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MANOR INK

AUGUST 2020 | MANORINK.ORG

BROADACRE FARMS

An ‘agri-residential’

development for Manor?

PAGE 4

CLOSED FOR NOW Shut since mid-March, Livingston Manor Central School is now working on a plan to reopen in September. But many

questions remain regarding what that will mean for students, their parents and the school’s teachers and administrators. Manor Ink photo

Reopen? Yes. But how?

NJ MURDER/SUICIDE

Alleged killer of judge’s

son was Beaverkill resident

PAGE 3

2020 CENSUS

Door-to-door visits hope

to improve Sullivan count

PAGE 5

LMCS faces challenges for 2020-21

By Demi Budd and Osei Helper | Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – The arrival of

the coronavirus brought many changes.

These were all quite jarring. From wearing

masks to staying six feet apart, this

time has been a period of adjustment for

everyone.

One of these changes was the switch

to remote learning for schools. When the

news that the remainder of the school

year would take place from home came in

mid-March, many were thrown off guard.

Teachers and students made it work,

though, believing that in-person learning

would resume only a few weeks later. But

the date of the return kept extending, and

eventually remote learning was required

for the rest of the school year.

So what happened during those three

months of strict, through-the-screen

teaching and learning? Manor Ink talked

not only to Livingston Manor Central

School’s students, but also its teachers,

principal, and the District’s superintendent

to learn about their experiences and

to get their outlook for the future.

n Part 1: The shutdown

On March 25, all US public schools

closed due to the pandemic. This closure

kept on extending in two-week intervals.

Eventually, it lasted until the end of the

school year.

The shift didn’t come easily to anyone

at LMCS. Students, teachers and even the

principal and superintendent all had their

Continued on pg. 6

2 | AUG. 2020 | MANOR INK

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 86

IN THIS ISSUE

LOCAL NEWS

What’s ahead for LMCS in 2020-21? ................1, 6, 7

Murderer dies in Beaverkill ...........................3

Hoag Rd. development ..............................4

Census-generated funding ...........................5

Sullivan Renaissance update . .........................9

Town and school board reports .......................11

FEATURES

History of LMCS .............................. 14, 15

Now & Then .....................................17

Inkwell of Happiness ........................19, 20, 21

Back Page Profile: Terry Dame ........................24

SPORTS

Baseball season preview . ...........................22

EXTRAS

Inklings Calendar .................................23

SUGGESTIONS

Have an idea for an

article? We’re always

looking for stories. Email

your suggestion to us

at editor@manorink.

org. And hopefully you’ll

soon be able to put story

ideas in the Idea Dropbox

at the Livingston

Manor Free Library, once

the library has reopened.

Deadline comes too early in summer

Hello, readers of Manor Ink. This

weather we’ve had this past month

has been quite sporadic and unreliable.

Hopefully, none

of your plans have

been ruined.

For this issue I

worked with fellow

reporter and associate editor Demi Budd to

Osei Helper

Editor-in-chief

bring you a report on how remote learning

worked out last spring at Livingston

Manor Central School and on plans for

the upcoming school semester. We elicited opinions from

teachers, students and administrators.

Associate Editor Edward Lundquist is bringing us the

history of our little hamlet’s fine school. Jumping back

to the 1930s, Eddie tells us of LMCS’s original plans and

5G radiation a threat?

To the Editor:

I read the article in your July issue

about 5G technology being tested

in our area (Ed: “Broadband on the

way?”). I have been looking into 5G

and increased radio frequency radiation

for a while, educating myself

about what it actually is, how it is

different from 4G, what it entails,

and how it will improve our lives,

especially for those who live in rural

areas. After some research, I am

troubled by what I have found. It is

MANOR INK STAFF

Osei Helper

Editor-in-Chief

Edward Lundquist,

Demi Ball

Associate Editors

Jessica Mall

LMCS School Advisor

Carolyn Bivins,

Peggy Johansen

Founders

David Dann

Art & Photo

Production Editor

Amy Hines

Business Manager,

Mentor

IF YOU’RE A student in grades

7-12 and are interested in partcipating

in Manor Ink, let us know at

editor@manorink.org. We meet

outdoors or on Zoom all summer

every Wednesday at 2:45-4 p.m.

possible that it may have long term

effects not only on human health, but

also on wildlife.

For example, birds use the earth’s

electromagnetic field to navigate – as

do insects – and many scientists are

unsure of the cumulative effects that

the new wireless frequencies may

have on them. These studies are easy

to find on the Internet (one is mdsafetech.org/environmental-and-wildlife-effects),

and I would encourage

readers to look for themselves.

I feel it would only be fair to have

blueprints and from there expands on

the rich origins of the school.

Emily Ball interviewed Freda Eisenberg

on the importance of the census

and how our county is lacking thus

far in self-responses. Michelle Adams-

Thomas also conducted an interview

with Vikki Siciliano about what the job

of “census taker” entails. Check out both articles on pg. 5.

We also paid a visit to a few new business that had

planned to open in early spring but were shuttered by the

pandemic. They are now open for business, though with

certain restrictions, and you can see them on pg. 8.

Deadline came quickly this month (at least it felt like it),

so the staff has been especially hard at work. Your support

is very much appreciated in helping to keep this paper

alive! Enjoy this issue of Manor Ink!

Art Steinhauer

Sales Manager, Mentor

Henry Barish

Library Director

Kelly Buchta, Robin

Chavez, Marge Feuerstein,

Audrey Garro,

Taylor Jaffe, Les Mattis

Mentors

FROM THE EDITOR

LETTERS

public meetings about this initiative

before it goes ahead, so that we, the

local residents, can make informed

choices as to whether this is good

for our community. I would request

that your journalists look into this

and publish their findings for our

community.

Sharon Molloy

Parksville

Send letters to editor@manorink.org.

Letters must include a name and address

and may be edited for length and clarity.

Michelle Adams-Thomas,

Emily Ball, Cameron

Brightfield, Zachary

Dertinger, Demi Budd,

Hunter Krause,

Luca Larizzati

Manor Ink Reporters

Manor Ink, a program of the Livingston Manor Free Library, is published monthly. Reach us at editor@manorink.org.

Our mailing address is Manor Ink, 92 Main St., Livingston Manor, NY 12758. Letters, story suggestions welcome.

NEWS

MANOR INK | AUG. 2020 |

3

NJ judge’s would-be killer was once local kid

Suspect took his own

life in familiar Beaverkill

By Les Mattis | Manor Ink Mentor

Beaverkill, NY – The quiet of life on a

dead end dirt road in the hamlet of Beaverkill

was interrupted on Monday morning,

July 20, by the appearance of multiple

NY State Police vehicles zipping up and

down Ragin Road, just off the western end

of the Beaverkill Covered Bridge.

When asked about the commotion, a

trooper said that while there was no imminent

danger, it might be a good idea to stay

inside as the road was closed for a crime

scene investigation. What had been found

by members of the Town of Rockland highway

crew earlier that morning was a car

parked just off the road with a dead man

in it – a suspected suicide. That theory was

confirmed by ensuing discoveries made by

the State Police.

The dead man was Roy Den Hollander,

an attorney whose parents owned a cabin

on Ragin Road where, decades

ago, they spent summers.

Several residents,

including Eric Hamerstom,

remembered Den Hollander

and his older brother Frank,

Roy Den

Hollander

now deceased. Hamerstom

said Roy’s nickname was

“Babyface,” and contemporaries

recalled him being an overly quiet,

different sort who was not much liked.

Den Hollander went on to practice law in

Sullivan County for a period and although

other lawyers who encountered him did

not wish to be quoted for this story, it was

clear he was looked at askance.

CRIME SCENE A car discovered on July 20 in the turnaround on Ragin Road in Beaverkill, above, contained the body of Roy Den Hollander. An apparent

suicide, Den Hollander had earlier allegedly shot and killed the son and wounded the husband of Judge Esther Salas in New Brunswick, NJ.

Below, the cabin on Ragin Road formerly owned by the Den Hollander family where the killer spent his childhood summers. Les Mattis photos

Attack on federal judge and family

It is now known that it was Den Hollander,

wearing a FedEx uniform, who knocked

on the door of US District Judge Esther Salas

in New Brunswick, NJ, on Sunday night,

July 19. When her college student son answered,

Den Hollander shot him, and then

turned the gun on the young man’s father,

the judge’s husband, wounding him several

times. Salas’s son was killed, but her husband

luckily is recovering and is expected

to live.

The motive for the shooting is still being

fleshed out, but apparently Den Hollander,

who billed himself as an “anti-feminist activist,”

had brought a lawsuit before Judge

Salas that challenged the constitutionality

of US draft laws which conscript men but

not women. In his published writings and

in an interview he gave on TV, Den Hollander

crusaded against women’s efforts to

gain equality and openly denigrated Judge

Salas, who had been nominated for the federal

bench by President Obama, with ethnic

and gender slurs.

SUSPECT IN EARLIER SLAY

Roy Den Hollander is now believed

to have been the gunman in a similar

murder in Cedarpines Park, Calif., on

July 11. A man wearing a FedEx uniform

shot and killed Marc Angelucci,

vice president of the National Coalition

for Men, in front of Angelucci’s home.

Den Hollander may have seen the

NCFM official as a rival in the men’s

rights movement.

An anti-feminist litigator

An anti-feminist who sought to block

and overturn laws granting women equality,

Den Hollander even sued to stop bars

from having “ladies’ nights” where drinks

were sold at cut rates to women, a courtesy

he deemed to be anti-men. He had lately

told friends he was dying of cancer, and the

authorities are investigating the possibility

that he wanted to settle perceived scores before

his demise.

After the shootings in New Brunswick,

Den Hollander drove himself up to Beaverkill,

the locale of his younger years, and

there died by his own hand.

It was quite a sight on Ragin Road by

the time Monday had drawn to a close –

a helicopter overhead, multiple NY State

Police cars sealing off the road, unmarked

FBI, New York, New Jersey and local police

vehicles, including a black crime scene

truck, convoying up and down the road,

and reporters asking questions. It wasn’t

exactly what local residents expect of a bucolic

and peaceful afternoon in our rural

community.

4 | AUG. 2020 | MANOR INK NEWS

Major development planned for Manor farm?

Hoag Rd. website touts

town as ‘cultural hub’

By Marge Feuerstein | Manor Ink Mentor

Livingston Manor, NY – If promotional

material on the web is correct, coming to

this hamlet in 2021 will be an “agri-residential

community” of 117 acres and 26 private

homes.

Called Broadacre Farms, the development

will be located on Hoag Rd., and will

include 70 wooded acres with an additional

10 that will be reserved for farming.

The property was once a dairy farm but its

fields are currently used only for hay.

The developers plan to hire or partner

with a local farmer to grow vegetables

and fruits for the community on the development’s

farm, similar to a “hyper local

CSA.” The farm will be funded by the

Broadacre homeowners, and will also have

egg-laying chickens, alpacas and a few other

low-maintenance animals.

Also planned is an apple orchard, a community

playground, a fish pond and a hillside

infinity pool and spa. The large barn

currently on the site will be turned into a

community clubhouse which will be a center

for activities like yoga, stargazing and

barbecues.

Broadacre intends to build 26 custom

homes on the property that “embody the

essence of life in the Catskills.” Some will

CATSKILLS ESSENCE A large barn on the Hoag Rd. property sought by developers will become a

clubhouse for a community called Broadacre Farms. broadacrefarm.org photo

be a-frames, or “Ayfrayms,” that sleep eight

and start at $699,000; others will be more

conventional larger homes, called “Junipers,”

costing $899,000.

The development company’s website

touts the benefits of life in Livingston Manor

by quoting Condé Nast Traveler magazine.

“Like New York’s Hudson and Phoenicia

before it,” the copy reads, “Livingston

Manor is set to become the next frontier

for life, post-Brooklyn.” The site calls the

hamlet “the cultural hub of the Western

Catskills.”

