About Me

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My wife Toni and I live in the beautiful Catskill mountains, where we love to spend time with family & friends. I enjoy working in the gardens,reading, hanging out at the lake and enjoying the bounty of our lives. In 2007 I started my own business and named it after our dog Spencer. "Life's been good to me so far"

Thursday, September 12, 2013

The Old Wurtsboro Hotel & the New Piazzetta Restaurant

 
The hotel in Wurtsboro was built is the early 1800 and was part of the underground railroad during the Civil War,  It is located across the street from the Wurtsboro Fire House on Sullivan Street. It has been called by many names including the Dorrance House, Joe & Charlie's & the Wurtsboro Hotel. For the last couple of years the bar has been closed & section 8 people were living upstairs. The hotel was falling apart & was a fire hazard. Last year  people who own restaurants in Westchester & Goshen NY bought the hotel & started renovations
 
 



 Renovations were completed in August 2013 and it has opened as La Piazzetta Restaurant.

 
 
The dining room inside is beautiful. A working fireplace, soft Italian music & waiters in white shirts & black ties. They kept the original bar which is nearly two hundred years old.
 
 
A
 And the food is wonderful. Prices are reasonable for this type of restaurant and the parking lot has
been filled almost every night .Reservations are suggested. We wish them the best of luck!

Monday, July 1, 2013

Back to the Prom

The great thing about Facebook is reconnecting with friends you haven't see in years. Last month my old friend Nancy Martello and I spent an afternoon touring through Wurtsboro & remembering the good times we shared. Nancy & I went to my senior prom in 1971 and shared in many adventures. It was great to see her & her sister Marian again !

Bibsy's Birthday

Each year a group of Bibsy Riley's friends & family get together to celebrate Bibsy's Birthday.
Bibsy was a wonderful woman who left us too soon. We miss her very much.





Wurtsboro Hills Lake Makeover

 A bunch of volunteers got together this June & cleaned up the Wurtsboro Hills Lake. They did a great job, it was looking so terrible. The water is probably not safe to use, but this was a big start to bring back the wonderful lake we all loved.



Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Vanishing Wurtsboro

This is the building next to the Community Church of Wurtsboro, formerly the Dutch Reform Church. in the middle of Sullivan street on the north side. I guess it has always been a doctor's office. When I was young Dr. Isidore Greenberg and Dr Rakosi had their offices in this building. Years later it was bought by Denish Shah and divided into  seperate apartments..
Over the years the building fell into disrepair and eventually condemned. Recently the property was being sold for the back taxes owed.
In 2012 the Mamakating library bought the building and had it torn down.
 
Now the site will be home to Mamakating's new library

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Wurtsboro Winterfest 2013

 
 
Each winter the Wurtsboro Board of Trade sponsors a Winterfest in Wurtsboro. All the shops are open and there is an ice carving contest, face painting, horse & buggy rides, a chili  contest and a nature show. A great way to beat cabin fever and to meet up with friends and neighbors.


Monika, Mike, Preston and Jovi Roosa







The Community Church of Wurtsboro, formerly the Dutch Reform Church
 







Ice Carving Contest















Screech Owl

 
Toni's new friend.
Barn owl
Chili Cookoff Contest at the Firehouse