#putnamcounty

[myfriendthedictionary]

text posts i made exclusively for me and the like 4 other people who’ve ever listened to 25th annual putnam spelling bee

[amylynnmilstein]

Super moon

[railwayhistorical]

Bear Mountain Bridge

Here’s an odd composition made with a view camera while standing on the Bear Mountain Bridge, which spans the Hudson River. This locale is north of Manhattan by about forty-five miles; the bridge was built in 1924 and was the longest suspension bridge for a year and a half.

The Manitou Marsh can be seen toward the lower left along with the tracks of Metro North, former New York Central. The prominent peak just above the marsh is Sugarloaf Hill, which I had the pleasure of climbing several times. Anthony’s Nose is ninety degrees to the right, and Bear Mountain itself about a hundred and twenty degrees to the left.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken 1989.

[jeffdietz]

In 2006, 436 acres of land, in two parcels, were donated to the state of New York. Local government has tried to repurpose and rename the land, but due to budget cuts and a written agreement stating that a name change would forfeit the land back to the prior owner, the properties have been stuck in over growth and political limbo. . . . . . . . #wip #workinprogress #newyorkstateparks #putnamcounty #westchestercounty #overgrowth #notadogpark https://www.instagram.com/p/B4I7JrgAXhF/?igshid=1lww6ffvnb7gw

[firetruckoftheday]

Cold Spring Fire Company No. 1 Engine 13-2-1 by Triborough Via Flickr: 2009 Spartan/Smeal

[screaminonionz]

View this post on Instagram

Anyone want some Insanely Delicious Screamin' Shrimp? You bet ya do!! Here's the Recipe: . 1 lb Shrimp 3T Olive Oil 1t Smoked Paprika 1t Sea Salt 1/4 cup Screamin' Onionz 2T Cilantro, chopped 💥Mix Shrimp, Olive oil and Paprika in a bowl until evenly coated. 💥Sauté Shrimp in a pan until cooked through. 💥At the last 30 seconds of cooking, add Screamin' Onionz and half of the Cilantro and mix together. 💥Place Shrimp in bowl and sprinkle with the remaining Cilantro. . . . . . #ScreaminOnionz #OnionzOn #ValleyTable #thinkdutchess #HVLocal #HudsonValleyEats #Millbrook #Onion #Onions #LaborDay #LaborDayWeekend #LaborDay2017 #WestchesterMagazine #DutchessCounty #Westchester #RocklandCounty #PutnamCounty #UlsterCounty #ShopSmall #Cookout #HudsonValley #Poughkeepsie #SmallBiz #HudsonValleyShopping #hvmagazine #ediblehudsonvalley #poughkeepsiejournal #hudsonvalleymagazine #hudsonvalleymag . . . . . . . . (at Marona's Market)

[firetruckoftheday]

Cold Spring Fire Company No. 1 Engine 13-3-2 by Triborough Via Flickr: 2000 HME/Smeal

[railwayhistorical]

Thirty Years Ago—and a Loss

I heard of a passing recently: Ralph Odell. In one of my previous lifetimes, I was able to go birding with three fellows: Henry Turner, Marc Breslav, and Ralph Odell—I was privileged to be on a bird-a-thon team with them in both 1990 and 1991. This was out of the Putnam Highlands Audubon Society, fifty miles north of New York City, in Philipstown, across the Hudson from West Point.

A bird-a-thon is a competitive event where teams strive to see as many species they can in a 24-hour period. We used this activity to raise money for our chapter, and would be successful enough to put up a building at Constitution Marsh Sanctuary, in Garrison, New York.

I had become a rabid birder immediately after moving out of Brooklyn in the spring of 1989. I fell in with the Audubon crowd in Garrison and made acquaintance with Marc Breslav (bearded fellow seen here). He, in turn, invited me to join their bird-a-thon team in 1990. Henry Turner (man with mustache here) was an outstanding birder who traveled the world building his life-list; he took me under his wing and taught me much about birding, for which I’m thankful. Ralph Odell (clean-shaven, seen alone in final image above) was a kind, older gentleman, soft-spoken, widower, who had been a school teacher in Garrison. Despite me being green, we won the competition during my first year, that of 1990.

I believe we typically began on Jones Beach, and Jamaica Bay, on Long Island, and worked our way back up to Putnam County. We’d then go further north and west, to Bashakill Marsh, over in Sullivan County, then back down to Bear Mountain, and other nice spots around the Hudson River. The point is to hit as many types of habitats as possible, and thus see the most species. After our win, I would be awarded a free week’s stay at the National Audubon’s camp on Hog Island, Maine.

But more importantly than that, I got to hang out with these people—we had fun, enjoyed the out-of-doors, and raised money for an organization that looks after the health of migratory bird species. I remember Ralph being a nice man, but it’s been a long time—his obituary reminded me of what I did know about him, and informed me of things about his life I did not know—I’ll link it here. I wish I’d spent more time with him when I had the chance.

Six images by Richard Koenig; taken in the state of New York during the years of 1990 and 1991.