This Piece was written for the Chronogram Magazine and has been edited.
It can be accessed via The Web at http://www.chronogram.com/issue/2010/2/Community+Pages/Millbrook
Millbrook
A Charming Tradition
by Jesse Ordansky, January 27, 2010
Known for its acres of farmland, impressive estates and nostalgic, community-oriented citizens, the quaint village of Millbrook is situated almost directly in the center of Dutchess County’s town of Washington.
On any given day the sidewalks of Franklin Avenue are bustling with locals perusing their favorite rustic boutiques while tourists and weekenders enjoy awe-inspiring scenery and perhaps a change of pace.
In a 2003 New York Times article about the village, Ellen Maguire reported on the influx of weekend residents to Millbrook. She primarily credited the pairing of Manhattan “urbanites yearning for touches of small-town life” and the beauty of Millbrook’s “vast estates and hundred-acre horse farms.”
According to town and village historian David Greenwood, weekenders are hardly a recent trend—they are actually a part of Millbrook heritage. “There are a number of estates that have been in the same family or a relative of the original builders since their inception,” says Greenwood. “Having people with multiple homes is really part of the tradition here. As far as the latest arrivals—the community has a real sense of self, which is shared generously by the people who live here full time and supported by the weekenders.”
Many of these weekenders include celebrities whose second homes fall within the 1.9 square-mile village. Actor Liam Neeson, news personality Katie Couric, and singer Faith Hill are just a few. Countercultural icon Timothy Leary also staged his acid tests on an estate in Millbrook in the 1960s.
Plenty of full-time residents also call Millbrook home—families are raised, homes are made, and traditions are carried on with a backdrop left virtually untouched since the 1800s. Local traditions generally focus on an agrarian lifestyle incorporating small town ideals, farming, and equestrian culture.
Horse farms, riding clubs, and competitions have been prominent in Millbrook since the village’s inception in the late 1800s and remain popular today. For over 100 years the Millbrook Hunt has taken place annually during the autumn. A tradition founded in Britain, the event sees men and women on horseback accompanied by hounds setting out to hunt foxes across the hills and through the woods of some of Millbrook’s largest estates. “As we travel the countryside and see the hunt in progress we see a rare image; it captures a time and place that exists in very few locations in this day and age,” says Greenwood. “The landscape and the ‘pinks’—the riders on the horses—over the countryside is just a timeless image.”
While traveling east on Route 44 from Poughkeepsie, strip malls and franchise businesses slowly fade into rolling hills dotted with farmhouses and trees. February in Millbrook is an especially scenic time—green and yellow-tipped grass peaks through melting snow while white picket fences juxtaposed with log cattle fences. Snow and grass alternate in parallel rows on much of Millbrook’s farmland, indicating previous planting patterns. Modest homes and grand estates alike feature stonework dating back to the late 1800s—most of which was built by Italian immigrants.
According to Greenwood, much of the uninhabited land is on family estates and will remain undeveloped. “Most communities have been obliterated because of commercial growth,” he says. “Our hamlet still has the charm that it did 100 years ago.”
Millbrook proper
Settled by Quakers in 1869, the village of Millbrook grew around a newly constructed railroad running parallel to today’s Front Street. According to Greenwood, “as Millbrook grew as a commercial center it eventually absorbed the earlier neighboring hamlets of Harts Village, Washington Four Corners, and Mechanic,” which are still currently parts of “Millbrook proper.”
Early families farmed crops and cattle, due to superlative soil fertility and acres of available land. These practices were ultimately lucrative for settlers—families began calling Millbrook home and cultivating fortunes atop the newly broken ground. These wealthy families did not use the land exclusively for personal financial gains—many early families were very active in community service and philanthropy.
Thorne Memorial School on Franklin Avenue was donated in 1895 by resident Samuel Thorne as an attempt to cultivate an educationally rounded community as well as a legally incorporated village—it is still in use today. According to Greenwood, Thorne “necessitated legal incorporation in order [for the village] to receive the gift; hence, the incorporated Village of Millbrook dates from 1895, despite its earlier origins.”
The Millbrook Free Library was also a gift. It was given to the village in 1908 by the widow of Capt. Richard Hayes in his memory.
According to village Mayor Andrew Ciferri, philanthropy and volunteerism have grown and developed into a Millbrook tradition since the efforts of early community activists like Thorne and Hayes. Ciferri notes the significance of small donations by a multitude of households as opposed to few large donations by a handful of families. “It’s real families that go back generations and generations who help offset the cost of maintaining a village,” he says. “Taxes are high, but how much higher would they be if you didn’t have these families?”
Ciferri also mentioned that the nation’s struggling economy has only effected philanthropic donations marginally. “If [the average home-owner] was giving $25 two or three years ago, maybe they’re giving $15 this year” he said. “It’s a tradition and hopefully it will continue that way.”
Another tradition carried through generations of Millbrook residents is quality education. The Thorne building was both a school and an educational venue welcoming all community members. Lectures, performances, and community gatherings were held in the enormous auditorium for the primary purpose of educating young, old, rich, and poor alike. Today, a newly built public high school shares a campus with the middle school on Church Street overlooking the public elementary school—all of which are modeled with late 1800s architecture in mind. Millbrook is also home to Dutchess Day School, an independent, coeducational day school for preschool through 8th grade students.
A few miles outside of the village of Millbrook, stands the 600-acre campus of the Millbrook School, a top-tier private preparatory secondary school. Founded by Edward Pulling in 1931, the Millbrook School currently features renowned sports, arts, science, and volunteer programs. The original school complex still stands in its beautiful early 1900s dress, and additions, like the public school’s, were modeled with period-style architecture in mind. Amenities include dormitories; athletic facilities including an ice rink, a basketball court, and a weight room; and a newly constructed science building that is partially powered by solar energy. The campus is also home to the Trevor Zoo, the only zoo in the country located at a high school.
