A Special Thanks To All My Volunteers and Those Who Have Offered Us Encouragement As We Built a Train

Years from now when I look back on this summer, it will be remembered as the summer that I, along with a plethora of volunteers built a train in our small hamlet of Mountaindale. The task that many thought would not happen is rapidly coming to a close. The project on our little section of the Rails to Trails coming to an end as our volunteers, my summer intern, Aaron Schmitt, and I put the finishing touches on the sculptural interpretation of the old O&W steam locomotive number 33 that crashed here back in 1904.

Hundreds of hours have been poured into this project, and countless volunteers have given of themselves, their time, and their assets to make it possible. There were days that seemed too long until someone would come along the trail walking, biking or on a segway to say hello, and offer us a kind word of encouragement. I remember the day we took the forklift and brought the first section of the train up onto the trail, remember the day we welded together four old 55 gallon drums over beside Raymon's studio, and recall that Saturday when Barb Schmitt and I went over to the Manza Family Farm to pick out our plants. Those and so many other memories will stay with me.

As the project came together, and our efforts started seeing a dream come into reality, rehab materials, lumber, drums, screws and found parts starting to resemble a train, plants going into the dirt, people started showing up to help out and lend a hand...especially children, a whole flock of them that would stop by each evening around 5:30 wanting to know what we were doing on this particular day, and what they could do to be a part of it all. Somehow, just at the crucial moment, things we needed, or needed done all just fell into place, someone stepping up to provide just what it was we needed at that precise moment in time. Our little train was not the singular effort of one person, one group, but a collaboration of some of the most wonderful people I have ever had the privilege to work with.

Sitting here with my morning coffee, I realize my days on the trail are realistically now measured in hours, not weeks and days, the time when you could find me on the trail almost any time of the day seven days a week all but over. Those days have been hard days, but happy ones, and ones that will be missed. So, to all those who gave of themselves and their time, to all those who volunteered, to all those that made a hard task so much easier with your kind words and compliments, I offer a heart felt Thank You, and want all of you to know that our 2011 Renaissance Project, our train garden stands as a testament to all of you, a tribute to what Community is truly all about.

Manza Family Farm a Gardener's Paradise

I learned the joy found in gardening early on in my life, planting marigolds in the front of our house in Jeffersonville Indiana, carefully putting them in the holes my Mom had pre-dug for them, her following behind me righting whatever I did not get quite right. I remember with fondness going out with the hose to water her flower beds, feeling so grown up when she praised her little gardening man. All these decades later, looking back, gardening has been one of those constants in my life, a touchstone that has kept me grounded even when my life seemed scattered and in disarray. There is something magical about digging one's hands into the soil, a purity found in the simple pleasure of digging holes and planting seedlings that will grow up into beautiful plants with beautiful blooms that could have only been designed in the heavens above.

It is the life long love affair with gardening that has me serving as this year's Committee Chair for the "Mountaindale Community Development Project's" beautification project for Sullivan Renaissance, and that responsibility comes with certain rewards that one cannot put a value on. One of those rewards occurred this past Saturday when Barb Schmitt and I loaded into her mini van and headed East on Route 17 as we made our way to the Manza Family Farm in Montgomery, NY.

If you are into gardening, landscaping, if you love trees, bushes, shrubs and a rainbow of beautiful flowers, you have GOT TO PLAN A VISIT to this spectacular gardening center. The staff is there to serve you. They are friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and PATIENT...trust me, me in a gardening center of this quality is like letting a kid loose in a candy store, and patience is an important attribute to possess, as I was jumping from pillar to post as this flower and that would capture my attention, my mind whirling at the possibilities, while another part of my brain was trying to get everything I wanted, while at the same time staying WITHIN MY BUDGET!

The employees took my enthusiasm in stride, traveled with me on my journey of joy through their stock, one of them making of list of everything I choose, while another one pulled out the plants, tagging each and every one, all the while, giving me the time I needed to see everything they had, answering my questions when they popped into my head. Imagine Barb and I in "Alice's Wonderland," each of us asking the other almost simultaneously, "Did you see this" or "Oh look at the colors of these Delphiniums" as we wrestled with important decisions, trying to find the perfect plants to give us that winning WOW FACTOR for our little project in Mountaindale.

