May 2017

***CELEBRATING ONE HUNDRED YEARS***

Fleischmanns First Monthly Meeting

Highlights May 2017
Meeting was convened by President Winifred Zubin at
9:30am

Memorial Day Street Fair Report- Yvonne Reuter gave

an update on vendor participation to date. Ads placed
with MTC, County Shopper, CMN and Ulster County
Almanac. Marilyn Ringel to do follow up calls to ven-
dors. New banners with Sunday, May 28th 11:00 to 5:00
info ordered; volunteers for poster distribution needed.
FF table will focus on maps and information on the vil-
lage; fund raising effort through sale of t-shirts, raffles
and will seek new membership. Volunteers to man the
FF table, set up and clean-up of the event needed. Con-
tact Yvonne at 254-3030. See inside story and poster on
p.1
Flower Barrel planting and eastern entrance sign gar-
den clean up-see inside story.
The Mountain Athletic Club vintage baseball team is
revitalized and plans a vintage baseball game on Satur-
day 5/27/17 at the village park at 2pm. They are raising
money to outfit the team, purchase equipment and
other start-up costs. See inside story
Nominations for the FF Leadership Committees. Win-
ifred explained the role of the committee in planning
future events. Jon Frank and Marilyn Ringel are inter-
ested in joining the Leadership Committee, Yvonne
Reuter as vice president. Irene and Isabel Vazquez
would like to continue as secretary
The Mayors appointed Pool Committee met a few
times, most recently with Delaware Engineering. They
are reviewing the existing conditions, and Delaware
engineering has been tasked with a design and cost
proposal. Once a pool design is complete, the Mayor Headwaters History Days return June 17 & 18
plans to hold a public hearing for public input to the
For the fourth year running, numerous historical sites, museums,
project. Grant funds through Senator Sewards office
and communities will be joining together to create a big History
have been awarded on a cost reimbursement basis.
Weekend in the Catskills. The event will take place June 17 & 18,
Lynn Collins reported that the Estate of Norma Jean
coinciding with NYS's Path Through History Weekend. More details
Martens has been settled with distributions to be made
and info are available on www.HeadwatersHistoryDays.org. Events
to the Village, The Community Church and the Fire De-
in Fleischmanns include a talk at Skene Library at 3 PM on Satur-
partment.
day, focusing on the Ulster & Delaware Rail Road here. The Muse-
Meeting notes continued on page 2
um of Memories will be open both Saturday & Sunday, with a new
display on the Rail Road.
 Page 2 - FLEISCHMANNS FLYER - May 2017

Meeting notes continued from page 1:

