SusanCampriello: My Works

When you’re hot, you’re hot…and when you’re not?
Dec. 31, 2008

GREENVILLE — Greenville was billed second on a list of New U.S. “Hot Spots” as part of a trend survey conducted by TripAdvisor.com, according to a press release distributed Tuesday.

The release, however, was inaccurate.

Chris Chavez, of James Korenchen Public Relations, who sent the media alert with the erroneous list, said Tuesday night that he was not sure how Greenville ended up in the release.

Staff at the company thought the choice of Greenville was strange after they learned how rural the town is, he said.

Chavez said that he checked the hot spot list after the discovery had been made.

“It wasn’t in the top when I went back and looked at the press release,” Chavez said.

Chavez guessed that a mistake could have been made after staff discussed green living as one of the year’s trends.

According to the TravelCast Top Ten U.S. Destinations for 2009 list released by TravelAdvisor.com in October, the top five hot spots are St. George, Utah; Englewood, Fla.; Keauhou, Hawaii; Mount Pocono, Pa.; and Haines, Alaska.

Some Greenville residents were amused by the mistake and said that they could not imagine their town as a destination place of national renown.

“It’s a very small, a very nice town,” Mark Wilcox, who owns the Napa Auto Parts in Greenville, said of his community.

Visitors who do come to Greenville could enjoy majestic views of the Catskill Mountains, he said.

Like Wilcox, Mary Boyle, of Greenville Booksmith, found out her town was on the list only after it had already been removed. She said that this week, a lot of businesses were closed for the holidays.

“We’d love to be the hot spot,” she said.

DEC nabs 2 Greene County men for hunting illegally
Dec. 30, 2008

Three men have been arrested after they were allegedly hunting illegally in Windham, according to a press release.

Nikolaos Karagiannis of Queens County and Peter Rallatos of Greene County were charged with possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle after they were apprehended by Department of Environmental Conservation officers. John Maynard, also of Greene County, was charged with the same offense, but in a separate incident.

Karagiannis and Maynard were also charged with shooting from a highway.

All three men were arraigned in the Town of Windham Court and paid a total of $1,500 in fines, the release said.

DEC officers Sean Dewey and Walt Maloney, and Lt. Kevin Beiter, set up a robotic deer decoy in Windham after the department received complaints of people “road hunting” in the area, the release said.

“We catch about 10 to 15 people per year using the “robo-deer,” said department Region 4 press officer Rick Georgeson about the effectiveness of the as a decoy to trick people using illegal hunting practices.

Georgeson would not say where the decoy had been set up. Publicizing such information could hinder the effectiveness of setting the trap in the future, he said.

Department press officer Yancey Roy said that the decoys have been used for “at least 20 years.”

Athens artist Jim Cramer shifts from felines to bruins
Dec. 26, 2008

One of Jim Cramer’s earliest memories is of drawing on frost-covered windowpanes. This winter, Cramer has been drawing on a fiberglass bear, one of 30 that will be on display for this summer’s Bears and Butterflies project in Cairo. The bear, Aurora Bearealis, will be paraded around town. Then, interested parties will be able purchase to buy chances to win the bear.

Cramer was selected to paint the bear by the Bears and Butterflies Committee earlier this year.

Cramer, who has painted scenes of Greene County since he moved to the region in the early 1970s, took art lessons throughout his school years but did not consider himself a painter until he reached adulthood. As a young man, Cramer worked as a draftsman and in construction. In the late 1960s, he said, he got a feeling that he had to do something with his life that involved art. But, it was in the early 1980s when he started painting full-time.

“I’ve always been an artist,” he said.

Cramer primarily paints landscapes and flowers, but he said that he was not directly influenced by Impressionist artists. While he had always liked artwork by Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and Thomas Cole, Cramer said he did not realize that they painted plein air, or in open air, just as he did, until he had been painting that way for a long time.

Cramer cannot name one favorite place where he likes to set up his portable French easel, which combines a sketch box with a canvass carrier and an easel, but he has painted in gardens and orchards, along the mountain cloves and at Olana. Swampy areas and marshes, he said, are full of color and life.

He is working on Aurora Bearealis in the partially finished basement studio his house near Sleepy Hollow Lake, in Athens. The studio smells like the oil paints Cramer has squeezed onto a palette. The bear sits on the floor near large windows next to the easel. Photographs of various bears doing various bear activities sit on the easel. Cramer uses photographs from Art Wolfe’s book, “The Living Wild,” to capture the animals’ look, as well. Cramer’s bear has a lifelike brown face and black eyes.

“I’m trying to make him look like a real bear,” he said.

Cramer, along with his wife, Stancia, have seen some bears, including a mother bear with her two cubs, poking around their previous home near Potic Mountain.

“A bear actually is very dedicated to its family,” he said, “but you don’t mess with ’em.”
He has other photographs to help with the rest of the bear’s design, which will be unveiled at a Bears and Butterflies Committee reception on Jan. 11, where renderings of other artists’ ideas for Cairo’s sleuth of bears will be viewed.

