______Vol 1. No.

4 ______October 2011______
After record-breaking Harvest Festival, the Beekman Boys decide to leave town!
Brent and Josh are heading out on their cross country book tour for the Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook that debuted at the Harvest Festival and was officially released Oct 4. They'll visit NYC, Atlanta, Austin, LA, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Boston and Chicago and other places in Springs. You can find out exact dates and times for these events at beekman1802.com SEPTEMBER WAS A HAPPENING MONTH . . . Of course, the biggest event was Doug and Garth's wedding. It was smiled down upon by Mother Nature who was on her best behavior a perfect evening. Both newlyweds looked handsome, one wore a dark blue suit the other a light gray. The ceremony was joyful, touching and oh, so, poignant. But, let's get on to the reception. Under a huge white tent tables were set with contemporary, artfully arranged centerpieces, white rice paper lanterns hung over the dance floor and stars lit the sky. The moon rose, full and luminous, providing a magical glow to the event. Okay, enough of that. The reception revealed some inside stories that left us all quite shocked. The first big surprise was Doug's father finally telling Doug he is not Scottish, the family is Polish. OH, and to think of his kilt collection turning to dust, too much! Doug laughed his hearty laugh - that we all know, but he couldn't

between. If you have relations in any of these areas, tell them to come out and get a little piece of Sharon

conceal his concern. And, you know his dad never took it back! Was he kidding? We don't know! Both

families were well represented. Many of us know Caroline, Garth's Mom, who is a frequent visitor to the local shops, was glowing and looked beautiful. At our table I will add the seating arrangements were well done we sat with 2 of our favorite people whom we have known for some time or so we thought . . . One of them, and I am not naming names, tied the ribbon from the napkin around her neck and looked rather sassy. Then she feigned a chill, batted her eyes and asked if one of the 2 nice looking guys from Boston might loan her a jacket. Oh yes! They were charmed, she was warmed, I just kept writing it all down.

The dance floor action revealed more surprises as Brent became the king of the electric slide. He and Josh

wowed everyone with their moves. Maureen, from Cobbler & Co., wants Brent to teach her how to do the slide. So, Brent are you game? Is it possible to model walk and slide at the same time? That would be truly electric.

A recap of the evening wouldn't be complete without discussing the food. Lee, the chef at the hotel (of course) went Iron Chef on us as he turned out the most delicious appetizers so many that I thought that was dinner followed by course after course of knock-your-heels-food. Wow, we had shrimp, clams and spare ribs that appropriate. My husband is still salivating as he discusses the duck breast, the lamb chops and filet mignon. I had our table sobbing with joy. We wanted to ask for a doggie bag, but assumed that might not be think he might even have swooned. Now, let's talk about Heidi. She did a phenomenal job orchestrating this production. I could see her watchful eye, ever focused and aware. She is quick to give credit to the others, but there is anything wrong with B's disturbing compositions. a good bandleader is necessary otherwise we get a Benjamin Britton piece of atonal music that hurts. Not that

Back to the Harvest Festival

Wow, what a weekend it was! If you weren't here you missed vendors, food, music, book signings, Harvest Dinner, Harvest Hop, one gallery owner falling down but fine, just fine! And so much more. Kudos to everyone who helped organize, offered constructive criticism, participated and mostly to the visitors who make it all worthwhile. I think there was an exceptionally fine group of people this year. Now, there is an unspoken hero behind the success of each festival Mr You Know Who, JT. He is in charge of organizing the vendors from soup to nuts. And, rumor has it he did a special dance to appease the weather deities, and it obviously worked. I don't know if he is available for other events. You will have to ask.

Homage to the Harvest exhibition at Village Hall Gallery was well attended. There were many votes and enthusiasm for the entries. Many thanks to all of the local businesses who supported the exhibition by generously donating awards as well as those who participated and those who voted.

