Protecting Your Financial Stability After a Divorce

Like many aspects of divorce, managing your finances after splitting up with your spouse can feel complicated and overwhelming. This is true whether the separation is amicable or acrimonious. Because every divorce is different, it’s wise to consult with your attorney and financial advisor for guidance, but here is a basic primer to help you navigate your finances independently from your ex-spouse.

 

Adjust your budget to match your current lifestyle. Start by calculating your new monthly income, including spousal or child support if applicable, and estimate what you expect to earn over the next year. If you are a stay-at-home parent or spouse, you may decide to re-enter the workforce to bolster your income. Or the time may be right to switch careers or seek a side hustle. 

 

Next, look at your spending to see if you need to adjust your patterns. Whether you’ve decided to remain in your home or seek new living arrangements, crunch the numbers to see how much house you can realistically afford. Also, evaluate your lifestyle spending, including entertainment, dining out, and vacations, to see if it’s necessary to trim your expenses. If possible, avoid making any major purchases until you feel comfortable with your updated budget. 

 

Consider your children’s future. If you have children, they will understandably take center stage in your planning. It’s important to start thinking about how you’ll handle future financial milestones. Milestones may include paying for private grade school, college tuition, the down payment on a home, or a wedding. If you’d like to help your children with such expenses, consider these questions: Will you receive financial support from your former spouse? Do you expect your kids to contribute? As each event approaches, be up front with your kids about what you can afford so they can set realistic expectations. 

 

Prioritize saving for retirement. No matter how close – or far – you are to retirement, make it a priority to update your retirement goals and continue building your nest egg. You are responsible for your own savings. In fact, the biggest challenge most Americans face financially is having enough money to cover what could be several decades of expenses in retirement. While retirement saving can feel overwhelming as you balance competing financial priorities, having a plan can help you feel more in control. 

 

Ensure you’re protected. An important step following divorce is to maintain, replace or establish insurance that will help secure your financial future. All forms of insurance should be reviewed and considered, and your beneficiaries should be updated if needed. Make sure you understand the specific benefits that you and your former spouse are entitled to through your employers, as well as applicable life, health and disability insurance policies. If you have children, whose health insurance plan will be used to cover them? Work quickly to establish an insurance plan to avoid the financial risk of being uninsured. 

 

Consider the tax implications of your new marital status. Review your situation with a tax professional to see if you need to revise your tax strategy. Divorce can affect your tax situation in several ways. Impacts may include entering a different income tax bracket, providing or receiving child or spousal support, and changes to your investment strategy and your process for handling future tax returns. 

 

Dream and plan for the future. Once you have a handle on your new day-to-day finances and retirement goals, allow yourself to dream and plan for other milestones that are important to you. Do you wish to visit every continent? Pay off your mortgage before retirement? Open a small business? Whatever your dreams, determine the cost of each one so you know how much you’ll need to save. Save what you can each month, and keep in mind that even small amounts will add up over time. If you’re tempted to spend the money elsewhere, consider establishing a separate savings account. 

 

Don’t go it alone. Professional guidance from an attorney, tax professional, estate planner and financial advisor can help you make empowered choices that match your new priorities.  Financial advisors like myself routinely advise clients on how to navigate with the complex decisions that arise during a divorce and offer strategies designed to help you meet new financial goals.

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Michael D. Lanuto, CRPC®, AWMA® is a Financial Advisor with S.M. Miller & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. in Albany, NY.  He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 8 years. To contact him: 518-949-2039; 4 Atrium Drive, Ste 200, Albany, NY, 12205; Michael.Lanuto@ampf.com; https://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/michael.lanuto/lp/request-contact/3/. 

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THE CATSKILL GEOLOGISTS BY PROFESSORS ROBERT AND JOHANNA TITUS - A Visit to another Rte. 23 Outcrop

We commonly, - no, very commonly - are asked about “that outcrop” at the Rte. 23 exit that takes you onto Rte. 23B and then on towards the Hamlet of Leeds. People drive by, and very frequently see large numbers of college students climbing all over it. See our first photo. “What is going on there” we are asked. Well, before we continue today, we hope you can look again at our column from two weeks ago, especially the photo. That’s our second photo.

        

In that column we visited Siccar Point offshore of Scotland and saw an outcropping that was visited by James Hutton in 1788. Hutton found two units of stratified rock. Again, see our second photo. The lower unit was tilted steeply while the upper one was only gently tilted. The two units were separated by an erosional surface. Hutton truly had an epiphany, one of the greatest in the history of science. He saw two episodes of deposition, mountain building, weathering and erosion. The first unit was deposited; later it was tilted by mountain building. The second unit was deposited, and it too was tilted by a second episode of mountain building. Two mountain ranges were uplifted and then eroded away. But more than anything else, James Hutton saw an immense amount of time, geological time.

Well, as we said, the Siccar Point location has come to be revered by geologists from all around the globe. Now, take another look at our photo of that outcrop along Rte. 23 and compare it with last week’s photo. The Catskill exposure is remarkably similar to Siccar Point. So, you can imagine the excitement when, probably about a half century ago, these strata came to be exposed by highway construction? Suddenly, America had its own Siccar Point. Suddenly, American geologists did not have to go to Scotland to see so much geological history packed into one outcrop.

They began flocking to this location and they have never stopped. We like to think that every geologist from east of the Mississippi has been right here. That might even be true. We are betting that many Scottish geologists have visited. This is a truly well-known outcrop; it’s fair to call it famous. If you get a chance, you should visit it. Bring this column along.

Contact the authors at randjtitus@prodigy.net. Join their facebook page “The Catskill Geologist.” Read their blogs at “thecatskillgeologist.com.”

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Longyear Gallery Features Newcomers Powell and Freeman

Dogwood 1 photo with watercolor mixed media by Don Freeman 

Madonna and Child by Don Freeman 

Sangeet: Madhi by Alan Powell - Processed, photograph is separated into 4 plates according to color and grayscale. The plates are then digitally transferred the image to wood with a laser cutter.

Bonnie Mitchell’s ‘Still Life 1’ photography 

By Robert Brune

MARGARETVILLE — This Late Winter Group Showing’s opening reception was the official welcoming exhibition for both Don Freeman and Alan Powell. The two very technical creative photographer/artists bring their decades of experience in digital photography, printing, and fascinating mixed medium talents to the local Margaretville community gallery. 

Don Freeman was a fashion and interior design magazine photographer with a foundation in painting. Freeman shot 25 features for World of Interiors and worked with Martha Stewart Living and Vogue magazine. While working as a graphic designer in NYC, Freeman made his peace by combining both of his passions; photography and creative images, “I realized that my love was photography rather than painting, not figuratively but a bit more abstract.” He describes his photos as “painterly.” Freeman describes his styles and techniques, “I've been doing photography as art since the 80's when I lived in the East Village, NY. At first, I was creating paintings (Madonna and Child) in acrylic and silk-screening photographs I took of famous paintings as appropriation. I started taking pictures of my own content-(statues, objects and architecture) in black and white then printing them in the darkroom, then subjecting them to toners that dyed the silver content in the print -this created the beautiful, accidental, non-deliberate colors I loved. Pompeii was my first large series using this technique. (exhibited at Christina Grajales Gallery in New York, 2019). "Blue Stairs" and "Magnolias" are examples of this technique at my current show at Longyear Gallery.”  Freeman talks about his current direction, “My latest work involves mostly techniques I do on the computer, the final result is printed digitally on Hahnemuhle photo rag paper. First the photograph is layered with a combination of pencil sketch, watercolor on japanese paper, and sometimes, plant pressings and images from nature that are hand done. The transparent quality of the image is like a Japanese Wood block print technique (Mokuhanga) which differs from European wood block prints because the Japanese use watercolor ink-so therefore transparent.” 

At the opening reception this past Saturday, Freeman really seemed to be enjoying himself chatting with everyone, “I decided to join the cooperative Longyear Gallery, to explore
more possibilities to show my work to a new audience and meet more artists.  What I admire about the artists at Longyear is we are all about the same age and in the same position as artists, many of us lived in New York, and had admirable careers in the arts; teaching, making videos, films, writing and commercial photography.”

Alan Powell, the other newcomer to the gallery, seemed to equally embrace the privilege of being a newly featured artist at Longyear. It was fascinating and a bit surprising to hear that Powell uses many of the same techniques as Freeman. Although Powell seems to make use of the coloring of his images a bit more prominently. In this exhibition, he chose several more of his modified photos of the Mexico Museum Mummies that he had shown last month. Powell explains his inspiration and techniques involved with this series. “My monotypes and monoprints were from a series of photographs I took of the Mummies of Guanajuato.  The concept of the prints evolved from trying to capture the spirits of these people at the moment of their death to a way of dealing with the horror of the Hamas Israeli War.

A monotype is a unique one-of-a-kind print. The first set I called ghost prints.”  One of the wonderful things about artists like Powell and Freeman is how they don’t seem to keep any of the secrets of their amazing creations, Powell explains, “I laid mylar over the photographs and made cut out stencils that were given texture created by glue and thick paint on top of the cut-out shapes in mylar. I used a variety of plates and colors. The last set was using white inked plates on a dark background made from crushed paper that is inked, cut out circles painted with iron dust and images of trees and birds deep in the background. Generally, I ran the print through the press two to three times.” Powell being moved by the events unfolding in the Middle East, said he was inspired to highlight a combination of images with his mummy photo-based creations, “A monoprint is where the artist uses a fixed Matrix (plate) and then does variations with the plate to get a variety of prints, but all rooted in a base image. The Monoprint is called "I am who I am” The piece is signed in Arabic/ English and Hebrew. My deep emotional reaction to the Hamas /Israeli War where people are being killed just because of their ethnic identity. The base image is from three photographs of female mummies from Guanajuato, Mexico at the moment of their death. The three photographs were digitally composited and etched with a laser on a piece of plexiglass plastic.  I constructed a cardboard and mylar landscape of the remains of Gaza City after its destruction. I printed the plates with all sorts of combinations and colors.”

It is a tremendous challenge to choose who to highlight from the outstanding pool of talented artists at Longyear Gallery, but we’ve got to wrap this one up. The other stunning piece from this exhibition that begged to be mentioned is by Bonnie Mitchell with her ‘Still Life 1’ photograph of a white pitcher containing flowers tilting out across the backdrop of a fabulous painting which creates an almost seamless blend of beauty, an absolute composition of fine art. 

For More Information on this exhibition running through March 17th, See www.longyeargallery.org

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Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - Are You Ready for Fishing Season?

Although it’s cold now, before you know it, warm weather and the unofficial start of fishing season will be here, but is your equipment ready to go? Besides going over the overall condition of your fishing gear, any used monofilament line or “mono” is the first thing you should check and more than likely replace. It should be changed each year and the fact that it is relatively inexpensive makes it not too big of a burden for most fishermen. If you don’t change your mono roughly once per season, you’ll soon be reminded when you find constant tangles due to excessive coiling when casting. That’s because monofilament line has memory and the longer it sits on your spinning, spin cast, bait cast, or conventional reel, the more it dries and coils up instead of nicely laying limp when casting or tying knots etc. 

Braided line is much more expensive than monofilament but much less subject to abrasion, wear, and coiling due to memory. Braided line can remain in great shape on reels for years, especially if simply maintained by keeping it somewhat clean and out of constant, prolonged exposure to the sun. Always check any line you’re using for nicks and cuts to prevent unanticipated breakage, which always seems to happen at the most inopportune moment. And by that, I mean just when your about to haul in the “big one!” 

For reels, they should simply be cleaned after each use. Annual maintenance includes lubricating internal parts with just a little reel lube which is available at most fishing tackle shops. If you use your fishing equipment in saltwater however, that’s a different story. It’s important to be much more vigilant when it comes to maintenance when fishing in saltwater.

Reels, rods, and line need to be thoroughly rinsed with fresh water after each exposure to saltwater conditions. After rinsing and allowing to dry, it’s a good idea to use a good lubricant on both internal and external parts and surfaces of your reel. WD 40 works well here and for good reason; the “WD” stands for Water Displacement, so if any salt or even freshwater is left on or in the reel, WD 40 should displace it with some protective properties. 

For rods, whether fishing in fresh or saltwater, just keep them clean, free of debris, check the rod tip and make sure all the guides are in place. You can check if any are broken or getting loose. If your rod needs repair, you can either do it yourself or try to find a reputable shop that offers a repair service. Rod tip replacement is fairly simple and you can buy do-it-yourself rod tip repair kits that come complete with the appropriate glue. Rod guides could be more complicated to replace, especially if they are the type that are thread wrapped with an epoxy coating. You will need to have the equipment to repair a thread wrapped guide which is essentially a rotisserie type device that rotates the rod once wrapped so the epoxy is applied evenly. 

For tackle, there’s not too much to do unless you’re a hook sharpener. If you are, you know what to do. If not, simply replace dull or bent hooks on any lures and for snelled or loose hooks, just make sure you have enough of your favorite size, styles, and shapes. 

Rod and reel repair shops can be hard to find in our area and many fishermen simply replace equipment rather than repair it. While this is unfortunate, I guess it’s okay for cheaper fishing equipment, but can be wasteful for expensive rods and reels. Replacing high-end fishing equipment can get pretty pricey. That’s when it can be well worth the effort to find a good rod or reel repair expert. A good place to start to find rod and reel repair options near you is your local fishing tackle shop, if you are lucky enough to have one. You can always go online and check there, but that may involve shipping your fishing equipment for a repair which is not always the easiest or best option. 

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so a quick annual check and consistent maintenance of your fishing equipment can go a long way to help you enjoy a great, and hopefully warm fishing season. It will be here before you know it!

Happy hunting, trapping, and fishing, until next time!

News and Notes

Childrens Ice Fishing Derby February 25th at Tannersville Lake

The Catskill Mountain Fish & Game Club in conjunction with the Stony Clove Rod and Gun Club are hosting their Children’s Ice Fishing Derby at Rip Van Winkle/Tannersville Lake on Sunday, February 25th. Registration begins at 9:00 am. Kids up to 16 years of age can compete in two divisions for prizes. Live bait, refreshments, and a few tips ups will be available. For more information, call Bob Monteleone at 518-488-0240.

Albany County Winter Fest February 24th at Lawson Lake 

Albany County Parks and Recreation is hosting their annual Winter Fest at Lawson Lake at 293 Lawson Lake Road on Saturday, February 24th from 11:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Activities for both kids and adults include snowmobile demonstrations, ice fishing with Albany County Conservation Alliance volunteers and DEC staff, a Sled Dog Meet and Greet, and Albany County Sheriff’s Deputies will be conducting an Ice-Immersion Safety Demonstration plus much more. Hot food and drinks will be available for purchase. 

Ducks Unlimited Greene County Chapter Banquet March 2nd 

The Greene County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is holding its annual banquet, dinner and auction on Saturday, March 2nd at Anthony’s Banquet Hall, located at 746 County Route 23B in Leeds. Doors open at 3:30 pm with buffet dinner starting at 5:00 pm followed by a live auction. Tickets are available online at www.ducks.org/newyork/events. For more information you can call Dana Hanusik at 518-821-1773 or Jeff Holiday at 965-6105.  

Remember to report poaching violations by calling the 24-hour ECO Dispatch at: 

1-844-DEC-ECOS.

