Creative Re-Use Mountaindale Renaissance Scavenger Hunt

Greetings Sports Fans!

What a beautiful day it it outside...the air smells like spring, the grass is green, and the leaves are about to burst forth on some trees, while others are in full bloom. Simply stated, this time of the year both rejuvenates and invigorates the soul. So, seems like a perfect day to announce a Community Challenge...

The Great Mountaindale Renaissance Scavenger Hunt

This year, the Mountaindale Community Development Project, and the Mountaindale Sullivan Renaissance Project Committee have settled upon a GREAT BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT for our small hamlet...we are going to enhance the entrance to our "Rails to Trails", and just a bit further in on the trail we are going to create a sculptural interpretation of the O&W Railways 33 Steam Locomotive that met it's demise in our town at the turn of the 20th century over 100 years ago.

We would like our project to include some Environmentally Friendly Green Aspects, and one of these green aspects is the creative re-use of materials in the building and construction of this project, taking both found and hanging around stuff that might otherwise end up in a landfill and turning into art, landscaping with these found items that people, businesses just might have hanging around taking up space.

Thus the Great Re-Use Mountaindale Renaissance Scavenger Hunt...this is where our community comes in. We need Scavenger Hunters...individuals and groups that could help us in finding materials that we can creatively Re-Use in breathing our Steam Locomotive into reality. There are no prizes, this is not a contest, but instead a challenge, an opportunity to do community service in a very unique and different way. Have planting materials that need thinned out, or maybe some perennials in an overgrown and abandoned bed? We would love to have them. Perhaps you have some old nails, screws or even bailing wire laying around? Again, we would LOVE to have them. Are you a nursery with some overstock that needs some Tender Loving Care? Give us a call.

What are we looking for you ask? Anything and everything is up for consideration, but we do have some very specific needs.

• Plywood 1x4x8...treated is preferable, but beggars cannot be choosy.


• 2x4x8's...again, treated would be IDEAL, but again, any 2x4x 8 will suffice.


• 2x6x8's (or longer!) Yes, you guessed it, treated would be a bonus.


• 2x10 or 2x12...any length from 8-16 foot would be ideal.


• 6x6x8 landscaping timbers.


• Fallen Birch trees/limbs...will be used for accent details on train.


• 3-5 inch decking or other screws.


• Number 8 and 16 common nails...we are not picky at all when it comes to nails, so rusty ones are fine.


• 55 Gallon Drums...we need a total of ten, and have three right now.


• 30 Gallon Drums...we could use at least two of these.


• Old Pipe in say 8-12 inch diameter.

Some DREAM ITEMS ON OUR LIST

• 4 Old Wagon Wheels that are say 24-36 inches in diameter as the back wheels of the train.


• 4 Smaller spoked wheels of 12-15 inches in diameter.


• 7 Flowering Ornamental Trees


• Any Perennial (preferably native plant species) plants that could be easily transplanted into our garden spaces being created.


• A Brass BELL for the train...maybe about eight-twelve inches!

This is by no means a comprehensive list, so if you have something you think we could use or incorporate in some fashion, give us a call. We have a staging area for these found materials, so if you have things, just let us know when you would like to drop them off. We are also ALWAYS looking for volunteers, so if you or your group would like to participate, are looking for a change to do community service work, please give us a call so we can work with you.

Sherwood Martinelli
Renaissance Committee Chair
(845) 693-4513

Barb Schmitt
Mountaindale Community Development Project
(845) 434-4747

If you would like to make a donation to our project please send check too:

Mountaindale Community Development Project (MCDP)
PO Box 333
Mountaindale, NY 12763
(Be sure to put in Memo that the donation is for 2011 Renaissance)

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?

Sullivan Renaissance Project-Meeting on Monday March 21, 2011

First, as this year's Chairperson for the Mountaindale Community Development Project's Sullivan Renaissance Project, want to apologize for my absence for most of this past week, but try as I might, the flu seemed intent on adding me to the list of those afflicted with its various and assorted unwanted maladies and inconveniences, thus seeing me for the most part locked within the walls of my apartment being sick, and YES, GROUCHY. Good news is that I am almost fully recovered, and in the process of playing catch up.

Our design plans are almost complete for this years Sullivan Renaissance Project, and a Sunday Working session is planned to complete the application process for this years grant. The deadline for submission is March 23rd and we would like all interested parties to have a chance to see the plans, make suggestions and/or ask any last minute questions you might have as a interested party, or member of our Mountaindale Community. With that in mind, letting every one know there will be an informal Mountaindale Sullivan Renaissance Committee meeting for all interested parties on this upcoming Monday Night at 7:30 at the Mountaindale Art Center here in our little hamlet. Would encourage all interested parties, as well as potential volunteers and/or donors to attend.

