FEATURING

Warwick Train Station: Did You Know?

Details

Written by George L. Nitti with Kerryl Ann Ebneter. History by Richard W. Hull George L. Nitti with Kerryl Ann Ebneter. History by Richard W. Hull

Category: Education Education

         Located on South Street and Railroad Avenue, the train station was built in 1893 at a cost of $10,000. Here are some other interesting facts and history directly quoted from Richard W. Hull’s People of the Valleys Revisited: History of Warwick, New York, 1700 – 2005.

• Railroad fever in the lower Hudson valley began in the 1830’s and Warwick played its part almost from the start.
• The period c.1862 to c.1916 was the golden age of mass rail transportation in Orange County.
• No other development in the 19^th century wrought as profound an impact on the economic lives of Orange County businessmen and farmers as railroads.
• The advent of railroads posed a formidable challenge to long-distance roadways….Within a short time, railroads led to a disastrous decline in turnpike traffic. From 1842, revenues dropped precipitously and the toll roads soon fell into disrepair, despite a state law requiring their upkeep.
• The opening of the Warwick Valley Railroad in 1862 changed the political balance in the town as well as the responsibilities of local government. Overnight, the village of Warwick became the political, commercial, industrial and financial center of the town.
• The tiny Warwick Valley Railroad became the first in America to use refrigerated cars to transport fluid milk. By 1880, milk shipments, alone, accounted for more than half of gross revenue. Nevertheless, the tiny railroad transported more than milk. During the Civil War, iron mines along the state boundary were re-activated and ore was brought down from mountains to wagons to Warwick village. From there, it was shipped over the Warwick Valley Railroad ….
• An 1882 timetable reveals that a passenger leaving New York City at 7:50 A.M. could expect to reach downtown Warwick by 11:10 the same morning! A passenger boarding Philadelphia at 7:32 in the morning would arrive in Warwick at 5:50 that evening.
• The one story stone and frame station has a hipped, bellcast roof with projecting dormers and tower and was constructed as a station for the Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad.
• Warwick’s valleys soon became a haven for prosperous professionals from New York, who built fashionable homes here and commuted regularly to the city.
  
• Henry Ford’s model “T” sounded the death-knell for mass transit.

  ---

  To read and learn more about Warwick’s history, purchase a copy of Dr. Hull’s book at Ye Olde Warwick Bookshoppe, 31 Main St., Warwick, NY. (845) 544-7184

For more on Richard W. Hull. For more on Djelloul Marbrook.

Up Front with Sharon Linnea, author of new book, Plagues of Eden

Details

Written by George L. Nitti George L. Nitti

Category: Books and Writing Books and Writing

On August 30, at Ye Olde Warwick Bookshop (2 - 4 p.m.) in Warwick, NY, authors Sharon Linnéa and B.K. Sherer will read from and sign copies of their new novel, Plagues of Eden, as well as raffle off a basket of Paris, West Point and wine-themed prizes. Plagues of Eden is part of their new trilogy that picks up where they left off in the thrilling adventures of their Eden Series.  

So as summer careens to an end, tell me what’s happening with you.

It’s been a busy time of year for me. I have a son who is going back to college at Suny Plattsburgh and a daughter who is a senior at Warwick Valley High School. With 2 dogs and 3 cats and a new book coming out, it’s a little bit crazy.

How long have you been writing the Eden series?

Chasing Eden, which was the first to come out, was published in 2006. Then there was Beyond Eden and the Treasure of Eden.  So about 8 years.

Is Plagues of Eden the 4^th book in the series?

Yes, and  it’s the first book of a new trilogy. So it’s a good point for a new reader to jump in.

I see. Kind of like Star Wars?

Hopefully better than the first one in that second trilogy. (Sorry, Phantom Menace!)

What in part defines this new trilogy?

Although not much time elapses between the two trilogies, we now find our protagonist, Chaplain Jamie Richards, stateside at West Point. She is married—but not exactly settled. What also marks the break is the fact that we get inside the head of her husband, the mysterious Sword 23—as well as a large mélange of bad guys and good guys, of course.

What are some of the highlights of the book?

