Artisan's Gallery to Host Local Artist August 8th

The Artisan's Gallery, located on 322 Main Street in the Village of Middleburgh, is inviting the general public to an opening reception of watercolors and prints by local artist Sherry Holmes on Friday, August 8th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Patrons will have the opportunity to meet and greet the local artist, and view other work produced locally to enhance your home and special gifts. Light refreshments will be served. Ms. Holmes' work will be show as the guest artist until August 30th.

Regular Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday's 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Cobleskill Police Blotter (August 6th, 2014)

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

At 12:49 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Brandon L. Thibodeux, 21, of Schenevus, New York, for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree. He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and released on $100 Bail. He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on August 12th at 5:00 p.m.

Friday, August 1, 2014

At 8:55 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Frank R. Taylor, 23, of Cobleskill, New York, for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree. He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $1000 Bail/$2000 Bond. He is to return to Cobleskill Court on August 5th at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 2, 2014

At 2:58 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Brett M. Jaycox, 22, of East Durham, New York, for DWI, operating a motor vehicle with a BAC greater than 0.08% and other vehicle and traffic tickets. He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $750 Bail/$1500 Bond. He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on August 12th at 4:00 p.m.

At 5:01 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Brett M. Jaycox, 22, of East Durham, New York, for Escape in the Third Degree. He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $5000 Bail/$10000 Bond. He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on August 12th at 4:00 p.m.

At 1:03 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Theodore Snyder, 51, of Fort Plain, New York, for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. He was issued an appearance ticket and released. He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on August 26th at 5:00 p.m.

At 2:42 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Mercedes R. Lambert, 18, of Richmondville, New York, for Trespassing. She was issued an appearance ticket and released. She is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on August 26th at 5:00 p.m.

At 2:42 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Robert T. Merwin, 18, of Delanson, New York, for Trespassing. He was issued an appearance ticket and released. He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on August 26th at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

At 3:00 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Theresa A. Wohr, 44, of Johnstown, New York, on a Bench Warrant. She was arraigned in Town of Richmondville Court and released. She is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on August 5th at 5:00 p.m.

Opinion: A Yellow Rose

New York City: a sprawling concrete jungle that stretches farther than the eye can see, miles in every direction, with only water cutting off the vast confines of Manhattan from the other four boroughs of lesser prominence. 

What a sight to behold through the virgin lenses of a born and raised country boy.

Few places in the United States, let alone the world, can escort you from the beauty of Battery Park overlooking the Statue of Liberty to the controlled chaos of Times Square, often called the center of the universe (although it doesn't impress the author that much), and finally to a reserve of nature at Central Park; all within a subway wide of each other.

However, beyond the must-see tourist attractions that everyone has booked on their once in a lifetime visit to Manhattan, nothing spells out the amazing character and personality of New Yorkers more than the 9/11 Memorial. 

Situated in the shadow of the One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower), the grounds are somber as thousands pay their respects to the fallen of September 11th, 2001. The noise of the world's grandest city melt away before your eyes, as the compassion of humanity overwhelms your senses. 

The massive size of the Twin Towers become apparent as you observe the solemn waterfalls cascading hundreds of feet below, where the symbols of American prosperity once stood. Surrounding them, are the names of victims who perished during the terrorist attacks etched in bronze plates attached to parapet walls. 

In the midst of this scene, while offering a silent prayer, I noticed the most beautiful and memorable part of my adventure to New York City: a simple yellow rose placed in the name of William Michael Weems, a rose I later discovered was placed to commemorate what would have been his birthday Saturday.

Soon after my girlfriend's sister informed me of this pretty little flower's purpose, I noticed a handful of other carefully placed yellow roses memorializing the birthdays of other victims. To say my heart fell would be an understatement, but to know that almost thirteen years after Mr. Weems' celebrated his last birthday that we still remember it, is a testament to the good in all of us.

So in a weekend full of memories and personal heartache, I walk away with those roses still fresh in my eyes, reminding me of the good that remains in this world and our nation's vow to remember those fell on that fateful day...

On-Farm Berry Research May Provide Fruit Pest Control; Field Day August 13

Two eastern NY farmers with Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education/SARE grants are teaming with the 16-county Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program to evaluate a promising way to help berry growers reduce damage by an invasive species of fruit fly. 

