DAVID AND COLIN'S ENGAGEMENT PARTY

My son and his partner David had a big engagement party at David's parents house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on August 3rd and 4th, 2012.  It was a great party Friday evening, Saturday evening, and the Sunday morning parting.  Here are some pictures and a You-tube taken during the party.

David and Colin have been together for about 5 years.  They currently live in Los Angeles, where David is studying at Cal Arts, and Colin is looking for work after taking time off for the summer break in Lancaster.

Colin is on the left facing the camera, David is on the right, profile to the camera.  The party was in the backyard of David's folks in Lancaster, under a tent on the large patio next to the pool.

I like this picture because it shows a moment of an affectionate touch between two people who are completely comfortable with being together.  Facing the camera is David's Grandmother Doris (on his dad's side of the family) who is a wonderfully articulate person, and a great fan of David's.

This is the entrance to the tent off the driveway,  where people arrived for the party.

One of the few posed pictures from the party.  L-R Rahmin, Aurora, three friends whose names escape me, Colin, and Craig.

David's mother, Linda, is in the blue dress, while David's older brother is facing Linda.

David's dad, brother, and sister-in-law.

Backs to the camera, L-R, Aurora, Paige, and Gabe.  In the distance, Deezer (David's father) and friends at the salad buffet table.

A view of people hanging out at the pool party.

Chelsea, my partner, relaxing for a moment.

Grandson Caleb was the only child at the party.  He mostly was in the pool, and when he was not swimming he was reading a book.

In the background, the prefoessional photographer at the party is taking a picture of Caleb with book, while in the foreground David's sister-in-law and Rahmin chat while Chelsea looks on.

My younger daughter Amanda poses for the camera, at the table with old friend Amber from high school days at Stuyvesant and ever since then.

My older daughter Jonica (on left in picture) takes a break with two other women in little black dresses.

Jonica talks with Colin, while Paige's younger daughter looks on.

Paige's older daughter (face to camera) talks with a friend.  The flower arrangements on the tables were all created by Jonica.

L-R Paige (who came from South Carolina for the party, an old friend of Colin's from the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC), Jonica, Colin, and Paige's younger daughter.

A group around the salad buffet table.  The food was wonderful.  Great salads, and some pig based dishes that were excellent for the meat eaters.

Rusty's Speech At Colin and David's Engagement Party  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7o3G_9p3aY

I gave a toast to David and Colin, with some tips on marriage from someone who has been already divorced two times, but has made it 20 years and counting on the third try.

There was a motor home annex at the party for people who needed a period in air conditioned comfort from time to time.  Paige and her daughters slept here.  L-R Colin, Craig, Amber.

People standing around after the party was over. There was a sad feeling that "the party's over, its time to call it a day" as everyone prepared to travel home.

Add caption

Miss Chelsea reclining in the Motor Home, listening to conversation.

An already married couple: Amber and Rahmin, in the motor home.

Jonica's flower arrangements all set up on the bar on the day after when the party was almost over, with people leaving for Los Angeles, New York, South Caroline, and other points in Pennsylvania.  In the background Colin and Craig fold table clothes and take down the tables.  Chelsea sits on the steps to the hot tub whirlpool with a pensive look on her face.

With the tables done, Colin, David, and Amanda chat on the patio.

Caleb was not feeling well after to days submerged in the pool.  Mother Amanda and Amber try to cheer him up, while Chelsea observes and thinks.

This is me, smiling at how wonderful the get together turned out to be, and wishing everyone good luck as we parted.  Thank you Deezer and Linda for having us all at your home on an occasion we will never forget.

2012 ROSENDALE MUSIC FESTIVAL, PART I

The 34th Annual Rosendale Music Festival and Street Fest took place on July 21st and 22nd.
More than 25,000 people attended the festival over two days.  Rosendale has gone through a considerable metamorphosis during the time of the festival.  There is much evidence of vitality on Main Street, which is the long axis from bridge to bridge of the festival activities.  There are five stages distributed off Main Street with 5 different bands playing every hour from 11:00AM-7:00PM Saturday and Sunday.

This row ofvendors on Main Street included (R-L) Green T-Shirts and Bags, Pine Hill Books, and Freshly Made Paella.

The building housing the Guitar Store, across from the Pine Hill Books Booth in front of 391 Main Street is a good example of how painting the Edwardian Era buildings to bring out their details has dressed up the Rosendale Main Street to make it more festive and inviting.

