Oh Hail!

Mountaindale neighbors are still chatting about the amazing hail storm we had Tuesday afternoon. It was really amazing to see and hear these marble sized "snowflakes" slamming the sidewalks and cars on Main Street. Here are two images from this exciting event just for fun. Thanks to Gina for the photo below of the angry sky and all the leaves that came down early due to the combination of fierce wind and hailstones.

By the way, this has nothing to do with anything other than neighborhood chit chat. If you have Verizon wireless service here in town, you pretty much have it made due to our cell tower on Church Road. With any other provider, you might not even have enough service for a measly text. Well, a new AT&T "sweet spot" was just discovered. The old, risky one was on the double yellow line on Main Street.  I just heard about a new one on Chef Robert Uccelli's new deck at Uccelli Restaurant. Check it out the next time you stop in for a bite to eat. Please remember, they are now open for Lunch, Sunday Brunch and have a new Early Bird Dinner Menu. You just might have to set your phone to vibrate while you dine al fresco.

Evening of Academic Excellence

Honor Society Oath for newest Inductees

I recently had a wonderful opportunity to enjoy "An Evening of Academic Excellence" with all of the other proud parents of Fallsburg High School students who were being recognized for their scholastic achievements. Many young adults were being presented with Honor Roll Awards and a sizeable group were Inducted into the National Honor Society.  This requires high grades as well as regular community service and civic group participation.

It is important to note that the 6:30 PM ceremony had to start late as we waited for a number of the attendees to complete their final afterschool sports competitions. This is a great indicator of these Comets being well rounded in sports and other activities, unlike the stereotype brainy, nerdy kids in the popular media. (Including my new favorite show, "The Big Bang Theory.")  To be inducted into the National Honor Society, each student must submit an application which verifies not only their grade status, but also demonstrates the candidate’s outstanding performance in the areas of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

The keynote speaker, Michael Williams, High School Principal, addressed these 4 tenets with a wonderful challenge. He encouraged each member to help a fellow student get inducted next year. It might take clear shoving or just subtly, kindly motivating a peer. His dream would be for the entire student body to be on the stage one day. A fabulous treat that Fallsburg provides for students who consistently earn Superintendent's List standing is the annual trip to Broadway to see a live hit show. We should be proud of this effort to encourage "academic excellence." Additionally, the Mountaindale community can take pride in the large number of local kids in attendance.  This includes chapter President, Gregory Bedik and Lindsay Malman, who lit the candle for Character during the ceremony. The most heartwarming moments occurred when older siblings introduced their younger brothers & sisters as the newest members. This included Aaron & Rachel Schmitt, Shorouk & Adham Abohussien, and Morgan & Cody Vegliante.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SCHOLARS!

Soapbox Derby this Weekend

Daniel & his racecar

Ladies & Gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES! Well, in a manner of speaking. Back in September, we announced the countywide All American Soap Box Derby would be held this Memorial Day weekend. The event will be part of the Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerce's festival and will also include a parade, sidewalk sale and Yard Sale-O-Rama. After much anticipation, this event is finally here.

I recently learned that we have a local racer from Mountaindale who we can all be rooting for on Sunday at 10AM. The young man's name is Daniel. Thanks to the hard work of his pit crew and the generousity of Phil Vallone of the Rolling V Bus Corp, his soap box racer will be zooming down the Main Street track at this Liberty event. Daniel will be competing in the 8 to 13 year old Stock division. However, Daniel is no stranger to competition as he just earned 2 medals in a Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan martial arts tournament this past weekend in New Windsor, New York. Eight other students of Upstate Karate of Mountaindale also attended this event and took home championship medals.

Daniel is active in many other sports throughout the year. These activities include soccer, softball, skiing, and snorkeling, to list a few. These are all possible due to the love and support of his proud parents, Max & Slava Milov, who share in many of these sports with Daniel. We wish him great success! Go, Daniel, Go!!

Dear World

Robert Fogarty photo from DearWorld.me

Today, I learned about a fascinating social experiment on the DearWorld website. The creative mind behind it all is photographer, Robert X. Fogarty. His mission is to work "towards a beautiful, wonderful world where more people send a message to family, friends and strangers in this way. Where people get that we’re connected and that you can build something fast alone, but to build anything great you have to go together." His messages are written with Sharpie and are often extremely moving. You are encouraged to view the gallery on his website, where you will see very moving images. Images like the poignant "Cancer Free" on a survivor's chest and the special series reminding us of those who still need our help in communities struggling to rebuild after natural disasters like Joplin, Missouri and New Orleans. Some are fun, like the wry update on the 'See No Evil' monkeys. There are a great many messages being shared and "some stories need to be told" to the whole world.

