Heavy Metal Comedy

David Brodsky of MyGoodEye music visuals

Whoever knew death metal could be so funny? A group of us found out on Main Street in Mountaindale on Sunday as we pushed the limit on every vaudville type gag we could think of during the video shoot for the popular heavy metal band, Revocation. The production company in charge of this project was our good friends at MyGoodEye. David Brodsky and his talented crew have been coming to Mountaindale to shoot music videos in a number of our buildings for quite a few years now. It's always a treat when they come and wonderful to see some of the award winning videos after they are finished and released to the public.


Patiently awaiting their cue, already in make up

When they come, they usually bring their own professional team for lighting, sound, make up, and extras. However, this particular project required some mature extras who could look like audience members at a musical performance in the day room of a nursing home.  The plot of the video is that it is the future and the adorable guys of Revocation never stopped rocking and they are now doing a reunion show while in their eighties.  Allison Woest, the producer gave me an exciting task.  She told me I could invite some of my friends to be extras on the nursing home set. I was pretty thrilled because my friends include Carol Montana, editor of the Catskill Chronicle, and the actress/producer who brought "A Coupla White Chicks" to this same venue in Mountaindale a few years ago. My other friends include seasoned actors who are members of the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop like Ellen Pavloff, Tom DelFavero & Richard Topper. Several other local pals rounded out our little cast. Everyone were great sports and participated in fun bits like playing air guitar with their canes, flirting with the "senior citizen" band, and Rich Topper was willing to do multiple takes as a dirty old man who grabs his young, pretty nurse's behind. Poor guy! All of our little stunts were so funny, it was hard to keep a straight face.  We can hardly wait for SCION to release this video next month. I will update the link on this site when it does. ROCK ON!

October Update - And heeeeere's the video

Look Up Cafe

Here we GROW AGAIN!
There are a number of new faces on Main Street in Mountaindale and we offer a hearty welcome to all the new people who have moved in. I am especially pleased to congratulate a new business who is growing right before our eyes. I have known local resident Louisa Pabon for a number of years now. She has always impressed me as a hard working woman with a powerful, entrepreneurial spirit. In August of 2008, she began a business which manufactures a gourmet seasoning which is a staple of Spanish cooking, known as Sofrito, (pronounced “so-free-toh.”) Although a canned version may be found on many store shelves, Lousia takes pride in making her natural product fresh, using only the best quality vegetables like peppers, onions, cilantro and other savory herbs & spices for Sofrito Verde. These are quickly processed while they are at their peak flavor and frozen so that they can be delivered to a store near you and enjoyed within two weeks. Another delicious product made by Louisa is 'Oooh That's Good Hummus' which can also be purchased locally at Catskill Harvest Market in Liberty, NY. She makes this product by starting with her own cooked chick peas to eliminate any salt or preservatives that might be found in canned versions.


Sofrito Verde Kitchen



For the first couple of years, Verde & Company operated out of a rented commecial kitchen. They were able to grow and produce quality products carried by a large number of supermarkets and specialty stores. However, they would not be able to fully reach their potential until Louisa could have a commercial kitchen of her very own. She needed a clean place where she could expand her production as well as experiment with new recipes for her loyal clientele. After several intense weeks of renovation, she was able to officially move in to 6 Main Street in Mountaindale.  This is the handsome brick building with a concrete porch that used to be the Rittberg Bakery in town. It is now a fully functional certified commercial kitchen with sleek stainless steel and soothing teal colors where Louisa can fill all of her wholesale orders.



Look Up Cafe Dining Room

When Lousia isn't making her delicious sofrito and hummus, she is able to indulge her long time dream of having a small breakfast and lunch cafe. The name of this new quaint establishment will be the Look Up Cafe. Why? Lousia said it is because people will have to look up at the building to see where she is. I visited there yesterday for lunch and think guests will only have to follow their noses for the delicious smells. I greatly enjoyed my chicken empanada which was seasoned just right and had a tender, flaky crust because it was baked and not fried. This was served with tasty homemade macaroni and cheese. Although I was stuffed, Lousia and Ralph, her husband and assistant baker, convinced me to sample a luscious bite of freshly baked carrot cake. Other people began dropping in for coffee and I heard that the brownies were delicious as well. You can find out for yourself tomorrow if you stop in for coffee or a meal between 7AM and 3PM in the sunny attractively decorated dining room. Whether you are there for a fresh muffin, eggs, or a Latin style lunch with strong Bustelo, you will enjoy your meal at the new Look Up Cafe!





