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.

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.

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. 

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.

Open Mic/Jam Event to be Hosted Monthly in Stamford

STAMFORD, NY – After having two well-attended community forums to discuss uses for the building, Western Catskills Community Revitalization Council, Inc. (WCCRC) is pleased to announce that a long-standing community event has been booked at the Western Catskills Community Arts Center located at the carriage house at 76 Main Street in the Village of Stamford. 

 

The event, formerly known as Open Mic Jam! and held in the storefront of 76 Main Street , is moving up the hill to the carriage house theater at the same location.  The event will still be generously hosted by local musicians Kevin Prior and Mike Herman, but will have a new name - Live From the Carriage House – Open Mic / Jam.   

 

This popular event will continue to be held the first Friday of the month at 7:30 p.m.  Musicians are encouraged to sign up quickly, by contacting Mr. Prior at kpjamnights@yahoo.com.  The public is welcome to attend and enjoy some of the region’s best musicians as they show off their talent in the open mic format.  There is plenty of parking available on Main Street and in the Village parking lot across the street.

WCCRC will be holding an open house at the Western Catskills Community Arts Center on Saturday, August 9, from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.  Tours of the building will be available, as well as more information about renting the venue. 

Attend the open house and you will have a chance to win a pair of dinner tickets for the TP’s Cafe Block Party which will start at 5 p.m. on the same day.  The block party will spotlight:  MC/DJ Patrick Michael del Rosario, Logan's Express, featuring Jim Kopp, and the 20-piece Leather Stocking Jazz Band at 7:00 p.m.

WCCRC’s mission is to cooperate with local, state and federal governmental and civic bodies in aiding, assisting and fostering the planning, development, renewal, and improvement of housing and other buildings in the counties of Delaware, Schoharie and Greene, State of New York, for the primary purpose of revitalizing communities and in securing improved housing, commercial buildings and community facilities.

To learn more about WCCRC’s programs, call 607.652.2823 or visit www.westerncatskills.org.

Old Stone Fort to Host 'War of 1812' Lecturer

On Thursday,  July 24 at 7:00 PM,  the Schoharie County Historical Society presents the second program in its free Summer Lecture Series at the Old Stone Fort Museum complex.  John Osinski will discuss the role played by Schoharie County is the War of 1812, as part of the Bicentennial observance of that conflict.

War of 1812 is perhaps best remembered for the British attack on Fort McHenry, that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star Spangled Banner.”  Some may remember that the British burned Washington, D.C. or the victories of the tiny United States Navy over ships of the world-dominating Royal Navy.  But little is generally known of the land battles that occurred along New York’s border with Canada.

John Osinski is one of the founders of the recreated Kellogg’s Artillery, a reenactment group portraying a militia company from Cobleskill that fought in the St. Lawrence/Lake Champlain campaign of 1813.  He will describe this action and other stories of Schoharie County volunteers.  The museum holds several significant artifacts from the War of 1812, including three militia artillery sabers that probably belonged to members of Kellogg’s, a collection of Giles Kellogg’s papers and a drum used by the Schoharie Militia.

The free lecture is open to the public and will be held in the Badgley Museum Annex, just across the street from the Old Stone Fort itself.  The museum is located in the village of Schoharie at 145 Fort Road, off NY State Rt.30, 2.5 miles south of Interstate 88 Exit 23.   The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and from Noon to 5 on Sundays.  For information, contact the museum at (518) 295-7192 or on the internet at theOldStoneFort.org.

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.

Salt to Host Surf & Turf Dinner July 25, 2014

What’s better than chowing down on lobster, steak, shrimp, clams, baked potato and sweet corn? Supporting a good cause while chowing down on lobster, steak, shrimp, clams, baked potato and sweet corn. SALT is hosting one of it’s famed Surf & Turf Dinners on Friday, July 25. 