IT HAPPENED IN FLEISCHMANNS Community Garden plots are available at $10 each.
Contact Carol Birnbaum at 254-5616 for an applica-
tion and further information. There is also a polli-
The last several years here have
witnessed considerable building, nating garden. Plant donations for the pollinating
renovating, and the arrival of new garden are requested.
businesses. This is not the first William Judisky reported the FEAST dinners at the
time Fleischmanns has seen such Community Church 5/23, with a free will donation
growth. Full Election Results: Don Kearney, Mayor; Fred
The first spurt came shortly after Wohler, Trustee; Larry Reilly, Trustee, Harriet Gross-
the U & D Rail Road (initially man and David Yates remain on the board, terms
called the Rondout & Oswego) complete next year.
arrived in the early 1870s. What Larry Reilly reported on activities of the local govern-
had been a long and torturous trip up to our corner of the Catskills ment:
suddenly became much easier. At first, a few farmers rented out spare
The annual budget was approved, with a tax
rooms to summer boarders from NYC. But by the 1880s, a full-
fledged boom was on. The Fleischmann family built their compound, increase of 2.05%.
and soon the hills were humming with hotel construction. If you got The Planning Board hired Allan Sorenson to
off the train at the Fleischmanns depot in 1903, you had your choice review the plans for the development at the
of 59 places to stay. Northland and adjacent 3 lots. The four lots
are being consolidated into a master plan
The first 14 years of the 20th
Century saw steady, continual encompassing the Main Street and Lake
growth. The U & D Rail Road Street properties. The review will address
had its best year ever in 1913-- compliance with building and zoning codes,
transporting almost 700,000 and adequacy of the master plan. Project
passengers to the Catskills. engineer Paul Gossen, and developer Wigdor
With the onset of World War Mendlovic presented updated information
One, things quieted down; and
after the war travel patterns began to change and the lengthy heyday to the Planning board. The developer stated
of the large hotels faded. Today just a few of the old ones remain. But the apartments were designed with heat and
now there seems to be renewed interest, and the sound of hammering amenities for year round occupancy, to ac-
again can be heard throughout the village. commodate skiers and hunters with ease of
transition from kosher/non-kosher use. The
developer stated that the synagogue and
Mikvah are accessory use to his business of
apartment rentals, and as such the full prop-
erty is subject to property tax. There contin-
ue to be concerns that this development will
Upcoming Happenings at Skene Library change the character of Fleischmanns.
Skene's annual book sale will take place Sunday, May 28, in conjunc- Laura Sue King reported on the Gilding Bee project
tion with the Street Fair. Books will be on the porch & inside. taking place July 17-30 Mondays, Wednesday and
Thursday at the Painters Gallery on Main Street. You
On Saturday, June 3 at 1 PM, local-area author Simona David will can bring little objects to gild. There is a suggested
present a book talk on her recently-issued third edition of Art in the donation of $5.
Catskills: Your Guide to the Catskills' Rich Cultural Life. Theater: There is no change in the status of the thea-
ter. It has been cleaned out, the electrical service is to
On Saturday, June 10 at 2 PM, Skene Memorial Library takes great
be turned on. Doug Green has offered to restore the
pride in presenting magician Richard Benninghoff in a very special
vertical Theater sign for installation on the front of
return engagement. In 2016 he presented a performance that folks
the building.
of all ages enjoyed.
Next Fleischmanns First monthly meeting is June 3rd,
For more information, contact the Library at 845-254-4581, or visit 9:30am at La Cabana.
our website, Skenelib.org.
 Page 3 - FLEISCHMANNS FLYER - May 2017

Memorial Weekend Street Fair Moves to Sunday Main Street Beautification

For the first time, the annual Memorial Weekend
Street Fair will take place on a Sunday, May 28th
11am to 5pm. The change from Saturday to Sunday
will mean vendors will span from Beberts to the
former movie theater, allowing the year-round
Fleischmanns retailers on the eastern end of Main
Street to fully participate in the street fair.
Look for the food court in front of the Gazebo with
the childrens bounce house nearby. Music by Coun-
try Express will add to the fun.
Expect to see the Maple Court 2017 driven up and
down Main Street in a vintage car.
The Museum of Memories will be open Sunday as
well as Saturday with a new display on railroads.
Skene Memorial Library will offer plants as well as
books for sale.
Vendors offering antiques, collectibles, crafts, cloth-
ing, and jewelry as well as informational tables of
local not for profits will line Main Street.
See you at the Fair!
Thanks to the folks who came out on Saturday,
April 22nd to clean up the Gazebo garden. Next
volunteer opportunity will be Friday, May 26 th
when the flower barrels that dot Main Street will
be ready for planting. Pam Grochell and Rob Al-
verson will be at the Gazebo with annuals ready
to be planted at 10am. Bring your gloves and spades and help beautify
our Main Street for the season.
Community Garden Plots
Time for Planting!
Applications for a plot are available
on the Fleischmanns Facebook page
and from Carol Birnbaum 254-5616
$10 per plot, located adjacent to the
Park on Wagner Avenue

