A Great Reisling Now Being Served At Eminence Road Farm Winery

I received this Press Release from the fine folks at Eminence Road Farm Winery, and wanted to pass it along to all the other wine lovers that read this blog...yes, I enjoy a great bottle of wine, and tend to be picky in what I like.



PRESS RELEASE



Hello from Eminence Road,



Fall is coming and so is the 2010 vintage starting today with the 2010 Elizabeth's Vineyard, Dry Riesling. We will be pouring this wine all weekend at the farmers' markets and winery starting this afternoon in Jeffersonville, so drop by, have a taste and see what the fuss is all about.



The wine is atypical to say the least so to help you understand why there is indeed a fuss we've written some light copy for people of every level of wine appreciation, from the casual drinker to the jaded snob. By all means feel free to stop reading at any time.



For the casual drinker this wine offers aromas of lime zest, clean, dry, fruit flavor and a pleasant, slightly creamy finish. Excellent with shellfish of any kind.



For the burgeoning wine geek you get all of the above plus the opportunity to drink a riesling that has not been fined or filtered, has zero residual sugar and has also undergone a complete malolactic fermentation, which is unusual for riesling. You can use these basic winemaking terms to completely bore everyone you talk to at your next hipster picnic.



For the jaded wine geek who always says "Ah yes, but the '21 was far superior, I had it at the domaine last fall and Pierre commented that blah, blah, blah . . ." you get everything the casual drinker and the burgeoning geek get plus a wine that was picked early in a very warm vintage to preserve acidity and despite the low pH still managed to complete malolactic. A wine that was fermented to dryness naturally and only has about 10.5 degrees of alcohol, had only one SO2 addition just after fermentation (none at bottling), sat on its lees for 10 months and is truly a triumph of wine making over grape variety--though not over terrior, which comes through clear as day in the powder texture and feathery finish. You get a wine with a hint of botrytis in the nose that should turn honeyed over the next couple years as the wine fills out and oxidation slowly but surely begins to set in. To sum it up: you get a kooky "vin naturale" from right here in New York state. Enjoy.



Anyway, hope to see you all soon.

Sincerely,

Andrew, Jennifer and Lester

Should Communities Ban Fracking?

In this week's Tuesday edition of the Sullivan County Democrat there was an article on the front page of the paper on Bethel's possible banning of the unsafe and controversial Natural Gas drilling technique known as fracking. Seems that at least one group of politicians have a clue, are waking up to the very real dangers of Hydraulic Fracturing. Bethel town supervisor Dan Sturm announced that the community will be exploring the town's authority over drilling, will be considering an amendment to the town's zoning rules and regulations to protect the town's citizens, environment and water from the very serious dangers associated with Natural Gas Drilling.

Most in attendance at the special Saturday meeting last weekend supported this direction in Bethel, but a very small minority spoke up for the Natural Gas industry's desire to frack our lands. One local property owner, Jack Danchak was quoted, "What you're trying to tell me is what I can or can't do with my mineral rights, and this is wrong." This is a simplistic selfish view of the situation. One has to wonder if Jack Danchak has weighed the costs should there be a problem with a Natural Gas Well on his land that poisons the drinking water supply of all of his neighbors...you cannot put that cat back in the bag. Furthermore, Jack Danchak fails to state another very scary reality...landowners can be FORCED TO ALLOW FRACKING under their lands.



A Natural Gas driller such as Chesapeake Energy or Exxon can package parcels in a way that forces those against fracking to surrender their mineral rights, would force these landowners to become unwilling participants in the raping of their own lands. Take 1000 acres in a given area, all strategically tied together (touching). Property owners that own 600 acres have sold their rights to the Natural Gas Landman, signed contracts, but the owners of the other 400 acres have not. Those owners of 400 acres will be put in with the six hundred acres and have no choice in the matter of having their land fracked. New York legally is a FORCED POOLING state, and this allows the Natural Gas companies to pretty well frack anywhere they want to, with the rights of the land owners subservient to their wishes and greed.

"As the shale gas boom sweeps across the United States, drillers are turning to a controversial legal tool called forced pooling to gain access to minerals beneath private property--in many cases, without the landowners' permission."

