Farmstand Favorites Cookbook - Catskill Mountain Foundation

Think Spring!At Kaaterskill Fine ArtsA series of old barns. Natural light. An ever-changing landscape asit awakens to spring. Baby green grass. Lavender gray barn boards.A dark brown bog. The light-seeded top of a full grown marsh.Red rhododendrons, pink peonies, yellow and purple pansies.These and more make up the images of 23 artists who have cometogether in a multi-media exhibit the artists of the Windham ArtsAlliance to Think Spring!Come and join us in ushering in springtime in the CatskillMountains with this lively and varied show of juried worksrepresenting artists and craftspeople from across the Region.Artists in the exhibit include Tina Accardi, Francine Barbet,Naomi Blum, Athena Billias, Bill Deane, Karen Dougherty-Krutz,Francis X. Driscoll, Patti Ferrara, Stuart Friedman, Susan Kukle,“Dream Trees,” watercolor by Patti FerraraMary LeCafe, Mara Lehmann, Peter Liman, George Martin,Michelle Moran, Patti Morrow, Mary Mundy, David Peskin, Karen Rhodes, Ruth Sachs, Carol Slutzky-Tenerowicz, Sheila Trautman,and Marianne Tully.Think Spring! A Multi-Media Exhibit of works in photography, oils, watercolor, furniture, and jewelry may be seen at the CatskillMountain Foundation’s Kaaterskill Fine Arts & Crafts Gallery through March 24, 2013. An Art Talk will be held on Saturday, March2, from 1-2 pm.Kaaterskill Fine Arts Gallery is located at 7970 Main Street, Hunter, NY. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 10 am to5 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday from 10 am to 3 pm and by appointment. For more information, please call 518 263 2060 orvisit www.catskillmtn.org.March 2013 • guide 3

Van Cliburn Competition Gold Medalist Haochen Zhang. Photo by Stephen Eastwood/LynxThe Hudson Valley Philharmonic’s 53rd Season ContinuesFeaturing Van Cliburn Piano Competition Gold Medalist Haochen ZhangThe Bardavon continues the Hudson Valley Philharmonic’s exceptional 2012/13 concert series, celebrating the orchestra’s 53rd season.It was 78 years ago that the Dutchess Philharmonic Community Orchestra was founded by four local amateur musicians, and 53 yearsago that conductor Claude Monteux elevated the orchestra to a fully-professional ensemble, renaming it the Hudson Valley Philharmonic.This also represents the HVP’s 14th year under Bardavon management and the 20th under the music direction of conductorRandall Craig Fleischer.The third symphony concert of the season on Saturday, March 16 at 8 pm—Cliburn Gold—features HVP Music Director RandallCraig Fleisher conducting Mozart’s Piano Concerto, No. 23, K.488, A major with 13th Van Cliburn Competition Gold MedalistHaochen Zhang. The concert will also include Beethoven Fidelio Overture, Op. 72c and Prokofiev Symphony No. 5, Op. 100.Randall Craig Fleischer is the dynamic, engaging music director of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and celebrates his 20thseason with the HVP this year. He is a leading force in the classical music scene all over the United States. His charismatic personalityand contagious love of music ignite orchestral brilliance in every concert he conducts.Mr. Fleischer has an active guest conducting career with many major orchestras in the United States and internationally includingrepeat engagements with the Israel Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony,Boston Pops, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia,Houston Symphony, and others. Additionally, Mr. Fleischer is also currently music director of the Anchorage Symphony andYoungstown Symphony Orchestra.Since his victory at the Cliburn Competition, the 22-year-old Chinese pianist Haochen Zhang has captivated audiences in theUnited States, Europe, and Asia with a unique combination of deep musical sensitivity, fearless imagination, and spectacular virtuosity.Zhang continues to cultivate his reputation through major performances and debuts every year. Highlights of his 2011-12 seasonincluded return engagements with the San Francisco and Fort Worth symphony orchestras; performances at the Kravis Center, SantaFe Chamber Music Festival, and Carmel Center for the Performing Arts; and a tour of Japan.In past seasons, Zhang has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Colorado Symphony, PacificSymphony, Kansas City Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Singapore Chinese Orchestra,and National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic.He continues his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia under the guidance of Gary Graffman, having previouslytrained at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Shenzhen Arts School, where he was admitted in 2001 at the age of 11 to study.Zhang also writes poetry and improvises pop music. Born in Shanghai, Zhang now makes his home in Philadelphia.Tickets for the HVP’s Cliburn Gold range in price from $31 to $53. Student Rush tickets will be available one hour prior to the concertfor just $10 per student and $20 per accompanying adult. Tickets can be purchased at the Bardavon Box Office, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie(845 473 2017); at the UPAC Box Office, 602 Broadway, Kingston (845 339 6088); or throught TicketMaster (800 745 3000, www.ticketmaster.com).6 • www.catskillregionguide.com

The Pratt Museum Helps “Make Sense of the Civil War”The Zadock Pratt Museum has been awarded the reading and discussion program “MakingSense of the Civil War” for spring 2013. The Council developed this program to providemembers of the public with the opportunity for substantive humanities discussionsand to help the Museum to continue to increase audience numbers for its discussionbasedprograms.Civil War historian John Quinn will facilitate the NYCH reading and discussionprogram in six sessions to begin with an introductory session on Saturday, March 16,from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the Village Square Literary Center and Bookstore, 7950 MainStreet, Rte. 23A, Hunter, NY. Subsequent meeting dates include March 23, April 13,May 3, May 17, and June 22, same time, same place.“Making Sense of the American Civil War” is organized as a series of five “conversations”that are meant to be considered together. Each conversation is itself arranged as anunfolding story, moving forward in time. The selections necessarily foreshadow and reflectback on themselves, for each aspect of life touched every other aspect during these denselypacked years.”Books to be read and discussed include March by Geraldine Brooks; Colonel GeorgeW. Pratt, American Patriot by Seward Osborne; and A War to Petrify the Heart: The CivilWar Letters of a Dutchess County, N.Y. Volunteer, edited by Virginia Hughes Kaminskywith introductions by John Quinn. Selections from other texts will be read and discussedas well. Edward L. Ayers’ introductory essay to the series will be the starting point for all discussions.The Zadock Pratt Museum will provide all books and photocopies.Group size is limited so if you’d like to sign up, please send an e-mail indicating your interest prattmuseum@hotmail.com and youwill be sent a registration form. If you do not have access to e-mail, you can phone the museum at 518 299 7122.www.nycwatershed.orgMarch 2013 • guide 7

