Santas on the slopes!

PHOTOS: Santas swarm Windham's slopes for charity

Over 150 Santas hit the slopes at Windham Mountain Sunday morning for the resort's first annual Skiing and Riding Santa day to benefit the Windham Community Food Pantry. (Colin DeVries/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers)

By Colin DeVries
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

Published: Monday, December 20, 2010 2:12 AM EST

Over 150 Santas arrived at Windham Mountain resort Sunday morning for their Skiing and Riding Santa day and to benefit a local charity.

Participants in Santa outfits were given complimentary skiing and riding for the day and for two future visits. In turn, donations were gathered from the Santas to benefit the Windham Community Food Pantry.

The resort presented the organization with a donation of over $1,400. Board member Gail Giardino accepted the donation and commented that “they have an increase in requests this season and this donation will help immensely."

The resort announced that due to its success, they will now make Skiing and Riding Santa Day an annual event.

Money to build on

By STEPHANIE LEE Staff Writer

Published: 12:00 a.m., Sunday, December 5, 2010

When their youngest son left for college, the Hencheys realized their Coxsackie home suddenly seemed big -- too big for just the two of them.

But before Keith and Kate Henchey put their six-bedroom, ranch-style house on the market, they decided to make a few changes. Last month, they started replacing the front steps and laying down beige carpet in their bedrooms. New storm doors, closet doors and flooring are on the way.

As for the bill -- an estimated $3,000 to $4,000 -- the Hencheys are footing it on their own. "It's one of the things we've been saving up for," said Keith Henchey, 53, executive director of Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Delmar.

Whether undertaking a minor fix or a major renovation, homeowners have a variety of options to finance home improvement projects.

Installing energy-saving items this fall could lead to a lower 2010 tax bill. Under the federal Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit, homeowners can receive a tax credit that equals 30 percent of what they spend on eligible energy-saving improvements -- up to $1,500 for the combined 2009 and 2010 tax years.

For items such as certain high-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters and stoves that burn biomass, the labor costs for installation are also covered, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Other qualifying projects include energy-efficient windows and skylights, energy-efficient doors and certain types of insulation and roofs, though the installation costs are not covered. Those products must be manufacturer-certified as meeting standards of energy efficiency.

Interested homeowners may want to move quickly: to qualify for the credit, they must be put into service by the end of the year.

Green Jobs-Green New York, a program through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Energy Finance Solutions. Rolled out in November, the low-interest loans for energy-efficient improvements can be as much as $13,000 per owner and be repaid over five, 10 or 15 years.

Energy $mart Loans are loans of up to $20,000 with a reduced interest rate.

Borrowers can refinance, or replace their current mortgage with a new loan that has a more favorable interest rate and more manageable terms. They can also take out a home equity loan -- usually a fixed-rate loan for a specific amount of money, requiring regular payments over the life of the loan.

If a homeowner has enough equity, taking out a home equity loan could be a good option, said John DeCelle, chief marketing officer of SEFCU, one of the largest credit unions in upstate New York. "There could be tax benefits, as well, to having a home equity loan," he said. "They might have the ability to write off some interest."

Many homeowners may be eligible for a tax deduction on their home mortgage interest -- defined by the IRS as any interest paid on a loan secured by their home, such as a first or second mortgage, a line of credit or a home equity loan. How much one can deduct depends on the date of the mortgage, the amount and how the mortgage proceeds are used.

But taking out a home equity loan to finance a few improvements could be like "putting two tires on the car when you need four," said Anthony Gucciardo, an associate broker with Hunt Real Estate in Loudonville.

"If a house needs a ton of work or a considerable amount of work, it doesn't make sense to do one or two rooms," he said.

Home equity lines of credit offer the flexibility of borrowing multiple times over a period of time, which DeCelle says could be useful for, say, incremental payments on a project. These typically involve variable, rather than fixed-interest, rates.

The Hencheys considered taking out a loan to finance more substantial renovations on their 1987 house on Matthew Lane, which they bought for about $80,000 and estimate to now be worth $200,000.

"We thought about it, but it didn't make sense to go further into debt just yet, if we're not going to get a great return on the investment," Henchey said.

Another option is store credit cards that offer special deals at home-improvement suppliers, such as the Home Depot, Orchard Supply Hardware and Menards. A Lowe's credit card gave Monica and Rob Salisbury of Ravena the push to remodel their bathroom after years of talking about it. There is no interest on major purchases if the amount is paid in full within 18 months.

The Salisburys saved about $6,000 over a year to re-tile, re-sheetrock and install new appliances, said Monica Salisbury, 33, an administrative assistant for Adecco Engineering and Technical in Schenectady. She advised enlisting friends and family members instead of contractors, who can multiply the cost.

"If you plan a project, save a while, don't rush into it and make sure you have money," she said. "And whatever you think it's going to cost, it's going to cost more."

Christmas Bird Count!

Counting crows and other feathered friends

A robin munches on a dried berry from a tree in Catskill Friday. Contrary to popular belief, robins and other species will remain in an area through the winter as long there is a suffient food supply. Photo by Claude Haton

Annual Christmas Bird Count set for Dec. 14

By Hilary Hawke
For Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

Published: Saturday, December 11, 2010 6:14 AM EST

COXSACKIE — It's that time of the year again, and fans of our feathered friends couldn't be happier.

Dec. 14 is the annual Christmas Bird Count. A nation-wide event which helps Audubon Societies, scientists, environmentalist and ornithologists keep tabs on our winged neighbors, the Catskill-Coxsackie count is headed by two local ornithological enthusiasts, Richard Guthrie and Larry Federman.

"This year we hope to recruit some new observers, especially backyard watchers in the Catskill and Hudson areas," Guthrie said.

The event takes place over 12 hours, and Guthrie said newbies and tagalongs should commit to the entire day.

"It's hard to be out in the field with a group and suddenly hear someone has to leave at 2 p.m.," he said. "That means driving the person back to the meet-up site and it can compromises the count's integrity."

Guthrie also said the group is looking for property owners, even if they can't take part in the count, who are willing to let birdwatchers on their land.

Started roughly 50 years ago, the Christmas Bird Count has evolved into an irreplaceable source for scientific data.

"This year we will have roughly 10 to 12 teams of between two to five people, or however many can fit into one car,” Guthrie said.

The territory in the Catskill-Coxsackie count covers a fifteen-mile radius centered at Green Lake, and branches out 7.5 miles in all directions.

New Baltimore marks the territory's northern boundary, while the eastern line extends into Columbia County.

Some of this year's teams include a Hudson River group covering Coxsackie to Athens, a grasslands preserve group, a Round Top group and a Coxsackie Flats group. Imbought Bay at the tip of Catskill marks the southernmost border.

Asked why people should get involved, Guthrie said, "I consider the Christmas Bird Count a scientific competitive sport. By gathering data passed on to Cornell University and the National Audubon Society, we are contributing to science."

But it's clear the competitive part provides incentive.

"Each team tries to outdo the other with the rarity and variety of species spotted," he said. "We never miss an opportunity to remind teams of species they should have spotted and didn't."

But it's all in good fun. After the watch, which starts at 7 a.m. for most groups and ends with wine, fine dining and camaraderie at Cameo's in Athens, preliminary final tallies are collected and added to data collected all around the country.