Governor Cuomo has shown his hand...he has sold out to the Natural Gas industry, and is prepared to clear the path to wide spread fracking in the state of New York...that means local communities are going to have to make the fight a local one, and that is going to be an uphill battle with little chance of success short of wide spread civil disobedience to keep these companies out of our communities. Much like every aspect of America right now, Hydraulic Fracturing is a very divisive political issue with no acceptable middle ground to be found. The Natural Gas industry, despite evidence to the contrary, is going to claim this drilling technique can be deployed safely. Those in opposition know better, and sadly natural gas industry lobbyist are carrying in the day in Albany, the voice of reason and truth drown out by dollars doled out to politicians, couple with a public propaganda campaign that is assaulting us on almost every local TV station on both Cable and Satellite.



The town of Bethel, it's board should be applauded for their stand, and other communities need to swiftly follow suit before it is too late. Government officials at every level of government, for the most part have lost their way, forgotten their number one responsibility as a elected official, which is to protect the health, safety and quality of life of a community, county or state's citizens. Fracking risks our safe drinking water supplies, and without safe, clean, healthy, pure drinking water, citizens, their health, safety and quality of life are placed at risk. Is it wise to risk this most precious of natural resources (safe drinking water) for what, at best is nothing more than a transitional energy who's supplies will be rapidly drained and used up, leaving our communities, our environment destroyed for a few years of energy convenience? Bethel is taking a stand on the side of right and justice...what other communities here in Sullivan County are prepared to do the right thing, and stand with them in demanding a full and complete ban on Natural Gas Hydraulic Fracturing?

Please Help Ban Wide Spread Fracking in New York State

September 1, 2011



We've gained an additional week in our campaign to ban fracking in New York and we need to use it. Hurricane Irene delayed the Department of Environmental Conservation's release of its draft environmental impact statement, which could open large portions of our state to fracking. Sign the petition to Governor Cuomo to ban fracking now!



Fracking is a method of drilling for natural gas that involves injecting millions of gallons of water, sand and toxic chemicals into dense rock. Fracking is a threat to our drinking water, health, communities and environment. Over 3,000 New Yorkers have already signed the petition, but we want to get to 5,000 before we deliver the petition. Will you add your name to our petition asking Governor Cuomo to ban fracking?



We know that there are alternatives to natural gas, but there are no alternatives to water. To convince Governor Cuomo, we need to build a strong movement of people demanding that he stand up to the oil & gas industry. Will you help send a message to Governor to ban fracking in New York?

Sign today to ban fracking.



Stay tuned for more, and thanks for taking action,

How to apply For FEMA aid...Please Read Carefully

This important information is being shared from content originally appearing in the Times Union. A link to the article is included at end of this snippet.

First on the list, check to see if your county is covered by a disaster declaration. Not sure a disaster declaration has been signed yet for Sullivan County, but the president has signed one for Ulster. Second (PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY), if you have insurance (even if you know you do not have flood insurance), you must file a claim FIRST with your insurance company.

Apply: Online at http://DisasterAssistance.gov; via smartphone at m.fema.gov; by phone at (800) 621-3362 or TTY (800) 462-7585 for people with speech or hearing disabilities.

Immediate Disaster assistance

Housing needs

Temporary housing (a place to live for a limited period of time): Money is available to rent a different place to live, or a government-provided housing unit when rental properties are not available.

Repair: Money is available to homeowners to repair damage from the disaster to their primary residence not covered by insurance. The goal is to make the damaged home safe, sanitary and functional.

Replacement: Money is available to homeowners to replace their home destroyed in the disaster that is not covered by insurance. The goal is to help the homeowner with the cost of replacing their destroyed home.

Permanent housing construction: Direct assistance or money for the construction of a home. This type of help occurs only in insular areas or remote locations specified by FEMA, where no other type of housing assistance is possible.

Other than housing needs:

Money is available for necessary expenses and needs caused by the disaster. This includes:

Disaster-related medical and dental costs; disaster-related funeral and burial cost; clothing; household items (room furnishings, appliances); tools (specialized or protective clothing and equipment) required for your job; necessary educational materials (computers, school books, supplies); fuels for primary heat source (heating oil, gas); cleanup items (wet-dry vacuum, dehumidifier); disaster damaged vehicle; moving and storage expenses related to the disaster; other necessary expenses or serious needs as determined by FEMA.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Hope-rises-amid-disaster-from-Irene-2148888.php#ixzz1WkW1Fp16

Volunteers Needed in Margaretville

For those looking to volunteer, wanting to give a hand in helping folks dig out and recover after Hurricane Irene, the folks in Margaretville area can sure use some help. Many of us may not realize it, but saw on CNN today that 600 families in the Catskill's lost their homes during this natural disaster, and am convinced that number will grow as more homes get inspected. So, if you have gloves, rakes and shovels, and are looking for a worthwhile project to donate your time to, please contact these folks and drive over too lend them a hand.

