Public Spaces Promote Growth

Last night, Barb Schmitt attended the Sullivan Renaissance Workshop, entitled “CREATING PUBLIC SPACES” at the CVI Center in Ferndale. The seminar presenters were Challey Comer, Farm to Market Manager at the Watershed Agricultural Council, and Nancy Proyect, President of the Orange County Citizens Foundation. The purpose of “Greening and Gathering” is to create public spaces where people naturally want to congregate and is a critical component of improving any community. Nancy Proyect, specifically addressed the concept of “placemaking” and the benefits of creating attractive and vibrant public spaces. Her powerpoint presentation showed photos of various places that have been on the Orange County Citizens Foundation’s “placemaking” tour and gave some background on the projects. The images offered an interesting perspective of many things that are working correctly in these communities, as well as their pitfalls to avoid. Said Barb, “I was very pleased to see all of the things that we are already doing in Mountaindale that matched Nancy’s advice.” Mountaindale has lovely pocket parks, public spaces and community activities. The speaker encouraged ‘Triangulation,’ which is evident in Mountaindale’s efforts to promote synergy between our various Main Street businesses.

Thanks to our local landscaper, yoga instructor and Slow Foods advocate, Janet Gula, we also have a community garden. This was the focus of the second presenter, Challey Comer, who spoke about community gardens and farmers markets. She oversees the Pure Catskills campaign, a regional buy local initiative that serves nearly 300 farm and food businesses in six counties. Market-based farmer education, regional advocacy and market connections are also components of the economic viability efforts at the council. We would still love to be able to host a regular Peoples' Market in Mountaindale where produce & crafts could be bought and sold as an expansion of the CSA produce (Community Supported Agriculture) that Janet facilitates each week on Thursdays at Radiant Yoga for the past several years.

Fostering quality of life were key for both speakers. Mountaindale has already accomplished much with charming architecture, public art, nature trails and our Rails to Trails, as well as Mountaindale Park. Comfort was also stressed as being conducive to interaction, and Barb was glad to know that our hamlet has so many convenient benches and excellent sidewalks to encourage walkability in our community.

Would You Support an Organic Bread Bakery In Mountaindale?

We here at the Mountaindale News are doing some market research this afternoon on BREAD. Hot, warm, delicious homemade bread that could be made right here in our little hamlet of Moutaindale, NY. Obviously, we are very excited about this possibility and are hoping our readers will be as well.

Ken and Barb Schmitt of Diversified Realty have been contacted by a very talented professional chef who is interested in possibly establishing an artisan bakery in Mountaindale at the location of our former pizzeria. If everything comes together, and they are just in the very early talking stages, do you think you as a resident of our small hamlet see yourself frequenting a specialty bakeshop in town? Would you be a regular customer of such a shop, or do you see yourself, your family using it more for special occasion breads and baked goods? Would knowing the breads are made of both organic and locally grown ingredients make you more likely to support such a business endeavor for our community?

All of this chef's breads are naturally made with no chemicals or additives in them. She makes her own yeast and uses organic ingredients. Whenever possible, she also uses locally grown flour, honey and eggs. Pictured above is a sample of the type of bread she would be producing in our neighborhood. Do you think you might visit? Would you tell friends and how far do you think they might travel if it were fresh, delicious & fairly priced? Monticello, Ellenville, Liberty...please let us know your thoughts as we investigate this wonderful opportunity for our small hamlet here in the Catskills.

*Side Note-this resident would both love and support such a bakery, and I would be the first to spread the news of its opening to all the seasonal campers I know up at Skyway. I can see many of them more than willing to drive into Mountaindale from camp for some fabulous homemade breads and baked goods.