Come on down to the Middleburgh Reformed Church (178 River Street, Middleburgh) between 4:00pm - 7:00pm to enjoy the feast prepared by Chef Michael Vamvas. SALT welcomes you to dine-in with good company, warm smiles, and delicious food. Can’t stay long? Not a problem. Order the Surf & Turf trimmings to go!

Tickets are on sale now! Pre-sale tickets are only $30.00 through July 22. Regular ticket price is $35.00. http://www.saltrecovery.org/lobster

Check out photos of our last Surf & Turf Dinner! http://www.saltrecovery.org/past-events/

Carving Lacrosse Sticks 7/26 at Iroquois Museum

HOWES CAVE, NY -- Alf Jacques and Parker Booth will be at the Iroquois Indian Museum on Saturday, July 26, sharing the art of carving lacrosse sticks -- a “Catch the Basket” museum mentoring program.

Taught by his grandfather and father, Jacques (Onondaga) has carved lacrosse sticks and snow snakes for almost 40 years. Jacques, a retired machinist, is one of the very few Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) who maintain a mastery of the art form. Jacques has been both a lacrosse player and coach; and brings knowledge of the wood and of the game to his hand-crafted sticks. Commissioned to create sticks for the International World Cup Lacrosse games, he feels that an appreciation for his craft ends with the players, and does not extend to other members of his community. “I think here, it’s not out of the ordinary, it’s something we just take for granted. There is a misconception that it’s always been here, it always will be,“ says Jacques. Jacques has served as a demonstrating artist at Ganondagan Historic Site (Victor, NY), Otsiningo Powwow, and Saint Marie, among the Iroquois (Syracuse, NY), the Utica Children’s Museum and schools throughout the region.

Until recently, Jacques had no apprentice to whom to pass on his knowledge until Parker Booth. The lengthy time commitment and physical demands of the craft discouraged most members of his community. Even as a young boy admired Jacques’ work and knew he would one day learn the craft. In 2012 at age 33, Booth moved back to the reservation with his family and made the decision to work closely with Jacques. His deep cultural dedication to traditions will ensure the crafts’ continuation for another generation.

Catch the Basket and all events at the Museum are free with paid admission. The Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 12 Noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed Monday. Regular admission is $8 for adults, $6.50 for seniors/students and $5 for children ages 5-12. Children under five are free when accompanied by an adult. Special group rates are available by calling the Museum at 518-296-8949.

For more information, visit www.iroquoismuseum.org.

The Smithy's Third Annual Fundraiser Set for July 31

Cooperstown, NY - For the third year, The Smithy will be hosting their Annual Fundraiser featuring a live auction with Don Raddatz and Mike Stein as the auctioneers. This year the event will also include a silent auction, raffles, heavy horderves, and dessert and the company of those in the local arts community. Live music will be provided by The Dharma Bums, while local magician The Amazing Great returns to mystify attendees after a highly successful solo performance. Additionally, attendees receive a free, beautifully handcrafted ceramic vase with admission. Several of the exciting auction items from the past will be returning such as the chance to bid on a ski house in Tahoe, art from the gallery’s Member Artists and a tour at The Baseball Hall of Fame. There will also be some intriguing new items such as a water skiing / tubing adventure on Otsego Lake with a packed lunch from Black Cat Café, donations from the Cooperstown Distillery and several generous gift certificates to your favorite local restaurants, as well as a Thai dinner and cocktail party. Silent Auction Items will be on display at the Smithy from July 24 to July 30 with pre-bidding as an option. 

The event will run from 5:30 t0 9:00pm with the live auction taking place from 7:15 to 8:15pm. Tickets are $55 for adults, $100 for couples and $35 for children over 12 years of age. Join your community for a night to support the arts that will help the Smithy to bring new exhibits, workshops, concerts and performances to Cooperstown. It will be a great event where all donations will be used to keep The Smithy a central place for local entertainment and arts education.

