CATSKILL CASINO

Welcome in my friends. Get cozy. I hope you enjoy this edition and I’ll see ya out there.

Birds are returning back to the Catskills as our frozen tundra thaws. Over the coming weeks more songs will fill the forest as the early “pioneer” migrants move north, followed by a larger wave of songbirds in later April.

Some neighbors you will see and hear this week may include:

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus): The glossy black males are easy to spot with their bold red-and-yellow shoulder patches, often flashed while they sing.

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe): These are small grayish-brown flycatchers with a pale belly and wagging tail, they repeatedly call a simple emphatic “phoe-be”… I’m actually listening to them right now.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus): Slender long-legged plover with two distinct black breast bands.

With a 93.67% approval, we’re sponsoring a youth sports team — perhaps soccer, possibly baseball, might even be table tennis.

I’m having the conversations and seeing which leagues need our support. Soon enough a team shall be donned with the Catskill Crew eagle emblazoned on their jerseys and it will be a sight to see. Will report back asap.

I received word of a new casino and resort that was approved by the zoning board in Woodstock. It’s still early so I don’t know all of the details. But what I’ve gathered so far…

Rough estimates show it will be ~22,000 sq ft — 111 rooms, a gaming floor, spa, modest convention center, 3 helipads, three restaurants with 24/7 all-you-can-eat buffet, and a 60 foot tall replica of a lamprey.

Based on internal documents the project is estimated to break ground on April 1st 🙃 .

CONTRIBUTED BY SANDY

Hey folks, I wanted to first of all shout out how amazing the first-ever seed and cutting swap was. Huge thanks to Hudson Valley Seed Co., who donated a ton of seeds and to West Kill Supply for hosting. I was so heartened seeing everybody who attended and who brought seeds and cuttings to share. Some people even made envelopes by hand — astonishing!

I wanted to mention: For cuttings, I recommend putting them in water in a glass jar in bright, indirect sunlight (I keep mine on a north-facing but sunny windowsill). Change out the water frequently, ideally daily, as roots need oxygen to grow. Eventually you can transplant to soil. 

We’ve just passed the equinox. I’ve got two topics on my mind I wanted to briefly discuss today. Sowing peas, and planning the garden, overall. 

I love growing peas — from delicious snap peas to shell peas one can freeze and enjoy far into winter. I do recommend picking up some innoculant, which you’ll want to sprinkle in with your peas when planting. You’ll also want to soak your peas in water for 24 hours prior. I’ll usually sow my peas about 6 weeks before the last frost date (you can do so sooner but they’ll germinate more slowly). Also make sure they’ve got a sturdy trellis to climb upon. 

Around now, I tend to sit down with a sheet of paper to map out my whole garden plan for the year. I consider spacing needs for every plant and also succession planting. I think about rotation — i.e. making sure that plants from the same families don’t occupy the same spot repeatedly. (This is for discouraging pests.) If you’re unfamiliar, I recommend reading into companion planting and garden adversaries (friends/foes).

I’m going to be sowing out some greens and scallions under a row cover, soon. I recommend covers for extending the season — protecting any plantings from any further frosts or snows. Happy “spring”! Sandy

It’s come to my attention that a fellow Crew Member is leading the charge to help erase medical debt for friends and neighbors in Greene County.

Here’s what you need to know: The mutual aid program has partnered with Undue Medical Debt and there are two ways to support the mission. (1) donate right here (2) Order a Starting Point IPA at Old Factory Brewing and they’ll donate a dollar for each beer which erases one hundred dollars of debt.

We’re pretty picky.

You got a few hours to grab a spot at the the Catskill Crew Dinner Club - it’s all happening on April 2nd at 6:30 PM in RHINEBECK.

STOCK UP ON SUPPLIES AT THE PROVISIONS SHOP OPEN 24/7

THE SPRING EDITION OF THE CATSKILL CREW QUARTERLY IS BEING PREPARED - YOU CAN PREORDER THE SNAIL MAIL TODAY

OPEN CALL FOR PROFESSORS, EDUCATORS, AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO PRESENT AT A FUTURE SOCIAL STUDIES EVENT Apply here.