Cramer has created three cats for the Cat’n Around Catskill fundraiser, which inspired Cairo’s Bears and Butterflies project. In 2007, he painted the cat called Old Kaatskillian, which won the People’s Choice Award, and Old Kaatskillian II in 2008. Both cats show scenes of Catskill and Catskill Creek on their chests, sides and backs.

Landscaper and Leeds resident David Brockway sponsored the Old Kaatskillian cats, whose faces were patterned after two of Brockway’s pet cats. The scenes painted on the statues’ bodies also have a special meaning to Brockway. Salisbury Manor, where Brockway had his first landscaping job, can been seen on Old Kaatskillian. McGoldrick’s Castle, displayed on Old Katskillian II, is being reconstructed by Brockway and some friends.

Brockway said he had admired Cramer’s landscapes for a long time and thought the cats would be a way to have a collection of Cramer’s artwork.

“‘I want you to be my artist,’” Brockway said he told Cramer.

Brockway owns the two cats, but shares them with residents of the houses they bear. He leaves them in each location for a few weeks before bringing them to the next home.
Although the cats together have cost him over $5,000, Brockway said that someone once offered him $10,000 for Old Kaatskillian.

Old Kaatskillian III is in the works for 2009, he said.

But before Cramer can begin another cat, he has Aurora Bearealis to complete. Cramer will incorporate a butterfly into the bear’s pattern to keep with the program’s theme, although he would not say how this would be done.

He said the ideas for the cats and the bear flowed as he painted.

“You try to make it work,” he said, “it’s like a puzzle.”

Cramer said that he felt very fortunate to be able to paint as he does. Greene County, he said, offers a variety of landscapes and historically significant sites. But his family has been a large factor in his career, he said. His sons, one who lives in Albany and the other, who last April returned from serving in Afghanistan, is at Fort Lewis, Wash., have supported him in his work. He is especially grateful for Stancia, he said, who has done everything from finding and printing the photographs that Cramer uses for inspiration to working hard as a registered nurse to allow him to paint.

“She’s always been there for me,” he said.

Although Cramer has had several gallery shows and exhibitions of his work, he has no plans to stop reading about and practicing new painting techniques.

“I’m still learning,” he said.

Dot Rosenthal, one of several people helping the the Cairo Chamber of Commerce coordinate the program, asked Cramer to create Aurora Bearealis. But Cramer has his own idea for painting another bear if the chance comes along, he said.

Calif. company acquires DynaBil for $46.5M
Dec. 24, 2008

COXSACKIE — Ducommun Inc. has acquired DynaBil Industries, Inc., Ducommun Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Joseph P. Bellino said in a press release Tuesday.

DynaBil was sold for approximately $46.5 million in cash and notes, but the final price is subject to adjustment based on a closing balance sheet, according to the release.

DynaBil has produced various aircraft parts for 30 years for clients such as Boeing, Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin. California-based Ducommun supplies aircraft components, as well, for commercial and military jets and helicopters.

“DynaBil is a great strategic fit for us, as it adds to our titanium and aluminum assembly capabilities as well as enhancing our manufacturing process in both metals,” Joseph C. Berenato, Ducommun chairman and chief executive officer, said in the release.

The company will become part of Ducommun AeroStructures, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Ducommun Inc.

Bellino said that DynaBil was looking for a purchaser, and seemed to suit the expansion needs of Ducommun.

“By buying the company, it gives us access to new customers and will increase brand recognition,” he said.

DynaBil has expanded its own business and workforce over the last few years, Bellino said, adding that its investments have been well-managed, which made acquiring the company a smart move.

Hugh J. Quigley, DynaBil co-managing director, said the transaction was exciting.

“It’s absolutely win-win,” he said.

Quigley said utilizing DynaBil, which he and co-managing director Michael Grosso founded in 1977, will help Ducommun grow, which in turn will help the Coxsackie facilities.

Bellino said that the planned expansion of DynaBil’s facility in the Greene Business and Technology Park will move forward, although the Coxsackie complex will be called Ducommun AeroStructures New York.

Alexander “Sandy” Mathes, executive director of the Greene County Industrial Development Agency, said DynaBil had kept the agency informed of its situation as the acquisition neared. He said the agency is comfortable with Ducommun coming to the area, and believe the company is committed to Greene County.

“We are eager to get to know our new neighbors,” he said.

Accident ties up Thruway
Dec. 23, 2008

CATSKILL — A five-vehicle accident Monday on the Thruway in Catskill exacerbated residual delays caused Sunday by a tractor-trailer accident, authorities said.

According to a Troop T police report, a delivery truck failed to stop in the heavy traffic at about 12:20 p.m. The truck struck two cars, one of which hit two more cars, Sgt. Don Baker said. The truck then rolled over, spilling paper goods it was carrying on the road. One car was pushed through the guardrail, Baker said.

