Cobleskill Follows County’s Moratoriums

By Joshua Walther

COBLESKILL - The Cobleskill Town Board held a plethora of public hearings at their regular meeting last Monday, and their most prevalent topic was an amendment to a previous piece of legislation earlier this year.

Local Law 2, an agreement to impose moratoriums on a variety of renewable energy sources, followed in line with many other municipalities and their battle against large corporations grabbing as much land as they can.

According to Supervisor Werner Hampel, that law did not go far enough, and so they opened a public hearing for Local Law 4 to add several amendments, namely more moratoriums on solar and large-scale wind facilities.

Supervisor Hampel said that the decision was made after careful review of “what was happening in the rest of the county,” specifically citing Sharon and Jefferson’s recent dealings, and the Board admitted that the amendments should have been there from the beginning of the first draft.

Members faced some backlash over this from the audience, as some people in attendance thought that following the status quo wasn’t a smart move. Instead, they wanted to see what the community actually thought about solar and wind, rather than the Board imposing their demands upon local landowners.

Supervisor Hampel quelled things with an explanation that land in Cobleskill should be saved for long-term economic development rather than these facilities, and went further by saying that laws are “living documents” that can change with time.

Once the public hearing was over, members unanimously voted to pass Local Law 4 and added the amendments.

In other news, the Board held two more public hearings that same night, with one discussing department head spending and the other sparking a conversation about squatters’ rights.

The first, recognizing that inflation is becoming more unbearable, authorizes department heads to spend up to $3,000 on their own without consulting the Board for approval. The idea was well received and a motion was passed without issue.

The second, however, was met with more animosity and confusion from the public. The drafted law stated that a landowner could involve police to forcibly remove any unlawful occupant off their property within the first thirty days of their stay.

The law was taken straight from the county level and used much of the same language. However, the audience was unsure of where the line between squatter and tenant was, along with asking other questions ranging from civil cases to criminal proceedings.

As a result of this, Supervisor Hampel ended the public hearing and agreed to table the matter until later, stating that they should “take a harder look” at some of the pain points in the draft.

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Cave House to Host Art Historians

HOWES CAVE — Robert and Johanna Titus, retired professors of Geology and Biology, will present “The Hudson River Schools of Art and Their Ice Age Origins” on Sunday, July 14 at 2 P.M. at the Cave House Museum of Mining and Geology (Museum) in Howes Cave. The authors will discuss the Ice Age history of the Hudson Valley and how that geological landscape inspired the arts that transpired in this region.

During the 19th century there was a cultural Renaissance right here in the Hudson Valley region. America’s first worldclass literature appeared. There was also the birth of American landscape architecture. Most importantly, led by Thomas Cole, came the appearance of the Hudson Valley School of Art. In short, the region became the center of a truly important cultural movement. None of this, the Titus’ argue, would ever have happened if the Hudson Valley, especially the North Lake area, had not been so heavily glaciated. The authors take their readers to visualize how the North Lake glaciers created the landscapes that so inspired the great artists of those times.

Then the reader is asked to peer down into the Hudson Valley. First it is filled with ice but later it is filled with the glacial meltwaters of something called Lake Albany. Those waters drained away and platforms composed of lake sediment emerged. When the Livingston family came along, they built their mansions upon those platforms. Their architects designed the grounds so that scenic views were opened up. These are called “planned views”, and they became central to landscape architecture as it developed all across America. 

Knowing the Ice Age history that inspired development of all the arts of the Hudson Valley will help you appreciate them so much more. That is the goal of the Titus’ presentation.

Robert and Johanna Titus are, respectively, retired professors of Geology and Biology. They are best known in the Catskills as popular science writers. Over the years they have written for several regional magazines, including Kaatskill Life and Tri-County Historical Reviews. They currently write for local newspapers as well: the Mountain Eagle and the Columbia Paper. They are the authors of five books on Catskills and Hudson Valley geology. The Titus’s are frequently invited to present PowerPoint lectures on their research and have been seen on television and heard on radio. They have a Facebook page (“The Catskill Geologist”), a blog site (“thecatskillgeologist.com”) and can be contacted at randjtitus@prodigy.net.

