Some Event Reminders, and Mini Grant Opportunity.

The sun is shining outside as evening makes its way into our lives, the week is waning, and wanted to bring a couple of reminders and a opportunity to the attention of our residents and business owners.

Events:

1. Saturday, we will have our first community clean up/maintenance day here in Mountaindale from 2-5 PM (April 30th)

2. Don't forget starting this coming Tuesday May 1st Aerobic Cadio Belly Dancing is coming to town from 6:30-7:45 PM on a weekly basis.

Small Business/Entity Mini Grants From Sullivan Renaissance

Sometimes, something sticks in your head...one of those things sees us here in Mountaindale reaching out to our various business owners in the hopes of seeing all of us as a community kicking it up a notch with the help of Sullivan Renaissance. Our committee, the Mountaindale Community Development Project has sent out the following email on the Sullivan Renaissance Mini Grants Program.

Dear Mountaindale Business Neighbors,

For the moment anyway, the rain has stopped & the sun is shining, the grass is green & verdant and I can see brilliant yellow daffodils from my office windows. This makes me think about how beautiful our Main Streets will look in a few weeks when we put the flower planters out. However, what if we were to work together to kick things up a notch? Sherwood pointed out to me that Sullivan Renaissance is offering $200 Mini Grants that can be used for a business' storefront beautification. I am attaching a copy of the description & application to see if we might work in a coordinated effort to garner a few of these so that we have a very dynamic display this year. For example, what if some of the funding went toward lush hanging baskets in front of all the businesses that could be started from seeds in the greenhouse? Plz let me know if you would consider this initiative for us to work on cooperatively & then Sherwood & I will help us to submit for a few grants and we'll see what kind of an impact we might make w/ a collaborative effort over the next several months.

BTW, we are starting our maintenance work this Saturday from 2 - 5 PM & would love to see you as volunteers either behind the school or at one of our other community flower beds. Tea & homemade cookies will be served as light refreshments.

Thank you all!
Barb

Sullivan Renaissance Press Release...WOW FACTOR Workshop

THE REAL DIRT ON SMART GARDENING
Working Smarter to Create Gardens with the "WOW FACTOR"

[FERNDALE] – Want more color and variety in your garden, but not sure what to plant where? Horticulturalist Vivian Multari-Ginsberg will discuss plant choices and flower combinations to help achieve beautiful, sustainable gardens with the “wow factor.”

Want to work smarter this year? Gardening expert Mary Lewis will demonstrate cool tools and explain time tested tricks to make gardening time more fun.

Sullivan Renaissance is holding its spring gardening seminar entitled “The Real Dirt on Smart Gardening” on Wednesday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the CVI Center in Ferndale.

Bring your enthusiasm and questions! There will be time to answer specific questions.

Pre-registration is requested. Refreshments will be provided. For more information or to register, contact Sullivan Renaissance at http://www.sullivanrenaissance.org/ or 845-295-2445.

Sullivan Renaissance is a beautification and community development program principally funded by the Gerry Foundation. Sponsors include Bold Gold Media Group/Thunder 102, Sullivan County Democrat, The River Reporter and WSUL/WVOS.

Some Don't MISS Events/Classes Weekend of April 29th at My Radiant Yoga With Janet

Janet at "My Radiant Yoga" has some really great things on the calendar this upcoming weekend as we say goodbye to April and its shower, and welcome May. In addition to being a fabulous Yoga instructor, she also happens to be VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE about organic gardening, and will be hosting a great workshop on the timely topic of "Fool Proof Composing" as we all prepare to put our hands in the ground, feel the rich dirt as we start our own plantings, begin preparing our own gardens. Make sure to RSVP for this one as it is a great way to start off the Spring Gardening Season.

This Coming WEEKEND'S HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, April 29

Relax and Recharge with Restorative Yoga
5:30-7 pm

Great for many in reducing the occurance of migraines, lowering blood pressure, and releasing
tension in neck, shoulders, and lower back...A treat on the radiant-heat floors.

Saturday, April 30 Tone and Strengthen
8:45-10 am
Free for Newcomers!