25th Annual GCCABeaux Arts BallMasked Ball & Creative Black Tie EventIn just a few months the Greene County Council on the Artswill celebrate spring at the 25th Annual Beaux Arts Ball atHunter Mountain. Plan to join in the fun on April 6, 2013 forwhat has been billed “THE party of the year!”The Beaux Arts Ball is the Arts Council’s primary fund raisingevent, supporting the many diverse and varied programs weprovide throughout the year. We continually strive to keep thearts alive and meaningful in our communities as well as drawattention to the important contribution of the arts in GreeneCounty. We are proud of our accomplishments over the past 37years.This year, as part of the festivities, Michel Goldberg will behonored with the Distinguished Service Award. Michel has beenengaged in Arts Council activities since 1992. He joined GCCA’sBoard of Directors in January 2004 and served as Vice Presidentuntil his “retirement” this past year. A consummate Board memberand friend, graphic designer and visual artist, the GCCA isdelighted to salute Michel with this award.Last year’s event—a masked ball—and was a grand success,so the theme will be repeated it this year. Bring your own mask orbuy one of the masterpieces made by GCCA artists and friends.Don your finery and join the art-loving public at the Copper TreeRestaurant at Hunter Mountain.The evening begins at 6:30 pm with the opening of the silentauction accompanied by fabulous hors d’oeuvres and an open bar.The silent auction features original works of arts and crafts donatedby the Region’s talented artists, as well as wonderful itemsdonated by area businesses. A special treat in the auction area isthe outrageous and talented singer Lex Grey with her NaughtyCabaret.8 • www.catskillregionguide.com

In the Main Ballroom, New YorkCity’s top party band NITE-TIME willentice you onto the dance floor with animpressive repertoire from a wide varietyof musical traditions and dance rhythmsfrom 6:30 pm until midnight!Dinner is served at 8 pm in a diningroom magically transformed by decoratingdiva Jean Slutzky. The Restaurantat Hunter Mountain will tantalize yourtaste buds with a delectable haute cuisinemenu, including a full entrée followed byan exquisite dessert.So break out of the winter doldrums.Benefactor levels for tables of 10range from DaVinci’s Diamond Dynastyat $10,000 to Cole’s Silver Society at$1,500. Individual benefactor levels rangefrom Renoir’s Regal Realm at $500 toRousseau’s Lair at $150. Benefactors takepreference.Call the GCCA at 518 943 3400to check seating availability and reserveyour tickets. Tables seat 10 and seatingis limited, so don’t delay! The Beaux ArtsBall is a fabulous night to remember!March 2013 • guide 9

Fresh From the Catskills:Farmstand Favorites CookbookBy Tara CollinsPlanting Season is still weeks away. But you can engageyour hands and senses now with what’s “Fresh Fromthe Catskills” by shopping winter markets and farmstands andrefreshing stale meal menus through adventurous recipes. Take amoment this month to inspire your taste buds with new cookingapproaches based around local foods. The Catskills—known forits maple, dairy and grass-fed meats—offers keystone ingredientsto healthy, nutritious breakfasts to desserts. Find a new recipefrom a cookbook dedicated to local tastes or ask your localfarmer for meal preparation suggestions. Given the length ofwinter here, get adventurous—who knows? Your next favoritefood could be kale, ramps or Hubbard squash taste-tested duringwinter’s waning nights.Cooking InspirationThe region may be scant on sunshine, but hearty nutritiousdishes based on tasty regional fare can help you usher in an earlySpring. Wake up your cooking genius with recipe ideas from acookbook specializing in Catskills fare. Released late last year,Farmstand Favorites Cookbook: Over 300 Recipes Celebrating Local,Farm-Fresh Food (published by Hatherleigh Press, Hobart,2012) features local ingredient-laden recipes with easy-to-executemeal preparation. “Nutrition is a valuable component of goodhealth,” says Andrew Flach, publisher of Farmstand FavoritesCookbook. “We recognized the opportunity with the local foodmovement and embraced the availability of fresh produce inour communities through farmers’ markets and farmstands tocreate a series of cookbooks that would encourage people to usethis fresh produce in healthy nutritious meals. This cookbookorganizes recipes by meals from assembled ingredients that areeasy to find. There’s no better way to support local agriculturethan by cooking a nutritious meal.” If you’re thinking not muchis in season this time of year, try the Beets and Pumpkin Saladrecipe on page 49 or Chicken Teriyaki Maple Stir Fry on page10 • www.catskillregionguide.com

74 to bridge your winter menu to earlyseason greens.The Catskill Region boasts a fewsignature ingredients. “Number One ismaple, without question,” says Flach.“Catskills maple products are exquisite,rival northern producers in taste andtexture, and possess many health benefits.As an alternative sweetener, mapleis highly nutritious, not to mention themonetary impact it provides to our localeconomy.” The Catskills also holds astrong heritage in dairy; so cheese, yogurts,and raw milk like that available atBye Brook Farm in Bloomville, providefresh ingredients mentioned within thecookbook. “And don’t forget our localmeats,” adds Flach. “Delaware County isbuilding a reputation for grass-fed beef.This strong movement towards pasturebasedlivestock is sustainable, affordableand tastes good.”America’s fascination with cookbooksis two-fold, explains Flach. “First,cooking has always been part of everydaylife, and follows people’s passion andinterest. Cooking is family tradition,recording recipes and preserving that partof family culture. We’re just coming backto cooking’s origin and interest. Collectively,we drifted way with the advent ofconvenience foods, but now people arediscovering that there is richness, a satisfaction,in preparing food and creating ameal for the family.”The second fascination is embeddedin people’s desire to know what is in thefood they eat and sharing what is goodthrough the cooking experience. “Peopleare taking ownership in cooking again,”says Flach. “Cooking is a source of pride,a symbol of caring and sharing. Buyingand cooking with local food is a strongreaction to a feeling of loss of controlover the fundamentals of Life. People areasking where does our food come from.We’re so detached from the food system,we’re intuitively feeling a desire toparticipate. This drives the new interestin young people wanting to do farming,consumers buying local food. Consumerswant to know who is growing their food,Chef Michael’sFresh Harvest CaféFrench Culinary Institute, NYC, Graduate 2001is now open!Open every day from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm or later(call ahead to see if we’ll be open!)Serving breakfast all day:• Crepes Suzettes• French open-style omelettes• French Toast … and more!Now Serving Thai Specialties!• Thai Tofu & Butternut Squash inRed Curry & Coconut Sauce• Thai Crab Cakes with Scallions, Ginger & Cilantro,served with Thai style Cole Slaw• Pad Thai with Buckwheat Soba Noodles• Thai Red Curry Chicken• Shrimp & Broccoli with Cashew Nutsin a Green Curry Sauce• Coconut Beef Curry• Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce• Shrimp and Pineapple Curry• Garlic Naan BreadThe Chef is in the kitchen!Come and enjoy!7950 Main Street • Hunter, NY 12442 • 518 263 2040March 2013 • guide 11

