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.

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.

Vintage Car Show at NYPA Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center Today (July 20, 2014)

NORTH BLENHEIM — If you like vintage cars and trucks, stop by the New York Power Authority’s Blenheim-Gilboa Project visitors center on Sunday, July 20.

                                       Photo Credit: NYPA.

A wide variety of antique vehicles will be on display, including a 1910 Oakland Model 24 roadster and a 1913 Chase Model M Express truck, along with a ’56 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, a ’56 GMC Suburban pickup, a ’65 Corvair, and antique tractors.

Visitors are invited to drive their own classic wheels to the show and socialize with fellow car buffs. Admission and parking are free. To register for a chance to win a trophy in a variety of categories, call 518-234-7495.

Short films on cars will be screening in the visitors center theater. Barbecue and other food will be available. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Arrive early, as several thousand car enthusiasts are expected.

Guests can also tour the B-G visitors center to learn more about electricity and New York State’s largest hydroelectric pumped storage power plant and drop by historic Lansing Manor, a country estate built in 1819. Both are open until 5 p.m.

The B-G visitors center is located on route 30 in North Blenheim, five miles north of Grand Gorge, 17 miles south of Middleburgh and 50 miles southwest of Albany. For more information, please call 1-800-724-0309.

Blenheim Raises Funds for Felter's Widow

The small community of Blenheim's breakfast to benefit the late Highway Superintendent Gerald "Jerry" Felter's wife attracted over eighty people and raised close to $2,000 on Saturday, once more revealing the caring and loving nature of Schoharie County's smallest township.

Carver Sand and Gravel and Gerry Scelzo each gave $500 to support the widow in her time of need, while Gilboa Town Supervisor and County Board Chairman Tony Vanglad donated two gallons of maple syrup to the breakfast spread. 

Blenheim Town Supervisor Shawn Smith praised the event, thanking his sister Yvette Smith and Sandy Mattice, "because they did all the cooking and organizing for it." Mr. Smith would go on to add, "we could not had had it without their help." 

Gerry, as he was known to close friends, served as the small town's department of public works head for nearly two decades until his unexpected passing in mid-May. Since then, Blenheim has taken several steps to recognize his service and to provide for his loving wife. 

Blenheim to Host Breakfast to Benefit Felter's Wife

The close-knit community of Blenheim will be hosting a breakfast at the Blenheim Town Hall on Saturday, June 14th from 8:30 am until 11:30 am to benefit the wife of late Highway Superintendent Gerald "Gerry" Felter. 

It will be donations only and the proceeds will go directly to Gerry's wife, who was dependent on her husband's salary and collects only a small social security stipend. Many in the small town have volunteered to help with the event.

On a day with many activities planned countywide, residents in neighboring and distant communities are encouraged to attend and support Blenheim's charitable breakfast to help Mrs. Felter through these challenging and difficult times. 

Blenheim Appoints Deputy to Become Highway Superintendent, Remembers Felter

It was both a serious and somber occasion Monday evening, as the Blenheim Town Board moved to fill the substantial void left by longtime Highway Superintendent Gerald Felter's unexpected passing in May, and to remember his years of dedicated service to the close-knit community. 

Starting the meeting with a moment of silence to remember "Gerry," as he was known by family and friends alike, the town board voted unanimously to approve a resident's suggestion to name the town's pavilion/park area behind the town hall in his honor. An official naming ceremony will be held at a date to be determined. 

Moving on to the vacancy, town board members voted to appoint Dave Mattice, Felter's deputy in the public works department, to succeed him as Highway Superintendent. The board would also voted to grant Mattice an annual $3,000 stipend to off-set his loss in wages from accepting the position and to perform any additional duties. 

In an attempt to reduce costs for the town, which operates on a shoe-string budget at approximately $300,000 annually, town board members decided to run the department with only two employees and to rely on part-time assistance when additional help is needed in the winter, or to cover sick time and vacations.