The driver of one car and her passenger were brought by ambulance to Columbia Memorial Hospital to be treated for abdominal and chest pains, the incident report said. Hospital staff could not comment Monday evening on whether they had been discharged.

A third victim was brought by medevac to Albany Medical Center, according to the report.

At least one northbound lane was closed until about 5 p.m., Baker said.

Rotary Club has fruitful 2008, looks toward 2009
Dec. 23, 2008

CAIRO — The Rotary Club of Cairo celebrated a successful year, the presence of district officials and the induction of two new members Saturday night at the Bavarian Manor, in Purling.

Guests included district general-elect, the assistant general and members of the Ostrander family, who were honored as the club’s persons/business of the year.

Club President Ted Banta announced that more than $1,000 was raised at a breakfast benefit for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The club was awarded a $500 grant from the Green County Legislature Youth Fund Grant Program this year, which helped Rotarians buy children’s Christmas gifts that were delivered to the Cairo Food Pantry.

Banta thanked everyone who had volunteered or contributed to the club’s events and operations this year.

“Look back on this year with great pride and look to a new, good year with 2009,” he said.

Two-thousand-and-nine will be a special year for David Green, district governor-elect, who also attended the party. Green, who has held many organizational offices since he became a Rotarian in 1997, will become the district governor in July.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to serve in the capacity of district governor,” he said.

The district includes eight counties from Columbia and Greene counties south to Rockland County.

The effort to eradicate polio has special meaning for Green’s home club in New Windsor. One Rotarian there survived the disease, he said.

Polio, which, according to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, was vanquished in the western hemisphere in 1991, is still a danger for people in Pakistan, India, Nigeria and Afghanistan. Rotary International has been committed to eradicate the disease since 1985.

Clubs in Columbia and Greene counties have recently supported other efforts as well, including funding cataract surgeries in India, bringing clean water to parts of Central America, Donna Bemiss, the district’s assistant governor said.

Rotarians and their spouses were treated to violin solos and a duet performed by Marla Bracco, of Albany, who teaches at the Woodland Hill Montessori School, and her fourth-grade student Sage Banta, president Banta’s daughter.

Dennis and Douglas Ostrander, and Ostrander Physical Therapy, were honored as Cairo Rotary’s persons/business of the year for their numerous donations to community events and organizations. The Ostranders have offices in Cairo and Windham.

Douglas Ostrander said that he and his wife, Patricia, have been involved with the club since the Cairo office opened, seven years ago.

The couple were inducted into the club later in the evening.

Club member Norman Mackey said after the party that other members were enthusiastic about giving the award to Ostrander Physical Therapy, although a few other businesses were nominated.

“The club has respect for them,” said.

Sruja Dave, a Rotary exchange student from Bharuch, India, also attended the party. Dave, who is interested in architecture, is an 11th-grade student at Cairo-Durham High School.

She was excited to see her first snowfall over the weekend, she said.

Accident, fire keep rescue workers busy
Dec. 21, 2008

CATSKILL — A tractor-trailer jackknifed on the Thruway near mile marker 111 Sunday afternoon causing the highway to close, according to authorities.

The driver swerved and crashed through a guardrail at about 3:10 p.m., State Trooper Robert Brown, who responded to the accident, said. The truck, which was carrying couches and chairs, dangled over the edge of the overpass, high above Cauterskill Creek, according to Brown.

The driver received minor injuries to his head and shoulder and was taken by ambulance to The Kingston Hospital, Brown explained.

The Thruway was closed for about 45 minutes, although the accident scene was still being cleared three hours later, he said.

Cauderskill Road, which runs beneath the Thruway overpass adjacent to the creek, was closed for about 30 minutes, Catskill Fire Chief Floyd Prince Jr. said.

A fire also broke out in Catskill Sunday, at 326 Main St., according to Prince. There were no injuries.

He said the fire started at about 9:30 a.m. and was contained to a child’s room.

Nine residents of the building spent Sunday night in an area hotel, a Red Cross spokeswoman said.

Cairo board members to pay 20% of own health coverage
Dec. 19, 2008

CAIRO — The Cairo Town Board has voted to contribute 20 percent of their health care coverage, closing a sometimes acrimonious two-year debate on the issue.

The resolution passed 4-1 in a roll-call vote.

“I have no problem paying for the 20 percent. I think it’s only fair,” Councilman Raymond Suttmeier said Thursday.

Suttmeier, who is in his fourth term on the town board, asked that the resolution, when it is written formally, state that the money for the insurance be deducted from the payrolls of the board members, judges and employees who have coverage through the town.

Councilman Richard Lorenz also supported the measure, although he voted against a similar resolution during the budgeting process this past fall, he said, in order to buy some time to look into different coverage plans and insurers before the year ended.