how farmers are growing it. And consumers want to grow theirown too.”The Farmstand Favorites Cookbook Book is also a localfundraiser for the Hobart Food Pantry. “In 2013, we’re donatingthe proceeds from this book purchased at Adam’s AntiquarianBookstore to the Hobart Food Pantry, right downstairs from ouroffice. Buy the cookbook at Adam’s (on Route 10 in the HobartBook Village) and 100% of the $16.50 retail price goes directlyto feeding local people with local, nutritious food.” FarmstandFavorites Cookbook is also available online through Amazon.comand BarnesandNoble.com, and broadly distributed through othernational outlets.Find a Meal NicheWith three meals a day and several snacks in between, findingyour meal niche can be just as fun as cooking the meal itself. Ifyou’re a bit intimidated by cooking, find inspiration at one ofthe local food eateries using local ingredients. “Take a page fromBuck Hill Farm who does an amazing job with pancakes andbreakfast every Sunday morning,” says Flach. “Owner SharonBuck is focused on maintaining a very sustainable agriculturalmodel of food service: maple from her orchard, eggs fromher farm, locally sourced bacons and hams, Cowbella yogurt,Harpersfield cheeses, and when in season, local produce that goesinto omelets. Learn from a Buck Hill breakfast and turn yourown Sunday brunch into a sustainable meal for your family.”Table on Ten in Bloomville is also engaged in the local foodcooking conversation. “A real opportunity exists here for bringinglocally grown foods into food establishments,” continuesFlach. “It’s exciting to see restaurants like Table on Ten connectingwith local farmers and sharing those local products with theirpatrons. We’re building localized economic strength when we eat,purchase and share local foods.”“Food is a miracle. A chicken lays an egg and you can eatit right from your backyard. From a seed, a meal sprouts. Thisfascination draws upon a broader interest in food. As we watchfarmers transition from corporate farming into decentralizedfarming, we’ll also see a broader interest driven by our need toreconnect with food andhow it’s grown.” Look forHatherleigh Press’ new series,Backyard Farming, tobe released in late Spring.“Learning how to cooknutritious meals is just onepart of the equation,” saysFlach. “Teaching peoplehow to raise nutritiousfood is the next logicalstep. In our upcomingbook series, we’ve simplifiedbackyard growing.Whether you’re raising chickens, honeybees, or vegetables,Catskills gardeners can raise their own cookbook ingredients.It’s all about eating well, being healthy and living a fulfilledlife. We hope our books help people get there.” Other titles offHatherleigh Press include A Complete Guide of Home Recipes withcontributed recipes from Joyce Barber of Hobart’s Breezy AcresB&B, among others. Hatherleigh is also re-releasing Meredithsheep farmer Sylvia Jorrin’s first book, Sylvia’s Farm, this summerand publishing a second volume of her stories, The ImprobableShepherd, in late fall. For a catalogue of titles, visit www.Hatherleighpub.com.Winter Foraging for Local IngredientsFinding local ingredients listed in the cookbook are easy to findat regional winter markets, year-round farm-based stores andonline. Attracting locavores and Cabin Fever sufferers mostly onweekends, winter markets offer a variety of prepared foods, bakedgoods, root vegetables and early-season produce in cozy heatedspaces overflowing with community. Open rain, snow or shine,the Callicoon indoor market keeps the taste of local food aliveon March 3 and 17 and every Sunday in April from 11 am to 2pm. Located at the Delaware Youth Center, 8 Creamery Road,Callicoon, the winter market hosts over two dozen local farmersincluding Pure Catskills members Hellers Farm, Heirloom Botanicals,Stony Creek Farm, Sherman Hill Farmstead, NeversinkFarm and Oakworks Studio. For more information, visit www.SullivanCountyFarmersMarkets.org. The Saugerties FarmersMarket holds its winter market at the Saugerties Senior Center,207 Market Street, from noon till 4 pm on Sunday, March 10and 17. For more information, call 917 453 2082 or visit www.SaugertiesFarmersMarket.com.During the week, farm-based stores and indoor farmstandsoffer straight-off-the-farm products with a quick visit to yourlocal farmer. Most have open door and honor system paymentpolicies. Farms like Stone & Thistle Farm carry a variety ofsignature-recipe specialty sausages and select-cut grass-fed meats,as well as neighbor farm products like Handsome Brook Farmjams. At Heather Ridge Farm, prepared foods line the shelves12 • www.catskillregionguide.com

at the Bees’ Knees Café. Each Saturday,the Café opens their Soup Kitchenserving up comforting soups, stew, andtheir near-famous Oink and Moo Chili,homemade bread and dessert. The farmstore and kitchen are open 11 am to 3pm every Saturday.For more farm-based stores, inseasonproduct information, and acomplete listing of the 2013 farmers’markets, visit www.PureCatskills.com.You can also enter to win a free copy ofFarmstand Favorites Cookbook: Over 300Recipes Celebrating Local, Farm-FreshFood. Simply visit PureCatskills.com,complete the online form and you’ll beentered into the cookbook drawing. Nopurchase is necessary and six winners willbe randomly selected on April 15. You’llalso receive the Pure Catskills monthlyeNewsletter featuring everything “FreshFrom the Catskills.”Photographer Catarina Astromprovided images within FarmstandFavorites Cookbook. A Swedish-bornphotographer based out of Hobart’sTownship Valley, Catarina alsopublished two cookbooks of herown. “Catarina loves to photographfood and nature,” says Flach. “Shehas a wonderfully gifted talent andeye for capturing the essence ofDelaware County, its beauty andfarms. As a freelance photo journalistworldwide, Catarina jumped atthe opportunity to share images forthis book right from the immediatecommunity.” Cookbook imageshighlight Adam’s Garden in TownshipValley, Stone & Thistle Farm ofEast Meredith, Harpersfield cheese,and red berry currants from Catarina’sbackyard bushes.March 2013 • guide 13

