Ready To Fight?

Breaking from the standard agenda, Supervisor Liefeld, citing travel distances for those in attendance, invited representatives from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to to present their update on bridge and road work around the reservoir. John Vickers, Chief of Western Operations Division for the NYC Bureau of Water Supply, said a delay in the realignment of Route 28A below the dam was happening because of changes to the design necessitated by its alignment with state Route 213, encroachment to property owners, storm-water run-off issues and embankment impact on some wet lands. He said re-bidding of these change orders are unlikely until all changes are registered to ensure no further changes are made. Vickers added that he expects that the work will recommence in October, 2010, with an expected completion date of December, 2011. He assured those in attendance that roads would not be left impassible during any possible winter shut down.
Good news was that the Reservoir Road Railroad Bridge was completed without the total road shutdown that had been scheduled. Other completed work includes the by-pass bridge, the Bushkill Bridge in West Shokan, the shoring up of the Gatehouse at the Dividing Weir, and repairs to the Traver Hollow Bridge. The two remaining bridges over the Spillway and the Stone Church Bridge (below the Spillway) were found to have substantially greater deterioration under the concrete facade. Work is expected to start on the Spillway Bridge in February, 2010, with completion in September. Negotiations with the contractor for the Stone Church Bridge are underway with a start date anticipated in March and completion by October, 2010.
When no mention was made of the 15 arch bridge (otherwise known as the Dividing Weir), it was announced that construction funds are not available for that project at this time and will be several years down the road. One lane will remain open on all bridges during construction, as originally agreed to.
It was added that a speed limit study for Route 28A has not been completed, although some suggestions for traffic flow improvements have already been implemented, with more to come. One area of concern was the intersection near the aerators, where it is uncertain who is supposed to stop or yield. That entire intersection is slated to be redesigned during the bypass construction.
Towards the meeting’s end, Mr. Liefeld recognized Alan Eisenson, who had requested to speak at the meeting. Eisenson, who has alleged zoning irregularities with his neighbor, Planning Board memberDave Jones, noted that he’s been a tax-paying citizen since 1972 and was now coming before the board to request their help. He needed to know how he should now proceed. Mr. Eisenson produced copies of all communications he’s provided the town - including letters to Zoning Enforcement Officer John Ingram. Eisenson stated that he believes Jones has been allowing business to operate on his property, making certain improvements and changes that should have required permission from the Planning Board before moving forward. In one exchange with Linda Burkhardt, Boardmember-elect, it became clear that Jones had not followed the very same procedures that Eisenson’s tenants at Scandinavian Grace had had to go through to start their business. Further talk centered on water problems from a culvert allegedly blocked by Jones.
Liefeld finally spoke up and exclaimed directly to Eisenson that “your theatrics here are not impressing me. I’ve listened to you and at this point, I think you should go to your attorney and do whatever it is you intend to do.”
Eisenson replied that he was “very disappointed” and had hoped that he would not have to expend taxpayer funds to respond to this issue. He added that his appearance was on the advice of his attorney, who asked that he try to find a resolution to his issues by all means possible before taking legal action.
The presentation ended after Eisenson polled the town board individually, and found that only Peter Friedel was interested in visiting the site to investigate the situation.
Leifeld then announced that a grant is available from the Catskill Watershed Corporation, on whose board he sits, which could enable the town to start working on the Master Plan once again. This $50,000 grant must be applied for by February 1, 2010. It was moved and seconded that Rudikofff Associates would be hired for a sum not to exceed $3,000 to write the application.
The board, as it’s final action of the evening, presented Helen Chase with a bouquet of flowers, wishing her much success moving forward and many thanks for her outstanding service to the town over the years.
In the Audit Meeting held the night before, where submitted bills that have already been paid are reviewed by the town council and correspondence and issues that will be coming up at the following night’s gathering are discussed, topics of discussion included news that the wind damage on the town office roof only had two responding bids for repair. One of the bidders failed to use prevailing wage - a necessary pay scale when bidding municipal jobs - and so it had gone back to the contractor to be revised. The town’s insurance company had yet to come back with an amount they will be covering for the needed repairs.
Updated information was delivered about the ski program that has been a routine offering for locals. By special arrangement, lift ticket passes can be purchased $25 with the Town kicking in $5 for each of the purchases. In the past, transportation had also been offered for the weekend trips - but that is no longer the case. For more information, please contact Gene Sorbellini - 657-6920.
Dates were set for a public hearing on the fire department’s proposal for the upcoming year, as well as the closing of the town’s books… both will occur on December 30, 2009, at the town offices in West Shokan, at 2:30 PM and 3:00 PM, respectively. The town’s annual Organizational Meeting, usually referred to as a re-org, will be at 7:30 PM on Monday, January 4, 2010 at the town meeting hall on Bostock Road. This meeting will welcome newly elected members of the Board, as well as set vacation dates, salaries for office personnel and elected officials, meeting dates and other pertinent information for the 2010 calendar year.
In other discussions, it was noted that Bert Ketchum was interested in being reappointed to the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) and that Helene Grant was also interested in having her expiring term on the Planning Board renewed. It was duly noted that these positions were not being advertised because the position holders expressed a desire to continue serving in that capacity.

