Home in the Country Spring 2015

ASullivan County

Democrat publicationApril, 2015 homecountry

in the

2H HOME IN THE COUNTRY SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT APRIL, 2015

26709

APRIL, 2015 SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT HOME IN THE COUNTRY 3H

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2. Liberty

TownshipCottage

1. Thompson TownshipCape Cod

3. Bethel

TownshipRaised Ranch

4. FallsburgTownshipCape Cod

8. Highland Township

Custom 2 Story

6. CallicoonTownshipLog Cabin

5. Liberty

TownshipContempo-rary Ranch

3 BR/2 BAAcres: 0.42Sold For: $15,000School Tax: $2,000Town & County: $4,058

Built: 1940Listed By: Elliott & Pomeroy RealEstate


Built: 1900Listed By: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Peters Realty


Built: 1965Listed By: Preferred Homes & Properties


Built: 2007Listed By: Matthew J. Freda RealEstate


Built: 1971Listed By: Catskill Country RealEstate


Built: 1898Listed By: McKean Real Estate, Inc.

7. Forestburgh

Township2 Story

3 BR/2 BAAcres: 1.98Sold For: $119,000School Tax: $2,072

Town & County: $1,630Built: 1950Listed By: Hudson Valley Realty

3 BR/2 1/2 BAAcres: 5.72Sold For: $412,000School Tax: $4,760Town & County: $4,320

Built: 2008Listed By: Gibson E. McKean, Inc.

Recent Home Sales

These listings compliments of the Sullivan County Board of Realtors

4H HOME IN THE COUNTRY SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT APRIL, 2015A

f you hadn’t cleaned out your gut-ters before winter set in, then putgutter cleaning on your to-do list

this spring.“At its best, gutter cleaning is a tedious

and disgusting task. At worst, it can bescary and downright dangerous. Oneslight misstep and you are heading tothe hospital with a broken bone andbruised ego,” says gutter cleaning expertRobert Lenney.

Ladder Safety: Always let someoneknow you will be using a ladder to workon your roof or gutters. Use a safe andsturdy ladder, preferably with a smallshelf strong enough to hold a five-gal-lon bucket to collect gutter debris. Makesure to secure the bucket with a lanyard.We recommend a four-legged step lad-der for a single story home, and anextension ladder for a two-story home.An orchard ladder is not recommendedbecause there are only three legs forsupport and they can become unbal-anced.

A wooden ladder is also not recom-

mended because they are often wobblyand difficult to safely balance.Fiberglass ladders seem to be the stur-diest, but are also the heaviest. If youare cleaning gutters for hours uponhours, muscle fatigue can set in frommoving the heavy ladder numeroustimes. If this is the case, you should tryusing an aluminum ladder, which is thesecond-choice option for strength andsupport.

Inspect the ladder for defects, dents orloose parts before climbing. If your lad-der is fastened together with screws andbolts, make sure all parts are tightened.When opening up a step ladder, makesure the extension-hinge arms are fullyextended and locked in place.

Before climbing the ladder, lightlyjump on the first rung a few times tomake sure the ground is secure.Sometimes the soil is soft, or theremight be a hole underneath one of theladder legs. Either condition couldcause the ladder to collapse with thecombined weight of the ladder and a

person. A piece of half-inch plywoodcan be placed under the ladder legs tokeep it level and steady.

When climbing the ladder, alwaysremember the “Three Point Rule.” Asmuch as possible try to have both legs

and one hand firmly secure on the lad-der at all times to provide stability andbalance while cleaning. Conversely, donot lean out from the ladder balancingon one leg while using two hands toclean debris from the gutter.

IGutter cleaning tips from a professionalGutter cleaning tips from a professional


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Oftentimes, it is this stretching andreaching for that last scoop of debristhat lands a person in the hospital.Lastly, if at all possible, have someonehold the ladder to provide additionalsafety while climbing.

Spraying out the gutter is generallybest when most of the larger debris hasalready been removed. It’s difficult tospray out leaves and pine needles thathave piled up over the previous sum-mer and fall. Spray toward the down-spout (leader pipe) so the small, murkydebris flows down the downspout. If thedownspout is connected to an under-ground drain that goes out to yourstreet, the base of the downspout needsto be disconnected so the debris can bereleased at this point, preventing apotential clog further down the systemunder your lawn or driveway.

Gutter Scoop: Scooping out the leafydebris seems to be the best overallmethod for cleaning out the gutter. Anexcellent tool for this job is the brightorange plastic “Gutter Getter” scoop,which can be purchased at most hard-

ware stores. This tool is unique becausethe front scooping edge is very thin andit forms itself to the bottom of the guttertrough, making it easy to scoop outeven the toughest of debris in any sizegutter system.