Valedictorian Proclamation

Sometimes there are entire processes that go on without the knowledge of people who are outside the process. For example, everyone knows that each high school graduating class has a Valedictorian who makes a speech at June Graduation. Until you personally know a Valedictorian, you might not know all of the other details that are associated with this event.

Yesterday, I attended a wonderful program in the Sullivan County Government Legislative Chambers. The pupose was to honor the Valedictorians of each and every high school within Sullivan County. Each district Superintendent introduced each High School principal, who gave a brief biography of each scholar. Their County Legislators then presented the bright students with a Certificate of Commendation. It was very impressive to see that each Valedictorian seemed to be a well rounded person with a list of achievements that go beyond pure academia.  Most were musicians, athletes, leaders and strong community servants. Anecdotally, they were all female with the exception of the exceptional young man from the Fallsburg School District, who happens to be from Mountaindale, New York, and coincidentally happens to be my son, Aaron Schmitt. Mountaindale has had other Valedictorian residents, such as our past Sullivan Renaissance Summer Intern Ashley Hunter, who just graduated from Yale and is a marvelous young woman.

I had previously noticed that there is an unusually high ratio of female Valedictorians in our county. The year that Ashley graduated, I had invited her and the Liberty Valedictorian to meet my Girl Scout Troop at a "Gals Who Excel Tea" in Mountaindale. I think it is important for young girls to understand that they CAN excel in all subjects, especially Math and Sciences, where girls are frequently under estimated.

I look forward to getting to know more about the Valedictorians who are graduating this year. I am so glad to see that they will continue to be recognized for their achievements at upcoming events like a dinner in their honor at the Eldred Preserve and when they will be recognized next month on a state level by New York State Senator John Bonacic who will be hosting them at this prestigious event. These people represent a great ray of hope for our future.

Tale of Woe

This is all I have to say today:

Possibly Three Sides if you REALLY want the Truth!

Happy Mother's Day to All!

I hope everyone had a wonderful, happy Mother's Day yesterday! I say Everyone, because I think it should be a great day for all - all mothers, all children and all of the menfolk, trying their best to make it a nice day. It should have been a joyful, stress free kind of day.

I am a Mother to two wonderful kids and I must say, this is, by far, THE MOST controversial Mother's Day I can ever recall.  How can you make Mother's Day controversial? We got the weekend kicked off with Time magazine going for ultimate shock value with their cover demanding. "Are You Mom Enough?" Duh! No one asked a question like that in my Mom's day! Are we now supposed to feel guilty about how much we love our kids and how attached we might be. Well, honestly, that part has always been out there. I guess the new guilt is over how much we want to be SuperMom and balance home and career in the mind boggling juggling act that we perform daily. I also have some concern that there will be some kind of perverse backlash against nursing. That is one creepy image. My nursing days were some of the happiest moments of my life and I will always treasure that era. I  am far less offended by her breast than I am by the expression on her face and notion that the kid needs to climb a stepstool to come to her. Nursing is such a glorious private, cuddling time. I don't see a misogynistic plot in the Mom going to the child to provide love, comfort, and nurturing along with sustenance.

Then, on top of all this, we have model, Christy Turlington Burns, launching a 'just say No' boycott of Mother's Day with "Every Mother Counts," to raise awareness for childbirth complications. I can see where the holiday has become overcommercialized with cards, store sales, etc. However, there are so many other ways to be vocal and use our energy to provide better healthcare for pregnant women. We must not remain silent when the Religious Right and other ultra Conservative groups play with women's healthcare as a political tool. This is a mission that should remain at the top of our minds all year round and especially during every election season. See an interesting video by MoveOn.org to see how women were thrown under the bus during the primaries.

Birding by Ear

Edward Frampton photo

You can tell it's May in Mountaindale because the hummingbird feeders have begun to go up along Main Street. The little shimmering green Ruby Throated Hummingbirds began finding them immediately. All are encouraged to take a stroll along Main Street to watch their amazing antics. It's the best entertainment 1/4 cup of sugar can buy! It gets especially exciting as the young begin hatching & fledging and start visiting our feeders en masse during the summer months.

Sometimes, the first indication you might have that a tiny hummingbird is nearby is that you hear them. You might hear a buzzing, humming sound - hence, the name. Or you you might hear them chirping as they come in for a landing or fuss with each other for control of their favorite feeder perch.