SEEKING ENTHUSIASTS OF NINETEENTH CENTURY BASE BALL

It has been six-years since Mountain Athletic Club (MAC) played its last game but it is start-
ing up again and actively recruiting players, umpires, sponsors and other ballists to join or
form other teams to compete within 2017.
The MAC has a rich history and tradition on Wagner Avenue in the Village of Fleisch-
manns, states Collin Miller a former MAC player from Hobart. Its a great thing for the
communitys pride and supports the summer tourism-based economy, says Miller. But
more than anything, its really a lot of fun!
From 1895 to 1913, thousands of spectators gathered at the MAC Grounds to watch semi-
professional and local ball players compete. Notable players included Honus Wagner, Miller
Huggins and according to local lore, even Ty Cobb. All are now enshrined in the Baseball
Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Miller says that Fleischmanns resident Todd Pascarella first revived the MAC in 2007 with
financial help from the MARK Project and local donors. He did a lot of work to bring old-
time baseball back to life here. I was drawn to it and have been playing vintage ball ever since.
Pascarella drew inspiration from other Delaware County nineteenth-century baseball clubs that were playing in Roxbury and Hancock at
the time. Highlights of the MAC revival included a win over hosts Roxbury Nine to claim the 2009 Harry M. Keator Cup and a 24-hour mara-
thon baseball game in 2010 featuring players from the MAC, Roxbury Nine, Bovina Dairymen and others that raised over $6,000 for the
building of an accessible playground that now exists in the village park.
In 2011, the MAC season ended abruptly due to heavy rains from Tropical Storm Irene causing Vly Creek to swell, devastating the Village of
Fleischmanns and the historic MAC playing field. Today, with assistance from local donors and federal disaster relief funds, the village park
on Wagner Avenue is now nearly restored with an accessible playground; improved bathroom facilities and a concession stand looking for
renters. Miller hopes that with some finishing touches, the park will once again be ready to host baseball games starting later this spring.
Were reaching out to new and former players to build a roster and schedule some games with other clubs throughout the Northeast, says
Miller. Theres a whole family of vintage ball teams out there that are eager to play the MAC.
The MAC, a vintage baseball team, plays the game according to the rules and customs of 1895 which vary slightly from the modern game
in that foul balls are not counted as strikes, pitchers do not throw from a mound, and batters and fielders use only the limited protective
equipment available at that time.
For more information and updates, follow the teams Facebook page at Mountain Athletic Club Vintage Base Ball. All other inquiries can be
directed to Collin Miller at macvb1895@gmail.com.
 Page 4 - FLEISCHMANNS FLYER - May 2017

May/June Calendar
Fleischmanns Flyer
Fleischmanns Events ~ Save the Date! Editors
Thursday, Fleischmanns Alliance for Business meeting, Sams Country Rob Alverson
May 25th
Store, 5:15pm Paula DeSimone
John Duda
May 28th Sunday, Fleischmanns Memorial Weekend Street Fair, Main St. 10-4 Jeanne Malaxos
Michelle Sidrane
May 29th Monday, Memorial Day Parade

Saturday, Fleischmanns First Monthly Meeting at 9:30 am, La Cabana

June 3rd
Come & meet your neighbors and support your village

June 12th Monday, Fleischmanns Village Board Meeting, 6pm at Skene Library
The Village Planning Board Meeting, as needed, (1st Tuesday) @ 5:30 pm, Skene Library
Zoning Board Meeting, as needed, (3rd Thursday) @ 6:30 pm, Skene Library
Check with Village Clerk regarding meeting statuses & agendas.
For Village info, please contact the Village Clerk, Lorraine DeMarfio @ 845 254 5514
To have your activity posted here, please contact the Fleischmann's Flyer

If you have something youd like to submit to be included in the Printing and distribution of the Fleischmanns Flyer is
Fleischmanns Flyer please write to: made possible in part by grants from A. Lindsay and
fleischmannsfirst@gmail.com or Olive B. O'Connor Foundation and The Pasternak
PO Box 111, Fleischmanns, NY 12430 Family Foundation.

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