The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

A new business in Liberty is getting to the root of it all in more ways than one.

Root 52 Gallery at 87 Mill Street (Route 52) specializes in functional art made from the roots of trees that originate in Costa Rica. And so, owner Tiffany Moore decided to go for the root / route play on words for the name of her business.

As artistic as she is clever, Moore has taken the huge space that once housed a craft store, and turned it into a striking display of hundreds of beautiful wood pieces – vases, benches, dishes and more.

The walls of the room feature life-size photos of Moore’s staff harvesting the roots from the farms in Costa Rica. And Moore intends to have a video made that will show the process from start to finish.

Moore is the mother of three children. After she saw these wood products in Costa Rica she fell in love with them. “I love wood, I always loved the look of trees and wood, my house is full of pieces. I saw these products and decided to open a gallery.”

There are over 20 different types of woods represented in the gallery including Rosewood, Purple Hearts, Fustic, Tigerwood and Blackwood. And every single piece comes from a tree that is either threatened or endangered. 

“Most of these trees are protected by the Costa Rican government,” said Moore. “That’s why the trees are not cut. The tree has already fallen from natural causes, and the pieces are made from the root. They can be trees that were cut 50 years ago before there was a protection order on them, and the roots are still in the ground. A lot of these roots come from farmlands, and the farmers want to get the roots off their ground. But the roots are plentiful.”

Moore also said that she is looking into donating a percentage of the sales toward the replanting of these endangered trees.

While 20 or so different kinds of trees are represented, the number and variety of pieces they yield is endless. But how does the sculptor decide what the final product will look like? “The root decides what form it’s going to take,” said Moore, who spends a lot of time in Costa Rica. “There’s myself and one other man, we look at the pieces and kind of see what form it’s going to take.”

Choosing to open a business during this risky economic time takes a lot of courage. Moore said she gave that a lot of thought. “People are very careful about what they spend their money on,” said Moore. “It’s pieces they fall in love with or feel connected to … And I think a lot of people will think these pieces are beautiful. And every single piece is different.”

Roberta Byron-Lockwood, President of the Sullivan County Visitors Association who was one of those present at the grand opening remarked on the variety. “The inventory is just absolutely incredible. I’ve picked out all my holiday gifts for the next ten years. The layout and presentation are stunning.”

That sentiment was echoed by Jodi Goodman, Sullivan County Legislator for District 6, which includes the gallery site. “This is a magnificent addition to Liberty. To look at this and how magnificent it is, it’s a plus for my district. The concept is incredible, the name of the business is fabulous. I’m so excited that Tiffany chose Liberty. It’s a museum, and an art studio and a retail shop all in one. There’s an element of warmth and belonging. You can have a lot of fun in here. I’m telling my husband we have to re-do a room for one of these pieces. Tiffany can be very proud.”

And Susan Jaffe, Vice President for the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development said how wonderful it is “to welcome a new business, there are some beautiful pieces of functional art. I want everyone to know that we’re going to have the Holiday Harvest Market in Liberty soon, and this business is a wonderful addition, and I encourage everyone to walk on down and do some shopping.”

To view more photos or to purchase prints from Root 52 Gallery Opens in Liberty visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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Miss New York State 2009 Alyse J. Zwick caught a ride in Dick
Herbert’s classic 1960 Corvette.

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

Santa rides a big V-Twin.

JEFFERSONVILLE – Talk about a lot of Santas!

Dancing Santas, sitting Santas, prancing Santas, Santas riding on fire trucks, and Santas throwing candy to kids in the crowd. Santas on sleighs, a Santa on a big V-Twin motorcycle, and a Jolly ‘Ole Santa handing out presents after a parade. The 15th Annual James Dworetsky Memorial Holiday Parade of November 27, had more Santas than you could toss a reindeer at.

The first parade in 1994 was a joint fire prevention effort between four local volunteer fire departments: Jeffersonville, Youngsville, Kenoza Lake and Callicoon Center.

A fireman all decked out in Christmas tree lights helped brightened spirits.

Bill Thony, chairman of what became known as the James Dworetsky Memorial Holiday Parade said the deceased firefighter was instrumental in planning for the inaugural fire prevention committee parade, but tragically passed away only two days before the parade stepped off down the main drag in Jeffersonville.

“It’s done in the spirit of fire prevention and the holiday season,” he said of the popular annual parade. “Jim was a very dedicated firefighter and an excellent educator in fire prevention. He could stand in front of a group of third or fifth graders and have them shaking in their boots before he broke out with in a big
grin on his face.”

The Dworetsky Family wished everyone “Happy Holidays.”

According to Thony, approximately 50-55 fire departments and floats were in the line of march.

“People had a really good time, and it brings all the community together,” he added proudly.

Laura Dworetsky, Jim’s mother, was the 2009 Grand Marshall, and several of his beloved nieces and nephews rode on the first float, a float by the Dworetsky Family wishing everyone “Happy Holidays.”

Alyse J. Zwick, Miss New York State 2009, a contestant in the Miss America Beauty Pageant, caught a ride in Dick Herbert’s classic 1960 Corvette, but the vintage American icon nicknamed “My Peach” had a few mechanical problems, and rather than a trip to the pits, was pushed down the road by a few spirited volunteers.

Alyse J. Zwick, Miss New York State 2009 paid special attention to a young beauty pageant fan waiting in line for an autographed photograph.

After the parade, Miss New York autographed photographs of herself for scores of enthralled youngsters.

Even with more Santas than you could count, Thony declined to reveal who was who under all the fuzzy white whiskers and big red suits.

To view more photos or to purchase prints from 15^th Annual James Dworetsky Parade Dazzles Crowds visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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Left to right (back row) Heinrich Strauch (Liberty CDC) and Jeremy Gorelick (incoming Board Chair/SC Chamber and President Emanon Equities). Left to right (bottom row) Jacquie Leventoff (Kohls/Chamber Foundation Member), Barbara Sush (Body, Mind & Spirit Wellness Center Office Manager), Rich Sush (Sullivan Renaissance and SC Chamber Board Member), Grandma Moses, and Rich Klein (Law Firms PR). – Photos courtesy of RubyFlecks Creative Consulting

CALLICOON -The Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce recently marked its 35^th year of serving businesses in Sullivan County through a gala Annual Meeting and celebration at the The Clubhouse at Villa Roma on Thursday, November 19.

To a crowd of more than 100 business colleagues, Chamber President/CEO Terri Ward recalled the Chamber’s beginnings.

“It was 35 years ago during the gas crisis that this Chamber of Commerce was created by a group of small business owners joining forces to make a change.”

She later added that, “It will be especially important to preserve and reward the special genius of capitalism. We need to stay focused on what’s best about our economy, and be sure we continue to unleash its potential. We also need to get back to basics.”

The Outgoing Board President then introduced keynote speakers and honorees Patrick Dollard and Dr. Theresa Hamlin who proudly represented The Center For Discovery.

Both keynote speakers described the center as “an extraordinary place to work.” The Center spans more than 900 acres with more than 1,500 employees and serves more than 1,000 people annually.

Outgoing Board Chair, Susan Hamlin, introduced and welcomed incoming Board President, Jeremy Gorelick, who will begin his tenure on January 1^st.  “I look forward to serving Sullivan County businesses and working closely with our Board of Directors and our affiliate organizations,” said Gorelick.

The 35 Annual Meeting and Celebration was sponsored by Thunder 102, WSUL/WVOS, RubyFlecks Creative Consulting, The SC Partnership for Economic Development, and Heaven’s Door Event Planning.

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Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter Panzarino, Larry Schafman, Past President Judge Bart Rasnick and Treasurer Sy Berenson with the $3000 donation check.

FALLSBURG – The Fallsburg Lions Club appreciates the services offered to the community by the Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC). Chief Operating Officer Steve Ruwoldt recognized the Club’s support for as soon as he took over management of the facility, he became an active member of the Lions.

This year the Fallsburg service group donated $3000 to the hospital and an additional $1000 to Rape Intervention Services and Education (RISE) that is now under the auspices of CRMC.

Lions President Larry Schafman presenting certificates of service to left to right, Gregory Bedik, Amanni Sitz and Stephen Bedik (Brooke Rappaport was unable to attend the dinner).

Mr. Ruwoldt was unable to attend the hospital sponsored dinner at CRMC on November 19 and had his Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter Panzarino, ably stand in for him as to receive the $3000 check from Treasurer Sy Berenson, former President Judge Bart Rasnick and current President Larry Schafman of the Fallsburg Lions Club. Mrs. Dale Berenson organized the event with hospital staff.

Dr. Panzarino thanked the Lions for their ongoing support of the hospital and for their commitment to service in the Sullivan County community.

The future for service was ably represented by four students from Fallsburg High School – Stephen and Gregory Bedik, Amanni Sitz and Brooke Rappaport, who were special honored guests of the Lions in recognition of their efforts in serving club functions in the community.

