic career to depicting the then-undeveloped Hudson Valley in a style that was as dreamlike as it was detailed and realistic, and as a place as romantic and welcoming as it was wild and undiscovered, he also made sure to imagine some castles for the Hudson River’s shores, and to include the mark of mankind—showing the viewer what the place could become.

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Friends of my heart, lovers of Nature’s works, Let me transport you to those wild blue mountains That rear their summits near the Hudson’s wave Though not the loftiest that begirt the land, They yet sublimely rise, and on their heights Your souls may have a sweet foretaste of heaven, And traverse wide the boundless.

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It was during his work on “The Course of Empire” that Cole began expressing strong views against industrial development and its negative impact on the Catskills region—views that continue to influence Hudson Valley environmental advocacy organizations today. family in 1825 in New York City, where he sold five paintings to the successful merchant George W. Bruen, who financed a summer trip for Cole to the Hudson Valley.

There, Cole worked prodigiously, producing five landscapes: two views of the village of Cold Spring and one of the ruins of Fort Putnam in the lower Hudson Valley, as well as views further north of the Catskill Mountain Thomas Cole, View on the Catskill, Early Autumn, 1836-37. Metropolitan Musem of Art. House and Kaaterskill Falls, the latter of which quickly that he was not a portrait painter, and turned both Cole and the Falls into icons. developed an interest in landscape. He moved to Pittsburgh in 1823 and then to Philadelphia Back in New York City, Cole displayed the five in 1824 to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of landscapes in the window of William Coleman’s the Fine Arts, where he drew from casts. bookstore. The Two Views of Coldspring [sic] Cole’s career took off when he rejoined his

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were purchased by Mr. A. Seton, who, in turn, loaned them to the American Academy of the Fine Arts annual exhibition in 1826.

Cole’s works attracted the attention of wellestablished painters like John Trumbull, Asher B. Durand, and William Dunlap, and he was made a Fellow of the National Academy while still in his twenties.

Thanks to the affluent Trumbull, who sought out Cole and bought one of his paintings, Cole was put into contact with several wealthy New Yorkers, including Robert Gilmor of Baltimore and Daniel Wadsworth of Hartford, who became patrons. And so the Hudson River School of Painting was born. Cole’s influence can be best seen in the works of Asher B. Durand, who became Cole’s lifelong friend, as well as those of Frederic Edwin Church, who studied with him from 1844 to 1846, and whose Olana estate still stands in Columbia County, across the Hudson from the Cole homestead, which is also open to the public.

Cole would undoubtedly be pleased to know that today his work continues to show viewers what places were in the past as well as what remains and why it’s worth preserving.

Cedar Grove, also known as the Thomas Cole House, was declared a National Historic Site in 1999. The site, located at 218 Spring Street in Catskill, near the western entrance to the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, is open from the first weekend in May through the last weekend in October. Tours of the Main House and Old Studio are run hourly on a first-comefirst-served basis Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. (Tours are also available for groups and by appointment.) Each tour lasts approximately 50 minutes and is limited to 12 people. Tickets are $9 per person during regular hours, and $7 per person for seniors over 62 and students with ID. For more information, visit thomascole.org or call 518-943-7465.

LOCAL HISTORY

to foundation of empire to decline and then back toward desolation—in the collection of the New York Historical Society. It was during his work on “The Course of Empire” that Cole began expressing strong views against industrial development and its negative impact on the Catskills region—views that continue to influence Hudson Valley environmental advocacy organizations today.

Although Cole and his wife spent 1841 to 1842 abroad, he considered Cedar Grove his home, and had five children born there, the first in 1838. Also at Cedar Grove, Cole saw several of his letters and poems published in New York magazines and Cole’s work continues to show newspapers to stave off financial viewers what places were in the trouble; and Durand and another art student boarded for $3 a week past as well as what remains and annual tuition of $300 per year and why it’s worth preserving. from 1844 to 1846—after which Cole could afford to build his “New the several commissions he received, some Studio.” He died at Cedar Grove on February historians consider this his happiest and most 11, 1848 from an attack of pleurisy and productive years. Upon his return to New congestion of the lungs, just 10 days after his York City in November 1832, he mounted an 47th birthday. The funeral was held at nearby exhibition of his European paintings, which also Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, where Cole had caused a stir. Soon afterward, he returned to converted in 1842. He is buried in the Thomson the Hudson Valley and began keeping a studio Street Cemetery. just outside the town of Catskill at a farm called Cedar Grove, where a significant portion of his Although Cole is best known as a landscape body of work was completed. While working at painter, he also painted allegorical works.

Cedar Grove, Cole established a friendship with The most famous of these are two series: the Coxsackie native Luman Reed, a successful 1840 four-part “The Voyage of Life,” depicting local merchant who also owned a private art childhood, youth, manhood, and old age gallery in New York City and became Cole’s (two versions of which are at the National patron.

Gallery in Washington, DC and the MunsonWilliams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, NY), In 1836, both Reed’s and Cole’s fathers died, painted in Italy for patron Samuel Ward, a but that year was to bring happiness too. Cole wealthy banker and philanthropist, for $5,000; married Maria Bartow, a Catskill native and the and “The Course of Empire,” five paintings niece of Cedar Grove’s owner, in Cedar Grove’s completed at Cedar Grove for Luman Reed west parlor, and the couple was given a suite between 1832 and 1836, depicting the same of rooms on the second floor of the house. landscape over generations—from wilderness

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Cole returned to England to study, visit relatives, and attend to family business matters from 1829 to 1831. Because of the many wealthy Americans traveling abroad that Cole met, and

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Ayumi Horie:

Ceramic Artist of the Year

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Ayumi received her BA from Mount Holyoke College in 1991, her BFA in ceramics from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 1996, and her MFA in ceramics from the University of Washington in 2000.

In the fall of 2008, Ayumi curated and organized Obamaware, a fundraiser involving the work of 27 nationally known ceramic artists who made Obama-themed work specifically for the event. Put

She learned to love working with her hands early on as her Japanese family fished, gardened, cooked, and often visited the beach. She learned about the materiality of the world through explorations in both the woods and in old attics where antiques were piled high.

FEATURED ARTIST

Ayumi grew up in 1970s Maine in an old mill town where huge brick factories lined the river. She learned to love working with her hands early on as her Japanese family fished, gardened, cooked, and often visited the beach. She learned about the materiality of the world through explorations in both the woods and in old attics where antiques were piled high. Her hand-eye coordination developed through many hours spent playing ball games, mini-golf, and Atari.

The refrigerator was always crammed full of food and the table laid with dozens of Corningware dishes loaded with everything from sushi to apple pie. With a childhood like this, it’s only natural that Ayumi grew up to become a potter.

together in five short weeks, the three-day auction held at the end of October, just before the election, raised $10,843.54 for the Obama/ Biden campaign. In 2011, the day after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, she co-founded Handmade For Japan, which has raised over $100,000 thus far. She is the co-organizer of Crafted and sits on the curatorial board of accessCeramics.org.

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Ayumi Horie is a full-time studio potter who makes functional pots, mainly with drawings of animals. She is the first recipient of Ceramics Monthly’s “Ceramic Artist of the Year” award. A Hudson Valley resident, Ayumi travels domestically and abroad to give lectures and workshops, including the Archie Bray Foundation, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Greenwich House Pottery, Penland School of Crafts, Peter’s Valley, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, the Northern Clay Center, and the International Ceramic Research Center in Denmark.

She has been on the board of directors of the Archie Bray Foundation since 2004, where she was a resident for two years between 1996 and 1998. Her work is in various collections throughout the US.

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SPRINGTIME RECIPES:

A Sun Kissed Three-Course Meal

by Phoenix Trent

Vibrantly colored blossoms are beginning to cover our valley, and the exciting spring crops are starting to pop up in droves. The air is sweet with wet earth and you can almost hear the branches begin to thaw as new life starts again. With spring comes a bounty of fresh produce for us to enjoy at a growing list of local farm stands. Asparagus—low in cholesterol and sodium and packed with iron, magnesium and protein—is the perfect spring meal builder. It’s one of the first veggies to pop up in spring, so it’s readily available in markets right now.

Quick Salad Ingedients

Preparation

Fresh Spinach · 4 Cups

To compliment a beautiful spring meal, start with a fresh spinach salad and delectable Dijon vinaigrette. Begin by gently rinsing about 4 cups of fresh spinach, being sure to remove all dirt and sand left over from the farm. Whisk together 1/2 cup of olive oil, 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1/3 cup red wine vinegar, and a pinch each of salt, pepper and sugar. Once the dressing is thoroughly combined and frothy, drizzle over spinach and gently combine making sure not to bruise the leaves. Add in a 1/4 cup of roasted and chopped almonds and a handful of dried cranberries and you are on your way to the ideal spring meal.

Olive Oil · 1/2 Cup Dijon Mustard · 3 Tbps Red Wine Vinegar · 1/3 Cup Salt · Pinch Pepper · Pinch Sugar · Pinch

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HOW TO

Mint Salmon Ingedients

Asparagus Spears · about Ten “optional” indulgences: Whip up this tasty and nutritious Combined with the mint-infused salmon and Olive Oil · 2 Tbps Semolina Roll tantalizing bite of garlic asparagus bake for the main White Wine or Water · 4 Tbps Mint Leaves · 1/2 Cup course. Begin by coating the and ginger and the fresh bottom of a glass baking Red Wine Vinegar · 1/3 Cup Basil · 1/2 Cup sheet with extra virgin olive finish of the mint leaf there Salt · A Few Pinches Chopped Almond · 1/4 Cup oil. Thoroughly wash about 10 spears of asparagus and really is nothing better.

Pepper · A Few Pinches Lemon Juice · 1 Squeeze snap off and discard the fibrous Minced Garlic · 1 Tbps degrees for 20 minutes. bottom end of each. Toss in mixing Remove foil and bake at bowl with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 4 tablespoons Grated Ginger · 1/2 Tbps 400 for five minutes to white wine or water, a few pinches of salt and Wild Salmon Filet · 1 Tbps crisp off the top. The final pepper to taste, a tablespoon of minced garlic, hit of high heat allows 1/2 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger, and 5 or Mint Leaves · 15 or 16 Sprigs the garlic to crunch and 6 sprigs of garden mint roughly chopped. Evenly Minced Clove · 1 Clove melds all the flavors spread the seasoned asparagus on the bottom together into a wonderful of the baking sheet to make a stable bed for medley of springtime goodness. the salmon. When it comes to the salmon, look for a line-caught wild variety. It’s rich in flavor Serve up with a hot semolina roll from and high in omega-3 fatty acids; farm-raised your local bakery and get ready to salmon simply does not measure up. Thoroughly indulge in a delightful meal. The salmon rinse wild salmon filet in ice-cold water until any should flake from the touch of the fork, slippery coating that exists has been removed. and combined with the tantalizing bight of Next place salmon atop your beautifully garlic and ginger and the fresh finish of the constructed asparagus bed, making sure that mint leaf there really is nothing better. The the salmon is only touching the veg. Squeeze an mildly earthy flavor of asparagus always does entire lemon on top and spread about 10 sprigs a good job of kicking your meal up to the of crushed fresh mint (found wild in every corner next level, and when the crop is in such fresh of the valley) over the filet. Finish with kosher salt, a 1/4 cup toasted and chopped almonds, abundance, there’s no reason not to indulge. a few cracks of pepper, a clove of minced garlic, a liberal squeeze of fresh lemon juice, salt and For an extra hit of fresh, roughly chop a 1/2 cup a quick drizzle of olive oil, and you’re good to pepper and gently place atop the salmon for a of mint and a 1/2 cup of basil. Combine with go. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 refreshing herb salad garnish.

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Preparation

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Finish in sweet perfection with a simple cherries and cream dessert Cherry Dessert Ingedients

Preparation

Pitted Cherries · Dozen

To finish this celebration of spring and its bounties pit a dozen cherries (one of the first tree fruits to ripen) and slice into quarters.