There is a madman who is about to unleash the 10 deadly plagues of ancient Egypt. Jamie is called in to help and has to fly around the world to stop the infamous people who are doing it. The book also gets into winemaking, which we had a great deal of fun researching—not only Napa, France and Italy, but in China as well! Check out the trailer and you'll get a sense of the adventure you are in for.

How does wine come into play?

One of the characters is dangerously delusional. However, he is able to create a fantastic grape, and wine, to win the heart of the woman he loves.

That sounds interesting. So how has publishing changed since your first book?

Since 2006, publishing has changed in historic ways.  In 2006, 100% of our sales were  of traditional, “paper” books. Now, close to 80% of sales are e-books, and they are available in audio, which is fun. , Fortunately, when people read the first book, more than 50% go on to buy the 2^nd  and 3^rd.

Tell me a little about B.K. Sherer and your collaboration with her.

She’s a Presbyterian minister and an active duty Army chaplain. She’s also very good at what she does. She’s currently stationed at West Point, and even though she often works 7 day weeks, it’s been a treat to have her not only here in the U.S. instead of deployed, but in the same time zone! And a drivable distance! But I know not to get too attached to the current situation. But because she also has a “day job,” we need to work around her schedule.   

When we are working, we first hammer out the outline. Then she takes characters and I take characters, and we work through a first draft. Obviously, she takes the military characters. I eventually do a final edit to make sure the voice(s) are consistent and that the narrative flows.  

So you like collaborating?

There is nothing better than a good collaborator. It becomes effortless. But it’s also  very challenging when you are writing a lot of facts and trying to get inside someone’s head. Writing with a co-author is very much like a marriage, in which you both  have to be willing to give more than 50%. It’s more like each has to give 90%.

What’s your background? Have you always been a writer?

I have a background in publishing. I worked for 3 major book publishers, as well as 5 national magazines. It taught me to really value a good editor, and I’m sure grateful for ours!

You also teach a writing workshop with author Matthew Field.  What is the gist of the workshop?

The Book Inside You is a weekend workshop with two parts: first, to figure out exactly what you’re writing and how to finish it, and second to figure out your best personal path to publication and how to break the process down into do-able steps.  The next one is in November.  We keep them small enough to be personal. If anyone is interested, he or she should email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Do you have any writing advice?

First, take your craft seriously. Work on continuing to improve.

Second, put your butt in the chair. There’s no way around it.

Third, allow yourself a horrible first draft, but finish the whole draft before you edit. I can’t tell you how many people have a first chapter they’ve re-written 53 times, and nothing else!

For more info about the authors and the book, go to http://www.edenthrillers.com/

Warwick Appalachian Trail Day, Tales from the Trail

Details

Written by George L. Nitti George L. Nitti

Category: Health & Spirit Health & Spirit

The Town of Warwick Appalachian Trail Community Committee and the NY-NJ Trail Conference are excited to declare Saturday, August 9, 2014 as this years annual Warwick Appalachian Trail Community Day! The NY-NJ Trail Conference maintains and manages the Appalachian Trail from the Delaware Water Gap to Connecticut. There are a variety of activities that are suggested to do throughout the day, culminating in the main event: A photography exhibition about the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers and their experiences, captured by local artist, Heather Palecek. Join the community on this day in Warwick, NY and at the Opening Reception of the exhibit “Tales of the Trail”held at Love Life Tattoo & Art Studio in Warwick, NY from 7-9pm. (10 South Street, Warwick)

Each year, the Warwick A.T. Community Committee sponsors activities such as hikes, informational programs, and trail maintenance work trips for local residents. Many local artists and musicians find inspiration hiking the A.T. and this year’s event brings art to the forefront of the annual event.

WARWICK NY’s 2014 Annual AT Community Day Event & Suggestions:

This year, the committee suggests taking a short hike along the Pochuck Boardwalk in Vernon, NJ or the Greenwood Lake Vista from 17A and then heading into Warwick for a stroll around town, before having dinner at one of the many great restaurants or pubs. After dinner, head over to Love Life Tattoo & Art Studio to see the exhibition “Tales of the Trail”, meet the artist and speak with representatives from the NY-NJ Trail Conference. Love Life opened in June, 2014 at a prime location on South Street in the heart of the Village of Warwick, NY. This will be their first of many art exhibitions. Hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be available to all attendees.