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Story and photos by Carol Montana

About 50 people attended the Senior Legislative Action Committee (SLAC) meeting on November 20 to hear about the New York State budget crisis.

Representing NYS Senator John Bonacic was Joanne Drake. Reading from a prepared statement from Senator Bonacic, Ms. Drake said, “One of the most important things we can do for seniors is to reduce and eliminate school property taxes. The senate has passed legislation that I have cosponsored to both freeze school taxes … and also to allow for their complete elimination.”

Ms. Drake also read Senator Bonacic’s statements about senior housing and affordable apartments for seniors, and saving hospitals and beds in Achieve Rehabilitation. Bonacic is especially proud of his fight against the NYRI powerline. And Ms. Drake also spoke about Bonacic’s part in the recent legislation strengthening drunken driving laws.

For her part, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther criticized some of the media for saying nothing was getting done in Albany. “You have to listen and be engaged in order to understand what’s going on in Albany or what we do in our office and there’s absolutely no interest. Once every election cycle they’ll come and they’ll ask you a few questions. Other than that they don’t want to be insightful as far as writing the appropriate and accurate story.” 

As far as what has been going on in Albany, “There’s been a lot of negotiations. and we did pass a few great bills — the ignition interlock law. We also passed a significant piece of legislation … it has to do with the public authorities. We have over 700 public authorities in the state of New York, at this point they are $152 billion in debt, there is no oversight, nobody watching what they’re doing, where the money is going. When we bond money in NY, we’re bonding for the public authorities and it’s time to get rid of them, to merge some of them. This particular piece of legislation is going to save billions of dollars. We need a smaller, more efficient government.”  

Gunther said that unless the state reins in spending and property taxes, “people will leave NYS, it will be a mass exodus …”

Calling the leadership of some of her fellow Democrats “an absolute disgrace,” Gunther stated that “It’s not time for partisan politics.”

She also talked about a bill designed to eliminate consultants who spend as much as 20-30 years working for New York State. “Now those jobs will be filled by residents of New York who will pay income taxes to New York.”

Gunther and Drake entertained questions about charging non-profits for fire and police, natural gas drilling, education, consolidation of municipal services, saving hospitals and many other topics.

Regarding the new recommendations for mammograms at 50 instead of 40 years of age, Gunther said that “it was an attack on women. I think it’s driven by the insurance companies. We need to make our own decisions.”

Responding to the issue of budget cuts, SLAC co-chair Priscilla Bassett said, “There are concrete things that can be done to create other revenue streams.” Gunther agreed that “it’s not about cuts, it’s about reducing costs.”

Additionally, Gunther talked about freezing property taxes, the MTA tax and state unfunded mandates. “We’re at a point where people have a feeling of hopelessness. As much as you save, as much as you cut back, it doesn’t seem like the end of the day you can pay your bills.”

“I might be spending Thanksgiving eating a turkey sandwich up there, but that’s okay as long as they figure it out,” Gunther joked. “You want to clear the slate, go to a new year and hope for the very best.”

Sullivan County Legislator Leni Binder also spoke. And at that point, the meeting got a little heated as audience members questioned her about the new Sullivan County Solid Waste User Fee. “I’m agreeing with you. There is a lot of controversy about this. I’m not saying there isn’t. However, would you have preferred a 17-percent increase.”

Referring to the ongoing problem with the county landfill, Neversink resident Joe Inghrim commented,  “It didn’t just happen overnight.”

Binder put a solid responsibility on county board of supervisor who were the predecessors to the county legislature, responding that “I never understood, nor did I run to be legislature to deal with garbage.”

“There are inequities for seniors,” countered Bassett, “because seniors produce less waste.” 

Binder pleaded with the audience to attend the public hearings. “One of the things we’re looking at is to give you a credit if, in fact, you do recycle. You folks have to come and tell the county government. Call up the county government at 807-0435. Please give them lists of what your suggestions are. Write them out. Talk to them. You’d better voice these concerns,” she warned, “because I don’t have all the answers and I’m only one vote.”

SLAC co-chair Roz Sharoff then told the audience that “Town Hall meetings on the budget and the waste fee will be held on December 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the Liberty Senior Center in Liberty, and on Wednesday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the Mamakating Town Hall. The public hearings will then be Thursday, December 10 at noon and Monday December 14 at 7:00 p.m.” Both public hearings will take place in the legislative hearing room of the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello.

Binder also mentioned that there will be a public announcement about a night meeting when the Commissioner of Corrections comes down to discuss the jail.

Bassett asked Binder about a provision in the budget to possibly sell the Adult Care Center, saying that SLAC is very concerned about that. Binder said that selling the Care Center is not in the budget. “I am a senior, and I face every issue that you do,” reminded Binder. “And I understand that everybody in this room is one critical illness away from total poverty, one social security check away from losing their home. … And by the way, if you have county insurance, they’ll pay to pull your teeth, they won’t pay to pull them. So I had to pay for my own teeth.”

To end the meeting, Sharoff read a piece against the Solid Waste Fee from county Legislator Alan Sorenson’s Web site.

The next meeting of the Senior Legislative Action Committee will be on December 18 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ted Stroebele Recreation Center on Jefferson Street in Monticello.

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Tanya Cohen as Molly Calvin and Bill Moloney as Grant Lerner reveal their relationship.

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

JEFFERSONVILLE – “The Bellflower Sessions,” a highly quirky and intriguingly convoluted story of a self-proclaimed victim of life who seeks help from a rather unbalanced psychiatrist in the guise of Dr. Wendy Bellflower is a play in two riveting acts by Andy Bloch, formerly known as Rooster Mitchell.

On Saturday, November 21, the staged reading of Bloch’s work was debuted before close to 50 folks at Samba Café on the main drag in town, under the artistic direction of Tim Corcoran, one of the founders of NYC’s famed 29th Street Rep.

Forbes Match as Jack Calvin and Tanya Cohen as Molly Calvin in a moment of marital discord.

The reading featured soap opera star Forbes March as Jack Calvin, Tanya Cohen in the role of Molly Calvin, Paula Ewin as Dr. Bellflower, Bill Moloney as Grant Lerner and Thelonoius Johnson in the portrayal of Derek Coles.

March first began acting in Vancouver, where he landed his first series, “Northwood,” and then rapidly moved on to a career in modeling, doing print work for Armani, Tommy H., and Marlboro Clothing. He quit the role of a high-end clothes horse to attend the prestigious Lee Strasberg Acting Institute, followed by his first big acting role as Scott Chandler on ABC’s daytime soap opera “All My Children”. Then came a role in the indie film “Campfire Stories”, the portrayal of Jesse Kilmartin on the Canadian TV sci-fi series “Mutant X”, and a brief stint as Nash Brennan on ABC’s “One Life to Live”. In July 2009, March originated the character of Mason Jarvis on “As the World Turns,” a daytime drama series.

Asked his take on Jack Calvin, “an angry, unhappily married victim of the recession,” March replied, “I still don’t have an answer to describe the character…he’s trying extremely hard to keep it together when everything around him is falling apart. He’s desperately seeking order, and everywhere he goes to find order, he finds more anarchy which eventually pushes him over the edge.”

Tanya Cohen is partners with her spouse Ken as owners of the Janice Center in Jeffersonville, where she is also musical director.

At the age of ten Cohen began performing in several local groups such as the Callicoon Center Band, the Livingston Manor Band, the Sullivan Symphonic Band, later branching out to the Orange County Orchestra and the Northeast Music Festival. Over the last decade, Cohen has been active in theatre, appearing in “The Lamb,” “The Glass Menagerie,” “A Shayna Maidel” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” Not content with ‘the boards,’ her film credits include “The Food Chain,” “Four Deadly Reasons,” Nickelodeon and a Mariah Carey documentary.

Forbes March as Jack Calvin and Paula Ewin as Dr. Wendy Bellflower, along with Tanya Cohen as Molly Calvin and Bill Maloney as Grant Lerner.

Paula Ewin is a graduate of the William Esper Studio in the city, and a founding member and long time player in the acting ensemble of the award-winning Off Broadway theatre company 29th Street Rep, where she has performed leading roles in over 27 New York and World Premier productions since 1988.

In additions to numerous theatre and television credits, in 2000 Ewin produced and co-directed “Look Here! A Portrait of Sylvia Sleigh”, a documentary short profiling the life of the realist painter known for her male nudes and feminist contributions. In playwright Bill Nave’s epic “Necktie Breakfast”, she played a charming Southern Belle menaced by her abusive KKK husband in Depression era Kentucky.

Ewin is the recipient of an OOBR award for her performance in “Night of Nave”, the Irene ACTF Irene Ryan award for Excellence in Acting, and is listed in Who’s Who in American Women and Theatre World.

At present, the accomplished vocalist is touring with “Party of One,” a musical tribute to the immortal Julie London, which she showcased a couple of years ago to a wild reception at Samba Café.

