Country Wisdom News

The evolving story of a countywide bike and rail trail plan.

by Tod Westlake

A movement toward a more sustainable way of living will mean that we need to come up with sustainable forms of recreation. In the coming decades, the rise in fuel prices will likely mean that air travel will once again become a bit more of a luxury, and that people will look for attractive and fun ways to have fun in their own backyards. Now take a step back and think of all that Ulster County has to offer when it comes to outdoor recreation. Depending upon the time of year, there is an endless variety of outdoor activities that are available in this area.

One of the things that will help glue this concept together on a countywide basis is a comprehensive system of bike and rail trails. And there's no doubt that Ulster County is off to a very good start. With approximately 30 miles of rail trails throughout mostly the southern portion of the county, and other more rugged trails further to the north, you don't have to travel far if you want to get out in the sunshine and enjoy a safe place to ride.

Even more encouraging is the fact that these trails could, in the coming years, become a single contiguous system that will allow folks to access most parts of the county. You could get on your bike in Poughkeepsie or Highland, enjoy a ride through New Paltz, and then up to Kingston for some lunch. An even more ambitious vision would see cyclists in Manhattan be able to ride from the city all the way into the Catskills.

"That's the ten-thousand foot view, isn't it?" said Richard Travers, chairman of the Rondout Valley Rail Trail Initiative as well as the head of the Rondout Valley Business Association (RVBA). "You start in Battery Park in Manhattan, you ride up through Westchester, up into Dutchess County, you cross the Walkway Over the Hudson, and then you reach the trails here in Ulster County."

One of the recent steps in this direction, according to Travers, occurred several years ago when municipalities in the Rondout Valley began to recognize that they had a mutual interest in seeing a healthy and vibrant rail trail along the path of the old O&W Railroad right-of-way.

"Back in 2009, the town boards of Marbletown, Rochester, Rosendale, Wawarsing, and the Village of Ellenville agreed to join with the RVBA in creating a municipal agreement,” said Travers, “the purpose of which is to see a contiguous rail trail from the northern part of the valley, which is Marbletown, to the southern part of the valley, which is Ellenville. There would also be a connector on Route 213 to the eastern part of the Rondout Valley, which is of course Rosendale."

Travers, along with the municipal officials who backed the agreement, believe strongly that the trail can do a lot when it comes to attracting tourist dollars, and that there will be a number of associated businesses that could be created, thereby adding jobs to a local economy that has taken more than its fair share of hits in recent years.

"We want to create this contiguous trail in order to stimulate the economy of the Rondout Valley," Travers said. "It's as simple as that."

There are also a number of spots where spurs, or secondary trails, could link up with points west. For example, there has been some discussion in recent years of linking Minnewaska State Park Preserve with the Vernooy Kill State Forest (aka, the Lundy Estate) on the west side of Route 209.

"These secondary trails, while important, aren't as important to the local economy as the main rail trail," Travers added. "The main trail will pass through the hamlet of Accord and the hamlet of Kerhonkson, and it is the most likely vehicle for improving the economies of those two hamlets."

Travers sees an even bigger upside for the valley if the current plans to revitalize the Nevele Grande Resort come to fruition.

"Think about the rail trail's effect on these communities in conjunction with the return of the Nevele," Travers said. "The Nevele has two-and-a-half miles of rail trail on it already, and that would extend into Ellenville."

Travers says that there are plenty of adventurous types who would happily ride their bikes from the Nevele into the northern part of the county—assuming that there's a way for them to do so.

"There are people who take the train as far as they can up into the Hudson Valley, and then they bike all over the place," Travers noted. "So, there's no question that rail trails are a fantastic form of entertainment and that they attract visitors. It could be the single most important item to help stimulate the local economy."

Over on the other side of the Shawangunk Ridge, the Wallkill Valley Land Trust (WVLT) has been actively involved for the past several decades with the creation and preservation of the rail trail through Gardiner and New Paltz.

