Manor Ink December 2020

DECEMBER 2020

HELPING HAND

SALT delivers needed food aid PAGE 5

FREE

SEASON’S GREETINGS!

MI

MANOR INK

HOLIDAY DOINGS

Chamber makes

all merry ’n’ bright

for the Manor

PAGE 18

CREATIVE SPACE

New facility for

artists opens

in Trout Town

PAGE 3

Sullivan County’s youth-driven, community-supported nonprofit newspaper

MANORINK.ORG

180 chief seeks health turnaround

New director targets Sullivan obesity

By Demi Budd | Manor Ink

Sullivan County, NY – This county

has nothing to be proud of when it comes

to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s

County Health Rankings. To see

our small county, you have to look down

a bit, then a bit further – and there we

are, sitting at spot 60 out of 62. Out of the

62 counties in New York State, Sullivan

County is in third place for being the

most unhealthy. This is not a competition

we want to be winning.

That is where Amanda Langseder

comes in. Passionate about the health of

our county, Langseder joined Sullivan

180 in October as the new executive director.

She brings heaps of experience

and is fired up to lead us in a turnaround.

Langseder explains how health impacts

young people. “70 percent of high

school students don’t qualify for military

service. This is simply for one reason:

poor health. For many graduating seniors,

an entire career option is wiped off

of the table.” To Langseder, this is unfair

and results from a lack of knowledge.

“Sullivan 180 is a vehicle to foster and

support community efforts to improve

the health of all residents,” according to

the nonprofit’s website.

Sullivan 180 and Langseder understand

that this change is one that must be

taken in steps – gradually.

“If you look at our logo, you’ll see that

it’s actually a turtle,” Langseder said,

“because we’ve accepted the fact that

this is going to take time. And you know,

the tortoise and the hare – who wins the

race? The turtle does.”

This race won’t be easy to win, though.

Sullivan 180 is prepared for the challenge

and has begun initiatives to start

off strong in improving the health of Sullivan

County. In what Langseder calls “a

variety of grassroots ways,” the nonprofit

harnesses the power of the community

to help their endeavors.

Working with schools

A group of Sullivan 180 volunteers

called Community Health Champions

are trained to make a change in their

community by running groups that educate

people on healthy behaviors and

generally inspiring people to take the initiative

to better themselves.

Sullivan 180 also looks closely at how

to make changes in policies and in the

environment. One of these environments

includes school, where children and

Continued on pg. 7

CUT THE SUGAR The new director of Sullivan 180, Amanda Langseder, contrasts a bottle of water

with the sugar contained in a sports drink. Langseder has made it her mission to improve Sullivan

County’s poor showing in statewide health statistics. Courtesy of Liberty Rotary, photo

2 | DEC. 2020 | MANOR INK

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 90

IN THIS ISSUE

LOCAL NEWS

180 Sullivan’s health efforts .........................1, 7

New business in Roscoe .............................3

LMCS holds COVID-19 forum .........................4

SALT’s pandemic food services .........................5

Coping with the pandemic during the holidays ...........8, 9

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

Sullivan Renaissance forum ..........................13

FEATURES

LMCS Insider ................................ 14, 15

KKK in the Catskills ................................17

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

Back Page Profile: Les Stone .........................24

SPORTS

Craft & Cadence’s virtual marathon ....................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.

You can put story ideas

in the Idea Dropbox at

the Livingston Manor

Free Library, now that

the library has reopened.

Stressful holidays, but the Ink perseveres

Salutations, Inklings! I hope you all will enjoy the holidays

despite the rise in coronavirus cases in our county. To

contribute to the festive mood, we’ve got a jolly selection of

articles in here just waiting to be torn open!

Associate Editor Demi Budd interviewed

Amanda Langseder, the new director of

the nonprofit Sullivan 180, for our cover

story. The goal of Sullivan 180 is to improve

the overall health of county residents – a

worthy objective, as Sullivan ranks near the

Osei Helper bottom of the state’s counties when it comes

Editor-in-chief to the health of its citizens.

Reporter Nicole Davis brings us an important summary

of LMCS’s recent public health forum along with important

new information about policy and schedule updates.

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 on Zoom

every Wednesday from

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

In the November issue of Manor

Ink, the name of the construction

company that will do the demolition

of the condemned building at 60 Main

MANOR INK STAFF

Osei Helper

Editor-in-Chief

Demi Budd,

Edward Lundquist

Associate Editors

Jessica Mall

LMCS School Advisor

Reporter Aaron Adams-

Thomas interviewed Martin

Colavito, program coordinator

for Sullivan Allies Leading

Together. SALT is an

organization mainly known

for providing food access

and coordinating donations.

Winter Sager, one of our

newest reporters, spoke

Street, as noted in the Town Board

Report, was misspelled. The correct

spelling is Tweedie Construction Co.,

not Tweedy Construction Co.

David Dann

Art & Photo

Production Editor

Amy Hines

Business Manager, Mentor

Art Steinhauer

Sales Manager, Mentor

Henry Barish

Library Director

with Roscoe resident Alec Castillo. Castillo has opened up

an inn for artists like himself to have a work space.

There are clearly other stupendous works, but you’ll just

have to dive on in, won’t you? Our Manor Ink team has been

hard at work bringing you this issue. We hope that you

enjoy it, and have a great holiday season.

Kelly Buchta, Robin

Chavez, Diana Fredenburg,

Marge Feuerstein,

Audrey Garro, Taylor

Jaffe, Les Mattis

Mentors

Aaron Adams-Thomas,

Michelle Adams-Thomas,

Nicole Davis, Zachary

FROM THE EDITOR

POWERFUL PORTRAITS For our back-page Artist Profile, reporter

Luca Larizzati interviews photographer Les Stone, whose

photos, like this one taken of a child in Haiti, capture a very different

view of the world from our own. Photo courtesy of Les Stone

CORRECTIONS

The work is scheduled to begin

sometime this month and must

proceed slowly to prevent possible

contamination of the Little Beaverkill.

Dertinger, Luca Larizzati,

Michael McKinley,

Nadine Osborne, Tyler

Roberts, Winter Sager,

Jenson Skalda

Manor Ink Reporters

Carolyn Bivins, Peggy

Johansen, Jamie Helper

Founders

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 and story suggestions welcome.

Manor Ink is on the air

Hear your favorite Ink reporters share stories from the

latest edition of the paper on WJFF Radio Catskill 90.5 FM

Tune in at 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month to Radio Chatskill

Teen Edition, featuring 30 minutes of news, interviews and features from

Livingston Manor’s award-winning, youth-driven community newspaper.

Or check us out on the WJFF archive anytime at archive.wjffradio.org.

NEWS

MANOR INK | DEC. 2020 |

3

A PLACE TO WORK The Clock Inn

on Union Street in Roscoe, a newly

opened space that artists can rent,

features a variety of resources,

including a screen printing jig, seamless

photo backdrops, printers and

other amenities. Alec Castillo photos

’I realized other artists might also

need an “intentional” space to be

able to concentrate on their work.’

Alec Castillo

Proprietor, The Clock Inn

Artist’s new space a resource for creatives

Clock Inn seeks to fulfill a need

By Winter Sager | Manor Ink

Roscoe, NY – As the pandemic hit the Town of Rockland

and the surrounding region, many people have decided

to move here and open up businesses. That’s the case

with new Roscoe resident, Alec Castillo. Castillo recently

opened the Clock Inn in the hamlet as a place for artists to

use as a place to work.

Castillo is the bassist for a rock-and-roll band called The

Nude Party. The band started out in North Carolina but

eventually came north and had been touring worldwide

and producing albums before the pandemic caused venues

to close.

When Manor Ink spoke to Alec, he described his struggle

to find a place he could use for focusing on his art. “Stuck

at home and needing income, I decided to concentrate

on my artwork – photography and silk screen printing. I

needed somewhere to work, and I started looking around

the area for a place to use or rent.”

Being an artist himself , Castillo realized that if he wanted

a space to work in himself, other local artists probably

did, too.

“I found the perfect place in Roscoe and rented it for

myself,” he said. “But in searching for it, I realized other

artists might also need an ‘intentional’ space to be able to

concentrate on their work.”

This realization led him to open the Clock Inn for local

artists to rent while using the space himself.

Castillo follows CDC guidelines to

keep the space safe, and has been renting it

privately, leaving time for it to be cleaned

in between clients. He explained that the

name Clock Inn is a play on words, to

“clock in” meaning to put in time working

and creating art.

Alec Castillo

Castillo said that he would like the cost of renting the

space to be affordable so that artists with less money can

still use it. “I’m happy to make it available on a sliding

scale basis to have it be affordable to everyone.”

He also said he has plans to keep the facility open even

after he is back on tour with The Nude Party, to serve artists

who need a place to “call home.”

The Clock Inn is located at 3 Union Street in Roscoe,

MUSIC, TOO Clock Inn proprietor Alec Castillo, center, is also

the bassist for the rock band The Nude Party. vanyaland.com photo

across from Prohibition Distillery. Information about the

space, including a list of available equipment and amenities,

may be found at clockinncatskills.com.

4 | DEC. 2020 | MANOR INK NEWS

Virus cases rise sharply

Outbreak not limited to ‘hot spots’ in county

800

Monticello, NY – Instances of COVID-19

infection have recently seen a dramatic upswing

around Sullivan County. Exposure

to persons who have tested positive for the

coronavirus have occurred in locations as

disparate as the Government

Center in Monticello,

the Arnold House

in Shandelee, Casi’s Restaurant

in Liberty and

Peppino’s Restaurant in

Callicoon.

Now the county’s

Public Health Services

has confirmed that two

Town of Thompson

Walmart employees

have tested positive and may have exposed

others while working. Persons who visited

the store between Nov. 16 and Nov. 20 may

have been exposed to the contagion.

Online COVID-19 forum outlines saftey precautions

By Nicole Davis | Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – Unless you

have just wakened from a year-long coma,

you are aware that for the past nine months

a deadly virus, COVID-19, has been affecting

the entire world, striking over 55 million

people worldwide and killing over one

million.

We are all exhausted after many months

of living in fear of the illness while having

to take necessary precautions. Plans continue

to be postponed, time with family

and friends is curtailed and a constant need

to wear masks is still prevalent to ensure

safety.

Education a challenge

One of the greatest challenges we are

coping with is how to continue educating

students. Children still need to be taught.

Educational requirements still need to be

met in order to provide opportunities for

the youth of our generation. But many parents

are afraid to risk their children’s lives

by sending them to school.

Livingston Manor Central School has

implemented many safety measures in an

effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19

and to reassure families.

COVID-19 RESOURCES

Sullivan County Public Health

Services has a coronavirus

dashboard that has updates

on active cases, individuals in

quarantine or hospitalized,

where to get tested and more

at sullivanny.us/departments/

publichealth/coronavirus.

“It is possible that a significant number

of people have been exposed, due to the

busy-ness of that store,” said Public Health

Director Nancy McGraw. “If someone

thinks they have been exposed and develops

symptoms, they

should self-quarantine

for 14 days and call their

healthcare provider.”

At least four COVID-19

cases at Peppino’s Restaurant

in Callicoon have

been confirmed. Anyone

who was at the restaurant,

located at 31 Lower

Main St., from Nov. 14 to

Nov. 17, may have been

exposed to the coronavirus.