This 'listening' for bird sounds is known as Birding by Ear. It has been especially useful this past week when the bleak, drizzly mornings have made it more difficult to spot our feathered friends in the neighborhood. Mountaindale offers a lovely quiet serenity that allows us to put the hustle and bustle of everyday life on pause and just stop and LISTEN to the nature sounds around us. If you learn what a cardinal sounds like, it might alert you to where you might look to be treated to a bit of scarlet up high on a tree limb. You might hear a Phoebe saying his own name. Nowadays there are fun Bird Call Identificiation Apps to help. Another great resource is the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which can also help you learn to memorize certain songs and calls as you build up your mental library. Please come to see and hear the wide variety of birds on Main Street, in the Sandburg Creek RiverWalk Park and on the Rails to Trails.

Ramps Festival

Raise your hand if you know what Ramps are. Keep 'em up if you know I mean something to eat & not drive on! I confess, I never got up close & personal with ramps until I recently spotted a beautiful fresh mound at my favorite specialty produce market. I took a big sniff and the smell was absolutely divine! Now I get what makes them so appealing and why the good folks at Slow Food think we ought to spend a whole day with them.

You didn't hear much about lovely Ramps in the past. I checked my "Farmacopeia" book, which is supposed to have everything "from apples to zucchini, and everything in between," but it goes straight from radishes to rhubarb. To learn more, my suggestion is to head over to the Ramps Fest this Sunday, May 6th at the Callicoon Farmer's Market, where Slow Food UpDeRiVa will be celebrating the Ramp, one of this region's most wonderful wild delicacies. From 11AM to 2PM there will be demonstrations, recipes, and tastings before the start of the great Ramp Tramp in Callicoon Center. This will include plenty of foraging & feasting at the Ramp Potluck at the Channery Hill Farm. Can you imagine Ramp Ravioli? Bob Eckert of Northern Farmhouse Pasta will feed you some at noon. I hear it's pure joy in a dumpling. If you think you'd agree, mark your calendar for the Ramps Fest this Sunday.

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.

Tragedy at the Grandview Palace

Red Cross Comfort Kit

So much has already been said about the tragic fire at the Grandview Palace, which left so many of our neighbors suddenly homeless. There isn't much I can add to the conversation other than we can keep these good, unfortunate people in our hearts and prayers. I visited the site of the former majestic Brown's Hotel, but only as a drive by. Instead, I went to the Sullivan County Community College Fieldhouse to see how I could help the people and connect with their needs. Most of the people are still quite numbed from their loss. Exploring the pain of the realization of a specific item that is now lost to them. Most material possessions can easily be replaced. But what can you do about treasured family photographs and mementos of sentimental value? I spoke with one victim about the loss of her mother's wedding rings. This is the saddest part.

I was very impressed by the tireless volunteers from the American Red Cross who have been staffing the emergency relief site at the fieldhouse. The large stack of neatly folded used Red Cross blankets told me a lot about how many fire victims they had served. A psychologist gently moved among the people to offer comfort to those who needed to talk about the emotions they were trying to come to grips with. Other volunteers were disinfecting cots to be prepared for the next person in need. Support people staffed tables to help with insurance issues and paperwork to help replace ID & other items lost as many had to evacuate without wallets, pocketbooks, and daily medications.

How can we help? There was a long table with donated clothing, but honestly, what is really most needed is money. The funds can be used to help with emergency lodging, meals and comfort kits like the one above. Donations can be made through the United Way at 33 Lakewood Avenue in Monticello, (845) 794-1771 or the Red Cross Chapter on Crotty Road in Middletown. You can also find out how to volunteer for their ongoing programs and give blood when you see a Blood Drive announced in your area. Your contributions can make a difference.

Alive Inside - the Power of Music

Henry talking about Music

Anyone who has ever cared for a friend or loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia, knows that reaching the patient can be a very frustrating experience. The person may still look the same but a veil seems to be separating you and impeding communication. In general, life for the elderly in a nursing home can feel alienating and lonely. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, some doctors decided to experiment with the power of music to "awaken" minds considered closed.