Another aspect of the local learning environment is the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies, founded in 1983 by ecologist Dr. Gene E. Likens. The Institute, situated on 2,000 acres just outside the village, is a world-renowned leader in applying the ecosystem approach to some of society’s most pressing problems, and conducts scientific research that is employed by environmental policymakers at the top most levels in the US and internationally.
Find a need and fill it
Akin to the village’s dedication to education, Millbrook also holds independently owned businesses in high regard. Franklin Avenue is lined with specialty boutiques, colorful shops, and even more colorful shopkeepers.
Eighty-two-year-old John E. Kading has lived in Millbrook for the past 78 years. He purchased the Corner News Store when he was 18 and sold it when he retired 10 years ago. His business advice rings true for many business owners in Millbrook: “Find a need and fill it,” he says. “I tell everybody that, and I hope for God’s sake they put it on my tombstone.”
Carl Giovannini, owner of Village Wine & Spirit on Front Street believes he has done just what Kading suggested. “We have regular customers who look for value wines and customers who are looking for collectors wine, maybe from certain vineyards,” he says. “We have a wide array of things on hand in order to make everyone happy.”
Owning a shop or boutique can be difficult given today’s economic climate. However, Millbrook’s businesses are almost exclusively independently owned, making it a refuge of small-town entrepreneurial vigor.
Lifelong resident Scott Meyer founded Merritt Bookstore on Front Street 25 years ago, and its inventory has featured bestsellers, classics, children’s books and toys, and some personal selections by Meyer ever since. The store also hosts regular events for community members, such as booksignings and the annual Millbrook Book Festival, which features author meet-and-greets, lectures, tours, and food. Much like Giovannini, Meyer appreciates his customers’ diversity and tries to cater to needs as they arise. “We always try to go for whatever the needs of the community are,” he says. “We tailor our inventory to what our customers want and need and also throw in some things I like.”
Meyer and Giovannini are both advocates for the success of fellow small business owners as well as the village itself. “We try to promote the community as a whole. We know peoples’ products and we can send people to other stores,” says Meyer.
“We’re trying to get people to shop local and think about shopping local first, then going elsewhere if they need anything else,” Giovannini adds. “We’re just trying to keep the town vibrant.”
An important aspect of the vibrancy Giovannini cites are the local restaurants, specialty food shops, and wineries. Described by the New York Times as “the Hudson Valley’s flagship winery,” Millbrook Vineyards has been producing some of the region’s finest tipple on 184 acres since 1984, and is open daily for tours and tastings. The area is rich with a wide variety of cuisine from the French bistro fare of Café Les Baux and the Italian/Mediterranean bent of Aurelia, both located in the heart of the village, to fine dining at Charlotte’s Restaurant and upscale Mexican at La Puerta Azul on the outskirts of town. Babette’s Kitchen is a gourmet market right on Franklin Avenue serving breakfast, lunch, and dinners to go, and a wide selection of gourmet retail items.
Everybody knows everybody
Considering ideals like supporting local businesses, quality education, and philanthropy, the people of Millbrook are very community-oriented. Greenwood chuckled while casually driving through roads marked “Private.” “It’s the nature of a small community,” he says. “Everyone knows each other.”
Twenty-year-old Emily Atkin has lived in Millbrook for the past 15 years. She agrees with Greenwood’s opinion, but to an even greater extent. “It’s not even that you know everyone’s name—you know everyone’s dog’s name,” she says. “My dog is the dog that runs away the most. We don’t even have to call him to come home—if someone sees my dog running around town they know where to bring him: ‘Oh, there’s Archie, better put him on the Atkins’ front porch.’”
She values growing up in Millbrook and believes that its tranquility and quaintness make it a great place to raise a family. Mayor Ciferri, a third-generation Millbrook resident, agrees “100 percent.” He raised his son and daughter in Millbrook and they are now raising their children in the village.
Although Giovannini is not currently a resident of Millbrook, he looks forward to moving to the village with his wife and two children. “[Millbrook] has a sense of community, as far as people helping each other out,” he says. “The people who live and work in town are very good and have a good work ethic, and it’s good to see that and show the kids that. Mainly, the classic small town aspect is what I like about it—everybody knows everybody.”
Ray Rhodes, a waiter at the Millbrook Diner, a ‘50s-style, 10-table retro eatery, spends three nights a week serving regulars and strangers. When asked why he enjoyed working at the diner he hesitates and says, “My clientele. I’ve been here 13 years and it’s a small town, know what I mean?”
Immediately after making that comment he shouts, “Hey John, how are ya?” as one of his favorite regulars sits down at the counter.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Music Therapy - Dan Morgenster
Written for Professor Norton McNulty's Feature Writing Class
Fall '09 - SUNY New Paltz
He stays up all night producing hip hop beats on his laptop and spends afternoons playing acoustic guitar and singing with friends. For 24-year-old SUNY New Paltz graduate student Dan Morgenstern, music is a job, a hobby, and an integral part of life.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in contemporary music studies from New Paltz, Morgenstern enrolled in the music therapy master’s program and began cultivating his career. He currently interns at ELANT Health and Housing Solutions in Newburgh performing music therapy with patients suffering from social and behavioral disorders.
Through playing music with friends and using music as a healing tool at work, Morgenstern has developed a unique perspective on the medium.
“What is music? Music is Kool Keith - music is birds and bowling alleys - music is sugar cakes and corn flakes. No… music is sounds - music is essential like blood pumping in your veins. If you look at Kate Moriarty’s art you will see music.”
Morgenstern couples this perspective with professional training in accordance with the American Music Therapy Association’s vision. The association’s website says that music therapy is “an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages.”
According to Morgenstern, music therapy can be used in place of or in conjunction with medication.
Both the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health recognize music therapy as an accepted treatment for certain neurological conditions.
