It's Friday Again

FOR SALE, by the Roman Catholic Dioceses in Albany, after 117 years of operation: St Patrick’s Academy, on Woodland Avenue in Catskill. The soon to be erstwhile school sits on a 10.6 acre parcel running down to the Hudson River. Market value of the complex ($2 million?) is unclear; since the place has been exempt from property tax, its officially assessed value is not a clear guide. According to reporter Andrea Macko (Daily Mail, 6/6/07), Town Supervisor Joe Izzo has voiced interest in the idea of converting it into a Town-Village park. The complex also has been eyed as a possible headquarters for a far-flung performing arts operation. Perhaps its best use would be as a non-sectarian charter school, funded by taxpayers but independent of the regular public school system.

LEAVING his post next Friday as manager of Catskill's Community Center, after playing a vital role in the revival of that institution, is Matt Hitchcock. He’s returning to San Francisco, where he worked previously and where his wife has deep roots and an important job with the Nature Conservancy. It’s a more than amicable parting, much lamented by the kids and the directors. And in Matt’s words, “I love this place; I’d like to take it with me.”

THE WEEKEND. GreeneLanders who participate in what’s on offer here could experience exhaustion. To see a rich menu of choices, google Greene County Chamber of Commerce (then click Calendar of Events and then Greene County Events) or go to http://www.greenetourism.com as well as www.welcometocatskill.com The latter site not only covers the local scene, but also contains a stunning ‘portfolio’ of Cat ‘n Around pictures, in a ‘book’ whose ‘pages’ can be ‘turned’ by cursor, disclosing 15 images, each of which can be enlarged or reduced or up-ended….

Anyhow, among Mountain-ward events tomorrow is the Mountain Top Arboretum’s Garden Fair (plant sale, plant exchange, plant advice). The Arts Council’s Mountain-Top Gallery offers a show of works by Arts & Crafts Guild members. At Riedlbauer’s Resort in Round Top there’s an all-day gathering of adult soccer teams from all over. In the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s movie theater in Hunter, films and videos selected from entries by young makers from around the world will be screened at the Reel Teens Mountain Festival. And across the street, in the Red Barn, Darcy Dun & Mark Singer & Robin Kaiser entertain with an “Ain’t We Got Fun” show (together with dinner, from 7pm) recalling the days of Prohibition-spawned speakeasies

In Athens tomorrow, there’s an opening reception for the “Many Eyes, Many Views” show of photographs by County Camera Club members, and attendees also can buy chances on a raffle of Hollywoodish gift bags stuffed with fragrances, cosmetics, CDs, DVDs, toys. That’s at the Cultural Center (24 Second St.). Meanwhile, Babe Ruth League boosters down the road will be dispensing barbecued chicken dinners. At Riverside Park in the evening there’s a jazz concert and a fireworks show.

In Catskill tomorrow, a Village-wide yard sale commences in the morning. In the afternoon and evening, Main Street will be hopping with the Saturday Stroll events (galleries, shops, eateries) plus those astounding cat sculptures AND a Classic Cars show. After dark, Catskill Point, the Creekside Restaurant and La Conca d’Oro restaurant will offer live music. Moreover, Friends of Beattie-Powers Place, and prospective friends, will gather for a fund-raising dinner, spiced with a showing of landscapes recently painted, in oils, by Patrick Milbourn.

MAN REMEMBERED. Another kind of event will take place in downtown Catskill tomorrow. It’s a celebration of the life of the late Manuel J. Cominos. As old-timers will readily recall, Mr Cominos presided for many years over the Mayflower Sweet Shop. In the words of his widow, Patricia, he “loved the kids” who flocked to the Mayflower after school. Indeed, “He loved people of all ages. He loved to converse, to inquire, to argue politics.... He made you angry sometimes, but in the end he made you want to seek him out for another conversation, another witticism, another piece of advice, another wink...." He died on April 16^th, after prolonged confinement to a wheelchair in a nursing home. On Saturday he would have been 87 years old. The celebration will take place at 3pm in the old ice cream parlor, now operated as Catskill+Co.

MAN RECOGNIZED.

C M H – WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOU?

YOUR HEART IS LARGE AND WIDE

C M H – WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOU

GREENE AND COLUMBIA’S PRIDE

HOW LUCKY WE’VE GOT A GUY CALLED AL SCOTT

A MONEY-RAISING WONDER

IF OTHER HOSPITALS JUST HAD WHAT AL’S GOT

THEY’D NEED NO ANNUAL FUND ... OH ...

C M H – JUST HOW DO YOU DO IT?

“AL SCOTT, LINE ONE --

HE’S CALLED TO DUN !”

WHAT FUN FOR C M H !

C M H – WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOU?

YOU CARE – YOU SHARE AL FILLS THE TILL HALF-A-MIL FOR C M H !

--Musical tribute to Al Scott, honored at the Columbia-Greene Hospital Ball last weekend, written by Eric Comstock to the Charles Strouse tune “NYC” from the show “Annie.”

I Love You Greene! = writing/discussion salon/publication? project for GreeneLand authors and wannabes, managed by Doreen Perrine. For more information: Doreenperrine@netzero.net

RICK PICKS NIX DICK PICS = apt headline for a locally relevant story which we will not be telling.