Volunteers Needed in Margaretville-Original Article

Sep 1

Posted by lisa

Our Margaretville correspondent reports that many buildings outside town, ones that house a lot of poor and elderly folk, are condemned and structurally unsound. They’re looking for volunteers to come to the Catskills and assist the elderly who “need help cleaning their homes of mud and others whose homes are awaiting inspection where they will need help either with cleaning or getting the stuff out if it’s condemned.” Volunteers should bring rakes, shovels and old gloves.

Help will be needed, she says, through the end of next week long after people forget the disaster.

Money donations can continued to be made through the MARK project (If you send a check, mark that it’s for flood/hurricane relief):

PO Box 516

Arkville, New York 12406

845 586 3500

Calling ALL WALKERS...October 16th...Please Save The Date

Some causes are more dear and near my own heart than are others...any walk benefiting making strides against Breast Cancer is one of them. On October 16th the American Cancer Society is holding a walk, "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer", and would encourage any of you who have had your lives, your family touched by cancer to drum up some sponsor and be a part of this great event.

Saturday Night September 10th, Wine Flight Benefitting Sullivan Arc

A great night of wine tasting with wine connoisseur, Robert Michelezzio to benefit the Sullivan Arc Foundation is being held on September 10th (Saturday after Labor Day) Chapin Estate Lake Club's outdoor pavilion. The event will feature some great wines, all costing less than $20 per bottle, and various cheeses will be serve that compliment the wines. Red and Whites will be served at this event. Tickets are available online and are $35 for singles, and $60 for a couple.



Directions to Chapin Estate Lake Club:



Note: You must use the Pine Grove Entrance

No one will be admitted at the Chapin Estate main entrance on St Rt 55

From Rt. 17 - exit # 104

• At exit 104 go West on 17B for approximtely 6 miles to Pine Grove Rd.

(there is a traffic light and Citgo gas station)

• Turn left on Pine Grove Rd (From points west turn right onto Pine Grove

from 17B)

• Travel 3.4 miles to the gate as Pine Grove Rd becomes Woodstone Trail - go through the gate - gravel roads from this point

• Travel .6 miles to Swinging Bridge Gate on left - Turn left (notice Chapin Hiking Trails sign on your right)

• Go through gate and travel .5 mile and make a left onto Cove Lane

(road sign is on rock)

• Proceed to end of road (cul-de-sac), to sign for Lake House - then follow

driveway on right to Lake Club

• Pavillion is located outside the rear of the building

Hurricane Irene...Cleaning Up In The Aftermath

Sit on a bench on Main Street here in Mountaindale this week, and what you will see is truck after truck passing through our hamlet, carrying stone, rock and crusher run to road repair projects. The damage from Hurricane Irene is everywhere, and it is going to take a long while to repair it all. I took just a short drive yesterday, looking at Park Hill Road where one whole side of the road gave way. Spoke to town of Fallsburg workers who have spent so far two full days rebuilding and stabilizing this hillside piece of road.

From there, I drove along Spring Glen Road where Sullivan County workers have been struggling to stabilize numerous areas on both sides of the road where Hurricane Irene just ate up huge chunks of land, washing way banks until sections of the road collapsed.



This road trip ended up at 209 where State road crews were out in force repairing just one small section of this state road that was washed away, traffic backed up for miles as vehicles. took turns navigating what for now is a one lane roadway heading into and out of Ellenville over in Ulster County.



Seeing all this damage up closer in personal, it's scary to think that FEMA finds itself broke, out of funds during our citizens time of need.

President Obama's Job Plan

The big story in the National News this week seems to be President Obama's Job's Plan, and his speech to the nation next week. When is he going to give it, and what is going to be included in the bill tops on the gossip mill followed in a close third by the big question, "What can he get passed through Congress".

The only viable evening for President Obama to present his plan to the American people should be next Thursday evening. My thinking on this is simple. Monday is Labor Day, and most of us will be coming back home from being out of town, or holding BarBQ's in our back yards as we support the workers weekend. Tuesday is the day before school starts for most Americans, which comes with a whole host of duties and responsibilities for both Moms and Dads, so this would not be a good evening for such a speech. Wednesday is the first day of school, and that first evening home brings papers for parents to sign, and kids wanting to talk about their new classes so forth and so on. Fridays are never good for such speeches, which leaves Thursday evening by default. We shall see what the White House decides.