The first section of the A.T. opened in Warwick in 1931, six years before the official opening of the entire Appalachian Trail. The Town has been welcoming hikers ever since and was named an A.T. Community™in 2012. The Town of Warwick is centrally located on the A.T. between High Point in New Jersey to the west and the Bear Mountain Bridge in New York to the east with easy road access to this entire 65 mile section. The Village of Greenwood Lake in Warwick with many hiker amenities can be accessed directly from the A.T. using the Village Vista Trail. The Pochuck, Wawayanda and Wildcat Shelters on the AT are easily accessed from Warwick and can be used in planning section hikes (no reservations or permits required).

With ample road access and parking within and in the immediate vicinity of Warwick, A.T. hikes of all ability levels can be accommodated. The Wallkill River National Wildlife Reserve, the Pochuck Boardwalk and suspension bridge, the "Stairway to Heaven" at Wawayanda Mountain, spectacular views of the Warwick Valley and Greenwood Lake, and Fitzgerald Falls are all within Warwick or just a few minutes away in neighboring towns. A little further within a 45-minute drive is the beautiful Delaware Water Gap, the clear and clean waters of the upper Delaware River, the NY-NJ Trail Conference's spectacular Bear Mountain A.T. rehabilitation project featuring over 1,000 hand-hewn granite steps, and the Bear Mountain Bridge which carries the A.T. across the Hudson River built in 1924.

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

Tales of the Trail is a photo-documentary of portraits of Thru-Hikers, accompanied by stories of their life and from their long hike spanning 2,185 miles from Georgia to Maine. At the exhibit you can expect to see an array of portraits in various sizes mounted on natural wood in the huge studio space provided at Love Life. Each image will be accompanied by a short story, quote, or synopsis of the Thru-Hikers meeting with Heather Palecek, photographer. Heather writes about the Thru-Hikers and her photography project, “As many of them told me of hiking the trail, their faith in humanity has been restored, and I am finding that mine has been too. If you need yours restored as well, look no further.”

The stories and portraits of the Thru-Hikers captured in Tales of the Trail can be incredibly inspirational, sometimes humorous, other times sad - but almost all of them will make you want to hike the trail in part or in whole. Memorable stories are those of a young man who is hiking with Bell’s Palsy, which he got through a tick bite while on the trail, a 60 year old woman who states, “You have to push yourself to grow”, and that of a man who is Thru-Hiking for the second time in his life and says, “The trail calls you back. You start thinking about it. You start missing it.”.

Heather Palecek writes in her artist statement, “I used to think of the Appalachian Trail as a place, but after working on this project I realize it’s much more than that - it’s a living thing. The trail isn’t a long path that connects state to state, community to community…It’s a community and a being in itself - It’s very own entity.”The NYNJTC would like you to come and experience the AT through her eyes and meet the Thru-Hikers through her photographs at the photography exhibition (and then of course, get out and enjoy the trail!).

Join Warwick, NY for a great day on August 9th, 2014 for the Annual Appalachian Trail Community Day Events!

For more information about the NYNJTC, visit: www.nynjtc.org

For more information about Warwick, NY, visit: www.discoverwarwickvalley.com

For more information about the artist, visit: www.hpalecek.com

For more information about Love Life Tattoo & Art Studio, visit: www.lovelifeny.com

Under the Sol Niger: The Paintings of Juanita Guccione

Details

Written by Susan L. Aberth Susan L. Aberth

Category: Art and Photography Art and Photography

Like many of the women artists associated (even peripherally) with Surrealism, Juanita Guccione eschewed labels of any kind, and with good reason.  Her life was rich with diverse artistic mentors, spiritual traditions, and creative developments that make it impossible to reduce her nuanced body of work to one movement. Nevertheless, Surrealism’s wide cultural influence, particularly strong in the United States during World War II when many of its artists were exiled and living in New York City, is not to be underestimated.  Guccione, who met Surrealism’s founder and leader André Breton at this time, was drawn (like many women artists from the Americas and elsewhere), to the potentials of its pictorial language. 