Mountaindale Renaissance Project Committee Meeting (MCDP)

Monday March 21, 2011
7:30 PM
Mountaindale Art Center
58 Main Street
Mountaindale, NY 12763

For more information or if you have questions/suggestions and cannot attend, please contact Sherwood at (845)693-4513 or Barb Schmitt 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.

Sullivan Renaissance Project-Meeting Update

First, a BIG THANKS to everyone who showed up last night for our first planning meeting for this years Sullivan Renaissance Project under the umbrella of Mountaindale Community Development Project, with a special thanks to Legislady Leni Binder who was a wealth of both information, and support for our vision for 2011. Want to also thank all the businesses here in town that had a presence at the meeting, including Diversified Realty Services, Radiant Yoga, HospitalityGreen, and our own Upstate Karate...as a small rural community, support from citizens, and our local Main Street business community is imperative to the success of these projects, so thank you very much everyone for showing up, contributing your ideas, asking questions, and being a part of this years project.

Group consensus was found, and we will be doing a three component project in the area of our Mountaindale entrance to "Rails to Trails" this year as a Category B grant applicant.

Part 1-clean up, re-staging, and improving the formal entrance to the trail, building upon the bones of the entrance to give it a more formalized crisp look. This project will include some new landscaping elements, and builds upon work our volunteers have carried out in previous years as we look to build upon past successes as we take a previous project, and elevate it to the next level.

Part 2- Just inside the entrance off to the left is one of the original concrete blocks belonging to the old O&W lines that would have been used as a mounting block for various kinds of equipment. At almost six feet in length, and over two feet in height, this piece of history is a perfect backdrop for a small multi-season perennial bed, and if fund allow, perhaps a flowering ornamental for a beautiful spring POP just inside the entrance to "Rails to Trails", as well as serve to draw the eye into the trail, where part 3 of our project will be installed.

Part 3-Just down from part two of this project is an old concrete switching box (complete with rusted out hinges) as well as an old siding where cars/locomotives would be parked just off the main track. Phase one of this project will be the cleaning up of, and grooming of a large area of the woods from the front entrance of the Rail's to Trails back to and including this siding area including and encompassing the Switch Box. The siding area and switch box will see a large landscaping statement which will include the construction of a Mock of of the old O&W number 70 locomotive.

These three projects incorporate several elements that make them a perfect selection for this years project. First, we are building upon projects from previous years, both upgrading existing projects, and expanding their footprint and visual appeal. Secondly, are the historical elements that will embrace and bring into our projects actual relics from this bygone era, giving them new life as significant parts of our landscaping project. Additionally will be two environmental aspects (at least) to this project that are exciting. First we will be adding cans (or if we can find them old barrels) into the project that will be used for litter control/recycling of the debris that those using the trail may need to dispose of. Secondly, the sculptural element of our main project (the train) is going to be built in such a fashion as to act as a water collection system, thus allowing us to meet some of our project's water needs through the collection of, and reuse of rainwater.

Today we took our first measurements of the project spots, and this weekend are planning on taking extensive project photographs, begin the task of laying out some of the design plans. If you have questions or suggestions at this stage, or would like to volunteer for this years projects, please email Sherwood (http://www.blogger.com/news@mountaindaleproject.org) or give him a call at (845) 693-4513

Upstate Karate of Mountaindale Celebrates Seventh Anniversary This Thursday

Anniversaries are always important milestones to commemorate, both in life, and in business. In these hard economic times we face here in Sullivan County, and across America, some of these milestone anniversaries are particularly noteworthy, and this Thursday, February 24th our very own Upstate Karate here in Mountaindale celebrates one such major milestone as they celebrate their seventh full year in business here in our small hamlet.

Upstate Karate of Mountaindale, which teaches the traditions of Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan opened its doors back in 2004, and its student numbers, and presence in our community have grown ever since. The schools proprieter and Master Instructor Alexandra Th. Lalieu has flourished in the community for several reasons, including her love and passion for Soo Bahk Do, her desire to pass on and share that knowledge with our youth, and a host of programs aimed at helping our children become everything they can be as they move into Adulthood.

One such program is a self defense course for young women, called "Stand Strong" that has been shared with Girl Scouts throughout the region, where they are taught basic skills to avoid being attacked and/or abducted.

For More information, or to begin your own journey of enlightenment in the traditions of Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan, please contact Alexandra at (845) 434-0500 today.

Master Instructor-Alexandra Th. Lalieu

Upstate Karate of Mountaindale

81 Main Street
Mountaindale, NY 12763
(845) 434-0500