The president's plan is supposed to be about putting Americans back to work. Well, a word to the White House..."Illegal Aliens" are not Americans, and it is time to stop letting them work in our economy when Americans are out of work, cannot find jobs.

"Crucially, potential deportees will not only be given permission to stay in the United States, but also work permits. This at a time when over 22 million Americans and legal immigrants are out of work, many searching desperately to find something."

So, though I know it will not happen, a good place for our president, our Congress and our government to start, would be to start enforcing our immigration laws as they exist on the books, and making E-Verify the law of the land. Deporting illegal aliens, weeding the 7.5 million of them working in our economy has the potential to put some 5 million Americans (almost 25 percent of those currently without jobs) back too work.

Next, stop trying to fix our economy with various and assorted tax gimmicks, and tax breaks to the uber rich...giving rich people more money through lower taxes is not creating more jobs, and the Republicans slogan, "Don't tax the job creators" is a cruel lie. Lets figure out what has to be done to pay down the federal deficit and raise taxes accordingly, and be done with it. It might be some bitter medicine to swallow, but we will all be better off for it.

Corporate America is sitting on some $2 Trillion dollars, and they have no interest right now in creating jobs...instead, they have thrown their ethical and moral responsibilities to America and its citizens down the proverbial toilet, and only care about profits at all cost with no eye on tomorrow. Providing or maintaining tax breaks for the uber rich, refusing to close corporate tax loop holes, providing subsidies to (as example) the oil and natural gas industries is not the way to go.

If the president really wants to pass a jobs bill, really wants to put Americans back to work, then he needs to be bold and decisive. The time has come to rebuild America's public infrastructure, and I am not talking about a few thousand jobs rebuilding our schools. I am talking about a true American Renaissance where we rebuild our roads, bridges, schools and other public infrastructure all across America. We also need to rebuild our industrial infrastructure, put America back on track to being a PRODUCER OF GOODS, rather than a CONSUMER OF GOODS. Green jobs will not save America, will not put some 22 million Americans back to work by itself. Service jobs, and minimum wage jobs in Walmarts across America are not going to pay Americans A LIVING WAGE. We need real jobs that pay real wages, and for that too happen, for us to save the middle class from extinction, we need a jobs plan that REBUILDS AMERICA...both its public sector, and its private industrial sector.

Lastly, if we the citizens of America want to put Americans back to work, we need to take a very big step of our own...43 percent of China's exports arrive on American shores, and we all run to Walmart, Sam's Clubs, BJ's and other big discount stores to scope up these bargain goods...look around you, look at your crumbling nation, look at the jobs that have been shipped off shore, and ask yourselves, "Have these cheap bargain goods been good for us, is the big box model of shopping been good for our communities, or instead destroyed them?" Maybe it is time to get back to some good old American protectionism, time to return to the days when we SHOP LOCALLY at stores that carry goods "Made in America". Sure, an American made widget, gadget or whatever might cost more, but it would keep Americans employed, and KEEP OUR WEALTH IN AMERICA.

Sadly, when the President comes before us next week, it will be more of the same old pablum we people always gets. He will suggest putting a bandaid on a bleeding artery, and tell Congress to end the partisan bickering and pass his jobs bill...blah, blah, and blah. He will not be bold, he will not lay out a plan to save our nation and put millions of Americans back to work, and if there was a Republican in the White House, it would still be the same old story.

One last thought...our government's Federal Reserve is lending OUR MONEY out to banks and other financial institutions at zero percent interest and letting them turn around and lend it to us at greatly inflated interest rates. How about we jump start the economy, jump start the contruction industry by stopping this practice, and instead lending the money to America's citizens...imagine making homeownership a truly attainable goal by having mortgages available directly from the Federal Reserve at say 3.5 percent interest? Ballooning interest rates after a low introductory rate CRASHED the housing market, put families in positions where they could no longer afford their monthly mortgage payments.



In short, the banks killed the real estate market, and secondarily the construction industry...so why are we continuing to lend them money at ZERO PERCENT? Maybe the beginning of a American Renaissance needs to start with a basic reality....we need fewer banks, and we need to stop lending them citizen money at zero percent interest, we need to let American Citizens go directly to the Federal Reserve for loans on the most singularly important part of the American Dream, home ownership.