Combine in mixing bowl with 4 tablespoons of white wine vinegar, a 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and a few mint leaves roughly chopped. Next whip 1 cup of heavy whipping cream until it forms stiff peaks on the mixing whisk. Combine with 3 tablespoons sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla bean extract. Serve cherries with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and garnish with a fresh mint sprig. Refreshing and seasonal, cherries are packed with essential vitamins and are the perfect finish to a well-rounded meal.

White Wine Vinegar · 4 Tbps Granulated Sugar · 1/2 Cup & 3 Tbps Mint Leaves · A few Heavy Whipping Cream · 1 Cup Vanilla Bean Extract · 1 tsp

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Spring is a time for rebirth and an opportunity to try something new. We are surrounded by some of the most beautiful and wholesome produce that this world has to offer, so take a trip over to your local farm stand and bring home some veg you have never seen before. Take an hour to cook.

Then pour yourself a glass of wine and find a cozy spot to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

You deserve it.

THIS IS FRESH!

Our fruit stand is overflowing with luscious strawberries, cherries, veggies and plants of every kind. Buy your annuals, perennials, herb plants, veggie plants, flowering shrubs & lots more at the source for nice low prices. We also make cider doughnuts, fruit pies and fruit breads in the bakery.

Drive your car into our orchards and enjoy a picnic lunch under the trees.

Wright’s Farm is doggy friendly too!

Come in for your Mother’s Day Hanging Baskets.

WATCH OUR VIDEO at visitvortex.com

699 Route 208, Gardiner NY 12525 845-255-5300 www.eatapples.com 75

A truly magical place to visit, ride and board your horse.

Wallkill View Farm Market & Garden Center GARDEN CENTER: Seeds, Plants, Hanging Baskets, Pottery, Mulch, Soil, Stone & Pavers MARKET: Farm Fresh Produce, Bakery, New York State Specialty Foods & Gifts 845-255-8050 15 Route 299 West New Paltz, NY www.WallkillViewFarmMarket.com Find Us On Facebook!

Open 7 days a week 9:00am-6:30pm Opening for the season March 22nd

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• Offering Lessons 7 days a week

• Training Beginner to Experienced Riders

• Magnificent 80x135 Indoor Arena

• Offering 2 distinct Riding Complexes

• 33 acre Training and Boarding Facility

• Full Day and Half Day Summer Camps

• Focus on Natural Horsemanship

• We do Birthday Parties!

For more info contact Diane Schoonmaker

Twin Spruce Farm 306 County Route, Accord 845-687-6499 or 845-626-0020 e: twinsprucefarm@gmail.com

What’s your reason for visiting Saunderskill Farms this weekend?

• ANNUALS & PERENNIALS • HANGING BASKETS • NURSERY STOCK • HOMEGROWN VEGGIES • APPLE CIDER DONUTS

• FRESH BREWED COFFEE • LOCAL BEEF & CHICKEN • WEEKEND BBQ’S • SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM • HOMEMADE DESSERTS PLAY OUR VIDEO at visitvortex.com

SAUNDERSKILL FARMS market & bakery 5100 Route 209, Accord, NY www.saunderskill.com 845-626-2676

quality produce. herbs. shrubs. trees. mulch. soil. garden plants.

BARTHEL’S FARM MARKET and GARDEN CENTER 8057 ROUTE 209

ELLENVILLE, NY 12428

845-647-6941 77

Fresh Air, Fun & Baby Animals!

✩✩ Biggest area u-pick—fruit & flowers, too! ✩✩ Friendly farm✩animals ✩✩ Mini-golf with edible landscaping ✩✩ Farm store with local goodies ✩✩ Kids love the Jumping Bean! ✩✩ 200-year-old family farm practicing✩IPM Rte 209 between Accord & Kerhonkson✩KelderFarm.com 845-626-7137 78

HOMEGROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT GREAT PRICES

Growing: cantaloupe, strawberries, gourds, pumpkins, herbs, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, cucumber, eggplant, greens, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, summer squash, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watermelon, winter squash...

U-Cut Flowers and Herbs. Flowering Baskets. Vegetable Plants.

BURD’S FARM STAND 6611 Rt 209, Kerhonkson 845-626-7620

OPEN DAILY. BREAKFAST, LUNCH, CIDER DONUTS, PIES, SPRING PLANTS, TREES AND SO MUCH MORE!!

APPLE BIN

Farm Market

810 Broadway (Rt 9W) Ulster Park, NY 12487 theapplebinfarmmarket.com Call us at 845-339-7229

PLAY Apple Bin’s Slideshow at www.visitvortex.com

SPRING ON IN...TO THE APPLE BIN!

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Open Space Institute

A Rich History of Open Space Preservation

by Tod Westlake

Photo by: Greg Miller, Courtesy of Open Space Institute

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Developers, too, have had a keen eye on this area, as they look to create the next bedroom community, or playground for the affluent, often with little regard for that which they may be despoiling. Thus the term “land and farm preservation” has entered into the lexicon of Hudson Valley residents. The concept is a simple one. Rather than “developing” a piece of property, a nonprofit organization steps in and buys it instead, thereby creating green oases that will likely remain ever so.

One of the organizations leading the charge in our area is the Open Space Institute (OSI).

Originally established in 1974, OSI is a regional organization that has since managed to preserve

When you travel through the Hudson Valley, taking notice of all the natural beauty that remains unmarred by large commercial projects, you won’t have to travel very far before you encounter land that OSI helped to preserve. And there is still much to do, according to OSI Vice President and General Counsel Bob Anderberg.

“It’s not a question of who’s better,” Anderberg says about these two forces . “Development is important, economics are important, jobs are important. But clean air and clean water is important, a place to recreate is important, and we really think in terms of appropriate growth and smart growth.”

Clean air and clean water is important, a place to recreate is important.

Anderberg stresses the point that OSI is not an adversarial organization, so it has managed to work well with developers in New York.

This said, the folks at OSI believe strongly that certain open spaces need to be saved.

“Our work is as important as ever,” Anderberg says, adding that OSI has a rather lengthy resume of achievements. “OSI has been instrumental in expanding and building the New York state parks system, we have preserved tens-of-thousands of acres of state forest land, we’ve protected several thousand acres

DOING GOOD

of productive farmland, and our work goes on in good times and bad times—in hot real estate markets and in depressionary real estate markets.”

Anderberg says that one of the main focuses of OSI is to maintain and improve the quality of life in New York, a quality that some may think is slowly slipping away. And while preservation is a very high priority, OSI realizes that it’s important to strike a harmonious balance with developers.

“We believe that there are certain places in New York that need to be set aside for future generations,” Anderberg says. “This includes places like the Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County, it includes places like the Catskill Forest Preserve.”

centuries ago, the Valley’s landscapes and vistas have enchanted visitors to this area. The river would even inspire one of this nation’s most indelible arts movements, known as the Hudson River School of painters. These days the Valley still attracts artists and musicians, writers and poets—and, perhaps most importantly, farmers and families—who are looking to escape the stifling urban sprawl that lays just a short distance to our south.

more than 116,000 acres in New York through such direct acquisition of property, much of which is right here in the Hudson Valley. OSI also works with land trusts and donors when it comes to financing projects, over the years providing more than $80 million in loans and grants. The group also engages in extensive research in order to ensure “smart conservation,” going beyond the mere acquisition of land, in order to create what it refers to as a “balance between regulation and permanent protection.”

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W

hen you think of the reasons people visit the Hudson Valley, its natural beauty has to be near the top of the list. Since its “discovery” just over four

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And if you take a look at the lands on the ridge that are now preserved in perpetuity, you’ll find that OSI has been an important component in this transition. A brief survey of the work OSI has done on the ridge and its environs includes (among many others):

» Worked with the Trust for Public Land to

acquire approximately 2,500 acres of the Awosting Reserve, which was subsequently transferred to New York. Eventually, these lands will become part of the Minnewaska State Park Preserve.

» The preservation of 2,500 acres of what

is now known as the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area just south of Wurtsboro.

Once a glacial lake, this wetland is a temporary home to many different migratory bird species, including blue herons and ospreys.

» From 1980 to 1997 OSI acquired the more

than 5,700 acres of land that makes up Sam’s Point Preserve. Considered a rare and unique ecosystem made up of scrub pine, laurel shrubs, blueberry and huckleberry, Sam’s Point has been cited by the Nature Conservancy (the group that manages the land) as being one of the 75 “Last Great Places” in the Western Hemisphere.

» The preservation of the Shawangunk State Forest south of the Village of Wurtsboro.

With more than 5,000 acres of forest being

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preserved, these lands will eventually be part of a contiguous 42-mile stretch of parkland running from the Mohonk Preserve to the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area.

» The acquisition of the Lundy Estate, a 5,400-

acre parcel that will create a bridge between the Catskill State Forest and the Shawangunk Ridge. These lands also include a section of the Long Path, a 347-mile trail that meanders from the George Washington Bridge all the way to Altamont, NY, near Albany.

OSI has also preserved 144 acres owned by the Valley Farms Corporation OSI’s work also dovetails with the burgeoning “locavore” movement. For those who may be unfamiliar with this trend, more and more people are becoming concerned by the vast distances food items must travel—thereby consuming vast amounts of fuel—before they end up on our dinner tables. Many individuals also note that the foods produced by large factoryfarming concerns are frequently of an inferior quality, and that they contain pesticides and other unwelcome chemicals. Instead, families are wising-up and purchasing their produce from local farms and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects—and they’re discovering that the quality of the produce

is often far superior, and more wholesome, than that which can be purchased in the big supermarkets.

“We believe quality of life includes the preservation of family farms and the agrarian lifestyle,” Anderberg says. “Quality of life means access to local fresh foods, and farms that are open and working. This is all stuff that we work on.”

Anderberg also stressed that good food grown locally is something that benefits everyone in the area. Good food, and the higher quality of life it provides, is one of the reasons people find living in this area so desirable—and it’s not just people who live here, but also tourists who spend their dollars on these food products. If the farms disappear, so will the reason many have for coming here in the first place. Thus, balance, again, is something on which OSI focuses continually. “[Preservation] is not necessarily to the detriment of sound development,” Anberberg said. “The two really go side-by-side.”

One of the projects OSI will be working on in the coming year is a parcel of land in the Town of New Paltz that once belonged to the Smiley family of Mohonk Mountain House fame. Acquired in late 2011, the project actually encompasses two parcels, the most significant being an 857-acre section that includes the

DOING GOOD

old Mohonk gatehouse that can be seen from Route 299 as you leave New Paltz.

In addition, OSI has preserved 144 acres owned by the Valley Farms Corporation. These lands, which are also in the Town of New Paltz situated along the western bank of the Wallkill River, have been farmed for many generations.

These two parcels now account for 30 percent of the farmland in the Town of New Paltz.

OSI’s website also has important information on how you can support OSI’s efforts. Making a tax-deductible contribution is certainly one way you can help. But there is also information on estate planning, for those who may wish to make a larger contribution; and information on gifts of real estate, if you happen to own land that you would like to see preserved. Land easements and stewardship grants have been a big part of OSI’s success in recent decades.

Anderberg says that OSI continues to go strong, despite the fact that the economy hasn’t been doing well in recent years, and that it’s through public support that the group is able to continue its work.

Photo by: Greg Miller, Courtesy of Open Space Institute

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If you’re interested in learning more about what OSI does, visit osiny.org. In addition to the small sample above, you can read about the many other projects OSI has worked, and is still working, on in this area.

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Three Great Restaurants. One Great Town.

MAIN STREET, PHOENICIA Ricciardella’s: 845-688-7800 www.ricciardellas.com Sportsman’s: 845-688-5259 www.alamocantina.com Brio’s: 845-688-5370 www.brios.net

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restaurant | bistro | bar | catering

local. organic. authentic. serving lunch & dinner, 7 days a week. route 9, rhinebeck.

845-876-3330 www.terrapinrestaurant.com

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SPECIALTY PIZZAS • ITALIAN DINNERS • CATERING

6320 Route 209 Kerhonkson, NY

845-626-2441

deli & catering Tim and Sue of Crossroads Deli & Catering have over 30 years of catering experience.