"The Christmas Bird Count is a great way to get outside with people who share a similar interest in birding, wildlife and the environment," Guthrie said. "It's also a great learning experience for everyone involved. The more eyes, the better."

Those interested in joining the count or offering their property for counters can contact Guthrie at gaeltic@capital.net.

From SparkPeople....... love these quotes!

Being a positive force in someone's life
Perhaps you've seen how an upward spiral can happen as you build a healthy lifestyle. With momentum and small, but consistent, healthy actions, success comes easier and easier until results start to exceed the effort you put into it. Well, the same thing can happen when it comes to being a positive force for others. One small action leads to another, which can lead to many. Your actions may inspire others to do the same, with far-reaching results that completely outweigh that first effort. You'll probably have no idea how much of a total effect your actions will have. But that kindness will often be paid back two-, three- or even tenfold. If not from the person you helped, then from someone further down the "kindness" chain. So go try it out! Do a kind thing for the next person you meet, and see if you don't get a positive return.

Rail Trail for Hunter...

Town okays
rail trail plan

The Town of Hunter has approved entering into easements for the forthcoming Kaaterskill Rail Trail from Haines Falls to Laurel House Road, which will utilize the old Delaware & Hudson Railroad bed. (Courtesy M. Yost)

By Jim Planck
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

Published: Thursday, December 2, 2010 6:12 AM EST

By Jim Planck

Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

HUNTER— The Town of Hunter is on board for a hiking/biking path from Haines Falls to the Kaaterskill Falls area.

Board members voted 4-0 at their November meeting to authorize Hunter Supervisor Dennis Lucas to sign easement contracts for the town to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the three involved property owners.

The path will primarily run along the route of the old Delaware & Hudson Railroad track — for which these types of activities are usually termed “rail trails” — from the former station house on the grounds of the Mountain Top Historical Society, in Haines Falls, to the end of Laurel House Road, which is then only a five minute walk from the top of Kaaterskill Falls.

Officially titled the “Kaaterskill Rail Trail,” the project has been shepherded by Michelle Yost, of the Watershed Assistance Program and Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Yost explained that the trail is somewhat of an alternate plan, in that it will swing around one property that is not on board, so that the route first heads out to Osborne Road, which runs south of and parallel to County Route 18 (North Lake Road), then follows the county road for a short distance, and then doubles back south along Featherbed Lane, a town road, where it picks up the old railroad bed heading east.

Yost thanked all three property owners — Anthony Bucca, Peter Dunn, and Charles Thorpe — for making the trail possible, and explained that Bucca’s property allows for the use of the alternate route, while Dunn’s and Thorpe’s comprise the bulk of the rail path.

Yost also thanked the town board for their support of the effort, and said she and all those involved — which includes a committee of volunteers who have been working to make it happen — all feel the trail will not only offer a substantial recreational opportunity for non-motorized uses, such as hiking and cycling, but will also add to the community’s economic coffers through tourism spinoff dollars.

Yost said Wednesday she anticipates reconvening of the trail committee in January to begin the next phase, which she said will be identifying construction and clearing needs, including drainage.

She said the hope is to have the trail open for public use within the next twelve months.

Tiny Houses!..............

 

 

 

By TERENCE CHEA
Associated Press

GRATON, Calif. (AP) - As Americans downsize in the aftermath of a colossal real estate bust, at least one tiny corner of the housing market appears to be thriving.

To save money or simplify their lives, a small but growing number of Americans are buying or building homes that could fit inside many people's living rooms, according to entrepreneurs in the small house industry.

Some put these wheeled homes in their backyards to use as offices, studios or extra bedrooms. Others use them as mobile vacation homes they can park in the woods. But the most intrepid of the tiny house owners live in them full-time, paring down their possessions and often living off the grid.

"It's very un-American in the sense that living small means consuming less," said Jay Shafer, 46, co-founder of the Small House Society, sitting on the porch of his wooden cabin in California wine country. "Living in a small house like this really entails knowing what you need to be happy and getting rid of everything else."

Shafer, author of "The Small House Book," built the 89-square-foot house himself a decade ago and lived in it full-time until his son was born last year. Inside a space the size of an ice cream truck, he has a kitchen with gas stove and sink, bathroom with shower, two-seater porch, bedroom loft and a "great room" where he can work and entertain - as long as he doesn't invite more than a couple guests.

He and his family now live in relatively sprawling 500-square foot home next to the tiny one.

Shafer, co-owner of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, designs and builds miniature homes with a minimalist style that prizes quality over quantity and makes sure no cubic inch goes to waste. Most can be hooked up to public utilities. The houses, which pack a range of amenities in spaces smaller than some people's closets, are sold for $40,000 to $50,000 ready-made, but cost half as much if you build it yourself.

Tumbleweed's business has grown significantly since the housing crisis began, Shafer said. He now sells about 50 blueprints, which cost $400 to $1,000 each, a year, up from 10 five years ago. The eight workshops he teaches around the country each year attract 40 participants on average, he said.

"People's reasons for living small vary a lot, but there seems to be a common thread of sustainability," Shafer said. "A lot of people don't want to use many more resources or put out more emissions than they have to."

Compared to trailers, these little houses are built with higher-quality materials, better insulation and eye-catching design. But they still have wheels that make them portable - and allow owners to get around housing regulations for stationary homes.

Since the housing crisis and recession began, interest in tiny homes has grown dramatically among young people and retiring Baby Boomers, said Kent Griswold, who runs the Tiny House Blog, which attracts 5,000 to 7,000 visitors a day.

"In the last couple years, the idea's really taken off," Griswold said. "There's been a huge interest in people downsizing and there are a lot of young people who don't want to be tied down with a huge mortgage and want to build their own space."

Gregory Johnson, who co-founded the Small House Society with Shafer, said the online community now has about 1,800 subscribers, up from about 300 five years ago. Most of them live in their small houses full-time and swap tips on living simple and small.

Johnson, 46, who works as a computer consultant at the University of Iowa, said dozens of companies specializing small houses have popped up around the country over the past few years.

Before he got married, Johnson lived for six years in a small cabin he built himself and he wrote a book called "Put Your Life on a Diet: Lessons Learned from Living in 140 Square Feet."

"You start to peel away the things that are unnecessary," said Johnson, who now lives in a studio apartment with his wife. "It helps you define your priorities with regard to your material things."

Northern California's Sonoma County has become a mini-mecca for the tiny house industry, with an assortment of new businesses launching over the last few years.

Stephen Marshall, 63, worked as a building contractor for three decades before the real estate market tanked three years ago. That's when he jumped into the tiny house business, starting Petaluma-based Little House On The Trailer.

His company builds and sells small houses that can serve as stand-alone homes equipped with bathrooms and kitchens, and others he calls "A Room of One's Own" that can be used as a home office or extra bedroom. Many of his customers are looking for extra space to accommodate an aging parent or adult children who are returning home, he said.

He said his small houses, which sell for $20,000 to $50,000, are much cheaper than building a home addition and can be resold when the extra space is no longer needed. His company has sold 16 houses this year and aims to sell 20 next year.

"The business is growing as the public becomes aware of this possibility," Marshall said. "A lot of families are moving in with one another. A lot of young people can't afford to move out. There's just a lot of economic pressure to find an alternative way to provide for people's housing needs."