In other action:

• The town board voted to extend Cobra health insurance coverage to Felter's wife until she can acquire public assistance. The extension was approved to August.
• The town board voted to pay for a $60 advertisement in the Maple Festival brochure, after a mis-communication led to the town historian approving the ad after the board initially voted against it.
• The town board voted to authorize Councilwoman Anne Mattice-Strauch to purchase up to $600 in materials for a local park to be built in conjunction with SUNY Cobleskill's Creating Healthy Places program. 

Blenheim to Host Special Meeting Today (May 29, 2014)

The Town of Blenheim will be hosting a special meeting today at noon to discuss the current vacancy in the Town Highway Superintendent position that is the result of its former occupant Gerald Felter's unexpected passing two weeks ago. 

Board members are expected to discuss possible replacements in executive session before reaching a final decision at Monday night's regularly scheduled June town board meeting.

Mine Kill Set for 22nd National Trails Day

On Saturday, June 7, 2014, celebrate National Trails Day at Mine Kill State Park in North Blenheim, New York.  Join Mine Kill park staff, local Scouts and community members from 10:00am to 3:00pm for a chance to experience history in the making at the park.  Volunteers will be tasked with clearing brush and debris from the soon-to-be-installed Mine Kill Disc Golf Course.  Disc golf is very similar to ball golf in that players start from a tee area and attempt to “hole out” at a target in a certain number of strokes (par).  However, rather than using golf clubs and balls, disc golf utilizes modified Frisbees or discs thrown by the player on each shot.  The sport is very easy to learn, can be played by anyone regardless of age and is a terrific way to experience the outdoors while also getting some exercise.  

A free barbecue lunch will be provided to all volunteers courtesy of Stewart’s Shops and the Friends of Mine Kill and Max V. Shaul State Parks.  Free giveaways from Adventure Medical Kits will also be available to volunteers while supplies last.  National Trails Day patrons should be prepared for a day outside being both on and off trail.  Please bring comfortable, layered clothing (including rain gear), snacks, water and hiking boots.    

Following a delicious lunch, participants will have an opportunity to explore the many miles of hiking trails at Mine Kill State Park – including the famous Long Path, which runs from the George Washington Bridge all the way to the Mohawk River west of Albany.  Take a hike down to the beautiful, 80-foot Mine Kill Falls or enjoy the views from around the historic Lansing Manor next to the NYPA Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center.   Please contact the Mine Kill park office at (518) 827-8690 to pre-register for this event, or email HYPERLINK "mailto:Michael.fagerstrom@parks.ny.gov" Michael.fagerstrom@parks.ny.gov for more information.      

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 oversees 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by more than 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 us on Twitter. 

About American Hiking Society - Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is the only national, recreation-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s hiking trails, their surrounding natural areas and the hiking experience. To learn more about American Hiking Society and its mission and programs, please visit www.AmericanHiking.org or call (301) 565-6704.

American Hiking’s National Trails Day® is made possible by the generous support of Corporate Sponsors–Adventure Medical Kits, Columbia, Gregory Packs, Tilley Endurables, The North Face, and Brooks-Range Mountaineering as well as Supporters – America’s State Parks, American Park Network, Backpacker magazine, ParksByNature Network, Boy Scouts of America, REI, and Student Conservation Association, and Federal Partners – National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Highway Administration, and U.S. Forest Service.

Troy Man Arrested for Drug Possession in Blenheim

New York State Police stationed in Cobleskill have announced the arrest of thirty-two year old Donald J. Howell of Troy, New York for drug possession last Thursday in the Town of Blenheim. The suspect was stopped by State Police on State Route 30 for a traffic infraction when Troopers observed an odor of marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. 

Pursuant to a search, Howell was found to be in possession of a small quantity of marijuana and Alprazolam without a prescription, a scheduled IV controlled substance.

State Police arrested and charged Howell with Criminal Possession of a Controlled substance in the 7th degree, Controlled Substance Not In Its Original Container, and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. He is to appear before the Town of Blenheim Court on May 28.

Blenheim Mourns Highway Superintendent's Sudden Death

With flags at half mast, and hundreds of memories impacting the close knit community this Tuesday afternoon, Blenheim is somberly mourning the loss of longtime Town Highway Superintendent Gerald Felter, who passed away unexpectedly Monday evening.