Festival goers browsing at the Pine Hill Books booth appreciated the mix of Steampunk, science fiction, fantasy, horror, localhistory, and childrens books.  The comics and vinyl records were also popular.

The Pine Hill Books booth crew included Caleb, Marilyn, and Chelsea.

The Green T-Shirt and Bag people had attractive merchandise.  They came to the festival from Manhattan.

The Rosendale THeater has been taken over by a group of people from the town and is run cooperatively.  A film festival was offered as a part of the Music Festival.  Home made ice cream was sold throughout the festival from a vendor cart in front of the cheese store.

An intense band of two plays their country rock music at one of the smaller festival stages at the upper bridge in Rosendale.

Sunshine, good music, and friendly sunflowers made this venue featuring country and folk music attractive to many at the festival.

Hula hoop dancers in front of the musicians were a fun aspect of the festival.

This little old house nestled on Main Street is a pleasing part of the street.

The Interactive Drum Area in front of one of the stores was a great idea, and one of the best ideas at the Festival.  People of all ages would stop by as the walked up Main Street and join the impromptu groups playing the percussion instruments.  Sometimes the rhythms were enchanting.

If you look through the front counter of the paella stand you can see the home made "Catskill Mountain Rickshaw" carrying a festival  goer down Main Street.

The booth of the Roller Derby "Team Misfits" from Kingston attracted a lot of attention.  They are joing a local Roller Derby league.

The listing of the bands playing at the "Firehouse Stage" on Saturday.  Big Bowl of Soul was at 1:00PM. They were excellent!

In my opinion, this was the best band at the festival: Big Bowl of Soul."

The lead singer for Big Bowl of Soul.

The trombone and sax players from Big Bowl of Soul.

The weird special mirror in the mirror booth along Main Street.  A passerby has taken their picture in the mirror as it rotates.

SHANDAKEN TOWN BOARD MEETING, AUGUST 6, 2012

Attendees at the August 6, 2012 Shandaken Town Board Meeting discussing  the designation of land use on the Belleayre Ridge.

Heather Roberts makes her Parks and Recreation report, which included a recommendation of Gilmour Consulting as consultant to advise on the creation of a recreation plan for the town, and discussion  or possibilities concerning the use designation of the 1200 acre Belleayre Ridge parcel.

Kathy Nolan commented on the proposal to outlaw the use of fracking fluid for snow removal, and on the designation of the 1200 acre parcel.

Gary  Bales, representing Dean Gitter  commenting on the use designation or the 1200 acre parcel purchased from Gitter in 2011. 

Walter Crump, a landowner from Lexington and Shandaken who recommended the abolishing of the “Forever Wild” policy.

Man who recommended the outlawing of transport of fracking brine  on Shandaken roads

By Rusty Mae Moore

SHANDAKEN TOWN BOARD SEEKS YET ANOTHER MUSEUM DIRECTOR

            Board Member Jack Jordan reported at the Town Hall meeting Monday that the newly appointed Shandaken Town Museum Director Earl Hatleburg of Chichester has resigned.  Hatleberg was just introduced at the July Town Board meeting, and served for less than a month. No reasons were given for his resignation at the town meeting, but later discussion with a Board member suggested that a disagreement as to pay and hours was the issue..  Jordan said that a search for a new Museum Director will be conducted.

            The Town Museum, located on Academy Street in Pine Hill, is housed in a nationally landmarked former school house built in the 1920’s.

            The museum was founded in the 1980’s by Nancy Smith, who is currently the Shandaken Town Historian.  Smith resides in Big Indian.

            In recent weeks Nancy Smith has been leading a band of volunteers in the task of refurbishing the exhibits in the ground floor of the museum.  Each Thursday at 10:00AM several energetic senior citizens appear at the museum to wipe down with Clorox towelettes the exhibits of the tools of everyday life for families in the rural 1900’s.  There are sets of carpentry tools, cobblers tools, printers tool, seamstresses tools, cooking implements, farming and gardening  implements among others.  There is a handsome 19^th Century piano, and a display of period military uniforms worn by sons of Shandaken.  One of the most interesting displays is a treadmill to be powered by a goat or dog which provided power for washing machines or fanning mills.  There is a light fixture from the Phoenicia Bridge of the early 20^th Century.