Farm owner Dale-Ila Riggs of The Berry Patch at Stone Wall Hill Farm in Stephentown, NY, installs one of two types of netting she is evaluating for protecting blueberries from insect pests, primarily Spotted Wing Drosophila which has become a major threat to Northeastern fruit crops since 2011; photo: Laura McDermott/Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program

Spotted Wing Drosophila/SWD was first identified in the U.S. in California in 2008. It made its way to the Northeast by 2011 and is now a major pest of berry crops throughout North and South America. One fly can complete 15 generations in one year. By the time growers become aware of the damage, it is too late to save the crop.

 

In 2012, SWD infested some Northeast berry crops at 80-100 percent. The eFly SWD Working Group of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension assessed the measurable loss to SWD of cultivated blueberries in 27 states in 2012 and estimates New York losses, based on a 30 percent loss of 900 acres of berries, at $1,356,000. The loss of raspberry crop value was even higher.

 

The Northeast SARE-funded research, conducted at Hay Berry Farm, LLC, a small-scale diversified organic, you-pick berry and herb farm in Hoosick Falls, and The Berry Patch at Stone Wall Hill Farm, a larger diversified fruit and vegetables farm in Stephentown, both in Rensselaer County, is evaluating the use of netting to protect crops rather than using costly insecticidal applications.

 

At Hay Berry Farm, a popular you-pick destination known as a ‘no-toxin’ farm, owner Lawrie Nickerson had originally planned to plant 4.5 acres of blueberries but stopped at three acres after the 2012 planting because of SWD. The use of netting there in 2013 effectively excluded SWD and other insects of similar size and larger from the trial area.

 

Nickerson adds a key point: “The upshot is that insects the size of fruit flies could not get past the netting, and using the netting did not negatively effect our harvest weight, yield, or timing. In some cases, the berry yield was slightly higher.”

 

“The 2013 project at Hay Berry Farm indicated that netting smaller plantings could be an excellent strategy for coping with SWD, particularly as an alternative for organic growers,” says Cornell Cooperative Extension Fruit and Berry Specialist Laura McDermott with the 16-county Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program.

McDermott has provided technical support with project design, data collection and analysis, and outreach support to both Nickerson and Dale-Ila Riggs, owner of The Berry Patch at Stone Wall Hill Farm, where Riggs harvests all of her fruit crops for fresh, direct market sale from the farmstead, at Farmers Markets, and to dozens of regional restaurants. 

 

“Two years ago we lost 40 percent of our crop to SWD. We believe the insect was brought in by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee,” Riggs says. She estimates SWD damage cost $8000 in lost blueberry income alone.

 

In 2014, Riggs is testing netting on a half-acre of blueberries that ripen over a two-moth period. The vigorous plants are 8-feet-tall and 8-feet-wide. She is evaluating two different mesh sizes of netting. The major portion of her planting is covered with the very fine netting Nickerson used; one row is covered with a less-fine netting that is also less expensive.

“We need a system that will control SWD yet be practical for working around the berries and less costly,” Riggs says.

 

“I am waiting to see how well the less expensive netting works at Dale-Ila’s farm. If it works well there, we will evaluate the economics and I believe there may be a strong possibility that I will put netting up next year,” Nickerson says.

 

Both Nickerson and Riggs tried a number of other adjunct measures, including insect trapping and weed mats, as part of their NESARE grant projects. More information is available from the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program/ENYCHP that provides research-based expertise on production and marketing to commercial food and horticultural producers in Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Orange, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Ulster, Warren, and Washington counties

The ENYCHP will hold a Growers Field Day at The Berry Patch in Stephentown on August 13 from 3pm to 5pm. Learn more online at http://enych.cce.cornell.edu or call Marcie at 518-272-4210

New Disc Golf Course to Open at Mine Kill State Park

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) today announced that its first permanent disc golf course in the Saratoga-Capital Region will open at Mine Kill State Park in North Blenheim. The course opening will take place on Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 9AM just outside the Mine Kill pool complex, featuring a ribbon cutting ceremony, an Ace Race and other great disc golf games.

