Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Early December Update

First, do apologize for my overly LONG break from "The Grove News" but we have had our plate full here. Anyway, it is early December and thought I would pop in here with a few updates on our life away from Skyway...especially since we were actually in the Ellenville area this past weekend eating at our beloved Aroma Thyme Bistro! By the way, Marcus has added a BACON CHEESEBURGER to his menu and it is to DIE FOR. This may be one of the greatest Bacon Cheeseburgers in the entire Universe, if not the Galaxy, and it is HEALTHY!

Pina is going to be having surgery on December 11th...the doctors believe her female issues are the underlying causal agent (or one of them) for her breast cancer so she is having all of her female parts removed that day...she'll be in the hospital for 2-4 days depending on which surgery they are able to perform. Since MAJOR stairs are going to be an issue for her, I have been redoing our living room...see pictures in this post! It is a MAJOR new look for us, and of course I am excited about us getting our first XBOX! So of us never grow up, and you can count us in that group.

We are keeping Christmas at a minimum this year...all these medical issues are getting EXPENSIVE! Of course, if I had not gone overboard on my decorating of the living room, things might be a bit different...and then there is that NEW Canon Rebel digital camera that Pina got me as an early Christmas gift, and we cannot forget the new flat screen TV I got her for her healing area...LOL...seriously, we are just trying to do our part to single handedly pull America out of its recession.

We are missing camp, and cannot wait to open up next season...we've not even had a chance to see our new awning...for those that did not know, we lost our old one our last weekend up at camp this year. We are still disappointed about our deck issue, but have decided it was for the best...with Pina's medical issues still center stage, we are thinking it might be wise to keep things Sherwood simple for another year...more plantings, maybe a few improvements at the TIKI BAR, and of course lots of firewood.

For now, let me add a few pictures of the makeover...enjoy my decorating everyone...yes, I did everything including the actual painting of the areas. We miss all of you, and wishing everyone a joyous and delightful holiday season.











Monday, September 1, 2008

Back From The Beyond...A Brief Update

Greetings Campers!

Do apologize for the lack of material in the past few weeks, but as everyone knows, we have been quite busy at Skyway the past month, and I just could not quite find the time to post up breaking news...of course, the NON WORKING Tengo Internet System down in the Grove does NOT HELP MATTERS. Anyway, I am home for a couple of days, and am planning on updating everyone on the goings on down in the Grove, and at Skyway, and trust me there is a TON OF NEWS.

The Big Boomer

Monday, August 4, 2008

Week Day Crafts-Converse "Happy Feet™"




Back in my high school days I used to take the white Converse sneakers and use them as a canvass to create what I called "Happy Feet™ wearable art...I enjoyed making them, and it was also a great way to earn myself some pocket money at the time. So now almost 40 years later, and in honor of the Woodstock Museum over in Bethel Woods I decided to make another pair of these Happy Feet™ for Rachel who is heading off to college this fall. Thought I would share the pictures so everyone could see how they came out.


Saturday, July 26, 2008

Grove's Internet Access Horrid At Best

For those of you who are not familiar with the Grove here at Skyway, we are a little nook of nine sites down in the lower back quadrant of the camp grounds. The kids are familiar with our area for the BIG HILL they come screaming down on weekends in the late morning and early afternoon, pedaling their bikes as fast as fast can be. It's a quieter section of the campgrounds, though we do have our moments...drive your golf cart by the Tiki bar on a Friday or Saturday night and there is a good chance you'll find 6-8 of us sharing a glass of wine and telling baldy stories from our past, or sharing the weeks news from home and work. Simply stated, for those of us secluded down in the Grove it's a perfect place to spend a weekend...ALMOST.

Last year with Linkspot, many grumbling conversations were heard among us about the lack of access to the Internet, anger expressed at the fact we could get no signal. So this year, there was great glee when we found out a new server system was being installed, a new company coming in to provide service to EVERY CAMPER in Skyway. The Grove was finally going to join the 21st Century, gain parity with those fortunates in other areas of the camp that could get online, check their emails, even check in with work when staying a few extra days!

Sadly, the great day of parity has not come to the Grove, we still (at best) have intermintant signal, and when we have signal, it's a constant battle to say signed on...even though the rates for service are not cheap.

The good news is there is a fix that will give those of us in the Grove that use the Internet access on a fair and equal basis, and in the big scheme of life, the fix is not that expensive. Seems with a bit more equipment (a repeater and/or responder) mounted down in the Grove.

You would have thought for $20,000 in initial investment in the system that Tengo would have seen signal in the Grove was an issue and addressed it...sadly, such is not the case due to what some of us in the Grove see as a loop hole in the contract...Tengo promises a connection rate of 90 percent of the camp ground. We have nine campers down in the Grove, not enough patrons to comprise more than ten percent so we again have been left out in the cold. Simply stated, though there is a fix, said fix (so states the rumor mill) is not going to be addressed until next year at the earliest, the $800 dollars or so to address the issue not in the budget.

There are at least three of us who regularly access the internet here in the Grove (two of them going through dial up currently), and a couple more who have said they might sign up and bring their computers if the service was available. For now, all we Grovers can do is wait and hope that we will get fair and equal access at some point in the future...right now discussions are underway about what can be done...perhaps a Signal Responder fund raiser? Paying almost $30 a month myself, it is dissappointing not to have RELIABLE service, and I am hopeful this issue can be resolved in the near rather than distant future.

In other news from the rumor mills...word has it that next year's seasonal fees are going to go up $180 per site...one has to wonder if that raise in fees will see the return of our dearly missed HBO? Again, this is the scuttle butt on the street and has not been verified through official channels, so do not take it as gospel.

Mark Your Calendars:

The schedule for Halloween weekend is set, and it should be GREAT FUN for all. Some highlights of this upcoming event include:


Friday Night August 8:

A bon fire and scary story time will be held down at the big fire ring adjacent to the pool.