The board agreed that forming a committee to analyze different coverage options would benefit the town as well as insurance recipients, as a less expensive plan may exist. The committee would include the four council members and Town Supervisor John Coyne.

Coyne, who ran on a promise not to accept health insurance from the town, said that in the past, he had proposed that insurance recipients pay for 25 percent of their coverage; however, his proposal did not pass a board vote.

Another proposal, which would have insurance recipients pay for the entire cost of coverage, failed to be passed, as well, he said.

Councilwoman Janet Schwarzenegger, who asked for the vote, was accused of grandstanding because a proposal Lorenz put forth was tabled during a meeting last summer.

Schwarzenegger said she broached the subject, which was not on the meeting agenda, because unlike at other meetings, all council members were present at the meeting. She supported the measure because of how expensive health coverage has become in general.

“It’s really an advantage just to have access to insurance,” she said.

Councilwoman Alice Tunison voted against the motion, arguing that paying a set monetary value would make more sense than paying a percentage of the coverage costs.

The new payment rule will take effect in mid-February.

Resolution clears way for purchase of new snow truck
Dec. 18, 2008

Christmas came early this year for the Cairo Highway Department thanks to a resolution passed by Cairo Town Supervisor John Coyne and the town board at Wednesday night’s meeting.

The resolution grants approval for the department to replace a 1978 Oshkosh snow truck whose engine, department staff believe, might not make it through the winter.

Town Highway Superintendent Steven Rumph plans on adding a 2009 Paystar truck to his fleet next year.

Rumph approached the council, saying that the department as a budget of $38,000 for leasing the truck, and half of next year’s budget could be used as a down payment.
“The truck we are trying to replace will be 31 years old,” he said.

The department operates four other Oshkosh trucks, which were manufactured in 1985.
Rumph said that the scarcity and price of replacement parts for Oshkosh trucks make them less desirable than Paystar trucks.

Councilman Richard Lorenz supported Rumph’s request.

“It’s a necessity,” he said of the new truck.

Board members inquired as to whether the truck could be purchased outright, but Rumph said that doing so would be far too costly for the department. The base cost of a 2009 Paystar truck is $128,000, which does not include any special features.

The department is already facing an estimate of almost $65,000 for equipment costs, which includes plows.

Councilman Raymond Suttmeier asked the board to pass the resolution with a stipulation that it would include a financing plan, which will be written at a later date, and Coyne agreed that a plan or a time frame should be worked out.

Last week’s ice storm cost the department more than $20,000 in labor, fuel and de-icing agent costs. An 11-person crew worked around the clock from Thursday morning until Friday afternoon salting, sanding and plowing.

Rumph said that the team was already preparing for the storms forecast for Friday and Sunday.

Village board ponders new DPW quarters
Dec. 17, 2008

ATHENS — Mayor Andrea Smallwood, village trustees and engineering consultants discussed possible locations for a new Department of Public Works facility at the village’s board meeting last Wednesday night.

Fred Grober, a project manager with Delaware Engineering, P.C., explained some of the challenges and advantages of various sites aided by an aerial photograph of the 12.5-acre parcel between South Franklin Street and 3rd Street overlaid with flood zone and topographic and wetland demarcations. The map showed the four possible 30,000-square-foot facility locations, as well.

Grober said that cost estimates for the project could be assessed after a final site is chosen and will reflect the cost of any land grading or additional paving necessary to connect the building with the nearby road.

Grober said the building’s distance from existing sewer lines and utilities will play a part in the final cost, as well.

Smallwood said that the parcel’s hilly topography may play a role in the selection of the facility’s location, as trucks would need access to the building. The distance from the two streets nearby to the facility would also be a factor in the decision, she said.

“I’d kind of like to stay on the road,” she said.

Mary Beth Bianconi, also with the engineering firm, noted that the site contained wetlands, and was swampy in general, and certain portions may have drainage issues. She also said that the wetlands, which could be home to sensitive plant or animal species that may be important indicators or water or land health, may be protected by the government.

Smallwood said that she would like to visit the potential sites before the board chooses where the facility will be constructed. Once a final location is chosen, the facility’s design process could begin.

Power restoration nears completion
Dec. 15, 2008

GREENE COUNTY — Central Hudson crews are continuing work to restore power to all customers affected by the ice storm that hit the region last week.

In Greene County, about 250 customers in New Baltimore, Coxsackie and Greenville were still without power this morning. The 22 repairs needed in those areas should be completed by this afternoon, according to Denise VanBuren, a Central Hudson spokesperson. Half of the present outages were caused by strong winds Monday blowing down branches from trees.

VanBuren reported Monday night that service had been restored to all Central Hudson customers in Columbia County.

Since Saturday the company has distributed 40,000 pounds of dry ice in 10-pound blocks to help people in Greene, Columbia and Dutchess counties keep food cold and fresh. Emergency shelters will not be open today and the company will not be distributing more dry ice.