            The upstairs level of the museum has a series of alcoves focused on each of the 7 hamlets which make up the Town of Shandaken: Mt. Tremper, Mt. Pleasant, Phoenicia, Shandaken, Big Indian,  and Pine Hill.  A new feature of the display is several mannequins dressed in late 19^th and early 20^th Century apparel.

            It is fervently hoped that a new Museum Director will be found soon so that the museum can reopen on a regular basis.  There have been four Museum Directors since the summer of 2009, with the Museum remaining closed for months at a time between directors.

            The Shandaken Town Museum is important to both the economic and cultural development of the town.  Residents will be able to learn about the history of their community, and visitors will be given a better sense of the people and families which have evolved into the population of the town today.

USE OF BELLEAYRE RIDGE PARCEL

            The DEC  purchased a parcel of 1200 acres lying between the ski area and the Belleayre Lake at Pine Hill from Dean Gitter in 2009.  This land lies in Shandaken, and it has been up to the town to recommend to the DEC the use classification of the land: “wilderness”, etc.  Several members of the public in attendance raised different points of view on the best use for the land.  It was eventually decided by the Board that the 1200 acre parcel should have the same use rating as the Belleayre ski area and the Pine Hill lake, which will facilitate the interchange of recreationists using both areas.  This land is part of the “Forever Wild” program.

The Parks and Recs Board recommended the “intensive use” classification for the Bellayre Ridge.

          Kathy Nolan, a former Democratic candidate for Town Supervisor, proposed a designation of the use for the “Belleayre Ridge” as “Wilderness”.  Nolan remarked that “wilderness areas bring millions of dollars.”

            Gary Bales, a regular attendee at Town Board meetings who is associated with Dean Gitter  said to the Town Board “Your vote tonight must be based on what is best for the town.   The is property adjacent to Belleayre .  Orda is about to take it over.  We should be looking to maximize the potential for recreational activity”  Bales advised the Town Board.

            He said the use classification should give maximum opportunity for the use of the land.  The Shandaken Town Board decision is important, but “the DEC will make their decisions.”

            Town Board member Jack Jordan said ”The best use [for the Bellayre Ridge] is definitely something that would contribute to our economic advancement.”

           “If Bellayre expands it would create the possibility of economic development” Jordan continued.

            The Town Board voted 4-0 (Member Bernstein was absent) in favor of classifying the “Belleayre Ridge” parcel for “intensive use”.  As stated in Resolution #123-12  “this conforms to the classification assigned to Belleayre Ski Center and the Belleayre Beach, and is appropriate because the land is, in fact, and extension of Belleayre Mountain.” The parcel remains in the “Forever Wild” distinction in the Catskill Forest Preserve.

PROHIBITION ON FRACKING FLUIDS

            The Town Board passed a resolution prohibiting the use of used fracking brine as a de-icing agent on Shandaken roads.  One speaker from the public proposed that the transportation of trucks carrying fracking fluid also be prohibited, but the Board did not make a formal resolution on this.

 

 

PHOENICIA SEWER OFFSETTING DEFAULTS

            Supervisor Rob Stanley explained in his remarks that the Town Board considered that the  DEC is indefaulty for not providing funds for an “approvable” sewer project.  The Environmental Faciities Corporation considers the town to be in default for not approving a sewer plant with the funds which were available in the block grant. 

            To the writer of this blog, the Phoenicia sewer issue continues its arcane  evolution toward a solution which will be feasible for Phoenicia and New York City.

 CHANGES IN SHANDAKEN DAY SCHEDULE AUGUST 25

            Stanley announced that Shandaken Day will be held only in Pine Hill.  The Move to Highmount in the evening which was originally planned has been cancelled due to complications related to the takeover of Belleayre by ORDA.

STREAM STABILIZATION

            Work on stream stabilization will get underway in coming weeks, to be completed before September 30.  Funding comes from the Natural Resources Conservation Service coordinated through the Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District.  Bid specifications are available, and contract awards will be made on August 20.

 

 

NOTES ON THE SHANDAKEN TOWN MEETING OF 7/2/12

[Report by Rusty Mae Moore, Pine Hill]

Shandaken Museum Director Appointed

 The official Shandaken Museum (in Pine Hill) has been closed most of the time in the past two years. The head of the Library Board announced at the meeting that Earl Hatleberg, who resides in Chichester, has been appointed Museum Director.