Stay away from using a metal scoop-ing tool because the bottom of the gut-ter and seams can be damaged.Scraping the bottom of a steel guttercan introduce areas to rust, and if thebottom of the gutter is already rusting,the rusting process could speed up.Using a metal scooping tool can alsodamage seams in the gutter because themotion of scraping out the bottom of agutter with a metal tool can damage thecaulking that seals two ends of a guttertogether (called a seam).

An extension pole can also beattached to the gutter scoop for reach-ing farther to clean the gutter, reducingladder moves.

Wear Gloves: Gloves can help protecthands against dirty, rotting leaf debristhat often contains bird, pigeon andsquirrel droppings that are ridden with

bacteria. Gloves can also preventpainful cuts from the torn metal shardsof an old, ragged gutter. Cotton glovescan soak up dirty water that exposesskin to bacteria. Leather gloves are notas maneuverable and tend to shrivel upwhen they dry after cleaning. Rubbergloves can get poked or torn by metalshards in the gutter. Thick, suede glovematerial is recommended because it issuperior to cotton, thin leather or rub-ber gloves.

Protective Eye Wear: Eye protectionis a must because one never knowswhat might fly out of the downspoutwhen cleaning gutters. People haveexperienced rats, birds, frogs, wasps andbees leaving at high speeds once theystart removing a clog, and the last thing

they want to have happen is an eyeinjury.

Rake Off Roof: Rake all debris off theroof first. Otherwise, the next rain willwash all the debris down into the cleangutter, clogging it up again. Also, debrisleft on the roof can lead to waterdamming up in valleys or around thechimney, which can cause erosion androof leaks over time.

Rubber Shoes: If walking on the roofis necessary to perform gutter cleaning,it is good to use rubber soled shoes.Rubber soles tend to adhere best andprevent slipping and falls. Roof topstend to be moist in the morning, so it isbest to walk on the roof after the sun is

Advice and safety tips that just might save your life1. Always let someone know you are cleaning your gutters.2. Use a ladder with a shelf and a plywood platform for stabilization.3. Clean off roof first.4. Wear rubber-soled shoes or Korkers (shoes with grip spikes) when walking on roof.5. Use a small plastic spade or gutter scoop.6. Use gloves and proper eyewear.7. Unclog downspouts with a garden hose that has an adjustable spray.8. Install a downspout chain to eliminate annoying rain dripping sounds.9. Watch out for hazardous power lines.10. Clean gutters twice a year.

Top 10 Tips

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6H


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well up in the sky and has dried up allthe moisture. Late mornings or earlyafternoons are the best times to walk ona roof.

Downspouts Unclogged: Make surethe downspouts (leader pipe) are clear.After all the gutters are cleaned out, run

the water hose down the downspout atfull pressure. If the water backs up outof the top, a clog is present. Normally, itcan be unclogged by tapping on theside of the downspout. But if that does-n’t work, the downspout and back needto be removed, and it should be flushedfrom the bottom. If a clog is present,and the downspout is connected to anunderground drain, it is best to discon-nect the bottom of the downspout fromthe underground drain. Otherwise, theclog may move to the undergrounddrain.

Clean Gutters Two Times A Year:Make sure gutters are cleaned at leasttwice a year, once in the fall and againin the spring. One main reason forcleaning out gutters is to eliminate thepossibility of water damage from rain-water runoff due to a clogged gutter.Another reason is to reduce the possi-bility of rust corrosion. Even though itmay not rain during the summer, ifthere is debris in the steel gutters, therusting process can speed up. It’s diffi-cult for rust to speed up with clean gut-ters. The faster the rusting process, thesooner new gutters will be needed.

Power Line Hazard: When cleaning

gutters around a power line cable thatdrops from the power pole to the roof ofa home, conduct a visual inspection ofthe electrical cable where it connects tothe roof. This is to ensure that the pro-tective wire insulation hasn’t rubbed offthrough years of wear-and-tear byweather and nearby trees. If the cableappears to have damage, do notattempt to repair it. Call a licensed pro-fessional electrical contractor to fix it.

If it’s raining and there is an electricalwire problem, do not attempt to cleanout the gutters until the wires are fixed.Water is a dangerous conductor of elec-tricity. Whether it’s raining or not, itwould be a good idea to have the elec-trical wiring repaired before cleaningout your gutters.

