A Conversation About: All the Naked Ladies

By Jean Thomas

This part of the summer in the garden can be confusing. Most of the annuals are in their glory, but the perennials seem to be catching their breath. The autumn showoffs like chrysanthemums and aster, goldenrod and Japanese anemone are getting ready to dazzle us.                                                                The transitional period is when the naked ladies pop up. They are not as well known as many other flowering bulbs, and often are greeted with amazement by first time observers.  They’re not a widespread choice of flower, and I’m not sure why. The bulbs are a little expensive, but they form colonies quickly. I see them most often in the yards of old farmhouses where they have room to spread out. Maybe it’s because there is room for them to work through their life span without fear of some other plant being stuffed into their space.  The clusters of pink trumpets are eye-catching at their prime, and easily tidied away when bloom finishes.

They are the stars of the show for more than their provocative name.  Formally known as Lycoris squamigera, they are a bulb originating in Asia that has been found in American gardens since about the 1880s. Even those of us who grow them are excited when the spears poke their snouts out of the soil unaccompanied by any leaves. We start anxiously looking for them about two weeks early, every year. They have an odd style of flowering unlike most other flowering plants. The leaves show up in the spring as large grey-green strappy clumps, stand around for a month or so, and die back without doing anything else aboveground. Then, in late summer, suddenly there’s an eruption of spears from the same spot. These are tipped with red buds and quickly leap to a two foot height. The buds burst out into a circle of trumpet shaped flowers, dusty pink with lavender overtones. They are closely related to the Amaryllis we see at Christmas time, and the similarity is easily observed.  These beauties have a whole lot of history behind their names. Naked Lady, magic lily, surprise lily and resurrection lily are the most common nicknames, because of their bold appearance without a modest skirt of foliage.  They also smell good and are popular with butterflies and hummingbirds.

The snow birds among us may be familiar with another Lycoris that thrives in the more southern zones. This is the radiata, a red flowering version that has naturalized in many places. The red ones reverse the leaf/flower timing, making foliage after flowering, to overwinter and then die off. Wherever you decide to grow them, Fall is recommended as the best planting time. (I prefer to lift them right after the leaves have died off because they’re easier to find and they don’t mind as long as I divide and replant immediately.) I took a quick look online and the bulbs are available from just about any bulb supplier, from Amazon to specialty bulb companies. If you like  Lycoris and enjoy the August timing, you might want some of the other summer flowering bulbs like Crocosmia and Peacock Orchids (Acidanthera), both natives of Africa. Crocosmia is a vivid red or orange and the Acidanthera is white, with a fabulous scent. Right now I have all three showing off in waves of color in my garden and it’s phenomenal! Episodes 20 and 83 of the Nature Calls, Conversations from the Hudson Valley discuss bulbs in depth at: https://ccecolumbiagreene.org/gardening/nature-calls-conversations-from-the-hudson-valley.  

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Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - Conservation Officer Lt. Michael Terrell Retires

Lt. Michael C. Terrell is pictured here at DECs Region 4 Headquarters in Schenectady. He is holding a framed copy of an article featured in The Conservationist magazine extolling his and ECOs Mike Arp and Vern Bauer's work in arresting a subject who illegally shot the 575 pound bear he is standing next to. Lt. Terrell enjoyed a stellar career right up until his retirement this summer after over 32 years of service to the people of New York State. 

NYS Environmental Conservation Officer Lieutenant Michael C. Terrell has retired. After serving over 32 years with the State of New York, the Greene County native has hung up his badge and gun, moving on to the next chapter. Now, Mike can really enjoy hunting, fishing, and farming with his family and friends..  

 Mike Terrell graduated from Durham High School in 1988, then attended SUNY Cobleskill where he earned a degree in fisheries. He began working for the state as a Fisheries Technician at DEC’s sub-office in Stamford in 1990, then did a stint as a NYS Correction Officer before fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a NYS Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) in 1996. That is the year he completed the ECO Academy, then held at Paul Smiths College. Upon graduation, he was plucked from the serene and sublime of the Adirondack Mountains and billeted in the heart of New York City. It was there he embarked on the first leg of his journey as an ECO. 

 Mike adapted quickly to fast-paced city life among the concrete and asphalt, finding a new challenge on the untamed waterways of the New York Bight. As unlikely as it seems, ECO Terrell found a target-rich environment in the waters surrounding that concrete and asphalt, where fish poaching was not just a past time, it was big business. Mike became the leading NY conservation officer in a multi-state, federal investigation. Operation “Boomerang” involved dozens of federal and state officers, investigators, and state and federal prosecutors, in both New York and New Jersey. The investigation led to the seizure of over 100,000 pounds of striped bass, illegally netted in the Hudson River and sold on the open market. The huge commercial poaching ring had ties to organized crime, the Fulton Fish Market, and tentacles throughout the Tri-State Area. Some defendants were convicted and served time in state prison, while others faced serious criminal penalties and massive fines for large scale illegal poaching and commercialization of our fisheries resource. In recognition of his outstanding work in Operation “Boomerang,” ECO Terrell received the DEC Division of Law Enforcement’s esteemed “Drew Award.”

 During three tough years as an ECO in NYC, Mike Terrell made a series of felony fisheries arrests, including one case that broke up an interstate Lake Sturgeon poaching operation resulting in a $150,000.00 penalty. 

 In 1998, Mike transferred to Hamilton County before returning home to Greene County in 1999. In 2001, he briefly returned to Manhattan to do his duty as a 9/11 first responder. While an ECO in Greene County in 2002, Mike was named Conservation Officer of the Year by the National Wild Turkey Federation, and garnered the coveted Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chief’s Award in 2006. Mike continued to make quality fish and wildlife and environmental quality arrests throughout his time in Greene County.  

 In addition to combatting poaching, ECO Terrell also focused on protecting the environment. He literally cleaned up the Hamlet of Leeds by fighting through his own agencies’ bureaucratic inertia. It had shockingly enabled decades of unchecked and unhealthy municipal pollution of its premier waterway, the Catskill Creek.  Mike remained doggedly determined and did not rest until he ended the scourge of area-wide direct-discharge of raw sewage into the Catskill Creek. 

 After serving Greene County for 10 years, Mike transferred to Schoharie County where he worked as an ECO until he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in April of 2019. Lt. Terrell  supervised ECOs in Schoharie and Otsego Counties until his retirement. During his tenure as lieutenant, Mike returned to his alma mater, teaching Environmental Conservation Law at his beloved SUNY Cobleskill.  

 I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Mike Terrell for a good part of his career and attest to his dedication to being a knowledgeable, professional conservation officer. Lt. Terrell was respected by his peers, subordinates, superior officers, and the public he served. Both the law-abiding as well as those on the other side of the fish and game laws maintained a healthy respect for Lt. Terrell. His unrelenting commitment to traditional conservation law enforcement was complimented by the depth of his knowledge of fish and game and environmental law. 

 Please join me in congratulating Lt. Michael C. Terrell upon his retirement and thank him for a job well done! We are all very fortunate to have benefited from his outstanding career of dedicated service in protecting our state’s fish, wildlife, natural resources, and the environment. 

Happy Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Until Next Time!

News and Notes…

Norton Hill Wildlife Club’s 2024 Trap Shooting Schedule

Trap shooting at Norton Hill Wildlife Club at 946 Big Woods Road in Greenville begins at 10:00 am on the following remaining Sundays: August 25th, September 15th and September 29th. Cost is just $5.00 per round. Bring your own ammo. Trap shooting is open to all; you do not have to be a member to take advantage of this opportunity.

Remember to report poaching violations by calling 1-844-DEC-ECOS.

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Discovering Water - Photo Exhibition at the Galli Curci

By Rebecca Andre

MARGARETVILLE — Water is life. Here in the Catskill Mountains, an integral part of the NYC Watershed, water sustains the lives of local people, plants, and animals as well as the residents of New York City. The life-giving rivers and reservoirs provide a unique beauty and peace that captures the heart and lens of photographers near and far.

This month, water and art come together in the latest exhibition at the Galli Curci Theater in Margaretville. “Discovering Water Through the Photographer’s Lens” presented by the Catskill Water Discovery Center (CWDC), is now on display and features the art of five talented photographers, curated by CWDC board member Brent Rumage. “We’re expanding our outreach, trying to figure out ways to help people learn about the center. We’re mostly an educational institution,” says Rumage. 

The CWDC, originally intended to be a museum, incorporated in 2001 as the Catskill Watershed Partnership Museum, a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization, changing its name in ensuing years to widen its scope. Their mission is “to educate people of all ages about the precious nature of, and threats to, our planet’s most vital resource — pure water. We will use the Catskill/Delaware Watershed as our living classroom and the history and experience of those connected to this watershed to inspire people through programs, exhibits, and events to care for, conserve and protect their water resources for the benefit of generations to come.”

Their latest exhibit of photography strives to highlight the impact of water and boasts scenes of the Ashokan Reservoir, Pepacton Reservoir, Alder Lake, Dry Brook, Beaver Pond and the Delaware River. Originally planned as a state-wide photography competition, the project had to be pared down as a result of not receiving applied for grant funds. Still, the gallery walls are filled with beautiful captures of water, sky, reflections, sunrises, and sunsets that demonstrate each artists’ close relationship to the life-giving resource.

The participating artists, invited personally by Rumage, are Bernard Cohen, Drew Jarrett, Noah Kalina, Ashley Miiles and Bing Wright. Both Cohen and Jarrett are from Margaretville. Wright is from the Beaverkill Valley and Miiles lives near the Ashokan Reservoir. Noah Kalina, residing near Ellenville, has on display “The River Series” a chronological collection of photos he took with his drone of the Delaware River outside of his studio during the pandemic’s lockdown. 100 photos are hung in a grid along the two far walls of the theater in a dramatic statement of changing color along meandering the East Branch.

Bing Wright, with experiences showing nationally and internationally, has on display two of the largest pieces. The viewer stands before a photo of a window, that is the actual size of a window, peering through to a landscape blurred by the rain on the windowpane. Next up are Bernard Cohen’s photos, taken of the water from his canoe as he floats along the Pepacton Reservoir. He then enlarges them and they take on the quality of a watercolor painting. Drew Jarrett’s photos present captivating scenes from the Beaver Pond at Alder Lake, Drybrook, the Pepacton, as well as a few water captures from his home country, England.

A running theme of the exhibit seems to be the strategy of the photographer returning to the same location, but at different times of the day, to document the variable seasons, light and colors reflected on water. This takes dedication and organization, as seen in the photography of Ashley Miiles, who diligently goes out early in the morning, capturing breathtaking reflections on the Ashokan Reservoir. Each photo is cataloged by date and time.

Coming up on August 17 from 3pm-6pm is a fundraiser taking place for the CWDC, with the Discovering Water photography show providing an appropriate setting. Funds raised will go to supporting the non profit. For more information go to waterdiscoverycenter.org.

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Whittling Away with Dick Brooks - The Recliner

I’ve been writing this missive for 25 years as of this month.  With over a thousand columns behind me, there are times when I sit down to write and the well is dry.  Usually this isn’t a problem because sometime during the week something happens to get the old wheels turning and I mill it over for several days and am ready when it’s typing time.  If it’s been an especially dull week, I grab one of my collection of Andy Rooney books and usually after five minutes or so the wheels start turning or as happens occasionally, I get an e-mail with a column idea suggestion.  This is one of those weeks,a good friend suggested that I write about a common problem amongst our age group so here goes!

There is a problem that affects members of mostly the male persuasion in their golden years.  It involves our favorite article of furniture, the recliner.  I love my recliner, after a hard day of doing senior things like going to the Post Office or pulling weeds or supervising anybody doing anything to be sure that they are doing it right, it sits there, ready to cradle my old bones, a nest of peace and a comfort to my old age.  The one problem that I have with my recliner is caused because it reclines.  I rarely sit up straight in it, I automatically pull the side lever and up come the old tootsies.  No problem there, in fact before I lost several pounds of cuddlieness, it was the only time during the day I could see my feet.  So I recline and am comfortable, the end table near my left hand holds a tasty drink and a snack or two and I’m set for a few hours of reading or TV watching.  Now we get to the problem, trying to eat or drink while reclining leads to more than a few mishaps.  Balancing a drink on my still rather round tummy usually leads to spillage.  Your mouth is harder to hit when reclining.  I have groped the cushion cracks on both sides more frequently that I care to admit seeking an errant potato chip or cookie piece.  All of this leads to embarrassing stains which are hard to explain when The Queen does laundry.  If there’s a problem, there’s a solution.  I think an article of clothing is what’s needed.  The Queen gifted me a few years back with a thing called a Snuggie.  It’s a blanket with arms sewed in.  This design would solve the recliner mess problem.  Make the Snuggie out of some waterproof material in an attractive pattern, maybe Real Tree Camouflage would be appropriate.  It should be knee length with large vertical pockets on each side with a wire strip to hold them open so that when you were reclining they could catch any stray goodies trying to escape to the void near the arms of the recliner.  A handy pocket sewed in the center of the chest to hold the remote and I think we’ve got a winner.  I’m going to draw up the plans for it now, another million dollar idea!

Thought for the week—The older I get, the earlier it gets late!

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

whittle12124@yahoo.com 

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Obituary - Joan Verrill

Joan Coppinger Verrill (Goldiner) of 240 Beeman Hill Road, Margretville was born on June 29, 1950 to Herbert and Shirlie Verrill in Fall River, Massachusetts.  She grew up in Connecticut after a few years in Rhode Island, and finally moved to Bronx, New York after her parents divorced. She graduated high school there and attended Ryder college for a few years before leaving to work for a non-profit that eventually developed the all important "Living Will". She worked for the Social Service department of the City of New York where she met her eventual husband, Jim Goldiner. They were married for 20 years sharing time in Margretville and New York City where Jim continued to work. After Jim's passing in 2020 Joan became a full time resident of Margretville enjoying the beauty, challenges and adventure of single living with wonderful friends and her fur babies, Bobby and China. 

She was pre-deceased by her parents, Herbert Verrill and Shirlie Verrill-Harrison and her brother Charles T. Verrill. She is survived by her older brother Peter S. Verrill, his wife Lenore and thier children Peter J. Verrill and Michelle Verrill Smith, and her brother Charles children, Sam and Joe Verrill and Hannah (Zimmer) Verrill. She will be remembered and missed by all who knew her, even briefly. 

Interment will be held at a later date in Winter Haven, FL

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Cairo, County Considers Water Connections - Tied to American Thermostat Site

By D.M. Kamecke

CAIRO — The possibility of Country Estates in So. Cairo being connected to Catskill municipal water is looking increasingly likely.  At the fourth meeting in as many weeks, representatives from Cairo and Catskill, Greene County, the NYS Department of Health, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the US Environmental Protection Agency talked over the available options, including the EPA paying for the costs of extending the Catskill water main onto the Estates’ property and possibly elsewhere.

At the heart of the matter is the former American Thermostat Company located on Route 23B in Catskill. In 1981, the Thermostat was discovered to be incorrectly disposing of toxic waste containing volatile organic compounds (VOC) including dumping it on the grounds and into sewer drains that discharged into a tributary of the Catskill Creek. Two years later it made the National Priorities List (NPL) of waste sites making it eligible for Federal Superfunds. 

The EPA initiated clean-up of the site including the surface water, groundwater, soil, and the onsite buildings. In 1992, it funded and constructed a 3.5-mile water-main extension from the Village of Catskill down 23B to affected and potentially affected locations including Country Estates. The park owner, at the time, declined an extension onto Estates’ property reportedly citing concerns over passing on water costs to the residents and increased taxes. There was no evidence of contamination at Country Estates until the late 1990s, according to the EPA, which then installed a Point of Entry Treatment system for the two water supply wells there. That POET system has been in continuous operation since then. Water samples are collected every three months, pre-, mid-, and post-treatment and meet DOH and DEC drinking water standards. The next testing is scheduled for September. POETS installed on individual wells in the surrounding area were removed after multiple years of testing for site-related contaminants showed that the concentration of VOCs had decreased to levels meeting DOH public water supply standards. Recipients of those wells had the option of keeping the systems and providing their own maintenance. 

Local concerns were raised recently when the EPA reported that groundwater contaminants at the factory site had remained elevated despite more than 25 years of extracting and cleaning it. At a public meeting held in early July to get community input on the new testing schedule and cleanup plan – one that could take 3-5 years to complete – the audience indicated it wasn’t willing to wait. It wanted a permanent solution: hookup to a municipal water main.

While the EPA has indicated that Country Estates is eligible for funding, it must first complete an analysis of water treatment options. It will also need to complete testing for contamination to see if the lines can be extended elsewhere in that general area. EPA attorneys are also looking into the possibility of using Superfund money to extend water lines to areas with past contamination in contrast to initial reports that it could only be used for wells currently affected. However, even a single extension by the EPA into the Estates would likely be several years down the line due to Federal procurement policies and regulations. 

Local and county officials are not waiting around and are prepping to move forward. In a rather unusual display of inter-municipality cooperation, the towns of Catskill and Cairo have agreed to work together to provide Catskill Village water to Cairo residents. Catskill Town Supervisor Patrick McCulloch is setting up a meeting with Delaware Engineering to design plans for the lateral that will be installed from the water pipe on Route 23B to Country Estates. Those plans must then be approved and submitted to the DOH for additional review and then go out for bid. The entire process, handled locally, would take 10-12 months.

Conversations between Cairo and Catskill on forming a special water district have already begun. Water meters will also need to be installed at each of the 61 homes in the Estates. McCulloch reports that the actual installation of the waterline is unlikely to take more than a week once it’s begun. 

While the Village of Catskill will own and maintain the lines, if the project ends up requiring a short-term bond the responsibility for the debt will be on the Town of Cairo. An early estimate of costs from the DEC ran around $320,000 but local officials believe that figure is high. Minimum cost for municipal water for those special district residents will be the same as for any residents located outside of the Village of Catskill, currently a minimum of $125 per quarter. 

Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden, vocal in his disapproval of any “acceptable” level of site-related contaminant, has been reaching out to state representatives including Senator Hinchey and Congressman Molinaro to see what if any grants are available to offset the costs. At the recent meeting held in the legislative building in Catskill, Groden also asked about the possibility of reimbursement if the municipalities take on the costs of the project to move it along more quickly. EPA representative Joel Singerman, via Zoom, agreed to check with counsel on that possibility.  However, reimbursement will require adherence to “the funders’ procurement policies,” according to Deputy County Administrator Warren Hart.