A National Institute of Mental Health report said that Autism Spectrum Disorders, neural conditions that hinder social interactions and verbal and nonverbal, can be treated by behavioral and communicatory approaches - like music therapy - or with medication like Prozac or Zoloft.
According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, side effects of Prozac include seizures and mania - side effects of Zoloft include nausea, diarrhea, and tremors.
Mary Boyle, chair of the music therapy department at New Paltz said that music therapy is only known to induce positive side-effects.
“Often in therapy we talk about collateral effects, which are positive side effects,” said Boyle. “Music may elevate a client's mood and the client may be able to perform better in several spheres.”
“In my own case music has replaced medication,” Morgenstern added.
At ELANT, Morgenstern helps patients with conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia with respect to cognition, social interactions, spirituality, emotions and overall quality of life. He said that listening activities for relaxation and active musical participation are beneficial to patients.
One patient, a women with severe dementia developed an uncontrollable tick due to the intense antipsychotics she was prescribed. After working with Morgenstern, she replaced a violent clicking noise with improvisational jazz singing.
“During sessions I would get here to scat sing so she would stop clicking,” he said. “I would start singing to her, she’d join… and it seemed to bring her to a more relaxed state of being.”
Morgenstern has been a musician since he could “bang on the pots” in his mother’s kitchen and is overwhelmed each time he witnesses healing power of music.
“It makes me feel great… like I’m accomplishing something real,” he said.
He currently accepts music as his personal therapeutic catalyst by making hip hop beats and recording rap songs in his cluttered one-room apartment. His floor is scattered with digital drum machines, microphones, effects pedals and wires that lead to seemingly unknown terminals.
Morgenstern described the music he makes as a “waste of time” - however it means the world to him.
When asked to elaborate on his music, he paused and became noticeably pensive.
“I play what I want to hear,” he said. “Hip hop music makes you feel so cool. You can just… dance… and everybody looks cool because there’s music goin’ on in your head. Everybody’s so happy… and crazy.”
Morgenstern did not align his love for music with the health field until college. After he discovered music therapy, Morgenstern began appreciating the growing importance of the discipline as well as its personal benefits.
“[Music therapy] can help anybody from burn victims… to people with autism… to people just recovering from any sort of psychological disorder,” he said. “… I get high off their smiles.”
Morgenstern hopes to someday own a private music therapy practice integrating his love for recording with a newfound desire to help at-risk children.
“I feel like I can utilize hip hop… you know, provide recording time to build self esteem and self-accomplishment,” he said. “It’d be so great to teach kids songs then allow them to record or just write songs with them.”
Morgenstern’s current recording setup is modest to say the least. A Kustom KGA 10 watt guitar amp is fed directly to his Macbook. He also wires three digital delay pedals with a Doctor Rhythm DR 770 drum machine and vocals are run through a Radio Shack dynamic microphone.
Morgenstern’s equipment cost him about $2,000 - he hopes to upgrade in the near future.
At the end of a two hour interview accompanied by background music ranging from contemporary jazz to 80’s hip hop, Morgenstern apprehensively said “Make sure you understand that my favorite thing to do is…” he paused. “My favorite thing to do is walk around and listen to music. It just makes me feel really cool.”
Fall '09 - SUNY New Paltz
He stays up all night producing hip hop beats on his laptop and spends afternoons playing acoustic guitar and singing with friends. For 24-year-old SUNY New Paltz graduate student Dan Morgenstern, music is a job, a hobby, and an integral part of life.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in contemporary music studies from New Paltz, Morgenstern enrolled in the music therapy master’s program and began cultivating his career. He currently interns at ELANT Health and Housing Solutions in Newburgh performing music therapy with patients suffering from social and behavioral disorders.
Through playing music with friends and using music as a healing tool at work, Morgenstern has developed a unique perspective on the medium.
“What is music? Music is Kool Keith - music is birds and bowling alleys - music is sugar cakes and corn flakes. No… music is sounds - music is essential like blood pumping in your veins. If you look at Kate Moriarty’s art you will see music.”
Morgenstern couples this perspective with professional training in accordance with the American Music Therapy Association’s vision. The association’s website says that music therapy is “an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages.”
According to Morgenstern, music therapy can be used in place of or in conjunction with medication.
Both the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health recognize music therapy as an accepted treatment for certain neurological conditions.
A National Institute of Mental Health report said that Autism Spectrum Disorders, neural conditions that hinder social interactions and verbal and nonverbal, can be treated by behavioral and communicatory approaches - like music therapy - or with medication like Prozac or Zoloft.
According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, side effects of Prozac include seizures and mania - side effects of Zoloft include nausea, diarrhea, and tremors.
Mary Boyle, chair of the music therapy department at New Paltz said that music therapy is only known to induce positive side-effects.
“Often in therapy we talk about collateral effects, which are positive side effects,” said Boyle. “Music may elevate a client's mood and the client may be able to perform better in several spheres.”
“In my own case music has replaced medication,” Morgenstern added.
At ELANT, Morgenstern helps patients with conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia with respect to cognition, social interactions, spirituality, emotions and overall quality of life. He said that listening activities for relaxation and active musical participation are beneficial to patients.
One patient, a women with severe dementia developed an uncontrollable tick due to the intense antipsychotics she was prescribed. After working with Morgenstern, she replaced a violent clicking noise with improvisational jazz singing.
“During sessions I would get here to scat sing so she would stop clicking,” he said. “I would start singing to her, she’d join… and it seemed to bring her to a more relaxed state of being.”
Morgenstern has been a musician since he could “bang on the pots” in his mother’s kitchen and is overwhelmed each time he witnesses healing power of music.
“It makes me feel great… like I’m accomplishing something real,” he said.
He currently accepts music as his personal therapeutic catalyst by making hip hop beats and recording rap songs in his cluttered one-room apartment. His floor is scattered with digital drum machines, microphones, effects pedals and wires that lead to seemingly unknown terminals.
