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DECEMBER 2021
HOLIDAY DOINGS
Manor set to make merry PAGES 18, 19
FREE
Sullivan County’s award-winning, youth-driven, community-supported newspaper
New Broadacre plan
still draws local ire
By Marge Feuerstein | Manor Ink Mentor
SEASON’S GREETINGS!
MI
MANOR INK
NEW ROAD BOSS
Incoming highway
head talks about
plans for the dept.
PAGE 5
WALKABOUTS
College launches
a system of trails
for community use
PAGE 3
MANORINK.ORG
Planning board wants 23 answers
Livingston Manor, NY – The saga of
the proposed development initially called
Broadacre Farm continues.
In August 2020, as the county was in the
grips of the COVID-19 pandemic, Manor
Ink reported that a “unique housing development”
combining private homes and
a working farm was being planned for the
117-acre former farm property at the top of
Hoag Rd. in the hamlet.
In September, the paper interviewed two
of the principals behind the project, Joseph
Satto and Stefan Martinovic. Satto owns
Fresh Air Realty, located in Accord, while
Martinovic described himself as a real estate
developer based in Westchester. The
plan they were preparing for the Hoag Rd.
property would be a blend of private homes
and a working farm that would preserve
the rural nature of the Manor.
Originally envisioned as three clusters of
nine houses, with much of the rest of the
property given over to a small farm and
community grounds, the project would also
include a retention lake to contain runoff
that frequently cascades down the hillside
Continued on pg. 7
RURAL LANDSCAPE Developers of the Broadacre – now Livingston – Farm property off Hoag Rd., located northwest of downtown Livingston
Manor, have submitted a revamped plan for their proposed housing, camping and farm community. Manor Ink photo
2 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK
VOLUME 11, ISSUE 100
IN THIS ISSUE
LOCAL NEWS
Livingston Farm submits new plan ....................1, 7
SUNY Sullivan opens public trails .......................3
Polling place mix-up ................................4
Liberty Theater to open in 2022 ........................4
New highway superintendent .........................5
Parksville Arts Center ................................9
Town and school board reports .......................11
LMFL Halloween Party ..............................13
LMCS Journalism Class Insider ........................15
FEATURES
Catskill Night Skies ................................17
Holiday doings ............................... 18, 19
Inkwell of Happiness ........................... 20, 21
Sports: .........................................22
EXTRAS
Inklings Calendar .................................23
100 issues, and we’re only getting started
Why, howdy there Inklings! Thank you so much for
picking up this copy of Manor Ink, which happens to be our
100th issue since starting the paper back in 2012 (I was one
of early staff members, though I was a bit younger then).
You can read about our beginnings in the
“wrap” – that’s what we call it in the news
business – that, well, wraps around the
December issue of the Ink. You’ll also find
comments about the paper from prominent
readers, and updates on former staff members.
There’s also an excerpt from one of
Osei Helper
our recent award-winning stories by former
Editor-in-Chief
Associate Editor Demi Budd.
In the paper proper, you’ll find a story on page 3 about
seven inviting hiking paths that SUNY Sullivan has recently
opened to the public. Pay them a visit before the snow flies!
On page 5, two new
IF YOU’RE A student in
grades 7-12 and are interested
in partcipating in
Manor Ink, let us know at
oseihelper@gmail.com.
We meet in the Art Room
at LMCS every Wednesday
from 2:50 to 4 p.m.
staffers, Mya Ross and Allison
Froehlich, talked with
the hamlet’s new highway
superintendent about his
plans for the department
and about preparations for
road conditions during the
upcoming winter months.
I myself penned a story
FROM THE EDITOR
GIFTS GALORE Read about the holiday events, like the Farmhouse
Project Makers Market at the Arnold House, above, that are
planned for the Yuletide season, page 19. Art Steinhauer photo
on page 14 about Chromebook hassles at Livingston Manor
Central School, and after talking with the administration,
how they were quickly corrected. That’s the power of the
press!
Lastly, we at Manor Ink wish all of our readers a happy
and safe holiday season, and a wonderful and pandemicfree
New Year! Now, dig in and enjoy the 100th edition of
the Ink. Many more to come!
GOATS AND GIFTS AT THE FARM!
Join us in the barn on
Saturday, Dec. 11
or Saturday, Dec. 18,
from 11am-2pm,
where we will be selling
unique holiday gift
items, and getting cozy
with the goats. Wool pillows,
upcycled wool mittens,
yarn, antique finds,
hats. A variety of handmade
and hand-picked
treasures. Cash, check,
or venmo accepted.
Defining terms
To the Publisher:
We have enjoyed recent editions
and are especially impressed with the
October 2021 Manor Ink.
MANOR INK STAFF
Osei Helper
Editor-in-Chief
Stacey Tromblee
Library Director
Amy Hines
Business Manager, Mentor
The article “Picking pronouns,
redefining gender” [by staff reporters
Nadine Osborne and Michelle
Adams-Thomas] provides some of
the best information on the subject we
Art Steinhauer
Sales Manager, Mentor
David Dann
Art & Photo, Production Editor
Michelle Adams-Thomas, Haley Fletcher,
Allison Froehlich, Emily Froehlich, Gracie
Ivory, Cassie LaNoce, Mya Ross,
Mackenzie Ward
Manor Ink Reporters
LETTER
have read or heard.
Compliments to all involved for
providing much needed clarification.
Kathy and Roland Hoeper
Livingston Manor
Kelly Buchta, Diana Fredenburg,
Marge Feuerstein, Audrey
Garro, Taylor Jaffe, Les
Mattis, Daniel Moreton
Mentors
Carolyn Bivins, Barbara Gref,
Jamie Helper, Peggy Johansen
Founders
Manor Ink, a program of the Livingston Manor Free Library, is published monthly. Reach us at divadnnad@yahoo.com .
Our mailing address is Manor Ink, 92 Main St., Livingston Manor, NY 12758. Letters and story suggestions welcome.
MAIN
STREET
FARM
MARKET
CAFE
OPEN
DAILY
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. 2021 |
3
SUNY Sullivan Trails
A network of seven pathways around the campus
Hiking trails
College Rd.
Leroy Rd.
LUZON LAKE
Light
bulb loop
SUNY Sullivan
Campus
Farm trail
Solar trail
Solar Farm
500 feet
N
TRAIL BLAZING SUNY students Tofowa Pyle,
Green Building Maintenance and Management,
left, and Ryan Grodin, Liberal Arts and
Science, install trail makers on the SUNY Sullivan
Solar trail. Provided photo
SUNY Sullivan’s new trail network open to all
Paths take hikers to a variety of destinations
By Manor Ink Staff
Loch Sheldrake, NY – There are many
paths to follow in an institution of higher
learning, but not all are academic. At
SUNY Sullivan, there is a new network of
paths, trails really, that offer users a ramble
through nature. Not just your ordinary hiking
trails, either – these seven connected
footpaths are so much more.
“We consider our campus a living laboratory,”
explained Larry Reeger, professor of
Green Studies at the college in this hamlet.
The school now invites the community to
enjoy seven trails that are part of the connected
system. “The trails are a living laboratory
that people can experience, enjoy
and learn from,” Reeger said.
Each trail has a theme based on what a
hiker can expect to see. “When you take
the ‘solar stroll,’ which goes down around
the campus solar farm, you’re going to see
an array of solar panels. And in the near
future, we’re going to have signage that
says, ‘Our school uses this electricity from
the sun,’ because roughly 75 percent of the
electricity that we use year round comes
from that solar array.’”
Tofowa Pyle is a work-study student who
is responsible for rolling out the trail signage.
“The woodland trail that goes into the
woods and the solar trail are fully marked
out,” he said. “A third trail goes through
Hope Farm, an organic farm and community
garden.” The farm is a fully-functioning
agricultural operation that serves both the
school and a nearby nonprofit.
“New Hope Community has been with
us for more than six years with Hope
Farm,” Pyle said. “Also part of the trail system,
the farm produces over 10,000 pounds
of organic fruits and vegetables here at
SUNY Sullivan. Most of that food goes back
to New Hope Community, which provides
AGRICULTURE, TOO Hope Farm is just one of
the destinations of SUNY Sullivan’s new trail
system. Cassie LaNoce photo
residential services to people with intellectual
and other disabilities.”
Another trail is the light bulb loop which
is blacktop and is a running, walking and
‘The trails are a living
laboratory that people can
experience, enjoy and learn from.’
Larry Reeger
SUNY Sullivan professor
biking trail. An athletics trail goes from the
parking lot all the way down to a basketball
and volleyball court. Pyle emphasizes that
a connector links all the trails together.
The college campus is open seven days a
week for the community to enjoy the trails
for hiking, bird-watching, running and
snowshoeing. With Sullivan 180, SUNY Sullivan
hopes to encourage wellness among
its students and the larger community with
the addition of the trail system. Maps and
information about the trail system will soon
be available at trailkeeper.org.
Reporter Cassie LaNoce conducted the interviews
for this story.
4 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK
NEWS
Data snafu sends some
Manor voters to Roscoe
HORSING AROUND One of the popular
attractions at Rotary’s Family Fun Day are
the Belgian work horses. Manor Ink photo
Ice Carnival date set
Livingston Manor, NY – The hamlet’s
Rotary Club plans to host the 63rd
annual Ice Carnival on Sunday, Jan. 23.
Located at Rotary Park at the end of
Pleasant St., the carnival is slated once
again to include skating exhibitions,
races, games, Babich’s famous tube
steaks, hot cocoa and more. Hopefully
returning after a two-year hiatus – the
2020 and 2021 carnivals were cancelled
due to uncooperative weather and
COVID-19 precautions – the day-long
event will be open free of charge to
everyone, with a backup snow date of
the following Sunday, Jan. 30.
Rotary is also planning to hold a
Family Fun Day at Rotary Park, as it
did last March. The date for this year’s
event is tentatively scheduled for Saturday,
Feb. 12.
Vax clinics for kids
Liberty, NY – In an effort to continue
quickly and effectively rolling out
COVID-19 vaccines, Sullivan County
Public Health Services has scheduled a
second series of clinics for families who
have had their 5-to-11-year-old children
inoculated with a first dose of the FDAapproved
Pfizer COVID vaccine.
“I encourage parents to have their children
get the second shot,” said Public
Health Director Nancy McGraw. Clinics
are currently scheduled as follows:
n Friday, Dec. 10: Monticello Firehouse,
23 Richardson Ave., Monticello;
2-7:30 p.m.
n Tuesday, Dec. 14: Delaware Youth
Center, 8 Creamery Rd., Callicoon;
2-6 p.m.
n Wednesday, Dec. 15: Sullivan
County Public Health Services, 50 Community
Lane, Liberty; 2-6 p.m.
Pre-register by calling 845-807-0925.
A parent or guardian of the child must
be present at the clinic.
MISPLACED POLLS Some of the hamlet’s
voters were told they needed to cast their ballots
elsewhere on Nov. 2. Manor Ink file photo
By Manor Ink Staff
Liberty, NY – Anyone recently driving
down Main Street in this village at night
will delight at seeing the bright lights of the
new marquee of the Liberty Theater. The
marquee, which is modeled after the grand
awnings prevalent during the golden age
of Hollywood, was installed last month by
Kassis Superior Signs of Syracuse, NY, and
By Kelly Buchta | Manor Ink Mentor
is the first step in the restoration of the theater
building being undertaken by Bruce
Davidson, owner of the building and president
of Pestech Exterminating in Ferndale.