“We are thrilled to welcome the first disc golf course to a State Park in the Capital Region,” State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said. “Disc golf is a fun and easy way to get outside with friends and family at New York State Parks. The Mine Kill Disc Golf Course will be a magnificent new destination for one of the fastest growing sports in the Catskills and Capital Region.”  

Disc Golf is played similar to traditional golf with tees, holes and strokes per hole, but with plastic flying discs used instead of a ball and clubs. A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to an elevated basket, which is the "hole." As players make their way down the fairway, they take each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw landed. The player with the fewest throws wins.

In addition to Mine Kill, disc golf courses are available at Beaver Island, Darien Lake, Evangola, Joseph Davis, Lakeside and Wilson-Tuscarora State Parks in Western New York, Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Lower Hudson Valley, and Gilbert Lake State Park in Otsego County.

The Ace Race tournament at Mine Kill State Park will make a great introduction to disc golf for players new to the sport. An Ace Race is like a hole-in-one contest with a bit of a twist; all players must throw the same type of disc on every hole. Players only count holes in one (Aces) or when their disc strikes a part of the target basket. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers at the MKDGC Ace Race.  Players will also receive 2 prototype discs, a towel, baseball cap, a mini-marker disc and other great items upon registering.  

Admission to the Ace Race is just $25 per player.  

Players interested in exploring the new Mine Kill disc golf course on their own can borrow a disc at the park or pool office.  There is a $10 deposit per disc required for using a disc for the day.  Disc purchases may also be made at the park for $10 per disc.  Admission to the park from late-June to Labor Day is $3 per vehicle from 9am to 5pm.  

For more information on the Mine Kill Disc Golf Course Ace Race event, or to learn more about the terrific sport of disc golf, please contact the park office at (518) 827-8690.  

Wright Republicans to Host Gibson August 10th

Town of Wright Republican Club has announced that they are hosting a Chicken BBQ on Sunday, August 10th, during which Republican Congressman Chris Gibson is scheduled to address the crowd.

The club has reserved the Gallupville School House, located on School Street in Gallupville, to host the day's festivities which will include take out dinners starting at 4:00 p.m. and a sit-down dinner at 5:00 p.m until they exhaust their food. Gibson is scheduled to speak at 6:00 p.m. 

Dinners are $10 and 1/2 Chicken only is $7. Pre-sale tickets are available at the Gallupville Corner Store or George Karlewicz at 518 872-1261 or George@KarlewiczAssociates.com or Lynn Herzog at 518 895-9078 or LynnHerzog68@gmail.com

State Police Arrest Jersey Man for Marijuana Possession

New York State Police stationed in Cobleskill have announced the arrest of a New Jersey man for possession of marijuana. 

Thomas C. Dagostino, 51, of Monroe, New Jersey, was stopped on I-88 near exit 23 in Schoharie for speeding on Monday afternoon. Upon interviewing the suspect, an odor of marijuana was detected inside the vehicle by State Police on scene. 

A search of the vehicle yielded approximately 7.6 grams of marijuana in a plastic bag, as well as a metal grinder, metal pipe, and a brown wooden box all with marijuana residue.

Dagostino was issued an Appearance Ticket and Traffic Tickets returnable to the Town of Schoharie Court on August 11th.

Opinion: One Hundred Years of War

One hundred years ago this week, the massive Austrian-Hungarian Empire declared war on the tiny country of Serbia for the actions of military renegades that resulted in the assassination of Austrian Archduke Ferdinand in the border city of Sarajevo, Bosnia. 

It would become the bloodiest military campaign in human history, only to be outdone by the next generation of European leaders mid-century. Armies from around the globe converged in support of their respective alliances, and the rest, is the work of historians. 

However, there is one important lesson we often fail to recognize in studying the great conflict: the failures of civilized men that begat World War One set the stage for over one hundred years of war spanning the world.

From the emboldened rise of communism in Russia to the redrawing of the Middle East in the Ottoman Empire's ashes, and even the oppressively written demands of reparations hoisted upon an indebted, weakened Germany following peace, the conditions had been set in place for continued conflict.

Even now, as we sit in the remote comfort of our homely settings, five wars rage across the globe today: civil wars in Iraq, Syria and the Ukraine, while the Israeli Defense Force strikes at Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip. Not to be forgotten, our men and women still deployed in Afghanistan.