Saturday August 9:

10:00 AM-Kids Craft Time...come down and make a bag for collecting Halloween Treats.

3:00 PM-The Childrens Mummy Wrap and Games...this is always a fun event as kids use toilet paper to make themselves into scary mummies...bring your camera!

7:00 PM-The Annual Costume Contest followed by Trick or Treating for the kids...sign up down at the office to let us know you are going to be giving out candy so we can get you a balloon to hang up in a conspicuous place on your site so the kids know which sites are participating in the treat giveaway.

9:00 PM-The Halloween Golf Cart Drive in Movie!

*Special Note-This year Skyway and The Grove will be awarding a $50 Aroma Thyme Gift Certificate to the best decorated camp site, so bring your decorations and make your sites SCREAM, "Happy Halloween!"

You might also want to mark your calendars for the weekend of August 8th when the Big Boomer (Sherwood)and his adorable cohort will be hosting Skyway's second dance of the season. The theme is a 50's-60's Sock Hop, and again a $50 Aroma Thyme gift certificate will be awarded to the couple best dressed to the theme!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

The BIG SCOOP...Ice Cream Social Huge Success

This past weekend's Ice Cream Social and Day at The Races was a huge success, and the kids had an absolutely smashing time of it all. The younger kids had a great time racing the small wooden cars they'd made at crafts earlier in the day. The horse racing, as always, was a huge sucess, and there was a major run on the ice cream sundaes with not one scoop left over when the event was over. The Big Boomer himself managed to get his hands on one of the three scoop banana splits, and trust me, the eating was terrific, the company even better.

All told the event raised WELL OVER $500 for ST. Jude's bringing Skyway's totals up to the $3,000 mark, well within our goal of $4,000 in donations for the season. Many thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this a very successful and fun Saturday night event.

In other news, the rumor mill was running on overtime as the news that Mike and Barbara are leaving Skyway spread throughout the camp like a wild fire out of control. It's true, and that is all that matters. Simply stated, the two of them are beautiful people and will be missed by many of the seasonal's who know them well. We wish the both of them success as they move into the next phase of their lives, and God's speed on their journey.

On the calendar this Saturday Night...the Annual Pool Parties...yes, we said pool parties. First the kids party followed by the adults social gathering around the pool. Show up for some delicious snack foods and great conversations with your fellow Skyway Campers.
Pina and I are seeking volunteers for both the Halloween and Dances coming up in August. Come see us down in the Grove, or drop me and email: booomerville_news@yahoo.com. Lastly, if anyone has pictures from the Ice Cream Social, we would love to share them with our readers here on the blog.

Interesting Ice Cream Facts:

In 1533, Catherine de Medici of Florence brought her recipes, including those for Tuscan sherbet, to the French court when she married Henri II.

Once a well-kept secret reserved for royalty, the recipes for sherbets and ice creams eventually made their way to French cafes in the 17th century and to American colonists about the time of the American Revolution.

In the 1770s, Benjamin Franklin sampled ice cream in Paris and wrote back home, "I am making an effort to acquire the formula so we may sample this lovely fare upon my return to Philadelphia."

Though the first ice-cream freezer on record in the colonies belonged to George Washington -- in 1784 he spent one pound, 13 shillings and six pence on "a cream machine for making ice" (or sorbetiere in French), it was Thomas Jefferson who popularized ice cream.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Grove Sends It's Sympathies Out to The Pipe and Belevedere Families

Skyway Resort's families have seen some family members pass away in the past couple of weeks, and the Grove News and Gazette wanted to honor their passing, send our sympathies and prayers out to the families in this their time of need. Don Pipe and his wife Pat lost Don's sister this past week to cancer. Long time Skyway campers Jerry and Norma Belevedere are well known to everyone at Skyway, so it is with great sadness that we have just learned that Norma has passed away, also losing her fight with cancer...she will be missed by all the seasonal families and staff here at Skyway. Our prayers and support go out to Jerry and his family. May both families find the comfort, love and strength in this hour of sadness.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord,
And let perpetual Light shine upon them.
May their souls
And the souls of all the faithful departed
Through the mercy of God
Rest in peace.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

New Years Eve Dance Roaring Success, Great Time Had By All.

The New Years Eve Dance at Skyway was an incredible success, and everyone who attended had a fabulous time. A big HATS OFF goes to the Big Double D (Don and Deb), Don's parents Don and Barbara, as well as everyone else (including the Skyway staff) who worked hard to make this event such a wonderful time for everyone that was involved...by the way, let's not forget the BAND who out did themselves in providing quality entertainment for the Teen Dance that ran from 7:30 to 8:30, and the Adult Dance which followed.

In the first picture we have Angelo, his wife Dee and Angelo's father Vito who both Pina and I really enjoyed meeting, and we are looking forward to his being around Skyway more often as the summer unfolds.

In this next picture we have our gracious hosts for the evening, Don and Deb with Deb's mother who was visiting Skyway for the weekend. These two really did a fabulous job decorating for this event, their Black, Silver and Gold theme a raving success with compliments flowing into The Grove News and Gazette as we approach publication of this article. Let's give these two a standing ovation for their efforts, and hope they are up to volunteering their efforts again next year to host this annual event. (While we are at it, lets give Don's parents a big round of applause as well, as their help in decorating for this extravaganza was indispensible to the success of the event.)

One of the most active couples on the dance floor was Herb and Estee Speigel...what an adorable couple. They are fast approaching their 50th Wedding Anniversary, and their love for each other is apparent in this wonderful snap shot of the two. We can all hope to have the zest for life that these two Grove Campers exhibit in everything they do, and we look forward to camping with them for years to come. If you see them out for their morning walk around the ENTIRE Skyway Campground, make sure to say hello to these delightful seasonal campers. It is my hope that Pina and I have as much energy and zest for life when we reach their age...though I still insist neither of them look a day over 60.