Neighbors around the site of the proposed

Hoag Rd. development have voiced

some concern about what they characterized

as “a very inadequate road in and out

of the property.” They also cited possible

drainage and septic issues.

“Those particular issues should not become

concerns,” Supervisor Rob Eggleton

said. “The Town of Rockland now controls

and maintains 202 miles of roads and

has no intention of taking over any more.

Anyone considering developing an area

within the town will be obliged to develop

and maintain all internal and access roads

themselves.”

POSSIBLE DELAYS

Residents on High Street whose homes

are adjacent to the property sought by the

developers of Broadacre Farms are not only

concerned about the project’s impact on

their lives. For several years, eagles have

nested on the southern expanse of the property,

and it is likely that construction of new

homes would disturb the protected birds.

When contacted about the nest, state

DEC biologist Susan Booth-Binczik said,

“We don’t have any record of an eagle

nest there, so we would be interested in

documenting it, particularly if it is active

this year.” DEC acknowledgement of the

nest would not prevent the Broadacre project

from going forward, but it would delay

construction during nesting season.

“It’s just a shame to change the landscape

where there is also other wildlife, not

just the eagles,” said one resident.

As for the issue of sewage, Eggleton said

the property in question is contiguous with

a sewer line and could be folded into the

current Livingston Manor system.

Thus far, however, the Town of Rockland

Planning Board has not received an

official proposal from the developers of

Broadacre Farms, and Manor Ink efforts to

reach the developers were unsuccessful.

Signs at the property indicate that its sale

is still pending.

Manor Ink staff members also contributed

to this story.

Proposed development for Livingston Manor

Broadacre Farms, 26 homes on 117 acres

Back Shandelee Rd.

Arts Blvd.

School St.

N

500 feet

BROADACRE

FARMS

PROPERTY

Hoag Rd.

High St.

River St.

Creamery Rd.

Main St.

WILLOWEMOC

CREEK

broadacrefarm.org photos

COUNTRY LIVING

With spacious decks, large windows and multiple skylights, “rustic-modern” wood

beams and, in some models, two-car garages, the various styles of homes promoted

by the developers of Broadacre Farms offer second home buyers a luxurious variation

of the more humble bungalow colony experience of the Catskills’ golden era

of hospitality. The “Ayfraym” residence, left, and the “Juniper” are just two of the

Broadacre home models that will cost buyers considerably more than their bungalow

predecessors, some approaching a purchase price of six figures.

NEWS


5

NY State census self-response rate

Online, phoned-in and mailed-in totals, by county

0-15% 16-30%

31-40% 41-50%

51-56% 57-62%

63-68%

Sullivan County

32.4 percent as of July 25

(Final 2010 response, 42.5 percent)

2020census.gov

CENSUS FINANCIAL BENEFITS

Information collected by the 2020 Census will directly

affect New Yorkers over the next decade in the

form of funds allocated to the state by the federal

government. But what exactly do Census statistics

help fund? Here are the top 10 services:

n Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid)

n Medicare Part B

n Highway Planning and Construction

n Federal Pell Grant program (student loans)

n School Breakfast and Lunch Programs

n Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

n Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers

n Special Ed Grants

n Head Start

n Unemployment Insurance

How does it work?

Census Bureau data enable federal programs

to fund initiatives by using population counts and

characteristics to target and distribute those funds.

For example, the Medical Assistance Program, or

Medicaid, will allocate funds to New York based on

per-capita income information collected in the 2020

Census.

What does New York get?

In 2018, the state’s citizens sent a total of $254

billion in taxes to Washington, DC, $26.6 billion

more than they received in return in federal spending.

That’s a deficit for each citizen of $1,363 per

year. For every additional resident counted during the

2020 Census, that deficit will be reduced. Federal

tax dollars that are returned to New York average

$11,671 per capita, so an accurate count can make a

significant difference in state revenue.

From “Uses of Census Bureau Data in Federal

Funds Distribution” and “New York’s Balance of

Payments in the Federal Budget,” osc.state.ny.us

County count seen as crucial

But census response still lags

By Emily Ball | Manor Ink

Monticello, NY – Freda Eisenberg is Sullivan County’s

Commissioner of Planning and Community Development

and heads up the county’s efforts to ensure a strong response

to the 2020 Census. In a recent interview with Manor

Ink, she spoke about the status of those efforts and what they

mean for those who live here.

Eisenberg said the county first established a committee of

county officials and community groups to

help with the effort. The goal was to increase

knowledge about the importance of the census.

Called Sullivan 180, the committee was,

she said, a “very strong partner in getting

the word out” on various social media under

Freda

Eisenberg

the brand “Sullivan County Counts.”

The county receives about $3,000 per person

annually in federal funding, but only if

those persons are counted in the census. Because the census

is conducted once each decade, the impact over ten years

amounts to $30,000 per resident. A low response rate greatly

affects what services the county can offer for the next decade.

Eisenberg said that some of the major services that rely on

census data are health-care programs, school lunches, highway

planning and construction, housing, childcare, low-income

home energy systems, unemployment insurance and

job training assistance.

The pandemic has affected the effort to increase the census

response rate. “Earlier in the year, there was a program that

was going to award annual funding to help us with the effort,

but the program shut down because of the pandemic,”

Eisenberg said. “We did manage to get a small amount of

funding that is being used for advertising material, such as

promotional postcards.” The pandemic also put the actual

going out and knocking on doors by enumerators on hold.

That is now planned to start up again on Aug. 11.

Eisenberg stressed that Sullivan County’s self-response

rate is very low. “Besides one tiny Adirondack county, we

are the worst in the state for response,” she said. “We are

in a budget crisis, but to the extent that we are undercounted,

less aid is allocated for us and that makes our situation

worse.” At press time, the county’s self-response rate was

only 32.4 percent, as compared to the state average of 57

percent. There has, however, been some improvement as

census forms have started to be delivered to homes with PO

boxes. Those addresses previously did not receive them.

Many factors have contributed to the low response rates.

“The primary response mechanism for the census is online,”

said Eisenberg. “Lots of people here do not have access to

the Internet.” She also told us that people do not want to

fill out the census because they may be distrustful of giving

information about their household online.

“As important as it was early on to complete the 2020 Census,

it’s much more important now,” Eisenberg said.

Coming soon, maybe to your front door

By Michelle Adams-Thomas | Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – Some jobs

are hard, some even harder, but that

does not stop people like Vikki Siciliano.

She is a census taker or “enumerator.”

Her job is to make sure that each person

fills out the 2020 Census so that the

government has an accurate population

count. This count, done every 10 years,

is used to determine representation and

distribution of government funds nationwide.

This year, the COVID-19 crisis has made her job different,

as enumerators must stay apart from the people they

canvass. For that reason, answering census questions by

mail or online is highly encouraged.

Siciliano explained that the first stage of her job was just

to drop census forms off at houses without contacting residents.

Those were mostly homes with PO boxes that do not

receive mail at the house. The next stage, now in process, is

to do the same at group homes and nursing facilities. In the

final step, enumerators will be trained to visit the homes

of people who have not filled out the 2020 Census to help

them complete it.

The census survey consists of a few simple, non-intrusive

questions, such as how many people live in the household

and their genders and ages. Occasionally,

people are reluctant to answer,

even though census answers are kept

confidential by law for 72 years. Siciliano

attributed this to immigration and other

fears.

“When that happens, I patiently explain

that we’re only counting people,”

she said. “I stress the importance of the

survey to everyone, that most of the requested

information is publicly avail-

Manor Ink photo

able, and the confidentiality that is kept.”

When asked if she has fears about going door to door,

Siciliano was unconcerned. “Most people encountered are

very cooperative and nice,” she said. “When I was an enumerator

ten years ago, less than a half-dozen people were

hostile.” Sicilano said what scares her more than people

is the unknown. “It can be daunting to have to go down

a long driveway with posted ‘no trespassing’ signs, even

though it’s legal for census takers to ignore those postings.

We are asked to go to anyplace that someone could live,

but, of course, we use our common sense, too.

“What I like most about the job is meeting people and

getting to see areas of the County where I normally don’t

go,” she said. “What surprises me most is the number of

dogs here – everyone seems to have one or more!”


NEWS

Remote learning? Mixed reviews

Continued from pg. 1

own struggles and successes with it. They

also all had ideas for the future.

Regarding the shift in the spring, sophomore-to-be

Jocelyn Mills said, “I’d have

to think really hard about it if I had to find

something I liked about remote learning.”

She was also one of the many students

who had to have her work delivered to her.

Remote learning relies heavily on students

owning a computer and having a stable internet

connection. There were accommodations

for students who didn’t have access

to those, but they weren’t the most convenient.

“I didn’t get the work at the beginning

of the week,” Mills explained. “I’d get it on

Wednesday, and I would still be expected

to have it done by Friday.”

On top of getting the work late, Mills also

struggled with it. As virtual classes were not

mandatory, students were left with assignments

dropped in Google Classroom with

little to no direction on how to do them.

‘I went from a

straight-A student

to being on High

Honor Roll.’

Jocelyn Mills

LMCS student, speaking

of her experience

with remote learning

With due dates in

bright red letters

on the screens,

students were often

left rushing to

complete the work

and depending on

external websites

or fellow students

to provide them

with the answers

needed to complete

assignments.

Mills felt that she did not actually learn

anything during this time. Because of this

lack of structure, she felt stress turning in

assignments and completing the associated

quizzes and tests on concepts she never

fully grasped.

“Because of the complications of online

schooling, I went from a straight-A student

to being on High Honor Roll.” This meant

that her average dropped to 93 or below.

She used to be on Superintendents’ List,

which requires a 95 or above average.

Of course, not every student struggled

with remote learning. Some flourished during

this time due to the newfound independence

and the lack of rigid structure.

It didn’t start off easy for now-junior

Kristina Davis. “At first, I was trying to bundle

it all on Monday, and then get it done so

I could have the rest of the week off,” said

Davis. “Then I’m like, ‘I shouldn’t do that,’

so I changed it up.”

STUDENT VIEW Jocelyn Mills, left, and

Kristina Davis had different experiences with

remote learning, but both felt they didn’t really

learn anything new. Provided photos

Kristina had the luxury of being able to

do her work online. This allowed her to

better manage her time. Over the course of

remote school day, she worked out a schedule

to help herself better manage when she

did her work. “I did a class per day, so it

would be Earth Science on Monday, English

on Tuesday.”

Even though Davis didn’t have too much

trouble with distance learning and even

boosted her grades, she shared a similar issue

with Jocelyn Mills. “It was very difficult

to learn new material,” Davis said. “I felt

like I wasn’t learning anything.”

LMCS teachers’ experiences

Paul Favata, teacher of high school

Chemistry, Earth Science and College Biology,

and Tiffany Gillman, teacher of ninth

and tenth grade English spoke about their

thoughts on the switch to distance learning.

Both of them were surprised by the shutdown,

but they jumped into action right

away making preparations. Gillman collaborated

with the other English teachers

by providing all high school students with

the same book to read and analyze.

“We hoped that having the students all

read the same book would not only allow

us teachers to collaborate, but would also

provide a shared experience for students

that might give them a way to connect

during the extended closure,” Gillman explained.

Favata reached out to his students right

away. He let them know what he was trying

to plan and kept them posted about his

progress and how classes would be structured.

Along with keeping in contact via

email and telephone with students, he also

set up Google Chats so students in each of

his classes could communicate with one another

about their work.

As a science teacher, Favata’s classes

are all quite hands-on, especially when it

comes to lab work. But it was difficult to

reproduce that experience during this time.

“I think the most interesting and exciting

part of science is lab work, which became

almost impossible with my limited knowledge

and experience with the online curriculum,”

said Favata. “I resorted to labs

that used computer simulators, labs that

involved watching someone else perform

the experiment using YouTube videos, and

providing data for labs and then asking

students to analyze that data,” he said. But

none of those was as engaging as actually

performing the experiments. “I have lots

of favorite labs, and it was certainly disappointing

that I wasn’t able to share those

with my students this year.”