The Museum will be open from Noon until 4 P.M. The Titus’ presentation will be at 2 P.M.  The Museum will have copies of the Titus’ new as well as several of their other books available for purchase and autographing. The new title is also available for purchase through the Purple Mountain Press (www.nysbooks.com).

                                

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Becca Frame Concert at Landis July 19

ESPERANCE — Based in upstate New York, Becca Frame and the Tall Boys provide a timeless presentation of powerful vocals, and transcendent lyrics. Combined with polished yet improvised guitar work (Brian Shafer) and intoxicating dynamic rhythm (Steve O'Connell and Daniel Colón), the band provides a strong dedication to stir the soul. Each song has its own desire and persistence to leave the audience wanting to hear more.

The Meeting House has some of the best acoustics around, as well as a deck and a patio to enjoy a bring your own pre-performance dinner. Come even earlier and enjoy a walk around our wonderful Arboretum fields and forests. For more information, contact us at info@LandisArboretum.org or 518-875-6935.

Date: Jul 19, 2024

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: The Nicholas J. Juried Meeting House at Landis Arboretum, 174 Lape Road, Esperance.

Registration: Members and non-members: $10.00 at the door. Kids 12 and under, free!

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All About Herbs Program at Cornell Cooperative Extension Garden

COOPERSTOWN — All About Herbs! Herbs and spices are more than just culinary enhancements or seasonal flowers in the garden. These potent, fragrant botanicals have earned their rightful places in the home apothecary, bath, and boudoir as well as in both household and industrial applications.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties’ (CCESO) new demonstration garden at 123 Lake Street in Cooperstown showcases many wonderful herbs! Join local herbal educator, Gert Coleman, for a fun and hands-on presentation of the many herbs in the CCESO gardens, both familiar (parsley, basil, rosemary, lavender, rose, lemon verbena, etc.) and new (anise hyssop, rubus, yarrow, capsicum, foxglove, lungwort). The program will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2024, from 4-5:15 p.m. Weather permitting, the talk will be outdoors in the gardens.

Herbal educator, writer, gardener, editor, and herb enthusiast, Gert Coleman loves, grows, eats, and reads avidly about herbs. A retired professor of English, she lives on 100+ acres in Central New York, growing herbs, flowers, trees, and at-risk native plants with her husband and dog. As an herbal educator, she has taught humorous and informative programs for all ages at parks, museums, and conferences; helped maintain a 70’ x 70’ colonial herb garden for three decades; apprenticed with Rosemary Gladstar; compiled and edited five Herb of the Year™ books; and writes about the legends, lore, and poetry of herbs.  In addition, she teaches workshops on nature writing in the wild places of New York and beyond.

The All About Herbs program Is free and is open to the public.

For more information and to pre-register, visit Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties’ community programs and events at http://cceschoharie-otsego.org or call 607-547-2536 ext. 235.  Stay connected to CCE Master Gardener Volunteers’ daily postings at https://www.facebook.com/cceotsegoMG/  and follow CCE Schoharie and Otsego on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CCESchoharieOtsego/.

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Veteran Sharon Springs School Board Member Helen Roberts Starts Sixth Term

Helen Roberts signs documents officially starting her sixth term on the Sharon Springs School Board as Superintendent/Principal Thomas Yorke looks on. Photo by Chris English.

By Chris English

SHARON SPRINGS — A life dedicated in large part to public education entered its next chapter at the Monday, July 8 Sharon Springs School Board reorganizational meeting.

Helen Roberts signed documents officially kicking off her sixth five-year term on the board and was also again selected by fellow members as board president.

"About two years ago I had decided not to run again," Roberts said after the meeting. "My husband had been quite ill. Then he passed away and I changed my mind and decided to keep going. I enjoy it. My husband and I are both alumni of this school and our children all went through here.

