The ‘community’ in theater

A Woodstock Times story about Phoenicia's Shandaken Theatrical Society. The first STS production: The Spitfire Grill By James Valcq and Fred Alley. Directed by Glenn Lazlo Weiss. Musical direction by Andrew Goodsight. Performance Dates: May 25, 26, 27 June 1, 2, 3 June 8, 9,10.


The theater will be hopping this summer. Although no in-house production has been planned, the space will be rented out for several performances. Lutenist and guitarist Carver Blanchard performs Renaissance and 19th century American music. Arm-of-the-Sea Theater, with its big, whimsical puppets, will give a free performance of The City that Drinks the Mountain Sky, about the Ashokan Reservoir, sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension. And Phoenicia’s own rock star, Robert Burke Warren, a.k.a. Uncle Rock, is planning a concert.

The remainder of the season will include STS productions of A Thousand Clowns, Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys, The Lady with all the Answers: The Ann Landers Play, and the musical Working based on the Studs Terkel book. Weekly showings of classic movies continue, have switched from the last Friday of the month to the last Saturday — with showings bumped back if there’s play on. Check the theater website at for details of shows and films.

Ribbon cutting held for new bridge

Story on YNN details reopening of bridge in Big Indian.

CDC to baby boomers: Get tested for hepatitis C

By Mike Stobee, Associated PressAtlanta (AP) — For the first time, health officials are proposing that all baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C. Anyone born from 1945 to 1965 should get a one-time blood test to see if they have the liver-destroying virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in draft recommendations issued Friday. Baby boomers account for 2 million of the 3.2 million Americans infected with the blood-borne virus. The virus can take decades to cause liver damage, and many people don't know they're infected. CDC officials believe the new measure could lead 800,000 more baby boomers to get treatment and could save more than 120,000 lives.

Phoenicia Library interim director

An article in the Woodstock Times reports the Interim Director is: hamlet resident Elizabeth Potter. Further, the library has two new board members and two new employees. Meanwhile, bids are being processed for the renovation of the Main Street library that was gutted by fire last March, but objections by neighbors will delay the building project.


As for rebuilding: Neighbors on both sides of the Main Street library building have taken legal action against the Shandaken Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and the library, alleging technical errors in the ZBA’s approval of the renovation plans. After consulting with lawyers, the library board has decided to withdraw its application and reapply.

CWC pulls out of Phoenicia sewer project

An article in the Watershed Post announces:
Shandaken's latest bout of dithering over a proposed Phoenicia sewer plant may have cost the town $15.8 million in New York City grant money. After years of negotiation with a reluctant town board over the Phoenicia sewer project, the Catskill Watershed Corporation has finally decided enough is enough.

And: But it seems there is little hope that Phoenicia will be able to get that grant now. Alan Rosa, executive director of the CWC, told the Watershed Post on Tuesday that the nonprofit is washing its hands of Phoenicia's dirty water