Ewin is active in The Hive – The Women of 29th Street Rep, a re-invention
of the award-winning Off Broadway theatre. The Hive invites and provides artists with an environment of networking and resources for boundary-breaking projects in all mediums.

Tim Corcoran, artistic director, and founding member of the 29th Rep in NYC, introduces the staged reading.

Her view of portraying Dr. Bellflower?

“She’s a very intelligent psychiatrist, high strung, crazy, wacko, making a fortune…I don’t totally understand her, but she thrives on it. It’s heightened reality.”

Bill Maloney, A NYSP Trooper/BCI Investigator brought his fan club with him, as at the end when someone commented upon the earthy dialogue, a call was heard from the back of the house, “Spoken like a real Trooper.”

Moloney is an avid actor in his spare time, and recently appeared to rave reviews in the Forestburgh Theatre Arts Center’s adaptation of “Inherit the Wind” opposite Norman Duttweiler in the leading roles.

Forbes Match as Jack Calvin and Thelonious “TJ” Johnson as Derek Coles.

Thelonoius Johnson, better known as T.J., was named after the famous American jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk by his father, a jazz musician and mother, an artist.

An actor, model and personal trainer with elite clients including CNN’s Anderson Cooper and celebrity hairstylist Roque Jiminez, as a model he has been featured in Vogue, Italia, Details, scoring the cover shot on Maximum Fitness. Acting highlights embody roles on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “One Life to Live” and “All My Children.” Named one of 2008’s Most Eligible Bachelors by “Extra,” T.J.’s most recent credit is being selected as the face of Capcom Viral Videos, a series of comedy viral videos promoting the popular video game Bionic Commando.

Valerie Mansi read the stage directions.

Valerie Mansi, stage director.

Mansi studied acting at HB Studio in NYC, and is a member of the Liberty Free Theatre, where she has appeared in “Goods & Guns,” “The Universal Wolf” and “Off the Wall,” along with “The Vagina Monologues” at Sullivan County Community College.

The playwright, Andy Bloch, is perhaps best known for his stage play “The Killer and the Comic,” while his follow up play, “Never the Same Rhyme Twice,” about four con women in a prison in upstate New York had successful runs in Chicago.
Later, they moved ‘in tandem’ to NYC’s 29th Street Rep, in an evening of one-acts Off Broadway called “Buffalo Bill: Two Brutal Comedies.”

Concoran said of “The Bellflower Sessions,” the play in two acts by Bloch, “This is a chance to bring something up here for a reading and get a little feedback, it’s never been read before…it has a dark undertone, it’s comedy noir.”

As one of the five founding actors of 29th Street Rep, he was the voice of Spiderman for Marvel Comics, appeared for eight years on “The Guiding Light”, and has acted from Maine to California. At the 28th Street Rep, he directed the first revival of Sam Shepard’s “Fool for Love,” which enjoyed a 19-week run of 122 performances, ranking as the company’s most successful production at the box office.

The NYC-based company’s motto is “29th Street Rep – Where Brutal Theatre Lives!” and this reputation carried over well to “The Bellflower Sessions,” as at times it’s pithy dialogue could have put a seasoned salty sea dog to shame.

To view more photos from A “Rooster” Crows at Samba Café visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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Jimmy Blake receives award from Sullivan County Legislature. – Provided Photos

MONTICELLO – Jimmy Blake knows how to retire.

A custodian in the Fallsburg Central School District for over 19 years, Blake spent 16 of those years as an active member of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 853.

Jimmy decided to celebrate his retirement by hosting his friends and colleagues at a buffet dinner at Mr. Willy’s Restaurant in Monticello on October 24.

Almost 100 attended and applauded County Legislators Ron Hiatt, David Sager, and Leni Binder as they presented Blake with a Certificate of Special Recognition for his wonderful and inspiring leadership as President of Local 853.

Jimmy and Sharon Blake will be moving to south Florida to be closer to their children and to enjoy the year round sunshine. Sharon will continue her work with Head Start in the new location.

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Story and photos by Carol Montana

Tara Berescik believes in being a role model for her students. So, when the opportunity came along to apply for an award, she took it. “I tell my students that they should go for this award or that scholarship. So I’m being hypocritical if there’s one that I’m eligible for that I don’t apply for.”

And so, the nine-year agricultural sciences teacher at Tri-Valley Central School (TV) in Grahamsville finds herself the recipient of the National Outstanding Agricultural Teacher for 2009.

It’s not the first time Berescik has won an award. “In 2008 I won the New York Outstanding Agricultural Teacher Award, which is what made me eligible to win the national one. The national award is actually six winners.” The National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) chooses a winner from each region in the United States. TV is in the Northeastern Region, which encompasses 18 states. Berescik also won Outstanding New Teacher in NY in 2002 — her second year teaching.

The ag program at TV has had its share of honors, also. In 2008 it was named the Outstanding National Program, which came about because it had won against 30 other programs in New York in 2007. “We were recognized as an Outstanding National Program, too, through the National Future Farmers of America (FFA),” says Berescik. “We’ve been recognized pretty much every year for the ag program – that’s not me, that’s the students and what I do with them.”

What she does with her students is very impressive. For the past eight years, the TV FFA chapter has run the haunted house at the Giant Pumpkin Party, put on to raise funds for the Daniel Pierce Library in Grahamsville. A food drive in 2008 collected over 5000 items for area food pantries, and the ag students have worked with Sullivan Renaissance for community beautification with the program’s other teacher Robert Hayes.

“If you can’t be a member of your community, there’s no point in living in the community,” said Berescik. “Since I’ve been here – I’ve stopped adding them up – I’ve done over 10,000 hours of community service, because when the kids are in something, I’m in something. There’s no reason for us not to try to give back just as much as the community is giving to us.”

That community support is very important to the TV ag program. It includes support from parents for trips and fundraisers, from businesses for intern and work possibilities, and from fellow educators who teach the students what they need to know about math and computers and business – all of which figures into the ag program, which, Berescik says is “different from traditional education.” …

To read the full story go to – Teaching Her Students to Seize Every Opportunity in the new Sullivan Faces Section of The Catskill Chronicle or just click on the link.

To view more photos or to purchase prints from Teaching Her Students to Seize Every Opportunity visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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Best Residential Construction over 2500 square feet –  Ferndale/Loomis Road in Ferndale – Provided Photos

MONTICELLO – Homes and businesses that enhance the appearance of Sullivan County were recognized at the 2009 “Sullivan Showcase Awards” on November 12 at the Eagle’s Nest in Bloomingburg. 

The annual awards are sponsored by the Sullivan County Board of Realtors and Sullivan Renaissance. 

The 2009 Residential building judges were Diane Deutsch of Preferred Homes & Properties, Joe Freda of Freda Real Estate and Glenn Pontier of Sullivan Renaissance. Outside of being a judge for this year’s awards, during the award ceremony, Diane S. Deutsch received a special Certificate of Appreciation “For her selfless service and her dedication to maintaining the highest standards in the production of the Sullivan Showcase Awards and the Architectural Awards.”

The 2009 Commercial building judges were: Melissa Lanza Drajpuch of Century 21 Lanza Realty; Diane Butler of Eagle Valley Realty and Susan Boersema of Ulster Savings Bank.

The 2009 Municipal building judges were: Glenn Gidaly, senior project manager with Barton & Loguidice of Ellenville, and Scott Wohl, director of government affairs at Orange County Association of Realtors in Goshen.

Van Morrow put together the PowerPoint presentation; Saraid Baez of Sullivan Renaissance created the award certificates; and Fritz Mayer, Lori Malone, Jennifer Bitetto, Emily Grillo and Danielle Gaebel of The River Reporter produced the journal.

Board of Realtors President Susan Hemmer, who emceed the awards, encouraged everyone to begin thinking about nominations for 2010.  For more information about the awards, call Ada Cole at 845-794-2735, scbr@verizon.net.