Composting Made Easy-A must attend workshop for ALL GARDENERS!
10-10:45 am

Learn Full-proof Composting in the yoga-studio garden $5 donation benefits Community Gardening Projects.

Manure for your garden and non-resin wood chips...to start your compost pile...will be available to take home (by donation to benefit neighborhood gardening projects)Bring buckets or bags.

For non-composters:

Your non-fatty vegetarian kitchenscraps welcome in our yoga-studio garden pile.

Community Cleanup in Mountaindale
2-5 pm

Help Create Beauty where it's Really Needed: Weed, Prune, Divide Plants, and Mulch Together
in Our Community Effort in Back of the Former High School Learn Gardening tips from My Secret Gardener (that's me!)

Enjoy a special, radically relaxing floor-yoga class after
FREE to all Volunteers!

Sunday, May 1

Celebrate May Day in Mountaindale!
8:30-10 am

Yoga for Gardeners Create strength AND ease in hips and lower back with Anusara Principles of Alignment Intermediate Level.

Plant and Seed Exchange
10:15-11 am

Bring seeds and/or clumps of perennials and herbs to share. Take home what you can use.

Yoga Therapeutics for Gardeners
11:15-12:30

(Create ease in the hips and lower back with Anusara Yoga Universal Principles of Alignement)
ALL LEVELS WELCOME

Rainy Monday Mountaindale Announcement of Clean Up/Maintenance Days

Greetings to everyone on this rainy day Monday in April. Trust everyone enjoyed their holiday(s) during this past week? Wanted to bring some important announcements and important dates to your attention.

First Up-Mountaindale Maintenance Day
Saturday April 30, 2011
2-5 PM...meet up in front of 60 Main Street.

The purpose of this event is two fold in purpose, and gives volunteers OF ALL AGES a chance to lend their hands to the task of keeping Mountaindale the beautiful little hamlet that it is. As said, the purpose of this Mountaindale Work Day is two fold.

1. We will be picking up the town (litter, branches and the like) and doing some spring maintenance work on past projects. Raking, turning the soil, trimming off die back on some of our perennials as they get ready to start their spring growth.

2. Sharing plans for this years Renaissance Project, and doing some Pre-Project clean up in the area (Entry to Rails to Trails Corridor) where this years project is to be installed.

We hope you can plan to attend this Work Day, and if you or your organization would like to schedule a Volunteer Day here in Mountaindale, please contact Barb at (845)434-4747 or Sherwood (Committee Chair of this year's Renaissance Project) at (845)693-4513.

We also would like to remind everyone that the "Fallsburg 2011 Spring Clean Up" weekend is scheduled for May 20-22, 2011. This is a PERFECT TIME to clean up those hard to get rid of items, and see that they are disposed of properly so we keep our pristine community looking beautiful.

Residents of Fallsburg
2011 Spring Clean Up

Dates: May 20th-22 Hours 9:00AM-5:00PM

Will be held ONLY at the
*South Fallsburg Sewer Plant

1 Pickup Truck Load PER HOUSEHOLD

All material must be separated.
PIPE MUST BE CUT INTO FOUR FOOT SECTIONS
DRUMS AND TANKS MUST BE EMPTY AND CUT OPEN
OR CRUSHED...PAINT CANS MUST BE EMPTY
NO BRUSH, YARD WASTE, OR BAGS OF LEAVES
NO STUMPS OR ROCKS, NO HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE

ONLY *2* TIRES OFF RIMS PER HOUSEHOLD

NO COMPUTERS, MONITORS, LAPTOPS OR TV'S
NO FLUORESCENT BULBS

PROOF OF RESIDENCY REQUIRED!!!!!

WANT A GREAT GIFT FOR MOTHER’S DAY?

Get tickets to the Sullivan County Garden Tour held on July 23

SULLIVAN COUNTY – Tickets for the Third Annual Sullivan County Garden Tour are now on sale – in time to be purchased as Mother’s Day gifts. The tour will open several exclusive and private gardens for public viewing on Saturday, July 23.

Limited numbers of tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. Cost is $25 per person. The tour is sponsored by SullivanArc and Sullivan Renaissance and the proceeds go to the SullivanArc Horticulture program.

Tickets can be purchased online at Sullivan Arc Sullivan County Garden Tour or by calling 845-796-1350 x 1050.

The approximately eight beautiful private gardens will be open for visits between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on July 23. A reception for ticket holders and garden owners follows the tour.

The self-guided garden tour map [with addresses and directions to each of the gardens] will be available on the day of the event between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. at several garden center and nursery locations. Individuals may follow the route or select their own – visiting as many or as few gardens as they prefer and time allows.

Photos of previous tours are available here.

SullivanArc is a not-for-profit agency dedicated to providing support and services to over 800 individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and to their families.

Sullivan Renaissance is a beautification and community development program principally funded by the Gerry Foundation.

Don't Miss FOODSTOCK 2011-May 7- Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, NY

A wonderful resource for getting word out about your events is WJFF, whose has a core mission, helping other community organizations...year round, they put out PSA's (Public Service Announcement) for all the wonderful events in our area. Now, we have the chance to return the favor by sharing a PSA for their BIGGEST FUND RAISER OF THE YEAR, a event that helps to keep them ON THE AIR!

FOODSTOCK, is coming up on Saturday, May 7th, from 11AM to 4PM in the Tennis Building of the Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, NY. FOODSTOCK is crucial to keeping WJFF on the air for you.

Villa Roma Resort (Directions)
356 Villa Roma Road
Callicoon, NY 12723
(877) 256-7505

FOODSTOCK will feature over fifty different farmers, producers, restaurants and wineries from all across the region and both sides of the river, each offering a taste of their very best. There will be fresh produce, baked goods of all kinds, homemade jams and preserves, meats and smoked meats and fish, maple products, amazing desserts, sausages, sauces and pestos, fudge and cheeses, and a great array of locally-produced wines. It’s going to be a food lover’s paradise!

Tickets are only $20 with wine and $15 without. They can be reserved by calling WJFF at 845-482-4141.

Foodstock Fine Food and Wine Festical
Vendors List

Apple Pond Farm
Aroma Thyme Bistro
Bake You Happy
Bashakill Vineyards
Beechwood House Sauces
Brandenburger Pastry Bakery
Café Devine

Calkins Creamery
Catskill Harvest Market

Catskill Provisions

Catsmo Artisan Smokehouse
Dutch Desserts
Early Bird Cookery
Eminence Road Farm Winery
Flour Power Bakery
Formaggio Italian Cheese Specialties
Hahn Brothers Farm
Halloran Farm
Hilly Acres Farm

Hotel Fauchere
Inn at Starlight Lake
Jam Thyme
Java Love Roasters

Jill's Kitchen
The Lazy Beagle

Little Miss Muffins Cakes
Main Street Café

Main Street Farm
Narrowsburg Roasters
Neversink Farm
Pampered Chef & More
Pazdar Winery
Pepacton Natural Foods

Pie Corps

Pika's Farm Table
Rolling Hills Farm
Samba Restaurant
Sara’s Gourmet
Sherman Hill Farmstead
Silver Heights Farm
Slickepott Fudge Sauce
Snowdance Farm
Sonoma Falls Cider Mill

Stolor Organics

Sugar Blossom Flowers

Summers End Orchard
Tonjes Dairy Farm

Udder Ideas Fudge
Willow Harvest Organics

Willow Wisp Farm

Woodridge Soup Emporium

Help Roscoe New York Become the ULTIMATE Fishing Town and Recieve $25,000!

Can Roscoe, NY Win National Contest and Receive $25,000? With the help and support of our Greater Sullivan County community, YES THEY CAN! Doing our own small part here in Mountaindale, we are sharing their Press Release that outlines what you can do to help them out in this magnificent quest. Here in Sullivan County, there is a tremendous amount of neighbor helping neighbor, and this fits right in.

www.wfnfishingtown.com

Help us make the finals and WIN!!!

VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN!!!

You can vote 4 times PER DAY for EACH of your email addresses

HELP ROSCOE WIN!!!

Press Release...please feel free to share this, pass it along to your friends, post it on your own websites, or print up copies to put in your stores and shops.

