Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
2016
Editor
Nancy
DiPace
Pfau
Number 29
by Josh Kilmer-Purcell
Josh
Kilmer-Purcell
and
Brent
Ridge
with
a
vintage
car
in
Cuba
Last
year
we
decided
that
it
was
time
to
take
a
vacation
again.
We
hadnt
had
one
in
several
years,
so
we
wanted
to
make
it
count.
But
as
we
looked
into
different
tours
we
couldnt
find
any
that
fit
our
style.
Maybe
The
Amazing
Race
spoiled
us,
but
we
like
to
go
to
places
that
are
off
the
beaten
path
and
really
understand
the
people
who
live
therenot
just
look
at
attractions.
So
we
decided
to
craft
our
own
tour.
(article
continues
on
next
page)
A
SPECIAL
THANK
YOU
TO
BRUCE
BUTTON
AND
LEE
PUBLICATIONS
FOR
THEIR
CONTINUED
SUPPORT
IN
PRINTING
THE
CHATTER!
Coincidentally,
one
of
our
Beekman
employees
boyfriends,
Ian,
had
been
organizing
charity
tours
to
Cuba
for
many
years.
Due
to
travel
restrictions,
Cuba
is
not
an
easy
place
to
travel
around
without
connections.
We
worked
with
Ian
to
create
our
dream
itinerary.
We
wanted
to
visit
farms
(of
course,)
live
with
real
Cubans
in
their
homes,
experience
the
arts,
eat
local
foods,
and
yes,
spend
a
day
at
the
beach.
We
put
the
tour
on
our
website
and
14
folks
from
around
the
country
bought
all
of
the
tickets
in
the
first
week.
We
didnt
know
what
it
would
be
like
to
travel
with
14
relative
strangers,
but
it
turned
out
marvelously.
Everyone
was
an
eager
explorer,
willing
to
go
with
the
flow
in
this
country
with
an
unpredictable
infrastructure.
Over
the
course
of
a
single
week
we
visited
tobacco
and
coffee
farms,
Havana,
and
a
beach
resort.
We
visited
an
inner
city
medical
clinic,
amazingly
chic
art
galleries
and
restaurants,
and
government
landmarks.
The
national
childrens
choir
surprised
us
with
an
exclusive
performance
that
brought
us
all
to
tears.
And
most
interestingly,
we
all
lived
with
different
Cuban
families
on
the
same
block
and
learned
more
about
day-to-day
life
in
Cuba
than
we
ever
imagined.
Having
grown
up
during
the
Cold
War,
I
was
a
little
nervous
about
our
trip.
I
imagined
that
we
would
be
watched
wherever
we
went,
and
that
Cubans
would
be
nervous
to
open
up
to
us.
But
none
of
that
was
true.
We
were
never
stopped
or
delayed
anywhere,
and
never
saw
a
government
official
once
we
left
customs.
And
we
found
that
Cubans
were
as
openly
critical
of
their
government
and
politicians
as
we
are
here
in
America.
But
theyre
also
very
proud
of
what
theyve
accomplished
since
the
Revolution
in
1953.
They
have
great
free
medical
care
(their
average
lifespan
is
longer
than
ours;)
a
99.7%
literacy
rate
(compared
to
our
~87%;)
zero
drug
problems
(strict
penalties
and
border
controls;)
and
free
food
and
housing.
They
also
have
unfiltered
access
to
the
internet,
though
availability
is
not
as
widespread
as
it
is
here.
On
the
down
side,
their
housing
supply
is
very
crowded
and
the
free
food
rations
are
limited.
The
infrastructure
is
also
crumblingwe
lost
water
and
electricity
for
short
periods
nearly
every
day.
Most
enterprising
Cubans
are
either
legally
or
illegally
finding
ways
to
work
within
the
tourism
industry
to
bring
home
extra
money.
It
is
a
hard
life,
those
who
want
more
in
life
work
very
hard
to
get
it...but
it
is
possible.
We
could
go
on
for
pages
trying
to
explain
the
complexities
of
life
in
Cuba
that
we
experienced.
But
the
short
lesson
was
that
Cubans
are
excited
by
the
thaw
in
relations
between
our
two
governments.
And,
as
Sharon
Springs
citizens
know
better
than
most:
well
all
do
better
working
together
with
our
neighbors
than
against
each
other.
Over
the
past
couple
of
years,
the
village
has
been
enlivened
by
the
dynamic
presence
of
soul
singer,
Sharon
Jones!
For
anyone
unfamiliar
with
her
music,
I
recommend
you
Google:
Miss
Sharon
Jones
and
the
Dap
Kings!
I
guarantee
you
will
not
be
able
to
sit
still
when
this
captivating
diva
fills
the
stage!
The
photo
below
was
taken
after
a
concert
at
the
Egg
in
Albany
shortly
before
a
devastating
health
diagnosis
since
2013,
Sharon
has
been
dealing
with
cancer,
spending
long
periods
here
in
Sharon
Springs
with
her
good
friend,
Megan
Holken,
while
receiving
treatment
at
Bassett
Hospital
in
Cooperstown.
Miss
Sharon
Jones!,
a
documentary
film
by
Barbara
Kopple,
chronicles
Sharons
2013
cancer
battle
and
its
effect
on
her
friends
and
band
members.
As
stated
in
Variety,
Sharon
Jones
has
a
spirit
cancer
couldnt
silence!