In the meantime, the DOH reports that recent testing of some private wells “in this area of interest” is negative for site-related contaminants. It is offering testing to additional area residents including those on Scotch Rock Road, some 20+ homes. Cairo Deputy Supervisor Debra Bogins (one of the local officials who, along with the County, pushed for meetings with state and federal agencies) and County Legislator Sherry True requested additional testing amid health concerns reported by So. Cairo residents. Bogins and Cairo Board members Mike Flaherty and Tim Murphy, will be “hitting the ground running,” going door to door with DOH letters giving information to, and asking permission of, residents whose wells may have previously gone untested. There is no charge to homeowners.

In response to questioning, the DOH says it has not done a cancer assessment. A Public Health Assessment was done in 1989 with further review in 1994, however “nothing jumped out.” At the latest meeting, DOH said additional health studies may bear looking into, but later reports indicate there are no current plans. Anyone with “exposure and health issues” should contact Public Health Specialist Angela Martin individually. 

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Filmed Locally - Lexington Film Fest Promises to be a Blast

By Bradley Towle

LEXINGTON — When Van Dusen's proprietor Caitlin McColl conceived of a film festival in 2023, she had a very short window within which to plan. "Last year, the decision to have the festival in October was made in September!" writes McColl in a recent email interview. "We planned for a small scope that would allow for a lot of lessons learned." Despite the limited time to plan, McColl organized a successful weekend of films with help from the Catskill Mountain Foundation and The Maude Adams Theater Hub called Homegrown: a Mountaintop Film Feast. "I still have members of the community mentioning how impactful and important the screenings were last year." 

After last year's success, McColl, The Catskill Mountain Foundation, and The Maude Adams Theater Hub have once again organized a weekend of films for the Mountaintop. The newly named Lexington Film Fest kicks off on August 16th at Van Dusen's with an already sold-out screening of the Schoharie County-shot Shudderbugs (which had its Schoharie County debut in April). The opening night film is the only film in the festival that McColl has yet to see despite a unique connection. "Funnily enough, my mom is an actress and did voice-over work on this film during the pandemic." The cast and crew of the award-winning film, Johanna Putnam, Brennan Brooks, Jamie Unruh, and Eric Elterman, will be in attendance for the screening. 

The festival's name isn't the only change in this year's event. For one, McColl began planning well in advance. "This year, I started solidifying the line-up earlier in the year, which gave more time to collaborate with other venues and for creative teams to save the date. It's also allowed more time to be intentional with the programming and give the weekend a stronger through line." With the benefit of time, McColl conceived of a theme for the Lexington Film Fest. "All of the films are telling a story around space," she writes. "One is, who belongs on this land, and who is othered? What possibilities exist in our relationship to the land and structures around us? There's such clear inspiration taken from being in the Catskills. There's also a darker tone this year as well, as we look at what lies beneath (or within, as the case may be)." The "within" will be explored in the Saturday, August 17th screening of the 2021 horror-comedy Werewolves Within at the Phoenicia Diner. 

In honor of the film, which was shot in Phoenicia and Fleischmanns in 2020, the Phoenicia Diner will offer "a themed werewolf dinner and drink offering" for attendees to the ticketed event (a $50 ticket includes a four-course meal from the menu with the movie). Members of the cast and crew, including actress Anni Krueger, Corey Spears, and Doria Tremente, will be in attendance, as well as Susie Sofranko, the Executive Director of Stockade Works, to talk about production and the filming experience in the Hudson Valley.

The Mountain Cinema at the Doctorow Center for the Arts in Hunter will host the third and final day of the film fest with screenings of The Art of Metaphor, All-American Ruins, and Come Home. "Sunday has both film subject, the artist Donna Dennis, and artist Kate Taverna (Director) in attendance from The Art of Metaphor, as well as Nicole Pursell and Caitlin Zoz, the Director/Writer/Cast of Come Home," reports McColl. "Blake Pfeil (Creator and Lead of All-American Ruins), will also be present to share an episode of his travelogue on the Nevele Grand Hotel in Ellenville, and I'll drop a teaser here for a potential additional new work to be shared with Sunday's films." Sunday's screenings are free and begin at 4:00 p.m.

 "I've been excited to collaborate on what this year's experience will be with the artists and the venues," writes McColl. "I wanted to start a film festival initially because there was the space and support to try something new. There's something really special about our area and the encouragement we give each other to bring new things into existence." McColl cites the "storied history of theatre-making and collaboration" in the area as well as the abundance of talented people who work in film scattered throughout the region as motivations to not only create the Lexington Film Fest but to keep it going. "I felt like we have the community to participate in and drive a festival." McColl knows it isn't something she could do alone. "I'm continually grateful for [actress Patricia Charbonneau] and [Maude Adams Theater Hub Creative Director] Amy Scheibe's perspectives and partnership on this endeavor." For more information about the Lexington Film Fest, including how to reserve seats, visit https://www.catskillmtn.org/lexington-film-festival. 

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Local History with Dede Terns-Thorpe - MOUNTAIN RAILROADS SOLD AT AUCTION

The Columbia Republican of April 21, 1916, ran a story about the sale of our railroads. It is printed as written.

“The Catskill Mountain Railroad, the Otis Railway, and the Catskill & Tannersville Railroads were sold at public auction at the courthouse this week. (The Catskill Mountain Railway was a 3-foot narrow gauge railroad. It took passengers 15.73 miles, from Catskill to Palenville.) (The Catskill and Tannersville Railroad (also called the Huckleberry) started at the Otis Summit, at the top of the Wall of Manitou, which was the terminus of the Otis, and ended 5.2 miles away, at the head of South Main Street in Tannersville.)

The first mentioned two roads were sold under foreclosure proceedings while the Catskill and Tannersville Railroad was sold by the receiver. (The receiver in this situation is a court-appointed, neutral person whose responsibility is to repay debts to creditors and negotiate with creditors to secure lower interest rates.) 

Only two persons participated in the bidding for the Catskill Mountain R. R. which was finally struck off to President, James P. Phillip, of the Catskill National Bank for $28,000 (about $800,000.00 today).

The Otis Railway was sold to President E. E. Olcott, of the Hudson River Day Line, bid $12,200 (about $360,000.00 today). (The Otis Railway was a 3-foot narrow gauge cable funicular railroad leading to the Catskill Mountain House. The line of the Otis was 7,000 feet with a rise of 1620 feet. It opened in 1892 and went from Palenville, up the Wall of Manitou to the CMH. For more detailed information, contact Mr. John Ham or Michael Kudish, experts in the field of railroads.) 

The Catskill and Tannersville Railroad was also bought by Mr. Olcott for $3, 850 (about $115,000.00).

Counselor Orliff T. Heath, as referee conducted the sale of the Catskill Mountain and the Otis Railroads while the Catskill and Tannnersville R. R. was sold by Howard C. Wilbur and Fray, attorneys for William Y. Hawley, the receiver.”

It’s a pleasure to read about the railroads and the activity they brought with them. 

Thanks for reading.  I hope your summer is going great.

Stay safe. Dede TernsThorpe/Hunter Historian

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Stone Carving Seminar in Hunter

By Michael Ryan

HUNTER - Multiple aspects of the upcoming Hunter Stone-Carving Seminar are hard to believe, starting with the cost of admission.

The workshops, August 12-24 (excluding Sunday) are free of charge (with help from the CREATE Council on the Arts) located at the town of Hunter municipal facility, 5742 Route 23A, outside the hamlet of Tannersville.

That fact alone is cause for disbelief but there is also the presence of - and  instructor from -  Kevin VanHentenryck, a master sculptor who has his home base in the hamlet of West Kill, town of Lexington.

VanHentenryck, as he has for the past seventeen years, will be setting up a temporary stone-carving studio at the Hunter townhouse, allowing the hands of his students to do most of the talking.

“This exploration of the sculptural possibilities of Catskill Mountain bluestone is designed to teach as many people as possible about the ancient art of carving stone,” VanHentenryck says.

“The bluestone blocks, some as large as 12 tons, serve as the medium, and remain as a permanent part of the sculpture park that is open to the public,” situated on the townhouse grounds.

From concept and layout, to surface finishing, all aspects of the process are taught by VanHentenryck, utilizing both hand and pneumatic (air powered) techniques.

Students should be prepared to get dirty and work collaboratively, provide their own transportation, food, lodging and safety equipment.

VanHentenryck brings the expertise and materials (unless you have your own stones), saying, “the objects we carve have the potential to last thousands of years.

“Each piece has to work independently of the source material. Who’s to say their story, centuries from now, will be known?” For more info, call (518) 989-6356, (845) 679-6660 or email kevinvanhentenryck @gmail.com.

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13th Annual Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count Announced by DEC

By Max Oppen

ALBANY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced that the 13th annual Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count will occur on Saturday, August 10, 2024. The event will span multiple sites along the Hudson River's banks and piers, offering an exciting opportunity for families and visitors to explore the river's diverse aquatic life.

Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar highlighted the significance of the event, stating, "The Hudson River Estuary is an amazing and critical habitat for many fish species, and this annual event provides a great opportunity for New York families and visitors to get outside and see first-hand how unique the river is to the life cycle of so many fish." He encouraged participation from New York Harbor to Cohoes, emphasizing the educational aspect and DEC's conservation efforts to protect and restore the Hudson River.

Participants from the Capital Region to New York City are invited to discover the variety of creatures usually hidden below the river's surface. The Hudson River Estuary and its watershed, which range from freshwater in the north to salty waters in New York City, are home to over 200 fish species. Several species migrate from the Atlantic Ocean each spring to spawn.

The Fish Count involves collecting fish using various methods such as seine nets, minnow traps, or rods and reels. Seining, which consists of pulling a 30-foot net through the water to catch fish, crabs, and other river life, allows participants to observe these creatures up close before they are released back into the river.

To enhance the community experience, participating groups are encouraged to share their catch results on DEC's social media platforms using the hashtag #hudsonriverfishcount. This collective effort helps build an understanding of the river's biodiversity and the health of its estuarine ecosystem.

The event, which is free and family-friendly, aligns with Governor Kathy Hochul's "Get Offline, Get Outside" initiative. Launched last month, the initiative promotes physical and mental health by encouraging New Yorkers to engage in outdoor activities and reduce screen time.

The Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count is sponsored by DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program and Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve in collaboration with other environmental organizations.

Participating Sites and Schedule:

Albany:

Peebles Island State Park, Cohoes: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

DEC Region 4 Fisheries

Note: Display under the Second Street bridge by the river.

Brooklyn:

Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 4 Beach: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy

Dutchess:

Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg: 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

DEC Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and Hudson River Estuary Program

Putnam:

Little Stony Point Beach in Hudson Highlands State Park, Cold Spring: 10 a.m.

DEC Hudson River Estuary Program

Note: Meet on the beach.

Rensselaer:

Schodack Island State Park, Schodack Landing: 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

River Haggie Outdoors/Rensselaer Plateau Alliance

Note: Pre-register at Schodack Island Fish Count.

Rockland:

Piermont Pier, Hudson River Field Station, Piermont: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University

Westchester:

Center for the Urban River at Beczak, 35 Alexander Street, Yonkers: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Center for the Urban River at Beczak

Croton Point Park, Mother's Lap Beach, Croton-on-Hudson: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Westchester County Parks, Recreation & Conservation

For further information, visit the Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count webpage. Additionally, you can watch a video about seining in the Hudson River on DEC's YouTube Channel. You can also contact Lori Severino at 518-402-8000 or PressOffice@dec.ny.gov.

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GREENE COUNTY YOUTH BUREAU FUNDING 2024-2025 REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

The Greene County Youth Bureau is a division of the Greene County Department of Human  Services that assists in both the development and implementation of programs and services for  youth (ages 6 – 17/18 for sports; age 21 for youth development). The major responsibilities of the  Youth Bureau include advocacy and the funding of programs aimed at improving & enhancing the  welfare of Greene County youth and families. The Greene County Youth Bureau is funded in part  by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, the Greene County Legislature and donations.  The Youth Bureau is supported by the Greene County Youth Advisory Board (YAB) with the  purpose of developing and recommending policies and procedures that guide the activities of the  Youth Bureau in providing opportunities to improve the lives of Greene County youth and  families. In addition, the Advisory Board reviews youth program applications and makes funding  recommendations based on the guidance provided by NYS Office of Children and Family Services  (OCFS). Requests for funding from youth programs serving Greene County youth are open to any  501(c)(3) (Non-profit tax-exempt charitable organization per IRS).  

NYS OCFS encourages a wide variety of youth programs including, but not limited to, the  following:  

• Community, Citizenship and Civic Engagement  

• Economic Security and Employment 

• Physical, Mental and Emotional Health 

• Education (“out-of-school time” programming to support educational engagement like  drop-out prevention services, etc.)  

• Family  

Programs eligible for funding must meet the following criteria:  

● Serve youth within a specific age based on funding avenue.  

● Provide community-level services, opportunities, and supports designed to promote positive  youth development.  

● Have a non-discrimination policy and not deny youth services based on ethnicity/race,  political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or other  disability, national origin, or any protected characteristic under local, state, and/or federal law.  ● Collect data, including participant demographic information, as required by OCFS in a  manner that allows for accurate reporting of anonymized aggregate data.  

● Demonstrate competency in the areas of governance, monitoring and evaluation, partnership,  and financial stewardship.  

• Sports programs eligible for funding must have a child protection policy in place that  includes adherence to local city, agency, school district, and state child protection guidelines.  

There are 3 distinct avenues of funding: Youth Development Programs, Youth Sports &  Education Funding, and Youth Team Sports Allocation Funding. 