Their students’ grades have varied. Some

students flourished with the greater independence,

while others struggled with the

lack of structure. Many in his class, Favata

said, continued with the same grades they

were getting when classes met at school.

A challenge for administrators

Shirlee Davis, principal of LMCS, had

some words to say on the matter as well.

Her first thoughts upon hearing the news

about switching to online learning were how

to balance instruction with the needs of students,

their families and the staff. Davis had

faith in her teachers and the community. “I

felt confident we could pull together to meet

the needs of our students,” she said.

Teachers themselves have been taking

online classes to learn how to do remote

learning better. They were still working full

time during the closure.

Superintendent John Evans also shared

his thoughts about remote learning. Receiving

the initial news was a shock. “Wow!” he

said his thoughts were at the time. “This is

gonna be interesting.”

Moving past that first reaction, he explained

that the administration’s main focus

was on everyone’s needs: how are we

going to do this?

A Superintendent’s Day had been scheduled

on Mar. 16, a day that coincided with

the closing. The timing gave them “a day

jump on everything.”

With the remote learning required, everyone

faced a steep learning curve. Teachers

received a message from the administration

encouraging them to try new things

in an effort to figure out what worked and

what didn’t. Teachers from the elementary,

middle school, and high school levels all

shared their methods and found that Zoom

PAPERWORK Holding up some of the regulaof

schools, Superintendent John Evans shares his

meetings worked best for everyone.

Another issue teachers and the administration

faced was accommodating the

specific situations of some students. Not

all households had the same access to technology.

What Evans and others thought

would work for all students in some cases

did not.

“It was a constant learn-as-we-go process.

I think everybody did the best they

could, given the circumstances,” he said.

n Part 2: Reopening LMCS

Looking at a future where remote learning

might very well continue, Evans, Davis

and their teachers all have things they’d like

to implement or do differently than they

did in the spring.

“Hopefully, if we return to remote learning,

we will have more time to develop the

curriculum and to learn new platforms for

delivery of instruction that will enhance

student engagement and performance,”

English instructor Tiffany Gillman said. “I

would also hope that regular student attendance

at Google Meets could be a requirement.”

tions and guidelines he has received from the state’s Board of Education regarding the reopening

thoughts about the coming school year at LMCS during a Zoom interview. Amy Hines photo

‘The first time around, we were

kind of just making it up as we

went along. Now, what we’re

doing is taking what we’ve

learned and laying that out.’

John Evans

Superintendent of Schools

“Student accountability is important,”

agreed Shirlee Davis. “I would like to ensure

everyone takes the initiative to participate

in their education.”

As for Paul Favata, the science teacher,

one of his priorities is recreating the inperson

experience of being in the lab as

closely as possible. “I would definitely

want to have a better plan for labs,” Favata

said. “Also, I would like to find ways to

develop student collaborations, maybe involving

more projects and less traditional

testing.”

Ideally, these efforts won’t be necessary

every day, as both Evans and Davis hope

that in-person education will be an option

for LMCS.

“I would like to see students in our building

at least part of the time, if we can do

that safely. Human beings are social, and

we learn through social interaction,” Davis

said.

Multiple plans required

Reopening is obviously a hot topic, and

continuing with online instruction only

may have an adverse affect on the mental

health of students. Davis

plans to meet more often

with staff and students in

small groups in order to

check up on them.

Evans and the reopening

Shirlee Davis

committee, consisting of

many of the staff of LMCS,

are already in action. They are faced with

creating not one, but three plans for the

2020-21 school year. The state has mandated

that schools develop a plan for in-person

learning, remote-learning and a hybrid

plan combining the two, and submit them

to the state Board of Education by July 31.

During Manor Ink’s Zoom-held interview,

Evans displayed a stack of regulatory

guidelines – 200-plus pages specifying

Albany, NY – Gov. Andrew Cuomo has

now released some more guidelines on

school reopening: Schools will reopen if

the infection rate is below 5 percent for two

weeks. Schools will close if it’s above 9 percent

for one week.

If schools do open, face coverings are

strongly recommended, except during

meals and classroom instruction with social

distancing. In situations where social distancing

isn’t possible, masks are required.

Thankfully, Cuomo advises

schools to plan “mask

breaks” for students when

they can socially distance.

To promote social distancing,

gyms and other spaces

where students tend to be

close must be reconfigured.

what the three plans must adhere to. Those

plans haven’t been easy to develop, but Evans

believes that being a small school will

actually help LMCS in the process.

“Our small class sizes, combined with a

number of large classrooms should make

social distancing manageable. There’s room

for plastic ‘shields’ to be installed between

students,” he explained.

In the case that in-person schooling is not

an option, or that hybrid-education will be

implemented, Evans has plans for that situation,

too.

“For each grade level, we are working

to identify what good remote instruction

looks like,” he said. “We’re putting together

a framework that all teachers are going to

follow. The first time around, we were kind

NEWS


NY issues guidelines, not funds

Gov. Cuomo

7

Daily screenings are required. Temperature

checks will monitor possible symptoms

in students and staff. In the case of

any positive cases, schools must notify

their local Department of Health. Schools

must comply with and participate in the

state’s contact tracing program as well.

Any infected or exposed areas of the

school must be cleaned and disinfected to

prevent spreading.

Gov. Cuomo continues to make quite

successful efforts to contain the coronavirus

and keep New Yorkers safe. One of his

more controversial efforts, however, presents

itself in his partnership with the Bill

and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“Let’s start talking about really revolutionizing

education – and it’s about time,”

he said back in May, after announcing the

partnership.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

is reported to be the largest private foundation

in the world, holding $46.8 billion

in assets. The foundation’s mission in the

United States is to “ensure that all people

– especially those with the fewest resources

– can access the opportunities they need to

succeed in school and life.”

This partnership has come been met with

much scrutiny. Organizations including

the New York State Allies for Education,

Class Size Matters and the Parent Coalition

for Student Privacy have written letters to

Cuomo in opposition to it. The foundation

has pushed multiple controversial education

initiatives: Common Core, standardized

testing, new teacher evaluations and

teacher pay based on student test scores being

just a few of them.

Cuomo claims that partnering with the

Gates Foundation will bring forth a better

understanding on how to “capitalize on

technology.” This is an effort to improve

education for students in terms of not just

remote learning and the technology needed,

but for creating an overall “smarter” education

system even when schools reopen.

Superintendent Evans is less sanguine

about the governor’s initiative. “We’ve

been given zero resources. Everything

we’ve been asked to do is with no additional

funding. We’re being asked to do a lot

more,” he said. “With all of the health and

safety protocols we’ve been asked to put in

place ... up until now, we’ve been given no

additional resources. We need to figure out

how to do it with what we have.”

The reopening of schools and remote

learning is definitely a three-dimensional

topic. With so many requirements and variables,

schools can only wait to see where

the rest of this month and the next will take

them.

of just making it up as we went along. Now,

what we’re doing is taking what we’ve

learned and laying that out.”

Additional Chromebooks, small laptop

computers, have been ordered for students

who do not have access to technology.

Some classrooms will be equipped with

video conferencing equipment so a better

quality remote learning experience can be

provided.

“This has been one heck of a learning

experience and we continue to learn more

each day,” Evans said in closing. “While

a great deal of time and energy is going

into developing our reopening plans, these

plans must be fluid and we need to continuously

update them as the guidance and

situation change.”


OPEN FOR BUSINESS

GRAND REOPENING Now that Livingston

Manor businesses are in Phase Four of Gov.

Andrew Cuomo’s planned reopening of

venues and services around the state, new

local shops that had just opened prior to

the pandemic closing have now reopened

– or opened for the first time. Shown here

are Andrea Lanzetti of Bodies and Plants,

above left, and Charlotte Taylor of Taylor &

Ace, ringing up a sale for two customers.

Both businesses are on Main Street. Out on

DeBruce Road, Jeff Prybolsky, right, fires up

his smoker, preparing to smoke habanero

chili peppers to sell in his shop, Van Smokey.

Art Steinhauer photos, top; Osei Helper photo, right

In the

Aro Tradition

via Zoom

Instruction and Practice:

Beginning Meditation

or Yogic Song & Sit

The Kaatskeller | 39 Main St., Livingston Manor | 845-439-4339

Naljorma Chatral A’dze

(845) 439-4332

khajong@gmail.com

Promote and Protect The Catskills • Join Mountainkeeper Today.

catskillmountainkeeper.org

For Renaissance,

new challenges

By Emily Ball | Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – Even with the coronavirus pandemic,

the main streets in Sullivan County are still being

beautifully maintained. Anne-Louise Scandariato, Sullivan

Renaissance Volunteer Program Manager, spoke with us

about how they are continuing work during the COVID-19

crisis. “We’re still out there doing things. It provides a little

sense of normalcy,” she said.

“While the pandemic definitely made things look slightly

different and made us pause and consider all the programs,

and come up [with] and follow new protocols to ensure

everybody’s safety and health, we are still moving forward

to support our mission and support Sullivan County and

the communities,” said Scandariato.

Although volunteer numbers have declined somewhat

in some communities, Sullivan Renaissance still has group

‘Our Renaissance Field

Team is going out more

and helping communities.’

Anne-Louise Scandariato

Manager, Sullivan Renaissance

Volunteer Program

work days, social distancing

and mask wearing

is encouraged and

volunteers have the option

to work in shifts or

take on a project or task

alone or with their own

family members. “We

are still committed to

building beautiful, active

communities, and we are still offering grants to help

fund and provide resources to support the community,”

she added.

A new grant for larger projects

Sullivan Renaissance currently has 200 volunteers, including

16 paid interns who are between the ages of 16 and

20 years old. Interns learn about leadership, pride of place

and service. The program offers two scholarships, one to

SUNY Sullivan and another to any undergraduate college.

The judging portion of the beautification program and

the awards ceremony have been canceled this year along

with all public events, and Sullivan Renaissance has

switched to online seminars and virtual meetings. “I feel

like everyone is resilient in terms of stepping up and figuring

out how to still get it done with making sure we disinfect,

having masks, social distancing,” Scandariato said.

“We also have extended the window of time for getting

their projects done.”

Sullivan Renaissance now has six garden grants, eight

maintenance grants, and eleven community grants

throughout Sullivan County. “At the core of our work is

collaboration between organizations and volunteers, as

well as other partnerships throughout Sullivan County.

And so we’re very excited that we still had our community

beautification grants go out, our municipal grants, we continued

with business assistance grants,” stated Scandariato,

“and this year is a new grant called The Community

Impact Grant, through funding (secured by) Assemblywoman

Aileen Gunther and Sen. Jen Metzger, that will be

able to support larger projects that a municipality has put

forth to accomplish.”

NEWS


social distancing. Sullivan Renaissance provided a grant to

build a structure to facilitate safe meal service.

They’ve also helped to clean up properties that now belong

to the Sullivan County Land Bank. One specific property

was the Yeager Mansion, or the Spanish Castle, in Liberty.

After the trees were pruned and the property cleared

of debris, “One gentleman walked by and he said that as

long as he’s lived here, he never realized that there was a

house there.”

“I think Sullivan County is full of individuals who are

invested in supporting their neighbors and the community,

not just through Sullivan Renaissance,” said Scandariato,

“but through a variety of ways that just make Sullivan

County such a wonderful place.”

For volunteer opportunities, grants, seminars and special

events visit sullivanrenaissance.org.

9

WORK

CONTINUES

Sullivan Renaissance

intern Nicole

Davis and other

volunteers paint

benches while safe

distancing during

a Renaissance

Field Team cleanup

effort.