Conceived before the outbreak of the
pandemic, but delayed like many developments
around the county, the project will
include restoration of the theater as well
as space for new storefronts and offices.
Davidson hopes to have work on the new
Town of Rockland, NY – Some residents
of Livingston Manor had difficulty casting
their votes in the recent election held on
Nov. 2.
A computer data glitch involving erroneous
data input resulted in voters who live
on Old Rte. 17, and who typically vote at
the Livingston Manor Fire Dept., having to
travel to the Roscoe Community Center to
cast their ballots. Those residents were surprised
when they were told at the firehouse
that they had to go to a different polling station
to vote. Though the computer error did
not affect all Manorites, it did cause logistical
difficulties and general confusion for
some and for poll workers.
The Sullivan County Board of Elections
was notified immediately of the error. They
investigated the incident and took measures
to correct it.
“The board took care of every voter and
ensured that every vote counted,” said Lori
Benjamin, commissioner of the Sullivan
County Board of Election. “Between April
and May, all registered voters receive in
the mail an oversized postcard that details
where they are to vote and the dates when
they can vote.” It is not known if cards were
sent to some Manor voters with incorrect
location information.
MARQUEE
ON MAIN
Workers put
the finishing
touches on the
new marquee
for the Liberty
Theater building,
now under
restoration. The
owner hopes
to have the
venue open by
mid-2023.
Art Steinhauer
photo
Former theater building is a work in progress
stores and offices completed in a year, with
the theater itself opening in 2023.
Originally a single-screen movie house
in the grand tradition, the Liberty Theater
was sectioned into three separate smaller
screens and became a “multi-plex” in late
1980s in an effort to remain financially viable
in a period when home video was becoming
popular. The theater has been vacant
since it closed in the 1990s.
NEWS
MANOR INK | DEC. 2021 |
5
NEW SUPER Roger Decker, with 23 years of
experience as a heavy equipment operator,
was elected Town of Rockland Highway Superintendent
on Nov. 2. Provided photo
VIETNAMESE EATERY
NUMBER THREE Bà & Me opened mid-October in the back suite of 67 Main Street, serving
up a modern take on traditional Vietnamese food to-go. Nhi Mundy, the restaurant’s
proprietor, said, “All the food we prepare is fresh, healthy, and always made with love. We
care about what we put into it.” Mundy, a marketing art director, came to Sullivan County
after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. In an effort to connect to the community, she opened the
first Bà & Me in Callicoon in 2014. More locations followed in Mountaindale and Honesdale,
PA. Self taught, Mundy credits working with her mother in her restaurant growing up
as her culinary inspiration. Bà & Me is open from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to
5 p.m. on Sundays, with expanded hours coming next spring. Daniel Moreton photo
Decker ready to rock (salt) and roll
With big machines come big responsibilities
By Allison Froehlich
and Mya Ross | Manor Ink
Livingston Manor, NY – The race for
Town of Rockland Highway Superintendent
was hotly contested this year. When
the dust settled after the Nov. 2 election,
Roger Decker emerged as the clear winner.
Several weeks later, Manor Ink interviewed
the newly elected superintendent.
Roger Decker has worked as a heavy
equipment operator for the Town of Rockland
for 23 years, and has been a resident
for 25. His main duties as an operator included
digging ditches, plowing snow,
driving trucks and operating all manner
of large machines. When he steps into his
new position as highway superintendent,
his tasks will be very different, with many
changes for him.
Decker will now be responsible for helping
to manage the Highway Department’s
work crew, making sure they do their jobs
properly, ordering sand and salt for winter
conditions, making sure bills are paid,
ensuring town trucks are in good working
condition and coordinating flood emergency
responses. In addition, Decker will
need to go out early on winter mornings to
check roads to make sure school buses and
community members can get to school and
work safely.
Working in the office will be a learning
experience for the new superintendent, because
he hasn’t performed many of these
tasks before. Those include managing a
large team of employees. The Town of
Rockland Highway Department has 14 employees,
consisting of 12 crew members, a
secretary and Decker himself.
Decker said that the pandemic did not
cause a shortage of employees, although
‘I can´t do the job without my guys.
I depend on them a lot.’
Roger Decker
Town of Highland Highway Supt. elect
New owners for Morgan Outdoors
Livingston Manor, NY – Changes are
coming to the hamlet’s Morgan Outdoors
store, operated by Lisa Lyons. Lyons, who
has owned the shop for 17 years, is expanding
her horizons to focus on connecting
youth, seniors and those with barriers to
access to nature and outdoor recreation.
During the past years, Morgan Outdoors
has been not only a retail source for all
manner of clothing, footwear, books, and
hiking and camping equipment, but has
stocked an impressive selection of reading
and games for youngsters to help build
their appreciation of the outdoors.
The store itself is not going away – one
of the new owners has deep local roots and
runs Old Souls, a shop in Cold Spring, NY.
The new store, at the same location, will
continue to be an outdoor retailer in this
corner of the Catskill Park.
Lyons is looking forward to Morgan Outdoors’
17th holiday and winter season this
year and part of next, before her new location
opens in Hurleyville. She’s been a resident
for 28 years in this “small town with a
big backyard,” and has provided employment
experience and training to youngsters
for many years.
it did cause a few days of closure for the
department. When he does have to hire additional
workers, Decker is guided by their
experience. “It’s all about what they are applying
for and how they would do the job,”
he said.
The superintendent may make some small
changes in the department, but not many.
His main goal is to keep the town’s roads
safe while getting the department’s various
tasks done efficiently. He is also big on the
safety of his employees. “I look forward to
being able to serve the public and serve my
guys,” Decker said. “I can´t do the job without
my guys. I depend on them a lot.”
In winter, the highway crew takes care
of about 120 miles of road, not including
main roads. They are responsible for plowing
snow, salting and sanding, and fixing
washed out roads after floods. During the
summer, Decker indicated that they fix
winter road damage, mow the shoulders of
roads and fix broken equipment.
Roger Decker said that though he is a bit
nervous about becoming the new highway
superintendent, he also very excited about
the job. He takes the office officially on Jan. 1.
FAVORITE SHOP Morgan Outdoors will
continue to be an outdoor retailer, but will
transition to new ownership following the
holidays. Manor Ink file photo
6 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK NEWS
Should shops sell weed on Main St.?
Livingston Manor, NY – The Town of
Rockland Board of Trustees will hold public
hearing on Thursday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m., in
the hamlet’s town hall to discuss whether
to opt out of NY State’s law allowing the establishment
of cannabis dispensaries. Also
under consideration is the possible on-site
consumption of the drug in those facilities,
assuming they are approved.
When the state legalized the drug in
March, it gave virtually all the regulatory
powers to itself, but also allowed New
York’s towns and cities to opt out of licensing
shops that sell or facilitate the consumption
of the product. A town can do one or
both. Rockland has until Dec. 31 to make
a decision on the matter, but the town can
opt out for the present and join in at some
future time, should opinions change. The
reverse scenario is not possible.
To learn more about the state’s cannabis
use regulations, its manufacturing standards
and the protections mandated for the
health and safety of New Yorkers, visit the
state’s Cannabis Control Board’s web page
at cannabis.ny.gov.
PARTNER SPONSORS
Apple Pond Farm • Charter Communications, Inc.
Community Reporting Alliance and the Ottaway Foundation
Lazare and Charlotte Kaplan Foundation
Livingston Manor Central School
Barbara Martinsons • Donald Newhouse
Sullivan County Youth Services Bureau • Taylor + Ace
ADVOCATES
CAS Arts Center • Foster Supply Hospitality
Red Cottage/Country House Realty
Rolling V Bus Corp. • Upstream Wine & Spirits
CHAMPIONS
Chatral A’dze • Sue Barnett & Jeff Christensen • Carolyn Bivins
Rose Brown & Lester Mattis • John & Tina Carro
Catskill Abstract Co., Inc. • Catskill Brewery • Catskills Food Hub
Sarah Cherny • David Dann • Dette Flies • Vic Diescher
Carole Edwards Realty • George & Shirley Fulton
Linda Hartley & Bruce Cobb • Amy Hines & Dave Forshay
Aileen Gunther • Inside the Blue Line • Marilyn Kocher
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
Don & Vinny Simkin • Beth Sosin • Art Steinhauer
Town of Rockland • Barbara Trelstad • Upward Brewing Co.
Remembering Bud Wertheim (and the Giant Trout)
Manor Ink thrives on community support! Please consider becoming a sponsor at one of
the following levels: Partner, $1,000 and above; Advocate, $500; or Champion, $250. We
also welcome and are grateful for contributions of any amount. Manor Ink is a program of
the Livingston Manor Free Library, a nonprofit 501(c)3. Please send your gift or pledge to
Manor Ink, 92 Main St., Livingston Manor, NY 12758. Thank you!
Doable plan or
‘free-for-all’ ?
Continued from pg. 1
during spring snow melts and heavy summer
rains. Because the developers planned
to construct the project’s homes off site,
they contended that there would be relatively
little noise or disruption to affect residents
adjacent to the property.
Those residents, however, disagreed.
Original plan sparked concerns
Immediately after the Broadacre Farm
article appeared, the project’s neighbors
began to voice their concerns. Zintis
Muiznieks, a home owner on High St., said
he and his neighbors on Hoag Rd. had never
been contacted by the developers regarding
the plan. Two other neighbors, Helen
Williams and Nia Augello, also voiced their
concerns about drainage, potential flooding,
increased traffic and poor road access.
When Manor Ink relayed these concerns
to Broadacre’s Joseph Satto, he said he then
contacted property owners on High St. and
Hoag Rd. to “ allay their fears” and to clarify
the proposed plans. High St. was subsequently
removed as a road to be connected
to the development.
That change required a reworking of
the original development configuration.
To facilitate other changes, hydrologist
Paul Rubin of HydroQuest Environmental
Consulting in Tivoli, NY, was retained to
advise the developers on storm water design.
Randall Ardent of Greener Prospects
in Brunswick, ME, a conservation consulting
firm, was added to help “substantially
improve the perilous runoff conditions the
site experiences.” With all the reworking of
the site plan that was required, the project
going forward, according to Sacco, would
be “moving at its own pace.”
A revamped vision
After more than a year, the new plan
was presented. The design for a reconfigured
Broadacre Farm, now called Livingston
Farm, was unwrapped at the Town of
Rockland Planning Board meeting on Nov.
3. The new plan calls for only 16 singlefamily
houses and two detached duplexes,
made up of a mix of for-sale or for-rent
units. New to the design is a complex of
what the builders refer to as their “hospitality
component,” including a ten-room
inn, a ten-room guest house and 21 cabins.
In addition, they envision having a 60-seat
restaurant which they refer to as a “3-meal,
Current Livingston Farm proposal
Including 20 residences, an inn, cabins, a restaurant, camping and a farm on 117 acres
High St.
Hoag Rd.
River St.
2
1. Residential homes area
2. Agricultural easements
WILLOWEMOC CREEK
ASSESSING DETAILS Members of the Rockland
Planning Board review the new plan for
the proposed Livingston Farm development.
Michelle Adams-Thomas photo
farm-to-table” dining facility.
The hospitality component would be located
on the eastern side of the property,
with an entirely new road coming off Creamery
Rd. as the entry into the development.
The High St. connection has been eliminated
entirely, and Hoag Rd. is envisioned as an
egress only. Still included is the small farm.