"I've lived here my entire life except for four years at college. School means a lot to me. I want what is best for all the kids in our community. This is my community and I wanted to continue serving it."

Roberts was the only board member up for reelection in 2024. At the July 8 meeting, Christine Cornwell was selected board vice president and also for the Transportation, Building and Grounds and Site Based/Building Project Committees. Brandi Kerber will serve on the Schoharie County School Boards Executive Committee and Rose Chase on the Occupational Education Advisory (BOCES) and Safety Committees. Sofia Issa was selected for the Audit Committee.

Roberts will be the voting delegate at the NYSSBA Convention and Issa the alternate. The board approved alcohol, drugs and other substances; required immunizations; non-resident student; investment; partial tax exemption for persons 65 and older; internal audit, homework and use of school facilities policies as they stand, with review throughout the year.

Substitute teacher pay was established at $135 a day for certified personnel, $110 a day for non-certified personnel and $120 a day for non-certified personnel with a four-year college degree. Substitute bus drivers will be paid $20 an hour, substitute custodians, school lunch helpers, aides and office employees the hourly minimum wage of $15 and a certified substitute registered nurse $130 a day.

Among 24 appointments was one appointing the firm of Girvin & Ferlazzo, P.C. as the school district's attorney. Official depositories for school district assets were designated as NBT Bank, Sharon Springs; Bank of Richmondville; Key Bank; First Chicago Trust Company of New York; Chase Manhattan Bank and NY Class. The board also adopted the free and reduced lunch program for 2024-25.

In a brief regular business meeting that followed the reorganizational meeting, the board approved a contract for this school year with the district's financial advisor, RG Timbs, Inc. Members also voted to open a public hearing on the 2024-25 district-wide safety plan. It can be viewed on the school district website, sharonsprings.org and there is 30 days for public comment. The board then plans to vote on adopting the plan at the Aug. 26 meeting.

In personnel moves, Rachel Ferreira as approved for a 0.4 Animal Science probationary teaching position, Isabella Warner for a full-time equivalent tenure track Vocal Music teaching position and Arthur O'Hanlon for a substitute cleaner position.

Three coaches were approved for fall sports where Sharon Springs will field combined teams with its neighboring school district Cherry Valley/Springfield. Cyle Conley will coach boys varsity soccer, Randi Korona girls varsity soccer and Tammy Behr girls modified soccer. Sam Bonderoff will coach the Sharon Springs boys modified soccer team.

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“Sharon Things - Local Happenings for Sharon Springs”

By Alexis Pencar

Hey Neighbors!

It was a hot one last week! There were temperatures in the 90s and full sun! It’s high summer alright! Time to water those gardens in the early morning or evening to help your plants through these extra hot days!

There was a Tornado Watch issued by the National Weather Service on Wednesday July 10th into the evening. There were some intermittent but quick showers and gusting winds but no touchdowns reported. This was in relation to the remnants of Hurricane Beryl.

The variable weather also postponed the Klinkhart Hall Concert in the Village Park on Wednesday 7/10. The music should go on as planned with Double Barreled next week on 7/17 at 7:00 PM. Remember to come early for the free line dancing beforehand! 

The Sharon Pool is officially open! The Pool will be open daily from 1:00 - 5:00 PM and Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. There will be a concession stand offering drinks and snacks too! If you would like to donate to the Rec Center, please contact Daniel Cornwell or Valerie Jay.

Wren’s Earth Refillery is now open for business Thursdays from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The shop is located at 277 Stage Coach Road, Sharon Springs, NY. You can shop anytime at WrensEarth.com. 

The next Bison Island Ranch Days is coming up on Saturday July 27th from 11:00 - 3:00 PM. Get your heart health bison ground, bison patties, bison hot dogs, and bison steaks! There’s always family friendly activities at The Ranch! Visit @bisonislandranch on Facebook for more information or visit Bisonislandranch.com.