In addition, an employee at the Rock Hill

Dollar General store tested positive for the

virus and may have exposed others while

SHARING FACTS Sullivan County Public

Health Services Medical Director Dr. Bruce

Ellsweig addresses viewers during the recent

online forum on measures being taken as

COVID-19 infections rise. sullivanny.gov photo

To address concerns about school safety

and COVID-19, Sullivan County Public

Health Services and Sullivan BOCES held

an online forum on Nov. 4. Director Nancy

McGraw led the session and answered

questions from school staff and parents.

The school administration has implemented

many safety measures throughout

the building. LMCS Nurse Mary Davis

stressed that there are many safeguards

in place, such as daily screening questionnaires,

temperature checks upon entering

COVID-19 CASES

Sullivan County residents with COVID-19 over the past five months, as compared to

those who are currently in isolation. Four were hospitalized as of Nov. 27. sullivanny.us

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

Total confirmed (as of Nov. 27): 2,008 Quarantined or in isolation: 716

Total tested: 47,336

JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

the building and close communication between

faculty, administration and parents.

“There is also an intricate plan for how

the school monitors and handles COVID-19

positive cases,” Davis said. “The school is

in very close contact with Sullivan County

Public Health in order to maintain the students’

and faculty’s safety. When the school

is notified about a positive case of CO-

VID-19, a multilevel response has already

begun.”

Contact tracing essential

Once a positive case has been ascertained,

the LMCS staff, in conjunction with

Public Health, will determine who else is

at risk of contracting the disease based on

whether protective measures were taken,

including mask wearing, plastic shields,

social distancing, and windows and doors

being open. “We have become biological investigators,”

Davis said with a laugh. “The

team of professionals retrace the steps of

the infected individual and determine how

to handle the situation.”

Once a contact tracing list is developed, it

is given to county health officials and they

pass it on to the state Department of Health

in Albany in order to start contacting the

individuals at risk. The extensive process

Total deaths: 51 (unchanged)

In quarantine

Active cases

working. In Lake Huntington, an event at

The Nutshell bar has resulted in at least

six COVID-19-positive infections since the

middle of November.

Contact investigations are ongoing; anyone

who tests positive will go into mandatory

isolation, and as close contacts are

identified, they are encouraged to seek a

test and are ordered into mandatory quarantine.

Those who suspect they may have

been exposed are urged to call Public Heath

Services at 292-5910.

KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE

AT LIVINGSTON MANOR Central School,

students have the option of going fully

remote, where they can perform all of

their school duties from the safety of their

home Monday through Friday. Families

can also choose to bring their student

to school Monday through Thursday. On

Fridays, all students learn from home on

their computer in virtual classes over various

educational platforms.

ensures the well-being of the students and

everyone else in the LMCS building.

To prepare for another period of quarantine,

if another one is put in place this

month, Livingston Manor stated that students

and teachers must practice a full remote

schedule.

The Public Health Services online meeting

is available for viewing on the LMCS

website at lmcs.k12.ny.us/LMCSD. Parents

and students with questions are asked to

contact Livingston Manor Central School at

439-4400, or Public Health Services at sullivanny.us/Departments/Publichealth

for

answers.

Prevent the spread of COVID-19 and

abide by the safety precautions. Stay safe!

NEWS


5

SALT flavors food aid with care

Organization helps

hundreds of families

By Aaron Adam-Thomas | Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – During these

times, things have been hard for a lot of

people, especially people who are less fortunate.

Martin Colavito has used his time

to make other people’s lives better. “The

better we serve the people around us – our

neighbors – the stronger our community

becomes.”

Colavito works as program coordinator,

along with Beth Dibartolo, at Sullivan Allies

Leading Together or SALT, an organization

that provides a wide range of social

services, including food distribution and

substance abuse education.

SALT is known for its food access program

that donates food to people in need.

‘We consider

ourselves a hand

reaching across

the table.’

Martin Colavito

SALT Program

coordinator

“But,” emphasized

Colavito, “we do not

consider ourselves

a hand reaching

down; we consider

ourselves a hand

reaching across the

table.”

According to a

2018 Census Bureau

report, 16.2 percent

of Sullivan County

residents live in poverty. Since COVID-19

started, unemployment and SNAP applications

have gone up. Many people earn too

much to qualify for government assistance,

yet find their budgets squeezed even tighter

and are often forced to choose between

buying food and paying bills.

Some people who have unreliable transportation,

or no transportation at all, do not

live close to grocery stores. Many end up

buying food from gas stations and convenience

stores.

“If you look at the geographics of the

county, how spread out it is, you can see

how hard it is for some people on the outer

reaches of the county to get to food sources,

how hard it is for senior citizens to access

food,” said Colavito. “Sullivan County has

been a county plagued with health disparities,

mental health issues and addiction issues

that make it a lot harder to access

food.”

SALT delivers to about 300 to 400 people

each week, giving out at least 5,000 meals.

HELPING HAND SALT Progam Coordinator Martin Colavito passes a pantry box to Beth Dibartolo

while loading for a food delivery. Below, a table at Cornell Cooperative Extension laden with

supplies to be distributed to families in need. Aaron Adams-Thomas photos

All kinds of vegetables, fruits and non-perishable

items, such as peppers, onions, tomatoes,

bananas, apples, tuna, beans, rice,

and eggs, line the tables at the distribution

center at Cornell Cooperative Extension in

Ferndale. That’s where volunteers assist

Dibartolo and Colavito in preparing the

items for delivery.

SALT is one of only a few organizations

in Sullivan County that deliver food

directly to peoples’ homes, but other food

organizations, like A Single Bite, are partnering

with SALT and the United Methodist

Church in Monticello to have their food

donations delivered.

“Food insecurity is a very big problem,”

said Colavito, “and it’s been a problem

probably for a couple of decades.”

If you are in need or would like to donate,

you can call Colavito at 596-0075.

NEED FOOD ASSISTANCE?

These agencies offer help to individuals

and families in need.

n SALT: 596-0075

n Emergency Community Assistance

hotline: 807-0925

n Cornell Cooperative Extension,

Sullivan County: 292-6180

Food Pantries

n Claryville Reformed Church,

Claryville Rd.; Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-

3 p.m.; 985-2041

n Grahamsville United Methodist

Church, 356 Rte. 55; anytime by appointment;

985-2283

n Hurleyville United Methodist

Church, Main St.; Thursdays, 4:30-

6 p.m.; Town of Fallsburg residents

only, 434-5097

n Jeffersonville First Presbyterian

Church, Main St.; third Saturdays,

9-11 a.m.; residents of immediate

area only, ID needed; 796-8786 or

482-3188

n Liberty United Methodist

Church, 170 N. Main St.; food pantry,

Mondays, 4-6 p.m.; Monday night

dinners, 5-6:30 p.m.; 292 6243

n St. Peter’s RC Church, 262 N.

Main St., Liberty; Wednesdays, 10

a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-

noon; ID required; 292-4525

n Lighthouse Ministries, 23 Triangle

Rd., Liberty; third Thursdays 11

a.m.-2 p.m.; 985-7026

n St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 24

Chestnut St., Liberty; second and

fourth Friday, 3-4:30 p.m.; once a

month pick-up, walk-in; also dinners,

every Wednesday, 5:30-6:30 p.m.;

292-4626

n Little Free Pantry, Creamery Rd.,

Livingston Manor; fresh food and vegetables

for those in need; facebook.

com/lmlittlefreepantry, 707-2723

n Livingston Manor United Methodist

Church, 89 Pearl St.; Thursdays,

6-7 p.m.; 439-5134 or 607-498-5153

n United Church of Roscoe, 2

Church St.; occasionally on third

Wednesdays, 2-4 p.m.; for eligibility

info, call 607-498-4108

n White Sulphur Springs United

Methodist Church, 3318 Rte. 52;

anytime by appointment, 423 -0329

6 | DEC. 2020 | MANOR INK NEWS LMFL NEWS

LMFL Board welcomes a new director

The Board of Trustees of the Livingston

Manor Free Library is pleased to announce

that Stacey Tromblee became the director

of the library on Nov. 30. Tromblee is an

experienced library director, having served

in that role at the Cannon Free Library in

Delhi, NY, from 2010 to 2018, and during

the past two years she has been the director

of the Reading Room Association of

Gouverneur, New York.

Vera Farrell, President of the Board of

Trustees said, “We welcome Stacey and

look forward to working with her and tapping

into her wealth of experience. I have

found her to be the type of person that

after meeting her once you feel you have

known her all your life.”

Tromblee lives in Delhi with her

LIBRARY

NOTES

husband John. She has two

grown children and three

grandsons. She received a

B.A. in history from SUNY

Plattsburgh and a Masters of Library Science

from North Carolina Central University.

Her passions, in addition to reading,

are hiking and knitting.

Tromblee was able to introduce many

new programs to the library in Gouverneur

during her recent tenure and looks

forward to bringing new

programs to the LMFL and

community.

“I like to get to know everyone

who comes into the

library, and the community

Stacey Tromblee

in general,” she said. “I like

the saying, ‘Every reader

his or her book; every book its reader,’ and

I want to help everyone find theirs.”

USEFUL 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 Book Club on Zoom, email livcirc@

rcls.org to register and join

The Board of Trustees also expresses its

sincere appreciation to Henry Barish for

his service as director over the past year,

helping to navigate the library through

the Covid-19 crisis and dealing with the

logisitics of its closing and then reopening.

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

Amy & Jeff Brightfield • 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

Livingston Manor Teachers Assn. • Gina Molinet, RM Farm Real Estate

Main Street Farm • Van Morrow, Mountain Bear Craft

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

Beth Sosin Jewelry • Art Steinhauer • Don & Vinny Simkin

Town of Rockland • Barbara Trelstad • Upward Brewing Co.

Remembering Bud Wertheim (and the Giant Trout)

LIBRARY BOOK CLUB REVIEW

The Last Trial

By Scott Turow

This month I am reviewing

a book not read

by the Book Club but one

I’ve read on my own.

1987 was the year

Scott Turow’s debut novel, Presumed

Innocent, was published. In it, Turow

introduced readers to defense attorney

Alexandro “Sandy” Stern. In the

intervening years, Turow has written

ten more novels. Most had only small

appearances by Sandy. Now, in The Last

Trial, possibly Turow’s best work, his

now 85-year-old favorite character is

front and center. Set in Kindle County,

the fictional Midwestern location for

most of his works, the story has the

aging lawyer, a cancer survivor, get

involved in a legal battle he knows he

might not survive.

Sandy, his daughter Marta, and

granddaughter Pinky are pulled into

the defense of his old time friend, Dr.

Kiril Pafko. The well-known and admired

developer of an anti-cancer drug

called g-Livia – which Sandy himself has

been taking – Pafko has been accused

of fraud, insider trading and multiple

counts of homicide.

As the book progresses, Sandy begins

to question everything he thought he

knew about his long-time friend. Delving

deeply into the development of the

anti-cancer drug, Stern and his team

begin to doubt much of what they had

accepted as truth.

Turow succeeds in outlining an involved

legal case while also presenting a

complex moral question for his protagonist.

If someone accused of a crime or

crimes is innocent, does that mean they

are innocent of other sins or transgressions?