Zumba Class HUGE Success-Offers Second Night

Monday nights if you take a drive to our small downtown area, you would be surprised at the amount of cars parked...I counted 23 cars night before last as one example. Radiant Yoga and Upstate Karate both have classes on those nights, and our newest "Better Health" addition seems to be a huge success, as the folk's from The Janice Center add a second night of Zumba to the lineup.

Starting tonight, Mountaindale is pleased to offer the residents of our small hamlet and the surrounding area a second opportunity to have fun while getting in shape as Zumba holds their first Wednesday night class...class hours will be 6:30 too 7:30, the same as their Monday night offering.

The Janice Center

(845) 482-3324

If you or your group are looking for meeting space, or wanting to bring a new business or service to Mountaindale, please give Barb at Diversified Realty Services a call at (845) 434-4747.

Spring is Almost Upon Us

Today the weather was just warm enough to see me tromping about town with my 35 MM digital camera in shorts, and much of the winter's snow is fast melting away as Mountaindale senses with great anticipation the fact approaching spring...I for one can hardly wait. Earlier this week, saw the owner (Charlie) of our local bike shop , the Cinder Track, in town making a list of things to do in preparation for opening his doors for the spring/summer season, and more people seem to be out and about on the streets walking their dogs and enjoying some fresh air even if it is still a bit crisp.

For a small sleepy hamlet, there is a lot of hustle and bustle in our small town. On days and early evenings see Radiant Yoga classes in session, students learning at our Dojang (Upstate Karate...please visit their new blog), and 15-20 people taking a Zumba class, our Main Street has 20 or so cars lining the street, our citizens and those visiting our community exposing a surprising strong life pulse as efforts at revitalize and renewal take hold.

As the winter wanes, keep in mind these volunteer opportunities:

• Help needed to take down the Christmas/Holiday decorations in all Main Street storefronts, and give the windows a spring washing.

• Spring Clean up of our Mountaindale Community...scheduled for early May.

• Sullivan Renaissance Project...We have big plans involving the Rails to Trails entrance, so hope you all will become a part of this project.

For more information on these opportunities to volunteer, please contact Barb at 434-4747, or Sherwood at 693-4513.

Let Us Help You Help Make Community Here in Mountaindale, NY

Almost any one can have a dream, a few special souls can bring their vision into reality without the help and efforts of others. However, most great dreams or visions seen into reality have come about through finding kindred spirits, like minded souls who are willing to work toward the same goals as dream takes shape catches hold and becomes an everlasting reality people can see, touch, experience and in this case live...Barb and Ken Schmitt have for a long time now been people of vision, have worked diligently over the past ten years giving their own dream shape as them have brought the once struggling little hamlet of Mountaindale back to life. Given it a chance to bloom again as a flourishing hamlet as a part of the larger community of Fallsburg.

Many of the hamlets buildings have been lovingly given a new life, a few others or parts of others too far gone to salvage have been cleared, taken down, and others still are awaiting their turn for a full makeover. People have moved in, and everywhere you look signs of renewal and growth are apparent too the discerning eye. There is the Upstate Karate School, Janet with her "My Radiant Yoga" studio, a few professionals who were looking for a quieter simpler life/work environment here, and even a few artist/crafts persons who now proudly call Mountaindale home.

The Schmitt's shared dream of a green, environmentally friendly community of Baby Boomer's, the services needed to meet their wants needs and desires is starting to materialize, the next steps in the revitalization needing only people who embrace in some way their shared dream. The community needs someone that has always wanted to run their own small convenience store, or Mom and Pop grocery, perhaps living in one of the apartments in the downtown area. There is a great place to open up a small restaurant (with living quarters right upstairs) waiting for the right visionary who is willing to put in the work to develop a following...summer time sees the population of the area swell as there are numerous seasonal campgrounds in the area. Ken and Barb offer very affordable rents, and stand ready to help new business take root and thrive in our town.

There are plenty of opportunities for residential living in Mountaindale, ample spaces where artists could live and work in the same building (writers too), and various buildings (that can be rehabilitated to fit your needs) that would lend themselves perfectly to business/commercial enterprises.

For More Information

Ken and Barb Schmitt
Diversified Realty Services
(845) 434-4747

Residential Properties
Commercial Properties