The newly affiliated Smithy and Cooperstown Arts Association offers many opportunities to become involved with the arts, such as exhibits, classes, writers’ circles, concerts, performing arts and much more. The Smithy Gallery is free and open to the public Tuesday to Saturday from 10 - 5pm, Sunday from 12 - 5pm, closed on Monday. The Clay Studio offers classes and workshops with experienced instructors. We are located on 55 Pioneer Street, just past Cooley's Tavern. For more information on what is offered, call (607) 547-8671 or visit our website at www.smithyarts.org.

Huntersland Hosting Community Garage Sale Today

Middleburgh's northernmost Hamlet of Huntersland will be hosting its twenty-first annual community wide garage sale today, Saturday July 12th, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. in addition to a vendor craft show and bake sale. Festivities will be held rain or shine.

Garage sale aficionados and residents alike are encouraged to visit the Huntersland Fire Department, where treasure maps will be available of local sales. They can later return in the day for burgers and hot dogs at lunchtime, while entering for their chance of winning the 50/50 raffle cash prize.

The nearby Hamlet of Gallupville will also be holding its own community day and garage sales today, with their events also being centralized at the local firehouse. At the southern end of the county Jefferson will be abuzz with activity as residents celebrate their township's annual Heritage Day.

Stamford Awarded Housing Rehab Grant

STAMFORD, NY – The Town of Stamford is pleased to announce that the Office of Community Renewal has awarded the Town CDBG funds for an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program. The program pays to rehabilitate homes owned by residents at or below 80% of the Delaware County median income which is: for a household of 1, $32,200; 2 people $36,800, 3 people, $41,400, 4 people, $46,000. The Town has elected to give the elderly and disabled at or below 50% county median income preference. The program will be administered by Western Catskills Community Revitalization Council, Inc. (WCCRC), which is a 501(c) 3 not for profit Rural Preservation Company headquartered in Stamford, NY. 

 

Meetings will be held for homeowners interested in applying on Monday, July 21^st at 10:30 AM and again at 6:30 PM at the Town Hall, on 101 Maple Avenue, Hobart, NY. Fact sheets and applications will be available at those meetings.  The Town of Stamford is an Equal Employment Opportunity to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap and they encourage the participation of minority and women-owned businesses. 

 

Velga Kundzins, WCCRC Executive Director says “We’ve run very successful CDBG programs in Fulton, Summit, Gilboa, and Jefferson and look forward to working with the Stamford community on this one.  We hope that all eligible residents will attend one of these meetings.”

 

WCCRC and the Town of Stamford do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability).

 

For more information on this program, please call Program Manager Sheleigah Grube at 607.652.2823 or visit www.westerncatskills.org.

Online Farmers Market Adds More Sites in Schoharie County

Cobleskill NY – (July 9, 2014)- Since 2011, Schoharie Fresh has served Schoharie County as an online farmers’ market through which over 30 area producers offer a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods and specialty items. Over two thousand residents have registered as customers on the market’s website, www.schohariefresh.com, and product sales have increased dramatically each year since its launch. 

Developed with grant funding from the NYS Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Places initiative, Schoharie Fresh has operated on SUNY Cobleskill’s campus since 2012 and is currently staffed by the college’s students. Each week, customers place orders through the site by midnight, Wednesday and pick up their orders at the campus market location (Hodder Garage, located directly off of Route 7 on the farm-side of campus) on Fridays between 3:30 and 5:30. 

Recently, faculty and staff at SUNY Cobleskill were awarded funds from The United Way of the Greater Capital Region to expand Schoharie Fresh and to enhance the market’s convenience for county residents. Specifically, grant dollars will be used to establish two new customer pick-up sites—one at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Central Bridge and the other at Schoharie United Presbyterian Church in Schoharie. Customers from outside of the immediate Cobleskill vicinity will now be able to realize the benefits and convenience of the online farmers’ market with the availability of pick-up sites closer to their homes. It is anticipated that the two new pick-up sites will be up-and-running by the end of July, 2014. 