Next up, Vicki and her husband...The Big Boomer does apologize for not making it up the morning after the dance to look at their landscaping efforts, but Pina and I were recovering. WE promise too stop by next weekend to look at their efforts. Trying to remember here, but if memory serves correctly you can find these two down in Skunk Hollow which is over behind the tennis courts, so if you are out and about make sure to say hello.

A peak in on the teen dance saw a large contingent roughly estimated at 20 teenagers, and they must have had a good time since the band played until almost quarter of nine as the adults began to move into the room. Though no official count was taken, the adult part of the evening had all tables pretty full up with each of the 12 tables set up for 10 people!

My own favorite picture from the evening is Deb with my beautiful wife and better half Pina who had a fabulous time at the dance even if she wore herself out. It's good too see her all but fully recovered from her bout with breast cancer, and being, acting just like her old self. She and Deb really clicked the first time they met, and their friendship, the friends you can make at Skyway is one of the things that makes this London Family campsite such a special place for every one who visits, seasonals and weekend campers alike.

We snapped a lot of pictures, so here are just a few more. Big Al and The Big Boomer having fun hamming it up on the dance floor as the evening unfolded. In the next picture we have Pat and Judy taking a brief break from the action to get some fresh air out on the patio...they are another one of the couples down in the Grove. These two free spirits always seem to be having fun, but then isn't that what all of us are here for?

Last, but certainly not least we have three more Skyway Seasonals represented. From left to right we have Al's wife Vicki, Joan and her husband Mickey. These three are LONG TIMERS at Skyway, and truly beautiful people. I know where their sites are, but could not even begin to tell you what section of Skyway they are in. If you get the opportunity to enjoy a campfire at either of these two camps, it is something you do not want to miss out on. Their hospitality and friendship are precious gifts, and it will be a night you will not soon forget.

Next weekend is the, "Day at The Races and Ice Cream Social" held outside down by the check in station. We attended this FUN family event last year as new seasonals, and this is a Family Event NOT TO BE MISSED. Plan on eating dinner early and coming down, to place a few bets on the horses and enjoy an ice cream sundae while getting the chance to spend time with your fellow campers and make some new friends.




Thursday, July 10, 2008

Nature's Magic - Luna Moths at Skyway

For the first 17 years of my life, my family and I spent our summers down at the Southern New Jersey shore in a small farming community oddly named Bargaintown, a moniker I've never quite understood. My father, an artist and college professor, had the summers off, so every year, just before school ended, we packed up the car and the family pets and took off for the shore. We lived in what could be described as an old, worn, slightly tattered but charming home my parents purchased a few years before I was born in 1955. The house did not possess the splendor of our Manhattan Brownstone nor many amenities (a fully functional bathroom would be installed when I was 10, so the early years can be best described as seriously "roughing it", "outhouse" style, something that never particularly thrilled me) but it did have its own unique, musky charm. Most importantly, the house, its adjacent garage and 5 acres of land served as my father's creative muse and the gathering place for dad's family, all of whom remained in the area after he and my mother settled in New York City in 1948. It was in this environment where I would come to love nature as much as he did and learn about the magical mystery of Luna Moths, one of nature's wonders.

My father loved nature and honored it in all of its beauty and splendor. He loved sea creatures, animals, insects, birds, plants and reptiles, and delighted in each discovery he made in his life, including the live, newborn baby mice he discovered upon opening one of his art studio drawers or the baby vulture he rescued from the side of the side of the road and tried to save. Dad shared each of these discoveries with my two older siblings and I, but I would become the one most touched by it throughout my life.

As I got older, I learned that butterflies and moths captured dad's attention the most out of everything in nature that he had found, their varied colors and designs artistic creations all their own. To preserve their integrity and use them for some of his drawings, dad became something of a specialist in these lepidopterans. He carefully pinned each butterfly and moth on boards cut to fit the glass cases he built and sealed to prevent deterioration. Among the many species he had collected over his first years at our country house were two glorious luna moths that equally captured the attention of my young eyes. As a child, I stared at their luminous beauty and wondered if I would ever have a chance to see a live one, but I wouldn't, at least not until one recent June night at Skyway some 45 years later.

One night, while Bud and I were sitting by the Tiki bar enjoying our late night coffee and our nightly conversation, we noticed more activity and fluttering around our insect lamp beyond what we normally had come to expect at that hour. We looked over and noticed a large number of large, pale mothlike creatures neither of us had seen before, but we didn't know what they were until the next morning. After we got up the next morning, we found at least 6 of these gorgeous moths on the underside of our Tiki bar umbrella, the insect lamp, and on the rocks in our garden, but we weren't sure if they were alive, though it turns out that they were. (That evening, as the sky grew darker, our new visitors flew off into the woods behind our campsite.) When we discovered them, I wondered if these moths were, indeed, the fabled luna moths of my childhood, but I wasn't sure. Bud was as perplexed as I was, but neither one of us had a chance to investigate them until tonight when Bud stumbled upon a website that identified them. I was thrilled.

Luna moths obviously hold a special significance for me because of my father's love for them, but now, after having gone through my breast cancer surgery and the radiation treatments, their appearance at our campsite is of more significance to me. Perhaps in some way, shape and form that none of us can understand, their appearance is my parents' way, particularly my father's, of showing me that they have been beside me all along. I marvel at the thought and smile in knowing that it was at Skyway that a part of my past had come home to me and that maybe the appearance of these moths was a sign from above.

Here are some photos of our lovely visitors.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

August Field Trip Anyone? The Woodstock Museum at Bethel Woods!

August Field Trip Anyone? The Woodstock Museum at Bethel Woods! Destiny calls, time to jump on our magic carpets and ride captain ride! What a long strange trip its been from 1969 up through 2008 and the official opening of the Woodstock Museum at Bethel Woods. If you listen carefully you can hear the likes of Jimi and Janis whispering in the winds, "We built it, so now you must come." A ride on the Magic Bus anyone?