From
left:
unidentified
photographer,
Maria
Vought,
Richard
Pfau,
Sharon
Jones,
Dennis
Giacomo,
Megan
Holken,
unidentified
photo
bomber,
Nancy
Pfau.
DANCE NEWS
spring
flowers
in
Amsterdam,
the
Netherlands
By
Rosemarie
Trapani
1
cup
butter,
softened
2
teaspoons
baking
powder
2
cups
sugar
1
teaspoon
baking
soda
2
large
egg
4
cups
flour
15
ounces
Ricotta
cheese
1
teaspoon
salt
2
teaspoons
vanilla
extract
Glaze:
1
cups
powdered
sugar,
3
tablespoons
milk,
teaspoon
vanilla,
nonpareils
for
decorating.
Preheat
oven
to
350
degrees.
In
bowl
of
electric
mixer,
cream
together
butter,
sugar,
and
eggs
on
medium
speed.
Add
ricotta
cheese
and
mix
until
smooth.
Add
vanilla
extract
and
mix
well.
In
separate
bowl,
mix
flour
with
baking
soda,
baking
powder
and
salt.
Add
flour
mixture
gradually
to
wet
ingredients
on
low
speed
until
dough
is
formed.
Drop
the
dough
by
heaping
teaspoons
onto
baking
sheet,
about
2
inches
apart.
Bake
12-15
minutes
until
cookies
are
golden
around
the
edges.
Remove
from
baking
sheet
and
place
on
cooling
rack
covered
with
paper
to
catch
the
glaze
drippings.
Glaze
cookies
and
sprinkle
with
nonpareils
if
desired.
Let
dry
completely
before
storing.
Makes
5-6
dozen.
Editors
note:
These
look
like
beautifully
decorated
Easter
Eggs!!
photo
by
Rosemarie
Trapani
by
Josh
Kilmer-Purcell
Last
summer
my
first
book,
I
Am
Not
Myself
These
Days,
was
adapted
into
a
one-
man
show
for
the
Edinburgh
Fringe
Theater
Festival.
It
received
great
reviews,
and
began
touring
the
UK
this
spring.
While
I
was
originally
hesitant
to
watch
an
outsiders
interpretation
of
a
long-ago
chapter
of
my
life,
curiosity
eventually
overcame
me
and
I
traveled
to
London
to
see
it
on
the
final
leg
of
its
initial
run.
Theres
no
way
I
can
objectively
review
a
show
about
my
own
lifeIll
let
the
professional
reviewers
do
that.
But
I
can
say
that
the
young
actor
who
played
me,
Tom
Stuart,
was
very
kind,
generous
and
talented.
Understandably,
he
was
as
nervous
for
me
to
watch
the
play,
as
I
was
to
be
there.
(He
even
brought
his
moms
to
the
performance
for
moral
support.)
Though
the
humor
of
the
book
was
faithfully
included,
I
viewed
most
of
the
actual
performance
through
tears,
remembering
incidents
that
Id
tried
to
forget.
And
to
be
frank,
it
was
also
embarrassing
to
watch
people
watch
some
of
my
youthful
indiscretions.
Of
course
everyone
was
lovely
and
gracious
post
performance.
There
has
been
talk
of
bringing
the
show
to
New
York
City
next
season,
and
I
made
the
producers
promise
to
schedule
a
side
trip
for
a
special
performance
in
Sharon
Springs.
Perhaps
Klinkhart
Hall?
Editors
note:
This
is
a
powerful
book
and
the
play
must
be
equally
so!
1. After
the
warmest
February
on
record,
March
has
been
somewhat
more
typical
[unlike
the
last
two
years
however,
there
is
no
snow
on
the
ground!]
Signs
of
spring
abound
and
the
maple
sap
is
flowing
still
time
to
enjoy
Breakfast
in
the
Sap
House
at
the
Stonehouse
Farm
on
Lynk
road,
through
April!
2. The
American
Hotel
reopens
Friday,
March
25th,
serving
dinner
Thursday
through
Sunday
from
5:00
plus
Sunday
Brunch!
3. 204
Main
Bistro
will
reopen
Thursday,
March
24th,
with
a
new
menu!
4. The
Black
Cat
is
still
open
daily
and
will
be
doing
picnics
at
Glimmerglass
for
the
10th
consecutive
season!
Tony
Daous
new
Guide
to
Sharon
Springs
will
be
available
in
time
for
this
years
Garden
Party
May
28
and
29!!
5. Third
annual
Run
for
the
Hills
scheduled
for
Saturday,
May
7th!
6. Cobbler
&
Co
now
offers
boutique
womens
clothing!
7. Thistle
Hill
Weavers
will
offer
a
workshop
on
April
2nd:
Textile
Terms
and
Things
No
One
Told
You!
8. Spring
events
at
The
Old
Stone
Fort
in
Schoharie:
April
29th,
7:30
PM
a
presentation
on
Ancient
and
Champion
Trees
of
Schoharie
County;
May
30th,
1:00-5:00
PM
The
traditional
observation
of
Memorial
Day
including
a
Cemetery
Tour
and
a
multi-media
program
Johnny
Has
Gone
For
a
Soldier,
1776-1976
by
the
77th
NY
Regimental
Balladeers
at
2:00.
9. Some
fun
articles
promised
for
the
Summer
Chatter
Hops,
Zenas
Cottage,
Adlephias
Wallpaper
in
the
DAR
House
in
DC,
and
lots
more!
10. Typical
Spring
Planting
Mud
time
photo
from
Bruce
Buttons
archives: