Morrissey Selected as the November "Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight" Recipient

CAIRO –  The Cairo-Durham Central School District is proud to announce the November 2024 recipient of the “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” is Tom Morrissey (‘08).

Tom, a lifelong Catskill region resident, is a passionate artist, entrepreneur, and community member who believes in giving back. After discovering his love for chainsaw carving, he started a chainsaw carving business, Catskills Carver. He is also the former Cairo-Durham Rotary Club President.

As a chainsaw carver, Tom stays busy with his carvings and frequently travels to regional events while showing off his craft, he said. Most of his art consists of wood carvings, and occasionally, mixed media. Art is one of his passions, so he is always learning and experimenting with new techniques and tools. 

“Art has always been a passion of mine, and it was probably my destiny.  Friends recognized my potential when I carved some small pieces (non-chainsaw) and as my skills grew, so did the size of my “toys” – which now includes an arsenal of several chainsaws, die grinders, and specialty power tools,” said Tom Morrissey, a Class of 2008 alum. “Chainsaw carving has given me a level of joy that I have never experienced in any other of my jobs.  Seeing how it influences others is highly rewarding. I have found my calling…”

Earlier this month, Tom visited Mr. Criswell’s high school classes to demonstrate his chainsaw carving for the students. Afterward, the seven finely carved owls Tom carved that day were given to the school for an internal silent auction. The remaining owls are currently on display near the high school gymnasium.  He was delighted to give back to the community while showing students one example of an interesting alternative career path, which also includes entrepreneurship. 

“Carving for the art students at Cairo Durham High School was both a privilege and an honor.  It was a fantastic experience to reach out and demonstrate my craft to young people.  Chainsaw carving seems to be especially appealing to this audience,” he said. “The 7 owls I produced during the day were donated to the school.  As I said before I believe that “giving back” is an integral part of my business!”

Tom was actively interested in the arts while at Cairo-Durham High School. He thanks art teachers Mr. and Mrs. Criswell and Ms.Little and Ms. Lavigne (LiCalzi) who all helped his artistic development.

For students at Cairo-Durham, Tom Morrissey gives this advice, “Follow your dreams, be genuine, and don’t listen to the ‘naysayers…’.”

To bridge the community and the Cairo-Durham Central School District, the “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” was created to provide an opportunity for community members to nominate members of the Cairo-Durham Class of 2018 or prior who have made an impact in the community, embrace Cairo-Durham pride and serve as role models to future generations of Mustangs to be recognized on the District’s platforms. Nominations are now open for the December 2024 spotlight, click here to nominate a Cairo-Durham alum. Submissions are due by Friday, January 10, 2025 at 4 p.m.

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Out Lexington Way

By Christine Dwon

Jeanne Soule passed away recently.  We extend deepest sympathy to her family and friends.

Condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Elena Suditu who has passed away. 

The Town of Lexington Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary held their annual meeting in the Firemen’s room on Dec. 16.  Officers elected for 2025 are:  President JoEllen Schermerhorn; 1st VP Susan Turk; 2nd VP Charlotte Jaeger; Treasurer Helen Kerr; Secretary Chris Dwon; Chaplain Jannel Mellott.  The meeting was followed by a potluck supper.  The Ladies Auxiliary does not meet in the months of January, February or March.  Next meeting will be Tuesday, April 2, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the Firemen’s room.

There will be a Micro Sunday School on Saturday, Jan. 11 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Lexington/West Kill UMC, 54 County Route 13A, Lexington, talking about the real story of the Three Kings.  Call Susan at 518-429-8054 if you would like more information.

Tuesday, Jan. 13 is the Soup and Fellowship Kitchen at the Kaaterskill UMC, 5942 Main Street, Tannersville in the Blue Room from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.    Everyone is welcome to stop in and share in the fellowship while you enjoy a free bowl of soup and a sandwich.

Come join in for Tuesday Mornings Get Together at the Hunter Public Library, 7965 Main Street, Hunter each Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m.  The first Tuesday of the month is a classic movie.  Second Tuesday is the Coffee Klatch with light refreshments.  Third Tuesday is Bingo, Fourth Tuesday are games and on a fifth Tuesday is another classic movie.