Yes, The Big Boomer wants to visit the Woodstock Museum, sees it as the perfect August Field Trip to embark upon from the Grove.

The reports are out, and the museum is receiving rave reviews across the land for being more than just a celebration of the greatest concert ever held. It's a time capsule, a chance for America and the world to look back in the hopes of moving forward in peace and harmony. Simply stated, the Woodstock Museum gives you the chance to steep yourself in the politics, culture and music that was the 60's.

Everyone remembers Elvis (I had front row seats to see him in concert the day after he passed) but what about the Bay of Pigs? The Beatles should be a museum unto themselves yet they are represented, as is civil rights, the assassinations of John F and his brother Robert Kennedy. Martin Luther King Jr. is represented, and Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon. Less than half of the exhibits are Woodstock itself, but they are all BIGGER THAN LIFE, a vivid refresher course of the time. 500,000 people shouting, “No rain, no rain, no rain,” during the incessant downpours, Jimi Hendrix with his legendary performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and all the rest that made the event was it was, and continues to be.

So, August is going to see The Big Boomer, Mr. Bud Hasherdashery himself make the pilgrimage to this hallowed ground...any other brave campers up to turning the day into a MAJOR EXTRAVAGANZA drop me an email and lets blow this event out into a happening. Can you imagine three super stretch limousines lining up in front of the Skyway Club House, 20 or 30 of us piling in for the journey back to 1969? Better yet, maybe we could get enough people to rent our own Magic Bus for the day.

Contact the museum

For information: 866-781-2922 For tickets: 845-454-3388
Purchase Tickets Tickets are $13 per person.

Hours

Summer: Memorial Day Weekend thru Labor Day:
Open 7 Days, 10am - 7pm (Last admission at 5:30pm)
Special hours on concert days.

Fall/Spring: Post Labor Day thru Pre-Memorial Day Weekend:
Tuesday thru Sunday, 10am - 5pm (Last admission at 3:30pm)
Closed Monday

Closed from early January to mid-March, and on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Various Attractions In Ulster County

Summer is in full swing, and in fact seems almost half over even though it has just begun for many of the Skyway families who have children. As we move towards Labor Day, enjoy our time with family and friends, we sometimes find ourselves look for local activities and locations to visit while staying at Skyway. Well, Ulster County has a whole lot to offer in the way of fun day trips, and The Grove News thought it time to share some great one day locations with our readers.

1. The Catskill Railroad
Route 28
Phoenicia, NY 12464
845 688-7400

Imagine taking a ride through the mountains in a steam powered locamative enjoying the rich scenery of the Hudson Valley...well, it's just a short trip to Mount Pleasant where you can catch just such a ride! Trains leave the station at 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30 during the entire camping season. If you would like more detailed information, want to know more about this adventure, visit Catskill Railroad's web site at http://www.catskillmtrailroad.com/

2. Emerson Country Store
5340 Route 28
Mt Tremper, NY 12457
845 688-5800

Having family coming in that wants some luxury accomadation, or perhaps you just want to pamper yourself or your spouse? Trust us here at The Grove News, you will be amazed at the splendor when you visit the website for this place that comes complete with rooms fit for royalty, dining at its finest, and a full service spa.
Give their web site a peek at http://www.emersonresort.com/

Be sure to visit often, as we will be featuring more local Ulster County Attractions in the coming days and weeks...next up will be the Train Museum and the Town of Shandaken Historical Museum.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Sharing-The Skyway Experience


One could write this article about any of the thousands of campgrounds that abound around the United States of America, the article could easily be titled the camping experience in America, as families pile into their automobiles and head out to spend a weekend or the summer experiencing nature, camping under the stars, sharing stories and our lives with new found friends around camp fires through out this fine land. However, being a seasonal camper at Skyway Campgrounds just outside the town of Ellenville New York, I am sharing my thoughts on spending summer weekends down in “The Grove” at the London Family’s Skyway Campgrounds.

My wife works down in the Bronx, commutes daily into THE CITY, arriving home at about six each evening exhausted and ready to call it a day. Last year we decided we needed a change, needed a place of peace and tranquility where we could recharge our battery, find some solitude away from our hectic work-a-day life.

Our road to our own haven started a year ago in late June when we made a trip out to her brother’s campsite in Cherry Valley, New York. My wife arrived home on a Thursday night, our one week vacation officially started as she has six Friday’s off in the summer time. A quick check of our seven cats, the car loaded we headed up Interstate 87 to Albany to hook up with the rest of the family for our drive out into the country to Cherry Valley…without going into great detail it was a magical weekend of great food, fabulous conversation, campfires and sleeping late. By Sunday we were hooked on exploring camping, finding a site of our own to escape to on summer weekends.

That very Monday the stars and an intensive internet search found a campsite called Skyway that was just over one hour from our house here in Peekskill…being on vacation we decided to take a drive up and have a look around…little did we know that drive would change our life in such a major way.

Our first stop was at the London family’s camper store where we met one of the son’s (Gary) who spent a great deal of time showing us several campers (both new and used). We hit it off immediately, and found two campers that really spoke to us…a fifth wheel, and a 40 foot travel trailer that actually had a small sectional sofa…I know, not exactly the tent camping I was used to, but give us a break, we both are in our 50’s and not quite as brave of heart as we once were.

Gary suggested we go have a look at the campgrounds, and give ourselves time to mull over our choices and decisions, so we got back into our car and drove down a quiet tree lined country road, and rounding a bend in the road gasped at the beautiful well maintained pool on the right side of the road, and the majestic club house set back off the road to the left. Simply stated, it was obvious to us both that this was a well run and maintained campsite run by folks who cared for their campers, and had build their campground over decades out of love…we were hooked and just did not know it quite yet.