Schoharie Fresh coordinators will also use a portion of the United Way award dollars to develop and offer “Better Food, Better Budgets” workshops starting in May, 2015 that will be open to the general public and focused on achieving healthy family food budgets using nutritious local ingredients available through Schoharie Fresh. The College will partner with the Schoharie County Community Action Program (SCCAP) to offer these workshops. 

For more information about Schoharie Fresh and the launch of its new pick-up points in the county, contact Maureen Blanchard at blanchma@cobleskill.edu or Jason Evans at evansjr@cobleskill.edu

5th Annual Summer Festival at Mine Kill State Park

Join park patrons from throughout New York State for a day of fun in the sun at Mine Kill State Park! The park is hosting its 5th annual Summer Festival on Saturday, July 19, 2014 from 10AM to 4PM at the Mine Kill pool complex.  This year’s activity lineup will feature amazing presenters, summertime games, environmental education programs and so much more! Admission to Summer Festival is just $3 for the vehicle entrance fee to the park.  

Summer Fest 2014 will boast dozens of activities and presenters for the entire family.  Volunteers can sign up for a tremendous opportunity to experience life as a New York State Forest Ranger when DEC Ranger Bill Henry conducts a Mock Search and Rescue (SAR) Operation at the park! Explore the Incident Command Post used by the DEC during a real SAR and learn the procedures to successfully find a lost hiker.  Take a walk inside the Mine Kill Nature Tent to learn all about invasive species that may be in your own backyard with the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP).  Learn more about the life and times of famous local naturalist, John Burroughs, with Diane Galusha from the Woodchuck Lodge.  Then enjoy a guided eagle hike with a park ranger along Mine Kill’s 8 miles of hiking trails including the nationally recognized Long Path.  Don’t forget to check out the brand new, permanent disc golf course at the park located just outside the pool complex.  Park staff will conduct a ribbon cutting and unveil the new 18-hole course the morning of Summer Fest.  Also, the entire family will love watching Ziggy and Razz the miniature horses perform unbelievable tricks.  

Kids will have an opportunity to jump in the Bounce House or take a shot at “The Flusher” for some prizes. 

There will also be plenty of arts and crafts, face painting, pie throwing and the 2nd annual Summer Fest Regatta across the Mine Kill pool.  Have you ever been geocaching? Meet Greg, a geocache expert, and learn all about this modern day treasure hunt using GPS units. Then participate in the amazingly popular 2014 Saratoga Region Geocache Challenge for a chance to win some incredible gear.    There will also be a kayak rescue demonstration performed by American Canoe Association certified instructors.  Kayak courses are now being offered on the Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir on many occasions throughout the summer.  Check out the Mine Kill Facebook page for upcoming course dates and times.    

The Mine Kill State Park Summer Festival is proud to have several sponsors supporting this year’s event, including Stewart’s Shops which will be providing four different flavors of ice cream for free sundaes!!! Thank you Stewart’s! Creekside Sports of Schoharie, NY will be hosting a fantastic fly-tying workshop, so get ready to test your skills at fly-casting on the Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir or Mine Kill Creek.  Bring your own rod and reel or borrow one from the park to sample a new lure at the park (valid NY State Fishing License required for everyone 16 and older).  

Great music will be provided throughout the day courtesy of Mr. Music DJ Services of Middleburgh.  Of course, take advantage of Mine Kill’s Olympic-size pool and dive tank to beat the heat in between Summer Fest activities.  Enjoy a sandwich, salad or other refreshments at the pool’s concessionaire.  Entrance fees for Summer Festival are just $3 per vehicle.  To jump in one of the three in-ground pools, the cost is only $2 for adults (13+) and $1 for seniors (62+) and children 6 to 12.  Kids 5 and under swim for free!      