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A Conversation About - Fires

By Jean Thomas

This past summer, and several other summers prior, we’ve seen forest fires eating up thousands of acres across the continent. My friend, Anastasia Allwine, is a New York State Forest Ranger who took on the challenge of fighting one of these whoppers, and crossed international borders to do it. She was part of a team that traveled to Canada, among many international firefighting teams.

You may remember when we could smell the smoke and see the haze right here in the Catskills while thousands of acres of forest in Quebec Province were aflame. Well, Anastasia and her team were actually there. There is a remarkable coalition of state, local, and federal authorities in place, with intense training courses, and the NYS Forest Rangers are part of it.

I reconsidered the idea of volunteering once she described the training.  If any of you would like to volunteer, one required skill is to travel three miles in forty five minutes. Pretty easy without the mandatory forty five pound backpack. Oh, and you have to wear all that cool gear while you’re doing it.

I wondered about how help could be organized as quickly as we see on TV. The news people tell us about a wildfire somewhere and almost immediately they show teams boarding flights to the danger zone. In our region, there is a Northeast Compact in place, with seven states and several Canadian provinces as members. In fact, last year a group came from Quebec Province to assist with wildfires in Ulster County.  In an interview with “Nature Calls, Conversations from the Hudson Valley” at https://ccecolumbiagreene.org/gardening/nature-calls-conversations-from-the-hudson-valley/episode-108-nys-forest-rangers, Ranger Allwine describes vast acreage of devastation. Her team witnessed a phenomenon called “tree torches”, where a wildfire will creep through moss on the ground, then erupt along the whole height (often as much as thirty feet) of a tree at once. The event is, she says, “very noisy”. It also throws out masses of flaming needles and other parts of the tree over a large area, spreading the fire exponentially.  

I learned, too, that we’re really lucky to live in and near the Adirondacks…and Catskills. In the world of forest fire risks, the Adirondack region is considered less dangerous because of the wetter environment and the particular varieties of plants that grow there. This is, of course, not ironclad. There can be wildfires even now, although not as widespread as in other areas. And changing weather patterns leave all this subject to change.

There is a whole ‘nother fire control practice that the Rangers (and DEC people) do regularly. It’s called controlled burning. It happens that there are areas where it makes sense to burn areas of native growth to maintain the ecological value. Long Island has several areas maintained that way since huge wildfires once required thousands of firefighters to control. There is now an organization of local, state and Federal agencies on standby.  Another area requiring controlled burns is Albany’s Pine Bush Preserve. The symbol for this is, of course, the Karner Blue Butterfly, an endangered species. A controlled burn is a very precise operation, carried out with attention to many variables of weather. 

That’s all I have time for today. Some other time I’ll talk about the unique system of fire towers in the area, remnants of the time when fires were a much more active risk to our forests.

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Whittling Away with Dick Brooks - Changes

In spite of my advancing age, there are still those rare moments when things snap into focus.  It’s at these times that I realize that things are missing or not the same.  Watches for instance, have you noticed that they are disappearing.  Very few folks under the age of 25 wear one.  Ask them the time and they pull out their cell phones—if they weren’t already talking or texting on them.  What ever happened to those bell hoses at gas stations?  I can’t remember the last one I saw.  I used to love jumping on them until the station owner came out and chased me away.  They’re probably stored away with the old Texaco uniforms, bow ties, hats and all.  When was the last time you went to a gas station and someone came out, pumped your gas, washed your windshield, checked your oil and gave you a glass or a plate and Green Stamps?  For that matter, what happened to Green Stamps?  They used to be everywhere, I can remember my mother sending me back into a store because I’d forgotten the Green Stamps.  They were taken home and pasted carefully into their little book.  Twenty or so books taken to the Green Stamp store would get you a washcloth or an ashtray.  Remember ashtrays, another object that’s disappeared.  They used to be everywhere, every home had a selection, the fanciest one was always on the coffee table in the living room.  The better homes had a cigarette lighter next to it that matched the ashtray.

Our public library had ashtrays on the tables where you read your books.  I don’t remember when glass milk bottles went away.  Those little paper tops with the pull tab on the side were so much easier to use than those paper cartons with the pull and pinch spouts that drive me crazy.  

