Doug Cauthers, a Lifetime of Service

Doug Cauthers and Mayor Louis Saperstein

Harold Cauthers was the Postmaster at the Woodridge Post Office for many years. His son, Doug Cauthers, began working there part time as a teenager and turned it into his career. Now, after more than 50 years of service at the Woodridge Post Office, Doug Cauthers has retired. Doug lives outside the Village limits, but was an integral part of the Village community for all of these years. He is well versed on the history of the Village as well as the people and over the years has become a part of the Woodridge “Family."

The residents of the Village wanted to recognize Doug for his service to the community. On Tuesday, January 17, the Woodridge Village Board presented Doug with a plaque, naming him as an honorary citizen of the Village, and designating January 18, 2012 as Doug Cauthers Day in the Village of Woodridge. The plaque reads: “Presented to Doug Cauthers in appreciation of your many dedicated years of service to the people of the Village of Woodridge. We thank you for your friendship and bestow upon you the title of "Honorary Citizen of the Village of Woodridge" and we designate January 18, 2012 as 'Doug Cauthers Day' Village Board Village of Woodridge.” Congratulations, Mr Cauthers!

Thank you to Joan Collins for her information.

Working Together for Renaissance Beauty

The staff at Sullivan Renaissance is busily gearing up for its eleventh year of providing local community groups with seed money for beautification and spruce up projects.  Grant amounts range from $200 to $5000 depending on the size of the project. Those interested in participating are invited to attend the Sullivan Renaissance Annual Conference and Expo on Saturday, March 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the CVI Center in Ferndale.  “Main Street Success Stories” and “Enhance Your Storefront for Under $200” are free workshops geared for business.  Keynote speaker Joe Lamp, host of the TV series “Growing a Greener World,” will talk about the latest trends in eco-friendly living.  For information on how to register, go to www.sullivanrenaissance.org or call 845-295-2445.

Local businesses can support community beautification projects throughout Sullivan County by joining the Merchant Discount Program organized by the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce and Sullivan Renaissance. The discount program helps this money go farther, while encouraging local spending. “Everyone wins with this program,” said Chamber President and CEO Terri Ward.  “Merchants get an increase in business; community groups are able to stretch their resources while keeping the dollars local; and Sullivan County looks more inviting to visitors and residents alike.”

Merchants set the savings amounts typically 10% to 20% or more and are given a list of of participants.  Project leaders are given special cards to identify that the items they are purchasing will be used for community projects.  Stores are publicized in flyers, news releases and on the Sullivan Renaissance website.

To register for the program, individuals should contact the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce at 845-791-4200 or Sullivan Renaissance at 845-295-2452.  Businesses do not need to be chamber members to participate. Merchants are encouraged to attend the March 10th Expo as either a participant or they may inquire about becoming an exhibitor at the Expo.

Mountaindale will be proud to host the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce when they visit with their Mobile Office later in February. Please visit us again for more details.

Salsa Dance Re-scheduled for Sunday

In case you weren't on the email or text list to be contacted about the Salsa Dancing in Mountaindale tonight, here is an update. Due to all the snow during the better part of this morning, the class has been re-scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday afternoon, from 2 to 5PM at 62 Main Street. Harold and Betty Fried look forward to greeting you, with Janet Gula as the ever gracious hostess. If you wish to receive emails directly about Mountaindale events and programs, you may send a note to news@mountaindaleproject.org to be added to our private message list. For a list of Radiant Yoga studio workshops, etc, you may write directly to Janet at RadiantYoga.NY@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you in Mountaindale tomorrow with your dancing shoes on!

New Michael McKee Art Exhibit in Uccelli Restaurant

Vi Carpio Photo of Murals

Michael McKee and his wife, Martha, have supported the growth of the arts in Mountaindale since they day they moved in. Technically, even earlier if you count the Visioning Workshop they attended in 2004. Martha joined the Board of the Mountaindale Community Development Project and volunteered countless hours in our Mountaindale Art Center. She helped coordinate a very successful exhibit by her talented sister, Esther Vanderpot, as well as the wonderful exhibit of Michael's work that so many have enjoyed in our Main Street gallery for an extra long time.

Several years ago, we had an extra ambitious Sullivan Renaissance Project that included creating the Mountaindale Meditation Labyrinth and five 8'x8' full color Murals. Michael painted all five of them singlehandedly every afternoon for several weeks. Thanks to his hard work, along with all of the other many volunteers on the Labyrinth, we were very pleased to have won that summer. If you have not yet seen the Murals, they are part of the Sandburg Creek RiverWalk behind the former Mountaindale School. Just follow the path through the Art Garden at 105 Main Street, next door to Upstate Karate.