• Youth Development Programs (YDP) – Greene County will receive $44,657 from NYS  for programs and initiatives that enable youth to build on their strengths; provide  opportunities for youth to gain important life skills and core competencies, and that allow youth to have meaningful roles in their communities; initiatives that benefit young people  in their homes and neighborhoods, in schools, as well as in foster care and residential  treatment. 

• Youth Sports & Education (YSEF) - Greene County will receive $20,000 from NYS for  programs that provide a variety of sports for a broad range of youth; encourages a wide and  flexible definition of sports that includes organized activities with movement, including  physical fitness activities including but not limited to yoga, hiking, dance, and active  outdoors pursuits. 

• Youth Team Sports Allocation (YTS) - Greene County will receive $18,989 from NYS  to provide awards to support youth team sports programs; intended to provide support to  local team sports programs across New York state in communities where such programs  may be scarce. Unlike YSEF, YTS has a sole focus on team sports. For the purposes of  YTS, a “team sport” is defined as an organized physical activity in which groups of two or  more individuals are in competition with two or more opposing individuals. Sporting  activities where individuals engage in competition on behalf of an organized group (such  as singles tennis, team golf, or racing sports such as swimming or skiing) are included in  this definition.  

Line-item budgets should focus on programming costs, including, but not limited to, the  following:  

➢ Coaches/instructors/direct service staff/mentors (including training/professional  development) necessary to support youth’s ability to participate in team sports.  ➢ Referee fees.  

➢ Purchase of equipment or uniforms.  

➢ Purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by local nonprofit or  community-based organizations to support the requirements of Chapter 681 of the  Laws of 2023, as amended by Chapter 9 of the Laws of 2024.  

Applications are now being accepted for programs serving Greene County youth that will  operate between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025. Interested parties should apply to  the Greene County Department of Human Services by September 30, 2024. All submitted  applications will be reviewed by the Greene County Youth Advisory Board at their October and  November 2024 meetings. Any applications received after the deadline will be reviewed only if  funding remains. Recipients of 2023-2024 funding will not be considered for 2024-2025 if they  have not completed all past requirements for grants. Applicants will be notified of awards,  around mid-November to early December 2024. Awarded funding is released following the  completion of the program, monitoring and all required documentation being submitted. 

All applications must include: 

□ OCFS-5001 Program Application (Municipalities are to be signed by Chief Elected Official).  □ OCFS-5002 Program Profile 

□ OCFS-5003 Program Components 

□ OCFS-5005 Program Budget 

□ List of current Board members with contact information and employer noted.

□ List of board members or staff who are authorized to sign claims. 

YSEF & YTS ONLY: 

▪ All of above 

▪ OCFS 5011 – Universal Sports Funding Application 

The required forms required are available on the county website: Youth Funding Information |  Greene Government 

Completed applications with signatures should be submitted to Greene County Human Services  (Youth Bureau), 411 Main Street, Catskill N. Y. 12414, Attention: Maureen Murphy/Office  Manager. If your application packet will be the same as in the past, kindly send us an email &  state you wish your 2024 grant “recycled”. In this case, we will only require Form OCFS-5001  with an original signature mailed to: Greene County Human Services (Youth Bureau), 411 Main  Street, Catskill N. Y. 12414. Response must be made to mmurphy@greenecountyny.gov.  

The Greene DHS Office Manager will receive and review all applications submitted to ensure the  required paperwork is complete. The Department of Human Services and Greene County Youth  Advisory Board reserve the right to reject or to seek modification of any application if it does not  meet overall service and performance objectives.  

All complete applications will be considered by the Greene County Youth Advisory Board.  Applicants, if requested, must present supplemental information clarifying their applications,  either in writing or in a presentation. If requests exceed the monetary amount from NYS, a  reduction based on available funding will be made. Awards may be appealed by submitting in  writing a request to the Executive Director of the Department of Human Services within ten (10)  days of the award announcement. All appeals will be reviewed by the Executive Committee of the  YAB within fourteen (14) days of receiving the appeal.  

CONTRACT: 

A contract with Greene County will need to be drawn up and executed as part of the award  agreement. In the event of termination of the agreement for any reason, applicant must  (a) Account for and refund to the County, within 30 calendar days, any funds which have  been paid to the agency pursuant to its agreement with the County which are in excess of  expenses incurred prior to the notice of termination. 

(b) Not incur any further obligations pursuant to this agreement beyond the termination  date. 

(c) Submit, within 30 calendar days of termination, a full report, report of receipts,  expenditures of funds, program activities and accomplishments, and obstacles encountered  relating to this agreement.  

Assistance is available to all potential applicants. Please contact Maureen Murphy, Department  of Human Services Office Manager at (518) 719-3555, mmurphy@greenecountyny.gov if  questions.

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