After the presentation of the new proposal,
the board heard from Patrick Hins,
an engineer with MHE Engineering in Milford,
PA, who had reviewed the plans for
the board. He had scrutinized the entire
project and had 23 points that he felt needed
to be addressed before the application
could be considered. Those ranged from
things that needed to be changed, modified
2
Creamery Rd.
3. Inn, cabin, camping locations
4. Hiking trail network
1
4
or eliminated, to issues that required submission
to various governmental agencies.
With that number of issues in question, it
seems unlikely the Livingston Farm plan
will be brought back to the planning board
until sometime next year.
Residents voice objections
3
Rendering courtesy of Livingston Farm
Approximate development
boundaries
Present at the Nov. 3 meeting were some
of the proposed project’s neighbors, many
of whom have expressed concerns. They
and others are still doubtful about the effect
Livingston Farm will have on what is
already a difficult flooding situation. They
also have real concerns that the increased
traffic caused by the development will create
problems on Hoag and Creamery roads.
Many are worried that the project could
substantially alter the rural nature of the
community.
“None of the principals has experience
with agricultural projects, and I don’t think
they have a good grasp of the problem,”
Nina Augello said. Because her property
fronts on High St., she is primarily concerned
about increased runoff.
Another neighbor, Joy Oriol, whose family
has owned acreage adjacent to the Livingston
Farm property since 1986, feels
the answer to the question of whether the
hillside is a suitable place to build is an emphatic
no! “If the project isn’t scaled down
dramatically, we should assume the goal is
profits for the developers vs. the community’s
well-being,” she said.
“It’s too much, too fast,” said Jamie Helper
who lives on Creamery Rd. Because she
lives directly down hill from the proposed
3
3
N
NEWS
MANOR INK | DEC. 2021 |
‘If the project isn’t scaled down
dramatically, we should assume the
goal is profits for the developers vs.
the community’s well-being.’
Joy Oriol
Hoag Rd. property owner
7
development and has never been contacted
by the builders, she feels her property is in
“a precarious position.” She fears increased
flooding and possible mud slides.
Zintis Muiznieks has been an outspoken
opponent of the project since its inception.
“We have no faith or trust in [the developers’]
experience to navigate this type of
project. We are in a reactive mode,” he said.
He added that the hamlet has been responsive
to his concerns.
Residents are not alone in their doubts.
Originally retained by the Broadacre team as
a landscape designer, Karin Ursula Edmondson
of Karin Ursula Landscapes, stepped
away from the project several months ago.
Recently, the developers reached out to her
again to “get this across the finish line,” but
she declined to rejoin the project. Regarding
the new version of the development, Edmondson
did not mince words.
“Broadacre is Disneyland – campsites,
farm, restaurant, houses, etc. The planning
process has been Disneyland since its inception.
Constantly changing, trying to fit
an angle, all angles, many angles – a freefor-all,”
she said. “Broadacre aims to turn
Livingston Manor into a suburban homeowners-association
hell. This is how soulkilling
suburbs begin.”
“During an early iteration of the plan, we
invited Karin to consult on a limited basis
with respect to a single aspect of the project
– landscaping,” said developer Joseph Sato
in reply. “She was never part of the Broadacre
team and was not privy to any discussions
regarding the larger project. After a
brief period of time, it became clear that she
lacked the necessary landscaping expertise
and understanding of sustainable development
to assist any further.” Sato added,
“That said, we believe that by implementing
an organic, regenerative farming operation
on what was, for decades, a fallow
and neglected farm, conserving a large
portion of the 117 acres in its natural state
and developing the property with minimal
site disturbance and a net zero carbon footprint,
the project embodies the exact opposite
of what she describes ... We hope that
both guests and residents alike will feel the
same excitement that a child might experience
on their first trip to Disneyland.”
8 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK NEWS
Ink recognized by Sullivan SBA
Callicoon, NY – At a recognition dinner
held by the Sullivan County School
Boards Association on Oct. 27, Manor
Ink was one of numerous nominees who
received the association’s 2020 “Outstanding
Friend to Education” award.
Livingston Manor Central School Superintendent
John Evans, who presented
the citation to the paper’s Editor-in-
Chief Osei Helper, acknowledged the
paper’s contribution to community journalism
and for its role in mentoring student
journalists. Also in attendance were
the Ink’s business manager Amy Hines,
mentor Marge Feuerstein and production
manager David Dann.
OUTSTANDING FRIEND Editor Osei Helper
receives the SBA award from Supt. John Evans.
Manor Ink photo
HIGH ART
FRAMEWORKS
During the renovation
of its building
on Main Street,
the Catskill Art
Society has filled
its second-story
windows with
intriguing collages
assembled from
wood scrap, repurposing
ends as
clever bas reliefs.
Michelle Adams-
Thomas photo
DID YOU KNOW?
Manor Ink is
NY State’s only
youth-driven,
award-winning
print newspaper.
Free every month
in local venues
around town or by
subscription.
MANORINK.COM
NEWS
MANOR INK | DEC. 2021 |
9
Temple to be repurposed
as Parksville Arts Center
Building, long vacant, may reopen in 2022
By Emily Froehlich | Manor Ink
Parksville, NY – Adrian and Todd Perlmutter,
together with some other local
residents, are bringing the former Tefereth
Israel Anshei Synagogue back to life as a
nonprofit community arts center.
They were living in New York City, but
on the weekends they would come up
to their house on Hunter Lake and visit
Parksville. “It was almost like vacationing
in Parksville every weekend,” said Adrian
Perlmutter. Both she and Todd have artistic
backgrounds – Todd as a drummer,
while Adrian is a singer. They have done
many projects together. Todd was the producer
and musical director of the Blue Man
Group for 19 years, and Adrian was hired
to sing on tour for the group, which was
how they met.
The Perlmutters purchased the Parksville
synagogue from Lois Weinstein. According
to Adrian, “Lois’s father took care
of everything for many, many years. Buying
it was a long process – because they
ran into title issues, it took nearly five
years to complete the transaction. Initially,
the couple thought they would turn the
temple into a recording studio. After some
thought, though, they decided it should be
more of a community-oriented building.
So they decided to make it into an arts center
that the local community could come
together and enjoy.
There are several different stories about
when the synagogue was built. Some people
thought that it was erected in 1907, because
there is a painting dated 1907 in the
Parksville post office that includes the synagogue.
Other people think the synagogue
was built in the 1930s, and Weinstein, after
some research, believes it was actually built
in 1930.
The Parksville synagogue was active for
many years, but then became less and less
busy over time. The last event that was held
there was a wedding in 2007. The building
sat vacant until Adrian and Todd Perlmutter
decided to buy it.
The Perlmutters have many plans for
transforming the building into the Parksville
Arts Center. One idea is to include a
mini-movie theater. They also want to have
bands perform there. But the main thing
NEW LIFE The former Tefereth Israel Anshei Synagogue,
recently purchased by Adrian and Todd Perlmutter, right, will
become the Parksville Arts Center. The building is depicted in
a historic painting in the hamlet’s post office.
Art Steinhauer photos, top and lower right; provided photo, top right
they want is for the historic building to
serve as a center for the local community.
The couple said that they also would exhibit
art from local schools and would offer
classes in ceramics and other arts for people
of all ages.
“We would like the whole community
to be involved with ideas and planning,”
said Adrian. Both Perlmutters are very interested
in helping revitalize Parksville’s
Main Street.
Before they can open the arts center,
however, they have many renovations to
make. The couple is working with the Community
Foundation of Orange and Sullivan
Countys to write grants to fund the work.
The building’s electric wiring needs updating
and heating and insulation will need
to be installed so the center can run year
round. In addition to other smaller renovations,
the Perlmutters want to remove
the carpet because there is a beautiful oak
wood floor beneath it; they also want to remove
a drop ceiling to reveal old ceramic
tiles. They hope to offer some programming
next summer.
The new Parksville Art Center is accepting
donations. For more information, visit
their website at parksvilleartcenter.com or
their Facebook page.
10 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK
TWILIGHT HIGHLIGHT
NEWS
New magazine
to feature work
by local artists
DAY’S END The setting sun provides backlighting for dried ragweed in a field along
Wilbur Klein Road in Livingston Manor. Mackenzie Ward photo
By Manor Ink Staff
PROMOTING ART Artist and publisher Robyn
Almquist has launsched ArtKill magazine to
get the word out about local creators.
Art Steinhauer photo
Livingston Manor, NY – There is a new
addition to the Catskill arts scene, as ArtKill
magazine has recently published its first
issue. The brainchild of Robyn Almquist,
interim director and vice president of the
Catskill Arts Society, the magazine will
help to highlight and publicize the works
of local artists.
“While CAS, the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance
and other venues provide excellent
spaces for local artists, I thought we needed
another avenue to feature the many fine and
diverse artists in our area,” Almquist said.
“Artists by nature do not want to push themselves
‘out there.’ They are naturally introverted
and create not to serve their careers,
but because it is what they love to do.”
Almquist admits that the name “ArtKill”
is a play on words, combining “art” with
“Catskill.” But it also serves as a kind of
inside joke, acknowledging how difficult
it can be for artists to achieve commercial
success. “Promoting oneself can be a miserable
process,” she said. “It can turn what
artists are trying to do on its head.” Her
hope is the magazine will help bring recognition
to local artists, as well as promote the
vibrancy of the local arts community.
ArtKill is a free magazine and will initially
be published three times a year – fall,
winter and summer. The next issue will
come out this month and will be available
in most venues around the Manor, including
Jitterbug, Main Street Farm, Life Repurposed,
Upward Brewing Company and the
Livingston Manor Free Library. For more
information, visit artkillcatskill.com.
TIMBERLAND PROPERTIES
PO Box 77 • 62 Stewart Ave.
Roscoe, NY 12776
James Karpowicz
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
(646) 942-8421 CELL
(607) 290-4130 ext. 109 OFFICE
james.karpowicz@timberlandproperties.net
JamesKarpowicz.com
Promote and Protect The Catskills • Join Mountainkeeper Today.
catskillmountainkeeper.org
By Marge Feuerstein | Manor Ink Mentor
TOWN BOARD MEETING OF NOV. 4
Minutes: The minutes of the previous
meeting were unanimously approved.
Correspondence: An email was received
from Lisa Lyons of Morgan Outdoors to
join others on a sunset walk on Round Top
on Nov. 7, to mark the fourth year since
the opening of the trail. A Shared Service
Plan was received from the county showing
IT services and road striping to be
shared with Rockland.
Old Business
Resolutions Required: The following
resolutions were required and were passed
by the board.
n Modify the highway budget as required.
n Adopt the final 2022 budget which has
an increase of .02549 percent, and certify in
triplicate copies of the budget to be delivered
to the county Legislature.
New Business
A meeting with the Open Space Institute
and John Adams regarding the purchase
of parcels that would become part of the
county Rail Trail is planned.
The high water event in the town during
the heavy rains of the last week of October
was discussed. Despite flooding on Pearl
Street, both Supervisor Rob Eggleton and
Highway Superintendent Ted Hartling felt
the work done at the former airport site on
Old Rte. 17 probably lessened the spillover
onto the street.
Resolutions Required: The following
resolutions were required and were passed
by the board.
n Allow Fred Fries to move maps and
documents currently in the town hall basement
to the Hurleyville Historical Society.
n Sign an agreement with Middletown
Humane Society for animal control backup
as needed for the period of Jan. 1 to Dec.