Moydan's Chair

Starting Friday, you will be able to see a very different collection of Michael McKee's paintings. His work will be on display in the Uccelli Restaurant Dining Room. There will be an announcement of the official Artist's Reception by Chef Robert, but anyone is welcome to have an early preview if you stop in tomorrow night for the Taste of Spain menu, including Tappas & Paella, or even if you just stop in to pick up a gourmet pizza. There will be a price list for the art if you would like to own any of the pieces. Here is an excerpt from Michael's personal Artist's Statement on this new show:

 "Each artist’s own individual memories, preferences, and physical capabilities combine into a unique perspective which shapes his or her style. My goal is to create unique images that are aesthetically pleasing and in harmony. I hope to convey to viewers my outlook on the human experience and invite them to see how it compares with their own"

Although Uccelli Restaurant will seem very different without the beautiful photographs by Lou Jawitz, I am looking forward to stopping in to see the new show and have a delicious meal with the new atmosphere a different artist will create. If you are an artist who would like to display your work in Uccelli Restaurant later this year, please contact Chef Robert at 845-434-4447.

Hot Salsa in Mountaindale

Betty & Harold Fried

Janet Gula of Radiant Yoga has come up with a wonderful way for us to heat up this Saturday night. She is hosting a terrific event with that dynamic dancing duo, Harold & Betty Fried. These professional dance instructors will be teaching the basics of Salsa dance as well as offering more advanced steps for those already familiar with this very popular style of Latin Dance. The lesson will begin at 7PM at 62 Main Street in Mountaindale. There will be plenty of time to practice what you've learned during the Open Dancing from 7:45 to 10PM. I understand that there will be a second lesson sometime during the open dance. You may come with a partner or come on your own and make a new friend. The cost is only $12/person or $20/couple and includes tea and dessert refreshments.

For a delicious meal beforehand, please visit Chef Robert at Uccelli Restaurant just around the corner at 4 Post Hill Road in Mountaindale. Please visit this blog again for information on the new art that is about to be hung in the Dining Room tomorrow by one of Mountaindale's favorite local artists, Michael McKee.

In case we get hit by some of the snow that is predicted for Saturday, we have a snow date for this Hot Salsa Dance Event on Sunday, January 22nd from 2 to 5PM. If in doubt, you may verify with Janet by calling 845-866-7822 or email her at RadiantYoga.NY@gmail.com or visit this site for an event update. To see just how exciting Salsa Dance can be, please click here for an excellent performance by Rafael Barros and Carine Morais, who also performed at the World Salsa Open in Brazil.

Martin Luther King Day

Many people returned to work and school today after our observance of Martin Luther King Day yesterday. It was a day to reflect on the work of a visionary who sought to bring about social and political change through non-violent means. There were public performances of Dr King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which was originally delivered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on August 28, 1963. President Barak Obama called for a Day of Service yesterday. Yet, holidays like this make me wonder how many of us actually consider what this "day off" was for. Stores are now holding MLK Day sales, which seems in poor taste to me.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's seems more relevant to me this year than ever. This election season, our politicians are questioning the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I also recently read the popular novel "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. For me, this was a real eye opening look at a sad chapter of our American history that I lacked an awareness of even though it described a period that occurred during my lifetime. I grew up in the 1960's as a young child in New York. I attended a Bronx Public School, where everyone from all the neighborhoods walked to school together. We had very diverse classrooms, all ate together in the cafeteria and drank from the same water fountains. I recall lunchroom conversations around the table as to who was cuter: Donny Osmond or the yet unaltered Michael Jackson. In those days, the main vampire on TV was Barnabas Collins on "Dark Shadows" and, believe me, he didn't sparkle. However, according to "The Help," the early 1960's was a time when you saw such things in the South as separate lunch counters, and water fountains, and it wouldn't be odd for a white family to build a separate bathroom at their home for their black maid. I mentioned this to a friend of mine who is now 70 and recalls his first trip to the South as a young Marine in the early 60's. He was thirsty when he got off the bus and drank from the first water fountain he saw at the depot. It was after he heard the gasps around him that he realized he had drunk from a 'blacks only' water fountain.


Kim Palmer photo

I would think that these things would have occurred 100 years ago and not just under 50 years ago. And yet as primative as this thinking seems to me, I am again surprised by the current headlines about the Cincinnati, Ohio landlord who wanted to bar a young 10 year old biracial child from her swimming pool. She posted this sign in what was found to be a clear violation of the state's Anti Discrimination law. I Have a Dream that someday, even Jamie Hein will 'Get It.'

Anti-Piracy Act Shut Down

If you are addicted to the Internet for all your news, social media and entertainment, get yourself updated today. There will be a 24 shut down tomorrow from 8AM on as many ISPs, providers and web companies protest the Stop Online Piracy Act, also known as SOPA. Ironically, Wikipedia is using Twitter to warn the students to get their homework done early today because their service won't be available on Wednesday. They are requesting that we all use this time to contact Congress to voice opinions against the proposed legislation. Considering that the English edition of Wikipedia gets 25 million daily visitors worldwide, this could be a lot of attention.
The White House is also talking about SOPA, as well as related legislation such as the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) and the Online Protection and Digital Enforcement Act (OPEN), which would give the government and content companies more power to police the unlawful distribution of intellectual property but warns that to combat online piracy, we “must guard against the risk of online censorship of lawful activity and must not inhibit innovation by our dynamic businesses large and small.”