"We do conservation easements and land protection agreements in southern Ulster County," said WVLT Executive Director Christine DeBoer. "We were able to do a series of events to purchase the rail bed for the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, which is about 12.2 miles in [the towns of] Gardiner and New Paltz."

DeBoer says that the trust, after purchasing the rail bed, placed what is known as a "conservation easement" on it, and then turned the property over to the Town of Gardiner. Conservation easements are legally enforceable agreements between an owner (often a land trust) and government that clearly delineate that the property is to be preserved. These agreements also stipulate that the property is to be inspected on a regular basis, thereby ensuring that there is no encroachment by unwelcome development or other problems.

"Because of the conservation easement, there's a legal obligation we have...to inspect the property every year," DeBoer said. "I always joke around that we make sure that a skinny Walmart doesn't pop up on the rail trail. And that's our obligation forever."

The day-to-day management of the trail itself is actually handled by the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Association, a group that the WVLT helped to develop.

"That organization maintains the rail trail," DeBoer said. "They work with the town or village to do mowing and things like that."

A big move for the WVLT also came in 2009, when they partnered with the Open Space Institute (OSI) to purchase another 11.5 miles of the Wallkill Valley rail bed, according to DeBoer.

"This goes through the Town of Rosendale, through the Town of Ulster, and all the way to the Kingston city line along Route 32," DeBoer said. "The exciting part is that, except for a few tiny sections that we're working on, it's contiguous."

Part of this will go through the Williams Lake development, and DeBoer said that the company that plans to build the project sees the rail trail as a welcome addition.

"We're working with them," DeBoer added. "They want the rail trail, and all of their development plans include it."

DeBoer said that an agreement over a rail trail easement through the property would probably happen sometime this year.

The most imposing feature in this newest section is, of course, the railroad trestle in Rosendale.

"We're partnered with OSI to raise $1.1 million to restore the railroad trestle for pedestrian use," DeBoer says.

The trestle, it should be noted, was open for a time, but has now been closed until a number of safety modifications can be put in place, including new railings and new decking.

"We're looking to be able to open the trestle by the end of this year, hopefully earlier," DeBoer said.

As of now, however, the project has raised over $850,000, so things appear to be on track for a dramatic unveiling.

The development of this type of trail system is not without its minor headaches. If you would like to bike from the rail trail in New Paltz to the Walkway Over the Hudson in the Town of Highland, for example, you'll have no choice but to ride your bicycle on surface streets, some of which have inadequate shoulders for bicycle traffic.

Recently, however, the Southern Ulster Alliance—which consists of the Towns of New Paltz, Gardiner, Lloyd, Marlboro and Plattekill—undertook a feasibility study regarding the prospect of linking the two trails.

The 63-page study goes into great detail regarding several measures that would make this possible. For example, creating a "bike boulevard" on Henry Dubois Road, and a bicycle boardwalk that would traverse the wetlands between New Paltz and Highland. And then there's the issue of safely getting bicyclists across the NY State Thruway.

Another major factor in creating a countywide system involves the creation of a rail trail system in the City of Kingston that will act as a sort of nexus for a number of other trails. The Kingston Land Trust has been actively working to create a "network of trails, bike paths, and complete streets that connect rail trails from the Wallkill Valley, Rondout Valley, Catskill Mountains, and Kingston Point to a Midtown Hub along the Broadway Corridor creating more opportunities for residents, families, and visitors to connect with places in the city that are special to them and to interact with nature," according to the group's website.

Ulster County is perfectly situated to become the go-to place when it comes to biking here in the northeast. And with all of these projects converging, it may be time to start thinking about whether a comprehensive master plan for the county as a whole would be a worthwhile endeavor. Many of the pieces are already in place. Now could be a good time to take it to the next level.

by Rebecca Shea

The suburbs have their lawns, the countryside has firewood. Firewood is important and expressive business here in the country. Both suppliers and buyers are busy all year long handling this valuable resource.