its lifetime. One farmer in DelawareCounty, NY, sustained over $15,000in damage when a group of EurasianBoar ate an entire crop of seed corn injust two days. Eurasian Boar are alsovectors for over 24 infectious diseasestransmissible to humans. In addition,the species carries harmful livestockdiseases such as pseudorabies and swinebrucellosis.The Invasive Species Prevention Actof 2012 gives NYS Department of Environmental Conservation(DEC) the authority to develop regulations for all invasivespecies. These regulations are currently under development witha draft due by the end of March 2013. The DEC’s goal is toeradicate the Eurasian Boar in New York State: consequently,the most effective regulation for this species would be to list it asprohibited (illegal to possess). Although hunting preserves bringin an estimated $200,000-1.6 million in yearly revenue, moneyexpended to mitigate the damage inflicted by Eurasian Boar is fargreater. In Georgia, where the species is established over much ofthe state, Eurasian Boar caused upwards of $81 million in damagesin 2011.Licensed small game hunters may currently hunt the animalat any time, in any number, so long as all other firearms andhunting regulations are observed. As of spring 2012 the USDAhas begun to eliminate known NYS populations of Eurasian Boar,however, activity has so far been restricted to the Great Lakesregion. If additional funding is acquired, more technicians will behired to control the animals in Sullivan and Delaware, too. Capableof tripling herd sizes in one year, Eurasian Boar populationsin New York State will quickly swell to unmanageable proportionsif not addressed now.If you believe you have seen this species, exercise caution:animals can be very aggressive. Report it to CRISP, hosted by theCatskill Center for Conservation and Development, at 845 5862611 or mmarquand@catskillcenter.org. You can also contactyour DEC regional office. For more information visit the NYS-DEC Eurasian Boar webpage at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/70843.htmlTake a Hike!If you are looking to get out on the trails, but are looking forsome guided hikes to help you get your bearings on CatskillMountain trails, the region has several different groups that leadguided hikes. The Catskill Mountain Club (CMC) offers membersand non-members the opportunity to go hiking, paddling,biking and skiing throughout the Catskills. More information onthe CMC and schedules of their activities can be found at www.catskillmountainclub.org. The Catskill 3500 Club leads hikes upthe 35 peaks in the Catskills that reach above 3500 feet in elevation.Visit the 3500 Club’s website at www.catskill-3500-club.orgfor information on their activities. The Rip Van Winkle Hikersalso lead hikes throughout the region and you can find out moreinformation about the club check out their website at www.newyorkheritage.com/rvw.All three of these organizations are member clubs of the TrailConference and work through the Trail Conference’s agreementwith the DEC to maintain trails and lean-tos in the CatskillMountains. The organization all offer unique opportunities toexplore the Catskill Mountain region, meet new friends and findhiking buddies.Trail Updates and NewsCatskill Park Awareness DayOn Tuesday, February 5, 2013, representatives from the TrailConference, the Catskill Center, and the Catskill Mountain Clubvisited with members of the New York State Legislature andthe Executive Officers from the Department of EnvironmentalConservation (DEC) to raise awareness of issues surrounding theCatskill Park. The twelve representatives urged officials to moveforward on a number of issues identified as important to thehealth of the outdoor recreation-based economy in the region:• creating a new recreational plan for the park,• constructing the long-promised CatskillInterpretive Center,• encouraging NYS Dept. of Transportation tocontinue its signage program in the park,• promoting transfer of some New York City landsto the Forest Preserve,• pressing DEC to release a long-planned contractto increase volunteer efforts in the park,• and requiring individual permit reviewshould hydrofracking be allowed within the park.The group reports that this first Catskill Awareness LobbyDay in Albany went very well and they look forward to growingthe effort in the future to reach all legislators, not just the ones inthe greater Catskill Mountain Region.Woodland Valley/Romer Mountain Long Path RelocationWith Spring just around the corner, work will be restarting onbuilding what will eventually be a 9 mile long new hiking trail inthe Catskill Mountains between the village of Phoneicia and theexisting Burroughs Range Trail. If you are interested in joining atrail crew to work on this trail (no experience is necessary), watchthe Trail Conference’s calendar at www.nynjtc.org/view/trail-crewoutings.Adopt a Trail for MaintenanceThe Trail Conference has several openings for Trail Maintainersin the Catskill Mountains. Individual trail segments for adoptionrange from 1 to 2 miles in length. Trail maintainers visit theirMarch 2013 • guide 15