Morgenstern described the music he makes as a “waste of time” - however it means the world to him.
When asked to elaborate on his music, he paused and became noticeably pensive.
“I play what I want to hear,” he said. “Hip hop music makes you feel so cool. You can just… dance… and everybody looks cool because there’s music goin’ on in your head. Everybody’s so happy… and crazy.”
Morgenstern did not align his love for music with the health field until college. After he discovered music therapy, Morgenstern began appreciating the growing importance of the discipline as well as its personal benefits.
“[Music therapy] can help anybody from burn victims… to people with autism… to people just recovering from any sort of psychological disorder,” he said. “… I get high off their smiles.”
Morgenstern hopes to someday own a private music therapy practice integrating his love for recording with a newfound desire to help at-risk children.
“I feel like I can utilize hip hop… you know, provide recording time to build self esteem and self-accomplishment,” he said. “It’d be so great to teach kids songs then allow them to record or just write songs with them.”
Morgenstern’s current recording setup is modest to say the least. A Kustom KGA 10 watt guitar amp is fed directly to his Macbook. He also wires three digital delay pedals with a Doctor Rhythm DR 770 drum machine and vocals are run through a Radio Shack dynamic microphone.
Morgenstern’s equipment cost him about $2,000 - he hopes to upgrade in the near future.
At the end of a two hour interview accompanied by background music ranging from contemporary jazz to 80’s hip hop, Morgenstern apprehensively said “Make sure you understand that my favorite thing to do is…” he paused. “My favorite thing to do is walk around and listen to music. It just makes me feel really cool.”
Sunday, November 15, 2009
student/pro wrestler
Written for Professor Norton McNulty's Feature Writing Class
Fall '09 - SUNY New Paltz
Dan Barry in his full wrestling gear (photo courtesy of Dan Barry)
In his final semester at SUNY New Paltz, Dan Barry spends the majority of his weeks studying in the library and his weekends falling through tables, getting hit with metal chairs and forcing blood out of his face for the entertainment of others.
Aside from studying TV and radio production at New Paltz and maintaining a 3.8 grade point average, Dan Barry wrestles professionally every weekend for multiple independent leagues throughout the northeast. Unlike Olympic-style wrestling, the winner of a professional wrestling match is fixed, but the pain is very real.
“If I jump off the top rope and land with my back in someone’s chest – there’s no way to fake that – it’s going to hurt,” said Barry.
Over the course of his nine year wrestling career Barry has broken his jaw, had teeth knocked out, broken multiple ribs, dislocated his hip and suffered multiple concussions alongside many more injuries he could not remember.
Barry started wrestling when he was 18-years-old. He grew up watching the WWF (now WWE) and WCW on television and after coming upon extra money he decided to take lessons at a local wrestling school in Hicksville Long Island.
“I always imagined myself as a professional wrestler. I guess I’m that kind of daydreamer,” said Barry. “… So when I had the money I signed up and got my butt kicked.”
The first year was the hardest for Barry. His coach, well-known professional wrestler “Mikey Whipwreck” did everything in his power to try to make Barry quit. Barry believed that if he could make it through the first year of conditioning, learning how to fall and developing a humble perspective, he could make it as a pro wrestler.
According to tag-team partner and longtime friend Ken “Scampi” Burger, Barry has progressed greatly and is a natural at the sport.
“His repertoire of moves has gotten wider and wider over the years,” said Burger. “He is one of the most talented guys I’ve ever worked with.”
Although Barry has years of training, spent countless hours in the gym and developed an understanding of how minimize harm to opponents, wrestling takes a toll on his physical health. The folding chairs wrestlers hit each other with are purchased from office supplies stores and the tables that they fall through are made of particle board.
Like the weapons, blood in wrestling matches is real. “Blading,” as it’s known in the industry, is when a wrestler cuts himself with a hidden razorblade during a match and forces blood to drip from the open wound. Normally hidden under wrist-tape or sweat bands, the razor is kept safely tucked in until the predetermined point in a match when the wrestler discretely cuts his own face.
To make the blood more obvious, Barry prepares before a match by practicing a few industry standard techniques.
“One trick is drinking a few beers before a match, it thins the blood. Some guys take a couple of Asprin too,” Barry said.
He tries his best to keep his wrestling life and his academic life separate, but every weekend he cannot avoid them colliding.
“On a Saturday when I should be working on a project I’m driving to the middle of nowhere Massachusetts to wrestle in a show,” said Barry. “Then I’ll spend Sunday laid up in bed recovering.”
Barry does not wrestle for the money primarily because he only makes about $100 per show. According to ProWrestling.com, an all encompassing informative Web site about the culture of professional wrestling, even some of the most unknown televised wrestlers make over $50,000 per year. Barry wrestles because he loves it and, as Burger explains, wrestling is like a drug.
“The boys call it ‘the itch,’” he said. “Wrestling gets under your skin and you can never really quit.”
Barry’s teacher for example, “Mikey Whipwreck” is now in his late 30’s and is currently scheduled for his fourth retirement match.
Of the four major televised professional leagues, (WWE, ECW, TNA and ROH) there are over 200 professional wrestlers. However, Barry is one of the thousands of up and coming athletes supported by one of the hundreds of independent leagues around the world.
Barry’s form of wrestling is misunderstood by some and written off as “fake” by many. After hearing about what Barry puts himself through every weekend, 21-year-old New Paltz student Melissa Kaiser said that she “could never imagine why anybody would do that to themselves.”
When asked why he still chooses to wrestle considering the toll it takes on his body, Barry explained that regardless of his rationale, people who don’t understand the sport will not believe him.
“If you don’t like pro wrestling, no explanation will ever do. If you like pro wrestling no explanation is ever necessary,” Barry said.