Suppliers are constantly managing woodlands, felling trees, splitting wood, stacking wood, making deals, and transporting wood here, there, and everywhere. This is why it takes them a so long to return your phone calls. Don’t stress that much, it’s not too personal. They are busy people.

On the other side of the transaction, firewood buyers are just as busy assessing and managing their wood piles. Do I have enough firewood? Should I get more? Is now the right time to buy? Is this wood ready to burn? That firewood needs to be split and stacked!

But to the important—finding a “wood man.” Firewood suppliers can be located through newspaper advertisements, hand written announcements posted on community boards and by word of mouth. Your neighbor with all that firewood may have a great supplier.

It is necessary to be aware that New York State regulates transporting untreated firewood to protect trees from deadly invasive pests. It is illegal to bring untreated firewood into the state. Untreated firewood cannot be transported more than 50 miles from its source and within that 50 miles, firewood must carry proof of source (such as a receipt). Treated firewood which has been heated to eliminate pests can be moved without restriction.

Another important issue firewood buyers face is understanding the quantities of wood that are actually being offered for sale by firewood suppliers. The simplest measure to deal in is the cord. A cord of firewood is a measure of volume of stacked wood that is eight feet, by four feet, by four feet, or 128 cubic feet. Of course, there is the face cord, pick-up truck load, dump truck load and or the "Picker Load" that you could order, but the cord is a legal definition that carries in most states. Make your life simple and deal in cords. A minimum order for delivery is usually 2 cords.

The price for delivered firewood depends on the quality of the firewood, the quantity you buy at any one time, your location, and the time of year. If you’re buying wood late in the winter, prices are going to be higher. If you buy in the off-season, prices are discounted.

You want hard wood or mixed wood. Maple, oak, ash, beech, birch, etc. are all good. You'll get more heat per weight with hard wood than you will with softwood. Soft woods like popular burn up fast and don't produce as much heat. Pine, spruce, fir and other evergreens produce large amounts of creosote and are not good for burning in the house. However, they are great for using as kindling, if properly dried.

It is important to learn the difference between dry wood and green wood. After wood is cut, some time is needed for the sap to dry out of the wood before burning it. This process is called seasoning. Six months is about minimum and 1-2 years is much better. Seasoned wood is dry wood. Green wood is unseasoned firewood.

While the wood is seasoning, or being stored for later use, it needs to be organized and kept dry. Stacking wood is the public and expressive part of firewood management. Since firewood is omnipresent in the country, it is hard not to compare, contrast and wonder. So it seems a hardworking and reliable man stacks his firewood square and straight, while a lazy or let’s be kind, just a busy man leaves the wood in a covered pile or “rick”. A Scandinavian tradition has the firewood pile arranged in a round. Either round, straight, or thrown in a pile to give the wood as much wind and sun exposure as possible for seasoning.

After responding to all that firewood demands, it is the fire and smoke that thrills and nourishes this time of year. Burn smart and enjoy!

More in Common than Revealed in Mainstream Media
by Tod Westlake

One of the viral jokes being posted on Facebook in recent weeks goes like this: Three people are sitting at a table—an executive, a union representative, and a worker. There are ten cookies on the table. Suddenly, the executive grabs eight of the cookies, leaving one each for the other two. He then points to the union rep and says to the worker, "Look out for this guy. He wants to steal your cookie."

This joke encapsulates what many are feeling these days, that the economic playing field has been tilted too far in one direction. The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement, for example, has spent quite a bit of time talking about what has become known as the "1%," that group of individuals at the top of the income scale who seem to have the vast majority of the cookies. With annual incomes in the millions of dollars, this upper strata of earners are the ones who call the economic shots—often at the expense of the rest of the 99% who are left to fight over crumbs.

George Washington at Federal Memorial on Wall Street.

And there's no doubt that the huge disparities between the haves and the have-nots is a significant part of the angst many are feeling. For those sympathetic to the Occupy Wall Street movement, income disparity is just another symptom and sign that something in this country has gone terribly amiss. We work longer hours, see fewer benefits, make less money in real dollars, and see our already inadequate social safety net being slowly dismantled.