________________________________________________________________

And the 2009 Sullivan Showcase Award Winners are:

· Best Residential Spruce-up: Bayer Road of North Branch

Owner: John Mather and Kevin Dwyer, North Branch

Contractor/Builder: Ed J. LeRoy, Damascus, PA

· Best Residential Renovation: Little Hollow Road in Grahamsville

Owner: Jan Van Nostrand, Grahamsville

Architect: Jaime  Stankevicius, Livingston Manor

Contractor/Builder: Jim Krupp, Krupp Contracting, Livingston Manor

· Best Modular Construction: East Hill Road in Youngsville

Owner/Contact: New World Home, Youngsville

Contractor/Builder: Ruby Construction, Goshen

· Best Residential Construction (under 2500 sf): Heinle Road in White Sulphur

Owner: Will Foster, White Sulphur

Contractor/Builder: Catskill Harvest, Liberty

Architect: Catskill Harvest, LLC

·  Best Residential Construction (over 2500 sf): Ferndale/Loomis Road in Ferndale

Owner: Maurice Gerry, Ferndale

Contractor/Builder: Lynn Dowe, Mountain Construction, Ferndale

· Unique/Most Interesting Residential: Bobolink House in North Branch

Owner: Jeff McMahon and Lizanne Haimes, Bobolink House, North Branch

Architect: Jeff McMahon

Contractor/Builder: Jeff McMahon

·  Best Commercial Spruce-up: Jeff Bank on Forestburgh Road, Monticello

Owner: The First National Bank of Jeffersonville

Landscaping: Mountain Valley Landscaping, Monticello; Landscape Architect: KALA-Karen Arent Landscaping Architect

· Best Commercial Renovation/Mixed Use: “On the Mat” Yoga Studio on Main Street, Mountaindale

Owner: “On the Mat in Mountaindale Yoga,” Main Street, Mountaindale, Ken and Barbara Schmitt

Contractor/Builder: Diversified Realty Services, LLC, Mountaindale

· Best Commercial Renovation: “Café Devine” on Lower Main Street, Callicoon

Owner: Patti Devine

Architect: MJ Chojnicki, Architect PC, Callicoon

Contract/Builder: Ed LeRoy, LeRoy Construction, Damascus, PA

· Best New Commercial: “Rock Hill Healthmart Pharmacy” on Rock Hill Drive, Rock Hill

Owner: Scott and Diane Mace

Architect: John Horton, Wurtsboro

Contractor/Builder: Built to Last, Inc./Aaron Salovin, Rock Hill

· Unique/Most Interesting Commercial: “Catskill Mountain Sugar House” on Glade Hill Road, Grahamsville

Owner: Catskill Mountain Sugar House, LLC

Designer: Woodstone-Toronto Development LLC/Steve Dubrovsky, Bethel

Contractor/Builder: Garigliano Contracting LLC, Grahamsville

· Best Municipal/Public Building Project [awarded $2000 grant for beautification by Sullivan Renaissance]: Bloomingburg Fire House on Godfrey Road, Bloomingburg

Owner: Bloomingburg Joint Fire District

Contact: Harold Baird

Architect: David R. Wieboldt Architect/ McGoey, Hauser & Edsall Engineers

Contractor/Builder: Verticon Ltd.

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After 25 years on the bench, it’s time to relax!

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

MONTICELLO/ALBANY – Not bad for the son of a sausage maker.

Judge Anthony T. Kane recently announced he was stepping down from his position as an Associate Justice of the New York State Appellate Division, Third Department, after a total of a quarter of a century dedicated to serving the public.

“I come from a blue collar background, and although my father was not a formally educated man, he owned a company…and my mother was born in Budapest who came to the United States as a 13-year old,” he recalled, adding that while living with his parents in Mount Vernon, he helped stuff Italian sausages during the summer in the Bronx.

Kane said that under the ”steady guidance” of their mother, his brother was the first in a large Hungarian/Irish family to earn a college degree, and Judge Kane was the first to attend graduate school.

After deciding that a career in economics wasn’t his cup of tea, Kane took the Law School Admission Tests (LSATs) “and by some twist of fate I did well on them” and after graduating from Iona College “by another strange twist of fate” was admitted to Cornell Law School.

“When I graduated in 1969, there was a lot of social movement, social unrest going on at that time…[and I decided} I wanted to do some kind of public service law.”

Upon learning there was an opening as a legal services attorney in Sullivan County, Kane and his wife Nancy packed up a few boxes of law books, moved to Liberty.

He started working for Nat Hand while she landed a teaching job at Eldred Central School. The couple eventually settled in Forestburgh where they have  lived for the last 35 years, along the way raising their two sons Mathew and Timothy.

Later as a public defender, Kane worked alongside Ira Cohen and Gary Greenwald. He then joined the law firm run by Steve Oppenheim and Ted Drew, which later became Oppenheim, Drew and Kane, but in 1980 went out on his own as a private practice attorney, also serving as legal counsel for the Town
of Forestburgh.

In 1984, Kane tossed his hat into the political arena in a bid for Sullivan County Family Court Judge, got elected and took the bench in 1985…

To read the full story go to – Judge Kane Hangs Up His Robes in the new Sullivan Faces Section of The Catskill Chronicle or just click on the link.

To view more photos from Judge Kane Hangs Up His Robes visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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Story and photos by Leni Santoro

MOUNTAINDALE – The story of trains is also the story of our nation. The railroads built the country and shaped its future in a way that no other event has done.

In celebration of all things railroad, and the birth of a new old train station, folks gathered in Mountaindale early on Saturday morning, November 14, to give credit where credit was due and to say thanks for a job well done; in the 1800s and now.

Although the new train station-slash-visitor center is a state-of-the-art new construction, its design is based on the original 1920 architectural plans for the New York, Ontario & Western Railway (O&W) building proposed for Mountaindale that was never built.

The new train station was originally proposed for Mountaindale by then County Planning Commissioner Alan Sorensen and local architect Robert Dadras sometime around 1998. It was Ken Schmitt of the Mountaindale Community Development Project, Inc. that recalled having seen the old blueprints for a train station in the O&W Railway Historical Society archives in Middletown, NY. All in all the names of those involved might well encompass the entire town.

Located on Railroad Station in Mountaindale, across from the Post Office, the new building features public restrooms and lots of parking access for the trail head of the Rails to Trails to Woodridge and beyond.

Both the interior and exterior have been painstakingly modeled after actual O&W stations of decades past. Inside, visitors to the station will find a permanent exhibit of dozens of black and white photographs of trains that ran along the O&W rail lines through Mountaindale, as well as other railroad memorabilia.

On Saturday among those there to celebrate and help with the ribbon cutting ceremony were Senator John Bonacic, Sullivan County Legislator Alan Sorensen and Legislady Leni Binder, Town of Fallsburg Supervisor, throughout the project, Steve Levine, Will Illing, architect and engineer, County Historian John Conway, members of both the Mountaindale Action Committee and the Mountaindale Community Development Project, John Taibi, renowned author of numerous O&W books, Helen Budrock from Sullivan Renaissance and Paul Lounsbury who gave a moving performance of his musical, multimedia tribute to the railroad era entitled, “A Catskill Trilogy.”

Refreshments were provided by the Mountaindale Community Development Project and the Mountaindale Action Committee, which also provided the flowers.

Serving the refreshments was chef Paul Vignolesi, creator of several of the items on the dessert table, and owner of Nonni’s Trattoria just down the street from the Post Office in Mountaindale.

Both the Mountaindale Community Development Project and the Mountaindale Action Committee have received numerous Sullivan Renaissance awards for their efforts to beautify Mountaindale and its Rails to Trails.

The emotions of many of the speakers were visible as they surveyed the room and those in attendance and often recalled the many years it took to get to this day.

“We decided we were going to do this project; no matter what, said Steve Levine, recalling a twenty year dream. “I’m just grateful the project is completed and it’s in Mountaindale.

Others recalled the history of the railroads the advantages the era of rail travel would bring to areas previously difficult to reach by other means.

Speaking of how the railroads changed the towns they ran through or near and how people would turn out to celebrate the coming of the railroad, John Taibi  said, “The fact is that what we are doing here today is very similar to what they did a hundred years ago…It developed a pipeline…a magic carpet…through all the years it was the depot…it became the heart of the community. Today we can still walk along the trails we have set up and still feel the thunder and hear the laughter and the giddiness of people who came to this area.”

He spoke of the golden age of the health resorts and the entertainers that followed creating a new industry, inspiring those gathered with hope for the future of Mountaindale and all of Sullivan County when he said, “ I can tell you this is something that doesn’t happen every day…they built the depot first..but maybe there will be the need for the railroad again.” To which those listening responded with oohs and aahs and whispers of “Don’t you wish it were so?”

When Senator Bonacic spoke he told of what the new visitors find when they come to Sullivan County, the things people don’t often find in big cities, the Rails to Trails, the peace and quiet, the friendliness and the welcome ways of the people here. Then summed it up by saying, “Congratulations, Town of Fallsburg,” and taking a look around at the faces of those gathered, the photographs hung upon the walls and looking out the window as if he was waiting, as everyone seemed to be for the sound of a train whistle.

Also speaking at the ribbon cutting ceremony was County Historian John Conway, whose expertise in all things historical regarding the county has no equal.

As Paul Lounsbury set up and the screen came alive with images of trains and the mountains that held them close not a sound was heard other than the music and the song of a man from Hurleyville whose grandfather and father could recall when trains were an important part of the daily existence in the county.

Listening were young people with wide-eyed wonder staring at images of trains they’d only heard about or seen in books and middle-aged folks wishing they were perhaps a bit older, older enough to have ridden upon or been visited by these magnificent dragons of the past And standing off to the side, two gentlemen who could stand there and recount the times they had.

Trains had brought people to the county. Saturday, people dedicated a new old train station that will bring future generations of people to the trains.