Sandy does a

lot of soul searching as

he struggles with the

moral dilemma posed by

winning exoneration for

someone he knows isn’t

Scott Turow

completely innocent.

Whether guilty or innocent,

in our legal system everyone is entitled

to a defense. So Stern’s dilemma is

one that is played out over and over.

The Last Trial is a strong literary exit

for Turow’s premier character. Whether

you have read his books over the years

or have just now discovered him, his

novels are worth your time. Especially

now, with the ongoing pandemic restrictions,

they offer a great escape. Best

of all, The Last Trial can be downloaded

through the library’s Libby system, and

you won’t even have to leave home.

Marge Feuerstein

If you are interested in joining the

LMFL Book Club, contact the library at

439-5440 for more information.

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New director brings a wealth of experience to health

Continued from pg. 1

teens generally spend most of their time

(though that is not exactly the case now).

“We actually are just preparing to relaunch

our Empowering a Healthier Generation

program. This is school-based

wellness work that we had started pre-CO-

VID,” she said. “It’s an incredible competition

with prize money exceeding $200,000.

It’s a great opportunity for schools to get

involved and change their environment

and policies to support the wellness of their

students and their staff.”

This relaunch will begin in January, giving

schools time to dust off their wellness

policies and take a look at what they have

to work with.

It is important to Langseder to address

childhood obesity and help alter the environments

in which unhealthy habits are encouraged

or where there is much room to

endorse such habits. She understands that

school bake sales, cookie dough sales and

other unhealthy fundraisers make money

and pay for extracurricular class activities.

But there are alternatives, such as color

runs that can rake in the same profit.

Child obesity levels are rising in Sullivan

County, and yet, in other counties, they are

decreasing. Just in the Livingston Manor

school district alone, the percentage of students

with obesity has roughly doubled,

from 15.7 percent from 2012 to 2014, to 32.9

percent from 2014 to 2016. This is a jarring

statistic, and it is one that hits close to home

for Langseder.

“I struggled with obesity as a child,” she

said. “I was close to 300 pounds by the time

I was 14 years old. I was ridiculed; I was

made fun of. It killed my self-esteem, and

it made me struggle in things I loved. It’s

something that’s very pervasive.

“I really feel like youth have the right to

a healthier generation – that they shouldn’t

have things that are closed off to them in

the future,” Langseder said. “I think why

I’m so connected to the mission is because

now I have two little children. They go to

school in Sullivan County, and I want them

to have all of the options that they possibly

can have when they graduate and not be

‘I really feel like youth have the right

to a healthier generation – that

they shouldn’t have things that are

closed off to them in the future.’

Amanda Langseder

Director, Sullivan 180

held back by something like their health.”

And health should be a given, she says.

Youth in our county should be raised to be

healthy and can step into adulthood with

every door possible open to them.

Experienced in helping people

Langseder’s personal connection to the

project is not her only incentive, though,

and she has worked on past interpersonal

projects that have assisted those in need.

Before taking charge at Sullivan 180,

Langseder led the Sullivan County Public

Health WIC Program: the Women, Children,

and Infants Program. It is geared to

help pregnant women and children up to

the age of five.

“WIC serves several thousand women,

infants, and children across the state

– including a large number of people in

Sullivan County. It is a program to help

families. We call it a ‘hand up.’ It’s not a

‘handout’ program,” she explained. “There

are families that need support. It’s very

difficult when you first have a baby – you

need help with breast feeding support; you

need help with food in your home to keep

yourself nourished. You need help with

parenting tips and techniques. It’s such a

valuable program for pregnant women and

their families.”

Under her leadership, participants’ access

to local farmers markets for fresh produce

was significantly increased.

After WIC, Langseder worked at Garnet

Health, where she launched “Warrior

Kids” – a four-week long program for the

prevention of childhood obesity. The initiative

has graduated over 1,500 children

to date.

“I love talking about Warrior Kids! It was

a lot of fun and I’m certainly hoping it can

continue once we can get back into school.”

Langseder said.

Warrior Kids aims to help youth understand

what they are consuming, the importance

of exercise, how to dial down on

screen time and other ways of improving

their lifestyle that isn’t necessarily taught

in school or from parents. “We teach them

the ‘5-2-1-Almost none’ credo. The kids

memorize it after four weeks.”

Langseder’s experience with a variety of

NEWS

TEACHING GOOD HABITS Amanda Langseder’s partner in Warrior Kids, Damola Akinyemi, leads school kids in an exercise routine during a fourweek

program to improve the health and eating habits of grade schoolers. Sullivan 180 photo

GETTING THE MESSAGE

Langseder uses the Five-Two-One-Almost

None program in her Warrior Kids

workshops. Here’s how it works.

n Fruits and vegetables

FIVE stands for five or more

servings of fruits and vegetables

per day. Fruits and vegetables

are packed with diseasefighting

nutrients and energy.

n Hours of screen time

TWO stands for no more than

two hours per day in front of a

screen. Studies show a correlation

between watching and obesity.

n Hour of physical activity

ONE means at least one hour

of physical activity per day.

Physical activity, especially

when it gets the heart

pumping faster, is vital to

maintaining a healthy weight and overall

good health.

n Sugar drinks

ALMOST NONE refers to almost

no sugary beverages – no more

than two servings per week of

soft drinks and fruit drinks that

are not 100-percent fruit juice.

Recently soda consumption has

doubled for girls, tripled for boys.

health-care programs has given her insight

into the issues facing Sullivan County.

“In my roles with public health and the

hospital system, I’ve seen a lot of the social

determinants of health, the things that affect

people’s health that are beyond healthcare.

I think my experience with WIC and

with the hospital allow me to have a greater

sensitivity about the need that’s in this

community.”

So with numerous programs and initiatives

under her belt, and an undeniable

passion for helping others, Langseder is

more than prepared to start her newest

journey with Sullivan 180, undertaking to

help Sullivan County become a healthier

county – one degree at a time.

7


WIC program now with Sun River Health

Monticello, NY – Sullivan County’s

Women, Infants & Children Program is

now being run by Sun River Health (formerly

Hudson River Healthcare).

Sun River Health has 25 years experience

in operating WIC programs in the

Hudson Valley, and has a federally qualified

health center in Monticello with a variety

of services for women, infants and

children. “These co-located health-related

services, which are not part of Public

FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY

Health’s core mission, but are part and

parcel of Sun River’s, will be beneficial to

current and future WIC participants and

may help improve health outcomes in the

county,” said Public Health Director Nancy

McGraw.

Existing services for WIC participants

will continue to be available, without interruption,

in Monticello and Liberty, albeit

in new locations. Questions can be

directed to Sun River Health at 791-3350.

YES, WE CAN The Livingston Manor Interact Club organized their annual “We Gobble Up

Cans” food drive for the local food pantry. A total of 475 cans were collected. The winning

class was Ms. Ross and Ms. Kelly’s third grade, with 125 cans. Jaime Snow, the Interact

Club Advisor, said, “On behalf of the LM Interact Club, we are grateful for all the generous

contributions and acts of kindness even during COVID-19. Together we make a difference.”

Provided photo

Martucci defeats Metzger in 42nd

Albany, NY – Three weeks after election

day, most of approximately 30,000 absentee

and affidavit ballots have been counted

in the contest for New York’s 42nd State

Senate District, and Sen. Jen Metzger has

conceded the race to Republican candidate

Mike Martucci. Metzger picked up a majority

of the votes counted after election day,

and the final margin will be less than one

percentage point when the remaining ballots

are counted.

Senator Metzger has issued the following

statement: “Serving the people of the Hudson

Valley and Catskills as State Senator

these past two years has been the great honor

of my life ... In January, Mike Martucci

will take this seat in the State Senate, and I

TIGHT RACE

Senator-elect

Mike Martucci

votes in

Orange County

on election

day. Martucci

held on to his

lead in the

state’s 42nd

Senate District

after all the

absentee

ballots were

counted.

@MikeMartucciNY

photo

wish him the best in his new position, because

we all deserve good representation,

regardless of our political point of view.”

Martucci declared victory in the early

hours of Nov. 4 and issued a statement of

thanks to the voters and said he will begin

to work with Metzger on the transition.

“I pledge to always be a voice for the constituents

of the 42 Senate District, because

I speak their language and have walked in

their shoes,” Martucci said. “I will never

forget the community that helped make me

the person I am today ... I am tremendously

honored by the faith the voters have placed

in me and will begin working immediately

with Senator Metzger to effect an orderly

transition.”

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

A holiday survival guide

By Edward Lundquist | Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – This year is

unlike any other. Between raging CO-

VID-19 and raging politics, families have

been divided. Typically, after a division

like this takes place, we try to rejoin our

friends and family on the holidays. But

it looks like we won’t be getting the full

benefit of those visits, either. Typically,

when you ask a person what they did for

Thanksgiving, you get a straight, thoughtout,

to-the-point answer. This year,

though, you’ll likely get a lot of “We stayed

home and didn’t travel,” and “We decided

to be cautious.”

Coronavirus best practices

The best way to stay safe is just to stay

home and celebrate with people who live

in the same house as you. However, if you

have to celebrate with others, try to check

as many things off this list as possible.

n Social distancing is a great idea.

Depending on the weather, try to celebrate

outside, maybe on a porch or a patio. If

you have to celebrate inside, stay six feet

apart, and when eating, try to stay even

further, as much as 10 feet apart. Try to use

different tables, if possible.

n Wear a mask. Since the start of the

pandemic, mask wearing has been one of

the most important and widely used ways

to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Make

The best way to

stay safe is just

to stay home

and celebrate

with people who

live in the same

house as you.

sure you wear a mask every chance you get,

whenever you aren’t eating or drinking.

n Wash your hands. Before eating,

preparing a meal or setting up Christmas

dinner, make sure your hands are clean.

Even better, if you can, wear gloves. The

less contact the better.

n Watch out! If the coronavirus is having

a wave in your area, don’t get together. If it

isn’t, maybe still don’t get together.

n If you can, get tested. Tests do not

completely negate the possibility of being

infected with

COVID-19, but they

are accurate for the

most part. If you

have the virus, do not

go to a gathering. Use

common sense and

be safe.

Testing is a smart

idea to stop the

spread. “My son

wants to come home

from college and join us for the holidays,

so he’s going to try to get tested as soon as

he can, before he comes home,” said one

Manor resident. Testing is a small inconvenience,

but it allows you to be comfortable

with your family. It’s very easy to be

safe as long as you aren’t selfish and don’t

make risky decisions. If something seems

like a bad idea, don’t just do it anyway; it

probably is a bad idea.

Contentious conversations

Politics presently are just as dividing as

the pandemic. This holiday season, make

sure to clearly communicate what you are

comfortable talking about.

Talking about politics can swiftly turn

the mood of a family dinner from jolly to

very uncomfortable, even angry. “People

just don’t listen. It’s just aggression,”

commented one interviewee. Contentious

talk can make people feel disappointed,

angry, uncomfortable and just generally

unhappy. Try to avoid the topic of politics

altogether – there are plenty of other

things to talk about.

One interviewee commented, “Prior to

the last 4 years, you could discuss political

ideas. Now it’s aggressive and mean.

I don’t want to be disappointed. I don’t

want to interact with someone and find

ADVICE


Manor Ink illustration

9

that they are so on the other side of the

fence from me, especially a friend or family

member. It just ruins the mood.”