But how do we quantify this? In other words, just how far has the playing field tilted? According to an article by Dave Gilson and Carolyn Perot published in Mother Jones magazine earlier this year, one percent of Americans currently account for 34.6 percent of the net worth in this country. That's one person in a hundred wielding over one third of the economic power. When you extend this outward a bit further, to 10 percent of the richest Americans, the numbers are even more startling. Currently, 10 percent of Americans control a staggering 73.1 percent—or nearly three-quarters—of this nation's wealth.

Income, too, shows huge disparities between the top and bottom tiers. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the top one percent of Americans have seen their income increase nearly fourfold in the past 30-plus years (adjusted in 2007 dollars). Meanwhile, the bottom 20 percent hasn't had a raise. Translated another way, the top one percent have seen their share of the nation's income more than double, while the bottom fifth have seen their piece of the pie shrink by nearly a third. Numbers like these should give pause to even the most ardent free marketeer.

Princeton economist and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman has spent quite a bit of ink on this phenomenon. Writing on his NY Times blog, The Conscience of a Liberal, Krugman identifies three key periods in the 20th century when it comes to wealth distribution in the US. After what he refers to as the Long Gilded Age (the late 19th and early 20th centuries), the nation underwent what Krugman refers to as a Great Compression (late 1930s through mid-1940s). During these decades economic disparity dropped considerably. And from the late 1940s onward, things were much more equitable, according to Krugman.

"It was a society without extremes of wealth or poverty, a society of broadly shared prosperity, partly because strong unions, a high minimum wage, and a progressive tax system helped limit inequality," he writes. "That’s the country I grew up in."

But the late 1970s came along and things started to skew back in the other direction. Slowly, inexorably, we've managed to get back into a situation in which wealth continually creeps upward, while poverty continues to roll downhill with increasing velocity. Krugman calls this, the period in which we are now living, the Great Divergence.

"Between 1979 and 2005 the real income of the median household rose only 13 percent, but the income of the richest 0.1% of Americans rose 296 percent," Krugman writes.

And things have only gotten worse in the past several years.

This has led to a situation in which the fruits of living in the world's largest economy have for many become all too bitter. There are currently 42.6 million Americans living in poverty, which is defined as a family of four earning less than $22,350. Stop and think about this for a minute. This is 15.1 percent of the population who are attempting to live, and raise two children, on a sum that would barely support a single person here in Ulster County.

So, these are the numbers. We can massage them all we want, but it won't change the fact that these statistical abstractions have embedded in them the lives of real people. In another example of how far off the economic rails we've gone, the advocacy group Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) recently released a report entitled: Living Below the Line: Economic Security and America's Families. The report concludes that, currently, 45 percent of Americans "struggle to make ends meet." These are the folks who live just above the poverty line, a group of people for whom even the smallest unexpected expense—car repair, a doctor's bill—can mean months of hardship.

The folks in this segment of the population have become what is known as "the working poor," people who have jobs, sometimes several jobs, none of which pay a living wage, provide good benefits, or offer any kind of long-term economic security.

College graduates do fare much better in the current economic climate, according to WOW. But even this group is beginning to feel the relentless creep of poverty. Currently, 21 percent of households headed by someone with a college degree lack economic security.

"In the past, threats to economic security were supposedly clear—dropping out of high school, being a single parent, or having a large family. In today's economy, we cannot assume we know who lacks security," the WOW report states.

So, where do we go from here? Many have advocated for a modest adjustment on the top-tier tax rate. This will happen automatically at the beginning of 2013, when the Bush Tax Cuts expire and the top marginal rate moves from 35 percent up to 39 percent on income in excess of $250,000 per year. Deficit hawks will also be pleased to know that this automatic adjustment will close the nation's debt by $3.6 trillion dollars over the next ten years.

