HISTORY OF TAXIDERMY

Hey there. Take a load off and slow the scroll. I just lost the biggest trout of the fly fishing season (a rainbow for those who were wondering). Anywho, enjoy the edition and I’ll see ya out there.

The first Catskill Crew: Social Studies event has arrived, and we will be graced by the incredible, brilliant, and inspiring BRANT MACDUFF for a riveting lecture on the History of Taxidermy.

About Brant MacDuff: Brant is a conservation & taxidermy historian who studies and writes about wildlife conservation strategy & economics. He recently launched a book — The Shotgun Conservationist — and just got back from Mongolia, where he was studying how "safari style" economics benefit wildlife and people in the western Altai mountain range.

Now, he’s taking us on a journey through the quirky and intriguing history of taxidermy, highlighting key moments in the world of this unique art and the evolution of early museums. You'll hear about some of the most important and eccentric figures behind the wildlife conservation movement in America, with a wild story to go with every slide.

Come on out, meet some humans, have a beverage, grab a bite, and learn some stuff. We’ll see you at The Arnold House in Livingston Manor on Friday, May 8th at 6pm. Want to stay the night? Get 30% off your stay on May 8th and 9th with the code CATSKILLCREW.

PROPERTY: $14,000,000

PETS: Maya the dog, Romi the cat, and the rat brothers Benny & Scabbers

SKY: The Lyrids peak on the 23rd at 4am with an estimated 11 fireballs per hour (FPH). These meteors originate from debris that has come from the Comet C/1861 Thatcher in the Lyra constellation.

SIGHTINGS: Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra (spotted by my friend Jamie Kennard)

In less than one hour we hit our fundraising goal of $400 for the Rip Van Winkle Soccer Club. Darn fine job my friends.

In the end, we crushed the target — bringing in a total of $940. Massive thank you to everyone who contributed. This-is-what-community-is-all-about.

Soon there’ll be a bunch of kids running around the pitch with Catskill Crew jerseys — I just hope they screech like eagles when they score a goal.

Dinner Club reservations close when the sun goes down today. Come on out to Kingston on April 23rd at 6:30PM. Grab a spot at a table.

Turn the screens off, take a seat and enjoy some snail mail. The Spring Quarterly is shipping out — directly to your mailbox. You can order yours here.

P.S. Look forward to seeing all the familiar as well as new faces at the seasonal gathering.

P.P.S. There are a lot of species of trees we can plant and I’m talking to some amazing folks now that the season is warming (one tree planted for every letter mailed). Stay tuned.

I sat down to write something for Pink’s… then I started reading through their hundreds of five-star reviews and found this one:

“AN AWE-INSPIRING, COSMICALLY EPIC ODE TO PINK'S WINDOW SERVICES. If there existed a review scale that reached beyond the stars — past galaxies, nebulae, and into the very fabric of the universe itself — Pink's Window Services would still surpass it with thunderous triumph.”

When customers write you an ode, you know you’re doing it right. So if you have dirty windows, clogged gutters, a streaked roof, a weathered deck, or siding that needs love — Pink’s is the crew you call.

MARBLE POLISHING EXPERTS: From marble, bluestone, and travertine, to concrete, tile, and grout — Marble Polishing Experts can renew any stone. They are certified in Historic Stone Preservation (very cool), and have done work for everyone from local homeowners to the US Mint. If you've got natural stone that needs some TLC - GIVE BOB AND JULIA A CALL. And since they are Crew Members, they’re hooking everyone up with 20% off. Just mention Catskill Crew.

Limited Edition BIG BUG ENERGY Dad Caps: Featuring 6 arthropods → Planthopper, Milkweed Bug, Yellow Garden Orb Weaver, Caddis, Damselfly, and the much-loved Pillbug. GRAB YOUR BUGS

MOUNTAIN MEMORY GAMES: TEST YOUR SKILLS

CATSKILL PUZZLES: HAVE SOME FUN

SPRING EDITION OF THE CATSKILL CREW QUARTERLY: ORDER YOUR SNAIL MAIL

OPEN CALL TO PRESENT AT FUTURE SOCIAL STUDIES EVENT: APPLY HERE.