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Conscience is the inner voice that warns us that someone might be looking

What does your conscience tell you?
Ever get the feeling that you should be doing something other than what you are? Not just in the area of good vs. evil, but in your exercise and nutrition choices. Do you ever feel guilty about doing a half-hearted job on a project or neglecting your duty to family? Listen to your conscience. It's telling you that you're getting off track. It knows what you're capable of and where your priorities are. If you neglect those standards--if you get your priorities mixed up--your conscience is going to let you know about it. When you work, turn out a product that would make you proud--even if you think nobody notices. When you plan your day, make sure it agrees with the healthy direction you want to head. That'll keep that nagging inner voice from reminding you that "something is not quite right here." You may think no one is looking, but somebody is--you are.

Cairo Zoning

Zoning panel allows additional time for comment

First work session scheduled for today

By Doron Tyler Antrim
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

Published: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 2:12 AM EST

CAIRO — The Cairo Zoning Commission has announced it is extending the public comment period for the proposed zoning law and plans to hold its first work session today.

In an e-mail, commission member Suzanne Bauer-Oldakowski said the comment period was being extended until Jan. 10, 2011.

“As the holidays approach and in response to the helpful comments already received,” she said, “the commission is making more time to receive comments, get questions answered and make necessary changes to the draft itself.”

The initial comment deadline was Nov. 26, but officials moved back the date after concerns were raised about its proximity to Thanksgiving.

“What is the rush to get this done?” said one anonymous commenter. “I feel you really need more time for input from people.”

Commission member Richard Booth on Monday countered criticisms that the law was being rushed. “We’re not going to push this through,” he said.

Seventeen comments have been sent to the commission so far. Some have been purely technical in nature, including comments from three members of the planning board. Others, meanwhile, have been more critical.

In a letter dated Nov. 15, Emily Calabrese, principal broker of 4 Seasons Realty Group, criticized the commission for zoning rural residential several parcels on Route 32 North that pay commercial taxes, adding the group “has been at a great disadvantage of never having had a real estate professional or appraiser on the commission.”

In one of his two comments, Planning Board member Ed Forrester, said: “It appears that the zoning commission has designated all vacant land on intersections as residential, when some have been paying taxes as commercial for years. This will surely limit commercial growth.”

None of the commenters overtly say they are opposed to zoning. One anonymous commenter simply said: “Keep up the good work.”

The commission’s first work session, which will address the comments received so far, is set for 6 p.m. today at Gallagher’s Banquet Hall.

It was anticipated the commission would set a date for its public hearing during Tuesday’s meeting, but officials say that will be postponed as the commission takes time to responds to the comments.

The zoning law was unveiled Nov. 4 during a public meeting in Cairo Town Hall.

The release of the plan caps a three-year effort to provide business owners, builders and residents with clear rules governing development.

The “rural-oriented” law divides Cairo into several residential, hamlet and commercial/mixed-use districts that call for specific uses and densities.

Homes and home-based businesses are allowed in all districts, but business growth within in the town will be centralized in the five hamlet districts, along Cairo’s Main Street and in commercial districts along Routes 23, 145 and 32.

There in so minimum lot size called for within the three residential areas, but density levels will be enforced.

“Lowering density protects the environment, rural character and will help maintain the quality of life residents have come to value in Cairo,” the law’s executive summary states. “Outside the hamlets, lot sizes are allowed to be as small as can be permitted for water and septic provided the overall density is met.”

In the hamlets, minimum lot size of a quarter to half an acre are called for “to promote the denser style of development traditionally found in these locations.”

The proposed law provides for flexibility in the design and use of subdivisions. It does not address style of color of residences, but includes commercial design standards for other buildings.

All existing uses will be allowed to remain.

Two overlay districts, used to protect resources in special areas, are also included in the law. The two districts will cover the Shinglekill Creek Watershed, which supplies the hamlet of Cairo with its drinking water, and the town’s stream corridors.

The seven-member zoning commission has met regularly for more than three years to draw up the law. During that time, it also drafted amendments to the town site plan law, which were adopted earlier this year.

Throughout the process, the commission has been aided by Nan Stolzenburg of Community Planning and Environmental Associates.

Cairo has never had a zoning law.

During its initial presentation, the commission said Cairo has the potential for tremendous residential growth. A full build-out at a 1.25 acre density could yield 11,000 new homes, translating into almost 27,000 new residents.

The commission concluded, however, that town land can’t support such development even if wetlands, streams and steepest slopes are protected. Doing so would change the character of the town and “not result in a sustainable future,” the commission said.

In a study performed by the New York Rural Water Association, it was found housing in some locations in Cairo has already exceeded the capacity of the land to support while other parts are vulnerable to water pollution.

A five-member body known as a Zoning Board of Appeals, appointed by the town board, will need to be established upon passage of the zoning law. Each member will serve a five-year term.

Enforcement of the law will fall to the zoning enforcement officer, another appointed position, which officials say could be the same person as the code enforcement officer.

Following the zoning commission’s public hearing, which could come in January or February, it will hand the law to the town board. The town board must then schedule its own hearing.

The proposed law was presented to the Cairo Planning Board earlier this month.

Written comments or questions can be sent c/o The Cairo Zoning Commission to P.O. Box 922, Cairo N.Y. 12431. Copies of the law and zoning maps are on file in town hall and the public library at 512 Main Street. All the documents, as well as the public comments, can be accessed online at www.planningbetterplaces.com/cairo.

Ski Season!

Area resorts prep for season opening this weekend — maybe

By Colin DeVries
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

Published: Monday, November 29, 2010 8:51 AM EST

CATSKILL — Area ski resorts are gearing up for the start of the 2010-11 season, hoping that cold weather this week will allow for lots of snowmaking and an earlier opener than last year.

Hunter Mountain and Windham Mountain both hope to coat the slopes in white powder before the weekend, though a heavy rain storm have put a bit of a damper on those plans.

“This week is not going to be very good for skiing,” said meteorologist Joe Villani of the National Weather Service. “Any snow on the ground may be wiped out.”

Villani said temperatures were going to be around 40 degrees in the mountainous areas of Greene County on Monday and a storm rolling in Tuesday will dump 1.5 to 3 inches of rain across the area through Wednesday.

Wednesday night could bring snow showers and freezing conditions for snowmaking.

Temperatures will remain below freezing in the mountains through the weekend, Villani said.

Both Greene County resorts hope to blow snow during that freeze.

“We’re hoping to open — maybe — next Sunday,” said Jessica Pezak, communications director of Hunter Mountain. She said Hunter has chosen not to make any snow yet in anticipation of a clearing rain. “We’re going to do it right, do it well and make a lot of snow.”

Hunter Mountain has replaced 150 snowmakers with new energy-efficient snowguns this season, with up to 150 more being replaced next season.

Windham Mountain has already laid down a snow base on about six trails, said George Driscoll, marketing and sales director of Windham Mountain.

“We were just on for about 40 hours here,” he said. “We hope (the snow) hangs on after this weather event.”

Driscoll said the terrain has  been tested and they “feel confident” the slopes will be open on Dec. 4.

The rest of December, Driscoll said, should provide for a pattern of low temperatures and ideal snowmaking conditions.

“Once we get through this (rain storm) we should be pretty good,” he said.

Both resorts estimated that, if the cold weather holds up this week, they could have 5 to 10 trails operating by the weekend.

Last year, the resorts didn’t open until Dec. 11.