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It Takes A Community...

In the spirit of the season, Phoenicia’s Sportsman’s Alamo Cantina will open its doors on Christmas Day to welcome Shandaken’s needy, elderly, and “shut-ins” to it’s “1st Annual Christmas Charity Buffet”.

From 1:00 to 6:00PM on December 25, the Ricciardella family, restaurant staff, and volunteers will prepare and serve a bountiful holiday buffet free to all residents of Shandaken who are needy or alone, are elderly or home-bound, or have no where to go on Christmas Day. “It’s the season for giving, sharing and celebrating, especially with family,” said Mike Ricciardella, “and the residents of Shandaken are family to us and we want to celebrate our Christmas with them.”

Volunteers are available for those without transportation to and from the Sportsman and meals will be delivered to individuals who are physically unable to attend the buffet.
The Sportsman’s Alamo Cantina is located on Main Street in Phoenicia. For further information, please call (845) 688-5259.

Meanwhile, former town board member Jane Todd of the Shandaken Food Pantry has noted that The Town of Shandaken, the volunteers who work and staff the Shandaken Food Pantry as well as the many families in the region who benefit from the Food Pantry are currently feeling VERY thankful to the community for its generous support of the Benefit Fund Raiser held December 9th at Al’s Restaurant in Phoenicia whose contributions to the Food Pantry totaled nearly $11,000, with every dollar donated going directly to feed and care for those in need.

“This event would not have been possible without the help and support of Paul Pettinato and the staff at Al’s Restaurant,” Todd wrote in a press release after the successful event. “Paul donated all the food served to over 100 people in attendance and his staff donated their time, their talent and even their tips.”
Todd also offered special thanks to Belleayre Superintendent Tony Lanza, who was resplendent in a tuxedo, for serving as Host at the front door and to Belleayre Ski Shop Owner Jim McGrath, also in tux, who assisted behind the bar.
A live auction was held which included an Overnight Stay-cation Package (luxurious room, spa and dinner) at the Emerson Resort & Spa, Golf for Four at Saratoga National Golf Course, two pair of skis from the Belleayre Ski Shop and a dozen ski lift tickets at Belleayre Ski Center. In addition some forty items, donated by local businesses and individual supporters, were bid on at a Silent Auction.
According to Todd, “The proceeds from the Fund Raiser will allow the Food Pantry to continue to be open weekly. We are grateful for the long-time contribution of $2,000 annually from the Town of Shandaken as well as $400 annually from the Phoenicia Rotary Club, but this additional funding was desperately needed.” The Rotary Club pledged an additional $500 at the Benefit. Rotary also conducts ‘A Can a Meeting’ asking members to donate to the Food Pantry at each bi-monthly meeting.
Food donations for the Pantry continue to be taken at the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, the Phoenicia Methodist Church, the Shandaken Methodist Church and the Mt. Tremper Church.
Todd continued, “We are also blessed that the Shandaken Boy Scouts conduct a food drive each Thanksgiving which goes a long way toward helping us stock our shelves.”
Monetary donations are currently being accepted at the Phoenicia Deli, the Phoenicia Country Store and the Phoenicia Supermarket or checks can be sent to the Shandaken Town Clerk, Town Hall, Shandaken, NY, 12480.
The Shandaken Food Pantry is housed in the Phoenicia Methodist Church and is open on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon or when needed at (845) 688-5828.