CATSKILL 3500 CLUB REQUIRED WINTER PEAKSBy Carol and David WhiteSlide Mountain summit near the rock ledge; 3,640-foot Twin and 3,573-foot Indian Head Mountains are in the background. Photo by Andrew MorozThis time of year, the Membership Chairman of the Catskill3500 Club¹ is inundated with mail from people who havecompleted their climbs of all thirty-five Catskill high peaks, thoseexceeding 3500 feet. Hikers must also climb four specific peaks asecond time, described below, at least once in winter. The club’sannual dinner is held in early spring in Kingston, and is a galaevent featuring almost 300 people at an elegant dinner. The chairman,our author, calls out each person’s name and they make theirway to the front where they receive the coveted climbing certificate,as cherished as a diploma from school. Earlier, they receivetheir membership card, a welcoming letter, and a colorful patchfeaturing a mountain view.About forty percent of the club’s over 2,100 members havereceived the winter certificate and this climbing odyssey representsa monumental effort—arising in the wee hours to travel to amountain trailhead in order to get on the trail shortly after dawn,because winter daylight hours are short. All winter climbs mustbe accomplished between December 21 and March 21, calendarwinter, to count. It helps to wait until February or March whentemperatures are more moderate and daylight longer, and DaylightSaving starts much earlier than previously. The good news isthat the Catskill 3500 Club leads hikes most every Saturday andSunday all winter (and all year except for hunting season), so youcan join a group hike for greater safety and learn about wintergear, clothing, best approaches to the peaks, and much more fromexperienced hike leaders.Joining a group hike is especially recommended whentackling the thirteen Catskill high peaks that are not trailed; thereare no markings, not even “herd paths” such as existed in theAdirondack High Peaks. The 46er organization closed off manyof the beaten paths to trailless peaks to reduce environmental impact;one minimally maintained approach to an untrailled peak isused there now. When hiking the Catskill trailless peaks, however,no paths exist—these are genuine route-finding experiences upto twelve miles round-trip—so it’s essential to know how to usemap and compass; GPS is a possible tool, but it must be usedknowledgeably. Cell phone coverage is minimal or non-existent.Catskill Peak Experiences includes many accounts of becominglost, hiking until wee hours, dangerous water, accidents and othermisadventures—and myriad reasons we love the mountains andkeep coming back in spite of adversity.As we write in mid-February, the Sunday hike to two remotetrailless peaks caused anxiety to the wife of one hiker who expectedher husband to emerge from the forest at 5:00 pm—just his18 • www.catskillregionguide.com

guess at how long the expedition would take. But the day before,a major nor’easter blizzard blanketed the Northeast! The groupemerged from the peaks at 7:30 pm, excellent work consideringhaving to break trail in deep powder for many miles; but theywere not able to contact his wife right away.Your intrepid authors hiked nearly all these peaks by themselves,not a good idea in winter. The recommended group is four,one to stay with a possibly injured or exhausted person, and twoto get out safely and obtain assistance. We went on to hike all 46Adirondack high peaks in winter, having learned a lot from hikingthe 35 Catskill high peaks in this season—but we still hikedtwo-thirds of them by ourselves. The only injury we had was witha group, rather serious frostbite, described in Peak Experiences:Danger, Death, and Daring in the Mountains of the Northeast.Then we climbed all 48 high peaks in New Hampshire inwinter, including the “Killer Mountain,” 6,288-foot MountWashington. While compiling Peak Experiences, I learned aboutHikeSafe principles: 1) Tell someone your plans, 2) Be preparedwith knowledge and gear, 3) Stay together, 4) Don’t hesitate toturn back, and 5) Be prepared for emergencies—even if headedout just briefly, an injury or severe weather or wrong turn couldbecome life threatening. I would add, never head out withoutchecking the latest local weather forecast, available at www.noaa.gov and other sites.Hiking the Required Winter PeaksAmong the best peaks to start out hiking are the four requiredwinter peaks for membership in the Catskill 3500 Club: Panther,Balsam, Blackhead, and Slide, although 3,940-foot BlackheadMountain is a possibly dubious choice, being the 4th highestpeak and thus colder and windier than lower peaks, and the approachfrom the north via the Escarpment Trail can be hazardousthrough April. The north-facing upper reaches have very steepsections that remain icy well into spring and require crampons;the safe approach to Blackhead is taking the Black Dome Trail tothe col between Black Dome and Blackhead, and then followingthe trail to Blackhead. Excellent viewing is reached in only a quarter-mileup this trail, and from these open ledges it’s only another0.35 miles to the summit through easy grades in pretty evergreenforests. For a required peak, I would have suggested nearby 3,524-foot Windham High Peak, which has a marvelous variety of forestand easier trails that are south-facing in higher regions.We led a hike to Panther Mountain during the 3500 ClubWinter Weekend in January. Panther is best reached from UlsterCounty Route 47; the hike goes along Giant Ledge in 1.5 miles,which features several open ledges with superb views toward theDevil’s Path peaks and nearby Wittenberg, Cornell, and Slidemountains—the Burroughs Range. Beyond Giant Ledge, there’s aloss of about 200 feet to a col between Giant Ledge and the Pantherascent. About halfway up the 700-foot ascent to the summitfrom the col, there’s a short side path to a small lookout ledge withexcellent views over Woodland Valley to the Burroughs RangeAn excellent trailwork stairway on the way to Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain.Photo by Carol Whiteand to Giant Ledge. Varying grades with one steep pitch reach thesummit at a ledge with fine views in the same directions.A man fell while descending Panther one winter and suffereda broken arm; his rescue was undertaken by the hike leaderwho had just completed his Wilderness First Aid course, and isdescribed in Catskill Peak Experiences. Sections can be icy, such asa small ascent just beyond the Giant Ledge/Panther col. On thedescent of our Winter Weekend hike, a seasoned hiker with goodfootgear nevertheless lost his footing on glare ice here and slid/fell to the bottom; was this where the hiker broke his arm? Also,along the route to Panther, Giant Ledge could be dangerous ificy. In Catskill Peak Experiences, the story is recounted about analarming incident of slipping on icy rock and falling headfirst intoa crevice in the cliffside; luckily the man’s equipment wedged himin and prevented a two-hundred-foot fall! One must maintainfocus and care throughout every winter hike. Yet Panther is bestin winter; level sections can be soggy in other seasons.Dave led a Winter Weekend hike to Balsam Mountain,which is a great five-mile loop hike over the summit with excellentviews north to Belleayre Mountain from the north end ofBalsam’s level summit, and a good view down to Big Indian valleyfrom an opening near the south end. The main impediment toclimbing Balsam is a crossing of a sometimes significant brookshortly beyond the Rider Hollow Lean-to. Therefore, it’s best toMarch 2013 • guide 19