Big Happy Birthday to: Athena Bartlett,  Phil Van Schaick, Doug Handy, and Kinsley & Ryker Hornauer.

The Sidewalk Project on Main Street has been completed for most residents. This has been a “long time coming” and is welcome by all. Big thanks to the Village officials for their persistence and follow through on this. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Village Office at (518) 284-2625.

Parsons Vegetable Farm has all your gardening and spring needs AND The Outrageous Snack Snack is also now open Friday through Sundays from 10-4 PM serving up specialty handcrafted donuts and more! Located on Route 20 across from the Walmart DC. 

The American Legion Post 1269 of Sharon Springs is looking for new members! If you are interested in becoming an American Legion member, volunteering, or even donating to the many wonderful causes the Legion supports, please contact Commander Paul Todd at (518) 649-0024 for more information.

Sharon Springs Free Library News: 

It's "MVLS-GO" time! Every library in the Mohawk Valley Library System has its own Summer 2024 Trading Card that can be collected. Stop in to our library to check out our unique and limited-edition trading card for Sharon Springs. We challenge you to try to collect all 14 from every library! Check out the map of all the participating libraries by visiting mvls.info/trading-cards/. 

Storytime on Thursday, July 18th will be extra magical with our special guest, Magician Kyle. The adventure begins at 10 a.m. 

We welcome you to attend our monthly Board of Trustees meeting on July 25th, 2024 at 7 p.m. in the library. 

The Library is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays from 3:00 - 8:00 PM, Mondays & Thursdays from 10:00 - 6:00 PM, Saturdays 10:00 -1:00 PM, and Sundays - Closed. 

For more Library information please contact (518) 284-3126.

The Sharon Springs Food Pantry is an excellent local resource for all! They are located in the United Methodist Church on Route 20, across from the school (511 US Route 20, Sharon’s Springs, NY 13459). They are always accepting donations! If you or someone you know is in need of the Pantry, the hours are Thursday 9:00 -10:30 AM and 5:00 - 6:30 PM. For more information please contact (518) 284-2687 or follow them on Facebook.

Worship Services

The Sharon Reformed Church (6858 State Route 10, Sharon Springs, NY 13459) offers weekly service at 10:30 am. Contact at (518) 234-2387 for more details.

The Sharon Springs United Methodist Church (511 State Route 20, Sharon Springs, NY, 13459) offers weekly service at 10:30 am. Contact at (518) 284-2200 for more details.

The St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church (24 Maple Avenue, Cherry Valley, NY 13320) offers weekly mass at 10:00 am. Reminder: confession is available 30 minutes before every mass. Contact at (607) 264-3779 for more details.

The Zion St. John’s Lutheran Church Seward (114 Mesick Ave, Cobleskill, NY 12043) offers weekly service on Sundays at 9:00 am. Contact at (518) 234-3222 for more details.

Cornerstone Baptist Church (7274 Route 10, Ames, NY 13317). Sunday Service is at 10:00 am. All are welcome. Contact (518) 673 3405 for more details.

Sharon Sr. Congregate Meal Site

Local residents are invited to enjoy good company and a noon-time meal year round (except holidays) at the Schoharie County OFA’s “Spa Ritz” Sr. Congregate Meal Site at the Firehouse at 137 Beechwood Rd. M-W-F. 8 oz of 1% milk is served with each meal. Orders for meals must be called into the OFA office at (518) 295-2001 before 2 p.m. for the following day. Effective January 1st the suggested donation for those 60 years old and older is $5.00 per meal. Under age 60? You’re welcome to participate for a fee of $7.50 per meal.

To share community news, upcoming events, business specials, adjusted hours, birthdays, anniversaries, or even an outstanding resident, please contact me directly at (772) 971-1410 or alexis.pencar@gmail.com. Have a great week! Thanks!

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Huge 4th of July Parade in Springfield

Assemblyman Chris Tague and Senator Peter Oberacker at the Springfield Fourth of July Parade

Fire Departments from all around participated in this huge parade!