"Gerry," as he was known to town residents and close friends, had served as the small town's Public Works head for nineteen going on twenty years, during which he had guided the town through, "some catastrophic events such as the 1996 flooding and Hurricane Irene," said a saddened Supervisor Shawn Smith earlier today. 

There has been no official cause of death determined in Felter's death, who reportedly passed out in his home last evening and was found to be not breathing and unresponsive by emergency services shortly thereafter. 

Gerald Felter was fifty-seven years old.

Blenheim Considers Dissolving Town Judgeship

After serving thirteen years on the local bench, Town of Blenheim judge William Kniskern has handed in his resignation, effective March 31, to town officials. Kniskern, who was first elected as a write-in candidate in 2000 with only five votes, submitted his reasons for stepping down to Supervisor Shawn Smith earlier this month. 

At a special board meeting held on March 14 to announce the resignation, members of the Blenheim town council weighed their options moving forward. Initially the consensus was to advertise the vacancy and accept resumes for the board to consider, but upon further discussion town officials voted to explore the possibility of consolidating the court with an adjoining town.

Supervisor Smith, who made the adopted motion, told the Schoharie News that, "if we can do this it should save tax payers in both towns money." He would go on to add that in addition to Blenheim shedding the cost of the court, "the other town should be able to increase their revenue without any additional costs."

It remains to seen how Blenheim handles judge Kniskern's resignation and whether the town will consider dissolving his position altogether. Answers to that question may be available at the small community's April 7th town board meeting. 

Town of Blenheim to Hold Special Meeting Tonight (March 14, 2014)

The Blenheim Town Board will be holding a special meeting tonight at 7 pm to discuss several items of note that have cropped up since their last regularly scheduled gathering, including unresolved personnel and legal issues. In addition, town board members will devote part of the meeting toward a budget workshop to see where Blenheim stands financially at this point. 

Poll: Rebuild Blenheim Bridge

With the controversy about the Blenheim Bridge mounting and letters to the editor arguing for one position or another, Schoharie News readers are similarly divided. After a week of polling, our readers were asked if they would prefer to rebuild exactly where the bridge was exactly how it was, to build a replica in another location, or if the cost is too great for such a project.

- Yes, exactly where it was 194 (53%) 
- Yes, but as a replica elsewhere 19 (5%) 
- No, the cost and risk is too great 140 (38%) 
- Undecided 12 (3%)

The controversy will not dissapate anytime soon about the issue. With such a result, be sure to vote in our newest poll on our sidebar, whether or not you approve of the Schoharie News.

Fifteen Foot Elevated Blenheim Bridge Visual Conception

With two hundred votes already cast in our Blenheim Bridge poll (located on the right-hand sidebar of the website), members of the Blenheim Long Term Recovery Committee wanted the following visual conception of a rebuilt, 15 foot elevated bridge for our readers to consider before passing final judgment. 

Vote in Our New Poll: Should the Blenheim Bridge be Rebuilt?

Here is a chance for our readers to weigh in on the contentious debate over whether or not the Blenheim Covered Bridge should be rebuilt using either federal or local tax dollars. The debate has been standoffish at times between Blenheim residents and Recovery Coordinator Bill Cherry, but no true gauge of the public's opinion has been taken to this point.

Readers have four choices in this new poll: Should the Blenheim Bridge be Rebuilt?

Yes, exactly where it was

Yes, but as a replica elsewhere

No, the cost and risk is too great

Undecided

The poll is located on the right hand sidebar of the website. 

Blenheim Unaminously Approves Abatements, Fracking Law

With everyone in attendance voicing support for the controversial idea, members of the Blenheim Town Board voted unanimously in favor of two local laws Monday evening that pertain to tax abatements. The laws are the brainchild of Town of Schoharie Supervisor Gene Milone, and have seen momentum spread across the Valley in recent weeks. 

Blenheim's version offers assessment exemptions to first time home buyers, and reconstruction efforts up to 50% of the house's value for five years, with the abatements being phased out in 10% annual increments. Both were specifically recommended by Real Property Tax Services. 