Probably the best method of interacting

with family this holiday season is to meet

using an online service like Zoom or Google

Meet. It’s very easy to create a meeting link,

join the meet, then set up the computer at

the kitchen table or on the TV to chat with

your family and friends. In fact, you could

very easily have a bigger party than usual,

even safer than usual. Plus, you can mute

people and just smile and nod.

Remember to stay safe, make sure to

follow guidelines in your area, observe the

Center for Disease Control’s requirements

and just use common sense. An incautious

decision could cost you or someone else

their life. Be realistic. And on that happy

note, be safe, be strong, and be merry!

Photo by

Osei Helper


MARCH 2019 | MANORINK.ORG

WORKING FOR US

A conversation with

Assemblywoman Gunther

PAGE 5

TOWN MEETING

Anthony Delgado seeks

input from Rockland voters

PAGE 3

BACK ONLINE

Computer network now

restored for LMCS students

PAGE 8

MI

FREE

MANOR INK

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

BATTERY POWER

Electric cars now

IN THIS ISSUE

have charging

stations in Roscoe

PAGE 3

WEATHER-PROOF

Public pantry

doors get a needed

seasonal upgrade

PAGE 8

FREE

By Osei Helper| Manor Ink

Take a momen to close your eyes. Imagine

it’s some 60 years ago and you’re in

Livingston Manor during the boom years

of the hotel business, as we l as during an

era when automobiles came through our


MAKING A CASE Firelight Camps co-founder Robert Frisch presents the company’s plan for a 100-tent “glampground” – a glamorous

campground – to be located on Little Ireland Road in Livingston Manor. He did so a the Town of Rockland’s Planning Board meeting on

Feb. 5, before a capacity crowd of concerned citizens. Photo by Les Ma tis

Campsite or canvas hotel?

‘Glampground’ remains controversial

By Emily Ba l | Manor Ink

MI

MANOR INK

Livingston Manor, NY – On Tuesday,

Feb. 5, members of the Livingston Manor

community came to the Town Ha l in the

hamlet ready to state their concerns about

the proposed Firelight campsite project

to the Planning Board. Even before the

meeting began, the room was fi led to capacity.

Firelight Campgrounds is a “glamp-

SAFE HAVEN

ground” that Firelight Camps wants to

open in Livingston Manor on Little Ireland

Road. Firelight is origina ly from

Ithaca, NY, where they have one such

camping facility. They propose a bigger

site here in Livingston Manor with 100

tents, but some community members

have concerns with the plan.

Some classify the “glamorous camping”

approach not as camping at a l, but

as accommodations more closely resem-

Extensive rennovations required for Willowemoc to reopen

town regularly with travelers and co lege story is about motels. More specifica ly, it’s

students and their parents on the way to about the history of the Wi lowemoc Motel,

no too far from downtown Livingston

schools in upstate New York, a time when

many people were visiting for business and Manor.

recreational reasons so hotels were very Now, for those of you who don’t know

popular a the time. Interesting as that may what a motel is, it’s kind of like a hotel but

be, it’s not wha this story is about. No, this designed for a short stay. So, consider the

MANORINK.ORG

Manor family lives grid-free PAGE 5


LONG EMPTY

The Wi lowemoc

Motel at Exit 96 on

Rte. 17 was built

in the early 1960s,

fo lowing completion

of the Quickway.

The Livingston

Manor landmark

fe l on hard times

in the 1990s as

tourism declined

and repeated

floods caused

water damage and

mold growth in

many of its rooms.

The motel’s current

owner has received

several o fers for

its purchase, but no

deal has yet been

finalized.

bling those provided by conventional

hotels. “Firelight is classifying itself as a

campsite for the sole purpose of building

in an area where campsites are given

a special use waiver, but hotels, motels

and inns are genera ly prohibited,” stated

Nan Gough, a resident on Little Ireland

Road.

Others fear the impact of increased water

usage might lower the water table and

impact neighboring we ls. Local resident

Douglas Lee expressed concerns about

how sewage from the site might affec the

water quality in the stream that Page 7

Fate of local motel still uncertain

situation: you’re on a long road trip and

you’re getting tired. A motel would be a

perfect place to stop and rest for the night,

and the Wi lowemoc Motel was pretty popular

and successful. It was erected right at

the entry to Livingston Manor, taking fu l

advantage of its location. We l, if that’s

so, then why is it now run down? That is

what I wi l answer, along with some details

about its current state and what its Page 6

SUN-POWERED

Solar farms, like

this one in Kingston,

NY, provide

clean power to

users who join

energy “communities,”

like

the one proposed

to the Town of

Rockland board

at its Oct. 15

meeting by Astral

Power, Inc.

clearwaycommunitysolar.com

photo

Did you know you can get Manor Ink

delivered to your mailbox? Request

a subscription by sending a check to

made out to Manor Ink for $30 to:

Manor Ink Subscriptions

92 Main Street

Livingston Manor, NY 12758

Town considering alternative energy source

By Marge Feuerstein | Manor Ink Mentor

Livingston Manor, NY – Clean energy –

it’s what the worlds’ leading environmental

scientists have been championing as essential

if we are to stem the warming of the

planet.

At a recent meeting of the Town of Rockland

town board, members heard a presentation

explaining how the town could move

in the direction of cleaner energy use. A

representative of Astral Power, Inc., a New

York City-based alternative energy management

company, laid out the steps that

could tie the town’s municipal buildings,

small businesses and individual homeowners

into already existing “community solar

farms” in the area. While still receiving

power from their current provider, a portion

of the user’s consumption would come

from clean solar energy, thus reducing

power sourced from the burning of fossil

fuels. Community-based solar would allow

the user to have access to solar power without

having to install solar panels. In addition,

the Astral representative said, there

would be a reduction in the consumer’s

monthly bill from solar credits.

When asked about the presentation, Supervisor

Rob Eggleton acknowledged the

idea was being considered by the board.

“But it will require a great deal more

study,” Eggleton said. “Other companies

might be looked into, as well as the whole

idea of community solar being reviewed

extensively.”

Sullivan 1st in tourism growth

Liberty, NY – Empire State Development just released its

2019 economic study detailing each of New York’s 62 counties

and their respective regions’ tourism growth. For the

second consecutive year, the Sullivan Catskills was the fastest

growing county for tourism spending in the state at 12.2

percent. The overall Catskills region achieved 7.9 percent,

while the average statewide growth was only 2.5 percent.

Many of the county’s towns and hamlets are exploding

with development as second home buying is on the rise. Urban

residents are attracted to the area because it is only 90

minutes from New York City, and because the integrity of

its rural authenticity remains largely intact.

“This is great news!” said Roberta Byron-Lockwood,

CEO of the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association. “Especially

now, after months of COVID-19 and its impact on our

economy, we need to know that there is a positive future

once the pandemic subsides.”

Sullivan County is dependent on tourism, with 20.2 percent

of all labor income generated by visitors. Tourism also

contributes significantly to the county’s sales tax base, adding

$36 million to support local government initiatives, saving

the local homeowner $2,407 in taxes annually.

TOWN & SCHOOL BOARD UPDATES

MANOR INK | DEC. 2020 | 11

Residence at 15 Brown St. condemned


TOWN BOARD MEETING OF NOV 5

Public Hearing: A public hearing was

opened on the 2020 Town Budget, but

because no members of the public had

comments, the hearing was closed.

Minutes: The minutes of the previous

meeting were unanimously approved.

Correspondence: The county Chamber

of Commerce sent a proposed photo from

Roscoe to be included in an upcoming publication.

Additional photos may be considered.

Bethel Woods is offering a mile-long

drive called “Peace, Love & Lights.” The

Manor’s Chamber of Commerce announced

that shops will remain open until 9 p.m. on

Fridays through the holidays.

Old Business

The town received an approval from

DEC to use ultraviolet light to disinfect the

Manor Sewer Treatment Plant. The Roscoe

Plant will not require dechlorination and

should be completed by Nov. 2022, if

funding is acquired. The board discussed

the relocation of the helicopter landing site

with members of the Roscoe Rockland Fire

Dept. Only a 40 x 40-foot parcel is required.

Two possible sites were suggested,

one being a lot directly across from the

current pad site.

Resolution Required: The following

resolution was passed by the board.

n Close out the Roscoe Sewer Treatment

Plant Upgrade Project #5348-02, pay all

final invoices to contractors and move to

long-term financing with EFC.

New Business

The question of what to do about shortterm

rentals countywide is under discussion.

The county wants uniform guidelines.

The Misner Agency appeal over water

use charges due to broken toilet pipe will

require additional proof and photos showing

that water did not go into the sewer.

Resolutions Required: The following

resolutions were passed by the board.

n The 2020 Budget, with a cap of 1.45

percent.

n Budget modifications of $6,000 and

$4,000 were passed.

n Approval of refund of $1,683.68 for

water not run through the sewer to Roscoe

Rockland Fire Dept.

n Unpaid water and sewer rents and

penalties in Livingston Manor and Roscoe

will be turned over to the Sullivan County

Legislature to be levied upon the 2021

Town of Rockland Tax Roll.

n Purchase of butterfly valve for $8,489

for the Manor Sewer Treatment Plant.

n A list of four parcels to be re-levied

for mowing, trimming, snow removal and

salting for a total of $860.00

Department Heads: Ted Hartling,

Highway Superintendent: Two trucks in

disrepair need replacing.

Resolution Required: Approval was

given to purchase two trucks for approximately

$80,000, money currently in the

budget. The two old trucks will be sold at

auction.

Approval of Bills: The bills on Abstract

#21 were approved.

Public comment: In an answer to a question,

Supervisor Rob Eggleton stated no

election results are expected until Nov. 12

or 13.

Details of all dollar amounts can be

found on the website at townofrocklandny.com

under the minutes of Nov. 5.

TOWN BOARD MEETING OF NOV 19

Minutes: The minutes of the previous

meeting were unanimously accepted.

Correspondence: Sullivan County

guide to COVID-19 was received. The

Concerned Citizens for Rural Preservation

sent information on the Climate Leadership

& Community Protection Act of 2019

concerning data on wind and solar projects

in New York.

Snow & Ice Watch begins Nov. 13.

24-hour emergency calls can be taken by

the county’s Maplewood, NY facility at

807-0295.

Old Business

Locating the Roscoe Fire Dept. helicopter

landing pad on a site opposite its

current location was discussed. The RFD

stated they would respond at a later date.


resolutions were required and passed.

n Accept an agreement between the

county and the Town of Rockland of up

to $20,000 to assist with disposal of the

unsafe building at 60 Main Street.

n Correct the misprint of the Budget Officers’

Salary to read $3,840.

WINTER HAZARDS The county’s Snow &

Ice Watch is now available to take emergency

weather alerts at 807-0295. Manor Ink photo

New Business

The Manor Senior Housing Program

reimbursement is $3,020.


resolutions were required and passed by

the board.

n Budget modification to the general

fund.

n Retain Cooper & Arias as town auditor.

n Sponsor Manor Ink for another year in

the amount of $250.

n Reappoint Chris Tuleweit to the Fire

Advisory Board for 2021.

n Approve a variance for Betty Smith

to place a mobile home on a parcel on

DeBruce Rd.

n Accept budget modifications to the

Roscoe sewer fund.

n Authorize Supervisor Eggleton to contact

Prestige Productions to set up virtual

meetings, at no more than $500.

n For family medical leave, the employee

must first use sick time and vacation

time concurrent until exhausted.