By Alexis Pencar

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield held its famous 4th of July Parade this past Thursday July 4, 2024! This parade is longstanding and boasted a huge turnout from parade participants and spectators. As they say, “Springfield, it’s the place to be on the Fourth of July!” 

It was a hot one this year with a few clouds passing through as hundreds of people lined up on the road in Springfield! Stewart’s was there serving up ice cream too!

The Parade started right at 11 and went for about an hour!! 

The extensive Parade lineup included:

Colorguard - Cooperstown Veteran Club - Marching Unit and Vehicle, Grand Marshal - CVS Lady Patriots Varsity Basketball Team, Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School Marching Band, Springfield Fire Department - Marching Unit and Apparatus, Cherry Valley-Springfield Girl Scout Troop 967 - Marching Unit, Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department - Marching Unit and Apparatus, Farm Credit East - Float, Uncle Sam, Ames for the Skies 4H - Marching Unit, Cooperstown Community Band, Cooperstown Fire Department - Marching Unit and Apparatus, Stella - Pogostick, Glimmerglass Festival - Float, Cherry Valley Fire Department - Marching Unit and Apparatus, AM Vets Brad Schrell Memorial Squad - Marching Unit and Vehicle, NBT Bank - Float, Kalee Sanders - Queen, Daughters of the American Revolution - Float, Fly Creek Fire Company - Marching Unit, Auxiliar, and Apparatus, Whiteman-Hull-Snyder American Legion Post 1360 and Auxiliary, Owen D. Young Central School Drumline, Richfield Springs Volunteer Fire Department - Marching Unit, Auxiliary, and Apparatus, Springfield High Meadows 4H Club - Youth Float, Parker Miller - 4-wheeler, Josh Riley for Congress, Honor and Remember Rhino, Otsego County 40-8 Voiture 944 - Float, Ames Fire Department - Marching Unit, Apparatus, Auxiliary, and Float, Happy Haggs Dance Troupe, Milford Fire Department - Marching Unit and Apparatus, Keith McCarty, Otsego District 9 Representative, Schenevus Maryland Fire Department - Marching Unit and Apparatus, Casler Flower Farm - Doodlebug and Youth Float, Assemblyman Chris Tague & Senator Peter Oberacker - Float, Vet Army Engineers, Worcester Hose Company - Marching Unit, Auxiliary, Apparatus, and Drum Corps, South Minden Volunteer Fire Department - Marching Unit and Apparatus, East Worcester Hose Company - Marching Unit and Apparatus, Bill Coveny - 1972 Plymouth Roadrunner, Make America Caftan Again - Float, The First Baptist Church of Springfield - Youth Float, Hartwick Fire Department Company #1 - Apparatus, Otsego County Sheriff's Office, Van Hornesville Fire Department - Apparatus, Miller Children - Youth Float, Mount Vision Fire Department - Apparatus, Derby Cars, Grimm Family - Truck and 4-wheelers, Pierstown Grange #793 - Float, CHR Racing, J. Gorman Fine Jewelry - Float, Hu-Hill Farm Store - Tractor and Float, 

Otsego County Office of Emergency Management, Randy Schaffer, Stocking - Tractor, Bright Stars of Cooperstown - Youth Float, Hartwick Fire Department Company #2 - Apparatus, David Burch - 1931 Model A Ford Roadster, Valley Brook Farm - Military Jeep, 1929 Chevy Pickup, and Float, Springfield Truck and Tractor, Canajoharie Volunteer Fire Department - Apparatus, Deer Run Campground - Tractor and Float, Roger MacMillan - 1930 Model A Ford, Otsego Golf Club - golf cart, Roseboom Antique Power Days, Adam Prime, Red Knights Motorcycle Club - Chapter 44, Otsego County, Superior Plus Energy Services, West Exeter Fire Department - Apparatus, Wally Auto Group, Franklin Doodlebug Club, Tom McMillan, West Laurens Fire Department - Apparatus, Star Struck Trucking, Buell Fuels & Center State Propane, Otsego County EMS - Ambulance, James Grogan, Young Family - Horse and Wagon, Windy Ridge - Tractor and Wagon, Windy Ridge Barrel Crew, Horses - Mackenzie Daley, Isabella Hear, and Spruce Ridge Truck & Excavation.

