Spring Has Sprung, and Mountaindale is Blossoming

Today the weather outside says Spring has sprung, daffodils that are now about six inches tall all but boldly proclaiming it, and our small hamlet of Mountaindale is blossoming in so many ways as winter fades away, and this season of rebirth washes down around us.

First, our small community has some new faces, with more moving in shortly. As these new friendly faces make their way around town, make sure to introduce yourselves, welcome them to town. Additionally, there are rumors about, that new business could soon be arriving in the form of a new restaurant taking up residence in town...don't tell any one, but if this one comes to fruition, we could soon find ourselves playing host to a cozy little full service restaurant that will be serving healthy, locally grown foods, and some really great coffee...more on that as it gets closer to reality. This one really excites me, as I would love to walk down around the corner to where our pizza parlor used to be for a really good cup of coffee...and a really good muffin would be almost too much to ask for, but one can hope.

Plans and a grant application have been submitted to the folks over at Sullivan Renaissance, and as soon as we get word of approval, look for a beautiful new project to start taking shape over at the entrance to our Rails too Trails Corridor. We also are still looking for proposals for our Art Center from some of our local area artists and crafts persons, so if any of you know some of our local talent, please have them contact Sherwood at (845) 693-4513 to discuss the possibilities. Additionally, this space and others in town are available for various and assorted community events.

A drive around the area revealed activity around the various seasonal campgrounds in our area, which means our summer visitors cannot be far behind...Yes, Spring has sprung, and it is pleasing to see Mountaindale shaking off winters dreary coat and again becoming the vibrant little community that we are.

The Spring Melt Begins...

Like an old man going bald, winter is losing his grip, the snow line fast receding with spring rains washing away most of the white stuff, the smell and taste of rebirth palpable as it hangs in the air. A walk along our rural roads past burgeoning streams leaping and roaring by, the music of it's song music to our ears as rushing water escapes established beds and boundaries, the force and volume threatening to uproot normally safe majestic trees that in warmer months will provide shade from the midsummer sun.

Been sick with the crudes here for a few days, the antibiotics wrecking havoc on my system, but going outside for some fresh air this morning, could not resist the call of spring, the air warm, the smell tickling and teasing my senses, so I traipsed back inside, gather up my camera, put on a heavier coat and went out to capture this moment in time where winter falls and spring begins, even if not officially. Thought I would share a few of my pictures here. Hope that enjoy them as much as I enjoyed getting out of the for a bit, taking a hour to commune with the wonder just outside my door living here in Mountaindale.

Mountaindale Local Artist Thumbnail-Elozua Studios

Mountaindale and its surrounding countryside have a multitude of treasures for people to see and enjoy, including many very talented artisans. In the first of what we hope is a series of thumbnail introductions, we would like you to meet local resident and incredibly talented artisan, Raymon Elozua.

Raymon Elozua is a sculptor and photographer who rented the old Fred Eckert garage as his studio. Since arriving in 2005 he has created http://www.vanishingcatskills.us/ as a documentary record of the remains of the hotel and bungalow colonies in Sullivan County. Currently he is working on a visual and oral history project on the egg farms in the area as well as working with Evadne Giannini and Allen Frishman to create the Catskills Bungalow Heritage Museum.

Other Links For This Artist

Home Scrap

Stove Burner

Constructing Elozua: A Retrospective