We do not fancy ourselves historians at the Schoharie News, but rather students of history. And as students we have come to an understanding that in order to avoid the mistakes of our past we must first recognize what those mistakes were in the first place, and only then can we etch out a new beginning. 

Social Dance, Basket Making at Iroquois Museum

HOWES CAVE, N.Y. -- Social Dance Saturday and Mohawk basket making are on the August calendar at the Iroquois Indian Museum.

On Saturday, Aug. 9, the Niagara River Dancers perform for Social Dance Saturday. The dance troupe from Tuscarora, is from one of the seven Iroquois Indian reservations in New York State. Social dances are group dances that encourage audience participation and are performed to the music created by voice and traditional Iroquois instruments.

On Saturday, Aug. 16, the “Catch the Basket” mentoring program features Mohawk basket makers Carrie Hill and Laura Mitchell. The artists continue a family tradition that extends generations. Hill creates fancy baskets of Sweetgrass and Black Ash. She is dedicated to passing on her knowledge and teaches Mohawk youth at the Akwesasne Cultural Center in Hogansburg.

Special Events are included with museum admission.

About the Museum

The Iroquois Indian Museum is an educational institution dedicated to fostering understanding of Iroquois culture using Iroquois art as a window to that culture.  The Museum is a venue for promoting Iroquois art and artists, and a meeting place for all peoples to celebrate Iroquois culture and diversity.  As an anthropological institution, it is informed by research on archaeology, history, and the common creative spirit of modern artists and craftspeople.

The Museum represents the world’s most comprehensive collection of modern Iroquois art work. This collection celebrates the ancient unity of the Iroquois still expressed in the creative spirit of today’s artists. A special interactive children’s area introduces young visitors to Iroquois traditions through a variety of crafts, games and technologies. A guide posted Nature Park of 45 acres is open year round for walks, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

Explore Mine Kill State Park by Kayak

Join park staff along with other paddling enthusiasts for a chance to explore beautiful Mine Kill State Park by kayak. American Canoe Association certified kayak instructors will lead several classes on the Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir located at the park.  Paddlers will have a fantastic opportunity to catch a glimpse of a bald eagle, explore the Mine Kill creek or examine fascinating fossils from the prehistoric Devonian Sea.  Each class is limited to 15 participants or less, so please call Mine Kill State Park at (518) 827-8690 to pre-register for each event.    

Bring your kayak, paddle and PFD on Saturday, August 2nd, 2014, from 10am - 2pm for an ACA endorsed, Quick Start kayak course.  This course is geared toward beginner to intermediate paddlers, and will cover the fundamental kayaking maneuvers as well as safety considerations on the water.  Participants will also get a chance to see advanced paddling skills and recoveries, in addition to an active bald eagle nest located near the reservoir.  A donation of $10 is recommended for this class.  

Then on Saturday, August 16, 2014, from 11am to 1pm, learn the paddling basics with an ACA Smart Start course at Mine Kill State Park.  The Smart Start course is for first-time to beginner paddlers, and is designed to cover the various parts of the kayak, different types of PFD’s and paddles, and other considerations before launching.  Once on the water, paddlers will learn the essential kayak strokes and then have a chance to perfect them.  A donation is recommended for the Smart Start course on 8/16.  

Finish the summer paddling season at Mine Kill State Park with an Introduction to Kayaking course on August 23rd.  Meet at the Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir boat launch at the park, from 9am to 3pm, to hone your paddling skills.  The Introduction to Kayaking course is suitable for intermediate to advanced-level paddlers, and will feature more in-depth equipment and demonstrations.  Participants will also learn how to conduct a wet exit and then perform deep water recoveries.  Paddling safety, CPR and first aid considerations will also be discussed in the course.  Due to the advanced techniques and curriculum, there is a $20 fee per paddler for the course on 8/23.      

Please note that each paddler will need to provide his/her own PFD (personal flotation device) along with a kayak and paddle.  Many different types of kayaks may be used, including sit-in/sit-on-top, tandem and inflatable. Paddlers will also get a chance to see stunning views from the reservoir, like resident bald eagles, outstanding geology and the scenic Schoharie Valley. 