Off premises catering can accomodate any kind of event from an OFFICE LUNCHEON to a FORMAL WEDDING with MENUS TO SUIT YOUR VENUE.

Crossroads Deli & Catering

1821 Lucas Avenue, Cottekill www.crossroadsdeli.biz 845-687-0872

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Full Service Deli • Catering • Party Subs Sandwiches • Wings • Burgers • Fries Hard & Soft Ice Cream • Frozen Yogurt Homemade Custom Ice Cream Cakes

CHERRIES

Deli & Ice Cream Bar

4162 Rt. 209, Stone Ridge 845-687-9121

MAIN COURSE FARM TO TABLE FOODS

Marketplace & Catering Organic, Sustainable, Local Hours Tuesday– Saturday 11 am– 9 pm Sunday 9 am– 9 pm

Delicious hand-crafted continental cuisine prepared with only the finest ingredients.

Friends & Family II Hillside

Join us for Sunday Brunch Every Week 9am– 4 pm 175 Main St., New Paltz maincoursecatering.com

(845) 255-2600

4802 Route 209, Accord friendsandfamily2.com 845-626-7777

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T

he restaurant opened for the evening shift at 4pm on Friday. The sun was getting lower, creating a rosy glow in the dining room, and the glasses hanging over the bar reflected the golden hue that signified the last hours of daylight.

The air was light with an aroma that evoked both a familiar comfort and an exciting newness.

Three men were sitting on tall black stools at the bar drinking some local beers from the tap and eating grass-fed beef burgers and spicy free-range wings. They were in work clothes, one with a baseball cap. Talking about the studio they were building in Kerhonkson, Ryan said, “I think by Tuesday we’ll be laying the radiant.” The other two shook their heads and almost simultaneously lifted their beer off the mahogany bar, each taking a large, satisfying gulp. Their beers clunked down on the bar. “This is as good as it gets,” Ryan said with a chuckle. He held up his honey-colored lager and took another strong swallow. He was feeling grateful for his friends, his job, his community…and mostly for his beer.

A Night at the Restaurant

by Alysse Robin

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An elderly couple was sitting at a table for three near a long window.

The sunset created dramatic shadows in the lines of their faces. All of the long windows in the restaurant hung with straight thin white curtains, filtering the harsh sunlight into a softened hue. “I’m so glad she’s coming,” said Anita looking out the window. She squeezed the red cloth napkin on her lap. “It was always the four of us,” she said with glassy eyes.

Frank reached across the table and gently rubbed her forearm.

“There she is now, dear,” he said. They both stood up and exchanged long hugs with Grace. “We’re so glad to be spending time with you, darling,” Anita said. “It’s been too long.”

Frank slid the high-backed chair out for Grace. She sat and sighed with relief and said, “Being here with you two makes me feel kind of

Just then the waitress came with three wine glasses and a bottle of local Pinot Noir. She filled each of their long-stem glasses halfway with the burgundy-colored wine. The bus boy placed a basket of fresh bread with herbed olive oil and bean dip on the table. The three friends instinctively looked each other in the eyes and cheered, “To life!” They lifted, sniffed, swirled and sipped the robust wine.

Ahhh, the fullbodied flavor flooded them with rich memories.

Her brother stared at the lobster and declared, “My turn!”

She reluctantly allowed her mother to switch the bowl from in front of her to her brother. “Leave the last bit for me…please,” she said with big pouty, blinky eyes. She knew that even her brother couldn’t resist that look. He smiled, “OK.”

EATING OUT

The elderly couple looked at the family, remembering their own days with young children—thinking about how time passes.

Two women in their mid-thirties walked in with the spring wind in their hair. “There will be four of us,” Gina said.

“Right this way,” the hostess smiled. They walked past the bar to a corner table for four. Sitting down, Gina said, “I’ll start with a Tuthilltown martini when you are ready.”

“Waste no time, huh?!” laughed Dawn. “Well, then, I’ll have the strawberry daiquiri.”

“Well, it’s not too often that I get a chance to have a night off with my girlfriends!” Gina exclaimed.

Back in the kitchen the chef was sautéing onion and garlic. Fresh bread was baking in the oven, and the young sous-chef was chopping fresh vegetables. It was very quiet; the shiny metal countertops and appliances reflected the low, bright lights. The sous-chef called, “Order in! We need two local duck entrees.” The chef’s pans were piping hot; he began to sear some local asparagus with the sautéed garlic. Then, like magic, a rich sauce emerged as a reduction of Hudson Valley vodka filled the air with the scent of spices and heat. The sous-chef and chef worked together to plate the dish at the waitress

Frank and Anita laughed, “Glad to hear it, we’ve already ordered our usual!”

The waitress walked back into the kitchen. She put two new tickets in the window for the chef and picked up the plated appetizers for table 8.

It was one of her favorite customers—a young couple with two young children. The kids were adorable, always so well behaved, and quite predictable. They always ordered the brick oven pizza and lobster bisque for an appetizer. The girl had hot chocolate with whipped cream, and the boy had a cream soda. When she brought it over, they moved their crayons and paper and made room for the small plates.

Their parents flirted with each other across the thick wooden table, taking turns answering their son’s questions about his concept that another universe may exist within the confines of one small atom. The ambient room was becoming just perfectly dim with the setting sun. The girl was too busy sipping down the lobster bisque to chime into the conversation. “Look at this chunk of lobster!” she exclaimed to her family, holding up her spoon with a large part of the lobster claw sitting in the creamy, pink broth.

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normal again.” Seeing the waitress walk toward them, she smiled, “I’m ready for wine!”

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“…and filling,” he quickly followed up.

She smiled, “This baby arugula reminds me of eating it right off the plant.”

The four girlfriends were now together, enjoying their drinks. The waitress came by with a tray of entrees. She placed down the salmon with asparagus, the seitan with capers and a side station, adding spring herbs and greens with a local strawberry vinaigrette to adorn the plate.

At the table closest to the bar sat a young couple.

They were leaning toward each other and smiling.

She was eating a plate of local baby arugula with Parmesan shavings, while he enjoyed some of the soft, warm bread with herbed olive oil.

“Mmm. Want some?” she offered.

“You sure?” he said, “Cause I’d love a bite.”

“I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t sure,” she replied with a smart glance.

He forked himself some of her salad, purposefully picking from where she had just eaten.

“Delish,” he said with his cheek full and a closemouthed smile.

“Do you grow a garden?” she inquired.

“I have a small bed in my backyard with some tomatoes and herbs,” he said.

“My garden is my solace,” she replied softly.

“Growing food is so fulfilling,” she said.

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“Yeah, everything here is exquisite,” he agreed, staring at her with a slight blush. of brown rice and broccoli, the free-range local chicken with a side of arugula, carrots and beets, and New York strip steak with gravy and garlic mashed potatoes. Right behind her was the bartender with a fresh round of cocktails for the women. “We’ve got to do this more. A night away from the mess,” Kate said. “A night off cooking,” Dawn added. “Off cleaning dishes,” Amy chimed. “A night with good friends,” Gina said. As she lifted her glass they all cheered.

The three men called to the bartender, as they headed out, “Thanks, Bridget, and goodnight!”

Now the night was dark with cool breezes.

“Take it easy, guys. Come back soon!” she replied.

The hostess came by the tables with an ornate silver pitcher of water, ice and lemons. “It’s so great to see you all here. Hope you are enjoying yourself.”

“Being here is a breath of fresh spring air, thank you,” said Grace, smiling at her friends.

As the family waved goodbye, walking out the door, a cool breeze entered the dining room.

The hostess went to each table to light the candles. The atmosphere shifted. She went into the kitchen. She and the waitress spent a few minutes talking as the crowd slowly settled.

They exchanged memories of Grace’s husband, who was always very generous and loving. They laughed at the stories they heard from the little boy. They whispered about what a great fit the new couple seemed to be. They took the time to appreciate the magic and special moments they witnessed.

In restaurants we take time to talk eye-to-eye.

We share a moment out of our busy lives to satisfy all of our sensory desires with the smells from the kitchen, the flavors of the courses, the textures of the foods, the echoes of laughter and conversation, and the beautiful atmosphere—a feast for the senses! We also connect with friends in an intimate way. Each patron of that restaurant on that fine spring evening shared something wonderful in common—they all left feeling contented, full and fortunate.

Have a night to remember at one of our amazing Hudson Valley restaurants soon!

Selection of over 400 VARIETIES OF BEER Serving lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and late night

OPEN DAILY! Live entertainment most weekends RESTAURANT, BAR & BILLIARDS

Catering Available

EAT. DRINK. HAVE FUN. 4 South Chestnut Street, New Paltz

est. 1788

845-255-8636 bacchusnewpaltz.com

steers & spears

p. (845) 255-2433

RIVERSIDE WEDDINGS & EVENTS

16 N. ChestNut st New paltz, NY 12561

• Local Fare • Prime Steaks • Seafood • Pasta 20 Grist Mill Lane, Gardiner, NY | TUTHILLHOUSE.com | 845.255.4151

BarNaBYssteakhouse.Com

us on Facebook for daily specials and updates!

sunday brunch • lunch • dinner

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CoCktails CoCktails on the patio...

CoCktails on on the the patio... patio...

PLAY PLAYTHE THEMERCHANT MERCHANTVIDEO VIDEOatatwww.visitvortex.com www.visitvortex.com PLAY THE MERCHANT VIDEO at www.visitvortex.com

MeRChant MeRChantReCipe ReCipeFoR FoR MeRChant ReCipe FoR

aPrIL aPrILShOWer ShOWer aPrIL ShOWer

april aprilshowers showersbring bringMay Mayflowers. flowers.even even april showers bring May flowers. even though thoughthis thisapril aprilshower showercocktail cocktailmight mightnot not though this april shower cocktail might not make makeyour yourgardens gardensgrow, grow,it itwill willget getyou you make your gardens grow, it will get you thinking thinkingabout aboutspring. spring.Yellow YellowChartreuse Chartreuse thinking about spring. Yellow Chartreuse adds addsaanice nicecolor colorand andfresh freshherbal herbalflavor flavorthat that adds a nice color and fresh herbal flavor that mixes mixeswell wellwith withthe theorange orangejuice juiceand andbrandy. brandy. mixes well with the orange juice and brandy. ingRedients: ingRedients: ingRedients: 11ozozbrandy brandy 1 oz brandy 1/4 1/4ozozyellow yellowChartreuse Chartreuse 1/4 oz yellow Chartreuse 11ozozorange orangejuice juice 1 oz orange juice pRepaRation: pRepaRation: pRepaRation: 1.1.pour pourthe theingredients ingredientsinto intoaa 1. pour the ingredients into a cocktail cocktailshaker shakerwith withice. ice. cocktail shaker with ice.

2.2.shake shakewell. well.

2. shake well.

3.3.strain straininto intoaachilled chilledcocktail cocktailglass. glass.

3. strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

MeRChant it affordable CoCktailsmakes on the patio...

PLAY THE MERCHANT VIDEO at www.visitvortex.com

MeRChant ReCipe FoR

aPrIL ShOWer

april showers bring May flowers. even though this april shower cocktail might not make your gardens grow, it will get you thinking about spring. Yellow Chartreuse adds a nice color and fresh herbal flavor that mixes well with the orange juice and brandy. ingRedients: 1 oz brandy 1/4 oz yellow Chartreuse 1 oz orange juice pRepaRation: 1. pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. shake well.

3. strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The MerchanT wines & spirits

730 Ulster Avenue, Kingston, NY 845-331-1923 See current specials at: themerchantwine.com

Dominick’s Cafe 34 North Front Street Kingston, NY 12401 845-338-4552 www.dominickscafe.com Make Life Taste Better with Dominick’s Cafe’s specialty desserts, catering & holiday gift ideas! Kingston’s best kept secret is rich in old world flavor and offers authentic home-style cooking.