And the winners are:

BEST OF SHOW - Celia Clark, Delhi, NY for "Ready and Waiting" a Gift Certificate from VHG AMERICAN HOTEL AWARD - S. Tier French, Cooperstown, NY for "Harvest Time" BEEKMAN 1802 AWARD - Sam Ross, Middlefield, NY for "I Hate Powerlines" COBBLER & CO. AWARD - Elizabeth Wilde, Oneonta, NY for "Spaghetti Garden" SPRING HOUSE SPA AWARD - Bruce Button, Sharon Springs, NY for "Ripening Grapes" STUDIO NORTH AWARD - Kathy Minnig, Cherry Valley, NY for "Peppers" VHG AWARD FOR ORIGINALITY - Carina Gebl, Cherry Valley, NY "Harvest Personalities" VHG AWARD FOR RUNNERS UP - Carol Saggese, Oneonta, NY "Apples" Mary Ann Thomas, Summit, NY " Tossed Salad and Trampoline" Jane Carr, Treadwell, NY "Autumn Landscape"

Diane Hale Smith, Fort Johnson,NY "Party at the Pumpkin Patch"

AWARDS GALORE The Village Hall Gallery received an Otsego 2000 Preservation Award for adaptive re-use of the building. On hand was Senator Seward and his wife, Cindy. The Senator was there to deliver a Certificate of Merit from the NYS Senate. Now, I am not saying he said this, but I think it is fair to assume he meant to add the award was given, also, for The Chatter and its Excellence in Journalism I am honored on behalf of all of The gallery during normal operating hours. And, of course, a big thank you to Otsego 2000 and the Senator. BLACK CAT NEWS TO NOTE Their soon-to-be, I'm sure, famous dinner club was on hold for the summer months. The dates are not set for a return, but stay tuned we will report back to you as soon as we hear. Or, check-in at the Cat with Tony. begin to head into the holidays (or great for any day) the Fig Balsamic Drizzles, Fruitcakes and other treats are ready and waiting. SHARON SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE They are baking bread again, please order ahead, your choices are: raisin, wheat, rye or white. Also, as we

Chatter contributors to receive this acknowledgment and encouragement. The awards will be on view at the

details of a new program called buy a bale. Through small individual contributions they will deliver a load of hay to help farmers during what is going to be a very tough winter for, people and animals affected by the floods. Check the newly done website for updates: www.sharonspringschamber.com COMING SOON

Stay tuned for details on a way to help farmers in Schoharie County. The Chamber is just working out the

Stay tuned for details about the shop opening in the old Central Bank site at 204 Main. I can tell you this, it has to do with furniture . . . OPENING SOONER 204 Main Bar & Bistro will open its doors on November 1st. We were able to peek inside the bistro during the Harvest Festival. The interior is wonderfully open and beckons one to sit and relax. Jim was just in reports he is working on a felt wall installation sounds interesting and very quiet.

HISTORIAN'S CORNER: TOWN OF SHARON THE BEEKMAN MANSION The Beekman Mansion can be a described as a house of history, mystery and new-found fame! Built over the years 1802-04 by Judge William Beekman, the wide halls and other architectural features make this home one of the grandest in Schoharie County.

William Beekman was born on the Atlantic Ocean in 1767 while his parents were emigrating from Holland. He was their only child; his mother died when he was only a few months old. When very young, Beekman apprenticed with a Mr. McAbee who recognized the boys potential and educated him. At age 14, he became private secretary to Colonel Willett who commanded the border militia; while serving the Colonel, he met the family of Nicholas Low and married Joanna Low in 1785. In 1787, they settled in the town of Sharon, called New Dorlach at that time. In addition to the farm at Beekman Mansion, William owned 2 other farms nearby for a total of 900 acres; as well, he operated a thriving Mercantile Store on the East side of Route 10 the first in the town of Sharon.

and contradiction. When Governor Clinton named Beekman the first judge of Schoharie County, there were a number of more qualified men who probably thought the position should have been given to another; yet he served with dignity and grace until his retirement at age sixty-six. He was well respected and well liked in the County and beyond, yet he was also a slave -holder who did not free his slaves until the legislature decreed it Peter at 19 years when a tree on the property fell upon him, as well as Maria and John in their twenties; such tragic losses help give rise to the many stories of ghosts haunting the Beekman mansion today. Following Judge Beekmans death in November of 1845, the house passed through many hands and be done. He and Joanna had 10 children of whom 7 died young: 2 died in infancy, Sally at age 4, Joanna at 3,

Although Beekman was a successful farmer, businessman and judge, he was no stranger to tragedy, conflict,

eventually stood empty while vandals damaged the property including desecrating the family crypt. In 1996, Mr. Frederick Selch rescued the Beekman, restoring it to its former glory. Although he saw the renovations

through to completion, he died soon after. Current owners, Mr. Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge have reestablished a thriving agricultural concern with the help of local farmer, John Hall. In addition, they have reality TV show, The Fabulous Beekman Boys! For more information on this latest chapter in the revitalization of the Beekman Estate, go to www.beekman1802.com. opened a shop in the village, Beekman1802 Mercantile and, with the farm, are featured in Planet Greens