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Our Kids Are At Risk

Peg Haug, the Onteora district Coordinator of Health, presented the survey at Tuesday night’s December 15 school board meeting at Phoenicia Elementary. Haug explained that this was a county survey paid for through a grant and all the schools in the county participated. The schools were grouped into different zones.
Haug said, “Unfortunately the students self reported results reveal that with our demographics and zoning one, Onteora and Saugerties consistently had the highest percentage of positive answers when reporting about alcohol and drug use and engaging in high risk behaviors.”
Haug presented data including Saugerties, but also Onteora by itself.
“When we saw the results that showed we were linked with Saugerties, it gave a little pause because we are very different except for our high school building being seven-through-12,” said Haug. “They have one community, we don’t have much of a town community, and we have four towns that are put together…”
The survey also revealed that the two districts ranked highest for drugs being sold on campus and alcohol drunk while in school. Students also appear to receive mixed message on drugs and alcohol when it came to parental guidance.
Haug explained that the survey provided a safety net to assure that students answered the questions honestly. Therefore she believes that the statistics are solid with a small margin of error. “It pointed out to us that we have some very serious issues that need to be addressed.”
Social Worker Maegan Schenker introduced a drug and alcohol intervention program titled Prime For Life. She said it was an evidence-backed program that she was already trained in. It would address students they already have been targeted with high-risk behavior, but their goal would be to use it as a district-wide prevention program. The school board was skeptical, noting that statistics on the program were outdated (1980s), that it lacked family intervention and peer support. Haug explained that to implement the program would mean using the district’s guidance counselors and social workers.
Trustee Rob Kurnit explained that a district social worker and the county’s FACETS program that provided family intervention and counseling was eliminated from the 2009/10 budget. He asked about shortfalls in the staff.
“These programs that you are trying to adopt would be in addition to what you are already doing in your jobs,” Kurnit said. “And you are also talking about the fact that this is a serious problem and there are possibly many students that could benefit from this, so I am curious how this is going to function.”
Principal Lance Edelman said the staff is committed to the task.
“There is an immediate need to provide services for these children,” he said, adding that some students cannot get to services in Kingston. “We need to implement something through the school.”
Trustee Donna Flayhan suggested returning FACETS back into the budget.
“As the economic crisis continues,” she said, “we all know these types of risk behaviors and family problems get worse and it seems like it is nice that you are providing your staff with resources, then if we could provide more human resources…”
Interim Assistant Superintendent for business Don Gottlieb later gave an update on what the board can expect in the form of State aid.
“The one thing the State will not do is be late on a bond payment, so the Governor (Paterson) is faced with a situation where he’s indicating a cash flow shortfall…and by having not taken any action today that the State would have run out of cash by the 29th of December.”
In other words, Paterson cut school and some municipal aid.
Gottlieb explained that the district received a State check for ten percent, or $62,000, less of approximately $600,000. The state legislature is hoping that by the fourth quarter, between income tax from Wall Street bonuses and holiday sales tax revenue, the money will be returned to the school districts. But Gottlieb said he is not hopeful. The $62,000 will not affect this school year, but could have an impact on next year’s budget due to lack of interest revenue and shortfalls in the reserve.
He said by the next January 4 school board meeting he can present what next year’s roll over budget would look like.
The board is also going over department expenses. Trustee Anne McGillicuddy said that the BOCES budget was $3.7 million. Gottlieb explained that the district has a commitment to BOCES. According to a 1948 education law, “When a district became part of BOCES, when a law is constructed, you are in forever.” Although some programs can be trimmed Gotllieb said, “Administration (in BOCES) costs regardless of what you do.”
The vocational department also carries a three-year locked in commitment. McGillicuddy listed other expenses: $117,000 for coaches, over $200,000 in field trips, $74,000 in conferences, $190,000 private school tuition, $196,000 tuition for other public schools, $103,000 for special education private schools, $89,000 for health and wellness services. Some of the school tuitions are legally bound, but the district is required to pick up the tab for transporting private school kids. The district is also required to pay for some books to private schools.
McGillicuddy said, “We are paying a lot of money for kids who are not going here (Onteora).”
The district is also required to pay for field trips, a new State mandate.
McGillicuddy threw up her hands and said, “Ahhh the State!”
Finally, INDIE director Russell Richardson updated the school board on their new facilities in Woodstock. Because of budget shortfalls, INDIE is no longer a program that takes place during school hours. Instead, it works as an after-school program from 3-5pm where kids are bused from the Middle/High school site to its current location on Mill Hill Road in Woodstock. He said they are operating at maximum capacity. A total of 68 students are enrolled and had to break the program into two sections. A total of 23 students come from the Shandaken/Phoenicia area, 17 from Olive, 10 from West Hurley, 13 from Woodstock and 3 students from further west.
Richardson said he was “surprised that attendance is not dominated by Woodstock residents.”