There is no Lexington/West Kill UMC Administrative Council in January.  Next meeting will be Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. in the church hall.

Happy birthday to Rev. Karen Monk on Friday, Jan. 3.

Happy birthday on Saturday, Jan. 4 to Liza Dwon.

Also celebrating a birthday on Jan. 4 is Shari Pushman.

Monday, Jan. 6 is Schyler Minew’s birthday.

John Falke’s birthday is Jan. 6.

Happy wedding anniversary to Debbie and Frank Valerio on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

Diane Nash celebrates her birthday on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

Thursday, Jan. 9 Adam Cross celebrates his birthday.

Best wishes to all.

The Kaaterskill UMC Food Pantry, by the Tannersville Firehouse, at the Tannersville Village Hall, One Park Lane, Tannersville, is open on Wednesdays from 1 p.m to 3 p.m.  The third Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. is for delivery, contingent on volunteer availability, to folks who do not have transportation.  Call 518-589-5787 if you need delivery.  If you would like to help Kaaterskill UMC Food Pantry, you can also drop food off at Brave the Flames Restaurant, when open and Tannersville Village Hall during the week.

The Greene County Senior Nutrition Program menu for the week of Jan. 6 – Jan. 10 is as follows:  Monday—Chicken Divan, white rice, Sonoma vegetable mix, fruit cocktail; Tuesday—Ravioli, sausage, Italian green beans, chocolate mousse, juice; Wednesday—Kielbasa, sauerkraut, baked beans, carrots, Jell-O; Thursday—Roast pork loin with gravy, applesauce, mashed potatoes, Tuscan vegetables, fresh fruit; Friday—Macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, three-bean salad, fresh fruit.  All persons, over the age of 60 can receive a meal.  Suggested donation for each meal is $4.  Those wishing to receive a meal are required to call the respective location by noon a day in advance.  The number to call for the Senior Service Center at the Jewett Municipal Building Route 23C, Jewett is 518-263-4392.

Thank you to all law enforcement., firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, healthcare providers, volunteers, veterans and actively serving military, farmers, truck drivers and so many more.

Prayers for all who are dealing with loss, illnesses, healing, difficulties, our country, our military and their families, the world.

Until next week take care, be thankful, be respectful, be safe and please be kind to one another.  Your act of kindness may change someone’s life.

Happy New Year!  May the year be a kind one to all.

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Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC VFW Post 1545

As we start a New Year, I personally want to wish everyone a very Healthy and Happy New Year.

One thing I would like to begin with this year is to let veterans know the reason we should belong to a veteran’s organization such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Among the many reasons for being a member is the fact that over the last 100 years since the VFW has been in existence, it has been on the forefront in working for veterans rights.

Over the years, especially after WWII when membership boomed, our membership has fallen.

When an organization has a great number of members their power is much greater in Washington, DC as our congressmen and senators, whatever party they are associated with, listen much more to our agenda. 

Politicians are a breed in themselves. They look at numbers and a powerful number of members means votes, in many cases that seems to be the bottom line. 

I have been on the legislative committee and met with the legislators in Albany, and they listen, although it takes a bit of time to get them to understand what we feel we deserve. 

The larger our contingent, it seems that they become more interested in what we are asking for. 

Whichever veterans’ organization, VFW or American Legion, consider joining and be a part of helping yourself and other veterans. 

 As I have said in previous articles, veterans help veterans. To do that with a bit of power, we need numbers.

Just before Christmas our Post traveled to Stratton VA hospital where we, along with the Windham Rotary, donated $500 gift cards each. 

The volunteer group give to veterans in need with food items, clothing and supplies. The one thing that they do not have is refrigeration. 

They use our gift cards to Hannaford to purchase milk, butter etc. that they do not have at Stratton VA. 

We also met with a few veterans while we were there and, just to hand them a welcome home and a handshake, meant a lot to them.

I had one of my daughters with me and the veterans she met were so thankful to her. She undoubtedly never saw so many old veterans besides me. 

