THE EMERALD ASH BORER

THE EMERALD ASH BORER

Let me introduce you to the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis), a tiny beetle with a shiny green shell and a devastating appetite. This invasive insect was first discovered in North America in 2002, reaching New York by 2009 and the Catskills by 2010. Despite its tiny size — about half an inch long — the Emerald Ash Borer has reshaped entire forests, killing millions of ash trees across the Catskills.

The beetle's method of destruction is slow but relentless. Adult beetles lay eggs on the bark of ash trees, and when the larvae hatch, they burrow inward to feed on the cambium — the thin layer that transports water and nutrients between roots and leaves. As this vital system collapses, the tree starves and dies, often within two to four years. If you take a hike through Kingston, Saugerties, or Phoenicia these days, it's estimated that over 99% of ash trees you'll see are now dead or dying.

The loss of ash trees goes beyond the trees themselves. While they weren't necessarily dominant like maple or oak, they were significant — estimates suggest ash made up 7–10% of our forest canopy. Ash provided habitat for birds, insects, and mammals, their roots stabilized river banks and hillsides, and their wood has been used for generations in making countless products and goods.

Efforts to slow the spread have taken creative forms. The Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) and other groups are releasing tiny, stingless wasps — natural predators of the EAB. These wasps parasitize the beetle's larvae, offering one of the only long-term hopes for managing populations without chemicals. Scientists are also studying a handful of surviving ash trees that show signs of natural resistance, raising the possibility of a stronger future forest.

My fellow Crew Members can help too. One major factor that accelerated EAB's spread was the movement of infested firewood. Today, New York encourages the ol’ motto "Buy It Where You Burn It" — using only local firewood to prevent transporting these little SOBs. Landowners with healthy ash trees should monitor them and if you spot signs of EAB damage, you can report it through platforms like iMapInvasives, helping conservationists track outbreaks across our region.

Quick ID Guide: Signs of Emerald Ash Borer Infestation

• D-Shaped Exit Holes: Tiny, cleanly punched holes in bark

• Bark Splits: Vertical cracks exposing larval tunnels underneath

• Canopy Dieback: Thinning from the top down

• Woodpecker Activity: Heavy feeding on infested trees

• Epicormic Sprouting: New shoots growing from trunk or roots

The Emerald Ash Borer has changed our forests but in the gaps where ash trees stood, new growth emerges. This beetle is just one of many invasive species that threaten our ecosystem, and there will certainly be more. We monitor, we adapt, and we learn. The Catskills have weathered countless changes — this is another chapter in that tale.

UPDATE

The Catskill Crew Puzzle sample is en route. As noted, the first attempt was a glorious and gorgeous failure. But this one — well, this one is looking like we nailed it my friends. I’ll report back more once I get in the trenches, open a cold beer, and give it a shot.

VOTE

Wondering if y’all want to try something new with the Happenings section. Maybe switching it up to ~10 events per week with a bit more info on each? Or we can keep it exactly how it is. Just curious about what everyone thinks.

THE BULLETIN

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REPORT

Sunrise 5:56 AM
Sunset 7:55 PM
Fire Danger [HIGH]
Air Quality [GOOD]
Moon Phase [WAXING CRESCENT]
Venus and Neptune will be visible together at 5:19am on May 3rd

ADOPT PETS

Baku a Shepard & Canaan Dog
Laguna a Domestic Long Hair Cat
A flock of parakeets

LAND 

Came across a c. 1883 church turned home in Saugerties.

GAME

Want a Featured Event with a poster? Reach out. 
Want to add an event? Use this link.

Come hang out at Covered Bridge Campsite with some friends, and meet some neighbors. We got free beer and free BBQ from West Kill Brewing and The Smoke Joint (while the good supplies last). It’s spring in the Catskills so we’re doing this if Mother Nature gives us rain or if she gives us shine. P.S. if you want to stay at the campsite, Covered Bridge is hooking folks up with 20% off. RSVP SO WE GET ENOUGH BEER & FOOD

Hop on board for the grand re-opening of the historical Delaware & Ulster Railroad. They are kicking things off with a Mother’s Day Dining Train Experience with food and drinks curated by the legendary folks over at Mornings. TAKE THE RIDE.