It is not advisable to use a metal lad-der near power lines when cleaning outyour gutters. A fiberglass ladder is a bet-ter safety solution in this situation.

Gutter Guards: Using a quality gutterguard can eliminate the need for clean-ing out gutters. Consider carefully themanufacturer’s claims before purchas-ing a gutter protection system thatkeeps out leaves and pine needles,because many promises are made that

can’t be delivered. Lenney has inventedthe popular micro mesh gutter guardsLeafBlaster and Gutterglove. Both gut-ter covers keep out leaves, pine needlesand roof sand grit from your gutters.More information can be found atwww.LeafBlaster.com orwww.Gutterglove.com.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5H


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Now you can tour their listings in 3D C

oldwell Banker TimberlandProperties, the region’slargest real estate company,is introducing 3D online

home tours as part of its ongoing com-mitment as a marketing and technolo-gy leader.

The 3D home tours, which are beingoffered as part of TimberlandProperties’ Catskillpremier.com web-site, provide customers with an unpar-alleled online shopping experience.The state-of-the-art technology givesviewers theopportunity tochart their ownonline course,getting a detailedlayout of proper-ties and zoomingin to view evensmall details ofthe homes.

CompanyPresident EricWedemeyerunveiled the newtechnology at theTimberlandProperties quar-terly sales meet-ing held inFebruary at theZephyr restau-rant in Pine Hill.He explainedthat adding 3Dcapabilities isanother example of the TimberlandProperties’ dedication to keeping pacewith the demands of today’s savvy realestate customers. A different world

“Today’s real estate world is vastlychanged from when I started the com-pany in 1971. Our success has been theability to incorporate the latest technol-ogy as part of our mission to consis-tently meet buyers’ needs. In doing so,we are naturally benefitting our sellers,as well,” Mr. Wedemeyer commented.

“By utilizing this 3D technology, weare providing another means for cus-

tomers to view homes. They can get acompletely realistic feel for a propertyand then make informed decisions todetermine if they’d like to take addi-tional steps towards making a pur-chase,” he explained.

The move to 3D technology to show-case some of its premier properties isanother means by which ColdwellBanker Timberland Properties works tomaintain its status as the number onereal estate company in the CatskillRegion. Since its founding, Timberland

Properties has sold more than $850million in properties.

Mr. Wedemeyer said he’s proud tohave guided the company’s growth.Along with its main office inMargaretville, Timberland Propertiesalso has offices in Delhi, Stamford andBoiceville. The latter, opened on Route28 two years ago, has already experi-enced tremendous growth in the UlsterCounty real estate market. In addition,the size of the Delhi office has beendoubled in the past year and newagents are being added to help servicethat market area.

The real estate veteran said there area number of factors that help set hiscompany apart.

“I’m proud to say that we have themost experienced agents, with an aver-age of more than 15 years in the field,”Mr. Wedemeyer pointed out. Selling is the goal

“With us, the emphasis is not on theagents’ commissions, but it’s about sell-ing properties and benefitting ourclients. We’re a client-based companyand it’s good for buyers, sellers and our

dedicated staff. Individual agents can-not come close to providing the type ofadvertising and marketing impact thatour company provides,” he added.

Driving that success is a continuedcommitment to strong promotion, uti-lizing the strength of the ColdwellBanker brand as well as a local team ofmarketing, graphics and photographicspecialists who ensure that propertiesare expertly advertised.

Another recent innovation at thecompany is the implementation of aphone system that simultaneouslysends emails to agents so they can give

instantaneous responses to propertyinquiries.

“Clients don’t want to wait and wewant to make certain that our agentsare fully responsive,” Mr. Wedemeyeremphasized. “This contemporaryphone system is another aspect of ourmarketing that makes us stand out.” Global reach

The Coldwell Banker TimberlandProperties president also points to thatfact that his company is the onlyagency in the region that offers a dedi-cated luxury site (CatskillPremier.com)in addition to its main online presenceat TimberlandProperties.com. TheColdwell Banker parent company’smarketing reach is another avenuethrough which the agency’s local list-ings receive prominent exposure onnumerous domestic and internationalsites.

“We truly have the global reach thatis vital in today’s real estate environ-ment. Our efforts are reinforced by theColdwell Banker national brand,which, in my opinion, is the bestnational franchise,” Mr. Wedemeyerstated.

As Timberland Properties hasexpanded, so has the number of agentson staff. Mr. Wedemeyer said he’s care-ful to hire only the appropriate num-ber agents needed to adequately serveclients’ needs. He proudly noted that,despite the last recession, theTimberland Properties business modelallowed agents to maintain their liveli-hood while many other companies sawlarge-scale layoffs.