We are now accepting orders for the holiday season. Our staff can help create a variety of special gift ideas just right for you. Visit our website for great suggestions.

Phone: (845) 338-4552 ~ Fax: (845)338-1628 ~ www.dominickscafe.com ~ Gift Certificates Available

Suite Dreams Luxury Suites Introducing Suite Dreams at Dream Weavers, the only luxurious suites in the heart of the Historic Uptown Stockade District. Located in Kingston's most popular destination, our suites offer guests an inviting atmosphere, personal services and amenities, and the experience of a chic "big city" boutique hotel in the beautiful Hudson Valley.

34 North Front Street ~ Kingston, NY 12401 ~ Above Dominick’s Cafe

Moxie Cupcake

o x

Bake Shop & Cafe

215 MAIN STREET, NEW PALTZ NY facebook.com/moxiecupcake 845•255•CAKE (2253)

gourmet scratch baked organic fairtrade cocoa, coffee & tea pure madagascar vanilla bean local produce, dairy & eggs cozy cafe free wifi VOTED BEST LITTLE TREAT WITH BIG TASTE HUDSON VALLEY MAGAZINE BEST OF ISSUE

IN Phone: (914) 388-1002 ~ www.suitedreamskingstonny.com ~ Breakfast, Spa and Fitness Packages Available

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Fresh, fun and delicious tacos & burritos made just like you like them!

Made to order Tex-Mex in Uptown Kingston.

Lucy’s Tacos

38 John Street, Kingston 845-338-2816 8 East Market St, Red Hook 845-758-8055 OPEN EVERY DAY 11-9

BISTRO MOUNTAIN STORE 3124 Route 44/55, Gardiner, NY bistromountainstore.com 845-255-2999

Home of the Crankin’ Sandwiches The Bistro Mountain Store is a full service deli and grocery store located at the foot of the Shawangunk Cliffs!

We have everything you need for a great day in the mountains! With this and an epicurious approach to world cuisine, the Bistro Mountain Store is a delicious choice!

SEE US ON www.visitvortex.com

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There is a new noir movement happening in the Hudson Valley. Not the films of the past, but they are every bit as suave and charming and enduring as Bogie himself.

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Brotherhood Winery / Yasuo Ota

THE LAND

Hudson Valley Noir: A Splash of Red

by Carlo DeVito

The stories always involved murder, with heroes who were always less than reputable, and the women were always more than beautiful. And the dialogue was always snappy and tart. Who can ever forget the opening lines of The Maltese Falcon starring Humphrey Bogart as detective Sam Spade?

Today’s classics in the Valley are stars with names like Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, and Baco Noir. These wines are handsome medium-bodied, dry red wines, with excellent fruit, balanced acidity, and smooth tannins. These are soft approachable reds. They’re great for sipping, but equally impressive with pasta, grilled meats, vegetables, cheese, even fish!

The star of the Valley is Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is a classic grape of France’s Burgundy region. Some of the world’s most prized wines come from this region. And the Hudson Valley’s Pinot Noirs have similarities with that region. Some of the Valley’s best Pinot Noirs come from the southern and middle parts of the region. Millbrook Winery is

Now there is a new noir movement happening today in the Hudson Valley. These aren’t the films of the past, like The Big Sleep or To Have and Have Not or Key Largo, but they are every bit as suave and charming and enduring as Bogie himself.

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Who can forget The Asphalt Jungle (Marilyn Monroe’s first movie, a dark and brooding relentless film); Double Indemnity (Edward G. Robinson, Fred McMurray, and Barbara Stanwyck as the ultimate bad girl); Touch of Evil (Charleton Heston is great, but Marlene Dietrich and Orson Wells steal the show as the aging, disillusioned call girl and the corrupt cop’s fall from power—it doesn’t get any better); the gritty jazz infused The Sweet Smell of Success starring Burt Lancaster as the powerful gossip columnist and his sleazy henchman and unctuous publicity agent Tony Curtis—New York in the 1950s like no one has ever showed it); and the James M. Cain classic The Postman Always Rings Twice with Lana Turner at her sultry best.

Sam Spade: Yes, sweetheart?

Effie Perine: There’s a girl wants to see you.

Her name’s Wonderly.

Sam Spade: A customer?

Effie Perine: I guess so. You’ll want to see her anyway. She’s a knockout.

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)

There is nothing more American than Film Noir.

Those classic black and white movies of the 1940s and 1950s, with dark murky scenes flashing spots of silver for light are sheer art. Many of those movies have gone on to become legendary.

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located in a renovated Dutch hip dairy barn that has a magnificent view of the vineyards, Catskill Mountains, and rolling hills of Dutchess County.

Located on the eastern shore about mid-valley, Millbrook makes two Pinot Noirs. Their premium Pinot Noir has fresh aromas of red raspberry, cherry, and violet, followed by bright flavors of pomegranate, tart cherry with a racy acidity, and a long, fruit-driven finish. A beautiful wine.

When the growing season allows, Millbrook also produces three vineyard designate wines in very limited quantities—Block Two West Chardonnay, Block Five East Pinot Noir, and Block Three East Cabernet Franc. Winemaker John Graziano’s super premium Block Five East Pinot Noir is made solely from grapes from the best single block in the vineyard. The wine has won numerous competitions and received rave reviews from many critics.

The winery was founded in 1981 by John S. Dyson, former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development in New York City, as well as former New York State Commissioner of Commerce and Agriculture. It was the first vineyard in the Hudson River region of New York dedicated Photo courtesy of Carlo DeVito

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exclusively to the production of vinifera grapes.

Dyson started growing grapes by planting an experimental acre of vinifera grapes at his family farm in Millbrook. In 1979, he purchased a former dairy farm and converted the 1940s-era barn into an efficiently designed modern winery.

Millbrook Winery’s first commercial vintage was in 1985 and today it produces over 12,000 cases of wine a year.

Of the estate’s 130 acres, 30 are now planted with grapes. Approximately half of the vineyard is planted with Chardonnay, and the remainder consists of Tocai Friulano, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc. Some of Millbrook’s most highly regarded wines include the New York state appellation and the Proprietor’s Special Reserve versions of Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir.

Just down the road is Oak Summit Vineyard. Owner John Bruno maintains with maniacal attention his five-acre vineyard, which produces some of the best Pinot fruit in the entire region. Accordingly, his Pinot Noir is dark, rich, and incredible. Many wine critics rate Benmarl Winery

his wine as some of the best Pinot Noir New York state has to offer. North of there, in Germantown, is a new spot called Tousey Winery.

Ben Peacock and his wife Kimberly oversee this growing family operation with the help of winemaker Bruce Tripp. The Tousey Pinot Noir is very pretty and has been very well received.

Across the river, on the western bank, lies

Brotherhood Winery, America’s

oldest winery, which had been making wine continuously since 1837. The winery, in Washingtonville, has some of the largest and oldest wine cellars in the United States. CEO Cesar Baeza, winemaker Bob Barrow, and production manager Mark Daigle make their Pinot Noir in a Burgundian style: it’s a light brick-red, dry wine. Surprisingly complex, it is barrel-aged for at least six months. It has a berry nose and a hint of vanilla-oak. It is well balanced and soft in texture.

In Marlboro is Whitecliff Vineyards, named for the beautiful mountain range the vineyard faces. Michael and Yancey Migliore Hudson-Chatham Winery

Baco Noir is the other big red grape in the Valley. Baco Noir is a French-hybrid wine created during the phylloxera (vine louse) epidemic of the mid-1800s. With the fear that noble grapes like Pinot Noir would be killed off by the infestations of their vineyards, French growers demanded vines that could survive. Baco Noir was one of the grapes bred to replace Pinot. However, scientists saved Pinot, and Baco was born.

Today there are plantings of Baco in New York, Washington, Oregon, and Canada. Famous wine writers such as Oz Clarke and Matt Kramer are big fans of Baco Noir.

Benmarl’s Baco has had a serious cult following for years. A deep, rich red colored wine with ripe sour cherries on the nose and on the tongue, it’s a dry, medium-bodied wine, much like a rich Pinot or even an Italian Borolo.

Adair Vineyards is close by, where

owner Marc Stopkie also makes a rich, rewarding Baco Noir. And south of Adair is Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, where the Black Dirt red is a nice, Beaujolais-styled Baco, light, fruity, and dry. It, rightly, has won much critical praise.

Two other notable Baco producers are back on the northeast side of the river near the Berkshires.

First is Hudson-Chatham Winery, Columbia County’s first winery, in Ghent. They make three incredible Baco Noirs guided by the hands of award-winning winemaker and grower Steve Casscles. Casscles has been making Baco Noir since the late 1970s, at Benmarl. At Hudson-Chatham he produces three single vineyard wines: Baco Reserve, Casscles Vineyard; Baco Old Vines; and Field Stone Baco Noir. The Reserve is made from Casscles’s vineyard, and produces a highly acclaimed bright sour cherrystyled, dry red wine much like a Burgundy. This is one of the prize wines of the winery. The Old Vines, made from 60-year-old vines, has a dark sour cherry profile with a black pepper finish.

Last is the Field Stone Baco Noir, which is aged with large river rocks dug up on the farm, and

Just north is Castleton-on-Hudson where

THE LAND

ness owned by Harry and Carole Robibero.

You’ll want to try their Rabbit’s Foot, an incredibly smooth blend of 75% Baco Noir mixed with 15% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

A bright sour cherry gives way to a beautiful velvety texture.

kiln-baked, hand-hewn local oak. This is a small production, high quality wine that is incredibly popular.

Brookview Station Winery also produces a Baco Noir. Brookview is located at Goold Orchards, one of the centenary apple farms in the region. Ed and Sue Miller are third generation owners. Their Baco Noir is a dark version of the classic grape, and a real winner.

At the end of the Maltese Falcon, Bogart says to the film’s femme fatale, “I hope they don’t hang you, precious, by that sweet neck. Yes, angel, I’m gonna send you over. The chances are you’ll get off with life. That means if you’re a good girl, you’ll be out in 20 years. I’ll be waiting for you. If they hang you, I’ll always remember you.” Yes, these are wines to die for. And you’ll always remember them.

Brotherhood Winery / Tomas Donoso

Robibero Family Vineyards

Also in Marlboro is Benmarl Winery, the first Farm Winery in New York, and home of the oldest continuously operating vineyards in the United States, which date back to the mid-1800s. One of Benmarl’s signature wines is Baco Noir.

Not far from Benmarl is Robibero Family Vineyards, a family run busi-

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make a lovely Pinot Noir that has gained much press, and they make something called Gamay Noir. Gamay is one of the traditional grapes used to make Beaujolais. Whitecliff’s Gamay Noir is a translucent garnet colored wine, with lots of bright, fresh cherries, and a hint of vanilla. It has refreshing acidity and low tannins.

It is a singular wine in the valley and well worth seeking out.

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The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Where can I find these wines?

Shawangunk Trail: Located on the river’s western bank in the mid-Hudson Valley, the Shawangunk is the valley’s largest wine trail. Adair, Benmarl, Brotherhood, Warwick Valley, and Whitecliff are all on this trail.

Dutchess Wine Trail: Located in Dutchess County, Millbrook is on the trail, while Oak Summit lies nearby (appointment only).

Hudson Berkshire Beverage Trail: This trail includes a distillery and a brewery, and straddles the Hudson Valley and Berkshires. Hudson-Chatham and Brookview are both on this trail. Tousey lies south of these.

Double Indemnity (1944)

Classic Film Noir Here’s a few great noir films to snuggle up with while enjoying a bottle of Hudson Valley red.

The Asphalt Jungle: Marilyn Monroe’s first movie Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck is the ultimate bad girl

Touch of Evil (1958)

Touch of Evil: Marlene Dietrich and Orson Wells: it doesn’t get any better The Sweet Smell of Success: Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis—gritty jazz; New York in the 1950s The Postman Always Rings Twice: Lana Turner at her sultry best

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The Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

All natural & organic.

Gluten-free pizza available.