Sullivan

Renaissance

photo

Being part of a team

Another new thing this year is the Renaissance Field

Team composed of staff members, interns, volunteers, a

seasonal crew, the steering committee and business owners

who support communities through their Clean Sweep

program. “We did one in early July in Monticello and we

are doing one in Roscoe, where we are supporting the community,

and the volunteers are doing some litter plucking,

weeding, and mulching to help beautify Main Street,” said

Scandariato.

The Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless, currently

serving their meals outdoors, needed support for

Beaverkill Community Church

Outdoor services at

10 am on Sunday, weather permitting

Please wear a mask and bring a chair.

Lay Pastor: Mary Hall

101 Craigie Clair Road • Roscoe, NY 12776

INFORMATION POSTED AT BEAVERKILLFRIENDS.ORG


GOING PRIVATE? Sullivan County is considering the sale of

the Care Center at Sunset Lake in Liberty. sullivanny. org photo

Proposed sale of county Care Center delayed

Monticello, NY – The possible sale of Sullivan County’s

Adult Care Center in Liberty has been postponed by the

County Legislature. A hearing on the sale, necessitated by

budget shortfalls from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic,

took place on Tuesday, July 14, to allow for input

from the public. Because so many citizens wished to speak,

a second hearing was scheduled for the following Thursday.

Pursuant to that meeting, where most participants spoke

out strongly against the sale of the facility to a private nonprofit

called the Sunset Lake LDC, legislators decided to

tabled the vote on the issue for the moment. It appears,

however, that the sale may be inevitable, at least according

to Chairman Robert Doherty. “We’re at a point where CO-

VID-19 has dashed any hope of increasing revenue streams

for the foreseeable future, and we cannot ask taxpayers to

shoulder even more of the heavy financial weight.”

Celebrating our

15th anniversary in the Manor!

Best wishes from Manor Ink

“Only a Scone’s throw away”

66 Main Street

Livingston Manor, NY 12758

Open 3 days a week:

Fridays and Saturdays from 8am-5pm

and Sundays from 8am-3pm

www.brandenburgbakery.com

Livingston Manor’s hometown paper is

now also available online at NewsAtomic:

info@newsatomic.com • 845-647-9190 • newsatomic.com

TOWN & SCHOOL BOARD UPDATES

MANOR INK | AUG. 2020 | 11

Roscoe sewer plant project extended


TOWN BOARD MEETING OF JULY 2

Minutes: The minutes of the previous

meeting were unanimously approved.

Correspondence: The Town of Rockland’s

Renaissance intern is Nicole Davis.

There have been complaints about more

garbage accumulation due to restaurants

providing take-out. Supervisor Rob Eggleton

said he will look into the possibility

of a third pick up for the summer months

only. Good wishes were extended to Fred

Portz on his retirement from the Highway

Dept. after 30 years. The Town of Rockland

will hold a free rabies clinic on July 30 at

the Manor firehouse. Pre-registration at the

town’s website will be required.

Old Business

Logging is scheduled to begin on the

Livingston Manor Water Property. A timber

count has been done by Bevan Forestry.

A DEC stream crossing permit has been

secured for logging.

Excess equipment from the Water and

Sewer Dept. was sold for $25,881.

New Business

The six-month financial summary needs

review. The county has sent workers’

comp information to employees.

Resolutions Required: The board adopted

the following resolutions:

n Extending the RSTP project completion

date to Aug. 17 for finishing the

remaining work at no additional cost to

the town. The extension is for Contract #1

with general construction contractor Eastman

Associates, Inc., and Contract #2 with

CODE ISSUE

The Town of

Rockland will

review the

legal status of

“tiny homes,”

some of which

have been

parked at the

Beaverkill

Covered Bridge

campsite, left

Manor Ink photo

electrical work contractor Wittcon, Inc.

n Hiring Jessyca Wolcott as part-time

Water and Sewer Dept. clerk, at up to 29

hours per week until she can pass the civil

service test, at which time she will become

full time. She replaces Mary Hankins.

Department Heads: Ted Hartling Highway

Superintendent: Filed Consolidated

Highway Improvement Program paperwork,

continuing to patch roads along Shin

Creek. Code Enforcement Officer Glenn

Gabbard was not present, but his folder of

permits and violations was available. The

town continues to be busy with permits.

There has been no communication from

the principals of the proposed Hoag Rd.

development. Tom Ellison, chairman of the

Planning Board, is scheduled to meet with

consulting engineers McGoey, Hauser &

Edsall on an unrelated matter.

Approval of Bills: Bills on Abstract #13

were approved.

Details of all dollar amounts can be

found on the town website at townofrocklandny.com

under minutes of July 2.

TOWN BOARD MEETING OF JULY 16

Minutes: The minutes of the previous

meeting were unanimously approved.

Correspondence: A letter from the board

was sent to Livingston Manor Fire Dept.

thanking them for help at the Water and

Sewer Dept. An updated contact list and

meeting schedule was sent by LMCS. A

letter announcing the retirement of Caryn

Matthews from Office of the Aging was

received. The DMV office in the Government

Center in Monticello is back to full

staff, though with appointments required.

The offices of Town Hall in the Manor are

currently not open.

Old Business

Additional excess equipment (scrap

generators) from the Water and Sewer Dept.

was sold for $6,000. A check for $11,200

REACHING TOWN OFFICIALS

Due to the ongoing coronavirus

crisis, Town of Rockland offices at 95

Main St. in Livingston Manor remain

closed to the public. Town officials

can be contacted by phone:

Town Assessor: 439-3730, ext. 107

Town Clerk: 439-5450, ext. 101

Code Enforcement Officer:

439-5450, ext. 106

Town Supervisor: 439-4399, ext. 102

for timber logged on Water Dept. property

was received. Regarding a review of zoning

related to the issue of “tiny houses” and

non-conforming residential lots brought up

at the board’s Mar. 5 meeting by Code Enforcement

Officer Glenn Gabbard, Supervisor

Eggleton suggested referring the matter

to the county for 239 review – a legal assessment

– and to board attorney Ken Klein.

New Business

The Roscoe Fire Dept. sent a request to

have the helicopter pad on Gulf Rd. paved.

Sup. Eggleton discussed relocating the

pad and suggested the department sell

the existing property, as it was originally

intended for a new RFD building that was

never built. The Sullivan County hazmat

plan needs to be updated.

Resolution required: The following

resolution was passed by the Board.

n Accept the accrual of 65.5 hours of sick

time for Pat Mills, from 2007 to 2018

Approval of Bills: Bills on Abstract #14

were unanimously approved.

Details of all dollar amounts can be

found on the town website at townofrocklandny.com

under the minutes of July 16.

LMCS reopening: ‘School will be very different this coming year’


SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF JULY 15

Superintendent’s Updates

Recognition of Retirees: Retirement

plaques were presented to district retirees,

Vicki Cummings and Mary Ellen

Reynolds. The Board and Administration

thanked them for their many years of

service.

School Reopening Plans: Supt. John

Evans explained that reopening plans

are being formed. Committees have met,

toured the building to explore options and

have reviewed guidelines set forth by the

state Education Dept. and the US Dept.

of Health. While initial plans are to be

submitted to the state by July 31, they will

be continuously re-evaluated and subject

to change at any time. It is understood that

schools may be shut down upon the issuance

of an order by Gov. Cuomo.

The plans and other concerns being

considered are these:

n In-person learning only, remote learning

only, or a hybrid of both approaches.

The hybrid would consist of half in-person

and half remote instruction.

n In-person transportation poses a hurdle

with 22 seats on full-size buses. Only

students from the same household may sit

together. Buses will load and unload from

back to front.

n Surveys for parental input are being

developed and will be sent out very soon.

n Sub-committees are working on various

aspects of the plan.

Complying with the state’s required

safety measures, such as mask wearing,

installing recommended barriers and

signage, relocating offices and extensive

cleaning, etc., will add additional but necessary

expenses for the district. Scheduling

and staffing the arrival and dismissal of

students while maintaining safe distancing

will pose a challenge. Supt. Evans noted

that school will be very different this coming

year.

Action Items: The following items were

voted on and unanimously passed.

n Minutes of the previous meeting, Treasurer’s

reports, revenue status and budget

appropriation reports

n Warrant #A-19 in the amount of

$832,978.47

n CSE-Placement agreement for the

school year 2020-21

The Consent Agenda was approved as

presented.

All dollar amounts and all the details of

the action items and the consent agenda

can be found at lmcs.k12.ny.us on the

Board of Education page under minutes of

July 15.


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DID YOU KNOW?

Manor Ink is

NY State’s only

youth-driven,

award-winning

community

newspaper.

Visit us online

at manorink.org

and like us on

Facebook.

NEWS

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Metzger honors FSH, Prohibition

Roscoe, NY – NY State Sen. Jen Metzger

has bestowed Empire State Awards on Foster

Supply Hospitality and Prohibition Distillery,

two Town of Rockland businesses,

for exceptional service to the community.

Foster Supply Hospitality and co-founders

Sims and Kirsten Foster were cited for

their dedication to revitalizing Sullivan

County’s economy and giving back to the

community. In addition to their ownership

and operation of a number of inns and restaurants,

including the DeBruce Inn and The

Arnold, the couple was cited for A Single

Bite, the non-profit organization they started

to educate school children about food

sources and the value of good nutrition.

During the pandemic, the Fosters shifted

the focus of their organizations to producing

meals for food insecure families

throughout Sullivan County, preparing

Monticello, NY – The Senior Farmer’s

Market Nutrition Program provides an opportunity

for eligible seniors to support local

farmers and improve nutritional health

by increasing their consumption of locally

grown fruits, vegetables and fresh-cut

herbs.

The county’s Office for the Aging began

distributing Farmer’s Market Coupon

Booklets in July. Each booklet contains five

$4 coupons, for a total of $20. Coupons are

valid through November 30 at participating

farmer’s markets (see pg. 23 for market locations

and hours).

Coupons are available to eligible seniors

on a first-come, first-served basis. In order

to take advantage of this program, you

must be a New York State resident and 60

years of age or older. You must affirm that

your maximum income is:

COMMUNITY

SERVICE

Sen. Jen Metzger,

left, presents an

Empire State Award

to Foster Supply

Hospitality owners

Kirsten and Sims

Foster. Their organization,

A Single

Bite, has provided

meals for families

in need during the

pandemic.

Provided photo

over 20,000 meals to date. “Sims Foster has

deep roots in Sullivan County,” Metzger

said. “He and Kirsten have made tremendous

personal investments in improving

nutrition and addressing food security, and

are greatly deserving of this Empire State

Award.”

Prohibition Distillery’s Brian Facquet was

cited for transforming his Roscoe-based

spirits business when the pandemic hit to

producing much needed hand sanitizer,

producing more than 50,000 gallons for hospitals,

essential businesses and the public.

“Prohibition Distillery showed great innovation

and leadership, retooling the business

to address a public health necessity at

a critical time, and is very deserving of this

award,” said Metzger.

Manor Ink salutes both businesses, their

owners and employees, for their service.

Produce coupons available for seniors

n 1-person household: $1,968 a month

n 2-person household - $2,658 a month

n 3-person household - $3,349 a month

n Currently receiving or eligible for SSI,

public assistance, food stamps or Section 8

housing.

For further information, please contact

the Office at 807-0241.

Coupons will be available at the following

locations:

n Monticello Farmers Market

n Monticello Senior Center

n Liberty Farmers Market

n Wurtsboro Community Church, 134

Sullivan Street

n Narrowsburg Farmers Market

n Callicoon Farmers Market

n Livingston Manor Presbyterian

Church, 568 Old Rte. 17

n Kauneonga Lake Farmers Market

Manor holds second BLM march

By Gem Helper | For Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – On Sunday,

July 19, a group of protesters marched from

the Livingston Manor Free Library to the

Livingston Manor Central School to call attention

to the dismissal of black lives and to

the way students of color are treated in the

Sullivan County school system.