“Our agents all work very hard andthey are dedicated to their profession.It’s their expertise and diligence thatmake us the Catskill Region’s real estateleader,” Mr. Wedemeyer proudly stated.

For additional information, contactany of the Coldwell Banker TimberlandProperties offices: Margaretville at 845-586-3321, Delhi 607-746-7400,Stamford 607-652-2220 or Boiceville845-657-4177.

Visit TimberlandProperties.com orCatskillPremier.com

Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties:

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

A new dimension – This image from the CatskillPremier website illustrates the new 3D technologynow being utilized by Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties.


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$240,000 MLS #40329

Beautifully Revovated Farmhousewith barn, garage and stream. 3.1 acres of cleared,

level land with mature trees and stream frontage. 4

bedrooms, 1 bath. This bright, sunny farmhouse has been renovated to be as

beautiful as it is comfortable including gleaming woodwork, hardwood floors and

so much more. Property has access to the amenities of North Branch Commons

including in-ground pool, tennis and basketball courts plus walking trails and a pond.

This chic 3 BR/1.5 bathroom home is located in the river hamlet ofCallicoon. It's in very good condition, with a complete renovation... new floors,windows, new Buderus boiler. A highly-efficient pellet/corn stove throws incredible heat to cut down on winter heating costs. A fenced back yard offers

privacy and is great for entertaining. Thehuge front porch is perfect for relaxing. Ithas gorgeous old stone steps with lovely landscaping. The backyard is landscaped andhas incredible stacked stone walls

MLS #38178 $129,000P.O. Box 335

21 Lower Main StreetCallicoon, NY845-887-5640

www.fredarealty.com

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LOVELY MID-CENTURY3BR/2BA home with 60+beautiful acres. Private ondead end quiet country road,property on both sides ofroad. Views! Large countryEIK, family room w/FP, French doors to deck.A little sprucing/updating & you’ll have fabulouscountry home! $299,000

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12H HOME IN THE COUNTRY SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT APRIL, 2015 APRIL, 2015 SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT HOME IN THE COUNTRY 13H

The home of your dreams is now available

Above: Intricately-detailed carvings, like this pine cone (inset), grace many a banister and column insideSunset Lodge, while the spacious kitchen is a perfect meld of wood, granite and stainless steel.Right: The den’s bar offers space for drinks and guests – including a permanent one (see closeup, 13H)!

STORY BY DAN HUST, PHOTOS BY CHRIS RAMIREZ

llen and Stephen Tucker had their pickof places to live.

Both accomplished professionals inthe New York metropolitan region, the

couple chose The Chapin Estate near White Lakefor a variety of reasons, including fond memo-ries of youthful summers in the Catskills.

But you don’t have to have a life’s worth oflocal recollections to feel like this is simply theperfect place to live.

“It’s such a lovely community with lovely peo-ple,” says Ellen, who is one of TheChapin Estate’s most involved res-idents, helping run the Lake Club,a gathering, dining and fitnesscenter exclusively open to Chapinmembers.

The Tuckers’ home, SunsetLodge, is as gracious as they, itsblend of wood and stone gazing

majestically from a hill above the Toronto Reservoir.“It has a beautiful, unobstructed view of the

lake,” Ellen shares. “And the lake is gorgeous.”Indeed, this 6.46-acre spot was chosen by Ellen

and Stephen a decade ago for its combination ofinspiring vista and serene privacy.

As one of the first to purchase a lot at Chapin,they secured the construction and design servic-es of Chapin founder Steve Dubrovsky and crew,and a lodge worthy of the Adirondacks was bornin the Catskills.

White pine abounds throughout the three spa-cious levels of Sunset Lodge,sometimes appearing to naturallysprout from floors and walls.

Carvings in that wood by masterartisan Paul Stark conjure imagesof wildlife – from a woodpeckerdrilling for a meal to a sunflowerbursting into bloom.

E


Above: Carved by Paul Stark, this woodpecker hap-pens to be made of the same white pine on whichit’s left its mark! It adorns the bar pictured on 12H.

Left: As seen from the path leading to a dock onToronto Reservoir, Sunset Lodge is a stunning, yetinviting retreat fashioned of wood and stone.

Below: The master bedroom features a fully opera-tional wood/gas fireplace, native hardwood flooringand a gorgeous view of much of the reservoir.