One of their seasonal workers met us just outside the office with a warm greeting and a offer of something to drink while Barbara got on a radio to summon the camp manager (her husband) to give us a grand tour of the grounds. Mike arrived shortly and began our tour, first showing us some sites that were available for seasonal rentals, and then taking some time to introduce us to some of the campers and their families (including family cats and dogs).

Sometimes you just know when something is right, and Skyway was right for us. Some four hours after arriving we had chosen a beautiful site in and area of the campgrounds known as The Grove, and committed ourselves to a 40 foot used camper…Pina had fallen in love with the large living room setup and the sectional sofa, and more than anything else, I wanted her to be happy with our choice, wanted her to fall in love with camping every week of the summer.

The next day we drove up to camp again, signed papers, wrote out checks and were OFFICIALLY seasonal campers, though it would be two more days before we could actually HEAD OUT TO CAMP! That first night we never even got a chance to settle in as Gary came round at about six that evening and dragged us to a big Fourth of July celebration…that was almost to the day one year ago, and what a life changing year it has been.

Camping at Skyway is all about family, your own, and the extended family you begin to develop as you meet, greet and get to know your fellow campers, first in the Grove, and then throughout the campground’s.

Our first major connection (excluding Gary London) came about when Herb and Estee invited my wife and I to join them for a Saturday yoga class…I instantly begged out of the invite, but it was right up my wife’s alley so she was up and ready to go by 7:30 in the morning (ON A SATURDAY). We became instant friends with this delightful couple, and now one year later we feel like an adopted member of the beautiful family, have met their children, their grand children, and even broke bread over the winter as we enjoyed the gracious hospitality of the Spiegel family with another one of the Skyway families who had also been invited to the mid-winter reunion.

Dee and Angelo are two campers down from ours, and again there was an instant connection because of my wife’s Italian heritage, and a shared bond of being native New Yorkers. You know you have found true friends when they are comfortable enough to call you at home and pull a practical joke.

With each passing weekend of the 2007 season our circle of close friends grew as we met more of our neighbors such as Pat and Don in the fifth wheel beside us, Arty, Bill and their beautiful wife’s. The list of new found friends just continued to grow as we met and became friends with Bill and Jackie from across the street with their two adorable Golden Retrievers, and then Pat and Judy who are sandwiched between Herb and Estee, Bill and Jackie. As our first season came to an end we briefly met Don and Deb who were moving down to The Grove in 2008.
2008 has seen Don and Deb becoming great friends, and Don’s parents (Big Don and Barbara) are just magical, and we feel very close to them…suppose they and the Spiegel’s in some sense fill a void for both Pina and I as neither of us have living parents.

We now count the minutes each week until we can be in the car and on our way to camp. Once we pass Middletown on Route 17 we feel the stress of life just falling to the wayside as the excitement of almost being at our summer home, visiting again with our friends’ takes center stage. We know who is having health problems, worry when someone is not at camp when we expect them to be, and look forward to catching up on the NEWS. A bear was sited on the Ridge, Deb’s son’s graduation party was a roaring success, and Big Don finally got his golf cart.

However, its more than that…there’s Don helping me put lights on my golf cart, there’s a new camper asking me about my cart cover, and hooking him up with one of his own. There’s an unplanned evening get together of friends, ten of us all sitting around the campfire catching up with what everyone else is up to, sharing stories about families and work. There is a sense of Patriotism sometimes lost as camping families decorate their golf carts for a Fourth of July parade through camp…it sounds funny, but you really feel the love of America driving around the camp grounds, patriotic marching tunes blaring out of a boom box strapped to a cart, some 20 other carts loaded down with kids as you wish campers a happy Fourth of July.

There are parties and events where whole families get together as a group, almost everyone of them including a fund raising event for a very worthwhile charity (St. Jude’s). When my wife was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, the concern and out pouring of support for both my wife and I was heart touching, and still brings tears to my eyes when I think on it. One long term seasonal is not doing well, and I have not sat at one campfire this season that inquiries are not made about her health. Our neighbor’s (Pat and Don) have a family member that is not doing well, and though home for the week we are worried about her, hold her, Pat and Don in our prayers.

Simply stated, for us the Skyway Experience is about community, is about a new and ever growing extended family. We feel blessed to have become a part of such a wonderful and loving campground.

Plan Now For Blueberry Festival

Just a heads up for all the Grovers who stop by our little news page to stay up on the news and events...MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW...August 23rd is the Annual Blueberry Festival in downtown Ellenville! This is a not to be missed Family Event!
BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL 2008

Shawangunk Mountain Wild Blueberry & Huckleberry Festival


Sponsored by

Ellenville-Wawarsing Chamber of Commerce


Saturday August 23rd,
Ellenville, N.Y.


Your day can begin as early as
7:30 a.m. with a incredible Blueberry Pancake Breakfast fund-raiser sure to tease your taste buds and treat all your senses.


The festival includes some great Blueberry exhibits and the street fair is open to the public from
9 AM until 4 PM.


Exhibits heralding the area’s
Shawangunk Mountains and their cultural heritage, and array of great music and entertainment, and arts and craft show, games, a children’s area, fabulous food, a Blueberry pie baking contest and Blueberry pie sale make this a Family Event not to be missed! Blueberry goodies abound! Lots of food and fun for everyone in the family young and old alike. The Blueberry Festival will be held rain or shine.

Kuddos to Joe and Ellen

Joe and Ellen held their annual July 4th weekend party at Skyway, and the event was a success on NUMEROUS levels, but this year these two deserve special recognition for their fund raising efforts for St Jude's! Their 50/50 raffle raised a staggering $1,000 for this noble charity, and the work they do for ailing children. Everyone involved deserves a BIG TIP OF THE HAT for reaching deep, and the Grove News and Gazette extends a heart felt thanks to Joe and Ellen for their warm hospitality and hard work in making their party one of the BIG EVENTS at Skyway.

Special thanks is also extended to all the members of THE BAND that did such a fine job of keeping everyone entertained...we especially applaud the fine musical efforts of THE BAND's youngest member, Benjamin who has some serious talent for a his age! Well done folks, and thanks for the great tunes.