Weather experts predict that winter ski season should be normal with snowfall and temperatures, meaning the 2010-11 season could be a long and snowy one.

“We’re going into a period where things will be in a period of normal and close to below normal,” said Russ Murley, of Precision Weather Service, on long-term winter trends. “Normal as far as snowfall and temperature.”

Murley estimated a normal year of snowfall for the mountainous areas of Greene County was 120 to 140 inches.

The weather phenomenon La Niña — which is characterized by cool ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific — will persist through spring 2011, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, though its impact on the Northeast U.S. remains unclear.

“In our part of the country, (La Niña) is not a big signal,” Villani said, adding that it had a clearer impact on the South and Northwest.

He said there were equal chances of above normal, normal or below normal temperatures and precipitation in the Northeast.

Murley said that was an indication we have a “pretty normal winter” ahead.

New improvements

This year skiers and snowboarders can expect some new changes at Greene County resorts.

Windham Mountain has taken over restaurant operations at the Windham Country Club and will be offering a classy aprés ski season, with a high-end steak and seafood menu available.

Driscoll said cross country ski and snowshoeing centers are in development at the country club, which is now known as Seasons, "a perfect complement to a ski resort which has the most skiable terrain in a 200-mile radius from New York City," said Driscoll.

Windham Mountain also increased the size of its snowmaking pond, providing an “almost infinite” supply of water for snowmaking this year, Driscoll said.

Hunter Mountain has replaced its quad lift with a state-of-the-art detachable six-seat chairlift, called Kaatskill Flyer.

The six-seat chair is the first of its kind in New York State and travels 1,000 feet per minute and can deliver riders to the summit in 5.5 minutes — a full minute less than the previous time. The lift can shuttle 2,600 riders per hour — 200 more than the quad.

The Snowlite Express Quad will be moved to Hunter’s West Side and opened by winter 2011-12.

Hunter Mountain will also unveil North America’s longest and highest zipline tour in December. The Skyrider Tour is part of a new collection of zipline activities by New York Zipline Adventure Tours. The Mid-Mountain Tour and Adventure Tower have been operating since May.

Look for more information and snow report updates at http://www.huntermtn.com/ or http://www.windhammountain.com/.

Arts Opening Reception

County Arts opens "Salon 2010"

Visitors at Saturday’s Greene County Council on the Arts opening reception for its Salon 2010 show and sale take in the assorted content of the exhibit’s more than 300 watercolors, photographs, prints and drawings, plus crafts and jewelry upstairs. (Jim Planck/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers)

By Jim Planck
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

Published: Sunday, November 28, 2010 2:15 AM EST

CATSKILL - Greene County Council on the Arts officially opened “Salon 2010,” its annual holiday arts and crafts sale and show of small works on Saturday, and this year’s exhibit again offers work by some of the area’s best artists and crafters.

The show, however, also recognizes the state of the economy, and is accordingly somewhat experimental in offering unframed works for a lesser price, thus providing a wider mix of affordable items.

“This year’s showcase of original drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures features unframed members’ works for under $100," said GCCA Executive Director Kay Stamer.

Director of Visual Arts Fawn Potash, who curated the show, indicated it also includes some hidden value works within that price category.

“Some of those prints by one artist are worth $1,500,” Potash said, “and he’s selling them for $100.”

“He’s a gallery artist in New York City,” she explained. “So there’s some real bargains to be had.”

“There are also three watercolors by another,” Potash said. “Her work is rarely seen for under $500.”

“And there is also a New York City artist, with those ceramic faces,” she said.

“So there’s work for $25, and there’s work for $100, and everything in between,” she said.

 Potash said that, combined, there are about 140 artists and crafters participating, with the 100 or so artists each contributing three works, thus making for a very solid exhibit.

“There’s everything from professional artists to amateurs in this show,” she said.

Their works include a great sampling of local and regional landscapes -- panoramic vistas, cascading waterfalls, autumn colors, winter nights, pastoral farmlands, woodland streams -- all by area artists whose styles are as diverse and equally excellent as their content.

“We probably have more landscapes than anything else,” Potash said, “and a lot of them are local scenes.”

“We have a lot of that, and people love it -- local farms, local mountains,” she said. “Also, one artist is working with a local winery in the Hudson Valley (for his setting).”

“They’re all (categorized as) ‘small works’ under 20 inches, and $100 or under in cost,” Potash said.

“The show is unjuried, in all media, and includes drawings, paintings, photography, and print work,” she said. “We have a lot of watercolors, and there’s abstract work, too.”

“Upstairs is crafts (that are) under $100,” Potash explained.

That portion of the exhibit includes not only handmade crafts that are either functional, decorative, or both -- but is also an eye-catching selection of jewelry, ornaments, ceramics, cards, toys, and wearables.

The Greene County Council on the Arts “Salon 2010 Holiday Arts & Crafts Show” will run through Jan. 15, 2011, with gallery hours Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., plus every second Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.

The GCCA gallery is located at 398 Main Street, Catskill.

For more information, call (518) 943-3400.

Thought for the Day..............

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.
- Corrie Ten Boom, author and human rights activist

Catskill Celebration!

Welcoming a brand new Day

A Day in December set to debut Dec. 4

By Doron Tyler Antrim
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

Published: Thursday, November 25, 2010 2:14 AM EST

CATSKILL — A big holiday festival is set for next week on Main Street in the village of Catskill.

The first-ever “A Day in December” is scheduled for Dec. 4 from noon until 5 p.m. and will include horse and sleigh rides, photos with Santa, a cookie contest, musical entertainment, vendors and more.

“So many people have offered things and given things,” said Eileen Dees, of The Garden Gate in Catskill, who led the effort to organize the event. “It wasn’t difficult to get people to do things.”

Throughout the five-hour festival, horse and sleigh rides — courtesy of Hensonville resident David Sherman — will be traveling from the corner of Main Street and Church Street, down Main to Bridge Street and then onto Water Street to the intersection with Church Street.

The ride will be free of charge.

Meanwhile, at the corner of Church and Main Streets, Boy Scouts will be selling fresh pine wreaths. The Brownies will be having a bake sale at Community Theater to benefit for the Toys for Tots program.

Photos will Santa will be available from noon until 5 p.m. at 418 Main Street.

Also happening throughout the day will be face painting by artist Cynthia Mullvaney at Community Theater and an ice sculpture display at Leggio Park.

Community Theater will also be hosting musical group The Zucchini Brothers and a screening of the Christmas-classic “The Grinch” at noon.

Sketch artist Stanley Maltzman will be at Swamp Angel Antiques between noon and 5 p.m.

In addition, Sawyer Chevrolet will be giving away bicycles every half hour throughout the day at the Catskill Village Police garage and raffling off a $1,000 savings bond at 5 p.m. Sleds will also be given away.

The Catskill High School girls chorus, known as the Trebelaires, will be caroling from noon until 1 p.m.

At 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Joe and Eileen Capone will be reading The Night Before Christmas at 388 Main Street. Dance company Petite Productions will be performing demos at that address at 2 p.m.

Also beginning at 2 p.m. will be The Daily Mail’s cookie contest. In order to qualify for the contest, cookies must be dropped off at The Daily Mail office, located at 414 Main Street, by 2 p.m. on Dec. 3. Please include a 3x5 index card with the following information: Name, address, phone number and complete recipe. Submission must be in a minimum quantity of one dozen. Each person is allowed up to three submissions.

