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For more information about Handicapp Accessability in Woodstock,
Please send an email to Robin B. Fre
Blueelf9@aol.com

Beware the Sidewalks!
Article written by Robin B. Fre and Photos by Sally Delmerico (www.sdelmericophoto.com)

      This is rolling Robin, you may know me from tours through Mowers Flea Market. This time I guide you through a dis-abled  tour of Woodstock, written for wheelies, and those with canes also intended for those not. These are merely my observations from rolling through town.
Contrary to, seemingly popular opinion, riding, needing a power chair or scooter is not fun. Maybe you need to be close to, know someone disabled to know or even see this. I have been stopped by strangers on the street, stopped by those puffing up that long hill coming into Woodstock town, stopped by all sorts of people, young and old. 
"Wish I had one of those," they say. I always reply "I am glad you don't need one."  Of course, everyone knows being in a chair can happen to anyone at anytime. Woodstock is a fun town, with beautiful views and lots to do. It is a small town filled with galleries, tasty exotic restaurants and fascinating shops. There is history in this town that precedes that Woodstock Festival. 
A multitude of parades, concerts, and lots of people-watching, can take hours.   Watching a packed Grey hound, straight from New York City, unload such interesting human cargo, well, that can take all day. Yes, there is always something to do, but can you move about town and explore?
I want to tell you where you can go, and most places have heavy winter doors making it all that much harder to get into. Everyone is willing to help and all you have to do is not get frustrated and ask. People are so nice, especially for one crippled and in a wheeled chair. Yes, I know this is embarrassing, get over it, asking always does work.
I am writing this for those, like myself, who find themselves trapped within an appliance and also for those we ask for help. The key word here is ASK. I have had people do all the wrong things with an honest attempt to help me. For instance, I once turned over the scooter by Maria's. Instead of stopping for a second, asking me what I need, they tried to pull me out by tugging on both my arms and legs. Not cool.
If asked I would've said "The machine! Get it off me first!" Then again there was a mass of good-deed doing fellows who took the scooter on a wild spin at Catskill Mountain Pizza. (This is accessible with a nice front yard.)  They all mean well, trying to help. But again if I had been asked, the scooter would not have wiped out the tables.
I have learned to kindly say "Back off," because really, only I know what to do. Unless I don't, then I get to ask you. But I digress. Restaurants, well most are accessible. As you roll out of the parking lot, you can go two ways. One way you pass street merchants, Woodstock Chamber Information center and further on down Rock City Road there is a Community Center behind which the Dali Lama once spoke. Sidewalks, this way, are indeed challenging.
A second way, you roll down a mild hill at the back of the Municipal parking lot (one you pay for), going against not much traffic. This leads to the back of Landau’s Grill, good food, mixed drinks, and a view of passing traffic from an open porch.  They also have a back dining room which is large and accessible. 
Next to this restaurant is a tiny mini mall where the Woodstock Emporium has affordable classic Woodstock tie-dye T-shirts, wind chimes and a Christmas Shop in all weather.  A new shoe store sits next to this, Soul Mates, upscale clothes and lots of shoes. Both are accessible if crowded with even more stuff.
Tucked neatly behind this mall is Maria's Bazaar. First things you see are lots of small tables with umbrellas around a lovely oval garden. There are grape vines growing, and tall flowering plants in pots. The whole yard emits a very European aura. Deli with homemade Italian food foods. Don't forget to save some to feed the always hungry birds. There is a long counter with lots of breads and yummy pastries. I gained ten pounds my first year here. 
Crossing the street, Bread Alone sits on the corner.  And really is so much more. Along with fine almond croissants and yummy sandwiches, there's good strong coffee or healthy juice to wash it down, and there is ambiance! A back door will give you an escape should the store get fully loaded, easing that feeling of being trapped.
Down from that, on the left, really Rt. 212, you will find Not Fade Away, use to be Joyous Lake. This has a wonderful functional ramp leading into a lovely shop.  For many years this rocked as that popular night club Now selling stuff that keeps Woodstock smoking. Woodstock Fashions are everywhere. This shop  packed with icons that is Woodstock.  Also, as you might have noticed, there is a wide porch with a view of incomings traffic, very entertaining. 
If you go to your right, you enter Woodstock proper. This is another way you can get to the Green, which is a small patch of what used to be grass until they "fixed it."  The grass got so trampled and dead. Benches to rest on here, but being in front of the Dutch Reform Church (very accessible), this site is the scene of so many demonstrations, all for a noble cause, that the thought of rest fades.