 Hatleberg said that a business plan is being created for the museum, along with a budget and the establishment of priorities for moving forward. He commented that the museum is “nicely done,” and lauded the creative work of Nancy Smith (the Town of Shandaken Historian) in setting up the museum.

 The Museum will be soon open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00PM to 4:00PM. The Museum Director will be paid $10.00 per hour.

 [I am so glad that a Museum Director will now be available to run the Museum, which is an important attraction for both Shandaken and Pine Hill. Studies presented to the Pine Hill Main street Committee suggested that about 25 percent of leisure travelers are motivated by interest in history. Our local businesses depend on drawing in spending customers from both local and non-local categories. RMM]

                                          SHANDAKEN TOWN MUSEUM, PINE HILL

Log Jammed Streams Imperil Bridges In Shandaken

 Rick Ricciardella, who is the water system Supervisor in Phoenicia as well as a Realtor, again stressed the risk of flooding and bridge washouts if logjams are not removed from streams in Shandaken. Supervisor Stanley pointed to an intergovernmental relations issue between the Town, Ulster County, and FEMA in dealing with the logjam problem. Many of the bridges are maintained by Ulster County. FEMA will eventually provide funding, but money has not yet been released. Stanley also said that “many of the jams are on private land and people do not have the money to have the work done.”

                                         BRIDGE DOWN ALONG STONY CLOVE, 9/11

Two Large Public Events Given Permits for August

 The Town Board has the responsibility to issue “Public Assembly” permits for public events likely to have 500 or more people in attendance.

 Resolutions were passed to approve permits for the Ulster County Firemen’s Convention to be held in Phoenician on Saturday July 12, and for the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, also in Phoenicia from August 2 through August 5.

 The resolutions stated that the Town of Shandaken is “in receipt of documentation illustrating compliance under the law providing the necessary insurance, permits, security, parking, lighting, sanitation, emergency and evacuation requirements” for both events.

 A member of the public raised issues as to whether all fire codes had been met by the organizers of the event. He did not say who he was, and left as soon as the Town Board voted on the assembly permits.

 Supervisor Stanley questioned both James McGrath, Officer-in-Charge of the Shandaken Police Department, and Shandaken Ambulance Captain/Administrator Richard Muellerleile about their evaluations of the documentation supporting the safety measures planned. Both officials stated that the safety plans were appropriate in their opinions.

Town Board Member Jack Jordan commented that “I’m certainly satisfied,” with the safety plans for the Firemen’s Convention and the Festival of the Voice. The Town Board passed the resolutions approving Public Assembly Permits for the two events unanimously.

 Shandaken Has One of Best Ambulance Units in the State

 Ulster County EMS Coordinator Richard Parish attended the meeting to present award plaques to the Shandaken Ambulance Service and to its Captain Richard Muellerleile. He pointed out that the Ambulance service has won designation as the Ulster County and regional “EMS Agency of the Year” and is now in the running for the “Best In NY State.”

 Surface Calm on the (Sewer) Waters of Phoenicia

 Supervisor Stanley reported that letters have been received from the CWC and the DEP confirming the cancellation of the Phoenicia sewer project and the funding for the project.

He said that “we have had several discussions with representatives of both agencies and they are adamant that there will be no further progress on the issue.” “The inadequate details concerning the proposed build of the proposed [sewer] area and costs to residents” were the largest issue to the Town Board. Stanley reiterated “the Town Board felt that these details must be made available to the public.”  He said, “no one in the entire Town is against sewers.”

 [I cannot help but believe that negotiations are still going on between Shandaken and the DEP and CWC. There will more developments on this issue in coming months.RMM]

Shandaken Day August 25

 The 2012 “Shandaken Day” celebration will be held this year in Pine Hill until 5:00PM, and then will move to Highmount (at the Belleayre Upper Lodge). Vendors, public booths, and games will be set up along Main Street in Pine Hill during the day, with the vendors invited to move up to Belleayre in the parking lot outside the concert hall at the upper lodge for the evening activities.

 There will be public recognition of the individuals and organizations that were especially important in the devastating storms of last August and September at the Belleayre festivities, with a “short fireworks display after the Belleayre Concert.”

 Information on the advertising pricing for the Shandaken Day insert in the Daily-Freeman will soon be posed on the town website (http://www.shandaken.us).