The Parade ended at the old Springfield Elementary school where there was a chicken BBQ, games, music and more! The Cooperstown Community Band played lively tunes to the enjoyment of all! This was the 130th year of the July Fourth Parade and it was a huge success for this small and mighty community!

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Possible Cannabis Dispensary in Carlisle

By Chris English

CARLISLE — Carlisle might be getting a cannabis dispensary.

Town Supervisor John Leavitt reported at the Wednesday, July 3 board meeting that Carlisle has received notification from the Office of Cannabis Management that an application for an adult use retail dispensary license has been filed for property at 1337 Corbin Hill Road belonging to Nicole M. N'diaye of the Bronx. The item was among several listed in the town's planning board report from its June 11 meeting.

In other items from that report, which was read by Leavitt at the July 3 meeting, the planning board approved a subdivision for a 138-acre property at Route 20 and Curry Hill Road. Leavitt had previously said the subdivision is not for a lot of new houses or anything of that nature.

The Brian Smullen subdivision is still under consideration pending a survey. Lot line adjustments for Michele Brust and for Tim Smullen for property on Route 20 and Allan Tillapaugh for property on Little York Road are under consideration.

The planning board is reviewing final revisions to the new solar law that will govern solar and wind facilities in the town.

In other news from the July 3 town board meeting, town Clerk Stacy Bruyette reported she issued 10 dog licenses, two marriage licenses and one building permit in June. One of the marriage licenses was for her daughter, Bruyette added.

A report from town Historian Chris Keefer read by Leavitt outlined all the activities Keefer has been involved in since taking over that position in December of last year.

A report from Highway Superintendent Mike Broadwell noted that he recently completed a highway flagger certification course. Also, town crews recently cleared up tree debris and felled some dead trees near roads that potentially could have fallen. Broadwell's report also outlined that Carlisle recently assisted Sharon and Richmondville on some projects, as those towns have also done for Carlisle in the past.

As he usually does at meetings, Leavitt reported on the current balances in all the town's accounts and certificates of deposit. Among many other accounts, the general checking account currently has about $16,000 and the general savings account about $189,000.

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Margaretville Central School - Reunion! All 1935 - 2024 Graduates, Staff, and Teachers Invited

2024 MCS Graduating Class 

1911 MCS Graduates at their 50 year reunion in 1961

MARGARETVILLE — All Margaretville Central School  alumni are coming together this summer to share time with each other as we once did, rekindle old friendships, forge new relationships, and create more special memories 

Margaretville Central School folks will be attending two events on the weekend of August ninth and tenth. Friday,  starting at 5 pm at the Union Grove Distillery. Catskill Embers (Gerard DeBari’s) pizza truck will be available, while Brian and Penny Mulder will be serving their award winning refreshments inside the distillery/brewery. 

Saturday, join them at 5 pm for a delectable and robust dinner buffet at the newly renovated Andes Hotel. The buffet, soda, tea, coffee, and the MCS themed cake for dessert comes at a great cost of twenty six dollars. An extra bonus; Outside in the courtyard which was featured in the HBO renovation series ‘In With the Old’. There will be live music and later in the evening fireworks. There will be a cash bar. We hope that those who are planning to attend reach out to their classmates to encourage more participation. Reservations must  be  tmade by sending a check to Mark Ladenheim, at 14 Hallmont Circle, Penfield, NY 14526. Questions may be directed to Kam Storey, 772-913-0794. 

