Two seek top seat in K’hook

By DEBORAH E. LANS

HARLEMVILLE–Well more than one hundred people crowded into a hall at the Hawthorne Valley School on Sunday for the launch of “From the Hudson to the Taconics: An Ecological and Cultural Field Guide to the Habitats of Columbia County, New York,” a work 13 years in the making, packed with lush photographs, maps and illustrations and designed, in the words of one of its authors, to “nourish a reverence of life.”

Unlike guides to, for example, “The Birds of ___,” “The Trees of ____”, the “Plants of ___” this guide takes a holistic view of the four main habitat groups in Columbia County: upland forests, open uplands, wetlands and waterbodies and the habitats within each. In the case, for example, of open uplands, this includes nine ecotypes ranging from hayfields to utility corridors.

The guide is organized to describe the general appearance, locations within the county and natural life to be found in each habitat, and includes the local history associated with each habitat type. Uniquely, among field guides, it also includes “perspectives” — thoughts from children and adults who have enjoyed field trips with the authors and the authors’ own reflections — on what they see, hear and touch in each area, suggestions on how to interact with the habitat, and thoughts as to the biodiversity brought by, the threats to and suggestions for the sound stewardship of each habitat type.

The guide is something to savor. Every page includes multiple visual elements: photographs and illustrations of the species to be found, maps locating the habitat type in publicly-accessible county sites, lists of characteristic plants, trees, insects, birds and mammals found in each type of habitat, as well as current and historic aerial photographs. At the same time, the guide is a paperback, sized to fit in an explorer’s knapsack and enhance a walk or hike.

The guide is the work of a partnership between the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program (FEP) and Hudsonia Ltd., two local non-profits with deep roots in the natural community and deep commitments to citizen education as well as scientific study. The four principal authors — Anna Duhon, Claudia Knab-Vispo and Conrad Vispo (all of FEP) and Gretchen Stephens (recently retired from Hudsonia) — themselves bring diverse backgrounds and viewpoints to the project: from wildlife ecology to field botany to anthropology.

In introducing the book, Conrad Vispo asked whether a printed field guide was an anachronism in this time when an app can identify a plant from a smartphone snapshot; he answered his own question with “poppycock,” because the guide does so much more than just identify a species. It is intended to, and does, help you to look closer and “hear the little voices” of nature, such as the tiny butterflies that share a meadow with showier specimens or the “weeds” that give a meadow its character.

To that point, Ms. Stephens spoke to the group about the magical qualities of bogs and bog lakes, and the peat rafts, formed of pond lilies and other decayed organic materials, that float on the lakes, buoyed by gases emitted by biologic decay processes. The peat rafts serve as perches for water fowl and basking sites for turtles.

Mr. Vispo described the guide as a “snapshot in time and place.” The Mohican People, who were the ancestral inhabitants of the county, called themselves Muh-he-con-ne-ok, which means People of the Waters That Are Never Still, and the county’s habitats are, likewise, never static. The guide conveys that sense of evolution in its tracing of the history, development and threats to each ecotype.

Steve Hoare, of the publisher Black Dome Press, said he believed the book was the “crown jewel” of a career spent in bringing New York State and New England regional guides and histories to print. Martin Ping, executive director of the Hawthorne Valley Association said he was “glowingly proud and humbled” by the skill and dedication that brought the project into being.

Indeed, the guide somehow manages to delve deep and wide, covering more than a thousand species and a mass of fascinating detail in always accessible language.

One of the children interviewed for the “Perspectives” sections of the guide, said “Nature’s a really cool thing for me.” Because that is true for so many of us, and because the guide is, in the words of Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC) President Troy Weldy, “an amazing resource for Columbia County,” CLC has purchased copies of the book for local towns and other entities, and Chatham-based Partners for Climate Action has purchased copies for the Libraries of Local that it sponsors.

The authors will be giving a series of book talks at local libraries and will be leading habitat walks throughout the summer. The schedule is posted on the FEP website, https://hvfarmscape.org. The book is available for purchase at local bookstores and through www.blackdomepress.com.