31, 2022.
n Re-levy a list of parcels for the Town
of Rockland for mowing, trimming, snow
removal and salting, as approved by the
town during fiscal year 2021, in the total
amount of $630.
n Submit to the county Legislature the
unpaid sewer rents for Livingston Manor
and Roscoe in the amounts of Livingston
Manor, $41,292, and Roscoe, $32, 455.
Those sewer rents and penalties will be
levied on the 2022 tax roll.
Department Heads: Highway Superintendent
Ted Hartling: Engineering for the
Beaverkill streambank work is moving
ahead; bids are expected in the coming
weeks. A Davis Road resident requested
guard rails be installed after a family member
had an accident, but Hartling feels
there are places where rails would better
serve residents. Town trucks are ready for
winter, but part replacement is becoming a
major concern.
Approval of bills: The bills on Abstract
#21 were approved.
Public Comment: Sheila Schultz asked
about the polling place confusion on election
day and wanted to know whether the
board had decided the cannabis dispensary
issue. Eggleton said he had no answer
yet on either topic. The board has until
Dec. 31 to determine whether the town
will allow the sale of cannabis (see page 6
for a related story).
Details of all dollar amounts can be
TOWN & SCHOOL BOARD UPDATES
found on the website at townofrocklandny.com
under the minutes of Nov. 4.
TOWN BOARD MEETING OF NOV. 18
Minutes: The minutes of the previous
meeting were unanimously accepted.
Correspondence: NYSEG sent winter
safety tips, including the proper venting of
pellet stoves and other recommendations.
Old Business
A discussion of whether to opt out of allowing
cannabis dispensing or using facilities
was once again undertaken. The board
felt before it makes a decision, which must
be made before year’s end, a public hearing
should be held.
Resolutions Required: The following
resolutions were passed by the board.
n Advertise a public hearing on opting
in or out of cannabis establishments to be
held on Dec. 7, at 7 p.m.
n Accept the bid submitted by A&F
Services to redo the courthouse roof for
$53,444. The grant received was $50,000,
so the difference will be made up from the
general fund.
New Business
Help wanted ads for a full-time assessor,
a temporary or part-time bookkeeper
and water-and-sewer operator trainee have
been put in the Sullivan County Democrat.
Resolutions Required: The following
resolutions were passed by the board.
n Appoint Jennifer Grossman as chairperson
of the Planning Board.
n Accept the LM water and sewer budget
modifications.
n Accept the general fund budget modification.
In reviewing the modification
MANOR INK | DEC. 2021 | 11
Rockland to use grant to avoid water & sewer fee hike
By Marge Feuerstein | Manor Ink Mentor
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF NOV. 17
Superintendent’s Update: Superintendent
John Evans was approached several
weeks ago by a group of parents with
questions about the PTSA. Evans explained
that the group is not a school entity,
but said he would reach out to them
while contacting the NYSPTA for guidance.
Consequently, a meeting between
the local PTA and the NYSPTA has been
set up for Dec. 1.
Sullivan 180 Grants: The district
has been awarded two “Empowering a
Healthier Generation” grants of $2,000
each. One is for “Creating an Outdoor
Learning Space,” the other for establishing
a “Sensory Hallway.” The grants were
made possible by Sullivan Renaissance and
Sullivan 180, with funding also from the
Rowley Foundation.
Tenure Appointment: Evans urged that
Kaitlyn Cross, an elementary and special
education teacher, be granted tenure in
those two areas.
Public Comment: Julia Buck addressed
the board regarding the PTSA and said the
Dec. 1 meeting will help provide guidance
on how to establish a functioning and
inclusive PTA. Colette Meadows shared her
concerns about school bullying, harassment
and assault, and expressed concerns
about how these issues are handled. Clarence
Roberts said that when he speaks with
LMCS’s principal, they are able to resolve
problems. He feels he has great rapport
with many staff members who communicate
with him about his children.
Action Items: The following items were
voted on and unanimously passed.
n Granting tenure to Kaitlyn Cross, and
ELLISON TO STEP DOWN
Tom Ellison, who has served as
chairman of the Planning Board for
the Town of Rockland for the past 20
years, will retire at the end of December.
Supervisor Rob Eggleton praised
Ellison for his hard work and attention
to detail. Jennifer Grossman, owner
of the Smoke Joint, will replace Ellison
on the board in January.
necessary to cover the shortfall of sewer
and water revenues, Supt. Rob Eggleton
found there has been a significant disparity
between Roscoe and Livingston Manor
rates of about $11 per thousand. The town
has received American Rescue Plan Act
funds of approximately $187,000 this year
and will likely receive the same amount
next year. Eggleton suggested using the
money from ARPA this year to avoid having
to raise rates. Manor’s rates will have
to be changed to equal Roscoe’s.
n Apply ARPA funds to equalize the
Manor and Roscoe sewer and water budgets.
n Renew a contract with Manor Ink of
$250 for monthly ads.
Details of all dollar amounts can be
found on the website at townofrocklandny.com
under the minutes of Nov. 18.
Parents’ concern over Manor’s PTA prompts meeting with NYSPTA
approval of the minutes of the previous
meeting, treasurer’s reports, revenue status
and budget appropriation reports.
n Warrant #A-7 dated Sept. 1-30, 2021, in
the amount of $654,996.
n CSE-CPSE and Section 504 recommendations
n Approval to dispose of nonworking
scientific balances.
Consent Agenda: The consent agenda
was approved as presented.
All action and consent agenda items can
be found at lmcs.12.ny.us under minutes of
Nov. 17.
12 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK LMFL NEWS
2021 TALLY How many books have you read thus far this
year? There’s still time for a few more! Stacey Tromblee photo
Try ‘shadowdabbling’ up to 20 pages
I’m concerned for your New Year’s Eve. In lieu of setting
yourself up for failure by scrawling drunkenly on
a napkin yet another resolution you already know you
won’t be able to commit to, here’s a simple suggestion for
an achievable goal: read more.
I know it’s cliché, but before you nod off
reading my column, try to unearth some
new books or else revisit some old ones
– don’t we all have bucket list books we
never did read when we were younger?
Desert island books appropriate for the
Stacey long winter ahead? Moby Dick, The Sound
Tromblee and the Fury, Ulysses – these are classics for
a reason, but let’s be real, we don’t have that much time
left. Maybe read a biography about these great authors
instead – guilt be gone.
A particularly bookish friend of mine suggested reading
LIBRARY
NOTES
twenty pages a day, or twenty pages a night,
depending on your work schedule. While
everyone else is busy scrolling through their
phones or watching TV, you’ll be so deep in a
book you’ll forget how annoying the people you live with
really are.
Reading can improve your focus, help you relax, and
help you tune out unnecessary background noise. If nothing
else, you’ll improve your vocabulary and words like
“shadowdabbled,” “moon-blanched” and “Augusttremulous”
will be commonplace at the dinner table. (Thanks,
Faulkner!)
Time to tweak your list in 2022. If signing on for twenty
pages a day is too much, how about rereading a book you
read in your twenties, and see if it still holds up? Grab a
discarded notebook from the bottom of your offspring’s
closet and start a list of books to read in the new year. We
all know our only real competition is ourselves.
Keeping track of what you’ve read will spur you to read
even more. Nothing like looking at a paltry list of books
you read last year to make you wince. Start your new year
right – straighten your disheveled post-holiday self and
get to the library posthaste!
Snowing outside and can’t make it to the library? Check
out our website for just-added links to reading lists by The
New York Times, Book Riot, Good Reads and (mostly) undisheveled
celebrity authors, at livingstonmanorlibrary.
org.
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray
go throw your TV set away
and in its place, you can install
a lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Roald Dahl
Stacey Tromblee is the director of the Livingston Manor Free
Library. Reach her at livcirc@rcls.org.
LIBRARY BOOK REVIEW
Klara and the Sun
By Kazuo Ishiguro
READING A NOVEL by
Kazuro Ishiguro is like
peeling a really big
onion. Layer after layer
is revealed until you can
perhaps see the whole
idea. His stories will possibly bring a tear
to your eye; undoubtedly, they will make
you think.
Klara and the Sun is Ishiguro’s latest
novel and he touches on a few of the
themes covered in previous works. The
plot is set in the relatively near future,
most likely in North America, possibly
after a pandemic. This is a story of artificial
intelligence, and involves an android
produced to be a companion to a child.
In a society where most school-aged
children study alone, taking lessons at
home on their devices or “oblongs,”
Klara, an AF (artificial friend) is one of
many androids waiting to be purchased
to become a companion. She is finally
selected by a highly protective mother
for Josie, a frail, sickly child. What is the
source of her illness? Will she go on to
college or die of the affliction as her older
sister had? What other purpose has her
mother in mind for Klara?
Ishaguro examines many issues in
this latest work. Set in a time and place
where technology has made even “elite”
workers like Josie’s father obsolete,
parents choose to have their children
“lifted,” hoping to ensure their eventual
success. Artificial intelligence as well
as technology of all kinds and medical
advances are examined, and even the
concept of God is plumbed. Klara, who is
powered by solar energy, pictures the sun
as a god-like figure capable of responding
to her pleas.
But the real issue Klara tries to understand
is the meaning of love. What is it?
Does it endure? Is it different between
boy and girl, man and woman, parent
and child, an individual and friends?
Indeed, can it be felt by an artificial intelligence?
Is that what she feels for Josie?
Layer after layer is peeled away as we
read through Klara and the Sun. A work
by Ishaguro is never a simple read, but
always a worthwhile one.
Marge Feuerstein
If you are interested in this book, it is
available at the library. To reserve a copy,
or any other book, please call 439-5440.
The LMFL Book Club holds monthly meetings
at the library.
Library hosts
a Halloween
pizza haunt
By Marge Feuerstein | Manor Ink Mentor
GHOSTLY GATHERING Festooned with spooky decorations, the patio of the Kaatskeller on Main
Street was the site of the LMFL’s Halloween party on Oct. 31. Allison Hemmer Photography photos
Livingston Manor, NY – Despite a
threat of rain, over one hundred children
of all ages turned out for a costume party
held by the Livingston Manor Free Library
on Halloween.
Cancelled last year because of the CO-
VID pandemic, the festive get together was
once again held at the Kaatskeller on Main
Street in the hamlet. The library’s Fundraising
and Outreach Committee organized the
event, with board members Michele Hemmer
and Meagan Edwards coordinating
much of the planning.
Jon Westergreen, owner of Kaatskeller,
generously allowed any kid who wanted to
assemble his or her own individual pizza
to do so. Cookies, donuts, candy and cider
filled out the holiday menu.
Spooky music played as costumed children
tried their skill at biting a donut on a
swinging string, throwing a ball through
a hanging pumpkin or punching through
a paper pumpkin to get a prize. They also
decorated holiday cookies with chocolate
and all kinds of colored icing. Library trustees
and student volunteers from Livingston
Manor Central School had decorated
the restaurant’s outdoor dining area with
lights, balloons and pumpkins, making everything
very seasonally festive.
At around 2:45 p.m., in an effort to beat
any possible rain, the costume judging took
place. Kids from four groups competed for
top honors. Top spot in the one-to-threeyear-old
group went to a child who came as
baby Yoda from the “Star Wars” saga. The
four-to-six winner was a contestant dressed
as a purple-haired troll. Lots of great looking
little movie characters, ghouls, princesses
and pirates were on display. The
competition was stiff, and all entrants received
candy as a reward.
