News in -eds

SHUFFLED, by the Catskill school board, on recommendation of superintendent Kathleen Farrell: principals of local public schools. We just got the news, and may not have the straight scoop; our calls have not been returned. Sources say that Patrick Wemmit, who has been principal of grades 4-6 of the Elementary School, is being shifted to the High School (as principal? as vice-principal under William Ball?), with present High School Principal Lisa Slutzky going over to the Elementary School—except that the office being vacated by Mr Wemmit will be occupied by William Coyle, administrator for Special Needs programs, who is now housed in the Superintendent’s building. Selma Friedman continues as principal of kindergarten through third grade classes (or is she senior principal of all elementary grades?) and Marielena Davis stays put as principal of the Middle School.

ASCENDING, meanwhile, from vice-presidency to presidency of the governing Board of the Catskill Central School District, as of July 1, is James DiPerna.

RECOGNIZED, by the [United States] President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, for his work as volunteer executive director of Greenville’s non-profit organization All Arts Matter: Anthony DeVito. Tony’s been doing this volunteer work since the founding of All Arts Matter in 2000. He’d welcome recruits. Check the web site www. allartsmatter.org.

FETED, by Allstate Insurance Company, for being a heavyweight writer of auto, property and commercial policies, and for keeping loss claims down: Frank J. Porto III. He has been a GreeneLand broker since 1960, an Allstate agent since 1985. Business in the past five years, he tells Seeing Greene, has been terrific, with volume rising 5-10 per cent each year. According to the Daily Mail (6/13), Sonny “will be recognized” by top Allstate officers at a Chairman’s Inner Circle Conference. But that “conference” has already been held—in Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

PINCHED (so to speak), by State troopers, on suspicion of being the man who, while wearing wigs and women’s clothing, committed armed robberies in a country store and a Dairy Mart in Ulster County: Brian P. Johnson, of Route 23A in Palenville.

ELECTED, as vice-president of Hudson Valley Tourism Inc., the 10-county promotional agency: Daniela Marino, who is Greene County’s tourism director (has been since 2002). The new president is Mary Kay Vrba, who is Tourism Director of Dutchess County, as of last March.

CONVERTED or about to be: charter of the Bank of Greene County, from State savings bank to Federal savings bank, placing it, like its parent company (Greene County Bankcorp Inc.) under Federal Office of Thrift Supervision. So? We don’t know either.

WANTED, for Common Ground (“a place to settle differences”) in Greene and Columbia counties: certified Mediators. Training will be given at July 13-15. workshops. Information: 943-0523.

SIGNED, to another contract with Penguin Putnam, this time for an illustrated children’s book about the Hudson River: GreeneLander Hudson [sic.] Talbott. He’ll need to find time away from reviving the Catskill youth center, being an active Friend of Beattie-Powers Place, restoring downtown properties, and organizing programs at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. Perhaps he’ll develop a synergistic arrangement with Brian Branigan, who is planning a video series on the majestic Hudson.

STRIPPER ALERT. Bob Beyfuss, GreeneLand agriculture/horticultural guru, warns that we are probably in for siege of tree defoliation wrought by newly hatched forest tent caterpillars. They are rapacious leaf eaters, more menacing than eastern tent caterpillars. For defensive information email Mr B at rlb14@cornell.edu.

WINNERS. Catskill High School’s baseball players won the Class B championship in this section of New York, then beat the Section III champs before being eliminated in quest for the State title. And GreeneLander Jesse Muller, 17, tied for eighth place, in a field of 99 players who had already passed through a series of regional eliminations, in a in a State-wide golf tournament for high school kids. He shot 76-76.

IMMINENT *Tonight (Thursday, 6/15). Opening of Music in the Park series for 2006, at Dutchmens Landing, Catskill, from 7 pm. Free. The band is No Limits. This is first of 14 free concerts given in 12 weeks, including a July 4th (Tuesday) show with fireworks and an August 11 (Friday) special. Organized by Heart of Catskill Association; sponsored chiefly by Bank of Greene County with inputs from Town and Village. *Friday (6/16). New art show, “UDU—Burnt Earth,” featuring work of Frank Giorgini, at Broderick Fine Art Gallery in Ruby’s restaurant in Freehold, from 5 pm. *Saturday (6/17). Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market opens at Historic Catskill Point, this being first of 20 Saturdays. From 9:30 a.m. Versatile Musician Michael DeBenedictus provides musical entertain from 10:30 am. *Sunday (6/18). Antique & Classic Car Rally, Main St, Tannersville, from 10 am.

DAILY MAUL. “Survey: 24 percent between 18-50 tattooed.” *“Her campaign galvanized and gaining momentum, Gillibrand, 39 and prominent Hudson attorney said, she added in the upcoming months the Americans’ ability to cope with a rising cost of living will become a preeminent campaign issue.” *“…the [Sugar Maples] recovery is being praised by residents of the community who welcome the elimination of an eyesore and the economic potentials.” *”At issue here is for whom two residents…had shown support for in the press release submitted by Karkheck.” *“The 127^th Assembly District covers seven counties in Greene County excluding Coxsackie and New Baltimore.”

RE-OPENED: the Comments slot of Seeing Greene. Let's see how it works this time. The procedure is indicated below. Meanwhile, the indirect, e-mail channel, dickmate@seeinggreene.com, still is open.