Fall '09 - SUNY New Paltz
Dan Barry in his full wrestling gear (photo courtesy of Dan Barry)
In his final semester at SUNY New Paltz, Dan Barry spends the majority of his weeks studying in the library and his weekends falling through tables, getting hit with metal chairs and forcing blood out of his face for the entertainment of others.
Aside from studying TV and radio production at New Paltz and maintaining a 3.8 grade point average, Dan Barry wrestles professionally every weekend for multiple independent leagues throughout the northeast. Unlike Olympic-style wrestling, the winner of a professional wrestling match is fixed, but the pain is very real.
“If I jump off the top rope and land with my back in someone’s chest – there’s no way to fake that – it’s going to hurt,” said Barry.
Over the course of his nine year wrestling career Barry has broken his jaw, had teeth knocked out, broken multiple ribs, dislocated his hip and suffered multiple concussions alongside many more injuries he could not remember.
Barry started wrestling when he was 18-years-old. He grew up watching the WWF (now WWE) and WCW on television and after coming upon extra money he decided to take lessons at a local wrestling school in Hicksville Long Island.
“I always imagined myself as a professional wrestler. I guess I’m that kind of daydreamer,” said Barry. “… So when I had the money I signed up and got my butt kicked.”
The first year was the hardest for Barry. His coach, well-known professional wrestler “Mikey Whipwreck” did everything in his power to try to make Barry quit. Barry believed that if he could make it through the first year of conditioning, learning how to fall and developing a humble perspective, he could make it as a pro wrestler.
According to tag-team partner and longtime friend Ken “Scampi” Burger, Barry has progressed greatly and is a natural at the sport.
“His repertoire of moves has gotten wider and wider over the years,” said Burger. “He is one of the most talented guys I’ve ever worked with.”
Although Barry has years of training, spent countless hours in the gym and developed an understanding of how minimize harm to opponents, wrestling takes a toll on his physical health. The folding chairs wrestlers hit each other with are purchased from office supplies stores and the tables that they fall through are made of particle board.
Like the weapons, blood in wrestling matches is real. “Blading,” as it’s known in the industry, is when a wrestler cuts himself with a hidden razorblade during a match and forces blood to drip from the open wound. Normally hidden under wrist-tape or sweat bands, the razor is kept safely tucked in until the predetermined point in a match when the wrestler discretely cuts his own face.
To make the blood more obvious, Barry prepares before a match by practicing a few industry standard techniques.
“One trick is drinking a few beers before a match, it thins the blood. Some guys take a couple of Asprin too,” Barry said.
He tries his best to keep his wrestling life and his academic life separate, but every weekend he cannot avoid them colliding.
“On a Saturday when I should be working on a project I’m driving to the middle of nowhere Massachusetts to wrestle in a show,” said Barry. “Then I’ll spend Sunday laid up in bed recovering.”
Barry does not wrestle for the money primarily because he only makes about $100 per show. According to ProWrestling.com, an all encompassing informative Web site about the culture of professional wrestling, even some of the most unknown televised wrestlers make over $50,000 per year. Barry wrestles because he loves it and, as Burger explains, wrestling is like a drug.
“The boys call it ‘the itch,’” he said. “Wrestling gets under your skin and you can never really quit.”
Barry’s teacher for example, “Mikey Whipwreck” is now in his late 30’s and is currently scheduled for his fourth retirement match.
Of the four major televised professional leagues, (WWE, ECW, TNA and ROH) there are over 200 professional wrestlers. However, Barry is one of the thousands of up and coming athletes supported by one of the hundreds of independent leagues around the world.
Barry’s form of wrestling is misunderstood by some and written off as “fake” by many. After hearing about what Barry puts himself through every weekend, 21-year-old New Paltz student Melissa Kaiser said that she “could never imagine why anybody would do that to themselves.”
When asked why he still chooses to wrestle considering the toll it takes on his body, Barry explained that regardless of his rationale, people who don’t understand the sport will not believe him.
“If you don’t like pro wrestling, no explanation will ever do. If you like pro wrestling no explanation is ever necessary,” Barry said.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
40 Under 40 - for the Poughkeepsie Journal
All articles with headlines that include "for the Pughkeepsie Journal" are unedited. They were put through rounds of editing before going to publication. This is the article as I wrote it.
This article appeared either in print or online - it is now in the Poughkeepsie Journal archives.
The Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce will honor 40 professionals for their philanthropy, community service and professional excellent at the fifth annual Forty Under 40 Awards.
Also known as The Shaker Awards, local professionals between the ages of 18 and 40 are nominated until Dec. 31 via the Chamber’s website (http://www.gsdcc.org). Anybody can nominate clients, colleagues and coworkers to be chosen in January and celebrated on Mar. 8 at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center.
Self-nominations are also welcome, said Ann Meagher, President and CEO of the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce.
Forty Under 40 Award winners are chosen from a pool of 80 to 100 entries and judged on three criteria: career accomplishments, professional expertise and community involvement. The judging committee, made up of past Forty Under 40 winners, also considers any unique aspects that might make nominees stand out.
“It would be a mistake if we tried to put people into really rigid packages because people aren’t like that,” said Meagher. “We’re really looking for the full package of leadership.”
Past winners are chosen to judge the competition due to the diversity of professions and backgrounds of nominees. According to Meagher, nominees range in professions from small business owners to accountants to firefighters.
According to a press release, the ultimate goal of this award is to “recognize business people under the age of 40 who balance bottom line results with a desire to participate in charitable and community activities.”
Meagher said “anyone under the age of 40 who has done incredible things in their community” is eligible for the Forty Under 40 Awards.
This article appeared either in print or online - it is now in the Poughkeepsie Journal archives.
The Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce will honor 40 professionals for their philanthropy, community service and professional excellent at the fifth annual Forty Under 40 Awards.
Also known as The Shaker Awards, local professionals between the ages of 18 and 40 are nominated until Dec. 31 via the Chamber’s website (http://www.gsdcc.org). Anybody can nominate clients, colleagues and coworkers to be chosen in January and celebrated on Mar. 8 at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center.