In Other News...rumor has it that a wonderful afternoon event (party) took place at the camp site of Big Don and his wife Barbara. Word on the street has it that the cheese bread was a culinary treat not to be missed!

Don't forget this coming weekend Skyway celebrates New Year's! Come by the club house for a great time and meet all your other fellow campers!

July 11-12
New Year's Eve-Hear the joyful tunes of Auld Lang Syne. Live dance party featuring the sounds of the "Mid-Night Image Band". This is an adult only party. Hay Wagon ride, arts and crafts for the kids earlier.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! New Year's Celebration At Skyway! July 12, 2008

In BREAKING NEWS...mark your calendars and get out your DANCING SHOES as New Years is coming to Skyway next Saturday, July 12th, 2008 for ONE NIGHT ONLY! Your host and hostess for this Grand Celebration is non other than the BIG Double D with Deb and Don pulling out all the stops for this Oscar worthy event! For those wanting to get a jump on the night think GOLD with touches of silver and black contributing to this elegant evening of fun and frolic! As they say, "Be there or be square!" This promises to be a Skyway event destined for the record books as two of the Grove's finist citizens play host to the Stars as Skyway Campers bring in the New Year with the style and grace that makes a summer at Skyway such a memorable event.

July 4th Weekend Updates-WOW...lots of news!


Greetings Groovers and Grovers and everyone else that has stumbled upon on small Grove publication here on the Internet. Despite the rain (torrential), Skyway is packed to the gills...fish pun intended, and the July 4th weekend activities are in full force throughout the campground with The Grove no exception.

In the tittering news department, the entire camp is buzzing with the news that two more bears have been sited in the community. As with all news of this nature, the bears get BIGGER with each telling of the news with one Grover reporting that the bears in our area can weigh up to 2200 pounds, and reach heights of two stories! WOW, that would be ONE TALL BEAR!

Our neighbor Don had a snake in his wood pile...a quick check on the internet confirmed it was a harmless brown snake just looking for a comfortable place to hang out here in the Grove...hopefully no extra charges will be accessed for this additional visitor on their site.

The annual July 4th Golf Cart and Bike Parade was a ROARING success...some campers claimed up to 300 carts were in the parade, but the real number was closer to 20, though not sure any one kept any official tallies on those who participated. The big event of the weekend starts on TOP OF THE HILL at 3PM, and is slated to run late into the evening...yours truly will be starting his cooking at around noon today.

The Grove Tiki Bar was a hot spot of activity last night with lots of great food, drink and conversation...our neighbors on an adjoining property were even kind enough to provide us with a mini fireworks display from 9-10 PM, though to really enjoy it we need to greatly thin out the forest. (Might cut down on bear sitings!) We did though enjoy the booms, and the few fireworks that made it up over the tree line.

For those who are reading this blog, email boomerville_news@yahoo.com to be brought into the conversation on holding our own event down here in the Grove...tentative plans see it being called the Annual GroveFest, and it would be held in late August or early September as an annual event with everyone invited.



One last note...if Dave happens to stumble across this blog, maybe he can email us pictures from the parade so we can post them up for all to see!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Summer Reading Program Sign Up Sunday at Ellenville Farmers Market

Thought of the day...a closed mind is a beautiful thing to lose.
First, if you have not been to the Ellenville Farmers Market on Sundays, the trip into town is WELL WORTH THE RIDE. A small quality group of vendors offer a fine array of fine baked goods, gourmet produce, and other treats for your tastebuds, senses and the mind.

A drive around Skyway on a Saturday, or a visit to the pool shows us we have a number of kids here for the summer, so the Big Boomer strongly encourages parents to head to the Ellenville Farmers Market this sunday as the local library will be there signing folks up for their Summer Reading Program! Go buy some great produce from the local farmers, and contribute to your child's higher learning by getting them signed up for this great program!

Steven Colbert Will NOT Be Happy! (BEAR ALERT)

For any fans of late night on Comedy Central, you know that Steven of the Colbert Report DOES NOT LIKE BEARS! So, he's not going to be happy with the recent siting of a VERY LARGE bear up on the Ridge here at Skyway Campground. The rumor mill is buzzing with reports of the siting, and the HUGE SIZE of the bear...someone needs to tell the Greenfield resident feeding these bears to STOP IT!

In the meantime, lets all remember to keep our food stuffs safely stored away, and our garbage in the dumpsters!

In the meantime, if you are looking for something FUN to do this Saturday, June 28th of 2008, it's STRONGLY recommended that you go down to our clubhouse this evening for the laughs associated with our own Comedy Night here at Skyway Campground. Let's do George Carlin proud by showing up in droves!

Monday, June 23, 2008

Left, Right, Center At Skyway!

The Big Boomer and his faithful sidekick (that would be Pina) played our first game of Left, Right, Center not to long ago here at Skyway...let's just say this dice game is a serious blast, and no camper should be without the proper equipment to get a game started! From start to finish this game is full of twists and turns, and the winner is up in the air till literally the final roll of the dice. For those who consider themselves far to intellectual for simple dice games, I give you the link to the OTHER Left, Right, Center...a great site for those political stiff necks.

Two Weeks of Recaps...Summer Is In Full Force

WOW...without naming names, lots of things have been going on in the Grove in the past few weeks, and the Big Boomer has just been too busy to keep everyone up to date on things, so here are some HIGHLIGHTS!

BIG NEWS...both the auction and BINGO were huge successes for Skyway, and for their never ending efforts to raise funds for St Jude! They, and everyone here at Skyway that steps up to bat for this incredible hospital deserves a pat on the back for a job well done.

Other BIG NEWS...Pina finishes her Radiation Treatments this Thursday (June 26) and will be up there for some much need rest, so make sure you stop by and say hello to her.