VanBuren said that service restoration has been slow in some areas because crews have had to go into wooded areas or work with tree trimming crews to access downed wires.

“In many cases, entire sections of electric infrastructure are being rebuilt,” Charles A. Freni, the company’s senior vice president of customer services said in a press release.

Freni also expressed appreciation to crews provided by Consolidated Edison and Jersey Central Power & Light, who helped the restoration effort.

VanBuren and Freni commended the patience of Central Hudson customers and thanked municipal officials and crews who have helped clear roads and run shelters.

Customers who have not reported power outages should do so by calling Central Hudson’s automated PowerLine at 845-452-2700 or 1-800-527-2714.

Despite money woes, hospital plans to expand services in Greene
Dec. 12, 2008

This year, Columbia Memorial Hospital sought a $1.7 grant under Phase 6 of the HEAL NY program. In September, the grant was denied.

The hospital board is still moving forward with plans to expand services in both Columbia and Greene counties, but will have to rely on other sources for the money. The denial has also put some pressure on the hospital’s fund-raising arm to out-raise past campaigns.

Jane Ehrlich, the hospital’s chief executive officer, said that last year the hospital underwent a $2.5 million budget reduction, leaving the board to assess the need for management and secretarial staff and to negotiate contracts.

With a staff of about 1,400, the hospital is the largest private employer in Columbia and Greene counties. Any loss of medical or maintenance staff will hurt the quality of care patients will receive, so such staffing cuts are not an option, she said.

The hospital is also looking at possible cuts in the reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid, she said, and she predicted that the number of uninsured and underinsured patients using facilities will continue to rise.

Ehrlich estimated that this year, the hospital has spent $7 million on free care for patients, about a $1 million more than it did last year.

All of these factors have taken a toll on the hospital’s finances and although the hospital was about on target of staying within its $105 million budget this year, if these predictions come true, she said, the scope of the care the hospital facilities provide may have to be narrowed.

But patients, regardless of their insurance coverage or status, still need the be served.

“The practices have been building, and it’s getting to the point where it’s getting more and more difficult for new patients to get appointments,” she said.

Without the HEAL NY grant, plans to expand service and facilities have had to be scaled back and to be implemented incrementally. The first phase of the plan will extend hours various facilities will be open to patients. The hospital board is talking about consolidating services into a few locations.

From a real estate prospective, consolidating services will save the hospital money, Ehrlich said. She said that new buildings are still part of the hospital’s plan, but no moves will be made until the board can get a good idea of the real estate landscape, as well as the hospital’s own finances for the coming years.

And that’s where the Columbia-Greene Hospital Foundation can help the hospital.

The foundation solicits donations and grants from corporations, individuals and agencies that can be used for construction and renovation projects.

Keith Lampman, who will enter his eighth year as the foundation’s executive director in February, has seen the renovation of the maternity wing and the hospice unit, waiting areas and seven new surgery suites, as well as the construction of the two-story hallway connecting the hospital and the medical office building, all of which were made possible at least in part by donations.

This year, the foundation has raised $1,940,000, and although that figure is $300,000 shy of last year’s total, Lampman is enthusiastic that donations will keep coming in through the end of the year.

“We have three weeks left,” he said.

Lampman, who was born at the hospital, enjoys describing and showing some of the renovation projects, which have increased the amount of natural light in recovery rooms and hallways, have centralized nursing stations, and have made patient areas more private by replacing curtain partitions with walls.

The foundation raises money through its capital campaigns, annual appeals and special events, such as February’s Snow Ball, an event to raise money for Kaaterskill Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. It also holds a hospital ball in June, a golf tournament in August and a tennis tournament in September. While hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised at such events every year, smaller, individual donations play a large part in funding the hospital’s capital projects. Lampman estimated that 40 percent of the foundation’s donations come from individuals giving $100 or less.

“If all 50,000 households within Columbia and Greene counties gave $25 (less than 50 cents per week), we’d receive another $1,250,000 each year,” Lampman said in an e-mail.

The foundation works closely with the Columbia Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, which runs Second Show, on Warren Street in Hudson, whose proceeds also help fund hospital projects. Two years ago, the Auxiliary announced that in the previous 10 years, the thrift store had made $500,000 for the hospital.

“You can give to the hospital by donating you old clothes,” Lampman said, “by buying cupcakes through the Columbia Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, by giving an outright gift, either through the appeal or the capital campaign [or] by coming to one of our events.”

Next year, hospital staff will receive a new cafeteria through a $250,000 donation from the Kellner family. Jane Ehrlich said the board plans on applying for a Federal grant to construct elderly housing adjacent to the medical arts center, in Catskill. Housing units there will allow members of the increasing population of elderly people in the region to live independently but close to medical care.

Lampman is looking at future projects, too, and said that 2009 will be an important year for laying the groundwork for future financial donations and partnerships. Still, the tumultuous economic times and demands on state and federal grants will make make every gift even more important to the hospital than in the past.