Department Heads: Ted Hartling: A motion

was needed to purchase a new truck

for $27,936 from Robert Green. Glenn Gabbard,

Code Enforcement: 15 Brown Street

has been condemned. Residents were

given extra days to vacate and receive

emergency housing. Dollar General has

ongoing issues and has been closed four

times in five years.

Public Comment: Paul Stock addressed

the Roscoe helicopter pad issue, stating

that he spoke to Nancy Buck, county treasurer,

and others who said the county has

no interest in the property being considered.

Supervisor Eggleton said he was told

otherwise by county legislators. Eggleton

suggested a meeting to discuss the proposed

alternate parcel.

Approval of Bills: The bills on abstract

#22 of 2020 were approved.

Details of all dollar amounts can be

found on the town website at townofrocklandny.com

under the minutes of

Nov 19.

Single LMCS COVID-19 case sends 37 into two-week quarantine


SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF NOV. 18

Correspondence: A thank you was received

from the Todd-Favata family.

Superintendent’s Update

Dry hydrants: A request was received

on Oct. 27, from the Livingston Manor

Fire Department to place a “dry hydrant”

system on school property. This would

allow year-round access to water for fire

protection to the school and surrounding

community. Superintendent John Evans

sent approval to move the project forward.

Winter Sports Update: Due to COVID-19

guidelines, the date to begin winter sports

has been changed from Nov. 30 to early January,

if they occur at all. Alternative after

school activities are being explored.

COVID School Closing: One student

recently tested positive for the virus, so the

school building was closed for deep cleaning

on Nov. 12. In addition, 33 students,

two teachers, one bus attendant and one

bus driver were quarantined for 14 days in

accordance with state and local guidelines.

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-5 for Sept. 2020, in the

amount of $250,806.58.

n CSE-CPSE and Section 504 recommendations.

n Non-working electronic items be approved

for disposal and/or recycling.

The Consent Agenda was approved as

presented. All action items can be found at

lmcs.12.ny.us under minutes of Nov 18.


State cuts NYSEG’s

3-year rate increase

Metzger, groups fought the hike

Albany, NY – The NY State Public Service Commission

has released an order regarding the proposed NYSEG rate

hike which significantly reduces the increase from nearly

25 percent over three years to less than six percent (two percent

in the first year, 1.95 percent in the second year, and

1.99 percent in the third year).

The decision to modify the Joint Proposal agreed to by

the rate case parties this summer came after significant criticism

by State Sen. Jen Metzger in comments to the Commission

and in the press about raising rates during a pandemic

and an economic downturn that have left

many residents struggling to pay their bills.

The PSC order further requires that NYSEG

provide emergency relief in the form of

$100 in bill credits to vulnerable residential

and small business customers.

Jen Metzger

In addition to fighting the enormous rate

hike alongside the Public Utility Law Project

and AARP, Sen. Metzger has also been advocating for

increased investment to improve grid reliability, especially

in Sullivan County, where power outages are frequent.

Over the summer, Metzger organized a meeting with NY-

SEG’s CEO and staff that included local and county government

officials from Sullivan County to impress on NYSEG

the need to accelerate investments to replace antiquated circuits

and beef up vegetation management along the power

lines. Metzger also pressed the PSC for changes to the Joint

Proposal to better take into account those needs. The PSC’s

POWERING DOWN Agreeing that New York State Electric &

Gas’ 27-percent rate boost over three years was excessive, the

PSC reduced it to just under six percent. wikimedia photo

order nearly doubles spending by NYSEG on vegetation

management, increasing expenditures from $30 million to

$57 million, which will reduce the incidence of power outages

from downed trees and limbs. Moreover, the rate plan

includes $1.6 billion for grid upgrades, including replacing

the notorious Yulan circuit in Sullivan County that has been

responsible for hundreds of power disruptions each year,

according to local officials.

“I’ve been fighting this proposed rate increase since last

year, and while I do not feel any rate increase is justified

during this challenging time, the PSC has reduced the

increase to a fraction of what the parties to this rate case

agreed to, and this is a much-welcomed improvement,”

said Sen. Metzger.”

BEAUTI-

FICATION

A Sullivan

Renaissance

intern tends a

plot of decorative

grasses

during one of

the organization’s

projects.

Provided photo

Renaissance to hold forum

By Art Steinhauer | Manor Ink Mentor

Liberty, NY – Sullivan Renaissance, the

county’s community development program,

has announced a Winter Symposium to kick

off its 2021 activities. Titled “Get Ready to

Renaissance,” the on-line event will provide

information to potential grantees, volunteers

and interns on the organization’s beautification,

business assistance, health and neighborhood

renewal programs. The event will

be held on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Sandra Gerry was the person who saw

potential in Sullivan County some 20 years

ago. She and her husband Alan, under the

auspices of the Gerry Foundation, formed

Sullivan Renaissance initially to provide

grants to local organizations and to recruit

volunteers to foster beautification efforts in

the county. They also were the benefactors

for the creation of Bethel Woods and they

have supported many other local philanthropic

endeavors.

Denise Frangipane, executor director of

Sullivan Renaissance, said that the efforts

of the organization have expanded over

the years to now include, in addition to ongoing

beautification work, the building of

walking/biking trails, community gardens

and neighborhood clean-up and revitalization

efforts. “The recent focus of the SR has

been to help to create healthy and active

communities,” Frangipane said. “‘Active’

doesn’t just mean to be physically active,

but to be engaged with community.”

Frangipane said she was very pleased

with the work of SR this year, despite the

pandemic. “I was very happy that despite

the challenges we had a very robust grant

and interns program, with communities

staying very involved with our efforts.” She

noted that communities are able to see more

COUNTY RENEWAL 2021

Sullivan Renaissance’s “Get Ready

to Renaissance” online symposium

will take place on Wednesday, Jan.

13, opening at 5:30 p.m. and starting

at 6 p.m. To register, go to bit.ly/

G2R2021. For additional information,

call 292-2445.

than just the obvious or visible efforts of

beautification. “They see the value in terms

of making us all feel proud of our area and

helping out local businesses by attracting

people to visit and live here,” she said.

Manor Ink reporter Nicole Davis was

an intern with SR this past summer. She

worked with a team weekday mornings,

taking care of hanging baskets and boxes

in the Manor, as well as a few gardens. Davis

said the team, composed of volunteers,

including two former interns Nate DePaul

and Jesse Ouimet, was very enthusiastic.

She was instructed in gardening and other

tasks. “I had a blast, talked to many people,

got to drive a super-fun utility vehicle and

learned time management and organizational

skills to be sure I didn’t run out of

water in the tanks,” Davis said.

Sullivan Renaissance programs include

summer internships for 18 to 20 high school

students and college scholarships for local

volunteers, as well as the municipal grant

awards. There are also ways to get involved

through Sullivan Renaissance volunteer

programs. Those programs and more will

be discussed during the online event on

Jan. 13.

Reporter Michael McKinley contributed to

this article.

Neversink, NY – Foster Supply Hospitality,

owner of the Arnold House,

the DeBruce Inn and other small hotels

and restaurants in Sullivan County, has

announced the purchase of the former

New Age Health Spa in this hamlet. The

property consists of 230 acres, eight buildings

with 36 guest rooms, and an indoor

pool and yoga studio. This will be FSH’s

largest property. The former spa closed

almost ten years ago. Sims and Kirsten

Foster, owners of FSH, plan to extensively

renovate and rebrand the property with

an expected re-opening within a year.

NEWS


FSH adds another resort to its properties

Café 43

Catskill Art Society

Catskill Mountainkeeper

Dette Flies

Jeff Bank

Johnny’s Barber Shop

Life Repurposed

LM Free Library

Main Street Farm

Morgan Outdoors

Peck’s Market

R&M Farm Real Estate

NEWER AGE The former New Age Health Spa

on Rte. 55 in Neversink has been acquired by

Foster Supply Hospitality. Provided photo

LOOK FOR IT IN THESE VENUES IN LIVINGSTON MANOR

Sunoco Country Store

The Owl Citgo

Upstream Wines & Liquors

Viv’s Cuts & Creations

Wildlife Gift Shop

Willow and Brown


INSIDER

The ABCs of discrimination: a primer

TIME MANAGEMENT

By Jamie Hopkins

By Grace Heintz

Discrimination comes in many shapes

and forms. Discrimination is unjust treatment

of a person or group on the basis of

race, religion, ethnic group, sex, sexual

orientation or gender identity.

It is important to be aware of these

forms of discrimination in order to be

respectful to the sensitivities and needs

MY VIEW

of others. One of the better

known forms of discrimination

is systemic racism. This

includes systems and procedures that

have been put in place to create disadvantages

for persons of color. Although

society has become more accepting of

minority groups since the civil rights

movement, when segregation was ruled

unconstitutional, many people still face

unfair treatment simply due to their race.

In addition to racism, there are other

forms of discrimination that people may

not be aware of. White supremacy is a

form of discrimination in which white

people believe they and their culture are

superior to all other races. Xenophobia is

hostility and biased judgement towards

foreigners, or people from different

cultures. Homophobia is the hostility

towards those who are not exclusively

FIGHTING DISCRIMINATION At Livingston Manor’s Black Lives Matter march in June,

townspeople came together to protest racial injustice. Manor Ink photo

attracted to the opposite gender. Transphobia

is the hostility and discrimination

towards people who do not identify as

the gender they were assigned at birth.

Ableism is discrimination in favor of

able-bodied people. Sexism is stereotyping,

most frequently toward women, on

the basis of sex.

The advantage of being aware of these

forms of discrimination is the ability to

identify potential biases that may exist

and to assist those who may be the

recipients of discriminatory actions to

defend themselves.

Teenagers have to juggle school, family,

friends, work and sleep every day. This is

difficult because there are only a certain

amount of hours in a day to use.

Many high school students feel that

adults overlook the many responsibilities

that they have. The largest part of a

teenager’s day is consumed by school.

Afterwards they have to study and do

homework for all their classes. Additionally,

most teens take on the challenge of a

LESSONS

LEARNED

part-time job. If they cannot

manage their time well

enough while working, they

will most likely fall behind

in school because they have no time to do

their homework.

Once school obligations are taken care

of, most kids have no time left for a social

life. After school, teens want to go hang

out with their friends and relax. Unfortunately,

this is difficult to accomplish

due to lack of free time. Friends are one

of the most important aspects of teenage

life; however, spending every available

minute with friends can be a problem too.

Although friends have fun when they are

together, they often are not being productive.

As a senior, this is a lesson that I have

learned the hard way.

My advice to other students starts with

INSIDER


NEWS STORIES BY MANOR’S JOURNALISM CLASS

balancing the amount of time spent with

friends. Try to set up specific days to hang

out with friends, then use other days to

finish school work and spend time with

family. After school, when everyone is at

home, try to eat dinner together so family

members can ask one another how their

day went. It is important to bond with

family.

READ ONLINE

These stories are

reprinted from the

November issue

of LMCS’s Manor

Monthy. To see the

complete issue,

visit https://bit.

ly/35VwzIN.