But won't an increase in marginal tax rates stifle economic growth? If history is any guide, the short answer is "no". Throughout most of the 20th century, the top tax bracket was actually much higher than it is at present. The fact is, we have to go all the way back to the era prior to WWI to see a period in which marginal rates are lower than they are now. In 1916, the top tier paid 10 percent of its income over $250,000 in taxes. This was changed two years later, in 1918, when the top rate jumped to 72 percent! Yes, you read that number correctly. The rate was more than double what it is now. This actually peaked in 1952, when the top bracket paid a staggering 92 percent. From 1942 through 1962 marginal rates never dipped below 88 percent. Those who are a bit older will remember these two decades as being among the most prosperous in this nation's history, an era in which our government had the resources to take care of its own—and a one-income household could afford to purchase a home and send its kids to college.

Whether we can ever return to the prosperity that our parents and grandparents knew remains an open question. In the interim, we need to be keenly aware that many of our neighbors continue to struggle. And now that the holidays are upon us, we should also remember that this is the season when poverty really hurts. Whether it's a senior citizen neighbor, a down-on-his-luck member of the family, or a complete stranger, we as individuals can make a big difference in the lives of the less fortunate. And if our government can't, or won't, provide a strong safety net, it's up to the rest of us to make this holiday season one that is remembered not for what we received, but what we gave.

Resources

wowonline.org

krugman.blogs.nytimes.com

Food Pantries in Ulster County

nyconnects.ulstercountyny.gov (click "emergency food pantries" in the left column)

Rosendale’s First CSA has Launched!

by Mimi Quinn

With a huge effort from its core members and a multitude of volunteers, the Binnewater Farm Project (BFP) will be the first-ever Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in the Town of Rosendale. The CSA will be operating on property they’ve leased from Legacy Farm Cohousing (LFC)—a nine-owner cooperative located off Binnewater Road in Rosendale.


Dan Guenther with CSA volunteers.

BFP President Dimitri Galitzine said, “We’re thrilled that Legacy Farm is able to contribute to the creation of this CSA, as sustainability is a keystone of our vision for the cohousing community.”

So how did this all start?

Galitzine said, “We asked Dan Guenther, who had helped to develop a number of CSAs locally, to speak to our group, and we developed the idea of reaching out to folks not involved in developing cohousing to get the project moving. There was strong interest in the local community; the project has really taken off.”

According to Galitzine, the lease is for 10 acres of property (not all of it usable for farming) for one dollar per year. He stated that LFC plans to cluster their development on approximately six acres of the total 56 acres and will leave the remaining land open and undeveloped. The CSA will provide local sustainable food for both LFC and the surrounding community.

A press release dated October 18 stated: “Support for BFP has come in many forms. The group obtained a loan to cover start-up costs from a generous individual who prefers to remain anonymous; all interest from the loan will be paid out in donations of produce to the Rosendale Food Pantry.”

The release also noted that additional support has come from the Bruderhof Community, who plowed the fields in preparation for cover crop cultivation; and from the Students for Sustainable Agriculture at SUNY New Paltz, who participated in farm “work days” by gathering cedar trees to serve as fence posts and helping to spread manure to improve the soil.

In basic terms, a CSA is comprised of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation with the growers, with consumers providing mutual support as well as sharing the benefits of food production. Typically, members or “shareholders” of the CSA pledge to cover anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer’s salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm’s bounty throughout the growing season.

After putting a “shout-out” for an experienced CSA farmer, Kristen MacDonald was hired. She is relocating from Massachusetts.

“Kristen brings seven years of CSA experience in the Northeast and is very excited about starting up this farm from the ground up,” Galitzine said.

MacDonald said that she looks forward to meeting the community and seeing the farm develop.

“I was really impressed when I learned about the Binnewater Farm Project. To me this project is inspiring and exciting, and I am thrilled for the opportunity to get to be a part of this CSA,” she said.

Getting ready for garlic planting.

The official launch of the BFP took place on Saturday, October 29, when the SUNY New Paltz Students for Sustainable Agriculture gathered with BFP volunteers to plant the farm’s first crop—garlic—which will be harvested next year and distributed to CSA members as part of their weekly farm share.