Local Citizens Pitch In To Get Mountaindale's Rails To Trails Segment Back Open

There are a lot of counties, the towns and hamlets in them that got hit a lot harder than we here in Mountaindale got hit...that said, we took our share of the pounding that Hurricane Irene (which is shaping up financially to be one of the top ten disasters America has ever witnessed) delivered to the East Coast this past weekend. Many people are still without electricity, and some small towns have been hit so hard they may never recover. Governments up and down the coast have their hands full, and in many cases, they need citizens to step up and help with some of the heavy lifting as cleanup after Hurricane Irene progresses forward.

Yesterday, we had some of our own citizens who live, work or recreate here in Mountaindale up on the Rails To Trails leading by example, doing the heavy lifting necessary to get our trail back open and accessible to members of the general public who use it frequently during the summer months. Ken and Barb Schmitt from Diversified Realty Services brought in the heavy equipment, sending their backhoe onto the trail to do some of the serious lifting. Charlie Sanborn of Cinder Track Bicycles and Mike Yavaniski (who is still without electricity in his own home) were out there with chainsaws, rakes and shovels. It took a couple hours, but the trail is now at least open and available, though it may take weeks, even months to repair some parts of the trail here in Mountaindale, as the Hurricane washed away a lot of the foundation base on the rail head, the water even causing land collapse in a couple of areas.



The good news is we can access the trail, and some of the heavy lifting has been done, thus freeing up town and county resources right now for other more pressing problems. Our after storm problems need to be addressed, but right now there are other communities that have far more pressing concerns to deal with...so, if any of our readers find themselves with a few hours to spare, we encourage you to consider volunteering anywhere where Hurricane Irene clean up is being done.

Slow Down FRACKING....Ask For Extension of Comment Period

Just in from our friends in the Fight to Keep Fracking and its insidious environmental damages out of our communities. Tomorrow the fight to save our county, and the Greater Catskills from the environmental and health ills that come along with Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) begins when the state of NY releases its fundamentally flawed, industry created Revised Draft SGEIS...it is imperiative we be given ADEQUATE TIME to read and understand this 1000 page document. Below is the Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy Press Release...please, weigh in on this IMPORTANT ISSUE.

PRESS RELEASE



Extend the Public Comment Period

On Wednesday, the NYS DEC will release the last section of the Revised Draft SGEIS on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program which already runs to well over one thousand pages. While there's abundant evidence that hydrofracking should be prohibited, it's unlikely that we'll see a ban in New York any time soon. In the short term, we must do everything we can to forestall unsafe drilling while continuing to build public awareness, so that elected officials will eventually be forced to do their job and protect the public.

Right now, this means focusing our efforts on getting the NYS DEC to give the public ample time to read, analyze and comment on the Draft. Please take action and demand at least 180 days to read, analyze, and comment on this highly technical document.

An extended public comment period will give us time to formulate tens of thousands of substantive comments, which the DEC is required by law to read and address. Comments submitted on the first Draft SGEIS occupied the DEC for more than a year. We can do it again!

Commenting on the Draft: A Workshop Conducted by Roger Downs

Residents of the Upper Delaware region are invited to attend a free workshop led by Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter's Roger Downs. Roger is one of our most knowledgeable experts on the draft SGEIS, and with his guidance, ordinary citizens will be able to submit the type of comments that will force the DEC to rethink its disastrousplan to frack New York. Don't miss this chance to make a difference. Attend the two-hour workshop:

Saturday, September 3 10 a.m.-Noon



The Old North Branch Inn

North Branch, New York

To RSVP, and for more information, call (845) 468-7063, or email info@catskillcitizens.org

Two out of three people who find out about fracking think the risks aren't worth the rewards.



Public awareness is the key to our success, so spread the word!

.

Hurricane Irene POUNDING Mountaindale NY

Yes, we can all thank our lucky stars that Hurricane Irene is not far worse than it could have been. That said, our small hamlet is TAKING A POUNDING as the relentless rain pummels our little community. The stream behind the High School is completely out of its bank, the water level within nine inches of the bottom of our small foot bridge. Our segment of the "Rails to Trails is being eaten away, a 22 foot wide foot or deep stream replacing what used to be a viable bike and hiking path...sure that Woodridge Segway and our very own Cinder Track bike shop can use all the help they can get next week trying to get this trail back into usable condition.

The wood retaining wall that contains the stream as it runs under Main Street is holding, but JUST BARELY...if you walk to the back where the stream makes the sharp right turn and heads under the street you can watch the water flowing up from UNDER this retaining wall.



In short, Mountaindale is sitting on the edge, and we need this rain to stop sooner rather than later, or we could have some serious problems coming our way.



UPDATE....