Self-nominations are also welcome, said Ann Meagher, President and CEO of the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce.
Forty Under 40 Award winners are chosen from a pool of 80 to 100 entries and judged on three criteria: career accomplishments, professional expertise and community involvement. The judging committee, made up of past Forty Under 40 winners, also considers any unique aspects that might make nominees stand out.
“It would be a mistake if we tried to put people into really rigid packages because people aren’t like that,” said Meagher. “We’re really looking for the full package of leadership.”
Past winners are chosen to judge the competition due to the diversity of professions and backgrounds of nominees. According to Meagher, nominees range in professions from small business owners to accountants to firefighters.
According to a press release, the ultimate goal of this award is to “recognize business people under the age of 40 who balance bottom line results with a desire to participate in charitable and community activities.”
Meagher said “anyone under the age of 40 who has done incredible things in their community” is eligible for the Forty Under 40 Awards.
New Paltz Celebration of the Arts - for the Pougkeepsie Journal
All articles with headlines that include "for the Pughkeepsie Journal" are unedited. They were put through rounds of editing before going to publication. This is the article as I wrote it.
This article appeared either in print or online - it is now in the Poughkeepsie Journal archives.
The word “Art” encompasses more than just drawing and painting, and this fact is recognized and celebrated annually at The Celebration of the Arts (COTA) festival in New Paltz.
Amongst stone houses dating back to the colonization of America, historic Huguenot Street is this year’s venue for hundreds of fine artists, musicians, theater groups, authors, poets, silent auctions, food venders, and children’s activities on Oct. 10.
Alongside the founding of the primary ideology of the festival, the first COTA was produced three years ago by then 15-year-old Noelle Mc Entee at nearby Hasbrouck Park. The initial goal was to celebrate artists of all disciplines and stages in their careers. COTA is currently pursuing, and does not intend on changing that mission.
Although the idea of showcasing a myriad of artists is the predominant theme, artists will also enjoy sharing and networking with each other. According to COTA’s fine art coordinator Melanie Cronin, the networking aspect is important to participating artists.
“Having artists of different skill levels together on one day might lead to meeting someone you never would have, which leads to the next opportunity… artists [have] ended up in galleries due to participation in this,” said Cronin.
Participants as well as guests are encouraged to talk and mingle with neighbors and the eclectic spectrum of talent.
Illustrative painter Eileen Brand Hedley holds the social aspect of COTA as most exciting.
“[COTA] is a good way to check out other peoples’ work… I get inspired,” she said.
The diverse range of exhibitions will forge a unique experience with respect to many different artistic genres. Although paints and canvases are prominent, performances from East Indian dancers, rock and rollers, jazz ensembles, Mexican “folkloric dancers,” and many more will be featured.
The main attraction is Oct. 10, however the festivities have already begun with an attraction called “COTA Corridors.” Throughout the month of September and until Oct. 10, art installations are hung in windows of businesses throughout downtown New Paltz. This gives community members an idea of what to expect should they attend the COTA festival.
SUNY New Paltz Art Education major Karissa Gropper has noticed part of COTA Corridors at a local pizzeria and is now excited about the event. She recognized some artists’ names as former New Paltz students and wondered if her future could be similar.
“I found it interesting to see some people who have gone through the same program and the same process as I’m going through,” said Gropper. “It’s cool to see what kind of art is going on in my own area… I would love to be part of this festival at some point.”
Gropper also noted that this event could have more of an impact on local residents if the school were involved. She was surprised that not one professor told her about the event. Promotional fliers and posters on campus, to her knowledge, were non-existent.
However, Gropper remains confident that the event will be a learning experience for those who attend.
“I like that anyone can apply to be in it…” said Gropper. “There’s going to be a lot of variety.”
COTA is a multifaceted event for the enjoyment of all age groups and interests. Cronin was unable to pinpoint her favorite aspect of the festival.
“The entire event I think really presents well as a whole,” said Cronin. “There isn’t a piece that surpasses the other.”
This article appeared either in print or online - it is now in the Poughkeepsie Journal archives.
The word “Art” encompasses more than just drawing and painting, and this fact is recognized and celebrated annually at The Celebration of the Arts (COTA) festival in New Paltz.
Amongst stone houses dating back to the colonization of America, historic Huguenot Street is this year’s venue for hundreds of fine artists, musicians, theater groups, authors, poets, silent auctions, food venders, and children’s activities on Oct. 10.
Alongside the founding of the primary ideology of the festival, the first COTA was produced three years ago by then 15-year-old Noelle Mc Entee at nearby Hasbrouck Park. The initial goal was to celebrate artists of all disciplines and stages in their careers. COTA is currently pursuing, and does not intend on changing that mission.
Although the idea of showcasing a myriad of artists is the predominant theme, artists will also enjoy sharing and networking with each other. According to COTA’s fine art coordinator Melanie Cronin, the networking aspect is important to participating artists.
“Having artists of different skill levels together on one day might lead to meeting someone you never would have, which leads to the next opportunity… artists [have] ended up in galleries due to participation in this,” said Cronin.
Participants as well as guests are encouraged to talk and mingle with neighbors and the eclectic spectrum of talent.
Illustrative painter Eileen Brand Hedley holds the social aspect of COTA as most exciting.
“[COTA] is a good way to check out other peoples’ work… I get inspired,” she said.
The diverse range of exhibitions will forge a unique experience with respect to many different artistic genres. Although paints and canvases are prominent, performances from East Indian dancers, rock and rollers, jazz ensembles, Mexican “folkloric dancers,” and many more will be featured.
The main attraction is Oct. 10, however the festivities have already begun with an attraction called “COTA Corridors.” Throughout the month of September and until Oct. 10, art installations are hung in windows of businesses throughout downtown New Paltz. This gives community members an idea of what to expect should they attend the COTA festival.