The action, the second following the large

procession of June 6, was organized and led

by me, and I also spoke, as did Cristal Staten

and Willa Schweitzer. The protest was

received warmly by most of the hamlet’s

residents, but it also received criticism on

social media by others who dismissed the

testimonies of local students.

Speakers at the march informed the public

of a new Facebook group called “New

York Stands Against Racism in Education,”

a site that will be used to push an initiative

to combat racism in schools across the state.

To become a member, visit facebook.com/

groups/710614236389633.

At the end of the day, the group was left

with this quote from Martin Luther King:

“We know through painful experience that

freedom is never voluntarily given by the

oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

BLACK LIVES MATTER Marchers move down Main Street in Livingston Manor during a protest

on July 19 led by Gem Helper, far right, with the megaphone. Provided photo

MILESTONES

NEWS


THE YEAR WAS

1954. The

“Jack Benny

Show” was the

most popular

program on

television. The

New York Giants

won the

World Series,

not the Super

Bowl. Minimum

wage was 75

cents an hour.

“Godzilla” got

its start as the

world’s longest

Provided photos

continuously running movie franchise. And Louise Armstrong Button and Donald

Leslie Eggleton began a 66-year streak of their own when they were wed on July 11,

1954. Their song was “It Had to Be You,” and the happy couple honeymooned with

a trip to Lake Ariel, Penn.

Louise first became a teacher, then a social worker for 25 years. A Navy veteran,

Don worked as a butcher and then as a groundskeeper at Sullivan County BOCES.

They also became the proud parents of four boys: Les, Rob, Jim and Phil.

And if four boys didn’t keep them busy, their variety of civic engagements and

memberships certainly did – United Church of Roscoe, Garden Club, Roscoe Public

Library and Order of the Eastern Star for her, and Roscoe-Rockland Fire Department,

Roscoe VFW, Kiwanis, Twin Village Gulf Club and Methol Hunting Club for him. Don

also helped found the Little League baseball program in Roscoe.

When asked the secret to their success, Louise said, “Take one day at a time. And

be polite to each other.” Don said, “It’s no secret. You have to work on what you

want to keep together.” Words to live by.

Alexis Eggleton

14 | AUG. 2020 | MANOR INK FEATURES

The Manor’s

grand edifice

of learning

Edward Lundquist | Manor Ink

No matter where you come

from, if you have lived here

all your life or are just passing

through on a camping

trip, I think you’ll find that the school is

the singular edifice of Livingston Manor.

Completed in 1939, the school’s brick

walls and slate roof haven’t changed

much over the years, but there have been

additions to the iconic building.

In the first blueprint, the school, which

is two stories in height, contained 28

SOURCE OF PRIDE Livingston Manor Central School, seen above, not long after its completion

in 1939. Below left, a postcard showing the park on Sherwood Island. At right, children

enjoy a ride on the Island’s carousel. Provided photos above, right; Fred Fries photo left

classrooms, a combination gym-auditorium,

a small kindergarten section, a

cafeteria, a library, rooms for science,

medical and dental clinics, and a garage

off the back of the central building that

could hold five buses. Over time, however,

new additions have been made,

including a larger elementary wing

and a middle school wing that includes

another gymnasium.

On the grounds around the school,

there were no playgrounds, but there was

a quarter-mile track, an athletic field and

a tennis court/basketball court combination.

To meet the requirements set by a

growing population, one playground

was added, then a second, and the tennis

court eventually went out of use, becoming

a place for students to play other

games like basketball and kickball.

Part of Roosevelt’s New Deal

Livingston Manor Central School was

built as America was coming out of the

Great Depression. The New Deal was

the solution to the problems created by

the collapse of the country’s financial

markets in 1929. By signing a series of

laws and trying to get the economic

“blood pumping,” the government tried

to fix the economic problems and even

provide further benefits, like improved

schools and other public spaces. President

Roosevelt signed the National Industrial

Recovery Act, creating the Public

Works Administration, contributing

billions of dollars to tens of thousands

of infrastructure projects across the US.

LMCS was one of those projects.

The school is built on Sherwood

Island, and it once was an island, skirted

by the Willowemoc Creek. Back in

To those taking a stand against racial injustice:

We see you, we hear you, we stand with you.

#BlackLivesMatter

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CLASSY CLASSROOMS

State-of-the-art chemistry labs and

classrooms – as well as burnished

woodwork, fireplaces, chandeliers

and warm wainscoting – combined to

make LMCS an impressive institution

in 1939 – and in 2020.

GRAND PLAN A view of LMCS from March

1938, showing construction underway. Above,

a student rendering of the school grounds.

Provided photo, above; Fred Fries photo, left

1913, the island had a park, which was an

incredible place with music, food and a

merry-go-round, said to be the first of its

kind in Sullivan County. “It was a simple

affair, run by two men behind a curtain,”

said the Walton Reporter in 1913.

The park was also the site of community

events like holiday celebrations, horse

races, greased pole climbing and more.

Also on Sherwood Island was a factory

which produced all manner of long

cylindrical wooden objects, including all

Spaulding baseball bats until 1900, table

legs and bowling pins. During the First

World War, as well, the factory lent itself

to the cause by producing cap blocks,

tools used in Navy yards for pile driving.

Rebuilt after a catastrophic fire in 1916, it

was then used solely for the purpose of

bowling pin production.

Second-to-none new school

After the park and factory era, the school

was completed. The first event at LMCS

was the President’s Ball, a program held

in the auditorium that included music,

dancing, a talent show and a fashion show.

Over 1,000 people came from the Manor,

Roscoe and as far away as Monticello to

celebrate. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was

also held (the ribbon was cut by the late

Larry Shaver, then 3 years old), and an exercise

where four hundred pupils gathered

by the flagpole at the front of the school,

along with teachers, to raise the flag and be

admitted into LMCS.

It must have been incredible for those

students to go from a cold one-room

schoolhouse to a brand new, massive

building with individual lockers, separate

classrooms and working bathrooms.

And the pride truly showed. Passersby

observed students enjoying themselves

playing games on the sports fields. Inside,

students were warm and comfortable, not

having to huddle around a small woodburning

stove. They quickly gained respect

for their school, understanding that they

had an incredible, second-to-none institution

for that time. They were taught to

keep the school spotless, and they showed

gratitude every chance they got, whether

through sports, dances or even in the song

dedicated to the school, “The Alma Mater.”

I feel, though, that citizens of the town

and LMCS students have forgotten what

a special place the school is, and perhaps

they never even knew. It has become such a

familiar part of life in the Manor that it has

lost some of its charm to us. It is for this reason

that it’s so important to know the iconic

building’s origins, and to reinvigorate a

sense of pride in our fantastic school.

Provided photos

Now showing

Matthias Neumann

“Basics,” a site-specific sculpture commissioned by

Catskill Art Society, will be on view through September

7, at the site of the Livingston Manor Farmers Market,

located at 24 Main Street, next to Chinatown Kitchen.

The CAS main gallery and Laundry King remain closed.


Have you seen the chart listing how

risky certain activities may be for contracting

the coronavirus? Visiting your local

library is listed as “lowto-moderate

risk.” Well,

your favorite local library

is reopening on Monday,

Aug. 3! We’ve missed you.

As much as we can’t

Henry Barish

wait to see you, we are still

being cautious about returning

to normal. We’ll need you to wear

a mask upon entering, and maintain social

FEATURES

Slow and steady wins the reopening race

LIBRARY

NOTES

distancing once inside.

We will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

during the week and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

on Saturdays. We’ll continue to offer curbside

pickup during the day

and after 2 p.m. if you are uncomfortable

coming in. With

the pandemic, we understand

if you are hesitant to enter the building.

We will also limit the number of people

in the library, as well as the time they

can stay. Plus, we will regularly sanitize

doorknobs, computer keyboards and other

regularly touched surfaces, some even after

each use. The staff will also be wearing

masks and gloves, and doing their best to

maintain the six-foot distancing guideline.

We also urge you to stay home if you are

not feeling well.

Maybe it’s just me, but it seemed once

things started changing due to the coronavirus,

everyone became nicer. We strongly

urge you to keep that positive community

mindset. We are happy to be open again,

but we do not want to put you or the community

at risk.

LMFL SERVICES

n Printing, copying and faxing

n Curbside pick-up; call 439-5440 or

email livcirc@rcls.org

n Interlibrary loans (restricted to Sullivan

County libraries)

n Story Time on Facebook Live,

facebook.com/Livingston-Manor-Free-

Library-562210404288352

n Book Club on Zoom, email livcirc@

rcls.org to register and join

Henry Barish is director of the Livingston

Manor Free Library. For more information,

visit livingstonmanorlibrary.org.

PARTNER SPONSORS

Charter Communications, Inc.

Community Reporting Alliance and the Ottaway Foundation

Lazare and Charlotte Kaplan Foundation

Livingston Manor Central School

Barbara Martinsons • Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation

Sullivan County Youth Services Bureau

ADVOCATES

Apple Pond Farm • Brandenburg Bakery • CAS Arts Center

Foster Supply Hospitality • Rolling V Bus Corp.

Upstream Wine & Spirits

CHAMPIONS

Chatral A’dze • Sue Barnett & Jeff Christensen • Carolyn Bivins

Rose Brown & Lester Mattis • Catskill Abstract Co., Inc.

Catskill Brewery • David Dann • Dette Flies • Vic Diescher

Carole Edwards Realty • John Fawcett • George Fulton

Amy Hines & Dave Forshay • Inside the Blue Line • Marilyn Kocher

Sen. Jen Metzger • Gina Molinet, RM Farm Real Estate

Main Street Farm • Van Morrow, Mountain Bear Crafts

Peck’s Markets • Sheila & Terry Shultz • Snowdance Farms

Beth Sosin Jewelry • Art Steinhauer • Don & Vinny Simkin

Town of Rockland • Barbara Trelstad • Upward Brewing Co.

Remembering Bud Wertheim (and the Giant Trout)

Manor Ink thrives on community support! Please consider becoming a supporter at one of

the following levels: Partner, $1,000 and above; Advocate, $500; or Champion, $250. We

also welcome and are grateful for contributions of any amount. Manor Ink is a program of

the Livingston Manor Free Library, a nonprofit 501(c)3. Please send your gift or pledge to

Manor Ink, 92 Main St., Livingston Manor, NY 12758. Thank you!

LIBRARY BOOK CLUB REVIEW

The Buried Giant

By Kazuo Ishugero

WHICH IS STRONGER in

most humans? The need

to remember, or the

need to forget? How do

some humans maintain a

loving relationship over decades?

Why do some clans or nations not

fight endless wars over grievances real

or perceived? These are some of the

multi-layered questions woven around

a beautiful and heartbreaking love story

in Kazuo Ishugero’s novel The Buried

Giant.

Setting the story in post-Arthurian

Britain, the Nobel Prize-winning author

weaves an engaging fantasy around an

elderly couple of Britons, Axl and Beatrice.

The rural countryside surrounding

their warren is shrouded in mist,

which some feel may be the cause of

their faltering memories. Disturbed by

this inability to remember and feeling

time may be running out, the couple

leaves their simple but safe home and

starts out to visit their son whom they

haven’t seen in years. What Beatrice

claims will only be a short journey

gradually turns into an unpredictable

and convoluted trek.

Encountering all kinds of strange

characters on their way, they end up far

afield. In time, they become involved

with Weston, a Saxon warrior, Edwin,

a wounded boy, and Gawain, an aging

knight, the last of Arthur’s Round

Table. What brings this group together

eventually is the quest to find and

slay the she-dragon Querig, a product

of Merlin’s magic. The quest will also

lead the elderly pair to their ultimate

destination.

The book unfolds like an artichoke

being peeled. Moving not at a gallop,

but at the slow trot of

Sir Gawain’s faithful old

steed, layer after layer of

the narrative falls away

as the characters – and

the reader – learn about

Kazuo

Ishugero

their past. If there’s even

a chance of something

lifting the mist, Beatrice

muses, “it could make such a difference.”