PIZZA BARN

5125 Route 209, Accord

Photo courtesy of A.M. La Hanko Photography

845-626-2300 pizzabarn.biz

845.633.8734 WWW.TUTHILLTOWN.COM

TASTINGS AND TOURS OFFERED YEAR ROUND

Come in and experience our New Tasting Room.

Over 1000 Wines • Boutique Tequilas Single Malt Scotches • Small Batch Bourbons Monthly Tastings • Wine Dinners

Let’s Talk WINE

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HEATHER MARTIN REALTY ASSOCIATES, INC. 4092 Route 28 Boiceville, New York 12412 office: 845-657-4240 cell: 845-901-6093 Visit us at: www.heathermartinrealty.com VISION • AMBITION • INTEGRITY 103

FLOWERS & ARRANGEMENTS FOR ALL OCCASIONS Country Folk Art Unique Gifts

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17 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY

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Come visit our new location in the center of town next to Oriole 9!

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Stone Ridge Towne Centre, 845.687.0070 Serving Stone Ridge, High Falls, Accord, Cottekill and surrounding areas

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Bring a “touch of spring” into your home with refreshing home decor.

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There’s something about spring that renews one’s energy and generates the need to add a spark of new life to the home. Besides opening the windows and letting the fresh air in, it only takes small changes to freshen and brighten up your home’s color palette and decor. Whether it’s a color piece of pottery, a pillow to spruce-up and rejuvenate the couch, or a vintage piece to hold those fresh May blooms. Here are some great ways to do so much with so little.

SHOP LOCALLY

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Hot Items To Cure Spring Fever!

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1. Himalayan Arts, New Paltz: Crewel-Work Pillows 2. The Tender Land Home, Phoenicia: Glass pendants by Lisa Ann Sparks 3. Downtown Antiques, Accord: Fine Antiques and Collectibles 4. Herzog’s Home Center: Insulated Collapsible Picnic Basket 5. Handmade N More, New Paltz: Handcrafted Bud Vases for spring blooms 6. Spruce, High Falls: An unexpected blend of decorative objects 7. Sorella, Woodstock: Super fun Spring Fashions 8. HiHo, Gardiner: Colorful quilted 100% Cotton Place Mats, reversible & washable.

9. Nectar, High Falls: Paddywax eco-friendly candles & diffusers 10. The Nest Egg, Phoenicia: Fixins for Family Fun like the Camp Board Game 11. Marigold Home Interiors, Kingston: Find the Perfect Home Accents

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12. Emerson Country Store, Mt. Tremper: Kitchen Supplies and Cookware 13. Water Street Market, New Paltz: Antique polished Pottery Wall Sconce 14. High Falls Mercantile: Hand-loomed cotton Carryall Rug Tote 15. B&L, New Paltz: Make it personal with Reflection Beads 16. Pegasus Footwear: Prepare your feet for play 17. Victoria Gardens, Rosendale: Great Garden Supplies like this Retractable Rake 18. 768 Main, Margaretville: Home Furnishings, Jewelry and Vintage Clothing 19. Fresh Herbs and Flowers of all Sorts: Choose from our great local garden centers and farm stands

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OPEN: Mon-Sat 10am-7pm Sun 10am-6pm

Gifts From the Heart Food for the Body Art for the Soul

For All Your Jewelery Needs

With more than 20 shops, over 30 antique dealers, music, and some of the finest views in New Paltz, Water Street Market has something for everyone.

• Diamonds

WATER STREET MARKET

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Handmade Tibetan Rugs, • Repairs Furniture, Jewelry, Arts, Clothings.

• Wedding & Social Invitations • Bridal Party Gifts All at Discounted Prices 845-255-8919 Office www.bljewelers.com

101 Main Street, New Paltz

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B&L Jewelers

• Hot drinks, savory morsels & sweet delicacies • Vintage collectibles, stylish clothes & designer jewelry • One-of-a-kind decorative pieces and fine art

845.255.6277

6 North Front Street, New Paltz

handmadeandmore.com

J.R. Logging & Bulldozing Jim Reuss Jr. 845-706-0645 Kingston, NY

Buyer of Quality Timber

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Fully Insured Selective Timber Harvesting Professional, Honest Service Eco-Friendly Firewood Small, Low-Impact Equipment All Types of Excavating

A Quaint Shopping Village in New Paltz

WATER STREET MARKET

10 Main Street, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-1403 www.waterstreetmarket.com

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Set along the beautiful Wallkill River overlooking the dazzling Shawangunk Ridge, Water Street Market evokes the charm of a Swiss Mountain Village.

The Water Street Market features over 20 award-winning shops offering antiques, arts and crafts, fashions, food and gifts. The quaint open air shopping village is situated on Main Street, by the corner of Historic Huguenot Street and Water Street. Its friendly merchants welcome visitors to relax and stroll, enjoy the views, and possibly pick up a “find� or two along the way.

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Interior Design by Maria R Mendoza Furniture, Home Decor and Accessories Custom Draperies and Reupholstery Rugs and Rug Cleaning Services Decorative Lighting Hunter Douglas Window Treatments

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Transition and Resilience

A Local Movement Toward Community Support

by David McCarthy We have a choice, I suppose, about the looming mega-issues of our times. It may be tempting to give in to feeling powerless or to merely disassociate from the really big stuff. You know: stuff like climate change, the future of energy, and social fragmentation. And then if you do want to do something...well, what? Do you have that nagging feeling that changing your light bulbs just isn’t going to cut it?

The Transition Movement is a refreshing and engaging social movement that is growing by leaps and bounds here in the Hudson Valley. It is designed to address these tough issues by building communities that will consciously change and even thrive under changing conditions down the road. The basic idea is that people connect on a local level and build community while developing projects and skills that will help make the transition to a post-fossil fueled world.Transition groups are now meeting in Kingston, New Paltz, Marbletown, Woodstock, and Saugerties. The

As environmental/social movements go, the Transition work is fairly recent, starting around 2004, but it is deeply Marbletown Group (transigrounded in older (and tionmarbletown.org) was recently ongoing) work such as formally established as the 108th Transition sustainability, and especially permaculture. The Initiative in the United States. There are now over cofounder and most visible leader of the Transia thousand groups worldwide. tion Movement (which downplays hierarchy by design) is an Englishman named Rob Hopkins. His TED Talk called TransiThe idea is that people connect to a World without Oil is well worth on a local level and build tion watching on YouTube, and he’s written widely on the subject. Hopkins has statcommunity while developing ed that his ideas started flowing when projects and skills that will help he tried to apply the principles he had learned in the study of permaculture, make the transition to a which is grounded in agriculture and post-fossil fueled world. care of the land, to broader concerns

about economic activity, especially energy use. An “Energy Descent Action Plan” that was developed in a course he was teaching in Kinsale, Ireland evolved into an actual course of action when it was adopted by the Kinsale Town Council as a roadmap for transition to a sustainable future for the town.

flexible framework and progression, the groups develop projects to put solutions into place. All along the way, it is very much about meeting new people—and yes, having fun.

In many ways, the Transition Movement is an active middle path between the extremes of doom and gloom on the It is an antidote to future shock one hand, and complacency and by consciously anticipating denial on the other.

It is an antidote to the kinds of changes we future shock by consciously anticican reasonably expect pating the kinds of changes we can reasonably expect, The Transition Movement emphasuch as the effects of climate sizes the notion of building resilience, change. And, it encourages the which is the inherent quality of resourcefulness and cooperation we natural systems—including human are going to need to find our way to social systems—to adapt and a more environmentally responsible respond to challenges. What does way of life, starting right in our own that look like in practice? It starts neighborhoods. with conscious community building, using our natural human solidarity as a fundamental value. Then with a

Mohonk Mountain House

CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER 2012 GOLD LIST Named one of the world’s best places to stay!

Overnight getaways, meals, day spa, and more!

Please call 845.255.1000 or visit www.mohonk.com

Get Involved!

.....................................................................

Main international site: transitionnetwork.org Transition USA: transitionus.org

1000 M ou nta in Rest Roa d Ne w Pa ltz, Ne w Yor k 1 2 5 6 1 113

Experience the delightful French cuisine of the renowned chef Fabrice Vittoz.

“One of America’s top 25 eating inns”– Conde Nast Traveler

Country Inn x French Cuisine

WHISTLEWOOD FARM Bed and Breakfast

845-876-6838 www.whistlewood.com 52 Pells Road, Rhinebeck, New York 12572 114

La Duchesse Anne

1564 Wittenberg Road, Mt. Tremper laduchesseanne.com 845-688-5260

Ashokan Dreams B&B An historic converted Catskill Mountains barn with breathtaking mountain and reservoir views in a quiet country setting. Rustic comfort reminiscent of the Adirondack “Great Camps�. Stunning weddings & celebrations.

West Shokan, NY

845-657-2312

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FA LL S

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M E E R C A N T I L

HIGH FALLS MERCANTILE 3.5"

113 Main Street High Falls, NY 12440 845.687.4200 highfallsmercantile.com

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HOME FURNISHINGS, REDEFINED At High Falls Mercantile we source and sell an eclectic, fun and sophisticated mix of unique, fine home furnishings with a point of view that’s become our signature.

We select our wares with an eye toward quality and beauty, timeless design, anticipating you’ll own and appreciate our home décor and accessories for many, many years.

Follow us on TWITTER: larryruhl and on FACEBOOK: facebook.com/highfallsmercantile

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G H HI

EAT, STAY, PLAY

Eat, Stay, Play in

High Falls Mercantile

For a perfect High Falls retreat, check in to Clove Cottages and

enjoy breathtaking views of the Shawangunk Ridge and Mohonk Mountain House from your clean, comfortable room. From there you can easily walk to the many attractions that High Falls offers.

Start your day with breakfast at The Last Bite—not only will you get

healthy, delicious foods (prepared by one of their famous sandwich slayers), you can marvel at the strange and frightening décor. Their fabulous breakfast and lunch menu, including soups, salads and desserts, is complimented by their fine selection of Clove Cottages

free-trade coffees and fresh-squeezed juices.

Shopping is a must in High Falls. There are so many wonderful local stores to explore all within walking distance. Start your

shopping extravaganza at Spruce. Spruce offers a

blend of unique and classic American and European mid-century furniture, art, lighting and decorative objects for your home.

From there, stroll to High Falls Mercantile,

where you will find an array of new and antique dinnerware, rugs, farm tables, furniture and oneof-a-kind accessories, such as vintage jar and garden ornaments. Then head

Nectar

over the bridge to soak in the sound and scene of the rushing waterfalls, as you approach Nectar, a

shop that ignites your senses. Sip a cup of

hand-blended tea while you explore unusual items from every continent as well as pieces from local Hudson Valley artists, jewelers and artisans.

For dinner, sit in the heart of High Falls at The Northern Spy Cafe, nestled among

waterfalls and apple orchards. The Spy offers guests a fabulous bar, romantic atmosphere, and a refreshingly diverse menu that includes duck confit with a port glaze, free-

If you are seeking fabulous shopping, delectable dining, remarkable historic landmarks, and an exquisite natural setting, High Falls is the hamlet for you. This quaint community has a fantastic personality— friendly, chic, and rustic all at the same time.

The Northern Spy Cafe

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High Falls

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After a day of outdoor activities nothing hits the spot like the High HopHeads

range tofu wings, or an eight-ounce

burger. Next stroll over to

HopHeads for a selection of microbrews from American and Belgian craft brewers.

Dedicate another day to learning about the unique history of High Falls and exploring its natural wonders. High Falls

commemorates its origins with the D&H Canal Museum

located in an historic Episcopal church in the heart of the town.

The museum's exhibits include a working model of a lock, a life-sized recreated boat cabin, artifacts, and original paintings by canal-era artists. Get a map at the museum (or online) of the 5-locks walk and take a self-guided tour of refurbished locks 16 through 20 (originally built in 1847). The

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towpath is approximately 1/2 mile in length and can be accessed year-round without charge.

And of course, don’t miss the beautiful waterfalls.

