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All announcements are moderated, so it make take a few days for us to review your submission.

Shandaken Community Gardens Seeks Gardeners

Would you like to grow your own food, flowers and herbs?

Cultivate community?

Share knowledge about sustainable gardening?

Collaborate in the creation of an exciting, new project?  Read more

Obituary: Leila Ruth Ellison, Phoenicia centenarian

The following is a reader-submitted obituary.

Leila Ruth Ellison,100, in recent years a resident of Phoenicia, NY, died Monday, December 24, 2012, at Northern Dutchess Residential Care Facility (Thompson House), in Rhinebeck, NY.

Born in Perth Amboy, NJ, she was the daughter of Theodore and Leila Jones Degenring. She was a graduate of Beaver College, Jenkintown, PA, and Newark State Teacher’s College, and for many years was an elementary school teacher in Elizabeth, NJ and Summit, NJ. She was married in 1936 to Harry C. Ellison, Jr., an engineer, who predeceased her. She was an avid reader, and enjoyed playing the piano and travel. For many years, she directed a children’s choir at the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, NJ.

She is survived by her daughter, Patricia L. Ellison, Esq., of Phoenicia, NY, as well as cousins in New Jersey, Georgia, and Florida.

A memorial service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside, NJ, at a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.

Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave. is in charge of arrangements  Read more

Lonnie Gale: "The single most accurate historical reference of the Catskills"

The following is a user-submitted obituary.

Alonzo " Lonnie " Gale of Waterwork Road died Wednesday October 10, 2012 at the Benedictine Hospital. Lonnie, as he was known to all, was born in Tannersville on January 22, 1927 son of the late Lemuel Chichester Gale and Hazel Wright Gale. He was a graduate of Hunter-Tannersville H.S., and he then joined the Merchant Marines, where he was stationed in Alaska. In 1945 he was aboard the Sueja III (Q137US), a supply ship in World War II. Upon returning home, Lonnie married Peggy ( Ruth ) Every and they raised their family in Phoenicia.  Read more

Shandaken Democrats Annual Thai Feast

Sat. Sept 29th, 6:30PM 

The Arts Upstairs, 60 Main Street, Phoenicia

Only $10 with reservation.  Our entree offerings will include many  favorites from the past as well as some exciting new Thai dishes that include vegetarian and vegan options.  Thai iced tea, beer and wine will be among the available beverages.
We are keeping the price down because we want a great turnout, and we want to make sure that there's plenty of food for everyone, so we are requesting you RSVP your reservation to receive this $10 offer.  Please email nick-alba@earthlink.net with the number of guests in your party, and please advise us of any changes prior to the event.  Guests without reservations will be asked for $15 at the door. 
 
We hope to hear from you soon, and look forward to an evening of great food, fun and comradery.

 

Ulster County is distributing farmer's market coupons on August 30

FARMER’S MARKET COUPONS
Thursday, August 30, 2012
10 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

The Ulster County Office for the Aging

will be distributing to eligible seniors

Farmer’s Market coupons at the

SHARP Committee

98 Main Street, Phoenicia.

 Eligibility is determined by two factors;
AGE & INCOME:
You must be a Senior/60 or older
$1,722 /month for a one-person household
$2,333 /month for a two-person household
$2,943 /month for a three-person household
Seniors currently receiving or is eligible for SSI, public
Assistance, or Section 8 housing subsidy.

Only ONE booklet may be issued per household.
Eligible recipients must personally sign.
Coupons cannot be mailed.
Proxies may not pick up or sign for a senior.

You can also pick up coupons at:

Ulster County Office for the Aging
1003 Development Court
Kingston, New York 12401

(845)340-3456

Most local school budgets pass

On Tuesday, May 21, New York State voters went to the polls to decide the fate of local school budgets and elect members to school boards.