“The foundation is going to become more important than ever as cuts come into place,” he said.

Village, others receive grants from community foundation
Dec. 11, 2008

The Village of Athens received at least $22,500 in grant money from the Athens Community Foundation, Village Mayor Andrea Smallwood announced at the Village board meeting Wednesday.

One grant, for $6,000, will help the Village’s Web site project, although no plan for the site has been finalized. Village trustees discussed some features they would be interested in having on the site, including meeting minutes and public announcements.

A grant of $12,500 will be used to help pay for a bathroom renovation project in a Village-owned building, with the remaining funds to come through the best avenue, to be determined after the treasurer discusses those avenues with the comptroller, according to a verbal resolution on the issue passed by the board.

A third grant, for $4,000, will help the Village’s flower program.

The Foundation recently announced that $184,969 in grant awards were handed out to 27 separate organizations in the community.

Since the foundation’s creation six years ago, it has given almost $750,000 in 157 grants to various organizations, the release said.

Recommendations of which groups would be awarded grant money fell to the 10-person advisory board headed by Susan Proper, a job that is tough, said Foundation Trustee Gene Hatton. Grant applications totaled more than $418,000, and Hatton and fellow trustees Leo Palmateer and Dan DeVinney commend the work the advisory board has done this year to chose between all the worthy applicants.

The disbursement process began in September, Dick Golden, who is on the advisory board, said. The board received 38 separate requests for money this year, he said.

In the past, grants have been awarded to maintain the lighthouse and the dog park, and this year, some new recipients such as the Green County Aging Services Foundation, Inc., and the Athens Community Food Pantry were added to the list of recipients, Hatton said.

The trustees, along with the recommendations of the advisory board, have been able to maintain growth of the fund over the last year despite the recent economic downturn.

“It’s been a labor of love between the three trustees,” Hatton said.

Fire district voters elect Smith fifth commissioner
Dec. 10, 2008

Voters in the Cairo Fire District elected a new commissioner last night. Bill Smith, who ran unopposed, was elected as the fifth department commissioner, replacing Allen Auger, who decided not to run for reelection. Smith’s five-year term begins on Jan. 1.

A crowd of about two dozen department members erupted in cheers and began chanting the candidate’s name when the results were announced. Some congratulated Smith by calling him, “Barack Smith,” comparing his platform of change to the President-elect’s campaign.

Before the results were announced, Smith said that he decided to run for the unpaid position because of the animosity he has seen between the current commissioners as well as between the commissioners and the firefighters. He said he was unhappy that taxes had been raised while the department had over $120,000 on hand.

“Hopefully tonight is going to bring the swing vote,” he said, adding that two current commissioners agree with Smith’s criticisms of the department and hinting that two do not.

The five commissioners act like a town or village board, overseeing the department’s operations and equipment maintenance, Commissioner Pat Pugsley said. The district covers a large portion of Cairo and boasts membership of around 125 volunteer firefighters.

Smith received 169 votes, while Rocco Sala received 40 write-in votes. This year’s turnout of over 200 voters in a district of 4,244, was almost a record, Diane Bartholomew, district secretary and treasurer, said. In the past, such elections have turned out as few as 50 voters, she said. Candidates for commissioner do not have to be members of the department but do need to reside in the town.

“We do need a change and I believe that Billy Smith will be the change we need,” Jerry Buckley, district chief, said.

Athens holiday festival makes strong comeback
Dec. 7, 2008

Athens residents out for a walk Saturday afternoon had a lot of things to see and do with five businesses and homes along Second Street opened up for the Athens Cultural Center’s Victorian Holiday Stroll.

Wearing a festive maroon vest and a large smile, Howard Zar, who planned the stroll with Carol Pfister and Ron Coons, greeted visitors at the Center on Second Street. Once inside, people could enter a raffle of games and electronics, learn about Christmas ornaments and meet the man in the red suit, Santa Claus, who, the rest of the year is known as Village Trustee Herman Reinhold.

Shortly after 1 p.m., when the stroll began, Reinhold said that he had already met and passed out candy to several children.

Across the room divided by small Christmas trees provided by the Athens Garden Club, antiques dealer Rob Halley described to one gathered crowd how people in Dresden worked over gas flames to create kugels, or semi-spherical glass ornaments, a tradition that dates back to the early 19th century.

Further up the street, at the D.R. Evarts Library, children gathered to hear Merry Claus tell the story of the Christmas that her Nicholas, as she calls Santa, was sick and unable to deliver his toys. (Barbara Caldwell, of Germantown, played Merry Claus, captivating her audience of children and adults with her story. And for those who are curious, Merry delivered the toys that Christmas and had so much fun, that she has joined Santa on his rounds every year since.)

“My Nicholas is at the Cultural Center?” she said when children told her they had just seen Santa. “The man is loaded with culture … and candy canes,” she added.