[ROSCOE] – Roscoe, New York is vying for the title "Ultimate Fishing Town" in the United States in a contest sponsored by the World Fishing Network. The winning town will receive $25,000 for improving the town and fishing associated items, as well as having a cable TV episode produced about the town.

Already known as “Trout Town, USA” – Roscoe is considered the birthplace of the American Dry Fly Fishing. It was Theodore Gordon and his followers who developed a distinct Catskill Style fly still recognized and used today. For over a century, Roscoe has been a destination for those enjoying the outdoors. In about a two-hour drive from New York City, Roscoe is home to the junction of two trophy trout streams, The Willowemoc and the Beaverkill, in addition to many nearby lakes, ponds and reservoirs.

Voting is done via email by going to www.wfnfishingtown.com and following a simple procedure. Individuals may vote every six hours and may cast votes from separate email addresses.

Roscoe is presently in second place of Round One with voting totals increasing every few seconds. This round of the contest ends on May 3.

Elaine Fettig, President of the Roscoe-Rockland Chamber of Commerce, said the organization can help individuals cast regular votes, “You can give us permission to vote for Roscoe on your behalf, by using your e-mail address to cast votes four times daily. This will take the burden off you, while allowing Roscoe to receive the maximum number of votes.”

For information on how to participate with the Roscoe Chamber, contact Elaine Fettig at 845-439-4039 or ElaineMFettig@aol.com

Roscoe has been a participant in the Sullivan Renaissance program since it began in 2001, and has received awards for several of its yearly projects, including two $50,000 Golden Feather Grants from New York State secured by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther.

Sullivan Renaissance is a beautification and community development program principally funded by the Gerry Foundation. For more information, call 845-295-2445.

Here’s a chance to do something positive for our beautiful county!! Hope we can count on your vote.

VOTE FOR ROSCOE, NY AS THE ULTIMATE FISHING TOWN!!!
Follow the link… WFN Ultimate Fishing Town

Fallsburg Girl Scout Troops 738 and 580 Earn Spirit Day Badges

Looking out the window of my apartment here in Mountaindale at the cold, overcast, blustery sky as I sipped my morning coffee early this morning, I was wondering if the planned Volunteer kick iffevent for our 2011 Sullivan Renaissance Project would need to be canceled. It was under forty degrees, and the sky was threatening rain at any moment...as I contemplated this thought the phone rang...it was one of the Girl Scout Leaders letting me know they were planning on being out front of 62 Main Street at 11 O'clock sharp, informing me that the girls were really excited about the chance to be the first volunteers for this years project, which is located inside the entrance to our "Rails to Trails Corridor. Pouring my second cup of coffee I went in search of a HEAVY COAT.

As promised, the three Scout Leaders arrived right on time, charges in tow, full of energy, and excited to get started on doing some trail clean up in the area of our project, so one large wheel barrel wagon and a rake in hand, we all set off for the walk over to the trail head to get started. On the walk over, everyone introduced themselves. Gina Marie Colombo, Donna Lent, and Jennifer Simms were the three Scout Leaders, and as we walked I found out that this was a special day for the girls, as it was "Girl Scout Spirit Day" and the four girls would be earning their Spirit Day badges as a part of their community service work on this day..."How cool is that?" Even better, the theme of this year's Girl Scout Spirit Day as the Girl Scouts celebrate their 100 Year Anniversary is, "Forever Green." What better project could there be for the theme "Forever Green" than doing trail cleaning on a bike path in the "Rails to Trails Corridor" here in our small hamlet? The four girls were ready to work, full of more energy than I was able to muster at eleven in the morning on a almost wintry day, but being around them would get even the most hardened of souls in a great mood, and soon I found myself smiling ear to ear at their zest for the task at hand. Where does all that energy come from, and could I have a bit of it? There was Kaitlyn Simms, dressed in a hot pink jacket, who had on the greatest winter hat. Arianna Gonzalez, the youngest member of our troupe was wearing a vivid purple winter coat, had on a pastel striped hat with a pom pom you could not miss, and she had dug into her own piggy bank to purchase a box of Tagalong peanut butter patties so we had snacks to eat as we worked. There was Madison Lent with her off white fishing hat on, and rounding out the group was Brittany Lent in a pink hat featuring Sponge Bob Square Pants on it...yes, we were quite the sight as we strolled down Main Street pulling along behind us our big yellow wagon as we made our way to the Entrance way of "Rails to Trails." The next couple of hours were a LOT OF FUN as the girls raked up leaves, and began picking up branches and limbs that had fallen onto the trail over the long winter. The Mountaindale Community Development Project wants to thank the members of Troops 738 and 580 and their leaders for stepping up so early in our 2011 Sullivan Renaissance Project, for lending us a hand as we begin our pre-project clean up of the area in which we will be working this spring and summer. Everyone involved had a great time, and I would like to thank the troop for awarding me an "Honorary Girl Scout Spirit Day" badge, the icing on what turned out to be a beautiful day to be out in the woods doing trail clean up on our "Rails to Trails Corridor" here in Mountaindale.