Please note that the New York Power Authority no longer requires a seasonal permit to launch a vessel on the Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir.  However, all boaters must check in at the Mine Kill State Park office and then power-wash the boat prior to entering the water.  Please remember to contact the Mine Kill office at (518) 827-8690 to register, as there are a limited number of spots available per course.  

Mine Kill State Park is located in the scenic Schoharie Valley overlooking the Power Authority’s Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project.  The reservoir provides excellent fishing and boating opportunities. The eight miles of trails, including trails from the Park to the NYPA Visitor Center such as the Long Path, are great for hiking, biking and birding.  Cascading 80 feet through a narrow gorge is the picturesque Mine Kill Falls for which the Park is named.  The Park also has an Olympic sized swimming pool with separate wading and diving pools.

For those who would like to extend their visit, nearby Max V. Shaul State Park is a small, quiet camping area with 30 wooded tent and trailer sites, picnic grounds, a state of the art playground and boat access along the Schoharie Creek.  In addition to the Max V. Shaul trails and fishing opportunities, campers have free access to Mine Kill State Park. 

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversee 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 60 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.

Cobleskill Police Blotter (July 29, 2014)

The Cobleskill Police Department submitted the following press release concerning recent arrests by their officers in the Village of Cobleskill.

Monday, July 21, 2014

At 3:45 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Thomas Kearney, 53, of Richfield Springs, NY, for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 3rd. He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and released.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on July 29th at 5:00 p.m.

At 6:40 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Robert Effner, 20, of Cobleskill, NY, for Sex Abuse 2nd.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and released.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on July 22nd at 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

At 4:20 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Michael Kissinger, 22, of Cobleskill, NY, for Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Harassment.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on July 29th at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

At 3:10 pm, Cobleskill Police arrested Sarah A. Hughes, age 34, of Schenectady NY for 1 count of Petit Larceny, 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree, and 1 count of Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. She was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Correctional Facility on $2,500.00 cash bail or $5,000.00 bond. She is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on July 29th, 2014 at 5:00 pm.

NY Rising to Host Blenheim/Fulton Meeting Thursday

With millions in state recovery monies soon to be dispersed to the Schoharie County municipalities of Esperance, Middleburgh and Schoharie, the Valley communities next in line for substantial aid are the Towns of Blenheim and Fulton. 

The New York Rising Community Reconstruction Plan is in its infancy for both townships, but progress is in the process of moving forward with two meetings scheduled on Thursday evening that the public from both municipalities can attend.

At 5:00 p.m. the NYRCR Planning Committee will host its second meeting where residents can learn more about the recovery organization and share their ideas. This will be followed by NYRCR's first two-hour long public engagement meeting. 

Both meetings will take place at the Blenheim Town Hall and Hose Company located on Route 30.

Conesville to Host Town Wide Garage Sales

The Conesville Fire Department Auxiliary will be sponsoring the Fourth Annual Conesville Town Wide Garage Sales on Saturday, August 2nd from 9:00 to 4:00 PM. Antiques, treasures and unusual items will be among the objects for sale.  

Maps showing the 24 registered stops around town will be available on Route 990V at the Conesvile Town Hall, Conesville Fire House, Clark's Restaurant and the Manorkill Store. All of the garage sales will be labeled with a pink, yellow or green neon numbered sign.  

During the sales the Gilboa-Conesville School Cheerleaders will be selling refreshments including breakfast items, beverages and hot dogs at the Conesville Fire House at 1292 State Route 990V. Also, starting at 11:00 the Conesville United Methodist Church Chapel will have a take out chicken barbecue. The church is located at 1295 State Route 990V directly across from the firehouse. 

Books Galore at Middleburgh Library Sale

Hundreds, if not thousands, of books were on sale Saturday morning for reading enthusiasts and book lovers alike at the Middleburgh Library. Everything from children's literature to non-fiction histories and nutritional how to guides were available for super cheap steals, all to benefit the local library. 

The Middleburgh Library is located on the corner of Main Street and Baker Avenue in the Village of Middleburgh and it is open weekly Monday through Thursday, and on Saturdays. For more information on upcoming events, visit its official facebook page here. 

Man Arrested for Possessing Hypodermic Needle

The Schoharie County Sheriff's Department has announced its second drug related arrest of Middleburgh residents this week.