Children were treated to more stories, read by Pat Brynda, and reindeer crafts in the library’s basement. Carol Pfister said that the library’s annual holiday program fit in well with the stroll this year. The event, she said, was a success thanks to a lot of good volunteers.

Throughout the afternoon, Annie Stapleton, Art DeCelle and Teresa White drifted between the five participating venues singing Christmas favorites.

Some more adult-oriented festivities included food and music in Century 21 and some of the village’s Victorian buildings. Geoff Howell, who was dressed in character, opened his home on Second Street to his neighbors in the village. Inside the house, which was decorated with greens, pianist Kelley Love of Valatie and bass player Pete Toigo of Chatham treated visitors to both modern Christmas songs and traditional carols.

Teresa DelVecchio, who helped organize the first wave of Victorian holiday celebrations more than a decade ago, said that she was happy that the village has resurrected the holiday tradition.

“This is going to be OK,” she said about the first attempt in 15 years to hold the stroll.

DelVecchio, who was also dressed in costume, said that the way to re-start the holiday tradition was to engage the village’s children, and the hay ride up Second Street and other child-oriented attractions were doing just that.

Zar estimated that around 100 people participated in the event, the majority of whom were children.

Inside Stewart House, by the river, violinist Jonathan Talbott, of Ghent, played Celtic tunes, Civil War songs and improvised creations for residents as well as Village Mayor Andrea Smallwood and Village Trustee Tom Sopris.

Sopris said that the Cultural Center approached the trustees about the stroll earlier this fall, and that a lot of hard work went into its planning.

Owen Lipstein, proprietor of the Stewart House, which was built in the 1880s, said he was happy to open his restaurant for the stroll.

“This is a nostalgic and idiosyncratic event that feels appropriate for this place,” Lipstein said.

Heart of Catskill Association turns 15; group presents annual awards
Dec. 7, 2008

The Heart of Catskill Association/Catskill Chamber of Commerce celebrated a successful year and its 15th anniversary last night at their annual holiday party, at the Inn at Leeds.
HOCA boasts a membership of over 400 businesses and individuals. This year, the Association raised around $100,000, and was able to donate $25,000 back to the community.

Executive Director Linda Overbaugh encouraged guests to shop locally, saying that doing so would save time, gas and the businesses so many people had worked hard to build. And perhaps the loudest cheers of the night came when Overbaugh reminded the audience that Budget Travel Magazine added Catskill to its list of the “Top 10 Coolest Towns in the United States.”

“None of this would have transpired without thousands of volunteer hours and the generous support of the business community,” she said.

Business awards were presented by the Association’s President and Catskill Town Supervisor Peter Markou, Board Chairman Angelo Ruggiero and Overbaugh.

Tina Gagliardy, who has owned Mahalo Gifts since 2007, was named Businesswoman of the Year. Markou lauded Gagliardy for her perseverance and through the town’s good times and its bad, calling her “a one-woman Catskill booster club.”

Mahalo, he said, is a bright light on Main Street.

The store offers jewelry, scarves and pocket books, among other things, that are created by local artists or are fair trade items — items whose creators are paid fair prices for their goods.

Gagliardy said that sweeping her store’s doorstep in the morning while waving to or speaking with other residents gives Catskill a comfortable, old hometown feel.

“I love being on Main Street,” she said.

David Brockway, who owns Brockway Landscaping, in Leeds, was named Businessman of the Year. Brockway founded his company immediately after graduating high school, in 1980, thanks to a $1,000 loan from his mother, who was in attendance last night.

He spoke of the resilience of Greene County residents and offered advice to all businesses, saying that a good business does not grow too big too quickly, that customer satisfaction is important and that businesspeople should support each other, especially during trying economic times.

“We’re going to survive the tough times,” he said, “and we’ll do it by working and relying on each other.”

Ruggiero presented what he called “the big award for the evening,” the Chairman’s Award, to Story Farms, which has provided fruits and vegetables to several generations of Greene County residents.

Several members of the Story family were present, however the family matriarch, Peggy, was unable to attend.

“If it wasn’t for my mother and my father,” Matthew Story III said, “we would not be in this position.”

Before Steppin’ Out took the stage and guests started dancing, board Vice President Gary Kistinger was inducted into the Association’s Volunteer Hall of Fame.

A resident since 1973, Kistinger joined the board four years ago and was instrumental in setting up, and taking down, the over 100 unique Cat’n Around Catskill felines in 2007 and 2008.

Kistinger said that the wonderful people of the Village of Catskill and the Town of Catskill made volunteering his time very easy.

He said that both the money brought in by the September cat auction and the commerce brought in by visitors in town to see the cats were good for the community, and wondered which was better on a whole.

Markou said that he is especially happy that the Association was able to give $4,000 to the First Baptist Church soup kitchen this year.

“We gave the Heart of Catskill a real heart,” he said.