Judges for the contest will include state Assemblyman Pete Lopez, R-Schoharie; Jim Riley of Mid-Hudson Cable and Kres Bjornsson of the Bank of Greene County.

Between noon and 2 p.m., Van Gorden & Co. will be hosting a book signing of Historic Places in Greene County, published by the Greene County Historical Society.

Stilt walker Corey Cox will be performing between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and Imagine That! is hosting ornament painting starting at 1 p.m. Big Brother/Big Sisters will also be sponsoring crafts for children.

Craft vendors will be occupying some of Main Street’s vacant storefronts, Dees said.

“A Day in December” will be Catskill’s first village-wide holiday celebration.

Saying of the day...

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.
- James Oppenheim, short-story writer, novelist, poet

Impacting People...... who knows?

You can impact more people than you'll ever know
Too many people sit on the sidelines of life waiting for that one great opportunity or the chance of a lifetime. We seldom realize that while we are waiting, we are missing the small opportunities to make a difference that surround us in our everyday lives. For example, you could pick up the litter on a street that you travel often, help someone carry her groceries to her car, or offer to help a child read a book. Of course, this list could go on and on. Your small action could make all the difference in the world to someone and you may never know it. Don't sit around and wait for the BIG CHANCE because you never know...one of those small opportunities might turn into the next chance of a lifetime.

Hunting Season

Hunting season opens Nov. 20

Published: Thursday, November 18, 2010 6:15 AM EST

ALBANY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today reminded hunters that the 2010 regular deer season opens at sunrise on Saturday, Nov. 20, in New York's Southern Zone. Regular bear hunting season in the southeastern portion of the southern bear range also begins on Nov. 20, while regular bear season in the central-western portion of the southern bear range begins Nov. 27.

These big game hunting seasons close at sunset on Sunday, Dec. 12. See the 2010-11 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide (www.dec.ny.gov/out door/37136.html) for a map illustrating the specific boundaries and season dates for the bear ranges.

“New York’s deer and bear populations are great resources for the state, and hunting is an important part of New York’s outdoor heritage,” said DEC Acting Commissioner Peter Iwanowicz. “Hunters provide a valuable public service by maintaining wildlife populations at levels that are compatible with public interests and natural resources. I wish all hunters a safe season and encourage them to embrace their role in responsible game management.”

The Southern Zone regular deer season is New York’s most popular hunting season, with participation from more than 70 percent of New York deer hunters. Harvest during this season accounts for nearly 60 percent of the total statewide deer harvest.

Following the regular deer and bear seasons in the Southern Zone, late bowhunting and muzzleloading seasons will open at sunrise on Dec. 13 and close at sunset on Dec. 21. Hunters taking part in these special seasons must possess either bowhunting or muzzleloading privileges.

In the Northern Zone, the regular deer and bear hunting season have already opened (Oct. 23) and will close Dec. 5. This zone generally includes the Adirondack Mountains, Tug Hill Plateau, Eastern Lake Ontario Plain and the Champlain and St. Lawrence Valleys. A late muzzleloading season for deer will open in parts of the Northern Zone from Dec. 6-12.

Hunters should be aware of several important programs and recent changes as they prepare for the 2010 regular hunting season.

• Harvest Reporting: Beginning this regular season, hunters will now have up to 7 days to report their harvested deer or bear. Reporting harvested deer or bear is mandatory, and successful hunters may report via DEC’s online reporting system or call the toll-free automated reporting system at 1-866-GAME-RPT (1-866-426-3778).

• Crossbows: Although a new law was passed this year to allow use of crossbows for big game hunting in the regular season, the changes do not go into effect until Feb. 1, 2011. This means that hunters cannot use a crossbow until the 2011-2012 hunting seasons.

• Chronic Wasting Disease: With no detections of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) since 2005, DEC has decommissioned the CWD containment area and no longer requires mandatory checking of harvested deer in that area. DEC will continue routine CWD surveillance throughout the state. See CWD Regulations for Hunters at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8325.html for more information.

• Junior Hunters: Junior Hunters (14 and 15 years old) can hunt deer and bear with a firearm when appropriately accompanied by an adult. See the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/46245.html for program requirements and to download the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form.

• Bear Hunters: Successful bear hunters are asked to submit a tooth of their bear to assist DEC with monitoring the bear population. Please visit the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/45598.html for instructions.

• Venison Donation: Hunters are encouraged to participate in the Venison Donation program. By filling your permits and donating your deer, you help accomplish the needed deer management and you can feed less fortunate families. More information can be found at http://www.venisondonation.com/ .

Although safety-conscious hunters have significantly reduced the number of firearms-related injuries, studies show that individuals wearing hunter orange clothing are seven times less likely to be injured than hunters who do not wear the bright fluorescent color. Hunters are encouraged to review these and other hunting safety tips (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9186.html) and pay careful attention to basic firearm safety rules that can prevent hunting related shooting incidents:

• Point your gun in a safe direction.

• Treat every gun as if it were loaded.

• Be sure of your target and beyond.

• Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

• Remember to wear hunter orange.

Hunters interested in getting the most up-to-date information about deer and bear management in New York are invited to join our e-mail list, New York Big Game (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/nybiggame). You may also catch the latest updates on New York’s fish and wildlife by subscribing to Field Notes (http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/63801.html), another free online e-mail list provided by the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources.

For specific descriptions of regulations and open areas, hunters should refer to the 2010-11 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. The guide is published annually and is available free of charge from all DEC regional wildlife offices, all license issuing agents and on the DEC website. Hunters are urged to review all regulations and safety tips contained in the guide.

Blackthorn Ranch

Blackthorne rebirth underway

By Colin DeVries
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

Published: Monday, November 22, 2010 2:16 AM EST

CATSKILL — To help in the restoration of a popular Durham resort tragically damaged by fire in September, county lawmakers have awarded an economic development loan toward the cause.

The Greene County Legislature approved a $200,000 low-interest Quantum Fund loan to the Blackthorne Resort last week, which will contribute to the resort’s rebirth before the 2011 spring tourism season.

Warren Hart, director of the county’s economic development, planning and tourism department, said assisting Blackthorne is pivotal to the tourism economy of Durham and Greene County at-large.

“First and foremost, it’s the retaining of existing jobs that would be lost,” said Hart, adding Durham’s economy was largely tourism-based.

The loan will go toward construction of a new restaurant and pub, the focal point of the East Durham resort.

A devastating fire in September destroyed the old restaurant and nightclub in the midst of the busy Catskill Mountain Thunder motorcycle festival.

Hundreds of people camping and attending the festival watched the roaring flames consume the restaurant. It is believed to have been started by a propane cooking fuel explosion, according to emergency responders. No one was injured in the incident.

Hart said the proposed restaurant design has opportunities for growth, possibly providing an increase for new employment.

A grant from New York State Homes and Community Renewal worth another $200,000 has also be applied for, Hart said.

The estimated cost of the construction is estimated to be more than $1 million.

Friar Tuck Hotel Sells

Going, going, gone … again

The Friar Tuck hotel was sold for $2.5 million in an online auction Thursday. File photo by Claude Haton

A year later, Friar Tuck hotel fetches $2.5 million

By Colin DeVries
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

Published: Saturday, November 20, 2010 2:16 AM EST

CATSKILL — The Friar Tuck hotel was sold for $2.5 million in an online auction Thursday, a year after the failed bankruptcy auction began a long period of limbo for the resort.