Farmscape Ecology Program library book tour kicks off

GHENT–Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program will kicking off a library book tour celebrating the publication of “From the Hudson to the Taconics: An Ecological and Cultural Field Guide to the Habitats of Columbia County, NY” with a book talk at the Kinderhook Memorial Library on Wednesday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m. and a habitat exploration walk at the Martin Van Buren Nature Area on Saturday, May 18, at 1 p.m.

The book talk is free and will be a chance to hear directly from the authors about the field guide and select habitats in the Kinderhook area, including their ecology, associated plants and animals, history, stewardship, cultural perspectives, and ways to interact more deeply with them.

The habitat exploration walk will be a guided exploration of several habitats, including northern hardwood forest, using the field guide (copies will be provided for participants to borrow for or purchase at the event). The walk will also include observations of spring flowers. While the walk is free, registration is requested and can be made by signing up directly at the Kinderhook Memorial Library or by emailing fep@hawthornevalleyfarm.org.

This is the first in a series of library book tour events offered through the spring, summer, and early fall to introduce the field guide and highlight habitats in different regions of Columbia County. Upcoming events include paired book talks and habitat walks that can be attended together or enjoyed separately at: Roe Jan Community Library/Roe Jan Park (May 23/25); Chatham Public Library/Crellin Park (June 17/22), New Lebanon Library/Shaker Museum North Pasture Trail (June 27/29); Hudson Area Library/Greenport Conservation Area (July 25/July 27); Germantown Library/Palatine Park (September 5/September 7); and Claverack Free Library/High Falls Conservation Area (September 25/September 28).

By DIANE VALDEN

COPAKE—A crowd of about 50 people gathered on the pavement in the Copake Rapid Care parking lot, 283 Mountain View Road, with the temperature in the 80s under an intense springtime sun to witness the long-awaited grand reopening of the facility, Monday, June 3.

The center had been closed since December 2022 due to staffing and financial issues.

Little plastic bottles of water and snacks were made available to the sweltering onlookers as Columbia Memorial Health (CMH) President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Dorothy M. Urschel delivered opening remarks from a lectern and introduced speakers: Matt Herzog from Assemblymember Didi Barrett’s (D-106th) office, Emma Cohen from State Senator Michelle Hinchey’s (D-41st) office, Albany Med Healthcare System’s CEO and President Dr. Dennis McKenna, Alex Horton from Congressman Marc Molinaro’s (R-19th) office, CMH Board of Trustees Chair Kirk Kneller and Copake Town Supervisor Richard Wolf.

Citations, certificates and proclamations were presented by the representatives of state and federal politicians. Everyone offered words of congratulations and gratitude to all who helped make the reopening happen. It was noted that the center provides critical services which Roe Jan area residents would otherwise have to drive a half-hour or more to obtain. Mr. Herzog said the reopening “was a testament to the power of community.”

Some credit for the reopening was bestowed upon CMH Board of Trustees Member Hila Richardson and Board Chair Kneller. During his remarks, Mr. Kneller also deflected a piece of the credit to the community, since $300,00+ in individual donations to the CMH Foundation’s “donor designated fund” directly benefited the Copake Rapid Care Center’s revival. He said “it takes a community” to support a rapid care center. Also, Mr. Kneller predicted that within a year the center will be profitable.

AMC and CMH administrators, staff, board of trustees members, politicians’ emissaries, local town supervisors past and present and others lined up for the Copake Rapid Care ribbon cutting and photo opportunity, June 3. Photo by Diane Valden

Copake Supervisor Wolf said because his predecessor, former supervisor Jeanne Mettler, championed the rapid care center cause, residents once again have “a local place where they can go to get quality care.”

A ceremonial red ribbon was cut to usher those present inside the facility for a tour and refreshments.

The center is now open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Physician’s Assistant Thomas McGibbon-Vaugh will anchor the healthcare staff. Mr. McGibbon-Vaugh worked at the facility previously.

To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com