To view more photos from A Brand New Old Train Station Opens in Mountaindale visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.

To view Paul Lounsbury’s video presentation just click the play arrow in the center of the YouTube video below. Enjoy!

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Commander Bruce Pesci of Alan Milk Memorial Post 7276 – Long Eddy.

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

Jim “Beetlejuice” Keith answered America’s call to arms during the Vietnam War in the 1st Cavalry Division.

LONG EDDY – At 11:00 sharp, on the 11th hour of the 11day day of the 11th month of 2009, folks gathered at the local firehouse to honor the nation’s veterans, the military personnel who have fought to protect our freedom and way of life since the Revolutionary War.

Joining Alan Milk Memorial Post 7276 of Long Eddy were representatives from the Emmett Turner American Legion Post 276 of Jeffersonville, Callicoon’s VFW Post 5808, and the Marine Corps League.

The 143rd NYVI rifle guard: 1st Sgt, Dennis W. Bernitt served in Vietnam, and was joined on Veteran’s Day 2009 by privates Tyler Jon Bernitt, Kolin R. Bothun and Brett Dirie.

The 143rd New York Volunteer Infantry (NYVI) served as the rifle guard, as a fitting complement to the color guard.

November 11 was originally declared “Armistice Day” 8 years after hostilities ceased in WWI as a way of honoring those who served in that bloody conflict. In 1954, it was renamed “Veteran’s Day’ to pay homage to all veterans who served America in war and defended democracy, whether in battle of peacetime duty, from the Revolutionary War, to WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and the ongoing international War on Terrorism.

“Fellow comrades, ladies auxiliary, Long Eddy fire department, fellow patriots, we welcome you here today in remembrance of all our comrades who have served, and are serving in all branches of the armed forces in this country and abroad,” said Bruce Pesci, Commander of Alan Milk VFW Memorial Post 7276.

The Alan Milk Memorial Post color guard: Jim Keith, Jerry Murphy, Kirk McGraw, Horace Finis, Verl Ringgenberg.

“Veteran’s Day is a day of honor and pride, and also a day of remembrance for all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice of themselves for their country and this great nation of ours…[it] is a special day in the hearts and minds of Americans everywhere. God Bless Her.”

Betty Ringgenberg of the Ladies Auxiliary said, “Today we honor all our veterans who unselfishly placed their lives on the line for our freedom…Those men and women were ordinary people until they heard the call of duty and answered it. They left their families, their homes, and their lives not for recognition or fame, or even the honor we bestow upon them today. They fought to protect our country, to maintain our way of life…The defense of freedom is not just for those in the military, each of us shares that duty and that responsibility.”

Kathleen Geosits sang “God Bless America” and the National Anthem.

“Veteran’s Day is a day to remember why they were fighting and a day for all of us to begin our journey of protecting our freedom, and the freedom of many future generations,” added Ringgenberg.

To view more photos or to purchase prints from Honoring America’s Legions of Veterans visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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Xhesika Lushaj performed a colorful traditional Albanian dance.

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

Taris Kevii gets a leg up on his piano career.

LAKE HUNTINGTON – The National Honor Society of Sullivan West Central School hosted their 6th annual talent show on Tuesday night, November 10, in the high school auditorium.

Emcees Hannah Rettoun, Brendan Creegan, Jackie Ellmauer and Kate Bunch kept the acts moving across the stage, and in between the performances, entertained the audience with some sprightly banter and a few jokes. The popular “pack ‘em in the seats event” was produced by Nick Cucci and Cindy Szeflinski.

The talent show opened with Cucci’s piano solo of Fredrick Chopin’s “Minute Waltz,” and the first half continued with Rettoun and Creegan teaming up on  “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Dean Martin.

Cindy Szaflinsky, one of the behind-the-scenes tech crew does a sound check.

Continuing in the first half: Margaret Bruetsch playing the piano and singing Sara Bareilles’ “Love Song,” then switching to guitar singing “For What Its Worth” by Buffalo Springfield; Xhesika Lushaj performing a traditional Albanian dance; a flute solo by Brian Calvert, of Anderson’s “Scherzino;” the band Echo (Bonnie Wiest, Justin Maggio, Joey Fredenburg, Dan Turner) performing “Heart Shaped Box” by Nirvana and Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life;” Taris Kevil sang “Wonderful” by Lady GaGa; Catherine Peters sang “Better When You’re Not Mine,” an original composition; Shawn Bailey sang “Sea of Faces” by Kutless; and November Fallen (Chris Murphy, Anthony Nicoletti, Nick Scott, Russell Bryan) sang the original “Bears Are Wolves But Bigger.”

Jeff Yeung, lead guitarist with Paint the City.

Right before intermission, several Sullivan West faculty appeared on stage for a wonderfully wacky skit titled “Night Crew”, that answered once and for all the question, “What do the night-time custodians really do after all the students and teachers leave for the day?”

It’s amazing what lurks in the artistic heart of faculty members when they have a chance to rock with a few drumsticks, garage can lids and empty metal cans.

Just in case you want to send a few kudos or tomatoes their way, the members of the Night Crew were Trish Ellmauer, Mike Ellmauer, Sue Andrews, Marlene Kinch, Margaret Tenbus, Catherine Lunn, Lynda Bracken, Nora Botta, Anthony Durkin, Amy Hellerer, Cheryl Graham, and Kim Eschenberg.

Catherine Peters, lead vocalist with Split Ends.

The second half curtain unveiled Paint the City featuring Max Carmack, Jeff Yeung, Christian Calvo, Louie Brahm, Allie Ellmauer, Hannah Rettoun) singing their originals “Nostalgic For You” and “Ballad 92”, along with “Sweet Child O’Mine” by Guns and Roses, and “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon.

Next up was Allie and Jackie Ellmauer teaming up to sing Taylor Swift’s “Crazier;” Jackie Parsons singing “My Heart” by Paramore; a guitar solo of Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Angelo Bibbo.

The final act of the evening was blow the doors off performance by the Splint Ends featuring Kendra Baker, Catherine Peters, Danielle Strassman and Anna Dexheimer, as the band vocalized “Audience of One” by Rise Against and Paramore’s “When It Rains.”

Bonnie West, lead vocalist with Echo.

Pat Hawker, high school nurse and National Honor Society adviser, said of the 2009 talent show, “It had the most acts, the best talent, and the most attendance.”

To view more photos or to purchase prints from Talent Lurks in the Artistic Heart of Sullivan West visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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Joe Collura with the hand of fellow board member Arlene Hussey, on his shoulder. 

FALLSBURG – Fallsburg Board of Education member Joseph Collura recently returned from a year of military service for our country. 

Collura was attached to Naval Special Warfare, Special Operations Task Force West, Task Unit SWAT, in Al Ambar Province, Iraq. 

At a recent Board of Education meeting, Board Vice President Shawn Wiles warmly welcomed him upon his safe return and thanked him for his sacrifice over the past year.  An appreciative Board, as well as members of the audience, stood as one in greeting him.

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Reflected in this fire fighter’s glasses is the 11th Annual Woodbourne Veterans Parade as it makes it way down Main Street towards the Woodbourne Firehouse at the edge of town.

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

A huge American Flag was suspended between the raised steel towers of aerial apparatus from Loch Sheldrake and Ellenville.

WOODBOURNE – It was a glorious day to honor the nation’s proud veterans, countless legions of men and women who have answered America’s call to arms, defending our freedom under Old Glory.

Led by a Fallsburg Police Department patrol vehicle and color guard, the line of march stepped out smartly down the main drag, and the parade wrapped up at the local firehouse, passing in review before a huge American Flag suspended from the raised towers of aerial apparatus from Loch Sheldrake and Ellenville.

Grand Marshall US Army Sgt. James K. Richardson fought as a combat infantryman in Vietnam.

US Army Sergeant James K. Richardson was this year’s Grand Marshall, and he drove an Army Mule mounting a heavy caliber machine gun down main street. Just the ticket for summer time motoring in the Catskills.

At the age of 18, Richardson left Liberty High School and enlisted in the US Army, and in the wake of training and several assignments both stateside and overseas, was sent to Vietnam and assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry, 199t Infantry Brigade USARPAC. On March 27, 1968, he was painted by light from an exploding land mine, thus earning the Purple Heart.

Richardson earned several other awards and decorations, and is a life-time member of Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans.

A couple of other local vets served as guests of honor during Woodbourne’s Veterans Day Parade of 2009.

US Army Sergeant Sharon G. Doyle served in Iraq.

US Army Sergeant Sharon G. Doyle graduated from Liberty High, and on October 10, 1990 was company honor graduate at Paris Island in South Carolina. Before starting a career in NYS Corrections, she completed specialized intelligence training with the US Navy and US Marine Corps.

In 2003, Doyle joined the Neversink Fire Department, and two years later the Army Reserve Unit 854th Engineering Battalion of Kingston, NY. She was attached to the 479th EN BN out of Watertown, NY for deployment to Iraq. Once overseas she served as the lead gun truck driver for a convoy security team, logging more than 10,0000 combat mission miles.