Catskills Cider Festival is happening on May 10th at Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery. There will be lots to sip and sample, tours of the world’s first Passive House-certified cidery, talks, live music, and yea, a lot more cider. GRAB A TICKET.

TUESDAY 29TH

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - Live performace with Squanderers from 8-10pm tix

Colony, Woodstock - Karaoke night at 6:30pm have fun

Rough Draft, Kingston - When the Harvest Comes: Reading & Conversation with author Denne Michele Norris from 6-7:30pm details

Tinker Street Cinema, Woodstock - Movie Night from the Video Vault at 7pm popcorn

Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library, Monticello - From Brushland to Broadway: The Evolution of Monticello’s Main Street presented by Sullivan County Historian John Conway at 6:30pm learn something

WEDNESDAY 30TH

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - A Night Of Freewheelin’ Music and Words at 7pm check it out

The Pines, Mount Tremper - Music Night with Kate Skwire and Friends from 7-9pm smash burgers

Unicorn Bar, Kingston - Queer Apocalypse Community Assembly at 6:30pm RSVP followed by open mic night at 8pm

Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - Movie Night with George Lucas’ THX 1138 at 7pm tix

THURSDAY 1ST

Left Bank Ciders, Catskill - Soup Night Fundraiser and Readings: All donations go to Northern Spy Reading Series at 5pm details

Senate Garage, Kingston - Capital Vintage Spring Clothing Swap from 11am-6pm check it out

Open Eye Theater, Margaretville - Anne of Green Gables 2025 at 7pm (running all weekend long) more info

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - On the Fly Story Slam: Altered States from 7-9pm learn more

Park Theatre, Hudson - Literary Night: A Galère of Poetic Autopsies at 7pm info

Tubby's, Kingston - Live performances by J. Robbins (band) and Sweet Harm from 7-11pm tix

FRIDAY 2ND

Bramley Mountain Summit, Bloomville - Ribbon cutting for the new fire tower from 1-2pm sweet

Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook - Spring Book Fair for Grown-Ups from 4-7pm love it

Catskill - Catskill First Friday from 5-8pm have fun

Scribner's Lodge, Hunter - Pupstater Weekend 2025 (All Weekend long) puppies

Starlite Motel, Kerhonkson - The Catskills Cocktail Club doing what they do best from 5-10pm sip sip

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Concert with Tim Hecker and Huerco S. at 7pm tix

Tubby's, Kingston - New Orthodox (Release Show) from 7-11pm details

SATURDAY 3RD

Arrowood Farms, Accord - High Meadow 40th Anniversary Music Festival from 2-8pm drink some good beer and have fun

Stone Ridge Orchard, Stone Ridge - 29th Annual Spring Wassail at 2pm onwards (tomorrow too) check it out

Meadowbrook Farm, Leeds - Tulip Walk from 11am-6pm enjoy

Callicoon Hills, Callicoon - Spring Maker's Market with The Farmhouse Project from 11am-5pm (also going on tomorrow) deets

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Pure Prairie League at 7pm grab a tix

Catskill Center, Mount Tremper - Invasive Species Pull: Restoring the Ashokan Rail Trail from 9am-12pm details

Catskill Fly Fishing Museum, Livingston Manor - Saturday Fly Tyers Series from 11am-3pm tight lines

SUNDAY 4TH

Opus 40, Saugerties - Catskill Mountain Shakespeare presents Pericles from 2-4pm tix

White Feather Farm, Saugerties - Kundalini Yoga, Meditation + Gong Immersion with HariPrakaash from 10-11:30am zen out

Citiot, Catskill - The Moto Social Hudson Valley from 9-11pm dig it

Hummingbird Tattoo, Catskill - Flower Crown Workshop from 11am-3pm make stuff

Oliver’s, Mt. Tremper - Stand-up comedy show at 7:30pm details

Starlite Motel, Kerhonkson - Tag Sale from 9am-2pm happy thrifting

MONDAY 5TH

Happy Cinco de Mayo (how was there nothing submitted???)

Scramble Answer: KAATERSKILL FALLS (tough one this week)