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The Endless Summer of Color at Art Up Gallery

Tumultuous by Jerry Gallo

Barbara Herzfeld and Jerry Gallo showing at Art Up 

By Robert Brune

MARGARETVILLE — Art Up Gallery in Margaretville is an art space that continues to spread roots deeper into the local art scene. Now in its second year, with a growing quality of art on display, the current show of two talented artists brighten up our summer with an exhibition full of radiant color and delightful design. Barbara Herzfeld offers up an intriguing body of figure paintings; exquisite impressionist pieces of embracing studies. Jerry Gallo delivers with the bursting colors and elements of nature-influenced abstract imagery. Art Up curators are confident the works in this show, that combine Gallo’s marvelous skill set together with Herzfeld’s richly colored paintings, are sure to stop fascinated viewers in their tracks, as observed of patrons at the opening reception this past Friday.

Herzfeld is a self-taught painter who attended Washington University in St. Louis, and studied drawing, design, and ceramics. She dreamt of being a painter, but instead became a painting textile designer, which developed her eye for color and facility with a brush. About ten years ago, she began painting Sumo wrestlers. Over time, her work evolved to include everyday women and men.

During the pandemic, Barbara took a drawing marathon with The NY Studio School (NYC) and fell in love with drawing all over again. Now, art is a more powerful, emotional journey, as she draws weekly from the model. Recently she has been spending time in the high desert of Oregon, where she became infatuated with the figure-like quality of the trees. Barbara resides in the Hudson Valley of New York State.

Herzfeld’s interpretation of the wrestlers can easily be seen as an embrace of two full figured friends who possibly were reunited after not seeing each other for a period. The evolution of Herzfeld’s work is a celebration of humanity highlighted by a well-trained eye for color that can magically combine muted tones with vivid hues in a sensual, playful harmony.Jerry Gallo grew up the NYC area of Greenpoint/Williamsburg Brooklyn in a culturally segregated area surrounded by family in a predominately Italian neighborhood. He had a natural gift for art and was accepted into the NYC High School Art and Design program. Gallo grew weary of attending school by the middle of his sophomore year. He and his teenage friends rented a storefront and turned it into a social club. 

This challenging time of his life was concluded when his father and someone from the high school walked through the club doors and told him to finish school. So Gallo attended summer and night school to make up for lost time, and still graduated with his class despite his year off. He recalls being in a bookstore owned by the father of Miles Bellamy (owner of Diamond Hollow Bookstore in Andes) in the city and being inspired by a series of Larry Poons paintings that were on display. A common tradition with many families of Italian heritage is to send their children to Italy upon graduating high school. Gallo didn’t have the funds for this but was accepted to an art residency for three weeks in Canada, “Attending BANFF in Canada was a major turning point in my life.”

After finishing high school, Gallo was able to get into Parsons School of Design through the Higher Educational Opportunities Program. After four years at Parsons, Gallo describes his life, “I moved in with my sister. I’d paint the scenes of people on the street across from where I was living, people on break from the factory. It was a more realistic style.” He ended up working as a cashier at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MOMA). It was at MOMA that Gallo met his wife. He began listening to jazz music, which played a significant role in experimenting in abstract art. He discovered elements of jazz music helped him to dissect photographs and rearrange the pieces in a side-by-side manner. He began painting over abstract photography, the first steps leading to where his art is today. 

While at MOMA, Gallo met several very influential artists such as Jill Slaymaker, with whom he just recently rekindled a friendship. When Gallo was a young husband and father, he had to make adult choices, so he settled into a career that would support his family. He went to work for an insurance brokerage house. Gallo jokingly recalls, “I didn’t see myself working in this field of work. It reminds of the Woody Allen movie (Take the Money and Run) where he’s locked in a hole in the ground and forced to serve a sentence with an insurance agent.” At this time, Gallo says his practice as an artist waned. 