Address:

36 Top Ridge Trl

Municipality: Bethel

Bedrooms: 5

Full baths: 6

Partial baths: 1

Interior footage: 5,250

Acres: 6.46

Year Built: 2005

Garage capacity: 2

Type: Single Family

Community:

Gated Community, Spa / Pool

Amenities:

Carpeted and Hardwood Floors, Deck,

Dishwasher,

Granite Countertops, Patio,

Refrigerator, Security System,

Spa / Hot Tub, Storage, Dock,

Wine Cellar, Grotto,

Washer Included,

Dryer Included,

3 Fireplaces

Cooling:

Ceiling Fan, Central Air Conditioning

Land Features:

Exercise Area, Lake, Mountain Views,

Water View, Waterfront, Guard Gated,

Jogging / Biking Path

MLS ID.: TR2-25

Price: $2,700,000

Annual Taxes: $35,672

HOME FEATURES

ON THE COVER: Note the detailthat went into one of SunsetLodge’s upstairs bedrooms: fromthe light fixtures to a window seat.

12H HOME IN THE COUNTRY SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT APRIL, 2015 APRIL, 2015 SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT HOME IN THE COUNTRY 13H

The home of your dreams is now available

Above: Intricately-detailed carvings, like this pine cone (inset), grace many a banister and column insideSunset Lodge, while the spacious kitchen is a perfect meld of wood, granite and stainless steel.Right: The den’s bar offers space for drinks and guests – including a permanent one (see closeup, 13H)!

STORY BY DAN HUST, PHOTOS BY CHRIS RAMIREZ

llen and Stephen Tucker had their pickof places to live.

Both accomplished professionals inthe New York metropolitan region, the

couple chose The Chapin Estate near White Lakefor a variety of reasons, including fond memo-ries of youthful summers in the Catskills.

But you don’t have to have a life’s worth oflocal recollections to feel like this is simply theperfect place to live.

“It’s such a lovely community with lovely peo-ple,” says Ellen, who is one of TheChapin Estate’s most involved res-idents, helping run the Lake Club,a gathering, dining and fitnesscenter exclusively open to Chapinmembers.

The Tuckers’ home, SunsetLodge, is as gracious as they, itsblend of wood and stone gazing

majestically from a hill above the Toronto Reservoir.“It has a beautiful, unobstructed view of the

lake,” Ellen shares. “And the lake is gorgeous.”Indeed, this 6.46-acre spot was chosen by Ellen

and Stephen a decade ago for its combination ofinspiring vista and serene privacy.

As one of the first to purchase a lot at Chapin,they secured the construction and design servic-es of Chapin founder Steve Dubrovsky and crew,and a lodge worthy of the Adirondacks was bornin the Catskills.

White pine abounds throughout the three spa-cious levels of Sunset Lodge,sometimes appearing to naturallysprout from floors and walls.

Carvings in that wood by masterartisan Paul Stark conjure imagesof wildlife – from a woodpeckerdrilling for a meal to a sunflowerbursting into bloom.

E


Above: Carved by Paul Stark, this woodpecker hap-pens to be made of the same white pine on whichit’s left its mark! It adorns the bar pictured on 12H.

Left: As seen from the path leading to a dock onToronto Reservoir, Sunset Lodge is a stunning, yetinviting retreat fashioned of wood and stone.

Below: The master bedroom features a fully opera-tional wood/gas fireplace, native hardwood flooringand a gorgeous view of much of the reservoir.

Address:

36 Top Ridge Trl

Municipality: Bethel

Bedrooms: 5

Full baths: 6

Partial baths: 1

Interior footage: 5,250

Acres: 6.46

Year Built: 2005

Garage capacity: 2

Type: Single Family

Community:

Gated Community, Spa / Pool

Amenities:

Carpeted and Hardwood Floors, Deck,

Dishwasher,

Granite Countertops, Patio,

Refrigerator, Security System,

Spa / Hot Tub, Storage, Dock,

Wine Cellar, Grotto,

Washer Included,

Dryer Included,

3 Fireplaces

Cooling:

Ceiling Fan, Central Air Conditioning

Land Features:

Exercise Area, Lake, Mountain Views,

Water View, Waterfront, Guard Gated,

Jogging / Biking Path

MLS ID.: TR2-25

Price: $2,700,000

Annual Taxes: $35,672

HOME FEATURES

ON THE COVER: Note the detailthat went into one of SunsetLodge’s upstairs bedrooms: fromthe light fixtures to a window seat.

14H HOME IN THE COUNTRY SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT APRIL, 2015 A

“It looks like nature was broughtinside,” explains Christine Sweetman-Vande Vrede, who with Eileen Mullallyis representing the Tuckers in the saleof this magnificent home.