This week’s MIA update is U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. John H. Danneker, 19, killed during World War II. In June 1944, Danneker was assigned to the 565th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, 2nd Combat Bomb Wing, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force, in the European Theater. On June 20, Danneker, the left waist gunner onboard a B-24J “Liberator” bomber, went missing in action when his plane crashed into the Baltic Sea off the coast of Denmark after colliding with another B-24 in the same formation. The pilot and co-pilot of Danneker’s aircraft were able to bail out and survived, but all evidence points to the rest of the crew being killed in the crash. The U.S. War Department issued a Finding of Death for Danneker on June 21, 1945.

In early 1948, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC), the organization that searched for and recovered fallen American personnel in the European Theater, investigated the crash, but were unable to find any of the missing crewmen. Over the next couple of years, the AGRC also assessed unidentified remains that washed ashore in the area where Danneker’s aircraft crashed but were not able to identify any of the crew. Danneker was declared non-recoverable on May 12, 1950.

Start our new year by remembering the brave who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our Country and always keep our troops still serving in your thoughts and prayers. God Bless America. 

Marc Farmilette, VFW Post Past Commander

VFW and Windham Rotary donating $500.00 each to the Stratton VA Hospital

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Hochul Approves STR Regulation

By Michael Ryan

MOUNTAINTOP - A groundbreaking State law regulating and taxing short term rentals couldn’t have come soon enough or shouldn’t have come at all, depending upon variously voiced viewpoints.

The legislation, offered by Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy and on the docket for seven years, was recently signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.

It is the first-of-its-kind STR regulation nationwide and follows efforts by some local towns to tackle a multi-faceted and contentious issue.

Stringent rules have been put in place within the past few years in Jewett and Lexington addressing complaints related to unneighborly loud “party houses” and complexities arising from parking, garbage removal, etc.

And a shortage of affordable housing has arisen as STR owners purchase potential homes, removing them from the market amid prices being driven up and out-of-reach for startup and middle class families.

Hochul’s approval makes, “billion-dollar booking platforms, like Airbnb and Vrbo, accountable to the communities where they conduct business,” Hinchey states in a press release.

“The law offers a new county-by-county look into the explosive growth of the short-term rental industry and is aimed at helping communities across the State manage housing availability and affordability while bringing in owed revenue from sales taxes and hotel and motel occupancy taxes.”

One key concern voiced as STR’s have become more prolific, especially during and after the pandemic, is a sense of unfairness in terms of competing with established motels and hotels.

STR’s have not been subject to the same oversight and taxation as the established overnight stops even while tapping deeply into the same customer base, drawing from a limited pool.

The term “level playing field” has become a catch phrase for proponents of the law, even as there is unsurety that what is essentially a bed tax will do anything to balance the competition.

It will bring in money but there is again uncertainty on how those dollars will be distributed and how many actual greenbacks will reach the local level.

Henceforth, under the new law, booking platforms will be required to report quarterly to the New York State Department of State (DOS) on the number of bookings it facilitates in each county.

Counties can then choose to create local registries and receive precise data on those quarterly reports, detailing rental locations, occupancy nights, guest counts, taxes collected, etc.

That information, however, does not cover so-called “ghost” STR’s that do not go through the mainstream booking process or may now withdraw.

And it remains to be seen how the legislation helps communities, such as Jewett and Lexington that are years ahead of the State in trying to get a handle on what has been a source of intense controversy.

“For the first time, communities will have the tools to grasp the true scope of short-term rentals, empowering them to develop strategies to expand stable housing options, increase affordability, and unlock untapped revenue,” Hinchey stated.

“Getting this done took serious teamwork with leaders from every level of local government, the tourism and hospitality industry, and housing advocates,” Hinchey stated.

The regulations are being welcomed, albeit with a wait-and-see approach, by Jewett town supervisor Greg Kroyer and Lexington town supervisor Jo Ellen Schermerhorn.

Jewett was a pioneer among mountaintop towns, enacting STR rules five years ago during a rising storm of complaints particularly related to STR owners not being good neighbors.

The town pays for an outside consultant to gather information on active STR sites, requiring local registration with an annual fee.

Those dollars pay for the consultant and any hours spent on enforcement by local officials, bringing a calmness to the storm.

That calmness is delicate and a headache to maintain. “It’s too early to tell how this will affect our local requirements,” Kroyer says.

“We have gotten a handle on the party houses,” Kroyer says, referring to STR renters who disturb neighbors with raucous and rude gatherings. 

“If somehow this can help us, we would be happy not to hire a consultant and to get out of the short term rental business,” Kroyer says.

Lexington followed in Jewett’s footsteps, writing an STR law. “We’re glad to see this [State] legislation come,” Schermerhorn says.

“Hopefully we can let the State know what folks we have [on the local registry] and pick up ones maybe operating under the radar.”

Lexington puts a 10 percent limit on housing that can be used for STR’s but “sometimes, we’re not finding out someone is renting unless a neighbor finds out and tells us. That’s a big problem for us,” Schermerhorn says.

New York State Association of Counties NYSC) president Benjamin Boylin II embraces the law saying it will “finally place short-term rentals on a level playing field alongside hotels and motels and generate local revenue from visitors that supports county tourism and essential services such as public safety, social services, and infrastructure improvements.”

The law is being similarly hugged by the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association, New York State Conference of Mayors and the statewide Association of Towns.

Not so much love is being shown by Airbnb policy director Nathan Rotman who stated, “this unnecessary bill imposes a new, unfunded mandate on counties and creates a complicated bureaucratic system that burdens homeowners trying to earn modest income to pay their bills.

“It also puts the personal information of hosts throughout the state at risk due to data sharing requirements,” Rotman stated.

Greene County is expected to opt into the State program, according to county legislature chairman Patrick Linger.

“We could be looking at significant revenue,” Linger said in a phone interview, noting the county has been considering an STR bed tax, although that could have been years down the road.

State officials estimate that over the past five years, communities have lost up to $550 million in potential sales and occupancy tax via STR’s.

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DEC Brings Climate Smart Communities Grant to Lexington

By Michael Ryan

LEXINGTON  - Yes, people in the town of Lexington, there is a Santa Claus who, this Christmas, arrived with a million gifts.

To be more precise, Jolly St. Nick slid down the chimney with $1,131,662 neatly wrapped from the NY Department of Environmental Conservation Climate Smart Communities grant program.

The matching funds will be used to help construct a new highway garage, a project that has been on the wish list of local government leaders for years.

DEC unwrapped the pecuniary present on December 23, part of $16 million being distributed to municipalities statewide within Round XIV of their Regional Economic Development Council Initiative.

“I am ecstatic,” Lexington town supervisor Jo Ellen Schermerhorn said in a phone interview. “This is about a lot of people working together,” led by Lamont Engineering.

The need for upgrades in the highway department dates back two decades and more, to the period when the late Kenneth Becker was supervisor, searching diligently for outside funding support.

It was well known the existing highway garage, located along Route 42, was the site of numerous flooding incidents, most dramatically in the summer of 2011 and Tropical Storm Irene.

Becker’s earlier town board efforts set the groundwork for now working with the Department of Environmental Protection to sell that land through the New York City agency’s flood mitigation program.

DEP has been prepared to buy the property if and when the town was able to come up with another spot situated out of the flood plain.

Lexington’s road department is currently spread out, housed primarily in makeshift quarters at Mosquito Point, along Route 23A, while using the deteriorating Route 42 structure for some storage.

There is also a modern winter sand storage building along Greene County Route 13 where the fresh facility will be constructed.

Lexington’s new home base will be a single story 58-by-152-foot wood-framed structure constructed to the southwest of the existing salt shed,” documents from Lamont Engineering state.

“The building will have six 16-foot-wide by 14-foot-tall truck bays, as well as administrative/office areas, storage, a break room, and unisex restroom with shower,” Lamont Engineering states. 

The when’s and wherefores are uncertain. The DEC grant will cover half of the estimated cost of the project, meaning Lexington must come up with the rest, a financially daunting mission.

Other economic avenues are already being sought. “We’ve been talking to the Catskill Watershed Corporation about maybe providing some funds,” Schermerhorn said.