 Phoenicia Library Fund Raising

 There will be a fundraiser for the Phoenicia Library on the Parish Hall field in Phoenicia on July 14. There will be a silent auction for attractive items and services, which can even be accessed through EBay. Information can be had by calling the Phoenicia Library.

 How Should Land Adjoining Big Indian Park Best Be Used

 Town Board Member Jack Jordan commented that the town owns a 1200 acre parcel of forestland adjoining the Big Indian Park. He mentioned several possible public uses for the land for recreational development. His view is that “we can’t afford to take any more areas out of our town and turn them into wilderness with no economic benefit.”

 The Phoenicia Water System Needs a New Backup Pump, Pumping Station Repair

Alfred Peavy, the Chairman of the Phoenicia Water Board, exchanged views with Supervisor Rob Stanley and Rick Ricciardella (in charge of maintenance for the Phoenicia Water System) concerning the need for repairs and renovations in the water system. Money is needed to buy a 3rd pump as a backup for the main pumping station in case one of the present pumps fails. Money is being sought for investment in the system.

 Scenic Byway

 Jack Jordan commented that he had recently attended a meeting of the Scenic Byway Committee, and that there was “nothing different” to report. He said that he had been “disconcerted that Peter Manning had not addressed some of the things” that had been concerns of the Town in past meetings.

Shandaken Summer Recreation

 The Town Board appointed camp counselors for the Town summer camp. There will be daily use of the Belleayre Lake in Pine Hill, and two-day trips (one to the “Zoom Flume”), as a part of the summer camp activities. Information is on the Town website.

A Request for Quote for a planning consultant to help the Town prepare its “Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan” was approved. The RFQ is available from the Town Clerk’s Office. Bids are due by 3:00PM Monday, July 30. This plan is being funded under a grant from the Hudson River Valley Greenway.

 Recycling of Electronic Waste

 The Town recycling center behind the city hall in Allaben will soon be accepting “e-waste” (old electronics including computers and TV’s) under an agreement with We Recycle, LLC, of Mount Vernon, New York. We Recycle is also in a contractual relationship for e-waste with the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency.

ROXBURY SIDEWALK FESTIVAL 6/30/12

SELECTED LOCAL VENDORS AT ROXBURY STREET FESTIVAL 6/30/12 Photos by Rusty Mae Moore The Annual Roxbury Street Festival was held on Saturday, June 30, this year. The booths for the street festival are set up on the lawns along the Main Street (Route 30). Jenn Schuman, who has been a key organizer of the event in recent years told me that there were “more booths than last year” we we arrived to set up our Pine Hill Books booth. In spite of this, it felt as if attendance of people at the festival was about half that of recent years.

The Roxbury Volunteer Fire Company cooked the burgers and hot dogs for people browsing through the festival.

The Senior Citizens Club had a large and active booth, as well as one of the most attractive signs.

Ice Cream from the Roxbury Rotary Club was one of the hot items selling at the food booths. The scoops were gigantic. A one scoop cone of Chocolate, Vanilla, or Butter Pecan could be had for $2.00, a welcome respite on a blazing Catskill summer day.

Spirits were buoyed by the appealing “old time music” of the festival played by the Shoe String Band.

Booths sold products ranging from household decorative items and antiques to jewelry.

For those wanting to create a low maintenance barnyard scene on their lawn there were the whimsical “Handmade in America” animals of the Morgan Metal Works.

The residents of the Kirkside Home in Roxbury had a large garage sale style booth, Selling things ranging from canes and walkers, to well used books, and even classical movie posters.

Many family venders were selling used ceramic items, while the Loving Earth Studio had an attractive offering of new handmade pottery.

Jay Gould, the infamous Robber Baron, was a presence at the Roxbury Street Festival through the town’s dominant architectural feature, a Christian church which memorializes him.

The Locust Grove Soap Company represented its “Made in the Catskills” products.

WIOX Radio had an active informational booth, reaching out to visitors to the festival. The all volunteer Staff of WIOX is putting Roxbury on the map as it broadcasts on-line to a worldwide audience.

Greatwoods Farm, which was recently a featured Catskill business in the “Watershed Post” Had an active booth selling grains and heritage tomato plants.

Families with children often took a “reading interval” at the Pine Hill Books booth, which feature books on local history, magic, horror, and the occult along with the children’s boks.