Michael Shaughnessy, executive vice president of Ulster Savings Bank, said Thursday afternoon that the bank was pleased with the sale although they did short-sell the hotel property.

Outstanding mortgage debt on the property exceeded $3.2 million when Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings began in September 2009.

A Nov. 19, 2009 bankruptcy auction’s sole bid of $4.5 million was never completed and ultimately resulted in the bank’s repossession of the property six months later.

“Obviously we’re disappointed,” said Shaughnessy during a phone interview Thursday. “But we’re not a real estate operator and our job was to sell the hotel and get the best price we possibly could… We’re happy to have it behind us.”

Shaughnessy could not release the name of the buyer but said it was a real estate investment group that was cleared by the auction company, international real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle.

The sale did not include the timeshare properties, though the bankruptcy-court-appointed trustee in charge of liquidating the property, Marc Ehrlich of Troy, hoped the buyer of the hotel property would express interest in acquiring the contiguous timeshare property.

The hotel property, as advertised on auction.com, includes 170 acres and 12 buildings including the four-story, 372-room hotel built in 1971.

While the bidders had anonymity through the online auction process, the name of the purchaser may be available after the 30-day closing period.

A representative for the auctioneer did not return calls made Thursday and Friday.

Foreclosure Myths

Four years into the housing crisis, myths about foreclosure still litter the minds of even the smartest of real estate consumers. When it comes to matters as high stakes as your home, confusion can cost you thousands - or even your home. Whether you’re a buyer looking at foreclosures, a homeowner struggling to keep your home or a seller concerned making sure your home can compete with the foreclosed homes on your block, these foreclosure myths are prime for the busting, with no further ado.

Myth #1:  Foreclosure happens fast. With unemployment and underemployment still affecting nearly 1 in every 4 Americans, no one is immune from fears that a pink slip might quickly turn into a foreclosure notice.  According to NeighborWorks America, nearly 60 percent of families seeking foreclosure counseling cited a lost job or cut wages as the reason they were facing foreclosure. 

While the Obama Administration's Home Affordable Programs haven't been nearly as effective as predicted in actually preventing foreclosures, they have had the effect of extending the foreclosure process for many families.   Even though the legal process of foreclosure can happen in as few as 6 months in most states, it is currently taking much longer for the average foreclosure to get to completion.  Recently, JP Morgan Chase revealed that their average borrower who loses a home to foreclosure has not made any payments in 14 months nationwide; 22 months in FLorida and 26 months in New York.

To be sure, some see this as a good, others view it as unnecessarily dragging out the overall market's recovery. Many insiders will point out that these delays in foreclosure may be calculated to save the banks the costs of owning and maintaining foreclosed homes, not to help homeowners.  In any event, the fact that foreclosure does not happen nearly as fast, in many cases, as expected does give families who are temporarily down on their luck some extra time to try to get back on their feet and save their homes.

Myth #2:  Buyers can’t get clear title or title insurance on foreclosed homes.  When the foreclosure robo-signing scandal first hit, there was widespread concern that buyers would not be able to get clear title on foreclosed homes, because the former foreclosed owners might be able to come get their homes back when the improprieties in the bank's foreclosure documentation processes came fully to light.  At the same time, several of the country's largest title insurance companies publicly balked at issuing policies on bank-owned homes until the issue was resolved.  At this point, the banks claim they have revamped their processes, and all banks have stated that they have found not a single borrower whose home was repossessed without them having missed the requisite number of mortgage payments.  Nevertheless, a number of governmental investigations are still in progress.

The fact is, buyers of bank-owned properties in nearly every jurisdiction are protected from later title attacks by foreclosed homeowners by the bona fide purchaser rule, under which courts would prefer to simply award cash damages to be paid by the culpable bank to a wrongfully foreclosed-on homeowner, rather than reversing the sale or ownership to the new, innocent buyer.  Additionally, the title insurers have now changed their tune and restarted issuing insurance policies on bank-owned homes which protect buyers' interests, after working with the banks for them to take responsibility in the event a former homeowner prevails in a wrongful foreclosure suit. 

While there are still many intricacies of title to be resolved for foreclosure buyers who purchase homes at trustee sales and auctions, or for cash buyers who often went without title insurance in the past, on the average, Trulia-listed, bank-owned property purchased with an average mortgage and title insurance, the chances a buyer's title will later be successfully challenged by the foreclosed homeowner on the basis of robo-signing?  Exceedingly slim.

Myth #3:  Buyers should wait for the shadow inventory to be released.  Many a buyer, discouraged with the homes they see on the the form in their price range, has decided to sit still and wait for the banks to release for sale what is called their "shadow inventory" - rumored to be anywhere from 4 to nearly 6 million homes that have already been foreclosed, but not listed for sale, or will be foreclosed in the near future. The fact is, to the extent that the banks have acknowledged the existence of a pool of homes they own but are not selling, they have expressed that their reasoning for holding the homes off the market is to avoid flooding the market and driving home values down any further.  For that reason, buyers should not expect to see a massive influx of these shadow homes onto the market anytime soon - if ever. 

The banks' current modus operandi is that as they sell a home, the replace it with another home in that market - if they sell 50 homes in a town that month, they'll put another 50 on the next.  So, don't hold your breath waiting for a fabulous new flood of homes.  Instead, set up a Trulia alert to notify you when homes that fit your search criteria come on the market, and be ready to call your agent and go visit any and every one that looks like it might be a good fit.

Myth #4:  If you’re looking for a deal, you’re looking for a foreclosure.  Despite what they may say, no buyer’s heart's fondest desire is to buy a foreclosure.  But almost every buyer dreams of buying a great home - and getting a great deal on it.  Many people think that to get a great value on their home on today's market, it means they must buy a foreclosure.  As a result, the value and other advantages of buying an individually-owned home on today's market are frequently overlooked.  Individual sellers with homes on the market right now are generally quite motivated, and understand that their homes are competing with discounted short sales and foreclosed homes.  Many of these sellers are slashing prices in an effort to get them sold - the most recent Trulia Price Reduction Report revealed that 27 percent of homes on the market across the country have had at least one price reduction.  Now that's what I call a sale!

Further, individual owners are often much more negotiable on a wide range of contract terms than a bank which owns a foreclosed home.  You can work with non-bank owners on things like repairs, closing dates, choice of escrow provider, closing costs and even included personal property much more flexibly than you can when the bank is on the other side of the bargaining table.  On top of that, many individually-owned homes are in pristine, move-in condition; that is much rarer with foreclosures.  So, don't underestimate the value of the deal you might be able to get on a non-foreclosed home.  Just get clear on what you can afford and look at all the homes that are available in that price range, without discriminating against non-foreclosures.

Myth #5: Having a foreclosure on your credit history means it'll take years and years before you can buy again.  One of the most Frequently Asked Questions in the Trulia Voices Community by homeowners who are facing or have just lost a home through foreclosure is how long it will take before they'll be able to buy again.  Until recently, the standard wisdom was that 5 years, minimum, would have to have elapsed between the foreclosure and the new home purchase.  Now, though, borrowers can obtain an FHA loan with the low, 3.5 minimum down payment requirement as soon as 3 years following a foreclosure.  To do so, though, all your other ducks must be in a row. 