As the scholar Gloria Feman Orenstein astutely observes, the women artists associated with the surrealist movement can be conceptually linked with Breton’s conception of “The Great Transparents,” a proposition he developed while in exile in New York, that banished Man from the mythological center of the universe in an attempt to create a new and more relevant mythological structure for humanity.  Orenstein states: “The women artists of the surrealist movement can be perceived metaphorically as the Great Transparents, as Breton defines them – beings whose stature and significance is immense, but who are overlooked and dismissed as nonexistent.”[1]  Orenstein firmly places Guccione in this category, noting the artist’s formation of realms presided over by powerful and strong Amazon-like women, such as those seen in Masquerade (c. 1946).  As she and Djelloul Marbrook attest, this was likely due to Guccione’s earlier and formative experiences with the Ouled Naïl, a matriarchal tribe in Algeria that she lived in close proximity to.

The influence of Surrealism, however, can also be seen in Guccione’s earlier abstract paintings from the late 1930s and early 1940s – before her contact with Breton. In works such as Christmas (c. 1937) and Distractions (1940) there is a bright color palette, rhythmic arrangement of form, and use of organic shapes that bear some pictorial relation to the works of Joan Miró and others working in a biomorphic surrealist style.  Around this time the artist begins to insert certain symbols that reflected her life-long interest in esoteric belief systems such as Sufism, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, Kabala, Tarot and astrology.  Checkered floors, crosses, orbs of light, stairways, and spirals suggest secret codes and access to alternate dimensions.  Cosmological configurations such as comet-like flashes, crescent moons and full moons appear frequently and transition into her figural work where they take a more prominent position. 

The Sol Niger of alchemical traditions and Jungian psychology becomes a signature emblem for Guccione, hovering in dramatic skies streaked with unearthly colors to create a haunting and mysterious ambience.  The black sun can represent the melancholy of the artist who metaphorically must explore darkness in order to gain greater self-knowledge, or perhaps the transformation of trauma into growth and life.  In Acrobats (c.1949) two androgynous figures set in a metaphysical landscape have chin in hand in the age-old gesture of contemplation and sadness.  Under a Sol Niger a black and white checkerboard floor hints at the reconciliation of opposites while the rope ladders of circus performers suggest ascension and transformation.  Painted in 1955, On the street of chance displays a plethora of gaming equipment, again under a black sun set in an apocalyptic sky.  Aside from any personal meaning for the artist, one cannot help but recall the surrealist love of the role of chance and play in artistic production.

Guccione’s late work is particularly engaging as by then she had condensed the various strains of her work into a singular vision where strong color in combination with her arsenal of symbols attain a lyrical crescendo.  In Vigil (c. 1983) floating ears and eyes accompany a figure seated near stairs (a medium channeling sights and sounds?) – while fantastical orbs of light joyously skim across the vibrant purple background.  By this time the New Age Movement is in full stride and Guccione’s work seems not only to have heralded its coming, but her entire oeuvre can now be understood more respectfully by a population conversant in esoteric color symbolism and cryptic emblems.  Juanita Guccione’s art was undoubtedly ahead of its time, and luckily for us we have the opportunity to fully savor its beauty and more thoughtfully contemplate its layers of meaning.

Summer of Mushrooms and the Pursuit of Chanterelles

Details

Written by George L. Nitti with Kerryl Ann Ebneter George L. Nitti with Kerryl Ann Ebneter

Category: Home and Garden Home and Garden

This summer I have been indulging myself in the world of mushrooms. I began the exploration in mid July when I noticed a mushroom on the ground just as I was considering what to do on our wooded land. The answer seemingly revealed itself to me in that instant – ‘go find mushrooms’ - and so I set out into the woods to see what I could learn.

My first few forays gave me a sense of the wide variety of ‘shrooms that reside on the forest floor. Wanting to learn more, I bought myself a mushroom identification guide and searched online for workshops that would aid me in this education. For the first time in my life, I felt I was entering the woods with a mission, arming myself with nothing more than a camera and a burning curiosity to know more about fungi.