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Back To Its Beginnings?

According to Catskill Center for Conservation and Development Interim Director Daniel Palm, in to fill for Executive Director Lisa Rainwater, who resigned the position after a little over a year in the job, the venerable organization’s membership, and overall fundraising, started to dip after it signed the deal its then-director, Tom Alworth, helped broker as head of a coalition of national, state and regional environmental organizations. And that was before the CCCD, which turned 40 this past year, had to face the hits being experienced by all not-for-profits due to the recent recession.
All of this came out this week in a series of interviews started when word leaked out that the Catskill Center was shifting down from seven to four full-time employees as of the New Year. Furthermore, those being asked to step away from the organization or have their hours modified, to be replaced by new positions they’ve been told they will likely not be qualified for, include Director of Programming Aaron Bennett, an 11 year employee, native of the area, and columnist for this publication, Regional Planner Peter Manning, also a local resident with deep roots in local planning circles, and Membership and Outreach Director Dave Turan.
“I guess the best statement I can give right now is that we’ve been looking at 2010 and our budget development and we’re looking at how the Center should be focusing its resources,” Palm said, adding that he’d been in his job for only three weeks. “The Center seems to have moved away from what it’s been historically in the last few years. We are trying to make sure we can face declining revenues.”
Palm added that a deadline for applications for the Center’s Executive Director position was closed on December 11, and that a board committee will now interview key candidates through mid-February, with hopes of hiring someone ready to start in March of 2010.
When asked if the current shifts in the Center’s employment picture were a means of “cleaning the slate” for whoever was coming in to take over the helm after him, Palm said only that, “It’s partly that, but also partly the truth of securing funding these days. There has to be a clear understanding between our board and staff for funders to see. This is what we are doing…”
He described the organization’s policy of recent years as “muddied” and “broadened,” and said the Catskill Center’s board was currently hoping to refocus the organization “from a strategic point of view.”
Palm added that the current actions stem from discussion started before Rainwater’s departure.
“She initiated the discussion this is part of,” he said. “Much of this first came up at a board and staff retreat in September,” after which the board decided it “had to address where they were going.”
Rainwater put in her resignation on September 25; her last official day as Executive Director was on November 16. She began her tenure at the Catskill Center in July 2008.
Dr. Palm came to the Catskill Center, nearly a decade after his official retirement, from serving as Interim Director for the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC). He also served as Staff Economist for the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and Regional Director of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and as Executive Director of the New York Forest Owners Association before this latest action meant, he said, to help out an organization he had long admired.
Palm said this week that he had never had to “do this,” speaking of the staff changes he’s having to implement for his board, based on decisions, and a budget, prepared by the predecessor who’s tenure he is filling out… for now.
According to various sources, not much of what’s being planned for the organization has been made clear since announcements were made last week, other than that there would be a shift towards more policy analysis, which had been the forte of the Catskill Center’s Interim Director before Rainwater’s arrival, Deborah DeWan… now at the Ashokan Foundation.
Throughout it’s history, the Catskill Center has weathered similar sudden shifts in its direction, including the departure of early director Tom Miner and his wife, Whitty Sanford, who started the CCCD’s Erpf Gallery cultural programming. In the mid-1990s, the departure of director Tom Hatley, an academic, occurred just as the Center faced a regional reaction to its sponsorship of what should have been a heralded application for the Catskills as a United Nations Biosphere region, eventually withdrawn. Several major shifts in direction, and in those who represented the Catskill Center’s many programs throughout the region, followed as Hatley’s follow-up, Janet Crawshaw, was quickly replaced with an Albany hire… and then Alworth, who has since moved on to a job in Albany.
The Erpf Gallery recently announced that, at the board’s request, it will shift from its regular schedule of art exhibits and events to two shows a year for the foreseeable future.
“Principally, the Catskill Center is going to stay focused on three basic components,” Palm noted of the organization’s renewed sense of direction.
He brought up the Center’s longstanding focus on regional issues, which he noted the board wants to draw back into being focused on primarily from “a policy point of view.”
He said a regional education component was still of high importance, but with a renewed insistence on “scientific information, “ and “scientific-based issues.”
Finally, Palm noted how the CCD wanted to retain its cultural focus… on a regional basis.
He said much more would become clear when a new director would be hired in the coming months.
Meanwhile, the Catskill Center website has started listing qualifications for a wanted bookkeeper for the organization.
Calls to Board President Claude Shostal, in Manhattan, were unreturned as of press time.