There are usually musicians set up here, seems on every corner with cases open for change.  Father Woodstock sets up his crate giving the peace sign to all who enter this sacred town. Women in Black for Peace stand vigil on Sunday mornings, rain or shine. This is where the dogs are judged in all their finery, where the Halloween Parade goes around, and Santa Claus comes in on so many sleighs, in so many ways. A weekly drumming circle meets here every Sunday offering a drum to anyone with rhythm. Good people watching.
Across the way, Oriole Nine, (used to be the old bus stop), offers organic food that is good and good for you. They boast gourmet coffee and something called Cappuccino Art.  Evidently, they make art out of the foam in your coffee!  A wide hallway welcomes you with posters of what’s going on in town, and when."
Little further, there is Joshua’s, A cozy place that offers mid-eastern fare. The staff is very accommodating, and will always find you space. Again, a lovely front window is now giving a view at the other edge of town. First place I ever had pita bread served with a meal, good spinach soup. Don't miss their zucchini pancakes, artichoke mish, or their famous smorgasbord to fill you up.  The upstairs offers music, but I would never even attempt climbing the stairs. 
Across from this is the Byrdcliffe Gallery, totally accessible, and one of names of founders of this town that started as and is still, an art colony. Many incredible artists live here and show their work in this gallery as well as many more. In this town the artist is reverend. Soon, (May 15th), the fabulous Mower Flea Market opens found  just down the lane from Bread Alone, almost in Houst parking lot.
I get along quite well there rolling in this small open grassy yard about the size if a city block. So does Kim in a power chair and she's a vendor. People in manual chairs require some, ump, or a strong pusher. Beware the mulch type substance John uses after it rains, this field gets so muddy.
But, there's always a But when one is disabled and in a chair one is dismissed. I came down with multiple sclerosis at age 38. Yes, I am one of those, you don't look disabled, kind of person, I don't, though I will be 57 soon.  I've been a member of this differently abled' club for a while now
lumped with the elderly and equally disenfranchised.  Living in Woodstock since 2002, my 3-wheel scooter, my only transportation, and I get around. Fortunately, I live close enough to town that I can, and do scoot there. Fortunately, right before I got here from Maine, Woodstock, blessed village, invested in 2001, sidewalks from the new post office to edge of town. 
But, again there's always But. The town is set in mountains, and Woodstock like many northern towns are subject to frost heaves come winter. This geologic phenomenon happens  in winter and the very soil heaves up like in a burp. This means that sidewalks are not even, are bumpy, and broken with high curbs. This is merely to explain what one can expect. Beware those who must rely on canes! Even those without, trip.
I rolled to town one day and wrote down all the places I could get into, get around, and get out of. I was surprised at how many I've actually been able to get to. Some with ease, others take some ingenuity.
My comments are not meant as critiques but as merely an observation whose intent might help someone coming to Woodstock in a wheeled chair. I'm trying to guide them, those disabled folk who want to come to this lovely town, spend some time and maybe some money, but they are in a chair or scooter and don't know how. But they can! Crudely put, tourism is a big part of the town's economy and we gratefully appreciate visitors. People are really very nice.
You'll see many assorted shops coming into town.  Many are inaccessible with steps, giant granite rocks, and entryways always too small. I found if you want something and know what you want, and catch the proprietor's eye, he might give you curb service, if not too busy. I've done this with the flower shop (Juanita's) in the middle of town. I have bought lovely plants there. 
There are ramps, after all, it is the law, and some even lead you somewhere. A few places are blocked by heavy doors (post office) or by hand trucks stored on the ramp (art store), or take you to a second floor you must step into (chiropractor). I applaud their intent but it's important for you to know where there are ramps, because there are so few. One even successfully takes you into a gift shop (Jean Turmo's).  The law says places need ramps but it doesn't say the structures have to go anywhere.
This closes my mini rolling tour of that wonderful village of Woodstock New York, To summarize, there are many accessible things to do and see here despite being a grand-fathered town with frost heaves. There are places to eat, shop, and absorb the locals. People are very nice and will help you IF YOU ASK. I am sorry if I left anyone out, one has so little tyme.

Pictures - Top left, Robin B. Fre; Left, Landau Grille, Woodstock Emporium and Soulmates, and Maria’s Bazaar; Right, Bread Alone, Not Fade Away, Oriole Nine, and Joshua’s.

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