Regally reaching to the 20-foot ceil-ings, three stone fireplaces can beheated by gas or wood, while the fin-ished basement’s floor features thebarefoot comfort of radiant heat. Theentirety of Sunset Lodge is centrallyheated by oil and cooled by electricity.

Five bedrooms are served by six-and-a-half baths, each with unique, high-quality tiling, fixtures and furnishings.

Common areas are just as plentiful,with an airy dining room, spaciouskitchen, cathedral-ceiling living roomand cozy den beckoning family andguests. A fully-outfitted bar accompa-nies the den and is itself complement-ed by a wine cellar, just steps away.

The house was designed for rest andrelaxation, but there’s room for work-ing – and working out. An upstairs

office is equipped with high-speedbroadband cable access and features athree-sided view of the lake, the landand the two-car garage.

“From every window in each of themain rooms,” Christine points out,“you have a view of the water.”

Two levels beneath the office sitsboth an intimate library and a mir-rored fitness room, with a door leadingto the neighboring sauna.

After an active day, however, there’snothing better than finding a seat onthe wraparound porch or in the hottub of the ground-level patio to drinkin the sights, sounds and smells of aforest gloriously lit by the sun settingacross the Toronto.

Or perhaps you’d like to watch thesunset from the lake itself? Walk a fewyards down to the dock, then take yourboat out on this 900-acre reservoir,part of 2,000 acres of boating, swim-ming and fishing lakes in the vicinity –themselves surrounded by 14,000 acresof “forever wild” conservation lands.

Listed for $2.7 million, Sunset Lodge

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13H

Each of the six and a half baths is unique in both design and furnishing. The mas-ter bath features rich, warm tones and comes with a relaxing jacuzzi bathtub.•845-583-5760•

Design & Installationof Unique

Landscapes forHome & Business

• Organic GardeningMethods

• Stone walls, Patios& Paths

• Trees & FloweringShrubs

• Pool Landscapes• Water Gardens & Waterfalls

• English & JapaneseGardens

• Rock Gardens& Flower Beds

26438

SEEDS (Sustainable EnergyEducation and DevelopmentSupport) and the Northeast

Pennsylvania Audubon Society areco-sponsoring a free seminartitled: “Smart Landscaping: HowLandscaping Can Save Energy” onTuesday, April 21 from 7–9 p.m. atthe Wayne County ConservationDistrict office, located in the ParkStreet Complex – 648 Park Street inHonesdale (near the WayneMemorial Hospital).

This is a free seminar that willteach participants about perma-culture, healthy backyard habitats,and simple landscaping tech-niques for energy savings.

Participants will learn how toplant for optimal heating andcooling needs, what types of treesto plant and where. Presenters will

also discuss native versus non-native plant species, and how buy-ing plants and materials from localsources decreases energy neededfor transport.

Presenters include Jason Curtis,PLA, LEED AP, Land Scape Artist;Katharine Dodge, Chair of SEEDSand member of the NortheastPennsylvania Audubon Society;Robert Muller, Manager of theWayne Conservation District.

Registration is encouraged, butnot required. [email protected] or callSEEDS at 570-245-1256.SEEDS is a non-profit organization dedicated topromoting sustainable energy and living inNortheast Pa. It works with businesses and resi-dents to reduce energy use, improve energy effi-ciency and grow the renewable energy infra-structure. For a full list of its forums and otherprograms, visit www.seedsgroup.net.

Smart landscaping cansave energy


is truly one of the choicest of thechoice homes available within thegates of The Chapin Estate.

So why would anyone want to moveaway?

Turns out Ellen and Stephen aren’tleaving – in fact, they plan to stay with-in Chapin, albeit at a smaller home.

“We love being in a warm, quiet envi-ronment, and we love entertainingfamily there,” Ellen affirms.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, theForestburgh Playhouse and fine restau-rants are also star attractions within ashort drive.

Of course, they’ll miss Sunset Lodge,especially the white pine tree aroundwhich the main staircase wraps. Theirinitials, embraced by the shape of aheart, are carved into its smooth lines.

“Perhaps,” muses Ellen, smiling,“somebody else will put there initialsthere, as well ...”

* * *To find out more, visit chapinsothe-

bysrealty.com or contact Christine orEileen directly at 866-583-4900.

Above: The view fromthe wraparound porchis beautiful any timeof year, but winter’sleafless presenceaffords the longestvistas of TorontoReservoir.

Above left: PaulStark’s remarkablecarvings adorn themantel above the liv-ing room’s regal stonefireplace.

