It often appears to come back to the flow of cars through Sloatsburg, the Route 17 siren song of sorts for businesses. Sushiville owner and Queens, NY resident CJ Oh found his way to Sloatsburg via Route 17, lured by the surrounding golf courses and woody hills.
Geoff Welch hanging his nature photography at Sushiville in Sloatsburg, NY / Photo by Kathy Goldman
A former professor of economics who studied at CUNY and taught in Korea, CJ can sometimes be seen taking a chip shot break on the Harmony Hall Great Lawn between the lunch and dinner flow at Sushi Ville.
Harmony Hall Curator Geoff Welch was nearly the first customer at Sushiville, Sloatsburg’s new sushi restaurant with a Korean twist. When Oh discovered Welch’s nature photography, he invited Welch to hang them along the walls of Sushiville. Oh said he was impressed that many of the shots are taken from daily moments captured in and around the grounds of Harmony Hall — which Oh is familiar with through his walks and afternoons of golf.
Sushi Ville owner CJ and Geoff Welch toast to a job well done. / Photo by Kathy Goldman
Nature drew Oh to Sloatsburg and he believes that it’ll continue to draw people from the city – despite what he called Sloatsburg’s “zombie houses”, those empty or decayed dwellings or structures that dot Rt. 17 throughout the village corridor.
Oh said that Rt. 17 and the Sloatsburg Train Station are two big assets for the small village. But, he said, the train station could be more welcoming, with a nice kiosk and signage. And, he asked, what about bike rentals?
Geoff Welch’s photography show at Sushi Ville is a series of nature shots mounted on foam board that are available for sale. The photographs can be purchased in various formats.
Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva aurea) on a Blunt Mountain Mint Plant in the Farmony Herb Garden at Harmony Hall. Blunt mountainmint (Pycnanthemum Muticum) is a New York State Threatened species.
Welch is also presenting historic views of the Ramapo River watershed and select bridges at this year’s Ramapo River Watershed Conference, which takes place Friday, April 22, at Ramapo College, NJ.