Post-foreclosure buyers need a credit score of 620-640 to qualify for an FHA loan; higher for a non-FHA loan - given that the foreclosure itself usually dings anywhere from 100-150 points off the credit score (not necessarily counting a full year or more of pre-foreclosure missed payments), former homeowners who want to buy again need to ensure they have no other late payments or credit dings after they lose thier home.  You must have clean credit with no derogatory marks like late credit card payments following the foreclosure,  and you may also be required to document 12 to 24 months straight of on-time rent payments after the foreclosure. 

Further, the bank may impose a lower debt-to-income ratio on post-foreclosure borrowers than on borrowers who have not had a foreclosure, in an effort to keep your mortgage payments low, keep you from overextending yourself and boost the chances you'll be a successful homeowner over the long-term this time around.  The bank will also need to see 2 years of continuous employment history in the same field, and documentation that you meet other loan qualification requirements.

Bistro Brie & Bordeaux named The Best

No shortcuts here~ Bistro Brie & Bordeaux named The Best

By Michael Ryan
Windham Journal Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, November 4, 2010 6:15 AM EDT

WINDHAM — It might be because Bistro Brie & Bordeaux combines elegance with rural simplicity in the preparation of its French American cuisine.

Or maybe it’s the refined presentation of its fare which visitors describe as “phenomenal.”

Perhaps it is one of the classic menu items: Maryland Lump Crab Cakes with avocado salsa and organic mixed greens, dominated not by bread fillers but fresh lumped crab.

Then again, it could be the words spoken recently by the proprietors, Stephane and Claudia Desgaches, who said, “many thanks to our fabulous staff and to our loyal customers who voted for us and helped us achieve this great honor.”

More likely than not, it was a combination of all those elements, and more, that recently earned Bistro Brie & Bordeaux its fourth consecutive “Best Restaurant in Greene County” award from Hudson Valley Magazine.

A reader’s poll determines the winners in ten counties, and the local eatery, located at 5386 Main Street in Windham, has come out on top every year since opening its doors in 2006, quickly and consistently attracting attention.

“We don’t take shortcuts,” said Stephane Desgaches, explaining what he believes is the reason for the restaurant’s success. “To us, it is all about good food, that is always fresh, and constantly working to improve our menu.”

As an example, the French Onion soup is topped with imported Gruyere cheese, not domestic fluff, and fresh bones are used for the stock. Somehow, the taste is not heavy, though, but delicate and light and difficult to forget.The executive chef knows his craft, having grown up in France and worked with masters since he was a teenager, traveling the world before settling in Windham with Claudia and their three sons, fulfilling a dream of owning a beautiful place in a small village.“When I was very young I learned that discipline and hard work make a difference,” Desgaches says. “We listen to our customers and are always wanting to improve. We don’t want to be millionaires. We want people to love being here.”

Current Mortgage Rates.

Current Rates

National	Average Rate*	Points
30-Year Fixed	4.24%	0.8
15-Year Fixed	3.63%	0.7
ARM	3.39%	3.39%

* Conforming FNMA Loan Amount. Rates last updated Nov 11, 2010

Veterans Day - The Poem, "In Flanders Fields"

A Canadian solder, Major John McCrae wrote

In Flanders Fields:
“In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.”
John McCrae (1872 - 1918)
This poem also inspired the British Legion to adopt the poppy as its emblem.

Upstate New York Revival: Genius – or Common Sense?

November 5, 2010

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By Roberta Brandes Gratz
MT. MORRIS, N.Y. - In recent years, when Greg O'Connell looked down the Main Street of Mt. Morris, this upstate village of 3,000 in the middle of sprawling farms 40 miles south of Rochester, he saw vacant derelict buildings. Some had walls and roofs falling in or about to do so; most were abandoned or foreclosed by banks.
But now O'Connell sees a Main Street on its way to renewal, with restored buildings filled with new businesses and upstairs apartments. A small theater occupies a former storefront church.
"It was a ghost town," he said with a smile recently, as we ate a fabulous Italian dinner in a recently opened small owner-run restaurant. Nobody, however, had bothered - or had the funds - to tear down any of the classic 50-odd two story 19th century storefronts that were once fully occupied.
O'Connell saw what no one else did: the opportunity to revive a Main Street for small businesses in a parallel way to the waterfront in Brooklyn where he restored Civil War warehouses for small manufacturers. Now observers come from near and far to see this model of Main Street revitalization.
O'Connell bought and restored 19 buildings, lured new businesses, created 28 second-floor apartments, involved both the local high school and college and the larger community. Sales tax and real estate values have increased, banks have tentatively started making loans and residents, with new found hope, are investing in their properties in small ways. Main Street is reborn.
"This is not a rocket science," O'Connell says. "If you understand how the process works, this could happen in many small towns." Having a catalyst like O'Connell, however, surely helps. And catalysts come in many forms, such as the restoration of old theaters.
The business mix in Mount Morris is not what it was before WalMart, the malls and highway route 390 came through, making it possible to get to Rochester in less than one hour. But the mix is more interesting. The singular businesses are local people selling things they formerly made either in their kitchen or garage and now welcome the opportunity to open a store.
Jane's Pantry offers home made sauces, garlic pesto, mustard, peanut butter and spices. Varied eateries are scattered among antique and gift stores. A former gas station is being converted to a restaurant the way Ben & Jerry's started in a Burlington gas station. Two retired people opened the theater in a former storefront church. A woman moved her hair salon from home to Main Street and doubled her business. A sign maker brought his business from his garage.
In a day when the modus operandi for developers is to buy cheap, charge what the market will bear and get their money out quickly, O'Connell also buys low. But then passes savings from tax abatements and grant programs onto the tenants and charges only enough to break even (hopefully) at first.
"I'm in it for the long term," he says. Going slow, he adds, provides "the chance to build stability."
O'Connell got to know this historic farming county in the 1960s when he attended SUNY Geneseo. He knew then he would be buying farms (he does that too) and have a house in the area. But first he went back to Brooklyn, became a beat cop on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and watched regeneration unfold in that iconic neighborhood.
"I could see people wanting to come back to live in the city," he says. But he couldn't afford to buy on the West Side so he scouted Brooklyn to find an affordable brownstone ("a wreck for $4,000″) in Cobble Hill where he still lives. He continued to buy and fix up properties, as savings permitted.
None of what O'Connell has done is as easy as tearing down what exists and building a new mall tenanted with national chains. "The art of retail has effectively been lost in so many places," says Louise Wadsworth, director of both downtown revitalization and micro-enterprise programs for the Alliance for Business Growth for Livingston and Wyoming Counties. Once a successful gift and camera shop owner in nearby Geneseo, Wadsworth learned the art from her mother. "Passing the art down doesn't seem to happen anymore," she says. She has worked with O'Connell, given him ideas, introduced him to local officials and community people.
Through the Alliance, the county provides 50 per cent matching grants for façade restoration and signage. The visual is key, says Wadsworth. O'Connell requires tenants to create appealing window displays, to change them four times a year, to leave a light on at night and to have an attractive sign.
The potential is beyond measure, says Wadsworth. "So many businesses are being run out of people's houses," she says.
Mount Morris' early history of farms, canning factories (one is left), salt mines and railroads is not replicable. The trick is to stimulate a new economy without trying to lure distant big companies with over-sized incentives that never guarantee long-term success.
"There is so much creative opportunity in many small towns like this," O'Connell says. Undoubtedly, he will move on to another one after Mount Morris.
Roberta Brandes Gratz is an urban critic and author of the newly published The Battle For Gotham: New York In the Shadow of Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs, 2010, Nation Books. This article originally appeared on citiwire.net.