Some of these things are hard to explain to those who have never experienced them.  I tried to explain The Empire State to a youngster the other day.  Do you remember The Empire State?  You don’t hear much about it nowadays.  It seems to have gone the way of the bell hose and the ashtrays.  We learned all about it when I was a mere lad.  It had the biggest city in the world.  Its education system was the envy of all the other 47 states.  It was the financial center of the world.  It had the tallest building on Earth.  The highest standard of living and the best medical care anywhere was found there.  Of all the busy and beautiful places on this old planet, this was the biggest, the brightest and the best.  Everyone wanted to live in The Empire State, people came here from all over the world and we welcomed them because that’s what you do when you’re The Empire State.

Yep, I wonder where all these things went, I miss them but that’s what life’s all about.  I guess change is a good thing but sometimes a glance backwards is a good thing.  A rearview mirror gives you a clear vision of where you’ve been and is a useful thing. 

I would like to have some things back the way they were though, like my former abs that now hang over my belt buckle.

Thought for the week—“As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say.  I just watch what they do.”      

--Andrew Carnegie

Until next week, may you and yours be happy and well.

Whittle12124@yahoo.com

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Happy Birthday, Derek Curl!

The Andes Hotel was hopping with a huge crowd out to celebrate Andes Hotel’s owner and the Mountain Eagle Co-Person of the Year on his Birthday February 17th. Photo by Robert Brune.

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New Congressional Maps Released

ALBANY — New borders for the House of Representatives districts in our state have been released following a sustained process.

The new borders will also affect state politics, since members of the Assembly and State Senate must work with individual representatives.

Assemblyman Chris Tague (R-Schoharie) said, “Now on our fourth set of congressional maps, the latest offering from the redistricting commission has become a glaring indictment of our state’s democratic leadership and the convoluted process at play.”

“While the maps seem to closely resemble those used in 2022, it’s important to note that despite having ample time for the seemingly straightforward task of establishing equitable boundaries, the Democrats’ missteps have prompted the intervention of an independent special master to achieve this goal. As we near the final vote in the Legislature, I'll be vigilantly monitoring the developments.”

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Wellness Rx Phoenicia Seeks Non-Profit Fundraiser

We are America’s first nonprofit community pharmacy and wellness center, located at 53 Main Street in Phoenicia (the former Key Bank building). As we approach our one-year anniversary of our Grand Opening last April, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible journey we have embarked on together, but there is still work to do!

Pharmacy for the Public Good (PPG) was born out of a vision to address the pharmacy and healthcare deserts in our underserved areas especially in rural America.  As a nonprofit, our model relies on community partnership and local support, much like a local library. 

We are reaching out to you, our valued residents, patients, businesses and visitors, to not only patronize our Phoenicia pharmacy and wellness center, but also to contribute to our 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit, if you can. Your support is vital to sustaining our local services and combating the issue of wellness deserts. In the case of pharmacy, things will only get worse as the chain pharmacies are in trouble and have announced the closing of over 2,000 stores this year.

In our first year, we faced challenges and growing pains and despite these hurdles, we anticipate ending our calendar year this May with only a modest loss. We are now seeking a fundraising goal of $85,000 to help complete our first year and to provide the foundation for year two. If we are successful in meeting this challenge from either donations or grants, our vision of “hope” for other community pharmacies in rural America will be fulfilled. Our story is being followed closely by a documentary team and the profession of pharmacy. The support we have received from the community has been heartening, and we are grateful for the positive feedback about the beautiful atmosphere of our location.

Special thanks to Jay Jacobs and the Timber Lake Camp and Shandaken Inn for beginning our fundraising challenge, and for Mary and Darrell Fontanot of Mount Tremper for supporting us from the start of our fundraising initiative.  Also, our deep appreciation to Patricia and Mike Ruane, and the many other donors, volunteers and organizations that have given us grants to expand our services. Together all combined, their efforts have allowed us to raise $245,000 to date which has clearly demonstrated the grit of our small and vibrant community.