SUNY New Paltz Art Education major Karissa Gropper has noticed part of COTA Corridors at a local pizzeria and is now excited about the event. She recognized some artists’ names as former New Paltz students and wondered if her future could be similar.
“I found it interesting to see some people who have gone through the same program and the same process as I’m going through,” said Gropper. “It’s cool to see what kind of art is going on in my own area… I would love to be part of this festival at some point.”
Gropper also noted that this event could have more of an impact on local residents if the school were involved. She was surprised that not one professor told her about the event. Promotional fliers and posters on campus, to her knowledge, were non-existent.
However, Gropper remains confident that the event will be a learning experience for those who attend.
“I like that anyone can apply to be in it…” said Gropper. “There’s going to be a lot of variety.”
COTA is a multifaceted event for the enjoyment of all age groups and interests. Cronin was unable to pinpoint her favorite aspect of the festival.
“The entire event I think really presents well as a whole,” said Cronin. “There isn’t a piece that surpasses the other.”
Disability Mentoring Day - for the Poughkeepsie Journal
All articles with headlines that include "for the Pughkeepsie Journal" are unedited. They were put through rounds of editing before going to publication. This is the article as I wrote it.
This article appeared either in print or online - it is now in the Poughkeepsie Journal archives.
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) was celebrated by Highland and Marlboro school districts with a three-day event schedule geared toward helping disabled individuals find niches within modern work environments.
Sponsored by the American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD), DMD is celebrated annually on the third Wednesday in October. This year, Darden Restaurants and Dutchess County Outreach collectively sponsored mentoring events on Oct. 19, 20 and 22.
Students from Highland and Marlboro school districts attended job-shadowing events, etiquette presentations and lunch at Darden Restaurants’ Red Lobster and Olive Garden in Poughkeepsie on Oct. 19 and 20.
Students Nick Hoskins and Ann Marie Cusack observed the daily routines of chefs as well as participated in hands-on activities. According to Michael Milliman, Transition Coordinator for Highland and Marlboro school districts, students were excited about finding a possible career as well as simply being at a restaurant.
“Some of them had never gone out to dinner at a restaurant before,” said Milliman. “For them it was something that they had been looking forward to for weeks.”
Mentoring is the gateway to independence for people with disabilities in terms of forgoing reliance on public benefits and finding work, said David Hale, Program Manager for the AAPD.
DMD also helps people with disabilities become more comfortable in their own communities with respect to social interactions and becoming comfortable in work environments.
Many of the Highland and Marlboro students have social anxieties, said Milliman. This program is “making them more well-rounded people just in their daily living.”
The Oct. 22 visit to Dutchess County Outreach was based entirely on community. Disabled students spent the day at the Lunch Box food bank in Poughkeepsie serving meals to the homeless in hopes of bringing a sense of community awareness to students as well as aiding the local homeless.
Similar to its impact on students, DMD can have advantageous implications for employers who may not know much about the disabled community.
“Job seekers are learning skills and the mentors themselves are learning about disabilities which helps change the culture in a workplace to be more accepting and understanding of workers with disabilities,” said Hale.
In Milliman’s opinion, this year’s participants had a great time and the events were successful. Hoskins and Cusack both “came away with a heightened interest in being a chef,” Milliman said.
DMD is an introductory program designed for job seekers to gain preliminary experience and build their resumes. As Hale explained, anybody is welcome to participate.
“That’s the magical thing about mentoring,” he said. “No matter how old or professionally developed you are, people still need mentors in their lives to sort of make the most of their own career.”
According to AAPD’s website, DMD connects nearly 20,000 job seekers with thousands of employers in every U.S. state and territory and in more than 24 countries worldwide each year.
“If you want to work and you self-identify as a person with a disability – welcome to our program,” said Hale.
This article appeared either in print or online - it is now in the Poughkeepsie Journal archives.
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) was celebrated by Highland and Marlboro school districts with a three-day event schedule geared toward helping disabled individuals find niches within modern work environments.
Sponsored by the American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD), DMD is celebrated annually on the third Wednesday in October. This year, Darden Restaurants and Dutchess County Outreach collectively sponsored mentoring events on Oct. 19, 20 and 22.
Students from Highland and Marlboro school districts attended job-shadowing events, etiquette presentations and lunch at Darden Restaurants’ Red Lobster and Olive Garden in Poughkeepsie on Oct. 19 and 20.
Students Nick Hoskins and Ann Marie Cusack observed the daily routines of chefs as well as participated in hands-on activities. According to Michael Milliman, Transition Coordinator for Highland and Marlboro school districts, students were excited about finding a possible career as well as simply being at a restaurant.
“Some of them had never gone out to dinner at a restaurant before,” said Milliman. “For them it was something that they had been looking forward to for weeks.”
Mentoring is the gateway to independence for people with disabilities in terms of forgoing reliance on public benefits and finding work, said David Hale, Program Manager for the AAPD.
DMD also helps people with disabilities become more comfortable in their own communities with respect to social interactions and becoming comfortable in work environments.
Many of the Highland and Marlboro students have social anxieties, said Milliman. This program is “making them more well-rounded people just in their daily living.”
The Oct. 22 visit to Dutchess County Outreach was based entirely on community. Disabled students spent the day at the Lunch Box food bank in Poughkeepsie serving meals to the homeless in hopes of bringing a sense of community awareness to students as well as aiding the local homeless.
Similar to its impact on students, DMD can have advantageous implications for employers who may not know much about the disabled community.
“Job seekers are learning skills and the mentors themselves are learning about disabilities which helps change the culture in a workplace to be more accepting and understanding of workers with disabilities,” said Hale.
In Milliman’s opinion, this year’s participants had a great time and the events were successful. Hoskins and Cusack both “came away with a heightened interest in being a chef,” Milliman said.