They would then be able to

remember what they had experienced

clearly. Be careful what you wish for,

Beatrice!

The Buried Giant is a beautifully written,

melancholy contemplation of loss,

anger, memory and guilt. It will make

you think and remember and probably

inspire you to read it again.

Marge Feuerstein

The Livingston Manor Free Library is

currently closed, but readers can still

join the book club. To do so, contact the

library at 439-5440.

Can you or your organization become a sponsor of community journalism?

Learn how you can support Manor Ink by emailing ahines@alford.com

FEATURES


The library is reopening Monday, August 3!

Please register for programs by emailing livcirc@rcls.org

Submit Weekly Challenge photos to livcirc@rcls.org as well

TRANQUIL WATERS An old postcard, circa 1910, shows a view looking east along the

Little Beaverkill behind Pearl Street in Livingston Manor. Manor Ink file photo

When Manor honeymooners were harried

YEARS AGO IN Livingston Manor, there was a tradition that took place after a

couple had been married and were settling in after the honeymoon. It was called

the “skimmelton,” a variation on the word “skimmington,” meaning a “ludicrous

procession.” There wasn’t any preparation necessary to have a skimmelton party.

NOW &

THEN

All that was needed was some townsfolk, brought together by word

of mouth. A night that was convenient for the party was set, and

the married couple were not aware of the date. In the middle of the

night, the party givers would arrive at the couple’s home, surround the

house and, when a signal was given to fire guns and pound pots and pans, making

a huge racket. The couple then had to get out of bed to make and serve refreshments

for the revelers.

Edward Lundquist

Forestburgh offers

live shows al fresco

The Forestburgh Playhouse in Forestburgh

continues its 2020 season called

“Under the Stars,” with an outdoor series

of performances that allow patrons to

safely distance in the open air.

On Saturday, Aug. 1, it’s an evening

with Broadway vocalists Kate Baldwin

and Lewis Cleale, accompanied by special

guest, pianist Georgia Stitt. Then its a wide

variety of rock and dance covers from the

1960s through today with the band Far

Beyond Gone on Friday, Aug. 7. The group

truly enjoys making the crowd move,

dance, and sing along.

An Intimate evening of soulful music

with singer Morgan James is next. She’ll be

accompanied by Doug Wamble on the guitar

on Saturday, Aug. 8. Singer, actor and

impressionist Christina Bianco presents a

GOING, GOING The band Far Beyond Gone

brings classic rock to the Forestburgh Playhouse

on Friday, Aug. 7. fbplayhouse.org photo

show called “Me, Myself & Everyone Else”

on Friday, Aug. 21. Broadway vocalist

Alice Ripley will perform “Ripley’s Reflections”

on Saturday, Aug. 22.

All shows are at 7:30 p.m. For more info

and tickets, visit fbplayhouse.org.

MONDAYS

WEEKLY CHALLENGE

Every week there will

be a challenge. All ages.

ACT IT OUT

FROM HOME!

2-3:30 p.m., Aug. 3, 10, 17

With Hana Roth Seavey

On Zoom

THURSDAYS

STORIES

& CRAFTS

On Google Drive

With Miss Angelica.

BOOK CLUB

1:30 p.m., Aug. 6

On Zoom

TUESDAYS

STORYTIME

11:15 a.m.

With Miss Jessica

Stories, rhymes and

a craft. For preschoolers.

(offered year round)

On Facebook Live

FRIDAYS

ACT IT OUT

FROM HOME!

2-3:30 p.m.

Who are you in your story?

With Hana Roth Seavey,

playwright and

acting coach.

On Zoom

WEDNESDAYS

ACT IT OUT

FROM HOME!

2-3:30 p.m., Aug. 12, 18

Who are you in your story?

With Hana Roth Seavey,

playwright and

acting coach.

On Zoom

SATURDAYS

STORY TIME

10:30 a.m.

With Miss Jessica

on Facebook Live

Stories, rhymes and

crafts. For preschoolers.

(offered year round)

THE LIBRARY’S REOPENING HOURS

Beginning on Monday, August, 3,the library will

be open from 10-11 a.m. for at-risk patrons, 11

a.m.-2 p.m. for everyone else. Please call ahead at

845-439-5440.

DECORATE YOUR DRIVEWAY!

Thoughout the month of August: Pick up chalk

at the library, draw on your driveway and submit

photos of your work to the library. If you need inspiration,

draw something that makes you happy!

Submit photos to livcirc@rcls.org

Please keep social distancing measures in mind when visiting the library or when

using chalk on your driveway or sidewalk.

18 | AUG. 2020 | MANOR INK FEATURES

CODED ART

Artist Meghan

Udell describes

her work in a

video at the

DVAA’s website.

DVAA photo

Fiber art now at the DVAA

“All The Stories We Do Not Tell,” an exhibition of

work by Meghan Udell will be on display through

Sept. 19 at the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance’s Alliance

Gallery at 37 Main St. in Narrowsburg. The show is

open Thursdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4

p.m. A fiber artist, Udell uses minimal line work, steganography

– hidden messages – and traditional handicrafts

to create sculptural objects taking on problematic

topics. Learn more at delawarevalleyartsalliance.org.

Manor Ink photo illustration

Hey, kids! Get creative!

Though the Catskill Art Society has decided to cancel this

summer’s CAS Kids session because the organization does

not want to put the community at risk, CAS has instead

extended their online arts education with 15 new segments

from art leaders in their respective fields.

Artist-educator Robyn Almquist and Livingston Manor

lower school art teacher Angelina Coriano have developed

interactive art tutorials for families using found household

objects. Kids can make clever artworks using leaves, popcorn

and even old milk cartons.

Food writer Catie Schwalb is developing cooking lessons

for children, enabling them to explore the culinary

arts. Creating summer treats with whole fruit or churning

homemade ice cream offer children a fun – and sweet! –

pasttime.

CAS will be screening new segments each week, so stay

tuned for their next release at catskillartsociety.org.

One culture’s

lore makes for

great reading

By Edward Lundquist | Manor Ink

The Foxfire Books, 11 of them, are

common books on the shelves of

Appalachian peoples. They have

been a record and guide to country

living from 1966 and

provide incredible

and valuable insights.

Composed of a series

of magazine articles,

these books are large

Edward

Lundquist

and packed with

tons of information.

From log cabin

building to ghost stories, from

midwifing to planting seasons,

these books will tell you everything you

need to know about living off the grid

comfortably.

Just to name a few more examples, you

can find baking and other recipes, quilting,

blacksmithing, gunmaking, basket

making, lore, moonshining, wagon making,

corn shucking, horse trading, gardening

and so much more. If you’re interested,

there are over 5,000 pages derived

from interviews.

Over the course of

the series, students

interviewed all

PAGE TURNERS

manner of Appalachian

people, most

of whom are gone, leaving these books as

a way to look back into the past at what

their lives were like.

In the beginning, in 1966, an English

teacher from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee

School in northeast Georgia asked his

students what would make his classes

more interesting. From their response

came a magazine, stretching all the way

up to current time. They called the magazine

“Foxfire” after the bioluminescent

fungus that grows on rotten trees in the

woods. The series is a fantastic tribute to

the history that makes America what it

is, and is a great educational guide for all

people, young and old.

Take one of the entries in Book Two, for

example. On beekeeping, the Foxfire book

provides a huge amount of information,

including how to make a “gum,” or hive,

out of the hollow

trunk of a black

gum tree, how to

handle the bees,

how to collect honey

and combs, how

to use bee trees, and

a vast variety of

other information

Foxfire Books

By multiple authors

HHHHH

Memoir/history/

guide

Ages 13 and up

that could basically prepare you to be a

beekeeper yourself.

Part of the reason I rate this series so

highly is because of how well-rounded

it is! It has just the right amount of

information to make every single entry

interesting, making them neither too

long nor too boring to read, while possibly

preparing you to try one or two out

yourself. The Foxfire books are the perfect

bedside or coffee table book, and I

100-percent recommend you read them.

You will look at nature, the Catskills and

the people who reside in them with new

eyes.

To parents: Just let them read these

books. There will be some things some

kids won’t understand, but if I had these

books to read or if they were read to me

when I was little, I would have loved

them. They are the perfect exercise in

imagination and understanding. All ages.

Note: You can find most of these books

online, or at the library in town. I’m sure

you can also find digital copies or even

audiobooks if you really look – and, well,

you should look.

INK WELL OF HAPPINESS


Making the ‘Scene,’ and history

By David Dann | For Manor Ink

FUTURISTIC The cover of a brochure that

accompanied one iteration of the landmark

recording “The Jazz Scene.” Manor Ink photo

Predicting the future is never easy.

Predicting the future of this music

we call jazz is darn near impossible.

How many times have we heard “the

big bands are back”? Or that X (insert

“Dixieland,” “soul jazz,” “psychedelic,”

“fusion,” “hip-hop,” etc.) is the next big

thing? Remember the Fender Rhodes?

Steinways were the keyboard of the

past. Anthony Braxton was the next

Charlie Parker one year, unemployed

and scuffling only a few years later.

So your guess is as good as mine

when it comes to jazz’s destiny. Who

could have predicted Wynton Marsalis?

Not me.

But back in the late 1940s, jazz’s leading

impresario took a stab at jazz prognostication.

Norman Granz decided to

issue an album that would feature some

of the music’s finest talents and would

offer a glimpse not only of the contemporary

scene but also of what lay ahead

for jazz. To grab the public’s attention,

Granz planned to market this recording

as a special collector’s edition, limiting

the total pressing and selling it at a premium

price. The records would be packaged

in an elegant case, accompanied by

detailed notes and beautifully executed

photographs of the artists involved.

This milestone Granz christened “The

Jazz Scene.”

Released in early 1950, “The Jazz

Scene” went for a stiff 25 bucks and

was capped at 5,000 copies, with the

stipulation that “no copies will be available

after the first

edition is sold.” It

was received with

accolades by the

jazz press and got

a special two-page

review in the industry’s

unofficial

pub, Down Beat

magazine. Fans

regarded the album

as a must-have,

though for many

the price was prohibitive.

The Jazz Scene

Various artists

Polygram 1994/

Verve 1950

HHHHH

A portion of the music on the “Scene”

was provided – no surprise – by members

of Granz’s stable of artists. Among

them were Charlie Parker (recently

signed), Lester Young, Bud Powell and

Flip Phillips. Norman also recorded

non-Mercury artists Willie Smith, Ralph

Burns, Neal Hefti and George Handy.

He seemed to have favored the arrangers

on the album, hinting that at least

some of jazz’s future lay with writers

rather than with improvisers.

Of the compositions, George Handy’s

“The Bloos” stands out. It’s at once

anachronistic and startlingly original.

It couldn’t be written today, but it was

unlike anything being written in 1949,

too. Michael Levin called it a “satire” in

his Down Beat review, and that seems

about right. There are no solos, and it’s

the arrangement that gets top billing.

Handy retired from music not long

after this, claiming that the “music biz

and all connected stinks.” He moved to

the Catskills.

The true gem on the album is Coleman

Hawkins’ stellar “Picasso.” According

to the notes, the Hawk spent

many hours formulating this free-form,

solo saxophone masterpiece, and it

shows. Hawkins did two or three other

solo improvisations after this first effort,

but “Picasso” stands out as a remarkable

document by jazz’s elder statesman

of the tenor sax. If you’ve never heard it

before, you’re in for a treat.

The album was originally released

on 78 rpm discs with a Mercury/Clef

imprint. Despite Granz’s pledge, the recordings

were eventually issued again

(and again), first on various LPs and

more recently on CD. Today’s music

fans can find it on Amazon for significantly

less than the original price, and it

is highly recommended that they do.