Also before, during and after Mine Kill’s Summer Festival, don’t forget to stop by the Environmental Education Nature Tent located inside the pool complex.  The Nature Tent is geared toward kids of all ages and adults and will feature a different environmental theme each week in July, Tuesday through Friday, 11AM-3PM.  Beginning on July 8th-11th, learn all about many of the local inhabitants of the forest like the black bear, bald eagle, bats, bobcats and much more during Wildlife Week.    Beetle Buster week is from July 15th-18th and is sponsored by CRISP with lots of information about “unwanted guests” that may be in your own backyard.  Join Schoharie Area Wild and other presenters during Healthy Living Week from July 22nd-25th and finish up the Nature Tent series from July 29th-August 1st with Earth Week at the Mine Kill tent.  Please call the Mine Kill park office at (518) 827-8690 for more information about the 2014 Nature Tent.    

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 nationally designated 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.  

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 and receive discounts at a variety of local tourist attractions and businesses.  

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 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.

Gallupville to Host 4th Annual Community Day

The Gallupville Fire Department will be holding their Fourth Annual Community Day on this upcoming Saturday, July 12th. Festivities will be kicked off by the Bill Fagan 5K Memorial Run, which registration will open for at 7 a.m., with the race itself beginning at 8 a.m. 

Additionally, there will be a pancake breakfast (by donation) available from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m., followed by bed races starting at 11, and a car show gearing up at noon. Registration will be open for the show all morning and it will run through 4 p.m. that afternoon, with ice cream being awarded to all participants. 

There will be kids games and events for the entire family at the firehouse, and the department is encouraging residents in the hamlet to set up their own yard sales in addition to hosting vendors on the fire department's lawn to sell their goods free of charge. Residents with any questions should call 518-657-9569.

To cap the afternoon off, a chicken barbecue (provided by BBQ Delights) will be cooking from 1 p.m. until they are all sold out. Patrons can purchase a full dinner for $10.00 or pay $6.00 for half.

Iroquois Museum to Host Oneida Dancers July 12

Howes Cave, N.Y. -- The Iroquois Indian Museum will have a Social Dance Saturday on July 12 at the Museum featuring Onota’a:ka (Oneida Nation Dancers), based in the central New York Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) community of Oneida.

Founded by Elder and Wolf Clan Mother Maisie Shenandoah for the purpose of cultural education, the troupe’s original purpose continues to be carried forth by daughter Vicki, granddaughter Tawn:tene (Cindy Schenandoah Stanford) and an extended family with common goals.  For the Schenandoahs, dance is not a separate expression of heritage and thanksgiving, but one that is thoroughly integrated into daily life. Onota’a:ka selects a repertoire that is enjoyable for the crowd and encourages participation. 

Social Dance Saturday and all events at the Museum are free with paid admission. The Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 12 Noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed Monday. Regular admission is $8 for adults, $6.50 for seniors/students and $5 for children ages 5-12. Children under five are free when accompanied by an adult. Special group rates are available by calling the Museum at 518-296-8949. 

For more information, visit www.iroquoismuseum.org.

June 2014 Fourth Friday Pictures

While graduates of Middleburgh Central School received their diplomas Friday evening, hundreds of residents and visitors packed Main Street to enjoy the community's June Fourth Friday, where building upon May's success, there was plenty to do and see the entire beautiful summer night. 

Middleburgh resident Sheila Donegan was enjoying the festivities Friday and forwarded several pictures of the event for our viewing pleasure. Fourth Fridays is the brainchild of the Middleburgh Area Business Association, and it has thrived under the direction of Jamie Casterlin. 

Without further ado, Ms. Donegan's selected photographs from June's Fourth Friday:

Charles Peterson showing off snakes outside
the reopened Fish Tales & Fur pet store

The Middleburgh Library had chalk and
bubbles ready for younger passersby.  

Sheryl Adams watches as youngsters
compete in a hula hoop contest