The inauguration was also the start of the promotion for CSA membership for the 2012 growing season. Each share will cost $800 and provide fresh vegetables sufficient for a family of four over the course of a five-month distribution period, which breaks down to about $30 per week.

At this point membership is enthusiastically encouraged and there are many phone numbers and emails on the CSA site for prospective members to contact to join the CSA or volunteer, stated Galitzine.

CSA member Emma Kreyche said, “This is really a team effort. There are so many people who have helped out that are not even part of the core group. My friend Mark is hosting our website on his server; our friend Dave lent us his tiller to till the garlic beds; a student from New Paltz is designing a logo for us...it's really been amazing the way people have rallied behind this project.”

BFP is also seeking volunteers to help install a new fence, set up a greenhouse, repair the barns, and help with both farming and administrative tasks.

To sign up for the CSA, volunteer, or to find out about meeting times and locations please visit binnewaterfarm.org.

300-year-old building is home to museum and Ulster Historical Society

by Rebecca Shea

The Bevier House was first settled in the 1680s and
began as a one room structure, constructed by Andres
Van Leuven. Photo by Mimi Quinn.

Lucky for us, Ulster County has a great collection of old stone houses. They are sublime. Old stone houses look fiercely elegant in the landscape and their interiors are often charmingly redolent of the past. One such fine house is the Bevier House on Route 209 in Marbletown, now the Bevier House Museum, and headquarters of the Ulster County Historic Society.

The over 300-year-old Bevier House is an amazing asset to our community. The Ulster County Historic Society received the house in 1938 from Louis Bevier and his sisters. They had occupied the house and site for seven generations. The stately house effectively meets the Historic Society’s mission as curator and collector of significant Hudson Valley artifacts, documents, and cultural items and to educate our community and public on the very important role Ulster County has played in the formation of our nation.

The building is of excellent design and contains many items of beauty and interest. Today’s Ulster County residents can find enormous inspiration and practical knowledge within the exhibits and special events.

The house includes a fascinating kitchen dating back to c.1680, and carefully and accurately dressed rooms in the Victorian style. Sometimes, to our modern eye the Victorian home can be overwhelming with its profusion of objects. Victorians loved to decorate—filling almost every open space with some little treasure. Even picture frames were elaborate. You can see some fine examples of pinecone picture frames in the second floor hall. They are a marvel of ingenuity. It took great inspiration and skill to create these. They are astonishing.

Also of note, the tool room, known as the Peter Sinclair Gallery of Early American Crafts and Trades, holds an extensive collection of farm and homestead equipment, many demonstrated in their use. This exhibit is fun and informative—a must for any country homeowner.

On the house’s formidable façade is an intriguing detail, about 12 feet up at the southwest corner, the remains of a vertical sundial is visible. Sundials are fascinating, stimulating with all their complexities. This particular vertical sundial seems a unique addition to a residential home; they were most often installed on civic buildings. The Museum’s director believes that the sundial was built into the second level of the house sometime in the last quarter of the 19th century.

Two upcoming events at Bevier House Museum are an opportunity to see the Museum and participate in their wonderful education outreach. November 26 is A Children’s Christmas, which will include period craft building, carol singing, and snacks plus a visit from St. Nicholas. November 26, 12-3pm. Fee: $5.00, call for reservations. 845-338-5614.

On December 3 and 4, Bevier Museum holds their Holiday Open House and fundraiser. This is a beautiful event and an easy way to support the UCHS. Just pop in and enjoy. The house is decorated in Victorian holiday grandeur, there is music, snacks, and inspiration—and good cheer abounds. December 3 & 4, 12-4pm. Fee: $5 members, $8 nonmembers.

The Bevier House Museum is open May 1 to October 31, Thursday to Sunday, 12-5pm. Admission: $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students ages 5-15, children under 5 are free. Library & Archives: Open only by appointment. Call or email museum@bevierhousemuseum.org.

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