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Choral!

“It’s been a time of community-building,” commented Reverend Lucy Jones, who is part of the church’s 25-member choir led by Lee Stowe. “With any kind of musical experience like this, you feel overwhelmed at the beginning, then as you practice, you think maybe you have it, and it will come together. Everyone enjoys doing it, and there’s laughter and encouraging each other, giving it all we can.”
A cantata consists of both music and narration, Rev. Jones explained. This piece is made up of nine movements with titles such as “A Christmas Flourish”, “Carol of Longing”, and “The Beautiful Impossible”. The music includes traditional carols as well as seasonal anthems by the composer. “Some of the music is very big and grand,” said Rev. Jones, “and some is quiet and soft. It goes from lullabies to jubilant glorias.”
The interspersed scripture and poems are read by two narrators. “There will be a candlelighting as part of the performance,” noted Rev. Jones. “We’ll be bringing the candles forward to add to the drama.”
The choir, which has been rehearsing the cantata since October, sings in four-part harmony, with a number of solos. The youngest soloist is fourth-grader Billy Davis, whose little sister Lorelei has been sitting in on rehearsals. Other young people performing solos include Andrew Russell and Alissa Stowe. Among the adult soloists is Carol Moranti, who has a beautiful voice, said Rev. Jones. Choir members Jim and Sue Ulrich also perform with Ars Choralis in Kingston.
Usually the annual Christmas concert is performed during the worship service, but Rev. Jones explained, “This year we decided to have it in the afternoon, so people who like Christmas music can come, in addition to attending their own services at other churches.” All are welcome to attend. The church is located just east of the Olive Firehouse No. 2 on Route 28 in Shokan.
Meanwhile, the community chorus organized by locally based opera singer Maria Todaro sang carols as part of the annual Shandaken Theatrical Society Christmas show on December 13. Following the rousing success of the choral performance at this summer’s Opera in the Park fundraiser, Todaro has made the community chorus an ongoing project. The group of 30 to 40 local residents, both experienced performers and novice singers, rehearses weekly at the STS Playhouse in Phoenicia and expects to give shows several times a year.

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