When in

school, strive to

pay attention in

class. It is OK to

take a minute to

relax, but you

must get back

on task so that

you can finish

assignments on

time. If an academic

prep is in your schedule, it should

be used to do homework or to catch up on

classwork that was missed.

My final piece of advice is to avoid filling

your schedule with too many study

halls. Don’t wait to take elective classes because

they will expose you to new topics.

High school students’ many responsibilities

may seem unmanageable, but success

really is based on time management.

THE SCOOP ON LMCS SPORTS

By Cameron Hoag

As all the world knows, 2020 has been

a hectic year. No one was prepared for

the challenges created by COVID-19,

especially school systems that not only

had to shut down, but also had to cancel

sports. Decisions regarding when athletics

for the Mid-Hudson region will be

able to start again are made by the Section

IX Athletic Council. There may be

some hope for competition in the future

as Section IX has permitted sports to

start with restrictions that comply with

COVID-19 guidelines.

BINGING ON ‘BADLANDS’

By Louis Conklin

Got the quarantine blues and need a

good show to check out over the weekend

with friends? “Into the Badlands”

on Netflix is a great show to watch and

is rated TV-14. It also has an 83-percent

approval rating on Rotten

Tomatoes, a recommendation

resource for entertainment.

Already in its third season, the show

REVIEW

makes viewers think about what life

would be like in a post-apocalyptic

world. In “Badlands,” some people,

called the “dark-eyed ones,” have power

called “the gift” which gives them super

The Section IX website hosts a variety

of frequently asked questions regarding

the virus from coaches, athletes, parents

and school districts, while also providing

the most up-to-date answers. Answers

of interest include the fact that instead of

the sports season commencing with the

usual fall athletics, it started with winter

sports on Nov. 30. This included sports

like basketball and cheerleading. Pending

significant spikes of COVID-19 cases,

fall sports may start Feb. 22. A start date

for spring sports is still in the works, but

April 19 is being discussed.

Any sport requires participants to

compete in close proximity and includes

fighting abilities. The series follows an

assassin named Sunny who lives in a

world ruled by leaders called Barons.

Sunny travels across the Badlands hoping

to find someone to heal his son from

a deadly fever. The show also follows

different groups of Barons and describes

the wars they fight. There is also the

Widow, a woman who plans to stop the

other Barons from taking control of all

the lands available.

Young children should get parental

permission before watching “Badlands”

because of intense violence and vulgar

language. Teens who enjoy action and

drama will most likely enjoy this series.

For the acting, special effects and stunts,

fans who sit together. Consequently,

when sports programs do return, they

will have restrictions. According to the

Section IX website, “Spectators will have

to be limited to two people per athlete

and must maintain a six-foot distance

and have a mask.”

Now that winter sports have begun,

participants “must abide by the NYS-

DOH guidance on high risk sports.”

State Regionals and championships may

still occur this year, but they must be

authorized, and any decisions are subject

to change. Because current requirements

may be modified at any time, visit sectionixathletics.org

for updates.

ON TARGET Daniel Wu as Sunny in “Into

the Badlands.” AMC.com photo

“Badlands” receives ten out of ten stars.

The magical parts of the show keep it

interesting, and the struggles faced by

the fictional characters are relatable to

real life struggles of teenagers.

MEET HOMER!

Homer is a three-yearold

donkey. He helps at

the farm by providing

companionship and

protection to our goats

and sheep. If a predator

comes sniffing around,

Homer will charge it

or scare it off with a

very loud bray. Donkeys

form strong bonds with

other animals, including

humans.

Fine Upstate Vacation Rentals

Since 2007

redcottageinc.com

16 | DEC. 2020 | MANOR INK FEATURES

A century of changes

NOW &

THEN

THERE WEREN’T MANY motor cars in the Town of Rockland when the photo for the postcard, above left, was taken, circa 1910. Today, cars abound in Livingston Manor, especially

on weekends. That’s not the only thing that has changed, as can be seen in these views of Main Street looking west. The Hotel Sherwood, on the right in the postcard,

and the Manor House, across the street, are long gone; the Hoos Fire House is now the hamlet’s library; and the street is thankfully no longer a dirt road. Manor Ink photos

When the KKK was local

Rockland, too, had its share of bigots in white

FEATURES


By Edward Lundquist | Manor Ink

The Ku Klux Klan has had a long, deeprooted

history in the north country. In the

early 1920s, along with a time of prosperity,

there was also a time of bigotry. The

original KKK had sort of dissolved, but it

was reborn anew after the release of the

book The Clansman: A Historical Romance

of the Ku Klux Klan, a novel published in

1905, or, more popularly, the incredibly

offensive movie based on it, “Birth of a

Nation” from 1915. It was thus used as a

recruiting tool, an agent for hate speech

and an object to incite violence.

The original KKK rose up immediately

after the end of the Civil War as a way to

maintain white supremacy and make sure

that African Americans would not receive

political, social or civil rights. Klan members

blatantly used torture and murder,

including lynching, and also coerced politicians

into favoring white supremacy. To

appeal to common people, they fabricated

ways black people acted overly aggressive,

especially toward white women.

The 1920s version of the KKK focused

not only on black people, but Jews, Catholics,

immigrants and occasionally criminals.

Klansmen basically just used their

membership in the group to target anyone

they even slightly didn’t like. They called

themselves the definition of Americanism,

patriotic, religious fundamentalists and

Caucasians. One Klan leader’s explanation

of the requirements to join the group

was as follows: “Catholics bar themselves

by their allegiance to the pope; the Jews

because they do not believe in the birth of

Christ, and Negroes because of their color.

We want only Caucasians ... We are organized

to maintain American principles,

and are opposed only to lawlessness and

lack of Americanism.”

Especially here in the north, the KKK

ran into some issues with their overzealous

persecutions. At the time, one of their

main targets were Irish Catholic immigrants

who had come to America to find

work. The irony was that these immigrants

were greatly helping the economy

and contributing to the betterment of the

region, working on building railroads and

houses. By persecuting them, the Klansmen

were effectively stepping on their

own toes.

In Livingston Manor, the Klan was an

intimidating presence, and there was

an embarrassing amount of activity in

support of the group among the citizens.

Meetings were often held on Round Top

mountain (it can be seen behind Rock

WHITES ONLY Female Ku Klux

Klan members march through

Binghamton, NY, in the 1920s,

above, while a Klansman poses

with his family during a 1925

KKK rally in Ithaca, NY.

NPR.org photo, above; History Center

of Tompkins County photo, left

Avenue), which was treeless at the time. It

was common to hear explosions of dynamite

and see burning crosses at the top of

the hill at exactly midnight, surrounded by

figures clad in white.

The Klan even felt so comfortable in the

Manor, they would hold occasional parades.

Sharkley McAdam, one of the better

known Klan leaders in town, would ride

bareback on his horse, clad in the robes of

the KKK, holding a rifle. These monotone

parades of people were typical happenings,

and they were often joined by citizens

along the route.

Thank You!

Livingston Manor’s hometown paper is

now also available online at NewsAtomic:

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

LIVINGSTON MANOR FREE LIBRARY | 92 MAIN STREET, LIVINGSTON MANOR


HOLIDAYS

LM lights the night

Chamber plans holiday festivities

By Diana Fredenburg | Manor Ink Mentor

For the past 47 years, Livingston Manor’s George and

Shirley Fulton have hosted a holiday tree lighting ceremony

at Water Wheel Junction on Main Street in the hamlet,

with refreshments and music provided by area churches

and civic groups. In this, their 48th year, they are ready to

pass the torch.

Stepping in for the Fultons in 2020 will be the Livingston

Manor Chamber of Commerce with the help of the

Manor’s Rotary Club and other volunteers. This year’s

celebration will be called “Light the Night.”

Boughs and Bows Tree Farm on Beaverkill Road has

generously donated a 15-foot spruce tree for the event. It

has been decorated and is ready for the official lighting

ceremony on Dec. 4.

SEASONAL

HAPPENINGS

n Shop Local Day

Thursday, Dec. 3,

stores in town will

remain open late for

local shoppers

n Tree Lighting

Friday, Dec., 4,

6:30-7:30 p.m.,

after Santa makes

his stops. The tree

will remain lit until

Jan. 6.

n Take-out Breakfast

with Santa

Saturday, Dec. 7,

8-11 a.m., LMCS

Cafeteria

Santa Claus is coming to town

In observance of COVID-19 guidelines, children won’t

visit with Santa in his sleigh this year. Instead, each family

will gather at a designated “Santa Stop.” All along Main

Street, small trees will be decorated by business owners.

On the night of the tree lighting these will become Santa

Stops. Santa will come down Main Street in a fire truck,

stopping at each Santa Stop and visiting with individual

families while maintaining social distancing protocols.

Children will also be able to mail their letters to Santa in

a special North Pole mailbox at the hamlet’s post office.

Lighting the night

In an effort to make the community festive and bright,

Manor residents have formed a Facebook group called

BRIGHT BOUGHS The holiday season in Livingston Manor

starts with the hamlet’s annual tree lighting, kicking off a

month-long “Light the Night” celebration. LMCC photo

“2020 Light the Night – Livingston Manor.” Their objective

is to “bring holiday cheer during an otherwise dark

year.” To help achieve that goal, the Chamber of Commerce

has lights available for businesses and homeowners

who want them. Volunteers from the Fire Dept. are ready

to string the lights on homes and storefronts all over town.

Homeowners would be responsible for taking them down

at the end of the season.

Visit the “Light the Night” Facebook page for more

information about other holiday doings at facebook.

com/2020.Light.The.Night.Livingston.Manor.

Now showing

Matt Harle

Exhibit runs through December 19

Upcoming

Annual Members Show

Opening December 12; exhibit through December 26

Visit catskillartsociety.org for more information

By Michelle Adams-Thomas | Manor Ink

ight about now, parents are usually starting

to plan for the holiday season. This

year, though, will be different because

of the coronavirus pandemic, and many

families will be staying home rather than

traveling to visit relatives. One thing won’t

be different, however – moms and dads will still need to

come up with gifts for their kids. That can be a daunting

task, even under the best of circumstances. No worries –

Manor Ink can help!

As we do every year, we’ve compiled a list of 2020’s

most wanted gifts, at least according to a random sampling

of students at LMCS. These items can be found at

most retailers and online; prices are variable.

KID FAVORITES

L.O.L Surprise! Fashion Doll | $26.95

These dolls make your little one feel like a fashionista.

They come with some cool clothes and

1

more than a little joy in as many as 20 surprises.

Wilwolfer Play Teepee | $49.95

These indoor teepees are fun for kids to lie

2 around in – and comfy to sleep in, too! With a

closable flap and a handy carrying case.

Star Belly Dream Lites | $29.99

These toys are night lights that can be taken

3 to bed. They project stars on the ceiling, and

make your child feel ready to go to sleep.

PRE-TEEN FAVORITES

Snap Polaroid Camera | $115.99

This camera will brighten up your child’s day because

4 it actually prints photos after they’re taken. It

includes cool color modes and is super portable.

Apple Watch Series 6 | $399

This watch might be expensive, but it’s worth it.

5 It can do all sorts of things in addition to telling

time – like reading out appointments or setting timers,

calling and texting, and it even has GPS tracking.

Van Shoes | $50-100

Van Shoes have been around forever, and each

6 year they get more popular. Starting at $50, Vans

come in every color imaginable, and can be custom designed.