A Little Snow

Contributed by Jenny Foster

It's starting to look a little more like Winter here in Mountaindale. Overnight, there was a small snowfall of about 2 inches. Not too big of a deal, but at least enough to cover everything with a more January looking blanket. There was just enough of the wet, slushy stuff to cause a 2 hour school delay around here. It was just yesterday that I saw a small furry vole or something dart out of his little winter hideout between the flat rocks of a stone wall. When he saw he had company, he ran back under the rocks and took one more peek at me. His little hole was covered today so I'll have to check to see if he dug out since they don't actually hibernate. Hopefully, he stored enough food to last for a bit.
I understand that this year is a bit of a record breaker inasmuch as there has been such limited snowcover for the year. This may prove to be critical out west, where they rely on snowfall accumulations for their springs. In contrast, I also heard about a community in Cordova, an isolated coastal town in Alaska, where they are digging out from under 18 FEET of snow. It's gotten so bad there that they have literally run out of snow shovels and have had to call on the National Guard for assistance. They are calling it “Snowpocalypse 2012" since it is three times their normal accumulation and has caused several buildings to collapse or become severely stressed. I guess we are having it pretty good so far in Mountaindale, NY this year. Especially since Jenny's photo above was actually taken back in October, our last significant snowfall of the season.

Gabrielle Leads Pledge

New York Magazine image

I watched something extremely beautiful on the news this morning. This is the one-year anniversary of the massacre in Tucson, AZ which resulted in the deaths of six people and injuries to the 19 who were shot by gunman, Jared Lee Loughner at a Safeway Supermarket last year. A vigil was held on the campus of the University of Arizona to remember all the shooting victims. The primary target of the crazed shooting spree, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who had been shot through the head in the incident, stood proudly to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Although she required the assistance of her astronaut husband, Mark Kelly, to place her right hand above her heart, Gabby's voice was clear and strong and EMPHATIC as she recited the words we all learned in elementary school. Sometimes we may take these word for granted. But today, as I watched Ms Giffords, I was struck by the power of the American spirit I was witnessing. I have been following her progress over the past year as if she were a personal friend. Gabrielle's determination in working through her rehabilitation therapy has been a real inspiration during the minor trials and tribulations of daily life. Here is the video clip in the hope that it gives you the strength to overcome whatever obstacles that may come your way.

Gabrielle Giffords Video

We Miss You, Wes

This past week, Mountaindale lost a good friend with the sudden passing of Wes Terns. Wes had been part of Mountaindale for many years, sometimes living here, sometimes living elsewhere. He was in New Jersey for a while after some interesting real estate projects, but came back to Main Street a few years ago. If it can be said that "A Man's Home is his Castle," then we can understand the beauty that Wes saw in his green palace.  Wes worked really, really hard on that place and often under quite challenging circumstances. You've got to admire that much determination in someone. I sincerely give Wes a lot of credit for how much the appearance of that building improved over this past year.
I understand that his cancer diagnosis was very recent, and then, just as quickly, he was taken from us. Memorial arrangements are still being planned by his friends and I will post an update as soon as I have all the details so we can remember our friend together. I will try to bring some peanut butter Girl Scout Cookies, since those were his favorites every year. We are also trying to find a home for his little cat, who he also cared for a lot. Please let us know before the temperature becomes too cold for a very independent black and white kitty with no fear of dogs or cars. Let's honor Wes by getting her a place for the winter.

Radiant Yoga Applause



Photo by Suzanne Hannah Gold



This chilly afternoon became infinitely warmer with the wonderful news I received from Janet Gula. We learned that Radiant Yoga of Mountaindale was named BEST YOGA STUDIO OF SULLIVAN COUNTY in The River Reporter's annual Readers' Choice Awards. We are all so proud that Janet is being recognized for all of her hard work and dedication in bringing such high quality yoga instruction to all of her students. Anyone who has ever taken her class knows about her gentle, loving guidance through the poses being shared. Now is the perfect time to try a class with the lovely radiant heat tiled floors that are so deliciously warmed for the winter. Although summers are also great when the tiles are deliciously cool on your bare feet.

Why all the soleful musings? It's time for another one of Janet's inspiring special workshops. (Another reason for all the votes from her loyal students.) Please make it a point to attend

"Soothe your Sole ~ Foot Reflexology & Essential Oils" this Saturday, January 7th from 7 to 9PM at the Yoga Studio at 63 Main Street in Mountaindale. The expert instructors will be Susan Honig and Janet Gula, who promise an evening of Winter Wellness and FUN for Partners or Singles. Participants will receive a basic understanding of the feet as they relate to the entire body, helpful charts and valuable self-care/massage tools to be used an entire lifetime. Janet will also instruct in the use of essential oils and a special technique (Vitaflex), which enhances the healing process. Pure, organic essential oils will be used, which are nongreasy aromatic substances containing the "essential" plant constituents that offer great therapeutic benefits. Workshop: $18/person; $30/couple

Please RSVP to (845) 866-7822 or Visit MyRadiantYoga.com, where you can find the complete Yoga Class Schedule and info about other upcoming events to be hosted by Janet. Ballroom dancing anyone? Coming soon.