This from SPARKPEOPLE.COM......an interesting reflection.....

Are you paying attention to how your time is spent?Days don't get shorter. Our attention spans do. How can summer be over in a blink while it seems like the weekend will never get here? Because we're not paying attention. Five days out of seven, we're waiting for something else to happen in the future, and we don't take advantage of the day that we hold in our pocket. Have you ever had someone ask what you did last week--or even yesterday--and had trouble coming up with an answer? You probably wouldn't have had any problem at all if your time were spent on something meaningful for you. Don't wait for tomorrow! Ignore the calendar and work with one day at a time. Fill that one day with stuff you'll pay attention to, the stuff that memories are made of. A little bit of focus will help you get rid of that hectic blur.

Gardening Tips: Fall insect pests - From the Daily Mail, Catskill NY

Gardening Tips: Fall insect pests

Published: Saturday, November 6, 2010 2:22 AM EDT

It is beginning to feel a bit like winter as we enter the 11th month of 2010. Despite a very soggy October, we are still about one inch short of our normal precipitation for the year and future moisture may arrive as that white stuff we all love at first. Last weekend featured some pretty intense snow flurries on Sunday but it did not stick to the ground or paved areas.

There are still a few weeks left before the ground begins to freeze which means you can still plant bulbs and pull out weeds. I did manage to get the vegetable garden cleaned up and even mulched my garlic bed. I am still harvesting tasty Brussels Sprouts that seem to get sweeter as the weather gets colder.

One common, but annoying phenomena we see at this time of year is the influx of insects such as lady beetles, cluster flies, boxelder bugs and western conifer seed bugs. All these insects seek out protected places to spend the winter months. Prior to entering into attics, wall voids and your living room, lady beetles, cluster flies and boxelder bugs emit an “aggregation” pheromone which attracts others of their species. Sometimes they are so numerous they may almost cover an entire south or southwest facing wall. They also congregate on glass picture windows, eaves and fascia boards.

Once these pests are indoors they become somewhat dormant but may wake up when the heat is turned on. Cluster flies often seek out windows where they buzz and spin around on their backs like “break dancers.” Ladybeetles fly about clumsily indoors but occasionally land on humans and sometimes they bite! The lady beetles in my house usually find my houseplants where they seem to feed on spider mites.

Western conifer seed bugs are large, ungainly insects that look like assassin bugs or stinkbugs with what looks like a “W” on their back. They are easy to catch and when handled they emit a distinct scent that smells like citrus to me but is offensive to others. Boxelder bugs are red and black in color and not usually active once they are indoors.

Most of these insects enter homes in September and October so by now it is too late to prevent them from getting inside. Older houses are almost impossible to seal tightly enough to completely prevent entry but there are insecticides that may be applied by professional exterminators to houses and other buildings when all else fails and the insects present an extreme annoyance.

Such treatments are not inexpensive, costing hundreds of dollars and need to be done every fall. For most of us, simply dealing with the occasional intruder with a flyswatter or rolled up magazine is sufficient or, catching and releasing them outside works just as well.

Finally, remember that deer ticks are still very active outdoors even after frost and these pests can transmit Lyme disease as well as several other serious diseases . I have removed a half dozen or more of these bloodsuckers from my cat in the past two weeks.

Spray your outdoor clothing with permethrin (not Deet) products for about two weeks of protection and perform a thorough tick inspection when you or your kids come inside after playing in the brush or raking leaves. Deer ticks are actually more active now than they were in the heat and drought of midsummer.

Catskill Mountain House - Grand Hotel

Grand hotel

This 1893 view down the Otis elevated railway in R. Lionel DeLisser's "Picturesque Catskills, Greene County," from Hope Farm Press, Saugerties, is representative of the depth of view from the Catskill Mountain House area. (Courtesy Hope Farm Press)

Mountain House documentary showing Sunday

By Jim Planck
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

Published: Saturday, November 6, 2010 2:22 AM EDT

There are certain legends, tales, and stories of the Catskills that are of such renown that they actually are known, even if only by name, to just about everyone -- Rip Van Winkle being perhaps the foremost.

The Catskill Mountain House is easily the second, but -- unlike Rip -- is based in fact and history, so it might actually merit being the greatest, as it is certainly the greatest piece of history in the treasure trove of Catskills lore.

On Sunday, an opportunity to see and hear the grand story of the Catskill Mountain House, including the world it existed in, is taking place at the Community Theater, in Catskill, at 5 p.m.

There will be a free showing for the public of the appropriately titled, “The Catskill Mountain House and The World Around,” a new 80-minute documentary by filmmaker Tobe Carey, which brings to life the Catskills resort era of the Victorian Age.

To do so, Carey has researched and filmed not only a wide cross-section of distinctive images, both from private collections and public archives, but also narratives and interviews with some of the area’s leading historians and period experts.

Carey, a resident of nearby Glenford, in Ulster County, has been making documentary, informational, and art films for 40 years, one of which -- about ten years ago -- was “Deep Water,” a highly recognized documentary on the Ashokan Reservoir, and it was from that, that he decided to do more.

“It’s been very popular, and very well received,” he said, “ and it spurred my interest in doing another with local history.”

Carey said that in talking with Hensonville-based publisher Deborah Allen, of Black Dome Press, she suggested the Catskill Mountain House as a theme, and that he subsequently decided that should be the one.

“So the movie came about because I have an interest in regional history,” he said, adding that he then spent a couple years in gathering information and archival research.

“It took about three years, together,” he said.

Carey said he chose to stress the word “The” with a capital “T” in the second half of the title -- “and The World Around” -- because the documentary is intended not to just inform about the Mountain House, but also to allow the viewer to connect to the world in which it existed.

“The film is that interconnection,” he said.

Topics include the scope, size and prominence of the hotel as a business establishment, the railroad industry which served it, and the art that carried the region to the showcases of the world.

“It has all these themes that are hard to ignore if you want to deal with the history of this area,” said Carey.

Uniquely, the music for the film is all period-written, with a local or regional spin, and was produced by Bill Vanaver, of Vanaver Caravan.

“All the music is music from the Victorian era,” said Carey, “and was written about the Catskill Mountain House, or some of the other grand hotels in the region.”

“And the narratives are contemporary writings from that same period,’ he added.

DVD’s of “The Catskill Mountain House and The World Around” will be on sale at Sunday’s showing, and Carey said that they also feature the Victorian-era songs in MP3 download format.

One of the historians filmed and interviewed for the documentary, Catskill’s Ted Hilscher -- who will also be participating in a Q&A session at the showing -- said Friday that Carey’s work will be enjoyed by all, and that his technique has captured the story in an engaging way.

“There are a number of people (interviewed),” said Hilscher, “and he weaves together the story with the conversations that he’s having with them.”

“It’s terrific,” he said.

“They’re telling a story,” he said, “and for the visuals he’s got excellent pictures of the era.”

“He did a superb job,” said Hilscher.

The Community Theater is located at 373 Main Street, Catskill, and Sunday’s free showing of “The Catskill Mountain House and The World Around” will begin at 5 p.m.