Most budgets throughout the five-county Catskills region passed. A few were voted down, and will now have 30 days to revise their budgets and put them up for a second vote. If a school's budget is voted down twice, the school must adopt a contingency budget subject to strict caps.  Read more

Tornado warning issued for Delaware, Sullivan counties

The National Weather Service in Binghamton has issued a tornado warning for south central Delaware County and northwestern Sullivan County, effective from 1:09pm to 1:45pm.

From a message posted on NY-Alert:

At 108 PM EDT...National Weather Service Doppler Radar Indicated A Severe Thunderstorm Capable Of Producing A Tornado 9 Miles West Of Roscoe...Moving East At 25 Mph. * The Storm Capable Of Producing The Tornado Will Be Near... Roscoe By 130 PM EDT... Hazel By 135 PM EDT... Livingston Manor By 140 PM EDT... Parksville By 145 PM EDT... When You Can Do So Safely...Please Report Hail...Or Damaging Winds To The National Weather Service By Calling Toll Free At 1-888-603-1402...Or By Email At Bgm.Stormreport@Noaa.Gov.

Update: A second tornado warning was issued for Sullivan County at 1:39pm, effective til 2:15pm:  Read more

Letter to the Editor: My personal reasons for supporting the rail trail

Dear Editor,

I wish to convey my support of the Catskill Mountain Rail Trail. There are many positive aspects of the rail trail project that I have heard through the voice of the community and our local politicians. I would like to offer you my personal reasons for supporting the rail trail.

The rail trail will provide a safe means of bicycle commuting throughout the community. I live in Shokan and work in midtown Kingston. The reason I currently do not commute by bicycle is because of the safety concerns of cycling on Route 28. I have personally witnessed far too many distracted drivers on the stretch of highway from Shokan to Kingston to consider that a safe option. The rail trail would provide me a safe bicycle commuting route within a half mile of my home and would take me to within a few blocks of my workplace. Further, if conditions warranted, my bicycle and I could easily utilize our public transportation system. A UCAT bus ride in tandem with the rail trail is a win-win situation for the county, the environment, my health, and my wallet.  Read more

Letter to the Editor: It is time for a new direction for the proposed Catskill Mountain Rail Trail

Dear Editor,

I am writing to voice my support for the proposed Catskill Mountain Rail Trail. The corridor running from Kingston to Shokan, to Phoenicia, and beyond is ripe for this type of development. I know the Catskill Mountain Railroad has put in a lot of time on this line over the last 22 years but it's apparent that reopening the entire line for rail travel is a bit beyond their means. It is time for a new direction.

A rail trail in this area would have many  benefits. Number one of course would be the obvious health benefits to local residents who would get to use the trail on a very regular basis. In these days of skyrocketing childhood obesity any opportunity to get children moving, and outdoors, should be taken full advantage of.  Read more

Severe thunderstorm watch issued across New York State

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center has issued a severe thunderstorm watch, effective until 9pm, for 45 counties in New York State as well as northwest Connecticut, western Massachusetts, and southern Vermont.

The NWS warns that thunderstorms in the region may be accompanied by large hail -- up to two inches across - and winds of up to 70 miles per hour.

The alert was issued at 1:40pm. Included in the severe thunderstorm watch are all five counties of the Catskills region: Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster. 

A Facebook page to keep an eye on as the storms develop: Hudson Valley Weather, whose readers often submit reports of conditions on the ground when severe weather develops.

Let us know, too: Post your weather reports in a comment below, or email them to editor@watershedpost.com. (If you've got hail, send us photos!)  Read more

Earthquake in Canada rattles upstate NY

Above: A screenshot of the USGS's "Did You Feel It" map for an earthquake that struck northwest of Ottawa on Friday morning.

Update, 10:43am: The USGS has revised their initial 5.0 estimate for the earthquake down to 4.4

A 4.4 earthquake that struck northwest of Ottawa, Canada at 9:43am on Friday, May 17 was felt far and wide. 

Dozens of upstate New Yorkers are chiming in on the National Weather Service in Binghamton's Facebook wall to report feeling tremors. Reports of the quake are also flooding in on Twitter. A few:

   Read more

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