Very excited about our project this year, and for those of you who have not heard yet, we are going to build a sculptural interpretation of the O&W Railway's old number 33 Steam Locomotive, and we could not have asked for a better official kick off to this year's event than having the Girl Scouts here in town to lend us their support. Their hard work today cleared off a nice patch of the trail we are going to be projecting in. If you or your organization would like to be involved in this year's project, or would like to schedule a day to volunteer, we would love to have you. Just give Barb a call at (845) 434-4747 or contact our Committee Chair Sherwood (that would be me...) at (845) 693-4513. My answering machine is on 24/7 so if I am not in, please leave me a message, and will get right back to you.

Get Belly Fit on Tuesdays

“Momma’s got a brand new bag” and it starts on Tuesday, May 3^rd at 62 Main Street in Mountaindale. The new experience is called Belly Fit. These classes will join the other already successful health & fitness courses offered weekly on Main Street. This includes martial arts at  Upstate Karate of Mountaindale Sunday –Thurs, Zumba on Mon & Wed, and Yoga at Radiant Yoga on Tues & Thurs – Sun. But, what, one might ask is Belly Fit? These Tuesday night classes will be taught by Ahleana, who has been studying Middle Eastern dance for over 20 years. She has artfully combined gentle, light aerobic moves with traditional belly dancing techniques to create a fun cardio workout, set to Middle Eastern Pop music and rhythms.

Students will enjoy a warm up, stretching and learn invigorating choreographed combinations and routines. “Belly dancing,” says Ahleana, “provides not only body toning, but also an important connection to the dancer's inner femininity. There is the chance to bond with other women, to dress up, and to feel beautiful.” Participants should wear comfortable, slightly form fitting clothing. Jingly hip scarves are encouraged and can be purchased at the studio right before class. Sessions will run from 6:30 to 7:45PM and the class fee is $10/class. All of Ahleana's proceeds go to help animals in need of food or medical care. To enjoy this exotic art form as a way to exercise and build self-confidence, please call (845) 436-8945 to reserve a space in the Mountaindale Belly Fit first class.

Breaking News...Mountaindale Awarded Grant To Build Train Locomotive!

In BIG Breaking News for our hamlet, we have just learned that the Mountaindale Community Development Project (MCDP) has been awarded a $1500 Community Beautification Grant from the Sullivan Renaissance. The formal announcement and awards presentation will be this Thursday night.

SPRING FORUM & GRANT AWARDS 7:00 pm CVI Building, Ferndale, NY

Sullivan Renaissance (845) 295-2445 This year's Mountaindale Beautification Project will be centered around and in our connection spur to the "Rails to Trails" bike path. The primary elements will include enhancement of the entrance area, as well as a new garden spot that will feature a half size re-creation (artistically) of the O&W's old 33 steam locomotive. It should be a lot of fun, and there are going to be lots of opportunities for volunteers to get involved and get your hands dirty. For information, or to find out about volunteer opportunities for yourself or organization, please get in touch with Sherwood at (845)693-4513.

Should Sullivan County Black Top Our Small Community Bike Paths?