Left: Sweeping views from Blackhead Mountain’s lookout ledges. From left to right are 3,655-foot Kaaterskill High Peak (dwarfing 3,440-foot Roundtop Mt.), then the Devil’sPath peaks 3,573-foot Indian Head, 3,640-foot Twin, 3,800-foot Sugarloaf, and 3,840-foot Plateau Mountains. Center: Carol White on the trail to Blackhead Mountain.Black Dome Mountain is close by, only 0.9 miles to its summit from this ledge on Blackhead. Right: Moonrise over Blackhead Mountain summit. Photos by David Whiteclimb this loop by taking the Rider Hollow Trail up and the MineHollow Trail down; if the water is too high to cross, one can retracebriefly and hike to the summit via Mine Hollow and retrace.The Mine Hollow Trail was significantly rerouted above convergingbrooks following Hurricane Irene.Slide Mountain is the highest peak in the Catskill Forest Preserveat 4,180-feet, but the trailhead is at 2,400 feet and so the totalascent is only 1,800 feet to Slide’s summit. There are no steepledges to climb on this five-and-a-half-mile trek, round-trip, andit’s a magnificent hike during a snowy winter, offering spectacularlandscapes in the upper reaches. Our club secretary Laurie Rankindescribes it vividly in Catskill Peak Experiences: “The balsams werecovered in a layer of ice and then snow, brilliant in the sunshineand providing jewel after sparkling jewel to the human eye. Witheach step the firs became heavier and heavier with ice until finallythey bent completely over the trail, creating a living tunnel of firs,ice and snow.”You won’t have to expend great energy breaking trail on thishigh peak, because this popular trail is nearly always well packeddown by many peak-baggers. The main route is much nicer inthe winter because the rocky trail is usually covered with snow. Inother seasons, doing a loop hike to Slide up the beautiful Curtis-Ormsbee Trail is a must—read our full description of that optionat www.catskillmtn.org, and scroll down to the March 2011Guide magazine.¹ Visit the Catskill 3500 Club, www.catskill-3500-club.orgCarol and David White are authors of Catskill Day Hikes for AllSeasons (Adirondack Mountain Club, 2002) and editors of CatskillTrails, 3rd edition: Volume 8 (Forest Preserve Series, AdirondackMountain Club, 2005). Catskill Trails is now packaged with thenew National Geographic Society Catskill Park Trails Illustrated Map#755, which they helped create in 2011. Carol is editor of CatskillPeak Experiences: Mountaineering Tales of Endurance, Survival,Exploration & Adventure from the Catskill 3500 Club (BlackDome Press, 2008). Signed copies of all of these books are available atthe Village Square Bookstore and Literary Arts Center in Hunter, NY.Carol’s new book, Peak Experiences: Danger, Death, and Daring inthe Mountains of the Northeast (University Press of New England)is now available for purchase in bookstores and online. Two accountsare about the Catskills.To Reach Parking AreasBlackhead Mountain: From Hunter on Rt. 23A, turn north on Scribner Hollow Road to County Route 23C; turn left (west) toCo. Rte. 40 and right to Maplecrest at a large flag. In Maplecrest take Co. Route 56, Big Hollow Road, to a parking area at its end.From Rt. 23, turn south on Co. Routes 65 and 65A to Co. Rte. 40 to Maplecrest and Rte. 56. An additional parking area is justbefore the end; do not park at the snowplow turnaround before that. The road may not be plowed all the way; if so, park along theroadside. The trailhead is past the final parking area and passes a chained-off bridge.Panther Mountain: On NY Route 28 at the Big Indian crossroads, turn south onto County Route 47. Travel 7.4 miles to a DECparking area at the base of a hairpin turn. The trail is across the road from the parking area.Balsam Mountain: From Route 28 at Ski Belleayre Mountain in Highmount, turn left on County Route 49A for several milesover hills (if weather isn’t snowy), to Rider Hollow Road; turn left for 2.6 mi. to its end at the parking area. Or from Arkville onRt. 28, turn south on County Route 49 (Dry Brook Road) immediately west of the Dry Brook bridge. In 4.7 miles, passing achurch and bridge, turn left on Co. Rte. 49A; in 0.5 mi, turn right on Rider Hollow Rd.Slide Mountain: From Route 28 in Big Indian, turn south on County Route 47 for 9.4 miles; the DEC trailhead is on the leftabout a mile beyond the Winnisook Club.20 • www.catskillregionguide.com

MARCH AT THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATIONMarch 23Opera in Cinema: Tosca,March 24“Think Spring!,” through March 24where the performing arts, fine arts, crafts, movies, books, great food and good friends meetMountain CinemaAt the Doctorow Center for the Arts, Main Street, HunterMarch Schedule for Screen Two, the only place on the Mountain Topto see the best Foreign, Independent and Classic FilmsTicket Prices: $8 / $6 seniors & children under 11Film schedule subject to change, please call ahead to confirm: 518 263 4702 (recorded messages)or visit www.catskillmtn.org.sound city(unrated, 106 minutes)Directed by dave grohlDave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Nirvana fronts amission to resurrect the rapidly vanishing human touchbehind the creation of music. When Sound City openedin 1969, it boasted a one-of-a kind recording console. Forthe next three decades, the studio became hallowedground where rock n’ roll’s megastars captured theirmagic on analog tape. The advent of the digital ageultimately sounded the death knell of Sound City. StevieNicks, Neil Young, Tom Petty, and Paul McCartney arejust some of the legends who jam with Grohl and createa brand-new album on that revered soundboard. 3/1-3/3. Friday 7:15; Saturday 4:15 & 7:15; Sunday 4:45 & 7:15“A fascinating documentary about the transformationof the music business over the last 40 years.”—Sebastian Doggart, The Telegraph (UK)AMOUR(RATED PG-13, 127 minutes)Directed by MICHAEL HANEKEGeorges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated,retired music teachers. Their daughter, who isalso a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day,Anne has an attack. The couple’s bond of love is severelytested. Amour won the Academy Award for BestForeign Language Film, and was nominated for fourothers, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actressfor Emanuelle Riva, and Best Original Screenplay.3/8-3/10. Friday 7:15; Saturday 4:15 & 7:15;Sunday 5:00 & 7:15New York Times Critics’ Pick. “A masterpiece about life,death and everything in between…moving, subtlybrilliant performances”—Manohla Dargis, The New York TimesMarch 2013 • guide 21