In the news area of The Grove:

1. Our most active Grandparents had three of their grand kids up this past weekend, and as usual, they were a WONDERFUL ADDITIONAL to the atmosphere here in the Grove. So, a SHOUT OUT to John, the Benster, and of course my favorite Superman Junion, Zach! All three had a great time taking the Bethelwoods Woodstock Mobile (AKA, Big Boomer's Golf Cart) out for a ride...what a cruise mobile.

2. Two of the campers in the Grove got cleaned this past week...always nice to see our campers (Grovers)taking pride in their sites, and in their campers.

3. Last weekend there was quite the little unplanned party at the Tiki bar on Saturday night...a FABULOUS TIME was had by all.

This coming weekend...Comedy Night! Only proper as a giant in the world of comedy, and a favorite of mine (George Carlin) passed away...he will be missed.

In the upcoming events category...a huge PARTY is in the works up on TOP OF THE HILL. Looking forward to Bill making drinks again this year. Also potentially in the works...a party down in the Grove with taste treats from The Big Boomer's favorite place in Ellenville, the Aroma Thyme Cafe...Pina and I are looking forward to dining there this weekend coming up, though it will be hard missing out on the great comics down at the main building of Skyway.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

The Great Grove Brown Out of 2008

Follow The Crowd Down to The Grove
OH MY GAWD...this past weekend at Skyway was a thriller for those of us living down in the Grove. The sweltering heat saw everyone languishing slowly around the place, some chosing the comfort of the pool, while others hunkered down in their air conditioned campers and RV's doing what Americans do best...consuming VAST AMOUNTS of energy. Being out on the shade of a tree trying unsuccessfully to install lights on my golf cart I was unaware that rolling power surges were threatening to brown out the Grove until the park manager came racing down the hill in a cloud of dust, coming to a quick halt right in front of me!


Seems he had a warning/request for specifically ME! He needed me to turn off as much of my camper's STUFF as was humanly possible...lights off (none were on), turn off all unnecessary applicances such as televisions and air-conditioners, and switch my frig over to run on propane! What I did not quite understand was how I got targeted as the likely CAUSE of these rolling power surgers in our area. First and foremost, at the time of the occurance in question my air conditioner was not even on...I'd chosen to have our two screen doors and a few windows open instead, and other than two small useless fans that came with the camper, we do not have a fan out at camp, and neither one of our two flat screen TV's happened to be on.


I know I LOOK like a vast consumer of energy while camping, but most of what I light up at night runs on SOLAR.


Speaking with our neighbors, I learned that the rolling power surges were NOT NEW to our area, had been and issue last summer as well. Seems (according to the rumor mill) that all of us down in the Grove are currently sharing just one line, and though most of our campers are rated for 50 amps, we are supposed to do our best to remain under 30. Supposedly the electrical guru types are going to evaluate the situation this week and look for a solution...guess we'll put that on the list right under Internet Access.


In more pleasant news, we have our phone system up and running in the camper...for those that might want to reach us up at camp the number is 647-2989.


Don't forget this weekend's big AUCTION to raise funds for St. Jude! The rules state we are to contribute something new to be auctioned off...personally, I'd rather see some of us donate something OLD, something ANTIQUE!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Big Boomer's Camp...a Photographic Montage

















A touch of whimsy, the moon waiting in the garden to greet the dawn of each new day.


















The delicate petals of a pansy seeking shelter from the noon day sun.



















The simple dandelion is far more complex, far more deserving than its classification as a weed.


















There is magic hidden within the shadows we cannot touch.












A wonder of Mother Nature's world, a moth visiting during the ritual of morning coffee.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Sharing this article from another of my blogs...meet the Green Hybrid Grill! Talk about trying to jump on the Green Bandwagon!

Thursday, June 5, 2008

When Green Is NOT Green-Meet The Hybrid Grill

THIS IS A GREEN HYBRID GRILL?
Everyone and their brother wants to be GREEN, and companies are willing to spend big bucks to Green Wash their environmental sins away. With Global Warming a reality, as we watch gas soar towards five bucks a gallon, American homeowners are getting in on the act of going green, or at least looking and sounding GREEN. Question is, when is GREEN not green, and do we need a Green Police?

Attempting to cash in on the Green HYBRID craze sweeping the nation we have Kalamazo Gourmet trying to sell us...drum roll please...the Hybrid Grill! It will burn gas, wood, charcoal OR ALL THREE for the GREEN Gourmet cook in your household! Ignoring the polution and sustainability issue in building this BEHEMOTH grill, you have to love their thinking. Seems relying on JUST WOOD and CHARCOAL could put a huge strain on our forests, thus the Hybrid Grill. Spread your pollution around by using a little bit from all three Fuel Groups!

Of course, that Green Thinking starts to smell like swamp gas when you read their sales pitch that you can use the gas for EVEN HEAT, while at the same time burning wood for the FLAVOR! Solar Grills, you have my attention, but trying to convince the American consumer that a grill that burns gas, charcoal and wood should be considered the new Green Hybrid Grill is bogus! This grill ranks right up there with Arnold's GREEN HUMMER!

The Shawangunk Wine Trail-A Great Day Trip

It's no secret down in the Grove that my wife and I have a penchant for fine wines, enjoy refining our pallet, sampling the treats from various regions of the United States and from around the world. Those camping this summer at Skyway are fortunate to have many fine wineries within easy distance of the camp sight, and in fact you can make a day of it by traveling along the Shawangunk Wine Trail. The Shawangunk Wine Trail is a PERFECT day trip, with scenery beyond compare. The trail is nestled between the Shawangunk Mountains and the majestic Hudson River in Ulster County and makes for an exciting drive.

The Trail is composed of nine family owned wineries listed below, and dozens of other "Associate Members" dedicated to making your visit a memorable experience. One of the wineries on the tour happens to be OUR PERSONAL FAVORITE...so if you take this DAY TRIP, make sure to stop in at Benmarl! The views are spectacular, the wines a true delight. Shawangunk 2008 Special Events.