Below left: A stainlesssteel gas-fired stovesits beneath a seriesof mesmerizing tilesdepicting localwildlife.

Far left: A breathtak-ing crystal chandeliergreets visitors to thebath off one of the guestrooms at SunsetLodge.


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he United States Department ofAgriculture (USDA) recentlyannounced that funds are avail-able to help rural residents of

New York buy or repair single familyhomes.

“Expanding and preserving home-ownership is a major part of the founda-tion for a stronger, more prosperousrural New York,” said Scott Collins,USDA Rural Development New York act-ing state director. “There is tremendouspotential for New York and these fundswill contribute towards building safecommunities that people can callhome.”

Funding is available through two RuralDevelopment housing programs; theHome Repair program and the Guaran-teed and Direct Loan program. The

Guaranteed Loan program assistslenders extend mortgages with afford-able terms to low and moderate incomehomebuyers. Rural Development guar-antees the loan, thereby reducing thelender’s risk and enabling them to pro-vide financing at more favorable ratesand terms to families wishing to pur-chase a home. Guaranteed loans can bemade on either a new or existing homefor up to one-hundred percent of theappraised value.

Under the Direct loan program, appli-cants apply directly to USDA for loanassistance. No down payment is

required and applicants may be eligiblefor payment assistance, which subsi-dizes the interest portion of the mort-gage, lowering the overall monthly pay-ment.

The Home Repair program offers very-low income homeowners loans andgrants to make general home repairs ormodifications, which may improve ormodernize a home. The interest rate onthese loans is one percent and the maxi-mum term is 20 years. Applicants mayobtain multiple loans, with a maximumoutstanding loan amount at a giventime of $20,000. Grants are available to

very-low income homeowners age 62 orolder who cannot afford a loan. Grantsare limited to a lifetime assistance of$7,500 and must be used to removehealth and safety hazards or make ahome more handicap accessible.

These programs have been very suc-cessful by providing decent, safe, andsanitary housing in rural New York. Formore information on these programsand how to apply, contact the USDA’sMiddletown office at 845-343-1872 ext. 4or visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/to findout more about USDA’s housing pro-grams.

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BY MELINDA MYERS

et a jump on the growing sea-son by starting your favorite orhard to find plants indoors

from seeds. Starting hard to find plants,like many of the heirloom or newlyintroduced varieties, from seed may bethe only way you will be able to addthese to your garden. Plus, you’ll beextending the growing season andbringing the fun of gardening indoors.

All you need is a little space, a fewsupplies and of course seeds to getstarted. Check the back of your seedpackets for planting directions. Mostrecommend when and how to startseeds indoors as well as any other spe-cial care the seedlings will need.

Purchase, recycle or make your owncontainers from newspaper. Sanitizeused pots by dipping them in a one partbleach and nine parts water solutionand then rinsing them with clean water.

Fill the containers with a sterile well-drained potting mix or seed startingmix. Once the containers are filled,plant the seeds according to the seedpacket directions.

For most seeds, plant them twice theirdiameter deep and gently water. Con-tinue to water often enough to keep thesoil slightly moist. Extend the timebetween watering and increase yourseed starting success by covering thecontainer with plastic. Or purchase aseed starting kit, like the self-wateringGrowease seed starter kits.

Move your containers to a sunny win-dow as soon as the seedlings emerge

from the soil. Turn plants often toencourage even growth. Or increaseyour success by growing seedlingsunder artificial lights. You can makeyour own light system or purchasetabletop, shelf units or easy to assemblelight systems, like Stack-N-Grow (gar-deners.com). Keep the lights four to sixinches above the top of the seedlings forbest results. As the seedlings grow, besure to maintain this distance by simplyraising the lights or lowering the con-tainers.

Move overcrowded seedlings to largercontainers once they have two sets oftrue leaves. The first leaves that appearare rather indistinct and are called seedleaves. The next set of leaves look morelike the mature plant’s leaves and arecalled true leaves. Once the next set oftrue leaves forms, it is time to trans-plant overcrowded seedlings.

Use a fork or spoon to carefully lift outthe seedling. Clusters of seedlings canbe dug and carefully teased apart beforeplanting in individual pots. Be carefulnot to pinch and damage the youngtender stems.

Place seedlings in their own cleancontainer filled with moist sterile pot-ting mix. Plant the young plants at thesame depth they were growing in theoriginal container.

Thin seedlings started in individualcontainers as needed. If you plantedseveral seeds in each small containerremove all but the healthiest one. Prunethe weaker seedlings to ground level, sothe remaining seedling can developinto a strong transplant for the garden.