Sheriff's Deputies arrested forty-two year old Joseph Panetta on Monday, July 21st for Criminal Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument in the Town of Schoharie. 

Mr. Panetta was detained by the Schoharie County Sheriff's Office after an investigation by the Schoharie County Probation Department discovered he was in possession of the illegal instrument. 

The suspect was arraigned in the Town of Schoharie Court and was released to appear back at a later date. 

Hit Pay Dirt with 2014 Empire Farm Days’ Field, Crops & Equipment Demos

Seneca Falls, NY; July 24, 2014.  Field, forage, and equipment demonstrations abound at the August 5-7, 2014 Empire Farm Days and provide farmers with a look at the latest equipment innovations and technologies designed to enhance production efficiencies as well as offer new crop and revenue options. The event is held on 300 acres of the Rodman Lott and Son Farms in Seneca Falls, NY.

Empire Farm Days’ visitors check out equipment in field demos. The largest outdoor ag trade show in the Northeast provides ride and drive experiences with ATVs, skidsteers, and construction equipment. 

Daily field demos include forage chopping and handling and a new in-motion/drive-over scale at 10am; hay mowing at 11am, tillage and GPS at 1pm, and hay raking, baling, processing and handling at 2pm. From 10am to 2pm daily, those 18 and older who area ready to test drive some “steel” can try Cat wheel loaders, backhoes and skidsteers, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha 4-wheelers and utility vehicles, and Liftech skidsteers.

New in 2014 will be demonstrations of the new Rinstrum Drive Over Axle Scale for weighing trucks and forage loads.Trucks drive over the scale at 2-3mph and the scale automatically calculates each axle weight and prints a receipt with truck ID and gross, tare, and net weights without stopping. These demonstrations will be held daily alongside the forage chopping field equipment demonstration at 10am.

New field demonstrations highlight crop options and treatments. Seedway and DuPont are sponsoring a presentation on cover crops for northern climates and a demonstration of cover crop interseeding by Cornell University and Penn State /PSU for 2014. A team of PSU researchers and grains specialists designed an interseeder which sidedresses corn with fertilizer and a post-emergent herbicide while simultaneously planting a cover crop behind rows early in the season. DuPont provided a $15,000 grant to help build a small demonstration interseeder for the Friends of Northern Lake Champlain. Cornell Sustainable Cropping Systems Lab Assistant Professor Matthew Ryan will share the results of interseeding trials funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program. 

Birkett Mills is planting a field demonstration of buckwheat at Empire Farm Days for the first time. Representatives of the Penn Yan, NY-based business are looking for growers interested in growing buckwheat for their custom milling operation.

Alltech will offer an in-field discussion of its Grain-Set foliar-applied micronutrient fertilizer developed to boost corn root systems, grain fill, protein and starch content, and yield.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is sponsoring demonstrations by the New York Soil Health Team of federal, state and local resource professionals, farmers and ag businesses on the difference healthy soil provides in terms of reduced runoff, increased infiltration, and improved water- and nutrient-holding capacity. The New York Soil Health Team is comprised of federal, state and local agricultural resource professionals, New York farmers and agricultural businesses. The USDA is sponsoring this Soil Health outreach in cooperation with the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee.  

The Cornell Recycling Agricultural Plastics Program will be demonstrating proper technique for baling used farm plastics with recycled-plastic products, supplies and equipment for storing and compacting plastic on display.  A new one-hour baler operator certification course will be offered on-site.

Healthy soils benefit all crops, providing high-value housing for soil organisms, which in return create premium living space for crop roots. Throughout each day of the show, New York Soil Health Team members will be demonstrating the difference healthy soil can provide in terms of reducing runoff, increasing infiltration and improving water- and nutrient-holding capacity. The New York Soil Health Team is comprised of federal, state and local agricultural resource professionals, New York farmers and agricultural businesses.  The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is sponsoring the Soil Health outreach at Empire Farm Days in cooperation with the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee.  

For a full schedule of and information for the 2014 Empire Farm Days, including demonstrations of cattle handling, farm safety, horsemanship, small livestock care, alpaca fiber spinning, and agricultural plastics recycling visit www.empirefarmdays.com or call 877-697-7837. Admission is free, parking is $10.