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

Magic on Main, Windham – Live Magic Show at 7PM magic is real

Cornell Cooperative Extension Office, Liberty – Monarch Migration at 6PM see you there

Agroforestry Resource Center, Acra – Earth Day Tree Planting at 5PM riparian buffers

Subversive Brewing, Catskill – Annual Spring Fundraiser for Athens Community Farm at 5PM fresh veggies

Left Bank Ciders, Catskill – Northern Spy Reading Series: Joshua Beckman at 6:30PM fragments

Bailiwick Animal Park, Catskill – Earth Day Celebration at 10AM pale blue dot

Community Theater, Catskill – Blue Heron Screening and Q&A at 7PM movie night

Tusten Theatre, Narrowsburg – Hamlet at 6:30PM actōrs

Night School, Athens – Charity Night at 5PM good stuff gents

Saltbox, Kingston – Cunth Night with Manolo's Cuban Cafe at 6PM have fun

West Kortright Center, East Meredith – Live music with Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, and Macie Stewart at 7PM details

Kaaterskill Market, Catskill – Mind / Skin / Soul at 6:30PM skin stuff

SUNY, New Paltz – Novelist Brian Platzer at 6:30PM optimists

The Belvedere Inn, Stamford – Trivia with Bonnie and Roy

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock – Heated Rivalry Dance Party at 8:30PM details

Assembly, Kingston – Conan at 8PM doooom metal

Skatetime, Accord – April Adult Skate at 8PM

Tinker Street Tavern, Woodstock – Blair & The Boys Live at 8PM feel the vibe

Rot & Fallow, Kingston – AstroAroma Workshop at 3PM interestinggg

Citiot, Catskill – Concert & Dessert Tasting at 7PM get tickets

Catskill Point – Public Sail Adventures at 5PM sail with us

Rosendale Theatre – The Asbury Short Film Concert at 7:30PM take a look

The Belvedere Inn, Stamford – Comedy Headliner: Jaye McBride details

Coxackie Grasslands Preserve – Tree Council Spring Arborist Walk at 10AM arbor day

Catskill Art Space, Livingston Manor – Art And Ecology Symposium at 3PM river galleries

Dette Flies, Livingston Manor – Beginner Entomology with Bob Adams at 1PM join the experience

Return Brewing, Hudson – Tunes with Dust Bowl Faeries and Upholstery at 8PM cheers

O+ Exchange, Kingston – Book Talk: Ernest Shaw with Robert Burke Warren at 1PM don't miss it

Stamford Coffee – Earth Day 5K Burgers at 11AM fuel up

Starlite Motel, Kerhonkson – Author Event: Jennifer K. Armstrong at 4:30PM parks and rec

Unicorn Bar, Kingston – One Day Chorus with Key of Q feat. "Pink Pony Club" by Chappell Roan at 4PM join the crowd

Meadowbrook Farm Catskill, Leeds – Spring Fling Flower Walk tulips

Pine Hill Community Center – Jay Collins and Northern Resistance Concert at 7PM get it

Red Rox Ravine, Kingston – Earth Day Celebration at 2PM earth stuff

Assembly, Kingston – Fam Jam at 10AM kid stuff

Mountain Top Historical Society, Haines Falls – Guided Birdwatching at 8AM join the fun

Eliza Bistro – A Talk & Rice Lovers Dinner join us

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock – Writers Resist Revival at 5PM details

Opus 40, Saugerties – Poetry Reading near Poets Grove at 1PM see you there

Phoenicia Playhouse – Bayou Maharajah - Film Screening & Audience Discussion at 2PM looks cool

Phoenicia Diner – Coastal Pairing Dinner at 7PM oysters

Rough Draft, Kingston – Rewind Vintage Book Club at 6PM

Rot & Fallow, Kingston – Stories, Uplifted at 6PM monologues