We left the Manza Farm tired, happy, knowing our choices will be cared for until Friday when we can pick them up. As a man who has done professional landscaping, I left impressed for several reasons. First, I was impressed with the staff, appreciated them letting me think as I strode about their beautiful kingdom being dazzled at one of the best inventories of planting stock I have seen in years...not since I worked for Scarff's Nursery in New Carlisle, Ohio some three plus decades ago have I seen such a wide variety. Secondly, their stock is healthy, vibrant, lush, ready to make a statement in your garden this year, and for years to come.

If you and your family are planning a garden, or just looking for a few statement pieces to enhance what you already have, encourage you to take a drive over to Manza's Family Farm. You will be happy you did!

MANZA FARMS
730 Route 211
Montgomery, NY 12549
Phone: (845)692-4364
Fax: (845)692-4109

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)

April 30th Clean Up/Maintenance Day Great Success

This past Saturday, the Mountaindale Economic Development Project, our Sullivan Renaissance Project Committee and local volunteers got together for a day or work and play here in our beautiful little hamlet, and with the weather cooperating, a lot of work was accomplished, with those participating having a great time.

The Hummingbird Garden (a 2009 Renaissance Project) received some much needed pruning, grooming and weeding...still some work to do, but it is presenting nicely. Looks like we need to replace a few plants, but overall, the garden wintered well, and the daffodils that are now in bloom there should soon be replaced with other flowers of the season. Work was begun on the Main Street water statement (small water pond) which is located adjacent to the Mountaindale Community Art Center. The bedding was cleaned, dirt turned, and some annual seeds planted around the pond for some additional WOW factor.

Some serious time was spent tying construction ribbon around trees that need to be thinned out for this years Renaissance Project over in the Rails to Trails corridor...unfortunately, someone (perhaps not realizing their purpose) came along later in the day and took them all down, so we will have to go in and remark said trees slated for removal using spray paint.

There was a GREAT DEAL OF ACTIVITY behind the school, much of it centered around washing off the maze, and cleaning up around the nature bridge. Add too this list of accomplishments the first mowing of the season, and Mountaindale is really looking beautiful as we welcome the month of May, and the summer visitors who are beginning to make their appearance in our community.

A very special thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who helped us this past Saturday...our small town looks as beautiful as it does because of each and every one of you.

Rainy Monday Mountaindale Announcement of Clean Up/Maintenance Days

Greetings to everyone on this rainy day Monday in April. Trust everyone enjoyed their holiday(s) during this past week? Wanted to bring some important announcements and important dates to your attention.

First Up-Mountaindale Maintenance Day
Saturday April 30, 2011
2-5 PM...meet up in front of 60 Main Street.

The purpose of this event is two fold in purpose, and gives volunteers OF ALL AGES a chance to lend their hands to the task of keeping Mountaindale the beautiful little hamlet that it is. As said, the purpose of this Mountaindale Work Day is two fold.

1. We will be picking up the town (litter, branches and the like) and doing some spring maintenance work on past projects. Raking, turning the soil, trimming off die back on some of our perennials as they get ready to start their spring growth.

2. Sharing plans for this years Renaissance Project, and doing some Pre-Project clean up in the area (Entry to Rails to Trails Corridor) where this years project is to be installed.

We hope you can plan to attend this Work Day, and if you or your organization would like to schedule a Volunteer Day here in Mountaindale, please contact Barb at (845)434-4747 or Sherwood (Committee Chair of this year's Renaissance Project) at (845)693-4513.

We also would like to remind everyone that the "Fallsburg 2011 Spring Clean Up" weekend is scheduled for May 20-22, 2011. This is a PERFECT TIME to clean up those hard to get rid of items, and see that they are disposed of properly so we keep our pristine community looking beautiful.

Residents of Fallsburg
2011 Spring Clean Up

Dates: May 20th-22 Hours 9:00AM-5:00PM

Will be held ONLY at the
*South Fallsburg Sewer Plant

1 Pickup Truck Load PER HOUSEHOLD

All material must be separated.
PIPE MUST BE CUT INTO FOUR FOOT SECTIONS
DRUMS AND TANKS MUST BE EMPTY AND CUT OPEN
OR CRUSHED...PAINT CANS MUST BE EMPTY
NO BRUSH, YARD WASTE, OR BAGS OF LEAVES
NO STUMPS OR ROCKS, NO HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE

ONLY *2* TIRES OFF RIMS PER HOUSEHOLD

NO COMPUTERS, MONITORS, LAPTOPS OR TV'S
NO FLUORESCENT BULBS

PROOF OF RESIDENCY REQUIRED!!!!!

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