Luckily the rain held off, so everyone
could clean up and then head for home or
for a Halloween parade over at the hamlet’s
firehouse. A great time was had by kids and
volunteers alike, and the library will surely
want to do the party again next year.
NEWS
MANOR INK | DEC. 2021 | 13
ALL HALLOWS EVE
MANOR-FESTATIONS
Here are just a
few of the many
costumed characters
who attended
the Livingston
Manor Free
Library’s annual
Halloween Party at
the Kaatskeller on
Main Street.
Livingston Manor’s hometown paper is
now also available online at NewsAtomic:
info@newsatomic.com • 845-647-9190 • newsatomic.com
14 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK
LMCS FOOD DRIVE
NEWS
Admin repairs Chromebook hiccup
Lost tabs irked LMCS students
By Osei Helper | Manor Ink
GROUP EFFORT Each year Interact holds the “Gobble
Up Cans” food drive for our local food pantry. This year
the National Honor Society also participated, and 1,560
non-perishable food items were collected by the LMCS
students for the pantry. Diana Fredenburg photo
LOGGED OUT Closing school Chromebooks caused students
to lose whatever tabs they had open. When alerted about the
problem, the administration acted to correct it. Provided photo
Livingston Manor, NY – If you’re a Livingston Manor
Central School middle or high school student, you probably
have a good understanding of the one-to-one policy
with the the school’s Chromebooks. To those unaware of
the policy the school has put in place this year, it’s a system
where each student has their own school-assigned
Chromebook to use throughout the school day, one that
they can also bring home. These chromebooks are used for
school work every day and are a fall-back just in case the
school ever goes back to full remote learning. But after a
few weeks with the Chromebooks, an issue arose.
For the first couple of weeks of school, there weren’t too
many restrictions with the Chromebooks. Students could
access a decent amount of sites and even play some games.
Over time, game sites were getting blocked for obvious reasons,
but so too were important sites that students needed
to access for school assignments, including news outlets.
But this wasn’t even the worst aspect for most students.
When students first got the Chromebooks, they found
that closing them simply timed out the screen. When reopened,
whatever students were previously working on
was still there. But for security reasons, a logout feature
was implemented.
The problem with this feature was that any time a student
was inactive on their chromebook for too long, or
closed it, they would be logged out and all of the tabs they
were working on would be closed. The student would then
be forced to recreate everything that they were working on.
For a while, this issue persisted, to the general annoyance
of student body. When Manor Ink brought the issue
up with Superintendent John Evans, right then and there
he suggested having a meeting about the issue so it could
be solved. After sitting down with Evans and laying out the
issue with the Chromebooks, the administration resolved
the problem later that day. The logout feature was switched
with a “lockout” feature, where open tabs would be saved
and students just had to put their password in to restore
their tabs.
While there are still some other issues with LMCS’s
Chromebooks, such as allowing teachers to bypass website
blocks, the fix showed the responsiveness of the administration,
the power of student intervention and the press.
SOUND MIND GONG
music counseling meditation
MARC SWITKO, L.M.H.C.
(845) 798-3365 • mswitko@gmail.com
@universethroughswitko
Gong Sample: marcswitko.bandcamp.com
INSIDER
MANOR INK | DEC. 2021 | 15
Interact’s Red Ribbon Week promotes awareness
By Makayla Dutcher
The Livingston Manor Central School
Interact Club hosted a Red Ribbon Week
for the elementary grades in order to
teach and promote drug prevention
awareness. In addition, they focused on
achieving a bullying-free school.
The event took place from Oct. 25 to
Oct. 29. LMCS
STUDENT
JOURNALISTS
These stories are
reprinted from
the December
issue of LMCS’s
Manor Monthly.
staff and students
celebrated those
who make the
choice to leave
drugs alone and
lead bullying-free
lives. Spirit days
attached to Red
Ribbon Week
highlighted these two themes. Monday,
students wore red to show they were
“Red-y” to live a drug- and bullying-free
life. Students wore their favorite team
jerseys on Tuesday to “team up against
drugs and bullying.” On Wednesday,
students were encouraged to wear camouflage
clothing so that they could “be
all they could be, drug free.” Students
said “peace out to drugs and bullying”
by wearing tie-dye on Thursday. The last
day, Friday, students wore their favorite
hats to say “hats off to being drug- and
bullying-free.”
There was also an assembly for Red
Ribbon Week on Monday, Oct. 25, which
was titled “Mad Science” and was sponsored
by the Livingston Manor Rotary
SERIOUS FUN
The Livingston Manor
Rotary Club, along with
the hamlet’s Parent
Teacher Student Organization,
sponsored a
“Mad Science” assembly
for LMCS elementary
students during
Red Ribbon Week.
Jaime Snow photo
with assistance from the Parent Teacher
Student Organization.
In addition to the school spirit week,
the Livingston Manor Rotary Club also
hosted a night out at Rotary Park on
Wednesday evening, Nov. 3. There were
games, free hot dogs, face painting,
character drawings, information booths,
animals, Clifford the Big Red Dog and
fire trucks. The event promoted drug
awareness and education, too.
The Interact Club’s purpose in having
NEWS STORIES BY MANOR’S JOURNALISM CLASS
Red Ribbon Week was to get information
to the general public about the dangers of
drug use.
“In today’s society, there is a huge
drug epidemic. Drug overdose deaths
continue to impact communities across
the United States, as does bullying. In the
school and at the park, we hope to bring
spirit and enjoyment while promoting a
message to be healthy, and bullying- and
drug-free,” said Interact Advisor and
Rotary President Jaime Snow.
By presenting these events to the community,
it is Rotary’s hope that people
will make smart choices. By sharing
information about the harmful effects of
drugs and bullying, maybe addictions
can be prevented and those who have
been bullied will feel empowered to
reach out for assistance.
SWIFT’S ‘RED’ REVISITED
By Emily Ball
Award-winning singer and songwriter
Taylor Swift released her remake of
“Red” on Nov. 12. “Red (Taylor’s Version)”
features 30 songs, 20 of them being
from the original 2012 album, and ten of
them coming from “the vault.”
Swift has redefined the music industry
throughout her career. In June 2019,
Big Machine Records purchased Swift’s
master recordings from her first six studio
albums, even though she had tried to
buy them herself many times. That sale
and other disputes factored into Swift’s
decision to re-record each of her first six
REVIEW
albums, thus creating new masters
and giving herself complete
ownership. Her first re-recording, “Fearless
(Taylor’s Version),” was released in
April, and resulted in the original recording
falling off the charts completely.
In Swift’s attempt to make these albums
different from the original and gain
popularity, she adds vault tracks. Her
vault tracks are songs she had written
during the album’s eras, but ultimately
decided not to release them at the time. In
“Red (Taylor’s Version),” the vault tracks
feature artists including Phoebe Bridgers,
Ed Sheeran and Chris Stapleton.
“Red (Taylor’s Version)” starts off with
“State of Grace,” which is one of Swift’s
best album openers. Its upbeat intro sets
the mood for the rest of the album, which
Swift describes as “happy, free, confused
and lonely at the same time.” The album
transitions from cheery, optimistic love
songs like “Stay Stay Stay” to heartbreaking
breakup songs like “The Last Time
(feat. Gary Lightbody).” These polar
opposite songs, placed next to each other
on the track list, are meant to portray the
album’s theme.
The re-dos mostly sound similar to
the originals, just with better clarity in
Swift’s vocals and sharper production
qualities. You have to remember that she
is not re-recording to change her music,
just to gain ownership of what she has
written. The biggest change to a song on
“Red” is the remake of “Girl At Home.”
In 2012, the song had more of a country
sound to it. Now, it has been transformed
into a pop song, given the same energy
as her “Willow” remixes from last year.
If we dig into the history of “Red,”
Swift spoke about wanting to make the
album pop rather than country, but
her production company did not allow
it. The “Girl At Home” alteration was
clearly her attempt to make it what she
always intended it to be.
The ten vault
tracks on the new
album begin with
the devastating
song “Ronan.” Swift
wrote this single in
2012 about a threeyear-old
boy who
died of a neuroblastoma.
Her lyrics are
based on quotes
about him from
his mother. This
sorrowful song is
Red (Taylor’s
Version)
Republic Records
Released in 2021
No parental rating
very hard to get through because of how
heartbreakingly well she tells his story.
Up next is “Better Man” which is a
song originally written by Swift, but first
sung by the band Little Big Town. This
is not the only song she reclaimed on
“Red.” The song “Babe” is also featured
in the vault tracks, which was written
and performed by herself and the band
Sugarland in 2018. Personally, I favor
“Red (Taylor’s Version)” for both of these
songs. I feel that she captures what she
has written for both songs better than the
other bands were able to.
Picking a favorite vault track is something
I cannot do, but “Nothing New”
featuring Phoebe Bridgers would be near
the top of my list. The combination of
these two women’s voices makes me feel
something no other song can. Bridgers’
soft sound captures the feel of the hopelessness
Swift describes in the lyrics.
There are two vault songs that are
overwhelmingly upbeat and have almost
a 1989 vibe to them. “Message in a Bottle”
and “The Very First Night” have a distinctly
happy feeling compared to the rest
of the vault tracks. These two songs are
infectious, with a newly-in-love mood.
Lastly, but absolutely not Swift’s least,
is the second version of “All Too Well.”
This version is more honest and less filtered
than her last, and is even five minutes
longer. This ten minute song leaves
its listeners in nothing but awe and with
tons of fury towards Jake Gyllenhaal (the
topic of this masterpiece). Lyrics like,
“You kept me like a secret, but I kept you
like an oath,” and, “I’m a soldier whose
returning half her weight,” make this
already emotionally destructive song so
much more powerful.
“Red (Taylor’s Version)” broke streaming
records on Spotify its first day of
release. It became the most streamed
album in a day by a female artist, and is
predicted to “smash” her last re-recorded
album’s stream. Swift produces continues
to impress while displaying how
talented she is as an artist in the music
16 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK FEATURES
COMMUNITY RELIGIOUS SERVICES
A LISTING OF houses of worship in Livingston Manor
and the surrounding area. Please send service times
and other updates to divadnnad@yahoo.com.
n Congregation Agudas Achim
Rock Ave., Livingston Manor
439-3600
Kabbalat Shabbat service: Friday,
7:30 p.m., held via Zoom (email
virtualshabbat@gmail.com for link)
Shabbat morning service (for Bar
or Bat Mitzvahs only): Saturday,
10:30 a.m.
n St. Aloysius and Gate of Heaven
22 Church St., Livingston Manor
439-5625
Mass: Saturday, 4 p.m.;
Sunday, 9 a.m.; Monday through Saturday,
8:15 a.m. in the rectory
Adoration: Monthly, 7:30-8:15 a.m.;
Friday, 9 a.m.-noon
Confession: Saturday, 3:30-4 p.m.,
and before all masses or by appointment
n Livingston Manor Presbyterian
Church
568 Old Rte. 17, Livingston Manor
439-4410
Sunday service: 9:30 a.m.
n Grooville Free Methodist Church
DeBruce Rd., Livingston Manor
201-396-6395
Sunday service: 11 a.m.
n Livingston Manor United
Methodist Church
89 Pearl St., Livingston Manor
439-5134
Sunday service: 9:30 a.m.
n Monastery Our Lady in Beatitude
393 Our Lady of Lourdes Camp Rd.,
Livingston Manor
439-4300
Visitation: Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
n Willowemock Baptist Church
20 Church St., Livingston Manor
866-4225
Sunday Service: 11 a.m.
n Sacred Heart Chapel
1189 DeBruce Rd., DeBruce
439-5625
n Presbyterian Church of Roscoe
Old Rte. 17, Roscoe
607-498-4468
n United Church of Roscoe
2 Church St., Roscoe
607-498-5153
Sunday service: 9:30 a.m.
n Beaverkill Community Church
101 Craigie Clair Rd., Roscoe
beaverkillfriends.org
Sunday service: 10 a.m. (seasonal)
PEACE
PIECE
Artist Marilyn
Kocher,
left, and
Anne Miller
pose with
DeBruce’s
new Peace
Dove, one
of nearly
60 around
Sullivan
County.