DMD is an introductory program designed for job seekers to gain preliminary experience and build their resumes. As Hale explained, anybody is welcome to participate.
“That’s the magical thing about mentoring,” he said. “No matter how old or professionally developed you are, people still need mentors in their lives to sort of make the most of their own career.”
According to AAPD’s website, DMD connects nearly 20,000 job seekers with thousands of employers in every U.S. state and territory and in more than 24 countries worldwide each year.
“If you want to work and you self-identify as a person with a disability – welcome to our program,” said Hale.
David Haines magic - for the Poughkeepsie Journal
All articles with headlines that include "for the Pughkeepsie Journal" are unedited. They were put through rounds of editing before going to publication. This is the article as I wrote it.
This article appeared either in print or online - it is now in the Poughkeepsie Journal archives.
Magician David Haines has been showcasing his Las Vegas style illusions across the globe from casinos to cruise ships, from Hollywood to British Columbia since 1990.
On Saturday Oct. 17, Haines will stage a grandiose “illusion spectacular” at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, this is the first time in 10 years that Haines will perform in his home town and he plans on making it an unforgettable evening.
Haines found magic at the age of eight and has never looked back. As an up and coming magician, he joined the Poughkeepsie chapter (Assembly #35) of the national organization, the Society of American Magicians. As a member, Haines took an oath of respect, fellowship, and commitment to the elevation of the art of magic.
According to the dean of the Society of American Magicians, George Schindler, members of local branches, or “assemblies” are assured camaraderie and a constant stream of idea sharing within local magic communities.
Since cultivating his career locally and internationally, Haines has forged a style based on gaudy performances akin to Las Vegas-style magic productions. Despite the magnitude of his show, Haines maintains fluidity and confidence.
“His style is very smooth, pleasant, and entertaining… [His act] flows very smoothly from one trick to the next,” said Ed Fitchett, a member of the Society of American Magicians – Assembly #35 – since 1942. Fitchett has watched Haines evolve as a magician and is excited about his upcoming gig.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I’ve got tickets right in the front row.”
According to Haines, the Dutchess County area has never seen anything like the show he is planning. Amongst family, friends, and strangers, Haines wants to “bring Hollywood and Vegas to Dutchess County” through the integration of elaborate sets, large-scale illusions and flashy presentation.
Due to the size and sophistication of this production, teams have spent eight months preparing for the show and will take three full days to set up the venue. According to Haines, the technical aspects of his performance must be executed with precision.
“If the finest details are not in place, there could be serious safety issues,” said Haines.
Haines’s attention to detail, according to Assembly #35’s current president Derrin Berger implies a certain amount of professionalism.
“A lot of time, work and effort go into what he’s doing – it shows,” said Berger. “He cares about what he does. Everything is always very professional.”
This professionalism will become apparent in illusions including, but not limited to: people appearing, disappearing, floating in air, cut in half, close-up magic, comedy, mentalism, a concert-style sound system, intricate lighting fixtures, elaborate backdrops, searchlights beaming miles into the sky outside the entrance, and plenty of audience participation.
Haines holds crowd interactivity as an integral part of his act.
“No matter where in the world I perform, I would just like to entertain,” said Haines “… to know [the audience] can smile and enjoy is magic for me.”
When asked if he was preparing anything special for his homecoming performance, Haines replied simply: “Yes.”
This article appeared either in print or online - it is now in the Poughkeepsie Journal archives.
Magician David Haines has been showcasing his Las Vegas style illusions across the globe from casinos to cruise ships, from Hollywood to British Columbia since 1990.
On Saturday Oct. 17, Haines will stage a grandiose “illusion spectacular” at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, this is the first time in 10 years that Haines will perform in his home town and he plans on making it an unforgettable evening.
Haines found magic at the age of eight and has never looked back. As an up and coming magician, he joined the Poughkeepsie chapter (Assembly #35) of the national organization, the Society of American Magicians. As a member, Haines took an oath of respect, fellowship, and commitment to the elevation of the art of magic.
According to the dean of the Society of American Magicians, George Schindler, members of local branches, or “assemblies” are assured camaraderie and a constant stream of idea sharing within local magic communities.
Since cultivating his career locally and internationally, Haines has forged a style based on gaudy performances akin to Las Vegas-style magic productions. Despite the magnitude of his show, Haines maintains fluidity and confidence.
“His style is very smooth, pleasant, and entertaining… [His act] flows very smoothly from one trick to the next,” said Ed Fitchett, a member of the Society of American Magicians – Assembly #35 – since 1942. Fitchett has watched Haines evolve as a magician and is excited about his upcoming gig.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I’ve got tickets right in the front row.”
According to Haines, the Dutchess County area has never seen anything like the show he is planning. Amongst family, friends, and strangers, Haines wants to “bring Hollywood and Vegas to Dutchess County” through the integration of elaborate sets, large-scale illusions and flashy presentation.
Due to the size and sophistication of this production, teams have spent eight months preparing for the show and will take three full days to set up the venue. According to Haines, the technical aspects of his performance must be executed with precision.
“If the finest details are not in place, there could be serious safety issues,” said Haines.
Haines’s attention to detail, according to Assembly #35’s current president Derrin Berger implies a certain amount of professionalism.
“A lot of time, work and effort go into what he’s doing – it shows,” said Berger. “He cares about what he does. Everything is always very professional.”
This professionalism will become apparent in illusions including, but not limited to: people appearing, disappearing, floating in air, cut in half, close-up magic, comedy, mentalism, a concert-style sound system, intricate lighting fixtures, elaborate backdrops, searchlights beaming miles into the sky outside the entrance, and plenty of audience participation.
Haines holds crowd interactivity as an integral part of his act.
“No matter where in the world I perform, I would just like to entertain,” said Haines “… to know [the audience] can smile and enjoy is magic for me.”
When asked if he was preparing anything special for his homecoming performance, Haines replied simply: “Yes.”
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