In other action, Blenheim board members voted - again without public, or political opposition - in of another proposed local law that would ban hydrofracking in their small community. The Town will formally pass the law next month, after receiving a referral from the County Planning Commission.

Blenheim to Host Community Breakfast February 22

The Town of Blenheim will be hosting a free community breakfast at the Blenheim Town Hall on Saturday, February 22 from 9:00 AM to 11:45 AM. The breakfast menu includes: pancakes, french toast, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and toast.

All are welcome to attend.

Blenheim Bridge Dispute Re-Ignites at County Board Meeting

Following recent sparring between Blenheim residents and Treasurer Bill Cherry over the county's efforts to rebuild or replace the Blenheim Covered Bridge that was reported by local media in December, both sides escalated their feud into a public argument Friday morning at the County Board of Supervisors January meeting. 

Gail Shaffer, who previously served as New York Secretary of State under former Governor Mario Cuomo and is currently a member of the Blenheim Long Term Recovery Committee, questioned Mr. Cherry's role in the process as Flood Recovery Coordinator by accusing him of bias against the small town. She would later also claim that FEMA has rebuilt every other covered bridge in the region, except for Blenheim's.

Mr. Cherry, clearly exasperated by Ms. Shaffer's comments, defended his actions with respect to the Blenheim Covered Bridge but in the heat of argument offered that if, "someone else wants to handle the bridge project, go ahead." He would go on to explain that the federal agency's decision was weighed solely on the fact that Blenheim's bridge did not cross the length of the creek nor was it used for travel, while the others were. 

After taking time to let the argument settle, Mr. Cherry would later present word to the assembled supervisors that FEMA has agreed to pay for the Blenheim project's architectural and engineering design costs. That approval allows Schoharie County to draw up reconstruction blueprints of the bridge and for Mr. Cherry to submit them to the necessary regulatory agencies, which would have been impossible beforehand.

Although good news was reported at Friday's board meeting concerning the Blenheim Bridge project, strife and mistrust still exist between Schoharie County's smallest town and the county's flood recovery coordinator, a situation that continues to complicate progress made toward restoring or restructuring the valley community's most cherished possession. 

NYPA to Host Third Annual Mine Kill Snow Festival Saturday, February 1st

The third annual Mine Kill State Park Snow Festival will be held next Saturday, February 1st from 10 am to 4 pm at the New York Power Authority Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center located on 1378 Route 30, North Blenheim, New York.

There will be host of activities ranging from silent auctions and chili contests to oxen hayrides and much more. For more information contact the Mine Kill Park Office at 518-827-8690 or the NYPA Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center at 1-800-0309

Town of Blenheim Public Notices (January, 2014)

The following public notices have been submitted by the Town of Blenheim for public disbursement:

 

Notice of Public Hearing: Please take notice that a public hearing regarding the Town of Blenheim Local Law Enacting a Property Tax Exemption for certain alterations, or improvements to real property will be held during the regular monthly Town Board meeting, February 3, 2014 at 7 p.m. at the Blenheim Town Hall located at 1748 State Route 30, North Blenheim, NY 12131.

 

Notice of Public Hearing: Please take notice that a public hearing regarding the Town of Blenheim Local Law to effect a Prohibition Within the Town of Blenheim of Natural Gas and Petroleum Exploration and Extraction Activities, Underground Storage of Natural Gas and Disposal of Natural Gas or Petroleum Extraction, Exploration, and Production Wastes will be held during the regular monthly Town Board meeting, February 3, 2014 at 7 p.m. at the Blenheim Town Hall located at 1748 State Route 30, North Blenheim, NY 12131.

 

Notice of Public Hearing: Please take notice that a public hearing regarding the Town of Blenheim Local Law Enacting a First Time Homebuyer Town Property Tax Exemption will be held during the regular monthly Town Board Meeting, February 3, 2014 at 7 p.m. at the Blenheim Town Hall located at 1748 State Route 30, North Blenheim, NY 12131.