Sergeant Doyle holds several awards including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, National Defense and Overseas Service Ribbon.

Dressed as WWII combat soldiers driving a vintage Jeep are Lance Corporal Bottaro and Paul Bottaro.

USMC Staff Sergeant Wayne W. Doyle wasn’t able to attend, but was recognized by the community as the parade’s second guest of honor. On October 22, 1999, he completed recruit training at Paris Island, later attending military police school.

The Staff Sergeant was stationed aboard the MCAS Futenma and MCAS Iwakuni, serving as a military police patrolman and military customs inspector. From August2004 to March 2005, he was deployed with the31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to Iraq and participated in Operation Phantom Fury and Operation Al Fajr.

Subsequent to completing explosive ordinance disposal school, Staff Sergeant Doyle was sent to Afghanistan as an explosive ordinance disposal technician, and on March 20, 2009 was injured on dismounted patrol in Golestan, Afghanistan.

Coming or going, these two young men know a salute is a sign of respect

He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Combat Action Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Purple Heart.

To view more photos or to purchase prints from the 11th Annual Woodbourne Veterans Day Parade visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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Story and photos by Melissa Holden

LEW BEACH – The 3rd Annual Beaverkill Mountain Road Race took place Sunday, October 11, in the Beaverkill Valley near Lew Beach, NY.

96 runners lined up on a frosty 30 degree morning for the ½ marathon and 5k courses, which began at the historic Beaverkill Valley Inn and took participants through the peak fall colors and beautiful countryside.

The ½ marathon, a challenging, mountainous course over Shin Creek Road was won by Tim Decker of the NY Flyers running club in 1:33:28 – Tim, the event’s defending champion, has now won the race 3 years in a row.

The first female finisher was also from the NY Flyers- Monika Gross crossed the finish line at 1:56:01. 2^nd and 3^rd place men were Alex Ackermann and Nick Jackson respectively. Female 2^nd and 3^rd place winners were Diana Tulley and Katherine Rogers.

In the 5k division, Livingston Manor Central School student, Neal Mock, only 15 years old, won the race in 19:38. He was followed by Paul Barnett and Matt Jackson in 2^nd and 3^rd places. The first female finisher in the 5k was Anastasia Stekes in 24:15 followed by 2^nd and 3^rd place women, Montana Azzolini and Sophie Barnett.

11 of the top 15 runners in this year’s main competitions were under the age of 18. Prior to the start of the ½ marathon and 5k events, 50 children kicked off the day of festivities with the kids’ fun runs. Age group heats raced mad dashes on the lawn of the Beaverkill Valley Inn, vying for fun prizes. The family oriented day celebrates the beauty of the Catskills and aims to encourage kids of all ages to participate in the sport of running.

Post-race, runners and their guests were treated to an outdoor brunch by the host, The Beaverkill Valley Inn, as well as organic bamboo t-shirts. Prizes were donated by local businesses including Hamish & Henry Booksellers, Willow & Brown, Morgan Outdoors, CAS Arts Center and Snowdance Farms.

Each year, the race seeks to raise awareness and funds for local non-profits. This year, proceeds benefited the Catskill Mountainkeeper, headquartered in Youngsville, NY.

Catskill Mountainkeeper is an advocacy organization working to protect the scenic Catskill region which is so important to area runners and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Donations were also made to the Beaverkill Valley Volunteer Fire Department, whose members volunteer their time to help along the course providing safety, water stations and organizational assistance.

The Livingston Manor Volunteer Ambulance Corp was also on hand to make sure all runners finished safely.

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Charlotte Elmowitz and the Vegliante Kids.

FALLSBURG – Charlotte Elmowitz, raised in Poland and survivor of the Holocaust, shared her story of surviving death camps as a child, losing her family, and emigrating to the United States in 1947 when she spoke to a meeting of the Fallsburg Lions Club on September 17.

Ms. Elmowitz spoke of the…Christian families who tried to protect victims of the Nazis from persecution and extermination. Her story was uplifting and important for the very young and old in the audience.

Lion members Ira and Jill Steingart came with their two elementary school children, and Lion Steve Vegliante had his junior and senior high school aged children there as well.

As Steve said, “It is important for the children to know what happened in the Holocaust.”

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PRASAD CDHP Program Administrator Dr. Cecilia Escarra presented Jamie Parker, a full-time student, and a cashier in the store, with an iPod.

LIBERTY —A recent campaign has boosted public interest in PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program (PRASAD CDHP). ShopRite, on Route 52 in Liberty, hosted the event to raise funds and awareness on behalf of PRASAD CDHP.

Store employees reached out to shoppers to tell them about PRASAD CDHP, a philanthropic expression of the SYDA Foundation, which provides dental care and dental health education for children in Sullivan and Ulster counties.

Jamie Parker, a full-time student, and a cashier in the store, took the lead in promoting the campaign. She said was able to share her own knowledge of the dental program, “…because I’ve used their services.”

After the event, PRASAD CDHP Program Administrator Dr. Cecilia Escarra presented Jamie with an iPod. “We thank Jamie, and ShopRite’s staff and customers, for supporting us in this wonderful way,” Dr. Escarra said.

Shopper Advocate Tamarr Crawford called Jamie her main go-getter when it comes to promoting the store’s efforts on behalf of local nonprofits.

PRASAD CDHP uses a state-of-the-art mobile clinic and portable dental unit to deliver services to local children. The organization chose this approach because of the rural nature of the county and the lack of public transportation. The program accepts most insurance plans, including Medicaid. For uninsured children, an application for a sliding fee discount is available. For information, visit www.prasadcdhp.org or call 845.434.0376.

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SULLIVAN COUNTY – The Catskill Mountain Business & Professional Women’s Club of Sullivan County has announced the 2009 recipients of its two highest honors.

Pamela Henning has been selected as the 2009 Woman of the Year and Lori Rubinstein-Fleck will be this year’s Community Service Award honoree. Both will be recognized at the Catskill Mountain BPW 31st Annual Woman of the Year Celebration which takes place on Sunday, November 8 at 1:00 p.m. at The Eagle’s Nest in Bloomingburg, NY.

Pamela Henning is a woman who began her professional endeavors as an adolescent. From that early time, whether is was supermarkets, hotels, radio stations, newspapers, advertising, real estate, marketing or magazine publications, she has flourished in each field she has entered, not only embracing what it had to offer, but enhancing it along the way. Her professional career should be a model to us that success can come in all areas as long as you have the drive and desire to succeed.

Lori Rubinstein-Fleck, the Community Service Award honoree, has provided countless hours volunteering to community groups, not only in the town in which she resides, but all throughout Sullivan County and the Hudson Valley region. She has utilized her skills in education, public relations and event planning while serving on numerous executive boards, and as media liaison for non-profit organizations. Chambers of commerce, children’s programs, community coalitions for those in need, street fairs and events such as the Annual BPW Woman of the Year Gala, would not have been as successful as they have been without the talents and dedication that Lori has continuously given of herself. 

The proceeds from the event journal contribute largely to the BPW Scholarship Fund, the main focus of the organization’s fundraising efforts, enabling BPW to assist Sullivan County high school seniors, as well as mature women, in furthering their education

For information and reservations for the upcoming award ceremony, contact Woman of the Year Chairperson, Christina Mace at woy@catskillmountainbpw.org or call 845-798-8701.

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Story and photos by Carol Montana

Once a year the Senior Legislative Action Committee gets a very special visitor.

This year, Director of the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) Michael Burgess started his visit with an announcement about a new program. “I’m coming with good news about giving you money for a project that our office is funding – Community Empowerment with Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Sullivan County.”

Burgess explained that the aim of his office is to enable people to “remain living independently in the community.”

Towards that goal, Bonnie Lewis, Caregiver Resource Center Coordinator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County has been tasked with having “the TRIAD group … bring together people who are active to look at doing an assessment on how you can help people to remain living in the community.” In fact, a forum was held last month seeking input on that very subject. (See the Chronicle story on “Empowering Sullivan County to Build Aging-Friendly Communities.” )

TRIAD is a partnership of senior citizens, senior providers and law enforcement dedicated to reducing victimization of the elderly through assessing the needs and concerns of senior citizens and educating senior to the dangers of scams and abuse. 

Burgess said that Sullivan County is a “great community to pick for this kind of project because you do have a lot of active people here.” And he maintains that it’s important for older people to be involved in the process.

The best way to achieve success in a program of this kind is by utilizing volunteers, Burgess said. “We believe that neighbor-to-neighbor still makes a difference. … We get into the habit of thinking that we can’t do anything unless it’s directed by Albany , but that’s not true.”