Kayakers and hikers alike enjoy the amazing natural playground in High Falls. If you're around for the warmer months, stop by the

town's weekly outdoor flea market on Sunday to relish in

a large display of interesting and fun objects.

Sunday Market

Falls Café. Their comfort food is made to order using the freshest ingredients. Their

atmosphere is rustic and country.

High Falls Café has a full service bar, drink specials, and a happy hour. Their well-known music events include live weekly music by some amazing local bands as well as many big names.

And once you’re convinced that

you never want to leave, visit Mary Collins Real Estate

to tour the exquisite selection of homes for sale and rent in the area. Mary Collins and her crew of realtors will guide you to just the right home—in the historic hamlet, on surrounding farmland, or a scenic mountain retreat.

High Falls Hot Spots Clove Cottages 200 Rock Hill Road High Falls 845-687-4170 clovecottages.com The Last Bite 103 Main St High Falls 845-687-7779 thelastbitesite.com Spruce 1209 Route 213 High Falls 845-684-4481 sprucedesigndecor.com High Falls Mercantile 113 Main Street, High Falls 845-687-4200 Nectar 1412 Route 213 High Falls 845-687-2870 nectarimports.com The Green Cottage 1204 Route 213 High Falls 845-687-4810 thegreencottage.com

See the video at: www.visitvortex.com/High_Falls_NY

Lounge 8 Second St High Falls 845-687-9463 loungefurniture.com

The Northern Spy Café Route 213 and Old Route 213 High Falls 845-687-7298 northernspycafe.com Hop Heads 2303 Lucas Turnpike High Falls 845-687-4750 hopheadscafe.com D&H Canal Museum 23 Mohonk Road High Falls 845-687-9311 canalmuseum.org High Falls Café 1219 Route 213 and Mohonk Rd. High Falls 845-687-2699 highfallscafe.com Mary Collins Route 213 High Falls 845-687-0911 marycollinsrealestate.com The Egg's Nest 1300 Route 213 High Falls 845-687-7255 theeggsnest.com

Reclaimed wood furniture, architectural items, Fair Trade gifts, jewelry, tea, and furnishings in a range of prices.

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A FEAST FOR THE SENSES! • Interior Decorating Services • Custom home furnishings (as seen at The Emerson Resort) • Unique Bridal Registry

1412 Route 213, High Falls, NY 12440 845-687-2870 www.nectarimports.com

BEAUTIFUL NEW INVENTORY ARRIVING WEEKLY. A celebration of beauty.

Visit our new website!

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B

ring your vision of homeownership to life. Whether you dream of a log cabin in the woods, a historic stone house on a country lane, or a hamlet home where you can walk to where the action is, Mary Collins Real Estate will bring your vision to life.

When you engage with one of our real estate professionals, your vision becomes ours. Our long history of successfully pairing people and houses is a combination of old-fashioned common sense and the latest in technology. With our personal approach and dedication to your needs, you will watch your vision come to fruition. Visit our office in the heart of High Falls, so we can make your real estate vision a reality! –Mary Collins

Route 213 High Falls, Ulster County, NY www.marycollinsrealestate.com 845-687-0911 The Northern Spy Cafe is nestled among waterfalls and apple orchards in the beautiful village of High Falls. The Spy offers guests an inviting comfortable atmosphere to dine and relax. Whether you’re looking for Duck Confit with a Port Glaze, Free-Range Tofu Wings or a great burger, the Northern Spy Cafe will make your dining experience most enjoyable.

NORTHERN SPY CAFE Rt. 213 and Old Rt. 213 High Falls, NY 12440 Call: 845-687-7298 northernspycafe.com

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Great Food. Great Music. Good Times.

Clove Cottages SEVEN PEACEFUL, PRIVATE COTTAGES. Hiking trails nearby.

Homemade granola, organic coffee and Sunday homemade scone delivery.

Simply furnished. Kitchen, bathroom, A/C and heat in each; fireplace and jetted bath in some.

• Saturday & Sunday Brunch • Happy Hour Monday-Friday 4-7 • Wednesday Pasta & Wing Night • Acoustic Thursday Every Week • Wireless Internet

HIGH FALLS CAFE Route 213 & Mohonk Rd. High Falls 845-687-2699

highfallscafe.com

WIFI and llamas onsite. Pet and eco-friendly.

Reservations and availability at clovecottages.com 200 Rock Hill Road, High Falls, NY 12440 Call us at: 845-687-4170

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84 Main Street Phoenicia, NY 12464 Shop Online: www.nesteggshop.com 845-688-5851

An Old Fashioned Country Store We are located in the heart of The Catskill Mountains.

We carry Minnetonka Moccasins, chimes, puzzles, local books & maps, gemstones, homemade fudge, jewelry, candy, t-shirts, games, crafts and so much more. We are packed to the rafters with fun, practical, and hard-to-find merchandise. Come visit us for a unique shopping experience.

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THE NEST EGG

The Strength and Beauty of Nature

768 main

768 main

We’re Growing!

We’re Growing!

Margaretville’s new Margaretville’s new coffeehouse and bakery! coffeehouse and bakery

J & G Log Homes, LLC

Northwoods Custom Homes Log, Timber Frame & Panelized Homes Since 1978 4088 Route 28, Boiceville, New York 12412 www.JGLogHomes.Homestead.com 845-657-6445

Come explore our lively of mix of furniture, Come explore our mix lively vintage clothing, gifts, jewelry, antiques, furniture, vintage clothing, gifts, and antiques, local gourmet foods…and now, you jewelry, and local can have a treatnow, while gourmet foods…and youyou’re shopping! serving up ayou’re lovely array of fresh, canWe’re have a treat while baked-from-scratch goodies including shopping!

We’re serving up a cupcakes, muffins, sticky buns, specialty lovely array of fresh, baked-fromcakes, and the best cup of coffee around! scratch goodies including cupcakes, muffins, sticky buns, specialty cakes, and the best cup Closed Tuesday and Wednesday of coffee around! www.768main.com Closed Tuesday and Wednesday 845.586.6166 www.768main.com 845.586.6166

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Proprietor Profiles | by Jay Blotcher Sure, you could spend your paycheck in the malls that mar the Hudson Valley countryside and enjoy the bargains. But those bargains come at a high price. The sucking sound you hear are your dollars going out of this area, away from local improvements and into the pockets of the chain stores. Happily, there are options that keep much-needed capital in your own neighborhood. Local business people offer a wide

Local businessmen offer a wide array of locally created products and services.

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array of locally created products and services.

While they can’t compete with the slashed prices at the malls, they can offer more personalized service and higher-quality items.

This issue, VISITvortex magazine initiates a new series of local and regional business profiles. This helps readers to select more wisely the next time they go shopping. It’s actually very simple logic in a downturn economy: When you support local businesses, you are helping your neighbor and helping your community. And that means helping yourself.

The Cheese Barrel, Margaretville

| by Jay Blotcher

Photos by Roy Gumpel

W

hether your taste buds lean toward traditional snacking or adventurous savoring, a visit to The Cheese Barrel in Margaretville will be a memorable experience.

The brimming shelves offer a foodie paradise: brandied cherries sit next to marzipan fruits next to spiced apple chai tea. Shitake mushrooms share space with oysters, Russian caviar and calamari. Giant lollipops, organic coffee beans, premium marmalades and vegetable juices are in one corner; gourmet prepared soups, handmade pastas, pickled olives and specialty oils reside in another.

And if the sensory overload is simply too much, soothe yourself with one of the many handscooped ice creams available.

Owner Sue Ihlo arrived in Margaretville 29 years ago, her job history including working for friends as a bartender, counter help at a deli, and as a snack bar worker at a bingo hall back in Queens, New York. “You can say I just like working with public,” she said.

This small rural town in the Catskills was light years away from Queens, but Ihlo was intrigued. She knew she wanted to start her own

business, but wasn’t sure what it would be. The decision was made for her. The owner of The Cheese Barrel, in business for nine years, was ready to sell.

Ihlo, who has a knack for operating on instinct, jumped in with both feet.

There were some caveats to consider before reopening the doors: The Cheese Barrel’s business had suffered in recent months, with traffic dipping even after moving to a new location. But Ihlo was not deterred. “I knew there was more to become of this store.”

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As soon as the emporium traded hands in October 1989, the new owner began augmenting store inventory beyond cheeses, adding a selection of imported gourmet items and coffee beans to the food offerings, and introducing Jelly Belly Beans and more offbeat candy choices.

shelves soon offered items rarely seen in these here parts: caviar, smoked salmon and imported olive oils to complement the wide array of domestic and foreign cheeses that gave the store its namesake.

“I knew that bigger would be better, so I added more stock and goodies,” Ihlo said. “It was a lot of stuff to try to fit in a small space, but I did it, and customers are still surprised on how I fit everything in one small store.”

But The Cheese Barrel was about more than just fancy foods. To lure more mainstream palates, Ihlo added an ice cream parlor. As store traffic grew and more people wanted to sit, nibble and chat, she created extra dining space in the room next door.

As more weekenders from metropolitan areas found their way to Delaware County and craved finer items for their rural retreats, Ihlo complied with the increasing demand. She began reading about trendy comestibles and attending food shows. Her

Ihlo says that expecting the unexpected is the philosophy that guides her business. “Everyday is a new day and you never know what an open door brings in,” she said, quoting Tone Locasto, a neighboring jeweler who passed away in January at age 96.

But nothing could have prepared Ihlo for last August. Tropical storm Irene pounded Delaware County with unexpected fury, flooding Main Street and destroying numerous businesses. The water rose three feet in The Cheese Barrel, causing extensive damage to its ceilings, walls and floors.

But neighborhood solidarity responded to the devastation: fellow business people and

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student volunteers from Margaretville school and Delhi college pitched in to speed the cleanup. The store reopened October 1.

“We had to give the community hope that if The Cheese Barrel was coming back,” Ihlo says, “then so would the rest of Main Street businesses.” Although the store is now bustling in a temporary location, Ihlo plans to reopen the larger location across the street by late spring.

Sue Ihlo cheesysue1@yahoo.com 798 Main Street, Margaretville, NY 845-586-4666 cheesebarrel.com

George Cole Auctions, Red Hook

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ompact in stature, but exuberant in personality and mellifluous of voice, George Cole was born to be an auctioneer. It’s no surprise that his acumen for the trade surfaced as early as age eight.

That year, young George pocketed the sum of five dollars, got on his bicycle and rode over to a local auction. The boy was enthused by the noises around him: the auctioneer’s lively voice, the staccato of bids by adjacent attendees, and the definitive smack of the gavel upon the block, announcing the winning bid.

Still, George kept his head that day, coolly and shrewdly bidding.

| by Jay Blotcher

By day’s end, he had filled his mother’s car with his winning lots three times over—and still had two dollars in his pocket.

But George was not content to rest on his winnings.

He headed over to a local antique peddler with his booty and bargained with the man.

The eight-year-old returned home that day beaming, having turned his $3 investment into an eye-popping $45.

It is safe to say that George Cole was decisively hooked on auctions. While there were some

early career detours into waiting tables and retail sales, Cole would eventually return to the career that was his destiny. That was three and a half decades ago.

His business, George Cole Auctions, located on North Broadway in Red Hook, holds three auctions a month, drawing bidders from the region, the Metro New York area and, thanks to technology, across the globe. GCA specializes in estate liquidation, and the sale of real estate and antiques. (In fact, Cole operates a real estate business on the premises as well.)

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From the start, Cole strove to set himself apart from many fellow auctioneers in this area.

He committed to giving customers realistic estimates on their goods and paying them quickly after an auction was completed. “It’s about treating customers fairly, so they come back again to George Cole Auctions,” he said.

His enthusiasm for all

genres of treasures is infectious, graced by that signature Cole smile Of course, business savvy alone does not make a successful auctioneer. George Cole has a trained eye for fine art and craftsmanship and can easily rattle off a compact history of 19th-century furniture or Hudson River School paintings. This fervor for artifacts does not venture into snobbery; Cole can sing the praises of Hepplewhites as much as vintage toys.

His enthusiasm for all genres of treasures is infectious, graced by that signature Cole smile.