It is 2:02 in the afternoon, and the rain has stopped, the sun shining on our small hamlet. The water is beginning to recede, and if one did not know where to look...IE, up on the Rails to Trails as one example, you would hardly know we had just been through a horrific hurricane. Mean while, out and about, we ended up coming to the rescue of a couple who had gotten themselves into some deep water, but more on that in another post. Just glad we are done with all this.

Your Saturday Morning Hurricane Irene Report

The good news...Hurricane Irene is greatly weakened, down to a Category 3 Hurricane, it is lumbering along at around 14 miles per hour as a Cat 1 Hurricane as it makes its way up the East coast toward New York. That said, lets not get lulled into a false sense of security...this Hurricane is still packing wind gusts at over 80 MPH, and is some 500 miles wide carrying a whole lot of rain.

It is easy to assume we have dodged a bullet, and in some ways we have...especially the folks in New York City...a Cat 2 or 3 Hurricane hitting lower Manhattan and other low lying areas in the five boroughs of New York would have been catastrophic...a Category 1 still does not look pretty, and is going to do a whole lot of damage. Above is the most recent map, the red showing the areas targeted for Hurricane damage...New York is smack dab in that red area, and if you go out from that center 250 miles (diameter of storm), Sullivan County and our small hamlet of Mountaindale are going to be seeing almost 12 hours of gusting winds, heavy rains and all that comes with those two dangers, such as falling trees, snapped power lines, and flooding.



Get your Hurricane Readiness kit ready, and prepare to hunker down...who knows, maybe we will all wake up on Monday after this storm has passed, and have a good laugh over so much ado over nothing, be thankful that Hurricane Irene passing us by without doing much harm.

Track The Hurricane...Great Site

Track Hurricane Irene as it bears down on us...right now, it is 622 miles from making landfall here in New York. You can track the storm here.

Mayor Bloomberg Orders Mandatory Evacuation Ahead of Hurricane Irene

The good news...right now, Hurricane Irene is only a Category Two Hurricane...the bad news is we ALL NEED TO TAKE THIS SERIOUS. Mayor Bloomberg has ordered a mandatory evacuation of all citizens living in a low lying area in all five boroughs of New York...this has never been done before, which hopefully gives everyone an idea of just how serious this situation is, just how dangerous this storm/hurricane heading our way can be.



If you live in any of these areas, or have friends/relatives living in these low lying areas, please encourage them to heed the warnings, to heed the evacuation orders. Our state's first responders are going to have their hands full as it is, and we as citizens have a responsibility to be our own first responders.



Also just in...all public transportation in New York City is shut down effective noon tomorrow. Also, many public roads are being shut down as well, including East bound traffic into Atlantic City.



Current storm track sees New York getting hit Sunday morning with a Cat 1 Hurricane hitting Long Island, with a lesser chance down of New York City taking a direct hit...expect storm surges of 3-6 foot...the worst of the weather should have passed all of us by Sunday evening.

Breaking National News...Amtrak Train Carrying 175 Derails in Nebraska

In breaking national news of interest to our little train hamlet...a Amtrak train carrying 175 passengers struck a vehicle on the tracks and has derailed out in Nebraska...no further details at this point.

FREE One on One Home Beautification Tour

If you have been contemplating some fall beautification efforts around your house, this offer from Catskill Harvest is a must event...imagine a professional coming to your home for a one on one tour, this professional making suggestions, and as a thank you, getting a no strings attached $25 gift certificate to use any way you want at Catskill Harvest! Call and make your appointment today.

Catskill Harvest Home Beautification Tour

Book a no-obligation tour before September 9 for a

FREE ESTIMATE and a $25 CATSKILL HARVEST GIFT CERTIFICATE

This isn't just a piece of property. This is a Home. And a Home deserves all of the care and attention that you'd provide for family members & close friends.

Our Home Beautification Tour is a brand new offering from the Landscaping & Construction team. The tour involves a 1:1 home-design walk-through & consultation with Catskill Harvest owner Will Foster. Together, you'll come up with fresh ideas to beautify & improve your Home this Fall.

You'll receive a free, detailed estimate. And the $25 Catskill Harvest Gift Certificate has no strings attached. Call 845-292-3833 before September 9.

What goes into Home Beautification?