As he gave examples of volunteerism, Burgess announced a new initiative. “Here’s an example of something that we’re working on and I hope it’s something that you will consider doing. We call it the Health Care Navigator. We think that using volunteers to follow people when they come home from the hospital can help us to reduce the number of people who get readmitted to the hospital. There’s about 18 percent readmitted after 60 days. Some of this is because we haven’t been making people have the right kind of support when they get home – making sure they got their medicine, transportation to the doctor.”

The initiative will involve training. “It’s really like having an advocate or care-transition person to assist them when they come home from the hospital,” Burgess explained, “especially if they didn’t have a caregiver or family member.”

Some of the tasks the volunteer would be asked to assist with, Burgess said, are grocery shopping, reading mail, contacting the individual to see that they’re doing okay. “We think this is a way to help people live in the community … using neighbors and friends.” And then, referring to the current health care reform debate, he continued, “ … that’s one way to save money on health care is to stop people from having to go back into the hospital.”

Not all the news was good, of course. Burgess talked about the budget problems in Albany, and jokingly mentioned that, “Thank God Washington doesn’t have to balance its budget because we are getting a lot of money into the state for some things like the nutrition program got an increase from the stimulus package – $6 million, a little bit more for older workers on the Title 5 program.”

He went on to explain that Governor Paterson has asked for a five percent cut across the board in all the NYSOFA programs. “We got more from the state budget when it was passed earlier this year, so we’re going to lose a little bit of what we gained,” Burgess said. 

He also cautioned the audience about the national health care debate. “It’s important to get all the facts, you hear a lot of negative things, but there are a lot of good things about it, we’re hoping that the Medicare donut hole under Part D will be partly filled in … one provision provides for some with help with long-term care. We don’t know what will be in the final version …”

Burgess clarified that the rumor on so-called death panels for seniors is not true. “It’s unfortunate that it got twisted around that way because it’s simply giving doctors reimbursement for providing information about doing a health care proxy, about doing living will, explaining that to people … actually giving you a greater choice about making decisions.”

At that point in the meeting, SLAC President Priscilla Bassett made it clear that, “Seniors cannot afford any cuts, period. We’re saying across the board, no cuts.”

Burgess promised he would take that to the governor’s office. “I don’t make those budget decisions, unfortunately, I recommend what we think should happen … Last year we were successful in preventing a lot of the cuts to senior programs … it’s getting more and more difficult to do that every year, the deficit for the state if $3.2 billion in this year’s budget, that’s a pretty big number, and another $3-4 billion for next year.”

Roz Sharoff, VP of SLAC and President of the Monticello Seniors shared another concern. “Some of these programs offer the seniors the only time they get to see another human being,” she said. “People are strapped to their homes, they can’t get out for one reason or another, they get a worker come in or they get somebody delivering a meal, it’s the only time they have to see someone, to socialize with someone, to say what’s the weather outside. That’s such an important factor.”

For Burgess, Sharoff’s comment just solidified his belief that local resources are the best way to accomplish anything. “Regardless of what government does, it’s still at the local level — neighbors taking care of neighbors. Your generation did all of this – look at what you did during WWII, you know how to do this, you know how to make sure how people are safe and protected.”

Burgess calls seniors “social capital.” In Sullivan County, he said, the seniors are a resource. “If you can do this with all the connections you have in this community, mobilize that with the faith community and other organizations, I think that you can be a real good model, showing how you can help take care of each other and do even more because through these difficult time we’re going to have to see that happen. But I know you can do it. You’re a good group of people and this is one of the most active groups that I see every year when I go around the state. I always look forward to coming here.”

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Story and photos by Ted Waddell

LAKE HUNTINGTON – The Upper Delaware River Valley is a scary place to live these days, as a lot of folks in these parts are haunted by the specter of gas drilling taking over the area.

On Saturday, October 31, the Damascus Citizens for Sustainability celebrated Halloween 2009 with “Fear-Fest”, a fund-raising event at The Nutshell, billed as “Be Very Afraid of Contamination, Secrets & Lies, Explosions, Chemicals, Radiation, Sickness, Poison, Toxins, and Fear,” just the ticket to make your hair curl if drilling for natural gas in the valley gets a green light.

The evening featured Pat Carullo as “DJ Boo”, along with a couple of glittering and scintillating belly dancers named “Sabah” and “Suraya,” horror movies and video walls.

Taking center stage was the talented poet Laura Moran, accompanied by musicians Dan Brinkerhoff and Kurt Kunuth, in vignettes from Moran’s performance work “Eden”, an exploration of desire.

“I’m cool as a cucumber with all my bling and discs, and we’re going to scare away all the drillers,” said DJ Boo, who in the real-world guise of Carullo, added that the event raised more than $2,000.

Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS) is a grassroots nonprofit group from Damascus, PA “dedicated to protecting the Upper Delaware River Basin and beyond from the ravages of deep-shale gas extraction and the threat posed by the natural gas industry.”

Moran’s take on gas drilling?

“I think it’s an irreversible decision…if we go there, it will be very difficult to come back from that decision,” she said. “We have to be careful, we have to protect ourselves, and we have to think about the whole community…it can’t be done recklessly and dishonestly.

Setting down his fiddle for a second, Brinkerhoff said, “It’s all about education…I’m against it, and I think it’s unsafe.” “A great many people will lose, and a few people will win. It will completely change the valley, and a lot of people are being left out of the process.”

Folks from the local anti-drilling faction handed out a couple of in-your-face bumper stickers: “Don’t Bite The Land That Feeds You” and “Don’t Let The Gas-holes Destroy Our Watershed!”

To view more photos or to purchase prints from Fear This! visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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Story and photos by Ted Waddell 

Deputy Blake Starner is the son of Sandi & George Starner and the nephew of SCSO Deputy Don Starner. During a training scenario, tactical team commander Det. Ed Simon critiques the training exercise.

After the decision was made to create a local SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) team, the sheriff’s office applied for and was awarded several federal/state grants to provide specialized training, state-of-the-art weaponry, and body armor including heavy duty protective gear and ballistic helmets.

Specialized weapons include UMP Heckler and Koch 40-caliber submachine guns (chambered for 40-caliber rounds to match side-arms), a mixed bag of semi and full-auto AR15’s, along with non-lethal devices. 

Once the grants were in hand, the Sullivan County Legislature signed off on the project to form a SCSO emergency response team, a team that was created and equipped without local tax dollars. 

In the works is an old surplus Brinks Armored truck (bought for $10) that is being reconfigured to SCSO response team use by the county’s DPW. As new grant money becomes available, thermal imaging and night vision will be added to the team’s bag of tricks. 

In a recent training exercise the team donned gas masks and crawled through a maze in heavy smoke at the Sullivan County 911 Training Center.

“It’s all about the tools for the job,” said Schiff. 

Members of the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office elite response team: Detective Ed Simon (tactical commander), Lieutenant Paul Pratti (team leader), Detective Jason Gorr (assistant team leader), Sgt. Ed Clouse (assistant team leader), Sergeant Chris Lopez, Cpl. Time Search, and dupities Peter Ramos, Blake
Starner, Kyle Muthig (sniper), Charles Blackburn, Dale Niemann, Lamar Jackson, Martin Gorr and Scott Jordi (paramedic). 

The 15-man team has a combined total of 192 years with the SCSO (an average of 12.8 years), and the pack is led by Simon and Pratti, who between the two have a total of 57 years of dedicated service on the front line of local law enforcement. 

Sheriff Mike Schiff fires a vintage Thompson submachine gun from the days of Elliot Ness and Al Capone; the SCSO has owned the Navy surplus weapon for decades.

History once again proves there’s almost nothing new under the sun: an old patrol manual back from the days of former Sullivan County Sheriff Joe Wasser mentions a SWAT team and snipers, and the SCSO has owned a 1920’s U.S. Navy Thompson 45-caliber submachine gun for decades. 

The first SWAT team in the United States was established by the Los Angles Police Department (LAPD) in 1968, and since then similar elite tactical units have been formed in many American and international jurisdictions, performing hostage rescues and counter-terrorism operations, serving high-risk arrest warrants and search warrants, subduing barricaded suspects, and engaging heavily armed criminals. 

Since it’s inception, the SCSO rapid response team received initial tactical training from LAPD SWAT, has since trained with similar units in Ulster and Orange Counties under mutual aid, completed a basic 40-hour course, and is required to attend 40-hours continuous training annually, and every month, an 8-hour in-service – all to standards outlined by the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA). 

Lieutenant Paul Pratti is the tactical team leader.

Lieutenant Pratti serves as the lead team leader of the SCSO’s rapid response team. 

“The level of professionalism has increased dramatically in the last three years, the training has been fabulous, phenomenal compared to the last 25 years,” he said. 

His take on the new emergency response team? 

“A good bunch of guys working together.” 

Detective Simon wears a lot of hats with the SCSO response team, and in addition to his training officer’s black boonie hat and the ballistic helmet he wears leading intense field training exercises as tactical commander, serves as range master during live-fire practicals. “Our rules of engagement are different than in the military…a deputy can use deadly physical force if he or another is threatened with the use of deadly force. 