20 | AUG. 2020 | MANOR INK INK WELL OF HAPPINESS

WORD SEARCH

By Zachery Dertinger | Manor Ink

Find this month’s hidden words, selected especially for pleasures of summer.

HIT PARADE Recording the old fashioned way for the Victor Talking Machine Co. LOC photo

Site offers truly classic playlist

Here’s another worthwhile destination

on the web that you might not have

heard about. It has the intriguing name

ON THE

WEB

STUFFED BAKED PEACHES

By Michelle Adams-Thomas

Mid-to-late summer is always the best

time for peaches. Any other time of the

year, they are likely to be less sweet and

RECIPE

reluctant to give up their pits.

So now is the time! Here’s a

dessert recipe I chose because it’s sweet,

juicy, crispy and fun for summer. It’s

from the website lecremedelacrumb.com.

Ingredients

6 medium peaches

2 Tbsps butter

4 Tbsps brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Optional: coarse sea salt, vanilla ice

cream, caramel sauce

Crisp

1/2 cup flour

“National Jukebox,” and it’s a

music site that was created in

recent years by the Library of

Congress in Washington, DC.

It doesn’t feature the latest pop chartbusters

or Hot 100 favorites – it’s more of

a golden oldies venue, with the emphasis

on “oldie.”

The Library has digitized the entire

output of the Victor Talking Machine

Company (now RCA) from 1900 to 1925.

That’s more than 10,000 78-rpm disc

sides, featuring everyone from Duke

Ellington and Enrico Caruso to the Seven

Musical Magpies and Whistling Peetie

Wheatstraw. You can select tunes by

genre or artist, and it’s free to listen as

much as you like. Just go to loc.gov/jukebox,

but only if you got time to spend!

1/4 cup oats

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

4 Tbsps butter, chilled and cut into cubes

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400. Lightly

grease a baking sheet or muffin pan (if

peaches are small enough to fit into the

muffin holes) and set aside.

2. First, prepare the crumble topping. In

a medium bowl whisk together flour, oats,

brown sugar, sugar, salt, and cinnamon.

Cut in the butter with a pastry knife, or two

forks, or with your hands until mixture is

crumbly. Set aside.

3. Next prepare the peaches and filling.

Cut 1/4 inch off of the top of 5 peaches.

Remove and discard the pits, and scoop

out the remaining flesh so the peaches are

Vacation

School

Pool

Hot

Swimming

Beach

Tent

Camping

Ice cream

Fishing

Popsicles

Smores

Sunflowers

Fish

Deer

Hummingbird

Hiking

Running

Reading

Video games

Nature

Cool breeze

Soccer

Boating

Baseball

A timely treat that’s sweet and beats the heat

hollowed out (leave about 1/4 inch of the

outermost flesh/skin intact so they don’t fall

apart. ) Dice the flesh (just cut into 1/2-inch

pieces or so) and add to a medium saucepan.

For the remaining peaches, peel the

peaches, then cut into wedges, then dice

and add those pieces to the pan.

4. Add butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon

to the pan. Saute over medium heat

about 5 minutes until peaches are very

tender. Divide this mixture between each of

the hollowed peaches. Top with the crumble

mixture, then place on a prepared baking

sheet (or muffin tin) and bake for 12-15

minutes. Optional: sprinkle with coarse sea

salt after removing from the oven.

5. Top with vanilla ice cream and caramel

sauce if desired. Serve immediately.

Note: For hollowing out the peaches, I

found that using a sharp paring knife to cut

right around the pit was the easiest way

to remove the pit. Then I used a spoon to

scoop out the rest of the flesh.

PEACHY With a dollop of ice cream, nothing

beats the taste of crisp-topped baked peaches.

yummymummykitchen.com photo

The “Last of Us” series comprises two

video games, each taking place in a postpandemic

zombie apocalypse. The first

game, a classic to any gamer, came out

in 2013 to absolute “universal” acclaim.

Among all major review

sites, the game got more

than 7.5 out of ten stars.

And it was easy to see

why! Not only were the

game’s graphics absolutely

incredible for the time, the

Edward game was engaging, interesting

and memorable.

Lundquist

The second edition of the game was just

... not as good. The story line is ridiculously

drawn out, and seems more like fan

fiction than an official script. The graphics

are just OK, and sometimes seem rushed,

especially by today’s tech standards.

Here are my thoughts

about each of the two games.

“Last of Us 1”: One of the

most well-crafted games

of all time. An absolute classic. You

play as Joel, a man thrown into a fungal

apocalypse. The cordyceps, a real fungus,

infects most of humanity, forcing cities to

wall themselves off and live in quarantine.

During the start of the outbreak, though,

Joel’s daughter is killed. He gets a second

chance a few years later with Ellie, a supposedly

immune girl. He smuggles her

across the US, to reach the Fireflies, a protest

organization that fought against the

government at the start of the outbreak.

Throughout his harrowing journey, Joel

must avoid infection and struggle with

the losses of friends and family along the

way.

(Spoiler alert!) But when Joel has to

make the choice of letting Ellie die to

make the vaccine or save her and possibly

doom mankind, he chooses to save her

life. After going through such a harrowing

journey, this is Joel’s way of trying

to fix the past and give himself another

chance to have a family. He kills almost

all the Fireflies and moves on.

“Last of Us 2”: A sloppily put together,

long awaited letdown. (Spoiler alert!) In

the second game you play as Ellie, four

years later. In the first act of the game,

a new character is introduced, Abby.


After seven year wait, latest ‘Last of Us’ comes in last

GAME

REVIEW

DISAPPOINTING In the second iteration of the video game “Last of Us,” Ellie embarks on a

forgettable adventure leading to an unhappy, unsatisfying ending. ign.com photo

And, also in the first

act of the game, Joel is

brutally and mercilessly

beaten to death with a

golf club.

This 25-hour-long

game is seemingly endless.

In the third act,

Ellie, her partner Dinah

and their kid are living

happily on a farm

together, although

Ellie has nightmares

and PTSD. Seeking

Last of Us 1

Naughty Dog

2013

Mature 17+

HHHHH

HHHHH

Last of Us 2

Naughty Dog

2020

Mature 17+

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closure, she leaves behind her family

and her peaceful life to hunt down

her nemesis again. And again, after an

extremely drawn out, forgettable adventure,

a weakened and starved Abby

and Ellie face off again. Ellie gets two of

her fingers bitten off, and Abby is nearly

drowned. However, Ellie lets Abby

go once she realizes after so much time

that this was not what Joel wanted. She

returns to her home beaten and broken,

only to find that her loved ones have

left her. And that’s the end of the game!

There is no happy conclusion!

After waiting seven years for the continuation

of the story, we got a cruel and

thoughtless game. Artistically, I was unimpressed.

The thing that makes me even

sadder is that the first game ended on a

cliffhanger, and let me hope for a happy

ending. Now we know that can’t happen.

First game, 10 out of 10 stars. Second

game, 2 out of 10 stars. Uninspired,

drawn out and infuriating.

I can’t count the reasons this show is so good!

I used to think that “The Office” was the

creme de la creme of sitcoms. That nothing

could top it. Other shows came close, like

“Malcolm in the Middle,” “My Name is

Earl” and “Seinfeld.” Then

I watched “Community,”

and oh boy, did I change

my mind.

Now don’t get me

wrong, “The Office” is a

Osei Helper

great sitcom, but it made

the fatal mistake of going

on for too long. “Community” ran from

2009 to 2015, for a total of six seasons. It

had the mindfulness to realize when it

should end, but there have been rumors

of a movie (fingers crossed!). You may

now be wondering, “What makes Community

so hecking epic?”

“Community” includes a character

named Abed Nadir, one of the community

college students who constantly

MEDIA

PROBE

REVIEW

breaks the fourth wall (that’s

when a character becomes

aware of the fact that they

are fictional). The show was

pretty weird and out-of-thebox

for its time, but it paved the way for

other quirky comedy shows. “Community’s”

strength was its characters and their

interactions. Every character acts selfish

and mean at times, but also has moments

of great development

and wholesomeness.

“Community” also

has many running

gags and storylines,

like paintball and the

“darkest timeline.”

Community

NBC 2009-2015

Rated 12+

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HHHHH

These gags bring an extra layer of fun

and depth to the story. You really feel like

you’re going somewhere with these characters,

and growing and learning as well.

I’m currently rewatching the show and

loving every second. It has great rewatchability.

I give “Community” a 9 out of

10 stars. It’s available on Netflix, and is

absolutely worth watching. Guaranteed.

EPIC Danny Pudi stars as Abed Nadir in

NBC’s sitcom “Community.” nbc.com photo


SPORTS

Season preview: Ready for madness

By Cam Brightfield and

Art Steinhauer | Manor Ink

MAIN

STREET

FARM

MARKET

CAFE

OPEN

DAILY

Major League Baseball is embarking

on a sixty-games season, no fans

in the stands and significant rules

changes. So Manor Ink is ready to tell

you exactly what will happen!

First what do we think of the plan?

Cam: I think it is good under the

circumstances. It would have been

better if they sorted this out earlier;

but, hey, we’re getting baseball this

summer.

Art: It’s a faux season, a fantasyland

for fans. Baseball isn’t a sprint. What

if someone hits .400 – is it going to

count?

What’s your overriding philosophy

for predictions?

Cam: I think bats are key; you need

offense to win. As long as you have a

couple of players in the lineup doing

well, that should be enough to secure

some games.

Art: Pitching, pitching, pitching.

The bats don’t normally warm up for

a couple of months and by then it will

be cold. Pitchers won’t have a lot of

time to build up their arms so depth

in the bullpen will be key.

American League Predictions (Art)

East: Still gotta like my Yanks. They

added Garrit Cole to a strong staff

and if their big hitters (Judge, Sanchez

and Stanton) stay healthy, they’ll

mash, too. The Rays always rely on

pitching, so pencil them in for a wild

card. I thought Toronto had a chance

if they could stay north of the border,

but they have to play in the USA. Boston

is trying to shed contracts and get

younger; good thing no fans will be

in the stands to see it. Baltimore can’t

lose 100 games again!

Central: The Twins were good last

year and added some pitching depth,

so they should repeat. The ChiSox

have some good young players, so

let’s give them a wild card, too. Meanwhile

the Indians have to concentrate

NOTE TO READERS

This article was written before

MLB changed the post-season

system, on opening day, as only

MLB would do.

NEW YORK CONTENDERS Mets hurler Jacob DeGrom, right, throws for a strong

team, but it’s Aaron Judge and the Yanks who will take it this year. cbssports.com photos

‘Mets are coming off a year

where they were very hot in the

second half ... but they fall a bit

short.’

Cam Brightfield

‘As for the Mariners, no reporter

at Manor Ink was alive the last

time they were good.’

Art Steinhauer

on a new name, while the Tigers and

Royals are both dreadful.

West: The shame of the season is

the cheating Astros won’t have to

hear the wrath of the fans, so put me

down for the Angels in first so Mike

Trout finally gets to the playoffs, plus

Shohei Otani is back and showing he

is the real deal. A’s in second because,

have I said it yet, I hate the Astros. I’ll

give the Astros third, but hope their

hotels and food are rotten. For the

Rangers, maybe the virus is a good

thing so no fans can watch them up

close, and as for the Mariners, no reporter

at Manor Ink was alive the last

time they were good.

Playoff Predictions: ChiSox over

Rays and in the Wild Card game; then

ChiSox lose to the Yanks. Twins over

Angels in the other Division Series

before they lose to the Yanks in the

Championship Series because they

always do.

World Series: Yanks over Dodgers

4-2 to restore greatness to baseball.