TEEN FAVORITES

Xbox Series X | $995

Just released in November, Xbox’s newest

7 console is very popular. It comes with new

upgrades – and lots of hype!

PlayStation 5 | $400

Also out in November was the latest PlayStation.

It’s very popular too. It might be less

8

money than the Xbox, but is it’s just as much fun.

Nike Gift Card | $25-500

This year Nike has been ranked the most

popular clothing brand, and you can never go

wrong with a gift card – especially when buying for a

fashion-conscious teenager.

4

1

HOLIDAYS

5


Stuck on gifts for the kids? The Ink knows what they want

9

6

9

2

3

8

7


INK WELL OF HAPPINESS

Feeling the pain with McCafferty

Tyler

Roberts

WORD SEARCH

By Zachary Dertinger | Manor Ink

Find this month’s hidden words, selected just for the holiday season

Angel

Bells

Blizzard

Boots

Candle

Candy Cane

Cards

Decorations

Display

Eggnog

Elves

Evergreen

Family

Fatherchristmas

Feast

Garland

Gifts

Gingerbread

Holiday

Holly

Hope

Cookies

Joyful

McCafferty is an indie punk/rock band

from Medina, Ohio. They were formed

in 2011 as a solo act with Nick Hartkop

playing and writing acoustic songs. As

McCafferty, he released

an assortment of EPs

from 2011 to 2013 such as

“Moms+Dads,” “Japan”

and “It’s a Bad Idea.”

With additional musicians,

McCafferty signed

its first record deal in

2013 with Monkey Boy

Records. That year, the band recorded

its first full-length EP titled “Beachboy.”

In 2016 they worked on a project titled

“Beachboy 2,” but abandoned it when

MUSIC

REVIEW

Hartkop left to pursue a

career in special education.

McCafferty got back

together in late 2016, due to

fan fundraising for a new EP, and issued

their first full album. In 2018, they signed

with Triple Crown Records and released

a second album titled “Yarn.” Their most

recent recording is “The House with No

Doorbell,” but sadly, they broke up and

now Mccafferty is once again a solo effort

by Harkop.

“The House with

No Doorbell” starts

with an acoustic jam

by the same title.

With lyrics like “Destroy

yourself and

lose your friends”

and “You have no

The House with

No Doorbell

McCafferty

Triple Crown 2018

HHHHH

HHHHH

idea how many people this will hurt,”

I think the singer is trying to explain to

someone the consequences of their actions,

or perhaps explaining that the singer

knows what they are going through.

The song has a mystical guitar melody

and a marching snare drum rhythm.

My favorite song is “Gasoline.” It’s

an emotional punk rock tune that talks

about ways that sadness and even death

affect people’s relationships. The song

almost made me feel the pain in singer

Hartkop’s voice as he harmonizes with

the pumping undertone of the guitar and

drums.

The album contains a nice mix of

acoustic and electric jams, and every

song overflows with emotion. I love the

underground community surrounding

the band, but the album can be repetitive.

I would rate it a 7 out of 10 stars.

MARKET-MADE The employees at Peck’s Market in Livingston Manor are dedicated to their

jobs, and some even use family recipes to supply the baked goods selection. Manor Ink photo

A homemade holiday treat

The holidays are about sharing happy

times with your family and simply

enjoying each other’s company. This

year the COVID-19 pandemic is making

it more difficult to

do so, but that does not

mean you still can’t enjoy

the day with the people

around you. One thing

that makes the holidays

memorable is making

something with your

family. So try a new recipe

to make that happen.

Homemade items can be the best

Michelle

Adams-

Thomas

things in the world. They come from

the heart and can mean something very

special.

Many people know that Peck’s Markets

JENNY’S PUMPKIN

CRUNCH CAKE

Ingredients

1 29 oz. can pumpkin

1 12 oz. can evaporated milk

1 cup sugar

3 large eggs

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 package yellow cake mix

1 cup chopped nuts (any variety)

1 cup melted butter

Directions

1. Mix together the first 5 ingredients

and put them into a 9 x 13-inch pan lined

with wax paper.

2. Sprinkle cake mix over the wet ingredients.

Top with a cup of chopped nuts.

are employee-owned. The staff at Peck’s

here in the Manor are not only dedicated

to their jobs, but some even contribute

their own family recipes so shoppers can

buy homemade products. They’ve kindly

shared one of those treasured recipes

with the Ink so readers can make memories

of their own.

RECIPE Debbie McAdams and her

colleague Jenny Marshall

have worked for the company for many

years, and each brings her talent and love

of food to the community every day by

baking a variety of delicious items for

patrons to enjoy at home. For a special

treat, you can either make Jenny’s Pumpkin

Crunch Cake from the recipe below,

or buy it at Peck’s Market. It has just the

right flavors for the holiday season.

Foodtasia.com photo

3. Melt butter and pour evenly over the

nuts.

4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60 minutes.

Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes.

5. Turn the pan upside down on a

cookie sheet. Pull off the waxed paper.

Cool before serving.

INK WELL OF HAPPINESS

Learn about Christmas with ‘Community’

By Osei Helper and

Nadine Osborne | Manor Ink

Christmas is on its way! That means

presents, candy, Christmas movies and

specials. Usually, you’d see a review here

for a classic or new movie, but I thought

we would shake it up with an assessment

of a special episode from a show I’ve

already reviewed (in the August issue

of Manor Ink). It’s the eleventh episode

from the second season of “Community,”

a story called “Abed’s Uncontrollable

Christmas.”

Osei’s comments: The main impressive

feat of this episode is that it is

MEDIA

PROBE

REVIEW

The Mystery of Life is an

excellent book. It’s about

how life started, or at

least following the Urey-

Miller hypothesis that life

started with the natural

production of RNA from

elements, and grew into

different species over time,

developing organelles and cells, then

small organisms. It presents the information

in an incredibly engaging, visually

appealing way.

Starting at the very beginning with the

Big Bang theory, he moves on to describe

how the planet became teeming with life,

coming from and still built upon quintillions

of lifeless atoms, numbers beyond

our ability to comprehend. The book puts

everything in scale

really well. It is

rich in detail, both

artistically and

PAGE TURNERS

informationally,

and is enjoyable

even for young readers. I read The Mystery

of Life when I was maybe seven years old,

and I understood all of it. Taking my college

biology course

this year, the book

sprang back into

my mind because I

remembered everything

I was being

taught.

Biology and the

beginnings of life are

fascinating topics,

and for the most part, when you learn

about them, they seem hard to grasp and

complex. This book presents them well,

maybe on par with a college textbook, just


Shutten’s ‘Mystery of Life’ is better than a college prep course

Edward

Lundquist

entirely stop-motion. Its

director was Duke Johnson.

The artful detail was a clear

throw-back to older Christmas

specials such as “The

Year Without a Santa Claus” and “Santa

Claus is Coming to Town.” The direction

and art showed great originality, but you

could feel the same jolly animation style

of those previous movies.

What makes this episode special is

how it builds up to the main issue plaguing

the central character, Abed Nadir. I

won’t spoil the ending, but throughout

the whole episode, Abed imagines his

friends as clay-mation figures going on

an adventure to discover the meaning of

Christmas. Like I said, it has a nostalgic

feeling that I couldn’t quite figure out at

the time, but later realized to be it’s influence

of old animated Christmas movies.

This episode has the usual charm, wit

and feels of an average “Community”

episode, but instead of having any side

JOLLY THROW-BACK “Abed’s Uncontrollable

Christmas,” a holiday episode of

the Netflix show “Community,” features

animated versions of the program’s human

cast. netflix.com photo

stories, we have the full focus of the

episode on Abed, truly showcasing the

show’s ability to tackle serious subjects

with lighthearted comedy and heartwarming

conclusions.

Nadine’s comments: The “Community”

Christmas special is a certified

classic, and I’m not just saying that for

alliteration’s sake. It exemplifies many

of the show’s most prominent strengths,

leaning into absurdity and delving into

refreshing concepts that are not typically

explored within the sitcom genre.

Perhaps this episode’s boldest decision

is – you guessed it – the stop-motion

animation. While

“Community” has its

fair share of animated

episodes, this one in

particular takes its

creative premise and

runs with it.

It is abundantly

clear that Duke Johnson

didn’t make this

Abed’s

Uncontrolable

Christmas

“Community”

Netflix 2015

Rated PG-13

HHHHH

HHHHH

directorial decision purely for the sake

of it. This episode is much more than

a simple gimmick. It is artful. I could

honestly watch it with the TV muted and

still thoroughly enjoy myself. Each shot

beautifully displays the careful thought

and precision that went into constructing

the characters, molding their different

facial expressions, and ultimately injecting

life into something as simplistic as a

figurine. The winter wonderland that the

characters explore feels vaguely reminiscent

of scenery in “The Nightmare Before

Christmas.” Despite being completely

fabricated, it feels incredibly immersive

and gives us a much clearer picture of

the inner workings of Abed’s mind.

While this episode is nowhere near

perfect, its gorgeous visuals are enough

to keep audiences entertained. Seriously,

put down this paper and go watch it. It is

well worth your time.

Both: As we come back together and

conclude this review, we’ve agreed on

the same rating of nine stars out of ten.

This episode was amazing, as most

episodes of “Community” are. The usual

charm and wit, with an extra stylistic

bonus, give this episode a nice high score

in our books!

The Mystery

of Life: How

Nothing Became

Everything

Jan Paul Schutten

HHHHH

Science/nonfiction

Age 10 and up

Open world winner

By Jenson Skalda | Manor Ink

GAME

REVIEW

“Genshin Impact” is a free game that

has been hyped a lot by streamers and an

aggressive advertising campaign. It’s akin

to “Breath of the Wild” in its exploration.

They both have an open world with the

ability to climb almost any structure, limited

only by your stamina. One

of the game’s best features

is its nearly universal crossplatform

access. It is available

on PC, PS4, Android and IOS devices; PS5

and Nintendo switch versions are also in

the making.

“Genshin Impact” has an expansive

map, a classic to the open-world genre.

With most open-world

games, the expanse often

has nothing to fill in the

gaps. “Genshin” doesn’t

have this problem; its

world is packed full of

little towns, each with

quests to complete.

Genshin

Impact

miHoYo 2020

Rated PEGI-12

HHHHH

HHHHH

There are also camps of monsters to fight.

Teleport points allow you to easily move

around the map.

Now, “Genshin” has one controversial

aspect – it’s a “gacha” game, where you

can spend in-game “tokens” to get good

items, characters, etc. This is something

highly debated in games because it can be

akin to gambling. I feel that gacha is OK, as

long as there is an in-game way to obtain

the currency used for it. Parents should

monitor how much money children spend.

“Genshin Impact” has done a great job

with its open world design, making every

area of the map fun to traverse. All in all, it

rates 8 stars out of 10.

aimed a bit more at kids (which is not to

say adults shouldn’t read this). Every kid,

every parent, everyone should read this

book. You can learn a lot.

With its fair humor, stockpile of excellent

information, good art and overall

understandability, I rate this book five out

of five stars.

To parents: There’s nothing in this book

you don’t want your kids to see. It’s super

informative, yet still captivating enough

to hold attention, so there’s no reason

not to get them this book for the holidays

(wink, wink).