Someone passed along an interesting article that was found on the Smithsonian Web Site which started wheels churning and it is that process of thinking that sees the question posed, "Should Sullivan County find the money to black top, and thus monetize the wonderful gift that is our bike trails, our very own Rails to Trails Corridor." Is this another avenue or piece of the puzzle in the task of moving us forward in our economic renewal and revitalization that is taking hold here?

Imagine if you will a quiet little hamlet that once upon a time had been a bustling, even thriving community. See this community with its rich history falling upon hard times, the population dwindling down to almost nothing compared to what it once had been (wondering how large of a population Mountaindale had that summer in 1970 when we ALMOST played host to a second Woodstock style event?). Buildings boarded up, many of them in a sad state of affairs. It would be easy to walk away, call it quits and let that small little hamlet waste away into history, the memory of its very existence gone as its former residents and their stories disappeared to news dreams and new destinations. This tale of a dying town, a dying hamlet could be told about any number of communities in Sullivan county, but in this case, the story is about the small community of Lanesboro, Minnesota that was struggling to survive...then something happened.

That something, the proverbial seed of renewal and rebirth was the black topping of their own bike path, and the tourist trade (in the form of biking enthusiasts young and old) that has brought an economic renewal and revitalization to this quite bucolic hamlet. This town now plays host to numerous successful Bed and Breakfast places of slumber, restaurants, Art Gallery, Art Center and various shops. In short, it has returned itself to vibrancy and prosparity.

On a summer weekend (thanks in part [partially] to nearby campgrounds) it is not unusual to see this small community's population grow to over 5000. Granted, their total trail is some 60 miles in length, but our own trail here in Sullivan County is growing by leaps and bounds, and much of the needed component parts to our own renewal already seem to be in place. We have numerous campgrounds in the area including Yogi Bear and Skyway that play host to literally hundreds of camping families each year. Summer sees literally thousands of part timers sweeping off front porches, moving into their summer homes and cabins. Many of our buildings here in Mountaindale have already been restored, and our base line population is similar to that of Lanesboro...last Census has us at 520 citizens. We have three beautiful seasons, each offering a completely unique set of opportunities to biking enthusiasts and tourists alike.

So, the question is posed...is it time we put more energy into what could be Sullivan County's crown jewel, should we seriously look to find the volunteers, means, money to expand and blacktop this under developed and under utilized piece of public infrastructure?

Don't Miss Our VERY OWN Tobi Magnetico in "Murder in Swingland" April 16, 2011

Big happenings in Hurleyville this upcoming Saturday, April 16th at 6:00 P.M. as Mountaindale's very own Tobi Magnetico takes the stage in a production of "Murder in Swingland" at the Sullivan County Museum. Come early and come hungry to this Dinner Theatre production, and have a shot at winning prizes by guessing "WHO DUNNIT"! All proceeds from this wonderful evening of fun and frolic will benefit the restoration of the Rivoli Theater Marquee.

Dinner Theater production of "Murder in Swingland,"
Sullivan County Museum in Hurleyville
April 16th at 6:00 PM.
For Reservations Call: (845) 436-5336

Ticket price (suggested donation $20 per person or $30 per couple) includes dinner. This promises to be a GREAT show according to the BUZZ on the street, so make sure to get your reservations in early. And to our very own Tobi Magnetico, good luck, and "Break a Leg".

Radiant Yoga Schedule

As Spring spreads it warmth and flowers throughout our Hamlet (saw first crocus today) thought it time to share a special event taking place tomorrow (Sunday) at Radiant Yoga, including morning lessons, and a WONDERFUL brunch in this notice. Make sure while you are there to say hello to Zoe...talk about a cutie.

Sunday, April 10-Yoga Therapeutics

ALL LEVELS 10-11:30 am

Followed by a
Community Brunch IT IS DELICIOUS!~
11:45 am -12:45 pm

Thai Yoga Bodywork for Partners
1-4 pm
$27/person Reservations Required.

Attention Newcomers:
Bring a nonperishable item for the Children's Food Pantry and Recieve your First Class FREE.
(Preference for foods low in sodium, slat, and sugar)
We look forward to welcoming you soon.