Provided
photo
DeDove is unveiled in DeBruce
DeBruce, NY – The unveiling of Sullivan
County’s 59th Peace Dove, celebrating the
50th anniversary of the Woodstock festival
in Bethel, was witnessed by visitors and
community members in this hamlet on Friday,
Oct. 29. The sculpture is located on De-
Bruce Road, near Knickerbocker Road and
the Frog Hollow tributary.
The dove is one of the many throughout
Sullivan County that are mapped out on a
trail by the Sullivan Catskills Visitors’ Association.
Roberta Byron-Lockwood, president
of the SCVA, opened the ceremony
as others documented the happening and
viewed the painted bird.
Anne Miller worked tirelessly to bring
the dove to DeBruce, despite numerous
setbacks and difficulties. Marilyn Kocher
designed and executed the painting with
the help of detail artists Judy LaVerde and
Tania Vanegas. The dove’s protective coating
was generously donated by Cory Gaebel
of Manor Motors.
The installation was begun by Bill Kocher
and Mike Diescher, using a very big
rock taken from the banks of Willowemoc
Creek. Tom McKay donated his expertise in
creating a stable and secure base. Sullivan
Renaissance contributed funds toward the
project, and the surrounding flower beds
were designed by Edwin and Tania Pubil
with the help of Fernando Padilla and Scott
Young.
Carolyn Bivins designed the parking
signs, and colorful baby doves by artist Ron
Lusker were recently added.
Real Estate & Custom Modular Homes
“If we can’t find your dream home, we’ll have it built for you.”
CAROLE
EDWARDS REALTY
(914) 799-5075 Mobile
cedwardsrealty@gmail.com
(845) 439-3620 Office
On the web: LivManor.com
7 MAIN STREET , LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY 12758
FEATURES
MANOR INK | DEC. 2021 | 17
I can see for miles and miles – and way back in time
If all goes well, this month the James
Webb Space Telescope (named after the
second NASA administrator who oversaw
the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo
programs) is destined to
launch into space and may
change our understanding
of the universe.
Originally conceived in
the 1990s, and costing over
Art
$8 billion, the Webb will
replace the Hubble Space
Telescope with astonishing
CATSKILL
NIGHT
SKIES
Steinhauer
new technologies to enable scientists to
peer far back and observe the universe’s
first stars and galaxies, as well as examine
planets in other solar systems, called “exoplanets,”
for signs of life.
First, a note of explanation.
When we view the
stars or galaxies from Earth,
we are observing them as
they existed when the light from them first
emanated. This is due to the time it takes
for the light to reach our planet over the
unimaginably vast distances of space, time
which can be billions of years, given the
age of the universe.
As the universe continues to expand,
the light sources from its earliest period
become fainter and harder to observe.
Webb will enable us to see these faint
objects much more clearly, thus enabling
astronomers to see much farther back in
SKY EYE The James Webb Space Telescope, set to launch Dec. 18, will provide astronomers with
a powerful new tool for gazing at the universe – and seeing it as it was early on. NASA photo
time than was possible with Hubble. Since
the chemical elements that allow life to exist
were produced in the first generation of
galaxies, the further back we can observe,
the more we may be able to understand
about the formation of the universe and
how life came about.
The Webb telescope will not only be
more than two-and-a-half times the size
of Hubble, but it will also be placed much
farther out in space than Hubble – almost
one million miles from earth, in a particular
location where the Sun’s and Earth’s
gravities balance each other out. That will
allow Webb to keep the light from the sun,
earth and moon behind it while it looks
outward into the universe.
Another exciting capability of Webb
will be the study of planets orbiting other
stars. This includes looking for the chemical
signatures of water, carbon dioxide
and methane – the evidence of life as we
DECEMBER VIEWING
n Jupiter, Saturn and Venus all
remain visible after dusk in the southsouthwest.
Venus is the brightest and
to the lower right of the three planets.
Jupiter is the 2nd brightest and to
the upper left. Saturn, relatively in the
middle, is the faintest
n Viewing of the Geminid meteor
shower should be best in the predawn
hours of Sunday, Dec.14.
n Winter officially descends on Dec.
21 at 10:59 a.m. But the days then
become longer, so cheer up!
know it.
Astronomers will be holding their collective
breath when Webb is launched.
As with all space endeavors, any mishap
could doom the mission. It will take about
six months for Webb to reach its new
neighborhood and then the telescope will
need to unfold its sunshield and mirror,
unfurl its solar arrays to tap into the sun’s
power and complete a very long list of
requirements before astronomers can start
using it.
In addition, since Webb will be so far
from Earth, repairs will not be possible as
they were with Hubble. No wonder the
NASA team has dubbed that period “six
months of terror.”
Join or renew your membership online today! Take a tour of fly fishing history at our
museum, visit us for a trail walk, or sign up for an education program on our website.
1031 Old Rte. 17, Livingston Manor, NY • 845-439-4810 • www.cffcm.com
Coming Up
CAS Members Show
Opening: Saturday, Nov. 6, at Laundry King, 65 Main St.,
Livingston Manor; catskillartsociety.org
CAS Annual Appeal
Support CAS at catskillartsociety.squarespace.com/donations-1
Plan your visit at BethelWoodsCenter.org
CREATIVE PROGRAMS | FESTIVALS
HISTORIC SITE | MUSEUM | LIVE MUSIC
‘Your Country
Estate’
gary siegel • judy
siegel • don simkin
12 White Roe Lake Rd.
Livingston Manor, NY
Available on Airbnb.com
18 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK HOLIDAYS
BRIGHT NIGHTS Bethel Woods’ “Peace,
Love & Lights” offers warm holiday colors
on cold December evenings. Proivided photo
Light show returns
Bethel, NY – Once again, families can
experience Bethel Woods Center for the
Art’s magical holiday lights from the
comfort of their cars. To take in “Peace,
Love & Lights,” they just have to turn off
their headlights and follow the glow.
Powered by Healey Brothers and
sponsored by the Sullivan Catskills
Visitors Association, the display is open
for viewing from 5 to 9 p.m., Sundays
through Thursdays, and from 5 to 10
p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, now
through Jan. 2. Mondays are reserved
for pedestrians only, and benefit Sullivan
180.
Featured this year are themed areas
that include “New York” and “Holidays
Around the World,” plus the familiar
displays “Groovy Way,” “Candy
Cane Lane” and “Snowflake Alley.” To
reserve tickets, visit bethelwoodscenter.
org/events/peace-love-lights.
Gift insecurity? Ink’s guide comes to the rescue
By Michelle Adams-Thomas | Manor Ink
The past few years have been hard
around holiday time. COVID-19
has caused our once cheerful
gatherings to be risky or even
cancelled. Children have seen less of their
relatives, making it hard to know what
new interests and hobbies they may have.
Well, as I am a teen and am close to other
kids, I have a good idea what their likes
and dislikes are. When it comes to holiday
giving, here are a few gifts that will really
please your young recipients.
KID CHOICES
n Among Us Multiplayer Game | $24.99
This has been a very popular game since
2018, and especially since the start of the
quarantine. Many kids enjoy its creativity.
n Ultimate Candy Snack Box | $36.99
Even though it’s just
candy, these favorites
always do the trick.
Kids these days have
started to be bored
with other things, so
a simple treat box will
make them happy.
n Swurfer Orbit Tree Swing | $69.99
Kids love being outdoors, the fresh air and
nature. A swing is always fun to play with
and it provides exercise for a young child
who just cannot stay in one spot.
PRE-TEEN CHOICES
n Funko Pops | $11.99
I like collecting
things like characters
to decorate my room.
Funko Pops are fun little
statue figures that kids can
collect. Some can even become
valuable over time.
n Anime Books & Movies | $8.99 and up
Japanese art styles have become very
popular over time on TV and in books.
These stories have great plots and are
built around the culture. Anime books and
video-streaming rentals are also something
your child can enjoy at home.
n Converse Sneakers | $40 and up
This footwear company has been
around since 1908. Originally
for basketball, these shoes
are worn daily by
the new generation.
They can be
customized to your liking and are super
comfortable for all-day wear.
TEEN CHOICES
n LED Lights | $31.99
Their bedrooms are where teens spend
most of their time.
There they have all
the things they like in
a homey atmosphere.
But customising their
spaces with lights provides
a nice nighttime vibe in what might
be an otherwise boring room.
n iPhone 13 | $30/month with plan
Every year Apple comes up
with an even better phone.
This year’s latest model is
the iPhone 13. The new
features include 5.4 and
6.1-inch sizes, a smaller
notch, new colors, camera
improvements and 5G.
n Dr. Martens Boots | $65 and up
Dr. Martens is an ever-so-popular boot
brand. Not only is their quality
high, but they are up to date
with young fashion trends.
They are resistent to
snow, ice and water,
making them a
long lasting shoe.
While most of these gifts are available
online or at big box stores, there are also
great gifts for kids right here in town. You
can find toys, art supplies, music, hiking
and camping gear, tasty treats and books
at Manor stores, too. Happy shopping!
51 Main St., Livingston Manor • 6 am-10 pm
845-439-5430
MARYANNE LOMBARDO, D.C.
Neurologically Based Chiropractic • Infants to Seniors
1980 State Route 52 • Liberty, NY 12754
Phone: (845) 292-0702
Mail: P.O. Box 1210 • South Fallsburg, NY 12779
mychirocare@yahoo.com
The holly-jolly season comes to town
HOLIDAYS
MANOR INK | DEC. 2021 | 19
By Kelly Buchta | Manor Ink Mentor
For merchants and restaurant owners
in Livingston Manor, the first week of December
means preparing for holiday shoppers
and diners. Decorations go up, special
promotions are launched, extra items are
added to inventories and holiday favorites
are put on the menu. Aiding in all these
preparations are various community and
business organizations, and this year is no
exception. Here are two events planned
the first weekend of the holiday season.
Saturday Dec. 4: Holiday Tree Lighting
The Livingston Manor Chamber of
Commerce, the Manor Rotary Club and
the Little Free Pantry will host the hamlet’s
annual tree lighting at 6 p.m. in the lot next
to Life Repurposed at 62 Main Street. Enjoy
hot cocoa, treats, Santa, gift bags, caroling
and more for a spirited start to the season.