Continue to grow your plants in a sunny window or under artificial lightsand water thoroughly and often enoughto keep the soil slightly moist.

Soon it will be time to move yourhomegrown transplants into the garden.

Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticul-ture experience and has written over 20 gardeningbooks, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardeningand the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. She hostsThe Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVDseries and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Gar-den Moment segments. Myers’ website, www.melin-damyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips.

G

Simple steps to seed starting success

GLENN L. SMITH, P.E.CONSULTING ENGINEER, P.C.

P.O. Box 156

533 Broadway, Monticello, NY 12701

Glenn Smith

President

Ph: (845) 796-2216

Fax: (845) 796-2716

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30 Forestburgh Road,Monticello, NY 12701

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Private Line:845-482-3042

email:[email protected]

Beth BernittAssociate Broker NY

SMARTER | BOLDER | FASTER EARLY 1800sSTONE HOUSE

MLS #40631

$345,000

LOVELY HOME ON CORNER LOTMLS #40265

$187,500

2745

5

Available - MLS #40242CERTIFIED ORGANIC 19+ ACRE FARM

w/home, apartment and studio(SEE WEBSITE)


Beechwoodsbeauty commandsgreat views

Beechwoodsbeauty commandsgreat views

This brand new contempo-rary with spectacular long-range views sits on nearly

seven acres overlooking a nice pond.The cedar home was custom-

built by Justin McElroy and Just-In-Time Contracting of Hortonville. Itfeatures a soaring cathedral ceiling

in the great room, opening to aspacious deck with views.

The main floor contains the liv-ing area, as well as a master bed-room and full bath. Hand-madestairs take you to a lofted area withtwo other bedrooms and anotherfull bath.

Though no appliances are includ-ed, the kitchen features granitecounters and lovely bright cabi-nets. The bathrooms are sleek, withhigh-end tile, chic vanities, andgranite counters. The home hascentral A/C.

There’s a full basement for all

kinds of storage or finishing. It’sjust a five-minute drive toCallicoon for shopping, eateries,movies, bowling, and DelawareRiver activities; 10 minutes toJeffersonville; and 15 minutes toBethel Woods Performing ArtsCenter for concerts.



Opposite page: A view from across the pond. The great deck encompasses two sides of the houseand has great potential for gatherings and entertaining.

Top: Big windows for light and views dominate the great room. Note the polished hardwood floors and woodwork. The cathedral ceiling dominates – awaiting only furniture and the homeowners’decorative touch.

Above: The kitchen features granite countertops and new cabinets.

At top right: One of two full baths, with attractive fixtures and details.

Right: This bathroom boasts a separate bath and shower, along with attractive tiling.


landscape & environmental spacesbluestone work • patios & terraces • privacy screens

out-buildings • water gardens & ponds

JesseGsNursery.com • 914.443.5802

1593

6

Address: 107 Gabel Road

Hamlet: Callicoon

Township: Delaware

School District: Sullivan West

Year Built: 2014

Condition: New

Style: Contemporary

Type: Single Family

Bedrooms: 3

Full Baths: 2

Total Baths: 2

Garage Type: None

Acres: 6.730

Square Feet: 1,400

Appliances: Central A/C

Basement: Below Grade, Full

Exterior Finish: Cedar

Roof: Shingle

Interior Amenities: Cathedral ceiling,

glass, great room, hardwood floors,

insulated windows, wall/wall carpet,

woodwork

TV: Cable available on road

Electric: Circuit Breaker

Land Features: Cleared, mature trees,

pond, view, water view, wooded

Heating: Forced warm air, pellet stove

Fuel: LP Gas

Heat: Baseboard

Electric: 200 amps

Road: Paved, Town

Sewer: Septic

Water: Drilled well

Price: $349,000

MLS No.: 40112

Approximate Total Taxes: $4,218

Broker: Matthew J. Freda Real Estate

21 Lower Main Street

Callicoon, NY 12723

Phone: 845-887-5640

HOME FEATURESThe pond is over 100 years old and used to be part of the Boyle farm. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21H


A Unique Montessori School- Foreign Language, Art & Music- 85 Acre Campus- 25 minutes from Port Jervis and Monticello

- Preschool to Seventh Grade- Full Academic, Enrichment & Outdoor Education Programs

Peter and MarshaComstock, Directors

428 Hollow RoadGlen Spey, NY 12737

845.856.6359www.homesteadschool.com

2712

6

27628

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2094

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Documents

Home in the Country Spring 2015