Home Design & Construction

Services related to the Home and what's inside its walls:

** New home design & construction

** General property management & maintenance

** Guest homes & cottages

** Remodeling & restoration

** Kitchens & baths

** Carpentry & cabinetry

** Interior painting

** Electrical & plumbing

** Insulation & heating systems, including radiant floors

Home Design & Construction photo gallery

Landscape Design & Installation

Services related to what falls outside the walls of your Home:

** Landscape design & installation

** Garden & lawn maintenance

** Fencing, stone walls & patios

** Screened porches, decks, terraces & patios

** Pools, ponds, fountains & waterfalls

** Storm water drainage & routing

Landscape Design & Installation photo gallery

More Landscape Offerings

** Raised bed vegetable gardens

** Foundation veneers

** Driveway layout & engineering

** Exterior painting & roofing

** Woodland management

** Wind break tree lines

** Storm damage clean-up

We developed the Home Beautification Tour to help you focus on your Home's design, aesthetics and long-term value.

Schedule a Home Beautification Tour before September 9 for a free estimate and the $25 Catskill Harvest Gift Certificate. Call 845-292-3833.

Hurricane Irene...Please Prepare For Worst

Been up for awhile today watching the tracking of Hurricane Irene, and it is looking more and more likely that New York is going to get hit and hit hard. Though we are all hoping for the storm to veer off and miss us, it is imperative that we all take the necessary precautions, be prepared for the worse...depending on the tracking, winds, and amount of rain, we could be seeing both flooding, and electrical outages that could last from 3-10 days.

A tub full of water will allow you to flush toilets and water your plants. Fill up old bottle and jugs with drinking/cooking water. It is possible that water purification plants might be off line, which could make faucet water unsafe to drink even if you have running water. Do you have food to last you and your family for at least three days? Have you considered a small back up generator? At least with this, you could run a TV so that if cable is working, you can get up to

the minute news of what is going on should a disaster occur. Do you have an OLD FASHION plug into the phone jack phone that does not require electricity? Are all your cell phones charged up? If so, turn them off, and only use one at a time to preserve energy...only make EMERGENCY calls...even if we are not directly affected by the disaster, it is imperative to keep traffic down so as not to overload the circuits.



Do you have a basic set of HAND TOOLS...if we have not electricity, electric tools will not work, your circular saw not a lot of use. If you have rechargeable tools, make sure all your batteries have been charged. Screws, nails, plastic, stables and a staple gun, perhaps a couple of blue tarps in case windows get broken by high winds or flying debris are all good ideas. Consider setting up CAMP in a room or space devoid of windows just in case debris does break a window.



Remember....an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so lets all get our Hurricane Readiness kits prepared, and be careful this weekend.

What To Do AFTER The Hurricane Moves On

There is a very good likelihood that Hurricane Irene could bring some serious dangers to the Catskills this weekend. High winds, torrential rains and storm surge could create some major issues we will all have to deal with. including downed trees, flooding and power outages that could last for days. Below is a list of actions for AFTER THE HURRICANE PASSES, compliments of the American Red Cross.

• Continue listening to a NOAA Weather Radio or the local news for the latest updates.
• Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding even after the hurricane or tropical storm has ended.
• If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.
• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.
• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.
• Stay out of any building that has water around it.
• Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes.
• Use flashlights in the dark. Do NOT use candles.
• Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it’s not contaminated.
• Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.
• Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.
• Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

August 31st is Important Day In New York For Fracking

If you have a mailing list, or have friends with internet access, we desperately need MORE SIGNATURES between now and August 31, 2011. Please read the following ACTION ALERT, and take action now to preserve our drinking water supplies, and pristine rural beauty.



ACTION ALERT



This is a critical moment in the fight to ban fracking in New York. On August 31, the Department of Environmental Conservation is scheduled to release its draft impact statement, which proposes to open large portions of the state to fracking. Sign the petition to Governor Cuomo to ban fracking now!



The drumbeat against fracking is growing louder and stronger. You have already taken action by sending letters and submitting comments to put an end to this destructive form of natural gas drilling (thanks!), but you have not yet signed the petition. We need more signatures on our petition to Governor Cuomo urging him to ban fracking in New York. Will you sign today?



We anticipate that the draft impact statement will fall short of putting the safety of our water, health, communities and environment before industry profits. While there are alternatives to natural gas, there are no alternatives to water. Will you help us reach our goal of obtaining 5,000 more petition signatures by August 31st?



Sign today to ban fracking:

http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7619



Thanks for taking action,



Corinne Rosen

New York Organizer

Food & Water Watch

crosen@fwwatch.org

Is Your Hurricane Preparedness Kit Ready?