Sunday, Dec. 5: Free Holiday
Tote Bag Giveaway
Livingston Manor merchants have had
a banner year. To thank everyone for their
support, the Chamber of Commerce has
created a unique tote bag to give away
this holiday season. On Sunday, Chamber
members will be in front of Sunshine
Colony at 47 Main Street, from 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m., with the handsome canvas
bags, free to shoppers who have made
their holiday purchases or have dined on
BAG BUDDY
The tote bag was
designed by the
Chamber of Commerce
as a companion
to the new 2021
Town Directory. The
free booklet, with
its rustic Catskills campground look,
has become a coveted item for hotel
guests, weekenders and full-time
residents alike. It’s filled with fun facts
about town history as well as useful
information about local businesses
and services, and is available in shops
around town.
Main Street. Present receipts for at least
$75 spent in town, and select one of two
hundred bags on a first-come-first-served,
one-per-family basis.
* * *
Livingston Manor Central School also
has plans for the festive season. School
choirs will set the mood with familiar holiday
melodies, and seniors will once again
raise funds for class activities with hearty
breakfast fare.
Tuesday, Dec. 7, and Wednesday, Dec. 8:
LMCS Winter Concerts
Elementary students are featured on
Tuesday, with middle and high schoolers
appearing on Wednesday. Performances
begin at 6:30 p.m. on both evenings in the
LMCS auditorium. The concerts are open
to the public and admission is free.
Saturday, Dec. 11: Take-out Breakfast
with Santa
Students of the Class of 2023 will serve
up pancakes and other breakfast favorites
in the LMCS cafeteria from 8 to 11 a.m.
Old St. Nick will be in attendance for
photos with children. Tickets are available
at the door or by calling by calling Janelle
Jones at 439-4400, ext. 1242.
* * *
Lastly, artisans will also be featured this
month in several special showings focusing
on the season.
Saturday, Dec. 11, and Sunday,
Dec. 12: Holiday Makers Market
The Farmhouse Project is hosting a Holiday
Makers Market at the Arnold House,
located at 839 Shandlee Rd., Livingston
Manor, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A modern
interpretation of the traditional craft fair,
the market will feature talented artisans
from studios and workshops throughout
the region, locally-sourced Christmas
trees and wreaths, cozy fires and winterinspired
cuisine, craft beer, mulled wine
and festive cocktails.
Saturday, Dec. 18: Tiny Town Toast
Help the Catskill Art Society celebrate
IN THE SPIRIT Santa consults with a youngster
during the 2020 Livingston Manor holiday
tree lighting. Carolyn Bivins photo
the Tiny House Project from 4 to 5 p.m
with a special toast to all CAS contributors.
The windows at the Laundry King,
65 Main Street, will be filled with unique
structures, and Sullivan County Poet
Laureate Eric Baylin will share some of his
favorite poems. Masks will be required for
all, regardless of vaccination status.
Chamber of Commerce member Maria Bivins
contributed to this article.
In the
Aro Tradition
via Zoom
Free one-on-one
Meditation instruction
845-439-4339
THEKAATSKELLER.COM | 39 Main Street, Livingston Manor
Call or write:
Naljorma Chatral A’dze
(845) 439-4332
khajong@gmail.com
20 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK INK WELL OF HAPPINESS
Sci-fi tale a mind-bender
Jeff Vandermeer’s iconic book, Annihilation,
is a tale about a group of women
sent to explore a terrifying anomaly on
the southeastern coast of the United
States, turning the land
inside the shimmery barrier
into a disturbingly
quiet, eerie wilderness,
overgrown to the point
of rendering the region
Edward
Lundquist
unrecognizable.
Inside dwell mutations
of animals, presented in
PAGE TURNERS
a very broken way. The animals themselves
are not that strange looking, but
the sounds they produce and little things
about them set the reader on edge. For
example there are,
along the coast,
dolphins, described
by the main character
as having eyes
like those of a human.
The way Jeff portrays this world is
impressive. After the buildup, the climax
is filled with mind-bending Lovecraftian
agony that is only relieved by a cliffhanger
ending, continued in the next book,
Authority.
Vandermeer’s ability to create such a
round, realistic
and unsettling
landscape is
quite impressive,
especially as you
read it. You just
get drawn in and
become one with
the story, the
characters and
Annihilation
(Southern Reach
Trilogy)
By Jeff Vandermeer
HHHHH
Science fiction,
thiller, horror(?)
Ages 14+
the meaningful writing. The book, I feel,
would be no different if it had illustrations,
because the tension of the mental
image is so powerful on its own.
I highly recommend this book, especially
if you are looking for something
artistic, creative and quick to read. I
finished this book in one evening, and,
though it is not skinny, it is fast paced
enough to truly enjoy.
To parents: This is a book for adolescents
14 years and older. It has mentions
of sex, violence, gore and a general
unsettledness throughout the whole
book. Many of its concepts are very deep
and could be hard to handle for younger
readers.
This review was reprinted from the December
2019 edition of Manor Ink.
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.
Michelle
Adams-
Thomas
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
things in the world. They come from
the heart and can mean something very
special. Many people know that Peck’s
Markets 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.
Debbie McAdams and her colleague
RECIPE
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.
This recipe was reprinted from the December
2020 edition of Manor Ink.
WIPE-OUT The first of three stories in Jeff
Vandermeer’s “Southern Reach Trilogy,”
“Annihilation” creates an eerie world altered
by a mysterious contagion. Above, an image
from the screen adaptation of the book.
amazon.com photos
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.
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
MANOR INK | DEC. 2021 | 21
Santa’s powers might have made this movie better
I was scrolling through Netflix, like any
kid my age, when I stumbled across this
movie. I thought to myself, “This would
be perfect to review, another bad Netflix
Original, and this time it’s
a Christmas one!” After I
finished “The Christmas
Chronicles,” though, I realized
that the movie was
actually good. It dealt with
Osei Helper
themes of loss while still
being comical. It kept traditional
Christmas movie fun and ideals
while being new and innovative. If you
haven’t watched the movie, I suggest you
do, because we’re about to enter spoiler
MEDIA
PROBE
REVIEW
territory.
I’ll give you a quick rundown
of the story. A young
girl and her criminal teen
brother make a deal and stay
up to try and catch Santa Claus. When
they find his sleigh and hop in, a frightened
Santa loses control and crashes. The
rest of the movie follows them as they try
to successfully save Christmas. Now, let’s
get into the review.
When I began watching, there was
something that struck me as off. The main
character, Kate (Darby Camp), was taking
Spanish classes in school. Now, that may
not seem like much until you remember
she’s only 10. She’s taking high school level
courses. Now I could do some research on
what school she could be going to, based
on the geography and courses, but I’m
fighting deadline.
Then there’s a whole scene with Kate
By Osei Helper | Manor Ink
When I first saw the trailers for “Last
Christmas,” I didn’t plan on seeing it. The
movie just seemed like another basic romcom,
a genre that I don’t lean toward. Nevertheless,
I saw it anyway, just so I could
review a Christmas movie in time for this
month’s edition of Manor Ink. The movie is
kind of adult with its humor, so take caution
with children, but anyway, here is my
spoiler-free review of “Last Christmas.”
This movie has some familiar faces you
might recognize. The main character,
Kate, is played by Emilia Clarke (“Game
of Thrones”), and her love interest, Tom,
ON DEADLINE Santa, played by Kurt Russell, rushes to complete his rounds after losing his
sleigh in Netflix’ holiday offering, “The Christmas Chronicles.” Romper.com photo
following her brother Teddy (Judah
Lewis) around with a camera recording
him, all because he wouldn’t let her come
hang out with his friends. I just love her
reaction to seeing her brother and his
friends hijack someone’s car. She only
thinks about how she could use this as
leverage against him because she recorded
it, not that, “Oh wow, my brother
just committed grand theft auto. He’s an
actual criminal!”
Let’s talk about Santa (Kurt Russell),
arguably the best part of the movie. He’s
a lot different from your traditional Old
Saint Nick. Santa is usually fat, jolly and
is played by Henry
Golding (“Crazy Rich
Asians”). As I said, this
movie is a romcom,
meaning a romance
comedy. It has to bring
these two things to the
table to succeed, and
“Last Christmas” does just that ... kind of.
The comedy aspect was somewhat solid.
I found a good chunk of the comic scenes
to be worthy of a light chuckle. However,
the romance part didn’t seem all that
realistic. I know it’s a movie, but some
things just seemed odd, though they can be
explained with the twist.
goes “Ho, ho, ho!” This Santa is fit, kind
of annoyed and sarcastic, and refuses to
laugh. He jokes around a lot and puts the
kids in dangerous situations, even when
he “doesn’t have his powers,” which he
pretends he has lost after losing his hat.
The plot twist that Santa is powerless
is kind of undermined by the fact that
he’s seen using his powers throughout
the movie. This decision was a bad one
on St. Nick’s part. If he hadn’t pretended
to have no powers, he could’ve avoided
many of the movie’s predicaments.
For instance, Teddy is nearly killed
twice. The first time is when some thugs
Now, I said this is spoiler free, so I
won’t reveal the twist. But if you pay a
little bit of attention, you might be able to
figure it out early. I feel like the writers
thought their twist was way more clever
than it actually is. It answers a lot of questions
that you may have while watching
the movie, but that’s enough. I don’t want
to give away too much.
The acting was pretty good for the
most part, but where I really enjoyed
“Last Christmas” was in its score. Our
protagonist, Kate, is a big fan of George
Michael. Nearly, if not all, of the songs in
the soundtrack are George Michael songs.
I am personally a fan of George Michael,
The Christmas
Chronicles
Netflix 2018
HHHHH
Rated TV-PG
find him and Santa’s
magic sack, with Kate
inside. Their boss
gets angry when all
the presents in the
sack only have coal in
them and he throws
the bag into an incinerator. The second
instance of mortal peril for Teddy comes
when he is nearly killed and thrown into a
dumpster. The elves coming to rescue him
in the St. Nick of time (sorry!) mistake
him for a thug and almost, get this, cut
him in half with a mini-chainsaw. These
elves are insane.
All this mayhem could have been
avoided if only Santa had used his powers
and hadn’t hidden them.
To sum up, brother, sister and Santa
end up saving Christmas just in the, uh,
I won’t use that pun again. They save
Christmas right before time runs out. This
movie gets a rating of 3 stars out of 5. It
remains fun throughout, with a strong
cast that fits the characters well. But it has
some plot points that don’t hold together,
and there are also some unresolved story
lines. Perhaps Netflix left holes so they
could a follow up with a sequel next year?
Well, readers, I hope you all have a
happy Christmas, and don’t try to find
Santa on Christmas Eve, because you just
might ruin the holiday for everybody and
throw the planet into World War III.
Merry Christmas!
This review was reprinted from the December
2018 edition of Manor Ink.
This holiday flick is romantic, funny and clever ... kind of
Last Christmas
Universal
Pictures 2019
Rated PG-13
HHHHH
HHHHH
too, so I appreciated the tribute.
There isn’t much else I can say about
the movie and its themes without venturing
into spoiler territory, but I can say that
“Last Christmas” is very much about self
discovery and finding purpose. I liked how
it ended, though I felt some aspects of the
characters’ development were rushed.
I can’t say too many good things about
this movie or too many bad things. It was
pretty mediocre. I enjoyed it more than I
thought I would, so I’ll give it a solid 6 out
of 10 stars – worth a look.
This review was reprinted from the December
2019 edition of Manor Ink.
22 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK
SPORTS
THINK PINK
HONOREES LMCS players Megan Cristaldi, Kristina Davis
and Julia Trotti line up on Manor’s soccer field on Oct.