With Appreciation and All the Best,

Janet and Zoe
Radiant Yoga
63 Main Street, CR-55
Mountaindale, NY 12763
My Radiant Yoga
(845) 866-7822

Bluebirds are Back in Town

I'd like to share this fabulous photo by Edward Frampton to remind us all that Bluebirds are back in Mountaindale. If you haven't already cleaned out your birdhouse from last year, the iridescent blue couples are "apartment hunting" for their nest sites for this year. Old nests should be removed, and the boxes should be cleaned of any debris left by insects or wintering rodents. If you have more than one birdhouse, you may be lucky enough to get some other kinds of cavity nesting birds as well, like Tree Swallows, Wrens, and Chickadees. It is such a great joy to watch their progress throughout the Spring & Summer. We have quite a few boxes in Mountaindale, especially behind the Mountaindale School, in the Sandburg Creek RiverWalk Park. Most were purchased as kits from the late Herman Bressler and assembled as projects by area youth.

Mr. Bressler is also known as Mr Bluebird due to his tireless efforts to create more bluebird habitat. During his life, he donated over 20,000 bluebird houses to the New York State Bluebird Society, who now presents an annual award in his honor. Ken & I got to know Herman through the Sullivan Audubon Society, and watched him refine his kit design over the years. He always wanted the boxes to be safer from predators for the fledglings, and easier for people to maintain.

Please feel free to contact me with any Birdhouse questions you may have and stay tuned for the start of the Mountaindale Hummingbird Trail in just a few weeks. This has become a very significant "Labor of Love" by Ken Schmitt and everyone especially enjoyed the amazing Hummingbird ballet last year.

Barb Schmitt

Our Sleepy Little Hamlet of Mountaindale...Tried Finding Parking On a Monday Night?

Mountaindale, NY...a tiny quiet hamlet nestled into the corner of Sullivan county, a community rich in history but almost past by once the railroad left town...uhhh...NOT EXACTLY. Have you tried finding a parking space on a Monday or Wednesday night? Stop by and say hello, take part in our hamlets wealth of activities. On Monday and Wednesday, there is Yoga, Karate and Zumba keeping Main Street hopping, and starting in May, look for Belly Dancing to return to town as our season camping quests, and summer residents return from their winter retreats.

It is looking better and better at having a new place to eat in town, and as soon as that news is OFFICIAL, look for an announcement here on our news blog. Also coming to town...Second Time Around Studio/Gallery at 60 Main Street...look for activity as soon as the delicious Girl Scout cookie center leaves town...speaking of Girl Scout cookies, have you gotten your order in through your local Girl Scout?

Spring Has Sprung, and Mountaindale is Blossoming

Today the weather outside says Spring has sprung, daffodils that are now about six inches tall all but boldly proclaiming it, and our small hamlet of Mountaindale is blossoming in so many ways as winter fades away, and this season of rebirth washes down around us.

First, our small community has some new faces, with more moving in shortly. As these new friendly faces make their way around town, make sure to introduce yourselves, welcome them to town. Additionally, there are rumors about, that new business could soon be arriving in the form of a new restaurant taking up residence in town...don't tell any one, but if this one comes to fruition, we could soon find ourselves playing host to a cozy little full service restaurant that will be serving healthy, locally grown foods, and some really great coffee...more on that as it gets closer to reality. This one really excites me, as I would love to walk down around the corner to where our pizza parlor used to be for a really good cup of coffee...and a really good muffin would be almost too much to ask for, but one can hope.

Plans and a grant application have been submitted to the folks over at Sullivan Renaissance, and as soon as we get word of approval, look for a beautiful new project to start taking shape over at the entrance to our Rails too Trails Corridor. We also are still looking for proposals for our Art Center from some of our local area artists and crafts persons, so if any of you know some of our local talent, please have them contact Sherwood at (845) 693-4513 to discuss the possibilities. Additionally, this space and others in town are available for various and assorted community events.

A drive around the area revealed activity around the various seasonal campgrounds in our area, which means our summer visitors cannot be far behind...Yes, Spring has sprung, and it is pleasing to see Mountaindale shaking off winters dreary coat and again becoming the vibrant little community that we are.