Dollars brought in by the sale of the old garage to DEP will be invested in the new facility and once the new headquarters is finished, the Mosquito Point building can be sold, recouping additional money.

Acknowledging there is much to do before breaking ground, Schermerhorn was optimistic, saying, “so far, the public is behind this project.

“We had a top notch group of people who know construction and who we trust working on this, giving it a sense of community,” Schermerhorn said.

Councilman Bradley Jenkins, a veteran highwayman, was a member of the special committee, joined by current Lexington highway superintendent Kevin Simmons and former Lexington town supervisor John Berger, a respected professional contractor.

They, and others, teamed with Jason Preisner, an associate principal engineer with Lamont Engineering who wrote the grant application.

The deadline was July, 2024, awaiting word from DEC in what is a highly competitive selection process with dollars dispersed statewide.

DEC, on their website, stated, “the [total] grant awards…represent the largest ever awarded thanks to funding from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022.

Sean Mahar, the DEC interim commissioner stated, “municipalities that participate in the Climate Smart Communities Grant program are taking local climate action to reduce pollution and protect New Yorkers from severe weather and other climate impacts.”

“This is all wonderful. Fantastic,” Schermerhorn said. “We have a ways to go but it has been amazing, seeing the key elements coming together. 

“The whole idea of the committee was to get as many people as possible involved, with experience in this type of effort, so the community knows they are all part of the decision,” Schermerhorn said.

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LEGISLATURE STUFF - Tip of the Cap to Two

Greene County Legislature chairman Patrick Linger (right) presented Commendations and respectful farewells to lawmakers Edward Bloomer (left) and Linda Overbaugh at the board’s final meeting of year.

By Michael Ryan

CATSKILL - Eighteen years of public service came to a close when the Greene County Legislature officially bid adieu to colleagues Linda Overbaugh and Edward Bloomer.

The legislature’s December 18 regular monthly meeting was the last for Overbaugh (District 1, Catskill) and Bloomer (District 3, Athens), both Republicans, who served 12 and 6 years, respectively.

Overbaugh has retired. Bloomer lost a Republican Party primary, this past summer, in an unexpected and politically charged challenge to his seat.

During their final three-year terms, Overbaugh was chairwoman of the legislative Economic Development and Tourism Committee. Bloomer chaired the County Services Committee.

Legislature chairman Patrick Linger read Commendations into the record, calling upon county residents to “join us in expressing admiration, appreciation and affection” for the leaving lawmakers.

“Thank you sir. It has been a pleasure,” Linger said to Bloomer, who in turn said, “it’s time to go. This has been the honor and privilege of my life. I enjoyed every moment of it, even the contentious moments. 

“I will miss this,” Bloomer said, a sentiment similarly voiced by Overbaugh, lauded by Linger for “a lot of good accomplishments” over the years.

“This has been the pleasure of my life,” Overbaugh said, noting there have been differing views between lawmakers during her decade-plus on the board, adding, “we got through it. I will miss every single one of you.”

The changing of the guard will continue on January 7, 2025, when the legislature holds its annual reorganization meeting.

Two new legislators, Michael Lanuto (District 1, Catskill) and James O’Connell (District 3, Athens) will then take the Oath of Office.

Lawmakers will also make a plethora of appointments and designations necessary to keep county government on cruise control.

Some of those anointments and assignments were handled on December 18 including:

—Edward Kaplan (reappointed the county attorney during the term of office for which the members of this legislature are elected, January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027).

—County administrator Shaun Groden (reappointed as a director of the Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation for a 3-year term, representing Greene County);

—Edward Bloomer (appointed to the Columbia-Greene Community College board of trustees, filling a vacancy left by the passing of Peter Markou, the late county treasurer);

—Deborah Fromer (appointed as a Greene County Board of Elections election commissioner, representing the Democratic Party);

Fromer was recommended by county Democratic Party chairwoman Lori Torgersen, replacing Maria Metzler who has retired.