Thank you, Nancy A. DiPace Pfau, Town Historian (Extraordinaire)

A LOCAL BUSINESS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT ~

Elderberry Herb Farm

Elderberry Herb Farm, LLC is a small, family-owned and operated business, located in Sharon Springs, NY on what was once a thriving 19th century Hops farm. We are Julie & David Herzog, and we established our business in 2003 after we relocated our family from Hebron, CT. Julie works on our business full time she is

a former Engineer & Master Gardener with a love of herbs and cooking. She has put her previous technical databases to track materials, and a website for the business. David works separately as a full-time engineer repairing facilities, equipment, and any and everything needed to run our small business. Our farm specializes in offering our own line of hand-crafted all-natural organically-grown herbal products for meat & fish, seasonings, spice blends, bath salts, perfumes, potpourri, salves, insect deterrent, sleep & hops and elderflower products in the future as our bushes mature. that include herbal teas such as Apple Pie & Cranberry Orange Spice, apple cider mulling spices, culinary rubs pillows, and catnip-filled cat toys. In addition, we also grow elderberries, and are planning a line of elderberry

background, herbal training, gardening and creative talents to good use formulating recipes creating and dedicates as much time as he can to the farm. He utilizes his talents and skills by designing, modifying and

We are a small business, and therefore do everything ourselves, from growing, recipe research and formulation, label design, printing & packaging, website development, accounting, equipment and facilities repair. The old 1856 farmhouse keeps us busy too! Each recipe is carefully formulated using a combination of science based medical research, traditional herbal knowledge, herbal training, and lots of taste testing for the edible products. Most of our 152 acres is a blend of woodland and open fields. Our farm currently has 2-acres that are segregated for growing herbs and 1 acre for growing newly planted elderberry. In order to protect from heavy deer pressure, the field is surrounded by an 8-foot tall, high-tensile wire, electrified fence. We utilize a blend of herbs grown on the farm, and high-quality outside sourced organically grown herbs and spices to ensure continuous product availability throughout the year, to supplement our crops and provide those herbs and spices that do not grow in our climate. We are working to expand the number of herbs we grow on the farm each year. In addition to growing some of the herbs we need, we wildcraft from what grows naturally and wild on the property herbs such as St Johns Wort, yellow and white melilot, plantain, boneset & valerian to name a few! insects, birds, bees and animals, and for the future. Wildcrafting is the gathering of wild, naturally grown plants while being careful to leave enough for the You can find our products online at www.elderberryherbfarm.com, and now at The Village Hall Gallery in Sharon Springs), and at select local fairs and events. NOTE: you might be asking why a gallery is selling herbs, etc. Well, once you see their products you, too, will appreciate the care with which Julie packages the products as well as the freshness and deliciousness of the herbs. Think of it as edible art!

SPEAKING OF EDIBLES A RECIPE FROM THE QUEEN OF EDIBLES My name is Rose Marie Trapani. Let me tell you a little about myself. I was born in Sicily. Moved to East Harlem, NYC with my family. I am one of nine children. Mom was always in the kitchen cooking. I loved watching, and of course tasting her creations. I began helping out in the kitchen. My love affair with cooking

started there. Cooking is a passion and an act of love that I like to share with family and friends.

I am married to Joe. Have two daughters Faye and Catherine. Joe and I found our little slice of heaven in Sharon Springs in 1986. We made the three hour trip most week-ends from Pleasantville, NY. I continue to entertain family and friends here. I sometimes feel as if I'm running a B&B. We took a giant step in 2000 to love to share my creations with friends.I just returned from a trip to Sicily to gather family stories and recipes. I am working on a cook book to hand down to my family. build our permanent home here. I spend time gardening, painting, and of course cooking. I tend to overcook. I

At this time of year there's an abundance of vine ripened tomatoes. I'd like to share this quick recipe for pasta. At this time of year, when there's an abundance of vine ripened tomatoes, I make this quick sauce for my pasta. I use 1lb. Barilla campanelle pasta, which holds the sauce very well. FRESH TOMATO SAUCE WITH PANCETTA 1 tablespoon of olive oil 4oz. pancetta-chopped 1 medium onion-chopped 2lbs. fresh vine ripened tomatoes-chopped 1/4 cup Italian parsley-chopped 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese In a large saute pan that can accommodate 1lb of pasta, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add pancetta and salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup basil-chopped 2 cloves garlic-sliced

golden. Add tomatoes, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook 10 minutes. Add red pepper flakes to taste. Add cooked al dente pasta, pancetta and basil and toss together. Sprinkle with cheese and serve. I also use a small drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil to finish the dish.