Small wonder that Cole has established intimate connections with area residents who are friends as well as customers. These people will ring Cole first when they are ready to sell off family heirlooms or simply piles of untouched goods.

When a potential customer calls, unsure of what 128

they have in that filled-to-the-brim attic or barn or cellar, Cole will immediately jump into his truck and zip over to see what dusty treasures await him.

The best season for auctions, Cole said, is springtime. Thanks to the annual ritual of spring cleaning, long-forgotten treasures are unearthed and hauled out. Both sellers and buyers prosper, he added. “Bidders who had cabin fever all winter long are eager to get out. They want to do something exciting and they also want to buy themselves a reward for surviving the winter doldrums.”

As a good neighbor, Cole frequently contributes his auctioneering talents gratis to charity events.

One of his proudest moments was working on a benefit auction for former President Jimmy Carter’s Habitat for Humanity. The resulting auction, held in Mexico, raised more than $1 million for the home-building concern. In total, Cole estimates he has raised $5.3 million for local and regional charitable organizations.

While auctioneering is a centuries-old trade, Cole has eagerly taken advantage of technological advancements in the business.

His upcoming auctions are advertised online and all items are photographed so that bidders beyond the Mid-Hudson Valley can take part.

In his 35 years in the business, Cole has seen fellow merchants come and go. He takes every success and failure seriously, learning from both sides.

Asked whether a particular philosophy drives his everyday business, George Cole responds, both in seriousness and jest: “Do right and fear not.”

George Cole Auctions & Realty, Inc. 7578 North Broadway Red Hook, NY 12571 845-758-9114 Auctioneers and appraisers George W. Cole, Robin B. Mizerak, Elmer LeSuer georgecoleauctions.com

Stoutridge Vineyard, Marlboro

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greater awareness of food additives has persuaded many consumers to vote with their pocketbooks, reaching for items that are locally grown, sustainable, allnatural, green-labeled or organic over heavily processed items.

But many people might not realize that wine should invite the same scrutiny. Many bottlers augment their fermented product with additives that include sugars, gelatins and even clays.

They also spray their grapes regularly with pesticides.

| by Jay Blotcher

Into this unsettling scenario comes Stoutridge Vineyard. An estate winery located in Marlboro, New York on land that first supported vineyards in the late 1700s, Stoutridge is pledged to utilizing traditional wine-producing practices that eschew the numerous additives used by other vintners. Owner Stephen Osborn began replanting the vineyards in 2001 and opened the winery in 2006. Many wines and spirits at Stoutridge are locally grown, and all are sourced from state fruits and grains.

Lakes region of this state and in Mendocino County, California, as well as retail work in New York and Massachusetts. Osborn’s vision for Stoutridge was a lofty one, he said, because there were no predecessors to build from.

Stoutridge was the culmination of a career that began in 1983 in winemaking and wine selling, which included vineyard work in the Finger

Stoutridge is a gravity winery, avoiding traditional pumps or filters in winemaking. In addition there is minimal chemical processing.

“I wanted to make unprocessed wine in an energy sustainable way. There were no models; it was a completely new design. We are the only winery in North America making wholly unprocessed wine commercially.�

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“Before 2002, this winery was not possible because the market for it didn't exist,” he said.

Be authentic even if you get crazy looks.

Unlike other vintners, Osborn uses minimal sulfites in the wines and does not add sulfites or sorbates to wines after they are made. All wines are sold exclusively at the winery. By selling locally, Osborn does not have to create processed wines that are designed to withstand hundreds or thousands of miles of traveling.

In addition, the wines retain higher levels of naturally occurring antioxidants.

The greatest challenge to starting the enterprise, Obsorn said, was to generate public demand for it. Only in recent years were consumers insistent on wine that was additive-free and sustainably created.

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Even after people started taking interest in his product, Osborn had some concerns; the look and feel of his wine is more in line with wine made centuries ago before modern machinery.

That is, it has an unrefined, natural quality.

Once they were educated about his product, Osborn said, “people didn't care that it was a little hazy and threw sediments. I was very surprised.”

Regarding Stoutridge’s much-touted sustainable measures, the winery is built into a hillside and the wine cellars are underground to take advantage of the passive geothermal energy.

Electricity is solar generated and Osborn utilizes waste heat from stills to heat the building in the winter through a radiant heating system built into the floor. A true measure of Osborn’s innovation is the existence of bat houses on the premises. The winged rodents control insects in the vineyard, obviating the need for spraying insecticides, traces of which end up in the typical glass of wine.

A promising rise in sales indicates to Osborn that consumers are catching on. The upswing in his fortunes has convinced the vintner to expand his operation to open a distillery in 2012. This will allow Stoutridge to

serve five-year-old wines rather than the current inventory of three-and-a-half-year-old wines.

Osborn is currently thriving in a very uncrowded field. However, he welcomes the prospect of competitors who utilize his sustainable vineyard business model.

“The more, the merrier,” he said. “The more diversity of business models, the better.

Support them.”

To those who may get industry resistance in following his green business model, Osborn offers a pep talk.

“Be authentic even if you get crazy looks,” he said. “Don't be afraid to be passionate. Create a good plan and stick to it. Do not second-guess in the heat of the moment.”

Stoutridge Vineyard 10 Ann Kaley Lane Marlboro, NY 12542-5150 845-236-7620 stoutridge.com

Local wines made naturally and sustainably.

Open Friday - Sunday 11am - 6pm all year for tours and tastings

845.236.7620

www.stoutridge.com for 14 for for 14 14

years years years

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Your Night Skies For 2012:

The Top Skywatching Events This Year

by Sean O’Dwyer

MID-MARCH: JUPITER & VENUS DOUBLE-PLANET No need to beware these Ides of March. The Earth is zipping round the back of the sun, leaving Venus and Jupiter in its wake and, after sunset, both planets are visible in the western sky, just three degrees apart. (In fact, as the two brightest planets, you may be able to spot them during dusk.) Jupiter is farther from the sun than the Earth is, so it’s never “in phase”—that is, we never see a crescent Jupiter. However, Venus is closer to the sun than the Earth is, and mid-March will be close to quarter-Venus (clearly visible in a small backyard telescope). On March 25 and 26, the crescent moon slips by to enrich the doubleplanet scene.

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MAY 5th: THE BIGGEST FULL MOON The moon will be closest to the Earth at 11:59pm on May 5, just 221,801 miles from home. (If Interstate 87 extended to the moon, and you followed the speed limit of 65mph for 24 hours a day, you could drive there in just 142 days.) When the moon is so close, it affects tides even more than usual, making low tides exceptionally low and high tides exceptionally high.

The top six astronomical events for 2012 are easily visible from the Hudson Valley, with no special equipment required.

JUNE 5th: VERY RARE TRANSIT OF VENUS ACROSS THE FACE OF THE SUN This was a huge public hit when it last happened in 2004, and that date is so recent you might think this happens all the time. Not so. The next previous time we humans were able to observe this phenomenon was in 1882. Before that, it was seen a total of only four times by human eyes, and the next transit won’t occur until 2117!

So this is it for me and you and everyone we know. As with a solar eclipse, or any time you’re viewing the sun, viewers are warned to take all the necessary precautions when looking at the sun. In the Hudson Valley, the transit will start around 5:10pm as Venus starts to creep onto the northern edge of the sun’s disc. The event will be visible, weather permitting, until the sun sets around 7:23pm.

OUTDOORS DECEMBER 25th: CHRISTMAS NIGHT, THE MOON AND JUPITER Visible in the east right after dark, and less than half a degree to the northwest, giant Jupiter hovers brilliantly over the waxing gibbous moon. Binoculars will allow you to easily pick out Jupiter’s four largest moons, from west to east: Europa, Io, Ganymede, and Callisto. And a moderately powerful telescope will show Io’s shadow trailing behind as it transits Jupiter’s cloud tops.

DECEMBER 13th -14th: GEMINID METEOR SHOWER The Geminids are the most reliable shower of the year, producing bright, colorful, moderately swift meteors that sometimes break apart as fireballs. The shower is thought to be intensifying every year and recent showers have seen 120 to 160 meteors per hour under optimal conditions. In fact, most meteor experts now put the Geminid shower at the top of the year’s list, surpassing even the Perseid shower. The best viewing time is in the early hours, around 2 to 3am, when the Geminid is almost directly overhead. (This is because, as the Earth spins, the side facing the direction of its orbit around the sun scoops up more debris.) But any time after dark is good. Just make sure you wrap up warm.

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AUGUST 12th: PERSEID METEOR SHOWER The Perseids are tiny grains of dust and dirt from the comet Swift-Tuttle, the nucleus of which is about six miles across—similar in size to the object that killed off the dinosaurs. SwiftTuttle is due to return to the inner solar system in 2126 but, no, it won’t hit us. Usually the year’s strongest shower, the Perseid’s typical maximum rate is 30 to 70 meteors per hour— though sometimes it’s much higher. Meteors are typically just grains of sand from comet tails ripping through the upper atmosphere at 44 miles per second, where they heat up to more than 3,000°F. A few are as big as peas or marbles. Being too fast, short-lived, and unpredictable, meteors are best viewed with the naked eye, wrapped in a warm blanket.

In 2011 the moon was bright, obscuring the shower’s fainter streaks, but this year the moon will be past last quarter, causing no loss of viewing awesomeness.

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A “hotbed of intellectual and aesthetic adventure.” — New York Times

BARDSUMMERSCAPE july 6 – august 19, 2012

Bard SummerScape 2012 presents seven weeks of opera, music, theater, dance, films, and cabaret.

The season’s focal point is the 23rd annual Bard Music Festival, which this year celebrates the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, whose remarkable career shaped not only the history of music, but also the ways in which that history was transmitted and communicated to the public.

SummerScape takes place in the extraordinary Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts and other venues on Bard College’s stunning Mid-Hudson Valley campus.

Tickets and information:

845-758-7900 fishercenter.bard.edu Sign up now for the Fisher Center e-newsletter. Emembers receive special offers, including discounts, throughout the season. Text “FISHERCENTER” to 22828 or e-mail fishercenter@bard.edu to sign up.

Opera

THE KING IN SPITE OF HIMSELF (Le roi malgré lui) Music by Emmanuel Chabrier Libretto by Emile de Najac and Paul Burani American Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Leon Botstein

Directed by Thaddeus Strassberger Set design by Kevin Knight A brilliant opéra-comique scored by a master of harmony sosnoff theater July 27 – August 5

Dance

COMPAGNIE FÊTES GALANTES Choreography by Béatrice Massin Taking baroque dance into the 21st century sosnoff theater July 6 – 8

Theater

THE IMAGINARY INVALID (Le malade imaginaire)

By Molière Directed by Erica Schmidt The last play by a comic master theater two July 13 –22

Bard Music Festival

Twenty-third Season

SAINT-SAËNS AND HIS WORLD Two weekends of concerts, panels, and other events bring the musical world of French composer Camille Saint-Saëns vividly to life.

Weekend One Paris and the Culture of Cosmopolitanism Weekend Two Confronting Modernism August 10–12 and 17–19

Film Festival

FRANCE AND THE COLONIAL IMAGINATION The legacy of French rule in Africa and Southeast Asia Thursdays and Sundays, July 12 – August 12

Spiegeltent

CABARET and FAMILY FARE

Cabaret, music, fine dining, and more July 6 – August 19

Photo: ©Scott Barrow

Annandale-on-Hudson, New York

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Ongoing events:

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1st

Saturdays, 5pm – 8pm Arts Society of Kingston (ASK) ASK's openings are elegant affairs with wine, hors d'oeuvres and art enthusiasts.

These monthly events are part of Kingston's First Saturday art events.