Applewood Winery
82 Four Corners Road
Warwick, NY, 10990
Families love it here. Parents can enjoy the
wine tasting while children visit our petting
zoo. Come Pick-Your-Own apples in the fall or
take a wagon ride through the farm.


Baldwin Vineyards
176 Hardenburgh Rd
Pine Bush, NY, 12566
Taste our fifteen different wines including
Gold Medal Awarded: Chardonnay, Riesling,
Vignoles, Claret & Strawberry wine, plus
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Brut Sparkling
wine and Raspberry wine.


Benmarl Winery
156 Highland Avenue
Marlboro, NY, 12542
Benmarl Winery was founded in 1957 by noted
artist and Romantic Art Illustrator, Mark
Miller. Miller, a pioneer in early N.Y. state
Viticulture, helped to bring about
legislation for the N.Y. State Farm Winery
Act of which Benmarl holds license #1.


Brotherhood America's Oldest Winery
100 Brotherhood Plaza
Washingtonville, NY, 10992
Rich with history and the romance of
winemaking since 1839, Brotherhood Winery
beckons every type of wine enthusiast, from
connoisseur to novice. Listed on the NYS
Register of Historic Sites, Brotherhood,
the oldest winery in the U.S.
(with the largest underground wine cellars
in the country) has made wines to please
everyone since 1839.


Glorie Farm Winery
40 Mountain Road
Marlboro, NY, 12542
Housed in a 1913 barn near the top of
Mt. Zion Mountain.


Rivendell Winery
714 Albany Post Road
New Paltz , NY, 12561
Since 1987, Rivendell Winery has attracted
the attention of wine judges and enthusiasts
alike for our varietal wines made under the
Rivendell and SoHo Cellars labels: Chardonnay
Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; our
popular regional blends: City Cab, Northern
Lights, Southern Nights, Interlude Blush and
Apres...; and our seasonal specialty wines:
Undead Red, Elfen Red and Cranboise and
Sangria.


Stoutridge Vineyards
10 Ann Kaley Lane
Marlboro, NY, 12542
Stoutridge Vineyard is a new winery built on
the site of an historic homestead farm, which
has had vineyards planted since the early
1800’s and on which there was a commercial
winery from 1880-1910. In the early 1940’s
the farm was confiscated by the U.S.
Government for operating an illegal still.
In 2001, Stephen Osborn and his wife
Kimberly Wagner purchased the farm and set
about restoring it through the replanting of
the vineyards, restoring of the farmhouse on
it’s original 1855 foundation, and the
construction of a state of the art winery
utilizing old fashioned, ‘gravity feed’
design built directly on the original winery
site.


Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery
114 Little York Road
Warwick, NY, 10990
Wines include red and white grape derived and
apple and pear wines prepared from our own
fruit as well as our three-time award winning
Doc's Draft Hard Apple Ciders in three
flavors. The tasting room stocks jams,
preserves and fruit spreads, gift baskets and
select dry goods.


Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery
331 McKinstry Road
Gardiner, NY, 12525
Whitecliff is a family-run vineyard and
winery focused on artisanal, on-premise
production of high quality wines.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

A Day of Fun-The Kelder Farm (U-Pick)

Our Friend Chippy Highly Recommends a Day At Kelder's Farm!
One thing we have plenty of at Skyway Campground is kids and grand kids. For families looking for a FUN DAY activity, you might want to consider loading everyone up for a day at the farm, or specifically, the Kelder Farm!

Yes, farms can be fun, educational and the Kelder Farm truly has something for the WHOLE family, including Pick Your opportunities throughout the summer, culminating with the Fall Harvest Festival where kids can pick their own pumpkins! Bring the entire family, pick your own quality produce, starting in June with lucious strawberries (WHICH ARE READY TO PICK NOW) and a variety of tasty vegetables. July and August there are flowers, blueberries, and blackberries to pick. In September and October, finish off your perfect camping season picking your own raspberries for that savory autumn delight, a DEEP DISH COBBLER.

Other treats at the farm include a greenhouse, petting zoo and even a miniature golf course! You can bring a picnic lunch, or find tasty treats once there.


Kelder's Farm & U-Pick
5755 Rt 209
Kerhonksen, NY
(845) 626-7137

info@kelderfarm.com


Internet? What Internet? The Grove Has No Signal!

Even when camping, citizens today find themselves for various reasons needing to have a RELIABLE internet connection. Simply stated, we in the Grove have no internet signal to speak of, cannot get online to check our email, or conduct our business. This is problematic for those who need to CHECK IN even when away on vacation.

The Internet service provider for Skyway is LinkSpot who charges those of us who want access to the internet a fee of $49.95 a month for the priviledge...a FAIR FEE only if one can get signal. For those who would like to complain to Link Spot, work to get us OUR SIGNAL, I recommend you contact the company:

LinkSpot, an ICOA Company

111 Airport Road
Warwick, RI 02889
USA

Tel: +1-401-352-2300
Fax: +1-401-352-2323
Email: info@icoacorp.com

What "The Grove's" crack reporters can tell you about the situation...

First, one of the antennae at Skyway seems to have been out completely for some time now. Further issues revolve around the signal amplifiers that are not functioning. Word has it that a technician has been out at the park, and new amplifiers ARE ON ORDER with expected installation of them slated for sometime in the next TWO-THREE WEEKS, or just in time for the Fourth of July holiday. LinkSpot is also (supposedly) looking into securing more bandwidth for Skyway, but states cost verse profits clouds the possibility...it's noted here that the cost of securing more bandwidth could be more than justified if LinkSpot started providing Internet Access that was reliable enough to justify us spending our hard earned dollars subscribing to their service. Right now, with most of us unable to get signal, LinkSpot is, simply stated, a bad investment. Hopefully the supposed infrastructure improvements will change that reality, and we as campers will have our access to the World Wide Web.