—Angelo Scaturro (reappointed as fulltime public defender for a three-year term, commencing January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027);

—Four reappointments were made in the realm of county emergency services, all for 3-year terms including:

John Farrell (emergency services director),  Sean Hotaling (emergency medical services coordinator), Davia Montie (emergency medical services deputy coordinator) and Dr. Craig Stanger (emergency medical director);

—Dennis Lucas of Hunter, James Story of Catskill and David Cunningham of Durham (reappointed to the Soil Water Conservation District of Greene County board of directors for three-year terms);

—Legislators Michael Bulich, District 1 Catskill (reappointed a legislative representative to the Soil Conservation District board of directors and Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board) 

Legislator James Thorington, District 6, Ashland, Jewett, Prattsville & Windham (reappointed as legislative alternate to the Soil Conservation District board of directors);

—Legislator Charles Martinez, District 2, Coxsackie (reappointed to the Greene County jury board for a three-year term);

—David Merchant of Coxsackie (reappointed as a member of the Greene County board of Ethics for a three-year term);

—County sheriff Pete Kusminsky (reappointed as coordinator of Greene County STOP-DWI program);

—Legislator Joseph “Jay” Lucas (appointed as legislative representative to the STOP-DWI board of directors);

—Ward Fleming (appointed to the Community Services Board, replacing Beach).

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BETTER THAN HEARSAY Winter Walking

The light from a full moon is ripply on the Hudson River near the Rip Van Winkle Bridge on a late December afternoon. Some days later, at pretty much the same spot, the lunar ripples are replaced by patches of blue sky.  

Wisps of field grasses leave their geometrical mark, moved by the whipping winter wind. 

Photos and Script by Michael Ryan

OUT IN IT - Being out in cold weather has never been one of my favorite places to be although I’ve taught myself to find the beauty of it.

It doesn’t make much sense to love some things in life and not other things since all things blossom from the same thing, I reckon.

So I venture out into the nippiest, nastiest stuff and, without fail, come across things that make it worthwhile, even rememberable.

The sunshine was bright, late one recent December morning, making the snow glitter like warm, toasty solar crystals.

In my dreams, I know, but on another day the snow was sparkly red and blue which also happens walking with a flashlight at night.

Snowy cold quiet is quieter than regular quiet, not busy with birds (except the ones eating me out of house and home at the bird feeder) and bees.

Nothing is better than green grass in my bare toes and, as the song goes, the summer wind blowing in from across the sea.

But with the daffodils waiting in frozen stillness for their spring moment to rise, it seems only right to relish the time they are unseen too.

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MTHA Hosting “Harlem Hellfighters from the North Country” Program

The Mountain Top Historical Society of Greene County invites you to join us for “Harlem Hellfighters from the North Country” presented by Richard Walling. This event will take place via Zoom, Thursday, February 6th, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. 

This is a virtual Zoom presentation. Please make sure to register so you can receive a link via email to attend. All are welcome.

Local men of the Harlem Hellfighters, the most famous regiment of the American Army during World War 1 will be featured in the program on February 7th. Unit historian, Richard Sears Walling, will explore the service of the regiment with an emphasis on the dozens of men of our region who served in this famous regiment. 

In addition to better-known heroes such as Sgt. Henry Johnson of Albany, there were men from our area including Sgt.  Carl and Harrison Vroman of Schoharie. And James Jamieson of Saratoga Springs.  The regiment went overseas in 1917 with an original complement of 2200 men and 76 officers and returned with 1200 men and 35 officers in 1919 of that group.   Their heroism in France earned them their immortal nickname, the Harlem Hellfgighters.

Walling's work specializes in African American and Native American history and genealogy. He is the recipient of the Oliver Cromwell Black Historical Society and the Sons of the American Revolution. He resides in Stamford.

Registration is required. Please email mthsdirector@mths.org or call 518-589-6657.

The Mountain Top Historical Society mission is to discover, preserve, interpret, and share the Greene County Mountain Top’s unique history, culture and geology with residents as well as visitors from around the world. The mission is reflected on our website, www.mths.org, our Facebook page and our Instagram account where we share the latest information about our programming, hikes and archival activities. Registration required. Please email mthsdirector@mths.org or call 518-589-6657.

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