Using the theory that Alzheimer’s Disease does not affect the portion of the brain that is associated with music, doctors like Dr. Oliver Sacks and Dr. Bill Thomas began to work with patients using headphones to listen to their favorite music of their youth in portable music players. The results were nothing short of amazing. The process can be viewed in a documentary about the Music and Memory non-profit project, in a film produced and directed by Michael Rossato-Bennett. "Alive Inside tells a story of hope and beauty in a place where they are hard to find." It follows Dan Cohen as he discovers the power music has and features the amazing men and women in patient care. It was commissioned by the The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation. A short excerpt can be seen now and the world premiere for Alive Inside will be at the Rubin Museum in New York City on Wednesday, April 18th, Friday April 20th, and Saturday, April 21st, with two additional screenings on Saturday. Each ticket includes a Q&A with Alzheimer’s specialists and a post-program information table staffed by experts from the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter.

Watching the film trailer is incredible to see listless, withdrawn individuals who suddenly come to life with alert expressions and enthusiasm as their music brings back their memories of love and joy. Please visit  MusicAndMemory.org for more information about how Music and Memory can help elderly patients, or to volunteer or donate an iPod (new or used) or mp3 player. We also have local elder care facilities in this county who may be willing to give this music therapy a try to improve the quality of a patient's life.

FOODSTOCK 2012

It's time once again for the annual FOODSTOCK Event, hosted by our good friends at WJFF Public Radio. It will be held from 11AM to 3PM on Saturday, May 5th. This is the third year and it promises to be their biggest festival ever with fine food and wine from over 55 vendors of food, wine and craft beer. It will all take place at the fabulous Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, NY.

Farmers, producers and growers of all kinds will be represented at “FOODSTOCK,” as well as local restaurants, wineries and distributors. Each will offer a representative sample of their product for attendees to taste. All products will be available for purchase. Restaurants will offer a taste of their signature dish.  There will be fresh produce of all kinds, amazing baked goods, homemade jams and preserves, meats and smoked meats and fish, maple products, tantalizing desserts, sausages, sauces and pestos, fudge and cheeses, and an array of locally-produced wines. One of our local Mountaindale producers, Lousia Pabon of the Look Up Cafe and Verde & Co will be on hand with her delicious freshly made Sofrito.

Please call 845-482-4141 call to make your reservations! They guarantee you the most delicious afternoon you'll spend all year as you sample all the amazing foods, wines and beers. Fundraising events like FOODSTOCK help keep WJFF on the air and serving you, local listeners, who enjoy quality public radio. Please help spread the word among your friends, family and co-workers.

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.

Girl Scouts Centennial Celebration

The Girl Scouts are now 100 years old but I got the gift. Over the weekend, I attended the Girl Scouts Centennial Celebration in White Plains, New York, with the 2500 scouts who pre-registered for this major event. The purpose was to celebrate scouting with expo-like booths and to recognize the 178 teen Girl Scouts who were receiving scouting's highest honor, the Gold Award. Since Girl Scouts are encouraged to build character and take action to "make the world a better place," Leaders had previously been asked to provide descriptions of some of our best "Take Action" projects. My troop submitted an application which explained the "Be Smart, Don't Start" anti-smoking program I had done this past November for Girl Scout Troops throughout our area. More details can be found in the October posting entitled, "Great American Smokeout"  Our project was selected to be included in the expo from submissions from all over the seven counties that comprise the Heart of the Hudson Council. Our goal was to discourage young girls from starting to smoke, while also providing them with information to help them encourage loved ones to try to stop smoking.

Our display included a laptop presentation of the very powerful "Splode"video from the TheTruth.com website, as well as a load of craft supplies so that all of our visitors could design posters, banners and signs with anti-smoking messages, and inspiring cards for various smoker family members. Some of the stories those little girls told me were really hearbreaking - like grandparents who died of cancer, or were sick now. I asked each girl to place her hand over her heart and make a promise to herself that she would never start smoking, and would always remember how smart she was now, and not let anyone talk her into bad choices. 

I was amazed and pleased about how receptive the girls and their parents and Leaders were to our table. The most memorable moment came when a troop returned to our table for a second visit. They had brought along a slightly older woman who I took to be the Troop Grandmother, probably the Leader's mom. I heard them telling her how she just "had to hear the info at this booth." Our eyes met & we both knew she was a smoker who had just been ambushed. As gently & tactfully as possible, I talked with her about what we had been doing at the table all day. Then I told her about my late father, Harry Schulman, who had gotten sick of his two pack a day habit and made up his mind, "I'm not going to smoke today. I don't know about tomorrow, but I'm not going to smoke today." Being a salesperson at heart, I had to go for the 'close' and asked her if she might try this tomorrow. She said, "No, TODAY!" Wherever she is, I send her blessings and thanks for that special gift.