THE PLAYROOM(unrated, 83 minutes)Directed by Julia dyerSet in the suburbs during the 1970s, ThePlayroom tells the story of the Cantwellfamily, as they struggle to find their wayin a rapidly changing world. Maggie isa vulnerable yet tempestuous teenager who acts asbig sister and surrogate mother to her three youngersiblings. Upstairs in the attic she tells them fantasticalstories, but only to mask what is happening downstairs.As her hard-drinking parents entertain guests, Maggiegrapples with their flawed choices and is thrust into aworld she might not be ready for. 3/15-3/17. Friday 7:15;Saturday 4:15 & 7:15; Sunday 7:15New York Times Critics’ Pick. “Captures the malaise ofmid-’70s suburbia with a merciless accuracy not seensince Ang Lee’s 1997 film, The Ice Storm…. [A] small, taut,perfectly cast family drama.”—Stephen Holden, The New York Times56 UP (unrated, 144 minutes)Directed by michael aptedIn 1964, Michael Apted began his careeras a researcher on a new experimentalseries called Seven UP. The original conceptwas to interview 14 children fromdiverse socio-economic backgroundsfrom all over England, to see whether a class systemwas in place. By asking the children about their lives andtheir dreams for the future, differences in attitudes andopportunity were witnessed. Apted has interviewed theoriginal group every seven years, examining the progressionof their lives. Now they are 56. Nearly every facet ofNEW! We’ve loweredour Opera and Balletticket prices to $12.50!life is discussed, as they assess whether their lives havebeen ruled by circumstance or self-determination. 3/22-3/24. Friday 7:15; Saturday 4:15; Sunday 4:30 & 7:15“An inspiring testimonial to the unpredictability of thehuman spirit. 56 UP reminds us that change is ceaselessand often dramatic, bringing growth we could neverhave dreamed of as little kids.”— Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journalkoch (unrated, 95 minutes)Directed by neil barskyFormer Mayor Ed Koch was the quintessentialNew Yorker. Always ferocious,charismatic, and hilariously blunt untilhis death at age 88, he ruled New Yorkfrom 1978 to 1989—a down-and-dirtydecade of grit, graffiti, near-bankruptcy and rampantcrime. Neil Barsky has crafted an intimate and revealingportrait of this intensely private man, his legacy asa political titan, and the town he helped transform. Thetumult of his three terms included a fiercely competitive1977 election; an infamous 1980 transit strike; theburgeoning AIDS epidemic; landmark housing renewalinitiatives; and an irreparable municipal corruptionscandal. Through candid interviews and rare archivalfootage, Koch chronicles the personal and political tollof running the world’s most wondrous city in a time ofupheaval and reinvention. 3/29-3/31. Friday 7:15; Saturday4:15 & 7:15; Sunday 4:15 & 7:15“A canny balancing act, making Koch’s arrogance soplain that you quickly move past it and concede that heaccomplished remarkable things.”—David Edelstein, New York MagazineBALLET & OPERA in cinemaDoctorow center for the arts • Main Street, HunterBallet in Cinemaan evening with crystal pitefrom Nederlands Dans Theater, The HagueSunday, March 3 at 2:15 pmnotre dame de parisFROM teatro alla scala, milanSunday, march 10 at 2:15 pmopera in cinemacavalleria rusticana and pagliacciFROM teatro alla scala, milanSunday, march 17 at 2:15 pmToscaFROM THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, LONDONSunday, march 24 at 2:15 pmballet’s greatest hits: YAGP gala fromyouth america grand prixSunday, march 31 at 2:15 pm22 • www.catskillregionguide.com

The arts are not just painting and photography. They include anything creative!BOOK TALKSaturday, March 23, 1 pmReading and discussion with ChrisWade, author of Seven Locks andBarbara Quintero, author of E.Christine Wade is a researcher and writer who fell in love with theHudson River when she first attended Bard College and has livedon its shores in New York City and the Catskill Mountains eversince. Seven Locks, her first novel, won a James Jones FellowshipAward for an unpublished novel in 2009.In the years before the American Revolution, a man mysteriouslydisappears without a trace, abandoning his wife and his childrenon their farm at the foot of the Catskill Mountains. At first manybelieve that the farm wife, who has the reputation of being a scold,has driven her husband away. But as the strange circumstances ofhis disappearance circulate, a darker story begins to unfold, sendingthe lost man’s wife on a desperate journey to find the meansand self-reliance to ensure her family’s survival.Seven Locks is a poignant exploration of the inner and outerlives of those living on the American frontier at the end of the 18thcentury. Wade creates a rich, imaginative and tactile evocation oflife and times in the historical Hudson River Valley where the linesbetween myth and reality fade in the wilderness beyond the smalltowns, while an American nation struggles to emerge.Barbara Quintero is a writer, teacher, director, and actress.As a writer and teacher, Ms. Quintero taught English, Speech,Literature, Drama and Writing at Marymount Manhattan College,Berkeley College, and Mercy College. Her articles and reviewshave appeared in several publications. Two monologues from herplay Missing Pieces were published in The Best Women’s StageMonologues 1996. Her 10 minute play, The Border, was producedat Sing Sing prison as part of their Theatre Rehabilitation Project,where Ms. Quintero also taught playwriting. The Border was subsequentlytranslated into Spanish and became a finalist in the SamuelFrench One Act-Play Festival in New York City.E. is a family saga of four generations of women, focusingon the complexities of the mother/daughter relationship and howeach woman’s passionate choice, when coming of age, affects theirlives forever. Beginning in 1901 and ending in 1965, E. follows thedramatic life of Estelle from the first page when she comes homefrom school at sixteen to learn that her younger brother is dead, tothe final scenes, when at eighty she faces the biggest challenge ofher life. Inspired by true events, E. is unique as a family-saga genrewritten in novella form.BOOK TALKSaturday, March 30, 1 pmReading and discussion withpoet Gary Stephens,author of The Studflaps of Straus ParkThe book is a very accessible narrative in verse about the life andlove of two pigeons in a pocket park in Manhattan. No, it is not forchildren; it is very much for adults. But yes, it is whimsical, poignantand also serious. Michael Waters writes that it is a “wise andwinning book.” There is a counterpoint between lovely responsivedrawings done by David Sharpe and the poetry that is highly musical,loaded with wordplay, which pokes fun at poetry while trying toachieve a verse with its own loveliness. The poems start from manyplaces and points of view, but cross-referencing one another, theycome together as a narrative of the life and love life of Mr. Studflapand Ms. Pigeo, who are “the Studflaps” of the title.Hunter Village Square • 7950 Main St/Rte. 23A / 518 263 2050Hours: Mon., Thurs.-SAT. 10AM-5PM; SUN. 10AM-4PM (closed tue.-wed.)24 • www.catskillregionguide.com