Eventually, he rented a house in Long Island where he would pick up painting, once again. Soon after, Gallo got bored of landscapes and decided to stay loyal to abstract work. He moved to Yonkers where he was able to have an affordable painting studio while developing his skills. In 2002, Gallo and his wife purchased a second home in Shandaken. At first it was a weekend retreat from the city, but now is his full-time residence. Gallo’s brilliantly colored abstract pieces at Art Up depict designs of wood grain, topography and other aspects of mountain life, “Living up here for over twenty years has had an influence on me and my art.” The painting ‘Tumultuous’ is a beautifully colored and designed work of earthy tones mixed with greens, yellows, and blues, despite the fact that the the piece’s backstory brings to mind a difficult time in the artist’s life. There are several other works that are a combination of two separate abstract styles juxtaposed on the same canvas. Gallo explains the reasoning, “These pieces are the duality of aspects of my life, as in parts of my growing up with my parents, as well as my feelings about working in the insurance industry that were in conflict with each other.”

Art Up will have this exhibition up throughout the summer until September 1, 2024. For more information see @artupmargaretville and @jerrygalloartist – in profiles there are links to their websites.

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A Conversation About: peaches and herbs

By Jean Thomas

My life seems to be dominated by a peculiar sound track. If it’s not a line from a song or a song title, it’s a random name of a musical group. Thus today’s title, inspired by the two crops coming into harvest right now. The musical group was actually a duo called Peaches and Herb and their one big hit was a little ballad called, “Reunited.” So naturally, when I was contemplating my herb garden while chowing down on a fresh peach from an orchard in Columbia County, my mind drifted a tad.                                                     As we suffer and complain about the heat, we sometimes forget that there are things that need heat and sunshine to burst into the flavor we so enjoy this time of year. The peaches seem to promise a bumper crop this year, judging by my neighbors’ trees, and are wonderful to can and freeze for year round treats. Herbs, however, seem to have a scary reputation. We’re slowly creeping up on them as a regular item in our cooking, but there’s so much more than basil and cilantro to spark up our recipes. Briana Davis, of Greene Bee Greenhouse, in Cornwallville, visited the “Nature Calls” podcast and gave some useful tips about growing and using herbs. You can listen at: https://ccecolumbiagreene.org/gardening/nature-calls-conversations-from-the-hudson-valley/episode-119-culinary-herbs-101.

There are many categories of herbs, from medicinal to decorative to culinary. Briana discusses the culinary herbs she grows both for sale and for her family’s use. This episode is titled “101” because it is meant to be useful to ordinary gardeners and cooks who are intimidated by herbs. Briana brings the good news. Herbs can be perennial (returning every year) or annual (full life cycle in a single season).Many can be grown indoors in the harsher weather, given enough light. There are many pizzerias in the area with a big old window box of basil parked on a sill somewhere. And there is a growing list of “farm to table” type restaurants with small herb gardens on their grounds or on patios in containers. Many herbs are ridiculously easy to grow. I happily scatter seed for dill, cilantro and fennel among my flower and vegetable beds. They’re all feathery companions to whatever else lives there, they’re useful in the kitchen, and they are awesome pollinators and hosts to butterfly caterpillars! They will reseed for several seasons on their own, once they’re established. And they are all easy to gather, dry and store for year round use. Chives and the rest of the onion family (shallots, onions, garlic) are bulbs with their own seasonal needs, but can all be dried, frozen or stored in root cellars for year round use. And the flavor exceeds what we get from the tired, imported stuff from China we find in supermarkets.

Perennial herbs are wonderfully resilient. For starters, most don’t want rich soil or too much watering which interfere with the flavor, weakening the power of the taste. Some, like Sage, are workhorses and last for years. Others, like Rosemary and Bay Laurel (bay leaf plant) are not hardy. They are wonderful container plants and can live for years under the right conditions. All can be harvested and preserved by drying or freezing. Perennial thyme and marjoram can be useful lining walkways with pretty seasonal flowers. Your county’s Cooperative Extension Office has websites dedicated to growing herbs and preserving just about everything. Look online or give the Master Gardener Volunteers a call.

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