15 to be saluted on “Pink Day.” The Downsville/Manor/
Roscoe combined varsity team then downed Chapel 6-0
to the delight of the crowd, with Davis scoring the final
goal of the afternoon. Art Steinhauer photo
Devils rally to bomb Bombers
By Kevin Bear | For Manor Ink
18 BLUES DEVILS
14 BOMBERS
Roscoe, NY – The Bombers of Pine
Plains made a long, two-hour trip across
the Hudson River to take on the Blue Devils
of Roscoe on Oct. 30. The Blue Devils
were looking to secure a win on their
home field against the Bombers in order
to advance to the next round of sectionals.
The Bombers got off to a hot start and
scored on a five-yard touchdown pass.
They then scored on a two-point conversion
attempt. In addition,
the defense
of Pine Plains stalled
the offense of Roscoe
on their first drive, forcing them to punt.
On their second drive, at the start of
the second quarter, Pine Plains came out
on fire – scoring on a 35-yard rush on the
ninth play of the drive. Luckily for the Blue Devils, the twopoint
conversion attempt by the Bombers was no good, but
they still found themselves down 14-0, with their season
slowly starting to drift away.
The second drive of the Blue Devils was not successful
as the Bombers stopped the offense short of the first down
marker, forcing them to punt.
During the next Bomber possession, Roscoe’s defense returned
the favor, forcing them to punt. Out of nowhere, Lakota
Dewitt blocked the punt, and the ball ended up going
back into the endzone where it was recovered by Daniel
Irwin for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt
was unsuccessful for Roscoe, but they finally got on the
scoreboard and closed the deficit to 14-6.
TD SPRINT Roscoe’s Alaniz Ruiz
hauls in a 58-yard touchdown pass
in the second quarter.
Bonnie Hoag photo
Energized by their first scoring play,
there was no slowing the Blue Devils as
they forced the Bombers to punt on the
very next possession. With the ball again,
on the second play of Roscoe’s drive, Anthony
Zamenick found Alaniz Ruiz downfield
and threw a perfect 58-yard touchdown
pass for Roscoe’s second scoring
play. Unfortunately, the two-point conversion
failed once again. At half time, Pine
Plains was still up 14-12.
The Blue Devils received the second half
kickoff, but their drive stalled and they
were forced to punt. A muffed punt by
Pine Plains allowed Morgan McKinley to
dive on the football and gain possession
once again for the Roscoe offense. This
drive, however, did not result in a score.
Several possessions later, the Blue Devils
found a hole in the Pine Plains defense and
were able to drive down field and score on a 12-yard rush
by Ruiz. The two-point conversion failed, but Roscoe saw
themselves up on the scoreboard for the first time, 18-14.
The Roscoe team was full of momentum as they had just
scored 18 unanswered points and refused to give up their
lead. The Bombers were looking to score in the final minutes
of the game for a comeback win, but their hopes were
dashed when cornerback Matthew Bowers jumped in front
of their receiver on a passing play and came down with a
juggling interception. With the interception, the Blue Devils
were able to run out the clock for the victory.
Kevin Bear is a member of the LMCS Journalism class. This
story comes from the December edition of Manor Monthly.
CALENDAR
MANOR INK | DEC. 2021 | 23
DECEMBER
ONGOING
Livingston Manor
Free Library
Open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
weekdays, except 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10
a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Storytime
is 11 a.m. Tuesdays; Story
& Crafts is 11 a.m., Saturdays;
92 Main St., Livingston Manor.
livingstonmanorlibrary.org
Ethelbert B. Crawford
Public Library
60-minute slots for browsing;
computer use by appointment.
Call 794-4660, ext. 4 or 5 to
schedule an appointment; 479
Broadway, Monticello; ebcpl.org
Liberty Public Library
Mondays, Wednesdays and
Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesdays
and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-6:30
p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4
p.m.189 N. Main St., Liberty.
libertypubliclibrary.org
Hurleyville Arts Centre
Offering in-person yoga classes
with precautions; register at
theyogaspacehv@gmail.com;
219 Main Street, Hurleyville.
hurleyvilleartscentre.org
Catskill Art Society
Closed for renovations, but with
exhibits at Laundry King; also
offering art classes for children
Mondays-Thursdays, 9-9:45 a.m.
(ages 4-7) and 10-10:45 a.m.
ages 8-teen) at Laundry King;
65 Main St., Livingston Manor.
catskillartsociety.org
Delaware Valley
Arts Alliance
Galleries are now open. Also
virtual exhibits on Facebook and
Instagram; 37 Main St., Narrowsburg;
delawarevalleyartsalliance.org
What’s Bugging You?
Practical solutions to
pest control problems
First Friday in December; noon-
12:30; Cornell Cooperative Extension
virtual seminar; register
at ccesullivan.org
Open Mic Night
Bring an instrument and play on
Mondays in December; 7-11
p.m.; Dutch’s Tavern, 204 Rock
Hill Dr., Rock Hill. Register at
facebook.com/rockhillnewyork
Inklings
A LISTING OF FUN THINGS TO DO
Send your event to divadnnad@yahoo.com
PLEASE NOTE With frequently changing coronavirus conditions
and safety precautions, many events listed here may again have
safety requirements. Please check websites for specifics.
Jazz at Rafter’s
With the Hal Galper Trio
Saturdays in December; 3-4:30
p.m.; Rafter’s Tavern, 28 Upper
Main St. Callicoon. facebook.
com/Rafters-Tavern
Peace, Love & Lights
Nightly in December; Sundays
throughThursdays: 5-9 p.m.; |
Fridays, Saturdays, 5-10 p.m.;
Bethel Woods Center for the
Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel.
bethelwoodscenter.org/events/
peace-love-lights
DECEMBER 1-31
Exhibit: Members Show
Through December 18; Fridays,
Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.;
Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Laundry
King, 65 Main St., Livingston
Manor. catskillartsociety.squarespace.com/tinyhouseproject
Exhibit: “Art in Sixes”
Through December 23; Thursdays
through Sundays, 11 a.m.-4
p.m.; Delaware Arts Alliance, 37
Main St., Narrowsburg; delawarevalleyartsalliance.org
Lego Club
Thursday, Dec. 2; 3:30-4:30 p.m.;
Livingston Manor Free Library,
92 Main St., Livingston Manor.
livingstonmanorlibrary.org
Concert: A Joyful
Christmas
With Eileen Ivers
Thursday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m.; Bethel
Woods Center for the Arts, 200
Hurd Rd., Bethel. bethelwoodscenter.org/events
Holiday Wreath Making
With Susan Dollard
Thursday, Dec. 2; 6-7 p.m.;
Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library,
479 Broadway, Monticello.
To register, call 794-4660 ext. 2
Santa Visits Hurleyville
Friday, Dec. 3 through Sunday,
Dec. 5; Friday, 3-6 p.m.; Saturday,
10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4
p.m.; Hurleyville Arts Centre, 219
Main Street, Hurleyville. hurleyvilleartscentre.org
Dinner with Santa
Friday, Dec. 3 and every Friday in
December; 5 p.m.; Bethel Woods
Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd
Rd., Bethel. bethelwoodscenter.
org/events
Holiday Market
Friday, Dec. 3 through Sunday,
SHTETL SOUNDS
IN BETHEL
Put a little pep into
your Hannukah
celebrations with the
boistrous music of
the Klezmatics. The
only klezmer band
to win a Grammy
award, the Klezmatics
play selections steeped in Eastern European Jewish
tradition and spirituality while incorporating eclectic musical
influences including Arab, African, Latin and Balkan
rhythms, jazz and punk. They’ll perform Sunday, Dec. 19
at 8 p.m. in the Event Gallery at Bethel Woods in Bethel.
Learn more at bethelwoodscenter.org/events.
Dec. 5; 2 p.m.; Bethel Woods
Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd
Rd., Bethel. bethelwoodscenter.
org/events
‘Back to Bach’
Zoom talk by Barry Wiesenfeld
Monday, Dec. 6; 6-7 p.m.;
Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library,
479 Broadway, Monticello.
To register, call 794-4660 ext. 2
The Farmhouse Project
Holiday Makers Market
Saturday, Dec. 11, and Sunday,
Dec 12; Saturday, 11 a.m.; Sunday,
6 p.m.; The Arnold House,
839 Shandelee Rd., Livingston
Manor. thefarmhouseproject.com
Concert: Gordon Lightfoot
Saturday, Dec. 11 and Sunday,
Dec. 12; Saturday, 8 p.m.;
Sunday, 2 p.m.; Bethel Woods
Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd
Rd., Bethel. bethelwoodscenter.
org/events
Cultivating Happiness
Zoom talk with Diane Lang
Thursday, Dec. 16; 6-7 p.m.;
Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library,
479 Broadway, Monticello.
To register, call 794-4660 ext. 2
Tiny House Project ‘Toast’
Saturday, Dec. 18; opening,
4-5 p.m.; on display in Laundry
King’s windows throughout
December; Laundry King, 65
Main St., Livingston Manor.
catskillartsociety.squarespace.
com/tinyhouseproject
Fine Upstate Vacation Rentals
Since 2007
redcottageinc.com
24 | DEC. 2021 | MANOR INK
By Gracie Ivory | For Manor Ink
FEATURES
Melding styles, Taylor Jaffe sings her passions
Taking inspiration from her
father, her piano teacher and
artists like Beyoncé, Taylor
Jaffe’s music and her career
blossomed. At the young age of six, she
remembers watching her father play
the piano and the banjo. Jaffe has since
gone on to develop a style of music
she describes as “pop rock,” which not
surprisingly happen to be two of the
Musical Manor farm girl set to release EP of originals
genres she most enjoys.
To document her songwriting, guitar
playing and singing, Jaffe began work
on an album, an extended play or EP
record consisting of five original songs,
in the winter of 2019. After months in
the studio, she finished the recording in
the spring of 2020.
LOCAL
ARTIST
PROFILE
But following a bit of
deliberation, she decided
she needed to take more
time to really fine tune
and focus in on meticulously
detailing the EP. Now satisfied
with the resulting production, Jaffe
will release the record just before the
holidays on Dec. 10. The songs will
also be available on all streaming
services.
Jaffe currently has three singles
posted – “Just a Crush,” “I’ll Cry”
and “Losing
Myself.” The
latter tune, she
said, was her
favorite of the
songs she has
written. The
other songs
that will make
up the EP are
titled “Free
Fall,” and a
Talking Heads mashup consisting of
their songs “Road to Nowhere” and
“This Must Be the Place.”
In addition to her passion for music,
Taylor works as an Environmental Justice
Coordinator here in the Catskills.
She strives to ensure social, racial and
environmental justice. When asked
whether she wants to make this her
WHERE TO FIND
TAYLOR JAFFE’S MUSIC
To hear selections from
Jaffe’s EP, visit “Taylor
Jaffe” on spotify.com.
Find her on Instagram
at instagram.com/
taylorcjaffe/?hl=en,
or on Twitter at twitter.
com/taylorcjaffe. Or
simply scan this QR code.
primary career, she said, “Ideally, I
will be able to grow my music career
a little bit and play shows and get
somewhere big like Madison Square
Garden, but I don’t ever want to give
up the justice components of my passions.”
TURKEY SPARED
Gov. Kathy Hochul pardoned Sullivan,
a turkey living on Snowdance Farm
in Livingston Manor on Thanksgiving
Day, thus saving the bird from the dinner
table. The farm is owned by Marc
and Susan Jaffe, above, with their two
children, Theo and the subject of this
profile, Taylor.
Provided photos