The Catskill Mountain Foundation presentsFlamenco VivoCarlota Santana Dance CompanySaturday, April 13, 2013, 8:00 pm“A joyful celebration of music and dance.”—The New York TimesDoctorow Center for the Arts7971 Main Street, Village of HunterTickets/Info: www.catskillmtn.org or 518 263 2063March 2013 • guide 25

T h e C a t s k i l l M o u n ta i n F o u n d a t i o n P r e s e n t sTHINK SPRING!A Multi-Media Exhibit of the Artists of theWindham Arts AllianceTHROUGH MARCH 24, 2013Art Talk: Saturday, March 2, 1-2 pm“Spring Pansies” by George MartinTHE KAATERSKILL FINE ARTS GALLERY • 7950 MAIN STREET HUNTER NY 12442GALLERY HOURS: THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 10 - 5, SUNDAY 10-4 , MONDAY 10-3 • ALSO BY APPOINTMENT518-263-2060 • www.catskillmtn.org26 • www.catskillregionguide.com

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATIONPIANO PERFORMANCE MUSEUMFeaturing the Steven E. Greenstein CollectionArtistic Director, Kenneth HamrickRediscover this extraordinary collection andits new positioning as a major venuefor performance, music educationand historical insights.View Our Online Video!Scan me to view a YouTube video about the Piano Performance Museum!Or find the video atwww.catskillmtn.org /about-us/projects/pianoperformancemuseum.htmlRoute 23A, Main Street, Village of Hunter518 821 3440 • www.catskillmtn.orgHours: Friday and Saturday, noon-4 pm and by appointmentThe CMF Piano Museum is funded in part by the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family FoundationWhen a small group of compassionate citizens came together some years ago, their purpose was quite simple: toenrich life on the mountaintop. This progressive group of second homeowners, soon to become the WindhamChapter, has taken many small steps to make great strides in our community. As a division of the Catskill MountainFoundation, the Windham Chapter is committed to supporting projects in the arts, education, and recreation.Their impact has been felt on many levels; from the very public to the intensely personal: radio and emergencyequipment for local firefighters, medical care for families, band uniforms for WAJ students and college scholarshipsfor deserving graduates. This group saw a need and made a commitment to help fill it. Since 2003, the WindhamChapter has awarded nearly 2 million dollars to local non-profit organizations.Some people want things to happen, some people wish things to happen...The Windham Chapter makes things happen.The Windham Chapter is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, governed by an all-volunteer board.Windham Chapter• P.O. Box 600• Windham, NY 12496www.windhamchapter.comMarch 2013 • guide 27

MARCH 2013 movies &events at A GLANCESchedule subject to change:please call 518 263 4702 to confirmor visit www.catskillmtn.org.CINEMA 2 - Foreign &Independent filmscinema 2 - classic filmseries(F) mar 1 (ST) mar 2 (SU) mar 3sound city7:15 PMART TALK:Think Spring!1:00-2:00 PMspoken & writtenword workshop2:00 PMsound city4: 15 & 7:15 PMballet in cinema:an evening withcrystal pite2:15 PMsound city4:45 & 7:15 PM(F) mar 8 (ST) mar 9 (SU) mar 10amour7:15 PMspoken & writtenword workshop2:00 PMamour4:15 & 7:15 PMballet in cinema:notre dame de paris2:15 PMamour5:00 & 7:15 PM(F) mar 15 (St) mar 16 (SU) mar 17the playroom7:15 PMspoken & writtenword workshop2:00 PMthe playroom4:15 & 7:15 pmopera in cinema:cavalleriarusticana andpagliacci2:15 PMthe playroom7:15 PM(F) mar 22 (St) mar 23 (SU) mar 2456 up7:15 PMFilms on Screens 1 & 3 change weekly:please call or visit our Web site for the mostup-to-date schedule of Hollywood films.BOOK TALK WITH CHRISWADE AND BARBARAQUINTERO1:00 PM56 up4:15 PMabe lincoln inillinois7:15 PMopera & ballet in cinemaperformancesGallery eventsliterary eventsopera in cinema:tosca2:15 PM56 up4:30 & 7:15 PM(F) mar 29 (St) mar 30 (SU) mar 31koch7:15 PMBOOK TALK WITHgary stephens1:00 PMkoch4:15 & 7:15 PMballet in cinema:ballet’s greatesthits: YAGP gala2:15 PMkoch4:15 & 7:15 PMWEEKLY CLASSES starting June 26Basics & Beyond: June 26-August 28Susan Beecher, nationally recognized potter & teacherClay for Seniors: June 26-August 28Susan BeecherWORKSHOPS starting June 20Porcelain Throwing Clinic: June 20-June 24Angela Fina, potter and teacherBegin, Refresh, & Refine!: June 29-30Michael Boyer, master potterChinese Brush Painting: June 29-30Linda Schultz, retired art teacherSensational Salt Fire: July 5-7Susan BeecherFrom Wheel to Kiln to Market: July 11-16Michael Kline, resident artist at Penland School of CraftsFlashing & Fuming: July 18-23Randy Brodnax & Don Ellis, master Raku pottersThrown, Altered & Decorated: July 25-30Jennifer Allen, award-winning potterMagnificent Mosaics: July 26-28Cynthia Fisher, award-winning mosaic artistExciting Throwing & Altering Options: August 1-5Sequoia Miller, full-time studio potterExperimenting with Two Unique Watercolor Surfaces:August 3-4Kris Woodward, nationally recognized painterGestural Pots: August 8-12Ron Meyers, award-winning potter and teacherHaving Fun with Vessels that Pour: August 15-19Susan BeecherUnlock the Mysteries of Crystalline Glazes:August 22-26Robert Hessler, award-winning potter/crystalline artistPlein Air Painting on the Mountain Top: August 24-25Judith Orseck Katz, graphic designer, potter and painterVisit our Web site for more details:www.sugarmaples.org.For more information, to request a brochure,to register or to make reservations for housing,call Fran Imperiale at 518 263 2073.28 • www.catskillregionguide.com