Remembering all by honoring one at Pearl Harbor
Dec. 7, 2008
ATHENS — On the morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, nearly 4,000 American members of the military and civilians died or were wounded when the imperial Japanese navy launched an aerial attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Today, on a Sunday 67 years later, the Athens American Legion Post 187 will honor those who died in the attack, as well as veterans who survived, with a memorial ceremony at the triangular Veterans Memorial Park in Athens.

Athens village zoning debate heats up
Dec. 6, 2008

ATHENS — About a dozen village residents attended a meeting of the Concerned Citizens of Athens last night, held at the American Legion Post 187, to hear about some new possible changes to the zoning around the village’s waterfront, managed by the Land Development Corporation.

According to Ronald Coons, of the citizen group, a new proposal by the Zoning Implementation Committee includes two blocks that were previously zoned as residential as a commercial area. If the proposal were adopted, the area between Church Street and Water Street, fronted on Second Street, from Fourth Street to Market Street, fronted on Washington Street, and from Water Street to Washington Street could soon see tenants such as banks, housing for the elderly and multifamily housing units.

Coons said he did not want to see Athens residents separated from the waterfront by a commercial district.

He said that although Athens may not be the wealthiest village, “It’s a beautiful place to live, it’s a beautiful place to raise a family,” adding, “I love Athens the way it is.”

Dee Hodges described her various Freedom of Information requests spanning four months regarding the identities of members of the corporation and its mailing address.

Coons added that not all zoning meeting minutes are publicly available in a timely manner and websites dedicated to various planning projects seem to have information about development in the village before Athens citizens.

He and Hodges worried that village citizens would not be prepared for the next hearing on zoning and development plans.

“If people don’t know the facts, how can they have an opinion,” Hodges asked.

Hodges questioned the ability of the village government to carry the development project to full fruition, based on the failure, she said, of the rider-side park to be completed and the village’s refusal to pay a higher rental fee for a parking lot in the village.

She also raised the concern that the village sewers, as they currently operate, will no be able to handle an increase of water use that will come with large developments in the area.

Throughout her presentation, her words were punctuated by expressions from audience members of both surprise and agreement.

Ed Thompson voiced a concern that properties could be lost to eminent domain, as has happened in other villages and cities across the country.

“They say it can’t happen here, but it can,” he said.

Janet Apfel, who owns the Hiatt house, on the waterfront, said she has spoken with a village official about some of her property being used for a sidewalk adjoining two sections of the riverside park. Apfel and her husband, Richard, have put in a lot of time and effort to restore their historic home and to clean up an adjacent Brownfield site, which they purchased and is now a garden, she said.

Although no representatives of the village government attended last night’s meeting, a letter was sent by the village last month that described the zoning review process for amending the Village Zoning Law. The letter noted that both the Village and Town of Athens held many public workshops over an 18-month period to develop a comprehensive plan that would benefit both municipalities. Written public comments were accepted by the Zoning Implementation Committee during the process. Recommended changes to the plan are still under review, according to the letter.

Coons and Hodges estimate that they have spent hundreds of hours researching Village, State and National codes and laws that may apply to the situation in Athens.

“We don’t make any accusations unless we have the paperwork to back it up,” Coons said.

Town, Mid-Hudson not yet on same channel
Dec. 3, 2008

ATHENS — An agreement between Mid-Hudson Cablevision and the Town of Athens to extend television and Internet service has not been reached, the town board of supervisors said at their meeting Monday evening.

Negotiations between the town and the company to provide service to homes around Potic Mountain and Green Lake have been continuing, Town Attorney Carl Whitbeck said at the meeting.

Whitbeck, Athens Town Supervisor Al Salvino and other board members discussed the most recent correspondence they had received from the company, in which it was suggested that Flats Road could be covered, but for a new, higher installation fee for each new user. The town could pay $2,000 for the service extension, as well.

Various proposals offer a 15-year contract for service to Cablevision, a service area review by the company every five years and a yearly report by the company to the board, Whitbeck said.

But if the service area is assessed once every five years, interested users who are not connected now might have to wait until the next assessment for inclusion, Councilwoman Colleen Fisher pointed out.

In the meantime, residents are still waiting for a hookup.

Glen Coker, who lives where Valley Road meets Black Lake Road, said he has had two different conversations with company representatives who provided him with two separate cost estimates for extending service to his home, only 10 telephone poles away from the current service’s reach. He said that living without the services Mid-Hudson Cablevision offer is like living in the stone age.

Mid-Hudson Cablevision President James Reynolds, who did not attend the meeting, said Tuesday that the town and the company will be able to work toward an agreement, and that this is a step in the right direction.

Reynolds said that the fees from the town could come from money the company pays the town to use its easements as allowed in the franchise agreement.

“This is a challenge that is not unique to one little area, it is not unique at all,” Reynolds said.

Although an arrangement has not been reached, the two sides will continue to work with each other to reach reach a solution.