cook till crisp. Remove and set aside. Add onion to the drippings and fry till golden. Add garlic and cook till

Grazie a mille, Rose Marie Buon Appetito

HAVE YOU SEEN THE SIGNS? . . . the newly installed Route 20 Scenic Byway signs, that is? Yes, on September 22 and 23, beginning in Duanesburg and ending in LaFayette, 35 new Route 20 Scenic Byway signs were installed under the direction of NYS DOT. The official signs grace both sides of historic US Route 20 for the entire 108 miles designated as a New York State Scenic Byway from Duanesburg (Schenectady County) on the east to LaFayette (Onondaga County) on the west and includes the Cherry Valley loop (Alt. Scenic Byway), formerly old Route 20 and now designated as Otsego County 54. The award winning design for the sign was done in 2006 by then Cherry Valley Post Master Robert Buck, now retired. Robert won the design award, including a $500 prize, from the Route 20 Association of New York State, stewards of the Route 20 Scenic Byway. The approved design includes images of the rolling hills, scenic beauty, and the importance of agriculture in central upstate NY. The Route 20 Scenic Byway encompasses the majority of what was originally known as The Great Western Turnpike (Albany to Cherry Valley) and The Cherry Valley Turnpike (Cherry Valley to Cazenovia and beyond) addresses which are still used today. While the 108 miles of Route 20 and the Cherry Valley loop are designated as the Scenic Byway, the byway is actually much more than just the roadway. Also included is the Byway Corridor which reaches out about 30 miles on either side of Route 20 and includes all of the corridor communities. Nearly 6,500 square miles of historically rich and scenically beautiful central upstate New York is known as the Route 20 Scenic Byway and Byway Corridor. The Route 20 Association of New York State, formed in 1999, is a nonprofit, all volunteer organization serving as Official Stewards of the Route 20 Scenic Byway and Byway Corridor. In their role they work to promote travel on Route 20 and in the corridor as well as encourage travelers to experience the communities and their businesses, the scenic beauty of the area, and the historic importance of the region to the westward expansion of the country. The Route 20 Association publishes an annual Route 20 Scenic Byway Travel Guide and Map. They maintain an extensive Route 20 Scenic Byway website that promotes events taking place in Byway communities, and sponsor the Route 20 Road Challenge Series currently a series of 17 run/walk community based 5K and CROP Walk events. The Route 20 Association is a membership based organization welcoming individuals, businesses, municipalities, historical associations and others interested in preserving and promoting the Route 20 Scenic Byway. Membership information is available on the website at www.nyroute20.com or via e-mail at info@nyroute20.com

Thank you to John Sagendorf, Administrator of The Route 20 Association

That night was the turning-point in the season. We had gone to bed in summer, and we awoke in autumn; for summer passes into autumn in some imaginable point of time, like the turning of a leaf. -Henry David Thoreau

COMMUNITY SERVICE BULLETIN Please vote in your local elections. Participation is a must/on the local level your vote counts and matters a understand who will best represent your interests. Voting is more than a right, it is a privilege exercise it!! great deal. Look for candidate meet & greets, discussions, debates or talk to the candidates directly to

COMING IN NOVEMBER ~ An artist talk at Village Hall Gallery by Akira Niitsu. Sunday November 6th at 2:00 Akira studied at the Ochanomizu Art Institute and The Seikei University in Tokyo, Japan. In 1981 he began his studies at Columbia University. He has had one man shows in Japan and New York as well as commissions at the Theater Salon de Koto, The Temple of Tsukiji, and Hijirigaoka Church. We will have a slide show of Akira's sculptures, time for questions and refreshments. We hope to see you then! COMING IN DECEMBER ~ On Saturday, Dec. 3rd Sharon Springs will celebrate its 2nd annual Victorian Day Celebration. So, get your outfits pulled together and join us! You can find out more on Facebook go to 2nd Annual Sharon Springs Victorian Christmas Celebration SEND ANYTHING OF INTEREST, ODD, CURIOUS OR SLIGHTLY FACTUAL TO: villagehallgallery@gmail.com 518 284-2402 OPEN: Thursday Monday 10-4

contemporary art in a historic setting