845-338-0331. askforarts.org

2nd

Saturdays, 2pm Woodstock Poetry Society A Woodstock Second Saturday event featuring guest poets. Woodstock Town Hall, 76 Tinker Street, Woodstock. For info contact Phillip Levine at 845-246-8565 woodstockpoetry.com

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nd Saturdays

Beacon Great art, gallery openings, food, antique stores and shopping, historic sites and entertainment. Citywide celebration of arts, second Saturday monthly. Main Street, Beacon. 845-546-6222. beaconarts.org

March

Pondskimming Contest and Beach Bash Come on out to Hunter Mountain for an outrageously good time as contestants try to skim across a pond without getting too wet. Prizes for best skim, best costume and best splash! 13 and older, no ski poles permitted. Hunter Mountain. huntermtn.com

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production travels to the Met from the Royal Opera House. Piotr Beczala and Paulo Szot also star, with the Met’s Principal Guest Conductor Fabio Luisi. $23, $21 member, $16 children (12 and under). Bardavon, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie. 845-4735288. bardavon.org

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April, 12pm The Met: Live In HD Massenet’s Manon Anna Netrebko’s dazzling portrayal of the tragic heroine in Laurent Pelly’s new us on

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April, 12pm Relay for Life: Marist College Held at Longview Park in Poughkeepsie to benefit the American Cancer Society (the goal is $65,000). Music, food, luminara bags and other activities.

Donations: contact Anna Trocino, Anna.

Trocino@cancer.org. 3399 North Road, Poughkeepsie. 845-575-3000. marist.edu

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March, 11am – 2pm Spring Extravaganza Photos with the Easter Bunny! Easter egg hunt (ages 2-10), egg decorating, coloring contest, face painting, pony rides, and much more!

Poughkeepsie Plaza, 2600 South Rd./ Rte. 9, Poughkeepsie. 845-471-4265. poughkeepsieplaza.com

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EVENTS

April

April, 1pm Hike the Roosevelt Farm Lane Join in on a moderate 1.5-mile hike. Led by a National Park Service Ranger who talks about FDR’s lesserknown career as a tree farmer. Trailhead on Rt. 9G opposite the entrance to the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic site.

845-229-6214. nps.gov

April, 2pm – 4pm Take a Hike Hike down Pigeon Creek and Sequoia Loop trails to the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) Station to learn about water and what it tells us. Preregister at bsnyder@ frostvalley.org. Frost Valley, 2875 Denning Road, Claryville, NY. Free event.

845-985-2291. frostvalley.org

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April, 9am Guided Bird Walk Enjoy a walk with experienced bird watchers on Clermont’s stunning grounds. Exceptional bird

hudson valley

March 31

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

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watching, with a variety of waterfront, parkland and forested habitats. $3.

Clermont Historic Site, 1 Clermont Avenue, Germantown. 518-537-4240. friendsofclermont.org

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April “Understanding Past Native American Cultures In The Hudson Valley Through Archaeology’ A lecture by Eugene J. Boesch that examines Native American cultures and adaptations in southeastern New York, from the area's earliest occupation by humans to the period of initial European exploration. Beacon Sloop Clubhouse, 2 Red Flynn Drive, Beacon. beaconsloop.org

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April, 11am – 4pm The Chancellor’s Sheep & Wool Showcase A fun outdoor festival for crafters, families, shoppers, and curiosity-seekers. Over two dozen vendors of fine wool products.

Live sheep shearing demos, herding, hot food and children's crafts. ($8 per vehicle; Friends of Clermont $6) Clermont Historic

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Site, 1 Clermont Avenue, Germantown.

518-537-4240. friendsofclermont.org

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April, 9am Learn-to-Run Program Become a runner in 10 weeks. Each week the running is increased, and the walking is reduced.

Qualifications: the ability to walk briskly for 20 minutes; must be member of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail Association.

Registration required, at Hudson Valley Rail Trail Depot, 101 New Paltz Road.

845-691-2066. hudsonvalleyrailtrail.net

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April, 9am – 5pm Free Entrance Days in the National Parks Visit Hyde Park’s Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, free. Enjoy beautiful land, history and culture, and nurture a healthy lifestyle. 9am-5pm. Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.

800-FDR-VISIT. nps.gov/hofr/index.htm

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April, 4pm Howland Chamber Music Circle: Voxare String Quartet The New York Times has praised Voxare’s “penetrating tone and lucid textures.” They will be playing Copland’s “Two Pieces,” Terry Riley’s “Cadenza” and Dvorak’s “American” quartet. $30, $10/St. Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main Street, Beacon.

845-831-4988. howlandculturalcenter.org

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April, 8pm & 29th 3pm Dancing for The CENTER: A Lineage of Love.

Dance "elders" Elaine Colandrea and Abby Saxon along with emerging dance talent Leighann Kowalsky present a diverse evening of dance to benefit The CENTER's recovery effort from Hurricane Irene.

Choreographers include Katherine Duke, Joel Hanna, Miriam Mahdaviani, Michele Ribble, Laurie Sepe Marder, and Martha Ross Tobias. $20; $10 children. Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. 845-8763080. centerforperformingarts.org

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April, 1pm – 5pm & 29th 12pm – 4pm Beer & Fine Food Festival Tasty morsels carefully complement rich brews. It’s about education, beer, homebrewing, food pairings, cooking demos with great chefs...and it’s about good friends coming together. Hunter Mountain, Hunter.

518-263-4223. tap-ny.com

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April, 10am – 4pm Spring Plow Day The Hudson Valley Draft Horse Association’s annual Spring Plow at Saunderskill Farm in Accord. FREE. Meet the teamsters, watch the animals plow the field, take a wagon ride, have some good food, children's activities, and much more.

Info: email Robin dmjure33@frontiernet. net, or 845-294-9016.

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April, 9am – 1pm 11th Anniversary Autism Walk & Expo Rain or shine. Forms available online.

Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck.

845-331-2626. autismwalkhv.org

May, 8pm Hudson Valley Philharmonic V Three For Brubeck Music Director/Conductor Randall Craig Fleischer. Massenet “Phèdre Overture.”

Dvorak “Symphony no. 8, op.88, G major.”

Brubeck “Travels in Time for Three.” Prices range from $26 to $48 based on seat location. Bardavon, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie. 845-473-2072. bardavon.org

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May, 1pm – 5pm 5th Annual Eleanor Roosevelt Knit-In Come to knit or crochet acrylic yarn blocks 7'x9' to be assembled into afghans to donate to those in need. See films on

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May, 4pm – 7:30pm Farm, Food, and Music Festival Country Farmers’ Market at Clermont State Historic Site. Locally farmed products & crafts, dinner fare, and local music.

EVENTS

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May 12th Annual Women’s Health & Fitness Expo Top speakers, authors, medical professionals, artists, and experts.

Take advantage of over 100 seminars, workshops and interactive experiences— from cooking demos and free health screenings to exercise and dance. 360 Washington Avenue, Kingston.

845-802-7025. womenshealthexpo.com

May, 3pm Bard College Conservatory of Music and Fisher Center present: Conservatory Sundays: Conservatory Orchestra With music director Leon Botstein and soloist Weigang Li, violin. Suggested donation: $20 orchestra seating; $15 parterre/ first balcony; minimum donation $5. Free to Bard community with ID. Program includes Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky.

Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Sosnoff Theater. 845-758-7900. fishercenter.bard.edu

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May, 1pm Mother’s Day Tea Enjoy a family themed tour of Clermont’s gardens and share a beautiful tea with a mother you love ($12 per person, reservation required).

Clermont Historic Site, 1 Clermont Avenue, Germantown. 518-537-4240. friendsofclermont.org

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May, 2pm – 4pm Take a Hike Join us for a hike to one of our more popular waterfalls, Devil’s Hole, as you enjoy the fresh budding trees and new growth of spring along the way. Advanced registration: bsnyder@ frostvalley.org. Frost Valley, 2875 Denning Road, Claryville, NY. Free event.

845-985-2291. frostvalley.org

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May Rhinebeck Car Show & Swap Meet The Swap Meet at Rhinebeck has been a favorite among car collectors from all over the Northeast for years. The most vendorfriendly Swap Meet around. Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Route 9, Rhinebeck.

845-876-4000. To register and for show times: rhinebeckcarshow.com.

Free admission. Clermont Historic Site, 1 Clermont Avenue, Germantown.

518-537-4240. friendsofclermont.org

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May 8pm Fridays & Saturdays, Fiddler on the Roof 3pm Sundays The Tony Award winning show that’s brimming with love, laughter and a heartwarming score. Directed by Bill Ross (The Sound of Music). $26; $22 seniors & children. Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. 845-876-3080. centerforperformingarts.org

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the life of Eleanor Roosevelt and enjoy refreshments. Reservations required; reservation form at townofhydeparknyhistoricalsociety.org. A fundraiser for the Town of Hyde Park Historical Society.

visitvortex.com

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April, 1pm – 4pm Healthy Kids Day A free, fun-filled day of activities designed to promote healthy kids and families. Healthy Kids Day is the nation's largest health day, bringing children and families together and providing the education, activities and experiences that teach good health and foster connections through fitness, sports, fun, healthy habits and shared interests.

As a result, youth and families achieve greater health and well-being for their spirit, mind and body. Frost Valley, 2875 Denning Road, Claryville, NY. 845-9852291. frostvalley.org

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May, 11am – 5pm 4th Annual Pet Palooza On-site rabies clinic and microchipping, interactive games for humans and their furry companions, pet product and service vendors, dog agility demonstrations, live music, fabulous food and lots more. Fun for the entire family! Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Route 9, Rhinebeck. 845-876-4000. hudsonvalleypetpalooza.com

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May, 8pm Fridays & Saturdays, 3pm Sundays The Wedding Singer Get ready to party like it's 1985 as The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. It's an irresistible, charming and energetic musical romantic comedy that you will fall in love with!

Presented by The Castaway Players Theatre Company. Tickets: $26; $22 seniors & children. Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. 845-876-3080. centerforperformingarts.org

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May, 10am – 5pm & 27th 11am – 4pm Rhinebeck Antiques Fair 2012 Exceptional antiques dealers, a pristine venue, and the best show management team in the business. Fresh, innovative and enticing to antiques lovers of all ages and interests. Indoors. Free parking, food court, on-site delivery. $10. Children under 12 are free. Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Route 9, Rhinebeck. 845-876-4000. rhinebeckantiquesfair.com

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May Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair One of America’s largest variety of art & craft demonstrations, regional musicians, and the very best New York state wines and locally produced handcrafted specialty foods. Ulster County Fairgrounds, New Paltz. 845-679-8087. quailhollow.com

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This spring,

experience the romance

of Huguenot Street

Historic Huguenot Street, an early French settlement, includes six 18th century stone houses, a reconstructed 1717 French church, a burial ground, a research library, a portrait gallery and ten landscaped acres.

Rotating exhibits feature our vast collection of original documents, paintings, and photographs.The charming village of New Paltz is just steps away—so make a day of it. For hours and tour information, visit our website. a NatioNal Historic laNdmark district

DuBois Fort Visitor Center 81 Huguenot Street Downtown New Paltz 845.255.1889 | 1660

www.huguenotstreet.org

Spring‌

Ulster County Style

ARTS & CULTURE

| WINE & CUISINE

|

RESORTS & LODGING

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YEAR-ROUND FUN

Experience the style of Ulster County this spring. Stay at one of our luxurious resorts, quaint lodges or comfortable campgrounds and find plenty to do with world famous Main streets; a maritime museum; 350 miles of hiking trails; 12 pristine golf courses; hundreds of restaurants, art galleries, outdoor theatres, a renowned wine trail and much more.

A world of adventure Hudson Valley/Catskill Regions

139

Check out who flies out of Stewart.

Flying is not just about where you go, but how you get there. Stewart International Airport’s comfortable size, modern amenities, friendly staff and focus on customer care makes flying hassle-free.

Featuring service from Delta, JetBlue and U.S. Airways, Stewart offers the smoothest way to fly into and out of the region, with its carriers providing direct flights to 5 cities and over 100 destinations with connection.

Conveniently located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, Stewart is easily accessible from I-84, the New York State Thruway and Metro-North Railroad.

So relax, put your seatbacks in the reclined position and enjoy your trip.

Stewart. Your neighborhood International Airport.

panynj.gov