Of particular note is the fact that Deputy Jordi, the newest member of the team, takes to the field as the first paramedic police officer in NYS. 

“This isn’t something you put together ad hoc and go ‘yahoo!’, it’s an actual discipline in law enforcement,” said Chaboty. 

Practicing serving a high-risk arrest warrant on a bad guy.

Reflecting back on those near-tragic events of February 2006, Schiff said, “I decided that if we have an active shooter in a building or a public school, we can’t wait outside, and I don’t want it on my conscious to send people in untrained, unprotected, and without the proper offensive gear to get the job done.” 

“In a situation where someone is shooting your loved ones, we are expected to go in with the best training, weaponry and protective gear so they’ll be able to go home at the end of the day.” 

“Nobody expects it to happen in their backyards, but when it does we’re required to respond,” added Schiff of events following Columbine and the world after 9-11-2001. 

To view more photos or to purchase prints from Sheriff’s Office Unveils New Tactical Response Team visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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Barbara Arrindell, founder of Damascus Citizens for Sustainability, held up a sketch of property that would be affected by gas drilling.

 Story and photos by Ted Waddell 

An attendee at the DEC public meeting looks at a chart showing the extent of proposed horizontal gas drilling.

LOCH SHELDRAKE – To some folks the idea of drilling for natural gas in the Upper Delaware River Valley represents salvation from a stagnant local economy. Others think the extraction process, disruption, and damage to the area’s infrastructure, along with potential health and safety issues, will change their way of life forever, and the gas drilling company is the devil incarnate.

On Wednesday, October 28, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) held the first of its four scheduled public meetings to solicit input on their 800-plus page draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact State (dSGEIS) on oil, gas and solution mining regulatory program regarding Marcellus Shale.

Three concerned citizens prepare their written comments: Helle Hendriksen of Narrowsburg, Susan Sullivan of Narrowsburg, Zeke Boyle of Callicoon.

More than 300 concerned citizens and government filled Sullivan County Community College’s Seelig Theatre to overflowing.

The meeting started out with several town highway superintendents stating that if drilling is approved, in essence they want their respective municipal jurisdictions compensated for damage to town roads. However, many of the highway bosses supported the idea of drilling as a way to bolster the region’s dwindling economic base.

The meetings comes a day after it was announced on October 27 in the New York Times that the Oklahoma City–based Chesapeake Energy Corporation, a major player in the world of natural gas extraction, said it would not drill for natural gas within the upstate New York City watershed, (an area of 5,000 acres that Chesapeake acquired when it bought Columbia Natural Resource a few years ago) The natural gas industry, as a whole, was exempted from the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), under energy legislation passed in 2005.

Chesapeake is the sole leaseholder in the NYC watershed area, and is the largest leaseholder in the Marcellus Shale, a subterranean layer of shale rock that extends from New York through Tennessee, and is believed to hold huge natural gas reserves.

Several members of the public expressed reservations about the timing of the statement, calling one woman to comment for the record, “It looks like a sales pitch…everyone would feel easier if the regulations were in place before drilling starts, [but] we’re not ready for this.”

As the meeting progressed, Scott Rotruck, Chesapeake’s vice president of corporate development and state government relations, spoke on the record.

Scott Rotruck, Chesapeake Energy’s vice president of corporate development and state government relations said in part “…most of the public controversy seems to relate to this issue, which in fact is not a realistic or legitimate cause for concern…”

“…Once again, most of the public controversy seems to relate to this issue, which in fact is not a realistic or legitimate cause for concern. Focus on this issue only serves to detract from the unprecedented opportunity that Marcellus Shale presents to New York State to bolster a sagging economy and produce this clean, indigenous resource.

…Chesapeake is convinced that it can safely drill and stimulate wells utilizing hydraulic fracturing anywhere, including those areas that are part of the New York City water supply, as a business decision.

Chesapeake has been and will continue to focus its leasing and drilling efforts in New York State in other areas across the Southern Tier and does not intend to drill horizontal Marcellus wells on its small amount of acreage that is part of the New York City watershed. We believe there are much more prospective areas for Marcellus Shale development and we will be spending our investment dollars in those areas, well outside the New York City watershed.

We have nearly 50 permit applications pending awaiting the finalization of the SGEIS to process and none are near the New York City watershed…As is reflected in the draft SGEIS, through proper planning, control and oversight, drilling and hydraulic fracturing can occur in New York State without threat to the environment…”

Zeke Boyle of Callicoon, said the issue of gas drilling represented “nothing less than the future of our most valuable resource is at stake.”

Rotuck’s latter statement elicited a series of negative comments from some of the more vocal gas drilling opponents, including shouts of “Liar!” These unsolicited comments caused meeting moderator Stu Gruskin, NYS DEC Executive Deputy Commissioner, to quickly call for order and respect for all speaking.

Kathy Bowers of Callicoon, held up a copy of DEC’s 800-plus page dSGEIS report and called for a longer period of public comment. She said the document “reads like an 800 pound gorilla.”

Continuing, the gas drilling company’s spokesman said, “…Chesapeake agrees with the DEC that drilling can occur safely statewide, including areas within the watershed…Chesapeake does not plan to pursue development of the Marcellus Shale utilizing horizontal drilling or hydraulic fracturing on the small number of leases it holds in the New York City watershed area.

“We also note that it would be improper to ban drilling in any particular area of the state, as such a ban is inconsistent with the declared legislative policy to promote recovery of this resource and amounts to a regulatory talking of the mineral interests affected by such a ban.”

Rotuck called upon the DEC to finalize the SGEIS process and “give industry the opportunity to demonstrate its ability to produce this clean, indigenous resource with environmental consequences.”

Luiz C. Aragon,. Sullivan County Commissioner of Planning & Environmental Management said the DEC regulations pertaining to potential development in floodplains “do not go far enough…with respect to practices of handling, storage, and transport of frac fluids and flowback materials, the welfare and safety of our residents and workers is paramount.

Luis C. Aragon, Sullivan County Commissioner for Planning & Environmental Management, said that despite the DEC efforts to date, the county “legislature and many of its citizens remained concerned about the findings and recommendations on several issued evaluated in the draft supplement.”

Glenn Goldstein spoke out in opposition to the noise and truck traffic associated with non-stop drilling operations.

Noting that NYS “clearly acknowledges that the development of gas drilling might have an unprecedented and profound effect” on communities statewide, Aragon cited six areas of major concern to the county: impacts on floodplains and flooding, the disclosure of frac fluid contents and the storage and handling of frac fluids, road-use impacts, pipeline and transmission impacts, groundwater and surface water impacts, and notification to municipalities.

In closing, Aragon called for the DEC to extend the period for public comment, and hold additional meetings as warranted, and urged DEC “to ban all drilling in flood plain zones.”

At present, NYS DEC has stated that it will not accept public comments regarding Marcellus shale after November 30, 2009.

James Greier, Town of Fremont supervisor, said farmers have always been “the best stewards of the land.”

James Greier, supervisor of the Town of Fremont, called for 100% cooperation between the DEC and gas drilling companies, adding that “farmers have been the best stewards of our lands [and] leasing of mineral rights will allow them to stay in business.”

Maria Grimaldi is a member of Catskill Mountainkeepers (Protecting the Future of the Catskills) and an organic farmer in the hills of Shandelee. “Gas drilling is not compatible with our environment,” she said, adding that in her opinion there is a “conflict of interest between state government and the gas industry.”

Maria Grimaldi of Shandelee spoke out against gas drilling in the area.

“It’s like closing the barn door after the horse is gone…it must be regulated…an entire ecosystem in Pennsylvania was destroyed. Can we afford to have this happen here? No!” said Grimaldi.

Zeke Boyle of the Beechwoods grew up on a family farm with a view of the Delaware River, a boyhood spent fishing for rainbow trout, said it was a time that gave him, “an appreciation for these crystal clear waters and natural beauty. It nurtured and instilled in me a knowledge of the interconnectedness of all living things, a gift for which I’m eternally grateful…there is nothing less than the future of our most valuable resource at stake.”

Barbara Arrindell, founder of Damascus Citizens for Sustainability, said the gas company had a “callous disregard for public health,” to which fellow member Joanne Wasserman later added “NYS DEC has been unable to protect this environment [with the dSGEIS]…the bar is so incredibly low.”

Noel VanSwol, president of the Sullivan County Property Owners Association, said he “totally supports the DEC draft regulations [as a] testament to the staff of DEC.”

VanSwol, who gained local notoriety several years ago as a vocal opponent of the National Park Service presence on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River and later on his views on the Sullivan West Central School District merger, said that “everyone should realize NYS is virtually bankrupt” and in essence gas drilling revenues might be a way of the state’s financial mess.

“Let us take advantage of this,” he added before describing a large majority of the audience as “a small group of environmental radicals.”

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