LAST WEEK’S UNSCRAMBLE: EARTHWORM

PROPERTY: Farmview Chalet

PETS: Lumi the puppy, Sophie the cat, and Beau the bunny

SKY: The Full Pink Moon arrives Wednesday, April 1 at 10:12 PM — named not for any color the moon turns, but for the creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) blooming across eastern hillsides. It is also called called the Breaking Ice Moon, Budding Moon, Egg Moon, and Paschal Moon.

SIGHTINGS: Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata

Your contributions go directly toward keeping Catskill Crew alive and well so we can have more fun and build a stronger community. I appreciate any and all support my friends! - Michael

ADD AN EVENT

WGXC Catskill Studio, Catskill – Soundshare at Wave Farm starts at 6PM calling all creatives and musicians

Assembly, Kingston – Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band at 8PM get yer tickets

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock – Joseph: Closer to Happy Tour at 8PM details

Catskill Fly Fishing Museum, Livingston Manor – First Cast at Junction Pool at 7AM tightest of lines

Hector's Inn, Bethel – April Fools Bash at 7PM mystery shots

High Score Arcade, Rhinebeck – Pinball Tournament at 6:45PM good stuff

Pearl Moon, Woodstock – Folk Dinner Show at 6:30PM glass hours

Unicorn Bar, Kingston – Queer Trivia Wednesdays at 7:30PM

Avalon Lounge, Catskill – On the Fly Story Slam: Disguises at 7PM

Left Bank Ciders, Catskill – Community Soup Night to support Yaad Wellness at 5PM

Catskill Brewery, Livingston Manor – Adam Fitch Live at 5PM

Salt Box, Kingston – Cunth Night with Queer Kingston at 6PM now on thursdays

Tubby's, Kingston – Book Release Party: Cosmic Music - The Life, Art, and Transcendence of Alice Coltrane at 6PM

Unicorn Bar, Kingston – Second Night Community Seder at 5PM more info

Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre – Herbal Remedies: Part 2 at 6PM goldenrod

Dear Native Grapes, Walton – Greek Dinner Party with Cafe Mutsi at 6PM niceee

Stamford Coffee, Stamford – Oyster Night for West Branch Commons at 4PM 287 acre farm

Buck Brook Alpacas, Roscoe – Easter Egg Hunt & Fiber Craft at 11AM meet some animals

Catskill - First Fridays at 5PM

Community Theater, Catskill – More Beautiful Perversions with Q&A at 8PM take a look

Catskill Mountain Woodworking, Catskill – River Board Charcuterie Board Classes at 6PM make stuff

Roscoe Beer Company – Bourbon Barrel Series with Live Music at 5PM brown water

Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock – Antibalas at 8PM buy tickets

🦅 Arnold House, Livingston Manor - A Season Opener Party at 5PM all the details on the poster up above my friends.

Dette Flies, Livingston Manor – Annual Season Opener at 10AM

Catskill Brewery, Livingston Manor – Fly Fishing Opening Day at 12PM see here

Basilica Hudson – In Time: A Group Exhibition learn more

The Dale, Mountain Dale – Aries B-Day Dance Party at 8PM zodiac

Orpheum Performing Arts Center, Tannersville – Come Home: The Chase Brock Experience at 7PM sea shanties

Opus 40, Saugerties – Land Escape at 10AM learn more

Arrowood Farms, Accord – Easter Celebration at 12PM there will be goats

Doolittle's, Fleischmanns – 2nd Anniversary Celebration at 6PM

Senate House State Historic Site, Kingston – Sugaring Off: 18th Century Style at 11AM maple syrup

Spiral House Park, Saugerties – Trails, Gardens, Sculpture Field & House Tour at 10AM sacred geometry

Woodstock Library – Author Reading: Leslie Sharpe and Kenneth Posner present The Quarry Fox and Chasing the Grid at 4:30PM details

DVAA, Narrowsburg – Movie: The Last Repair Shop at 2PM 80,000 instruments

Assembly, Kingston – Luna Live at 8PM tickets

Roscoe Mountain Club – Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt at 9AM deets

Andes Hotel – Easter Sunday at 11AM meet the rabbit

Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook – Spring Egg Hunt at 1PM deets

Hudson Valley LGBTQ, Kingston – Poly/ENM Mixer at 4:30PM deets

Rough Draft, Kingston – Upstate Reads Book Club at 6PM