Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center has its ribbon cut

Article from Woodstock Times:

County Executive Michael Hein with former Congressman Maurice Hinchey at the dedication. (photo by Alan Carey)

Several hundred people gathered for the dedication and opening of the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center (CIC) in Mount Tremper on July 1. Local officials spoke in celebration of the long-delayed center, addressing an audience that included many Shandaken residents, along with representatives of cultural and environmental organizations.
Former Congressman Hinchey was present to receive the accolades of his admirers, including Ulster County Executive Mike Hein, who praised him as “someone who understood the issue of the environment when no one else was talking about it, who understood what it meant to be stewards of the environment and why it mattered.” Assemblyman Kevin Cahill said he had worked for Hinchey in 1975, when the Congressman sponsored bills such as one that banned new billboards from being erected in the Catskills.

Marty Millman

Obituary appeared in Daily Freeman.

Martin Millman OLIVEREA-Martin Millman, 78, of Oliverea, died Saturday, July 25, 2015 at HealthAlliance Hospital Broadway Campus. Born in Brooklyn, he was a son of the late Louis and Eva Young Millman. With his wife, Georganna, they owned the Phoenicia Pharmacy for 35 years. He served on the town board for the Town of Shandaken for 10 years and on the Onteora School Board for 10 years. He is survived by his wife Georganna Millman of Oliverea, four children, Joshua Millman and his wife Sara of Landsdale, Pa., Jacob Millman and his wife Michelle of Boiceville, Deborah Millman of N.Y., N.Y., Lawrence Millman and his wife Jane of Smithtown, N.Y., one sister, Harriet Parnes and her husband Emanuel of Monsey, N.Y. One granddaughter, Isabella (Izzy) Millman and several nieces and nephews also survive. A graveside service will be privately held. Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave is honored to assist the family with the arrangements. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Ulster County SPCA, 20 Wiedy Rd., Kingston, N.Y. 12401

                   

Published in the Daily Freeman on July 26, 2015

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5 more things to do in Phoenicia

Story online in the Times Herald-Record:

With mountains high, rushing waters and rapids low, the folks in the cozy hamlet of Phoenicia are rightfully proud to live amidst all that nature has provided. Situated as it is in the High Peaks Region of the Catskills, it makes sense that there’s an emphasis on play here.

Nearly 400 people call Phoenicia home, according to the last Census, and they make the most of it. Businesses range from the outdoors-focused to shops selling home furnishings as well as eateries, art galleries, hotels and guest houses.

The Phoenicia Business Association’s website – phoeniciany.com – makes it easy to find out about what’s going on and it offers links to the area shops and services.

10-room hotel, with restaurant and bar, to open in Mount Tremper

Story from the Daily Freeman:

This building on Andrew Lane in the Shandaken hamlet of Mount Tremper will be home to the Foxfire Mountain House. From foxfiremountainhouse.com

 

MOUNT TREMPER >> A combined hotel, restaurant and bar will operate on Andrew Lane in this town of Shandaken hamlet.

Tim Trojian, owner of the property at 72 Andrew Lane, has been given permission by the town to renovate an existing structure on the site and turn it into a business called the Foxfire Mountain House. The hotel will have 10 guest rooms.

Trojian, speaking at a July 8 public hearing about his plan, said the building was constructed more than a century ago, when such facilities dotted the local hillsides and trains brought visitors up from New York City.

“Our goal is to restore the inn which was originally built around 1900 and known as the Mountain Breeze House,” he said. “We’ve taken the time to do the best we can to restore the inn — not to historical values, but to make sure it stays as a piece of the town’s heritage for the next hundred years.”

Several neighbors have voiced concerns about traffic flow on the half-mile road that leads to the inn.

Trojian’s property sits at the end of the narrow, dead-end Andrew Lane. Several houses are located along the way up the hill to the site, and many are close to the road.

The Shandaken Planning Board said it will ask the town highway superintendent to take a look at the road. The board also plans to recommend a lower speed limit.

Concerns also have been voiced about noise from the new business because Trojian said he plans to host weddings there as soon as next month.

The Foxfire Mountain House will be on hillside on the south side of Route 28, just west of the Emerson Resort and Spa.

Trojian and his wife, Arden, have established an online journal at foxfiremountainhouse.com to tell the story of their adventure as the property’s new owners. They said they bought the site in 2013.

The website feature old photos of the site’s former inn during its glory days, as well as images showing how it fell into disrepair and the restoration efforts.

“Here’s the situation at its core: We are the proud new owners of a property in sleepy, lovely Mouny Tremper which was once the famed Mountain Breeze Guest House,” the Trojians say on the site. “In between its previous life as a hotel and coming to us, the property has fallen into overgrown, crumbling, love-needing disrepair. ... We’ve come a long way, but we’ve got miles more to go.” We hope you’ll join us along the way....”