Each time I went, I discovered something new in terms of mushrooms I had never seen. What fascinated me, even more than a successful identification, was how mushrooms compose themselves with other elements in nature – how they sit in leaves, grow on wood, pop out in ferns, nestle next to sticks, attach themselves to trees, and hang out and grow together as a family – with a kind of artistry worthy of a fine masterpiece.

  {besps}homeandgarden/mushrooms{/besps}

Stumbling upon a mushroom workshop for beginning mycophiles on the internet, I realized this class  was located only several minutes from friends whom we had previous plans to visit before the mushroom obsession hit. Coincidentally that place, called the Eagle Hill Institute, also had a restaurant on its premises named Christopher's at Eagle Hill, where we had made dinner reservations a month prior. Great coincidence I thought or as Kerryl termed, a “mushroom miracle."

We never made the workshop, but before dinner, we were greeted by the director of the institute (also manager of the restaurant) that holds these special workshops and he said, “If you have orange mushrooms on your property, I will be there to remove all of them for you,” with an enthusiasm that really caught our attention. And guess what? They happened to have them on the menu.  Known as CHANTERELLES, they were served as an appetizer in a cream sauce with a phyllo dough. We ordered them and found them to be delicious, the first bite beginning our love affair with chanterelles.

One memorable experience occurred a couple days later at our friend’s home early morning when I went on a quest to find those special chanterelles. After spotting a patch at the onset of my exploration, somehow I was convinced that there were plenty more if I just went deeper into the woods. Feeling a little like an underwater diver entering unchartered territory, I plumbed the wooded depths, coming across all kinds of interesting and sacred places, caught in the spell of plush greenery, until I realized I was completely lost.

Yes, it was scary, seeing nothing but woods and having lost all sense of direction. At the same time, I would never have discovered untrodden places nor such a full spectrum of mushrooms. After about an hour and a half of trying to make my way out, I was set free, thanks to the ongoing sound of the motor of a truck on a distant roadside that I followed with my ears.

Although now relieved, I was disappointed that I had not found another chanterelle along this journey. Then, all of a sudden, I looked down, and I saw the unmistakable orange mushroom that led me to several more lying nearby which opened up into a small field of chanterelles.  I gave out a whoop and picked them like flowers, bringing them home with a victory smile. That evening, I cooked them up for the first time and ate them with Kerryl and friends as they let me know I was going to take the first bite.  

Needless to say, we were all giddy and happy, living to see the next day with no psychedelic or side effects.

I’ve continued to delve into the woods, seeking out the alluring chanterelles while embracing the numerous varieties of mushrooms and all of their magic.

Another but not final miracle in the world of mushrooms, Kerryl and I have discovered our own family of chanterelles growing amongst the evergreens just beyond our front door.

Why We Love Ye Olde Warwick Bookshoppe

Details

Written by George L. Nitti George L. Nitti

Category: Books and Writing Books and Writing

What’s not to love about a bookstore in any community, but we are more partial to Warwick’s very own Ye Olde Warwick Bookshoppe. Proprietor Thomas Roberts is a Ye Young Jolly Good Fellow, sharing his perpetual optimism and generosity with the community at large.

While independent bookstores are shrinking from the face of the planet, Roberts is expanding his operation, adding a second floor along with a new children’s section. Building a new staircase and adding more book shelving has alleviated some of the pressure from the overflow of books breaking out from their main floor. Like Manhattan, there is nowhere to go but up.

At this quaint shoppe, it’s a pleasure, on a regular basis, to discover new books and great displays. Go in around any holiday or special weekend and you will see what we mean. A center table of books, pertinent to the season or holiday, always awaits you. Then there is the bookstore’s ongoing support of local authors whose books are clearly visible, authors whose talent and voices are waiting to be shared with you! Get involved with their monthly book club or just come for a good browse. There is room for all.

{besps}books/yeoldewarwickbookshoppe{/besps}

On April 19^th and 20^th, all day long,  Roberts invites you to come out and celebrate the bookstore’s second anniversary for their “2 Years, 2 Floors, 2 Day Anniversary Sale” with 25% off of anything in the store. Don’t miss out and say hello!