Journey to the Catskills: I first came to Woodstock in 1999 with my then-wife Flo to ride out the week of that new year (and its much-vaulted dread of global computer crash) at a mutual friend’s place on Mink Hollow Road in Lake Hill. We had a blast, coming from the city, though a cold one, in the country – we came and went – … Continue reading Humans of the Catskills: Sam Truitt
Journey to the Catskills: Impulsiveness. Irresponsibility. Vocation: Writer. Reader. Editor. Publisher. Professor. Avocation: Walking. Gazing. Happiness Is: A balancing act. Favorite Dish: I am ravenous for nothing in particular. Continue reading Humans of the Catskills: Jared Fagen
Journey to the Catskills: My husband, Dick Demenus, and I were invited up to the Catskills in the summer of 1996 to visit a friend who had a house in Shandaken. We weren’t familiar with the area at all, although Dick had done some hiking around Hunter Mountain and Woodland Valley years before. I remember swimming in the Pine Hill Lake and just being enchanted … Continue reading Humans of the Catskills: Jan Albert
Journey to the Catskills: I came to the Catskills – more accurately, Delaware County, decades ago, as the first-time director of the Delaware County Historical Association. I still remember that time – almost 13 years as director! – as a time of intense learning, including some lessons about communities and museums I still use today. I’m the rare person who came here for a job, and I … Continue reading Humans of the Catskills: Linda Norris
Journey to the Catskills: I was born here. I longed to leave and did for a while, but came back. Not because I especially liked it – it was a lonely place 40 years ago – but these mountains were (and still are) kin to me. I was in Iowa, but writing from within the Catskills, this place and people, my people. I had to … Continue reading Humans of the Catskills: Mermer Blakeslee
Journey to the Catskills: Fate. I somehow always saw myself ending up (somewhere like) here, even whilst growing up in London. First time I saw the mountains in person, I knew it would happen. Eventually it did. Vocation: A communicator of stories; a teacher of music*. Avocation: Runner. It was amazing to discover around the mid-way mark of life that I was actually good at … Continue reading Humans of the Catskills: Tony Fletcher
Journey to the Catskills: I was born in Stamford, left in 1959 to attend college and then, in 1999, returned for the beauty and ‘quiet’ life of the Catskills. Vocation: Primarily, I restored furniture, but I also taught piano and bought and managed income properties. Avocation: Playing piano, gardening (until I got too busy). Happiness Is: I’m not sure. Favorite Dish: Ice cream. Ideal Country … Continue reading Humans of the Catskills: Donald Dales
Journey to the Catskills: In 1833 my great-great-great-great grandfather John Griffin settled in Delaware County, at a place that came to be called Griffin’s Corners, which later became the village of Fleischmanns. I am a 6th generation native. Vocation: I retired after 20 years in Land Management with the NYC DEP. Avocation: Often occupied with matters of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development (Board … Continue reading Humans of the Catskills: Margaret DiBenedetto
Journey to the Catskills: I came to the Catskills because I wanted to live, as a steward, on my own piece of wild land, with forest and meadows, streams and ponds, a nature preserve where I could study and work to protect native species, flora and fauna. Though of course, I am partial to critters, from black bears and red and gray foxes, my hiking companions, to summer birds such as … Continue reading Humans of the Catskills: Leslie T. Sharpe
Journey to the Catskills: I followed my dog! She needed bigger pastures than I could give her in Brooklyn. She was so happy on the long trails through deep woods here. Vocation: If it has to do with books, I do it: write them, edit them, review them, and proofread them*. Avocation: Motorcycling. It’s in my heart. Happiness Is: Making a summer dinner from ingredients … Continue reading Humans of the Catskills: Melissa Holbrook Pierson
Art in the Catskills 