National League Predictions (Cam)

East: Atlanta is a good young team

led by Ronald Acuna, so they’ll keep

rolling this year. Nats won a ring, but

lost Anthony Rendon, and Scherzer

and Strasburg are getting older. But I

still see them with a wild card. Mets

are coming off a year where they were

very hot in the second half and have

Cy Younger DeGrom, Pete Alonzo

(ROY) and Jeff McNeil, but they fall a

bit short. Phillies didn’t go anywhere

last year despite the money spent

on Harper, and won’t again, and the

Marlins are just bad.

Central: The Cards are a strong

team led by Harrison Bader who

made it pretty far in the playoffs last

year, so put them down to make it

again. The Brewers have loads of talent,

too, including Yelich, Hadel and

Woodruff, so they should compete

strongly. The Cubs have taken a slide

since their 2016 Series win. Not much

to say for the Reds or Pirates; no

excitement in those towns.

West: The Dodgers have been nothing

but good for the past five seasons

and have added more talent in Betts

and Price. They only need worry about

getting over the hump this year and

winning it all. The D-backs, anchored

by Jack Lamb, are a fairly strong team

in a weak Division, so should come in

second. The Rockies are decent and

take third. The Giants and Padres get

to play in California, which is nice.

Playoff Predictions: Brewers beat

the Nats this year in the Wild Card

game. Braves win over the Cards and

the Dodgers sweep the Brewers in the

Division Series, and then the Dodgers

top the Braves to advance to the

World Series.

World Series: Yankees win 4-3 vs.

Dodgers.

Cam Brightfield is a guest reporter and

Mets fan. He had help from Art Steinhauer,

mentor and Yankees fan.

AUGUST

CLOSURES & REOPENINGS

Livingston Manor

Free Library

Reopened with regular hours

but limited access and health

precautions. Visit the library’s

website for additional information.

Tuesdays in August,

Storytime, 11:15-11:45 a.m.

92 Main St., Livingston Manor.

livingstonmanorlibrary.org

Ethelbert B. Crawford

Public Library

Now offering curbside services;

please call 794-4660 to arrange

a pick-up; visit the library’s website

for hours; 479 Broadway,

Monticello; ebcpl.org

Liberty Public Library

The library is now back in its

newly expanded building. Patrons

can place holds on items via the

library’s website and pick them up

curbside. 189 N. Main St., Liberty.

libertypubliclibrary.org

Hurleyville Arts Centre

Yoga and dance classes are cancelled

until further notice; check

the HAC website for updates;

219 Main Street, Hurleyville.

hurleyvilleartscentre.org

Bethel Woods

Center for the Arts

All main stage concerts have

been cancelled for the 2020

summer season. Please check

website for other events and

updates. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel.

bethelwoodscenter.org

Delaware Valley Arts

Alliance

Galleries expect to be reopening

soon. Please check website for

updates. Offering virtual exhibits

on Facebook and Instagram;

37 Main St., Narrowsburg;

delawarevalleyartsalliance.org;

facebook.com/DelawareValleyArtsAlliance;

instagram.com/

dvartsalliance

Catskill Art Society

Currently closed for renovations;

offering art activities for children

online; 48 Main St. Livingston

Manor; catskillartsociety.org

FARMERS MARKETS

Barryville Farmers Market

Saturdays in August; 10 a.m.-

1 p.m.; 3405 State Rte. 97,

Inklings

A LISTING OF FUN THINGS TO DO

Send your event to editor@manorink.org

PLEASE NOTE Due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus

pandemic and mandated social distancing, many events listed here

have new safety requirements. Please check websites for specifics.

Farmers Markets listed here are open, but social distancing rules

apply and masks are recommended.

Barryville; barryvillefarmersmarket.org

Callicoon Farmers Market

Sundays in August; 11 a.m.-2

p.m.; 8 Creamery Rd. in Callicoon;

callicoonfarmersmarket.org

Liberty Farmers Market

Fridays in August; 3-6 p.m.; 119

North Main St., Liberty; 439-

1230

Livingston Manor

Farmers Market


p.m.; Main St. Livingston Manor.

facebook.com/Livingston-Manor-

Farmers-Market

Mamakating Farmers

Market

Fridays in August; 4-7 p.m.; 298

Rte. 209, Wurtsboro. facebook.

com/MamakatingFarmersMarket

Narrowsburg Farmers

Market

Saturdays in August; 10 a.m.-1

p.m.; 7 Erie Ave., Narrowsburg;

NarrowsburgFarmersMarket.org

Rock Hill Farmers Market

Saturdays in August; 10 a.m.-1

p.m.; 223 Rock Hill Dr., Rock Hill;

rockhillfarmersmarket.com

Roscoe Farmers Market


p.m.; Niforatos Field, 1978 Old

Rte. 17, Roscoe; roscoeny.com

AUGUST 1-31

Americana Music at the

Backyard Park

Fundraiser for Jeffersonville

GEMS

Saturday, Aug. 1; 6-9 p.m.; The

Backyard Park, 876 Swiss Hill Rd.

North, Jeffersonville. 271-8532

CALENDAR

BAGEL BASH

Since 2012, Monticello

has been officially

known as the world’s

“Bagel Capital,” and

to prove it, the village

holds an annual Bagel

Festival. This year,

despite the coronavirus,

the tradition continues

with music, a car show,

a scavenger hunt and a bagel “triathlon.” There will also be

plenty of bagels for consumption. The event will take place

on Sunday, Aug. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Broadway. For

more information, visit thebagelfestival.org.

Catskill Pride

Summer Tea Dance

Saturday, Aug. 1; 3-6 p.m.;

Forestburgh Playhouse, 39

Forestburgh Rd., Forestburgh.

catskillspride.com

An Evening With Kate

Baldwin and Lewis Cleale

Saturday, Aug. 1; 7:30 p.m.;



fbplayhouse.org

Museum Talk,

“Knotweed, a Tough Love”

Tuesday, Aug. 4; 7 p.m.;

Ten Mile River Scout Camp,

Crystal Lake Rd., Narrowsburg.

tinyurl.com/Knotweed-a-Tough-

Love

Art in the Park

Saturday, Aug. 8; 11 a.m.-5 p.m.;


Morningside Park, Brickman Rd.,

Hurleyville. 434-8810

Soulful Music with

Morgan James

Saturday, Aug. 8; 7:30 p.m.;



fbplayhouse.org

History of Wintoon, a

Grand Neversink Estate

Sunday, Aug. 9; 2-4 p.m.; Time

and the Valleys Museum, 332

Main St., Grahamsville. timeandthevalleysmuseum.org

Improv Workshop

Tuesday, Aug. 11; 7-8 p.m.; Ten

Mile River Scout Camp, Crystal

Lake Rd., Narrowsburg. tmrmuseum.org

Museum Talk, “A discussion

about bats in the Upper

Delaware River Valley”

Thursday, Aug. 13; 7-8 p.m.; Ten

Mile River Scout Camp, Crystal

Lake Rd., Narrowsburg. tmrmuseum.org

Ripley’s Reflections

Saturday, Aug. 22; 7:30-8:30

p.m.; Forestburgh Playhouse, 39


fbplayhouse.org

The Suffragists:

Fighting for the Vote in

Sullivan County

Sunday, Aug. 23; 2-4 p.m.;



fbplayhouse.org

51 Main St., Livingston Manor • 6 am-10 pm

845-439-5430

Your “Local” Source

for Your Bucket List

Alaskan

Adventure

Don & Vinny

Simkin

&

Real Estate & Custom Modular Homes

“If we can’t find your dream home, we’ll have it built for you.”

CAROLE

EDWARDS REALTY

(914) 799-5075 Mobile

cedwardsrealty@gmail.com

(845) 439-3620 Office

On the web: LivManor.com

ifishhainesalaska.com | glacierviewlodgealaska.com

7 MAIN STREET , LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY 12758


FEATURES

By Mary Hall | For Manor Ink

Terry Dame is sitting in a small

clearing in the forest next to the

rippling Trout Brook. A couple

of large and resonant chimes

hang from a branch of a tree nearby.

They were once part of an instrument

in Dame’s band, Electric Junkyard

Gamelan. One of the original chimes fell

LOCAL

ARTIST

PROFILE

From beats to bees

An artist’s journey to a ‘sustainable life’

off the branch and will soon be

resident in the vegetable garden

up the hill in the sun where it

may perform an irrigation function.

This is how Terry’s life is

going these days – putting the instincts

of an artist/musician/technician to use in

building a sustainable life.

* * *

Terry Dame is a composer, sound

designer for theater and movies, musician,

instrument inventor and builder,

and educator. She started playing

trumpet and piano when she was eight

and graduated from University of Massachusetts

where she studied engineering

and environmental planning. But

music kept calling and she started

composing and designing sound for

the theater. She went to California and

got an MFA in performance and composition

from the California Institute of

the Arts in 1997.

In 1998, she moved to New York City

and got involved with the WOW Cafe

and Theater, two of whose founding

members, Lois Weaver and Peggy

Shaw, have long had a relationship

ON THE WEB

To learn more about Terry Dame’s art

and music, and to see videos of her

perfoming solo and with her groups,

visit terrydame.com.

FOUND SOUNDS Terry Dame, left, performs“Yetubu” with the Electric Junkyard Gamelan in

Manhattan in 2011. terrydame.com photo

OPERATING TOGETHER Bees, Terry Dame believes, cooperate with one another much in the

way musicians do when playing music. Mary Hall photo

BUT WHAT IS A GAMELAN?

The gamelan is a traditional musical

ensemble featuring sixteen bronze

xylophones, several gongs and gongchimes,

drums, cymbals, and bamboo

flutes – over forty instruments in total.

Originally from Indonesia, a gamelan

is played there for official occasions or

court ceremonies, celebrations such as

weddings, for concerts, to accompany

dance, dance-dramas and shadowpuppet

theatre. The gamelan is also

played in Java and Bali. It has inspired

composers, musicians and artists around

the world, including Terry Dame.

Luca Larizzati

with the western Catskills. And now,

so does Terry Dame.

She has composed and performed

around the world for bands, film,

dance, theater and various kinds of

installations, plus she plays the saxophone.

“Visualizing Vibrations 2” is her

newest project, completed in February.

She teaches computer art, film and creative

media at the School of Visual Arts

and Marymount Manhattan College in

New York City.

One of the bands that Dame created,

the Electric Junkyard Gamelan, was

inspired by the Balinese gamelan. The

band came about after Terry toured the

world with a gamelan group, performing

the epic Indian Sanskrit poem Mahabaratu.

She began to create different

kinds of instruments that would work

in such a band, making them from

found objects like bits of old electric

drills. The Electric Junkyard Gamelan

Band, a smaller, funkier version of the

Balinese gamelan, emerged, and Dame

and her bandmates played internationally

and at a variety of venues.

Another of her bands is Paprika,

which still performs – many readers

will have seen Terry playing the saxophone

during the Trout Parade.

* * *

But Terry Dame’s life is shifting.

Though she still lives in New York

City, her alternate life in the western

Catskills has given her a new direction.

She says that she is tired of striving

and that her teaching now fulfills her

performance drive.

“My new art form is creating a

sustainable life style,” she said. She is

refocusing her creative and engineering

skills onto beekeeping and sustainable

vegetable gardening. Beekeeping

she finds fascinating because of the

way bees operate together, much, it

seems, in the way that a band performs

together, dependent upon one another

for the music they produce.

As for the garden, Terry has created

what she says is the most satisfying of

all the instruments that she has ever

made – a hydraulic ram pump. This

pump allows her to hydrate her garden

with water that is coming out of the

ground down by the river, perhaps

50 feet below the garden. It needs no

energy beyond that of the water that

flows out of the ground, and that energy

is sufficient to force the water back

up the hill to the garden.

Terry made the pump much in the

way that she has made musical instruments,

instruments that respond to the

performer’s breath or the pulse of a

hand to create flowing notes of music.

So, Terry Dame, musician/artist/engineer,

sits under the trees as the sounds

of the rippling river below pump inspiration

into her ever active being.

manor_ink_august_2020_web

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