22 | DEC. 2020 | MANOR INK SPORTS

Mountain Top Landscaping

• Excavation

• Drainage Systems

• Land Clearing

• Retaining Walls

• Stone Work

• Tree & Shrub Planting

• Hydroseeding

Jacob Hathaway

Phone: 845-807-6484

Fully Insured

MAIN

STREET

FARM

MARKET

CAFE

OPEN

DAILY

PACESETTER Running a course of his own choosing, Manor Ink’s Zachary Dertinger

competed in this year’s Cadence & Craft Half-Marathon and 5K race, coming

in second in the shorter distance competition. Participants this year had to run

separately due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Art Steinhauer photos

Manor race virtually unstoppable

Our reporter takes 2nd in 5K

By Art Steinhauer | Manor Ink Mentor

Livingston Manor, NY – The third annual Livingston

Manor Half-Marathon and 5K Race was a “do-it-yourself”

event this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Registered

participants were required to run their own courses during

a period from Oct. 17 to Nov. 7, and self-report their results.

Despite the unique nature of this year’s event, 108 runners

paid the entry fee and registered to compete. A total of 70

runners reported their results – 41 for the half-marathon and

29 for the 5K distance.

Russell Kiely claimed first place in the half-marathon,

clocking in at 1:27:30. Sarah Dellett was the first female

finisher with a time of 1:32.15. In the 5K, Daniel Lawler reported

a time of 20:59 for first place, followed by Manor Ink

reporter Zachary Dertinger with a time of 23:10. Here’s how

his run went.

Zach started at the Manor Fire Dept., turned onto Old Rte.

17, went around teachers flats and back to Main Street. He

found it hard to do his best with no one to run against – he

missed the competition – but it was nice of the Ink staff to

come out of their meeting at CAS to cheer his finish.

A celebration for the participants was held at the Manor’s

Catskill Brewery, the principal race sponsor, on a chilly Nov.

14. Race shirts and raffle prizes were handed out, as well as

a mug or two of beer for the adults. Thanks to the generosity

of a donor impressed with the event, $1,000 was contributed

to the DeBruce Environmental Camp.

Sean and Tara Powers of Cadence & Craft, the race organizers,

were happy with the turnout, despite the unusual

circumstances. “We were pleased to offer this community

HALF-MARATHON & 5K RACE RESULTS

n 5K | Men

RUNNER AGE FROM TIME

1. Daniel Lawler 42 Monticello 20:59

2. Zachary Dertinger 16 Livingston Manor 23:10

3. Josh Pratt 38 Larchmont, NY 23:57

n 5K | Women


1. Tara Powers 37 Livingston Manor 28:01

2. Jennifer Powers 30 Monroe, NY 28:09

3. Susan Southerton 55 Honesdale, PA 30:26

n Half Marathon | Men


1. Russell Kiely 33 Brooklyn, NY 1:27:30

2. James Gann 50 Narrowsburg 1:29:39

3. Patrick Schornstaedt 23 Trenton, NJ 1:40:37

n Half Marathon | Women


1. Sarah Dellett 25 Ithaca, NY 1:32:15

2. Audrey Madison 32 Astoria, NY 1:40:12

3. Marissa Weiss 29 Tillson, NY 1:58:00

event, and while there couldn’t be the usual high fives at the

finish line, it was nice of the sponsors to support the event

again and to see everyone challenge themselves,” Sean said.

The Powers expect their next event will be a trail run at

Upward Brewing in the spring.

Reporter Zachary Dertinger contributed to this article.

CALENDAR MANOR INK | DEC. 2020 | 23

DECEMBER

ONGOING

Livingston Manor

Free Library

Reopened with health precautions

from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

weekdays, 10 a.m.-noon

Saturdays. Visit the library’s

website for additional information.

Storytime for December is

11:15-11:45 a.m. Tuesdays and

10:30-11:15 a.m. Saturdays;

92 Main St., Livingston Manor.

livingstonmanorlibrary.org

Ethelbert B. Crawford

Public Library

Now providing 20-minute slots

for browsing the collections; also

offering public computer use for

30 minutes per day by appointment.

Call 794-4660, ext. 4 or 5

to schedule an appointment; 479

Broadway, Monticello; ebcpl.org

Liberty Public Library

Call 292-6070 to schedule an

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.

appointment to use the library for

30-minute periods for computers,

copying/faxing, browsing/checkout,

or for a tour. Patrons can

also 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 concerts have been cancelled

for the remainder of the 2020

season. Please check website for

other events and updates. 200

Hurd Rd., Bethel. bethelwoodscenter.org

Delaware Valley Arts

Alliance

Galleries reopened with safety

requirements; 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

Now reopened with safety

requirements; also offering art

activities for children online;

48 Main St., Livingston Manor.

catskillartsociety.org

Peace, Love & Lights

Daily in December; drive-through

holiday light show, 5-10 p.m.;

Sullivan 180 Walkthrough

Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m., drivethrough

begins at 6 p.m. Bethel

Woods Center for the Arts, 200


DECEMBER 1-31

Holiday Tribute to Motown

With the Shadows of the Sixties

Tuesday, Dec. 1; 2-3:30 p.m.; Villa

Roma Resort, 356 Villa Roma Rd.,

Callicoon. villaroma.com

Virtual Liberty

Tree Lighting

Tuesday, Dec. 1; 6:30-7 p.m.;

Art Exhibit

Work by Matt Harle

Through Saturday, Dec. 19;

Catskill Art Society, 48 Main St.,

Livingston Manor. catskillartsociety.org

facebook.com/Town-of-Liberty-

Parks-and-Recreation

Book Launch

With local author Gray Basnight

Thursday, Dec. 3; 3:30-5 p.m.;

Liberty Public Library, 189 North

Main St., Liberty. libertypubliclibrary.org

Trivia Night

With Adam Owens

Thursday, Dec. 3; 6:30-8 p.m.; The

Arnold House, 839 Shandelee Rd.

Livingston Manor. facebook.com/

adamowenstrivia

Fly Tyed Earrings as Gifts

Saturday, Dec. 5; 10:30 a.m.-1

p.m.; Catskill Fly Fishing Center

& Museum, 1031 Old Rte. 17,

Livingston Manor. cffcm.com

Holiday Home Decorating

Contest

Saturday to Friday, Dec. 12-18;

sponsored by Town of Liberty

Parks & Recreation. Details at

facebook.com/Town-of-Liberty-

Parks-and-Recreation

Gingerbread House

Contest

Saturday to Friday, Dec. 12-18;

sponsored by Town of Liberty

Parks & Recreation. Take a photo

of your house and email it to

j.guara@townofliberty.org

Celebrating the Holidays

at the Playhouse

Saturday, Dec. 12; 7-8 p.m.;

Forestburgh Playhouse, 39

Forestburgh Rd., Forestburgh.

REELING IN

GIFTS THAT

ARE TRULY FLY

The Catskill Fly

Fishing Center

& Museum

is featuring a

special Holiday

Auction,

Monday, Dec.

7, through

Saturday, Dec.

12, featuring collectible rods, reels and books, as well as

local gift certificates and other fine goods. Viewing and

bidding can be done online on cffcm.com. A great way to

check off the angler on your list while helping to support

the CFFCM in the bargain!

fbplayhouse.org/holiday2020

Wine Tasting

Saturday, Dec. 12; 2-5 p.m.;

Upstream Wine and Spirits, 34

Main St., Livingston Manor.

upstreamwine.com

Dickens on the Delaware

in Callicoon

Saturday, Dec. 12; noon-6 p.m.;

Upper and Lower Main St., Callicoon.

events.callicoon@gmail.

com

Drive-thru Photo with

Santa

Sunday, Dec. 13; 11 a.m.;

Grahamsville Fairgrounds, Rte.

55, Grahamsville. facebook.com/

events/705968836972327

Concert: An Evening with

Soul Inscribed

Friday, Dec. 18; 6-8 p.m.; Bethel

Woods Center for the Arts, 200


Dry Fly Tying Techniques

for Beginners

Saturday, Dec. 19; 10 a.m.-1

p.m.; Catskill Fly Fishing Center

& Museum, 1031 Old Rte. 17,

Livingston Manor. cffcm.com

Holiday Jamboree

Saturday, Dec. 19; 6 p.m.; Main

Street Stage, LaPolt Park, 119

N. Main St., Liberty; sponsored

by Town of Liberty Parks &

Recreation. Details at facebook.

com/Town-of-Liberty-Parks-and-

Recreation

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

845-439-5430

Your “Local” Source

for Your Bucket List

Alaskan

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

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(914) 799-5075 Mobile

cedwardsrealty@gmail.com

(845) 439-3620 Office

On the web: LivManor.com

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7 MAIN STREET , LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY 12758


‘You have to be

crazy and angry to

be a good artist.’

By Luca Larizzati | Manor Ink

Photojournalism is not an easy

profession. Les Stone will tell

you that. “You can’t go into a

story blind, deaf and dumb”

he’d say. “You have to look at the windows,

look at the light, see how the light

passes through it.”

Stone is a photojournalist from New

York State. He wanted to be a photographer

since he was a little boy.

“Every time I opened a magazine,

I saw those pictures and

said to myself, ‘That’s who I

want to be. That’s where I want to go’.”

Photography became an outlet for Les.

“I was an extremely angry kid growing

up. It helped me blow off steam.”

As Les got older he started to travel

to the places he saw in those magazines,

and he took on dangerous stories, “I

could risk my life. I could risk everything

doing this, but at least I know I’d

be doing something. You have to be

ARTIST

PROFILE

Les Stone

Photojournalist

CAPTURING

THE MOMENT

Amputees, survivors

of the massive

earthquake that hit

Haiti in 2010,

work out on a

soccer field.

Les Stone photos

FEATURES

Picturing metaphor and irony

A photojournalist risks all for the shot

crazy and angry to be a good artist.”

Les once took on a story about “Cancer

Alley,” an 80-mile stretch of land in

Louisiana lined by hundreds of chemical

plants. On the day he was capturing

photos of the many poisoned rivers in

the area, he found there were children

playing in them. The adults thought

Les was taking pictures of the children

and assumed he was a predator. “They

could have welcomed me with open

arms instead they welcomed me with a

gun barrel in my face.”

Sadly, true photojournalism is becoming

an obsolete profession. With digital

cameras and cell phones, virtually

anyone can take pictures for the media.

Newspapers and magazines don’t need

dedicated photojournalists.

Recently, while speaking with a

woman who was trying to raise money

for a nonprofit organization, Stone

tried to explain why it would be better

to hire a professional, even on a limited

budget. “A professional photographer,

GOING THERE A young Cuban ball player and friend pose for a portrait.

who employs metaphor and irony and

every other emotion you can think of

in his photos, will bring in a $5,000

donation, while a fundraiser who takes

his or her own pictures – photos that

look like crap – will inspire donations

POWERFUL

IMAGES

Over several

decades, photojournalist

Les Stone has

chronicled conflicts

in Iraq, Afghanistan,

Israel, Kosovo,

Liberia, Cambodia

and Haiti, among

other war zones.

He has won several

World Press photo

awards and Picture

of the Year awards.

See other examples

of his photo work

at lesstone.com.

of five dollars. Which would you rather

have?”

Since the decline in the demand for

his work, Les now sells real estate full

time. But photography is still his passion.

Manor Ink December 2020

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