Trending in Mountaindale

Ready to deliver your delicious Girl Scout Cookies

If someone asks you, "What's trending in Mountaindale?"  The answer is "A LOT!" I've been so on the go go go these last few weeks, there hasn't been a spare moment to post.  I'm going to say that our hottest topic is Girl Scouts and more specifically, Girl Scout Cookies.  Mountaindale hosts a very significant Cookie Cupboard for the community and we service the Towns of Fallsburg, Thompson & Mamakating with very delicious Girl Scout Cookies.  So far, I have taken delivery on well over 1000 cases, which is nearly 13,000 boxes and cookie season has only just begun! Our annual sale teaches the girls valuable lessons of entrepreneurship, goal setting and funds a high percentage of Scouting programming and activities.

On Friday night, the girls took some time off from their sales to participate in an environmental progam that was hosted right here in Mountaindale.  It was an Eastern Bluebird Workshop. The Scouts learned some basic birdwatching fundamentals as well as a lot of interesting nesting info.  Then they got out their hammers and rolled up their sleeves so they could build a set of bluebird boxes.  Fallsburg Lumber Company very generously donated the materials and Mike Yavaniski of Diversified Realty Services meticulously cut it up to create a dozen individual nest box kits, using the Herman Bressler design.  The girls enjoyed a wonderful evening and the boxes will be donated locally to help build our Bluebird population. On a very personal note, I am extremely proud to say that last week I was awarded a very high honor for a Girl Scout Volunteer. It is the Leadership Award and it means a great deal to me because the nomination and recognition comes from peers for outstanding community service.

Another hot topic in town is Karate.  Of course the place for martial arts is Upstate Karate of Mountaindale. This month, we had three students who were tested as candiates for their black belts. Two were teenage girls and the third was an adult woman, named Slava Milov. Slava frequently attends classes with younger students, like her son, and is also training to become an assistant instructor, or Jo Kyo, as it is called in Korean.  We wish them all luck and patience as they humbly wait a month to find out their test results. However, the long waiting is now over for our own certified Master Instructor, or Sa Bom in Korean. Studio owner Alexandra Lalieu just received word that she is about to become promoted to 5th Dan, or fifth level black belt. She will celebrate this momentous event with her students on Saturday, May 12th at a luncheon ceremony in town. Her instructor, Edward Frampton, will attend to present Alexandra with her Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan promotion certificate.  He is a 6th level Master Instructor and teaches at Frampton's Karate in New Windsor, NY, and is also a Regional Examiner in Soo Bahk Do.

Additional trending topics in town include the new lunch and Sunday brunch menu at Uccelli Restaurant, the return of Wednesday night live music at Eddie's Mountaindale Inn, and I should have a date shortly for the next Salsa Dance in 62 Main Street, hosted by Janet Gula of Radiant Yoga.  The Tuesday night Bellydancing classes continue to grow in 62 Main Street.  Stay tuned for news about a new Main Street neighbor who we will all have a chance to greet later this week as she gets settled in at 47 Main Street.

Main Street Matters

There are a lot of things going on with our Main Street Mountaindale neighbors that are worth sharing:

Photo by Vi Carpio, talented wife of
featured artist, Virgelio "Billy" Carpio

With the weather turning warmer, Uccelli Restaurant guests will be able to enjoy dining al fresco at the outdoor seating in front of the restaurant. Plans are underway to build a large deck before the summer for additional outdoor dining. Chef Robert is also busy creating an all new Lunch Menu that he will begin serving on April 24th. He will resume Sunday Brunch with a new menu and new daily hours. Please visit the Uccelli Restaurant site for updates this month.

We have been glad to welcome Ahleana back to Main Street with her Tuesday evening Bellydancing classes in 62 Main Street. The new time is 7 to 8:15PM. I have heard that her students are getting a very enjoyable workout while learning an exciting, exotic art form. Please call 845-436-8945 for more details about weekly classes. The suggested attire is comfortable, loose clothing and fun hip scarves may be purchased before class.

Alexandra Lalieu of Upstate Karate of Mountaindale and several of her advanced students will spend the day at the Sullivan County Community College tomorrow to participate in the 3rd Annual Health & Wellness Fair. They will be providing information and demonstrations of Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan, the Korean martial art that they have studied at 81 Main Street for the past 8 years. Congratulations are in order for all of the champions of this karate school who attended the Mid Hudson Regional Tournament at the New York Military Academy last week and came back with loads of trophies and medals. Next, they will be attending the Soo Bahk Do National Festival in Cherry Hill, NJ in June.

The Look Up Cafe added a colorful banner on their railing to help you look up to find this charming place for breakfast and lunch at 6 Main Street. Speaking of banners, the Mountaindale Community Development Project will soon be installing all new banners along Main Street in Mountaindale. The new, larger banners and bracket hardware were purchased with a portion of the funding awarded by Sullivan Renaissance for our efforts to enhance the gateway to the Rails to Trails last summer.