Stop the Pipeline to Host Summer Gala Picnic

Stop the Pipeline, a non-profit grass roots organization, announces a gala summer picnic on August 17th from 1 PM until 5 PM at beautiful Pine Lake in Davenport (Oneonta), NY. There will be swimming, kayaking and canoeing along with music by Kathy Shimberg (1 PM), The Nieds (2:45 PM) and Peter Blue (3:30 PM).

There will be a raffle, an opportunity to chat with neighbors and to hear the latest update on the pipeline proposals by Anne Marie Garti, a volunteer attorney with the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic (2 PM). Admission is $5.00. Please bring a dish to share.

Busy Weekend Ahead for Schoharie County

From community events in Middleburgh to the Sunshine Fair's 2014 kickoff and everything in between with thousands of warriors in Gilboa and hundreds of bicycle enthusiasts at Howe Caverns, Schoharie County is the place to be this weekend with events for everyone.

Event: Fourth Friday. When: Friday, July 25th, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Where: Middleburgh, New York

The Middleburgh Area Business Association's Fourth Friday festivities will enter its third month tomorrow evening, with local businesses along Main Street remaining open longer into the night and offering specials to patrons. Notably, the Green Wolf Brewery Co. will be offering its thirst quenching ale for sale.

Event: Warrior Dash. When: Saturday, July 26th, 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Where: Gilboa, New York

With Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond estimating over six thousand people are expected to participate, Saturday's Warrior Dash at Nickerson Park to raise money for St. Jude Children's Hospital is the place to unleash your adventurous side on miles of mountainous terrain, muddy grades, and tasking obstacles.

Event: Sunshine Fair. When: all-day Saturday, July 26th through Saturday, August 2nd. Where: Cobleskill, New York

Schoharie County's annual Sunshine Fair at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds will kick off Saturday morning and run into next weekend as thousands of residents are expected to attend. Grandstand events will include truck and tractor pulls in addition to a monster struck show and several demolition derby's.

Event: Bicycle Show and Swap Meet. When: Sunday, July 27th, 9:00 a.m. Where: Howes Cave, New York

Annually one of the biggest bicycle shows in the northeast, there will be several prizes for vintage and custom built bikes at the Howe Caverns Pavilion on Sunday. Show bikes are free to enter and vendors will be charged $10 per spot. For more information contact Steve at 518-231-0614.

Schoharie in Severe Thunderstorm Watch (July 23, 2014)

Update (6:00 p.m.) - Local radar is indicating a dissipation of storms in the area, but residents are advised to keep an eye out through out the evening as conditions are ripe for stormy weather. 

The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Schoharie County residents until 10:00 p.m. tonight. Oppressive humidity levels and high temperatures have gave way to gusty winds and darkening clouds over the afternoon and into the evening.

As of 5:20 p.m., severe thunderstorm watches are in place for several area counties as scattered storms move across the region. Storms could become strong to locally severe with wind gusts in excess of sixty miles per hour, hail to one inch in diameter and heavy rainfall likely. 

Please stay safe everyone and stay tuned to the Schoharie News and WNYT-Albany for all your severe weather updates.

Schoharie County Arts Grants Information Available

The Community Arts Grants program of the New York State Council on the Arts is pleased to announce that the Fiscal Year 2015 Guidelines and Applications are now available.  The taxpayer dollars that these grants utilize are used to partially fund arts events, programs and experiences in Schoharie County.

The administrating organization for these grants is the Greene County Council on the Arts but all  taxpayer dollars allocated are for events and experiences in Schoharie County.

If you are an individual, organization or group of citizens interested in bringing arts and cultural events to Schoharie County, this funding opportunity may be right for you.

Informational workshops are scheduled for: August 16, 2014 between 10:00-11:30AM at 349 Mineral Springs Rd., Cobleskill and September 11, 2014 at the Middleburgh Library, 323 Main Street, Middleburgh from 6:30PM-8:00PM.  

New applicants are required to attend a workshop and returning applicants are encouraged to attend.

Link to grants is: http://www.greenearts.org/about/grants or visit schoharieartsgrants on Facebook.

Questions can be sent to grant coordinator, Renee Nied at: schoharieartsgrants@gmail.com