Been sitting here watching CNN track Hurricane Irene, and seems like a good time to put some thought into a Hurricane Readiness Kit...a set of basic supplies that will allow you to take care of yourself and your family for a period of 72 hours. New York could take a direct hit, and that means we could see some very heavy rains, high winds, down trees, and perhaps even downed power lines leaving us without electricity. For those of you wondering what you should look at having on the ready, here is a basic checklist you can use.

1. Water- one gallon per person, per day (3 day supply) *it is recommended here if things get tough that you also fill your tub with water for things like flushing toilets.
   
   
2. Non-perishable food (3 day supply) and hand-held can opener...tuna is a good thing to have several cans of, as well as peanut butter.
   
   
3. Snack Food...Cashews, raisins, apples, plums, crackers.
   
   
4. Cooking tools and fuel...outdoor grill (fill your propane tank) and/or a camp stove.
   
   
5. Paper plates and plastic utensils
6. Blankets and pillows
7. Clothing- rain gear, shoes, warm clothing
8. First Aid Kit and medications (3 day supply)
9. Toiletries and hygiene items
10. Diapers and other specialty items for babies and the elderly
11. Flashlights and candles
    
    
12. Batteries
13. Radio- battery operated NOAA radio
14. Fully charged cell phones and traditional household telephone
15. Cash (ATM's may not be available)
16. Insurance, medical, bank, social security documents
17. Toys, books, games for children entertainment
18. Tools
19. Pet care items
20. Keys to car...have car parked on high ground.
    
    

Our Small Blog About To Reach Milestone of 5000 Page Views

Happened to look at our stats for this little news blog this morning, and was pleasantly surprised to see how close we are to reaching a wonderful milestone in our short history...we are at 4,824 page views, which means we should reach the milestone of 5,000 page views sometime on Saturday August 27th, 2011. Wanted to share this milestone with our readers, and thank all of you for your regular visits to our small space here on the worldwide web.

Steve Jobs Vision Will Be Missed

Yesterday the tech world was shaken to its foundation with Steve Jobs resignation as the CEO of Apple...I look at my first spinning wheel IPOD, my new IPOD Touch, think about the IPAD I am saving up money for, and am saddened at that news. There are few people in the world who have not been touched in a positive way by his vision, and his marketing. Steve, you will be missed by all of us, and we all wish you the best of luck as you face your own far more important personal health issues.



For those worried about Apple's future...trust in the vision of Steve Jobs, believe in the fact that he put in place a team to carry his vision forward for many decades to come.

Don't Forget...Saturday Night August 27th...OPEN MIC NIGHT In Mountaindale!

Just reminding everyone...



Music & Rhyme Open Mic Night August 27

Mountaindale, NY - Mountaindale is calling all performers to a Music & Rhyme Open Mic Night on Saturday, August 27th at 8PM at a Coffeehouse Jam in 62 Main Street in Mountaindale.



Spoken word, live Poetry and Music will all be welcome. A $5 cover fee will include admission and refreshments, and will benefit community enhancement efforts by the Mountaindale Community Development Project. each performer will have 5 minutes for "Family Oriented" material, with the possibility of an encore for talent well appreciated by the audience. To register or for more info, please call barb at 845-434-4747 or Gina Marie at 845-701-5582 and let your voice be heard.

Saturday August 27-Richard Heppner Author of Women of the Catskills: Stories of Struggle, Sacrifice & Hope

Richard Heppner

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Catskill Harvest (in the Cafe)

1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

When it comes to Catskill Mountain history, author and historian Richard Heppner isn't going to let women get the short end of the stick. Instead, he's put them front-and-center in Women of the Catskills: Stories of Struggle, Sacrifice and Hope.

We're looking forward to having Mr. Heppner join us this Saturday, August 27, from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. for his very first visit to Catskill Harvest.

While he's here, Heppner will host an informal meet & greet with customers and share what he discovered about our region's most fearless women while writing his book.

From Tasting Bars to wool spinning demonstrations, "Catskill Harvest Presents..." has aimed to spotlight the finest in Sullivan County.

Now, from the literary side, we're eager to have Richard Heppner join the line-up to shed light on a collection of fine women who helped shape our local history.

RSVP

More about Richard Heppner

He has served as town historian for Woodstock, NY, for the last ten years. He also serves on the board of directors for the Historical Society of Woodstock and the Woodstock Memorial Society. Over the years, he has authored and edited numerous essays and texts on Woodstock's unique history.

Richard lives in Woodstock, New York, with his wife, Deborah and two children, Eliza and Jonathan. His previous work for The History Press includes Remembering Woodstock (2007).