Our success is measured in many ways but most importantly in the lives we touch and the impact we make here in Shandaken. We have become a beacon of “hope” for other connected communities, garnering attention from local public officials, the Hudson Valley media and press, and many other organizations. As a messenger of “hope”, we must seize this moment and expand our services to meet the growing needs of our community.

Wellness Rx Phoenicia is so much more than a typical pharmacy, it is a comprehensive wellness center with fulfilling your wellness needs in mind. Yes, we offer traditional pharmacy services with a large emphasis on natural medicine and treatment. We received a seed grant from Ulster Savings Bank’s Charitable Foundation for our mental health counseling program, and a grant from The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley to kickoff our nutritional counseling program.

Our expansion plans include at-home care, student training, emergency medicine, and outreach to the less fortunate. In our second and third years, we aim to roll out and strengthen additional services, such as "Wellness Rx on Wheels" – delivering prescriptions, vaccinations and wellness services to those in need. We take pride in offering free consultations for overall wellness, and we thank you for your positive responses.

We thank the Town of Shandaken for all their support and especially thank State Senator Michelle Hinchey for her unwavering support at our Grand Opening who said, “Something that I'm really excited about is working closely with Ed, as we have been keeping in communication," she said. "Working closely with and seeing what it is that they need and seeing the types of grant programs that we should be elevating to actually bring in a deeper, stronger healthcare system into our rural areas.”

Recently, United States Congressman, Marc Molinaro visited Shandaken and held a meeting at America’s first nonprofit community pharmacy and wellness center to review our progress, concept and shared his thoughts,  “Wellness Rx Pharmacy in Phoenicia is one-of-a-kind, blending a traditional pharmacy with holistic health initiatives that incorporate physical and mental health,” Molinaro said. “There’s tremendous potential with replicating this model across the state, and I welcome plans to bring one to New Lebanon. The project is still in its early stages, and I will be doing everything I can on the federal level to support its growth.”

To continue serving you and expanding our vital services, we need to meet our fundraising goal of $85,000 in the next few months. Your generous contributions will ensure the continued success of Wellness Rx Phoenicia, a Pharmacy for the Public Good, and make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of Shandaken residents going forward.

Please consider making a donation today!

Checks can be made payable to Pharmacy for the Public Good, Inc., note “Phoenicia” in the memo.  You can drop off your donation at 53 Main Street, Phoenicia, NY 12464, or mail it to Pharmacy for the Public Good, Post Office Box 211, Phoenicia, NY 12464.

Other ways to donate:

Pay Pal Giving Fund  https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/4651584

Or scan the QR code:

Together, we must show that a little community in the heart of the Catskill Mountains of New York can dare to be different and lead the way. We must build a healthier, stronger community for now and the next generations to come.

Ed Ullmann

Executive Director and Pharmacist

Wellness Rx, Pharmacy for the Public Good

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Local Business Focus - Hair by Brianna Lynn

By Tori Edwards 

COBLESKILL — Brianna Manchester is a hair stylist located at 127 St in Cobleskill. She started her beauty salon in 2023 and has over 40 reviews with an amazing five-star rating. 

She specializes in blondes and bridal styling. She doesn’t have a slogan, but she really doesn’t need one. Her personality combined with her clientele can express how truly amazing she is at her styling. 

She just glows and loves pampering her clients. 

Her hours of operation are Monday 9am-5pm, Tuesday 9am-7pm, Wednesday 9am-7pm, Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-3pm. 

She can also be reached at her website, https://briannamanchester.glossgenius.com/about and she can also be found on Instagram at hair.bybriannalynn or on Facebook Hair by Brianna Lynn. Check out her Facebook page for raffles or just send your friends her way! 

You can also contact her at (518) 227-3503. 

Come on down and meet Brianna Lynn, her styling will make your hair pop like champagne! You deserve it! 

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