Arkville

By Brian Sweeney
Wood-fired pizza is the latest innovation at Oakley’s Place on Route 28, Arkville.
Owners Corine and Gerard DeBari purchased the business from John McDaniel nearly seven years ago and have been slowly shifting the focus of the business from that of a bar to more of a restaurant.
The DeBaris both enjoy the unique flavor of wood-fired pizza and since no one else in the immediate area was offering this type of food preparation, they decided to add wood-fired pizza to their menu options.

By Matthew J. Perry
At a Nov. 13 public hearing on the proposed Catskill Recreation Center in Arkville, local residents viewed preliminary drawings, asked questions and politely voiced their concerns.
In turn, they were informed politely that the project’s financing, scope and lifetime are nowhere near finalization, and that it will be months before they even know if the pool will function only in warm weather or year-round.

Staff report
A second public informational meeting to review changes to a proposed upgrade plan for the Arkville Water District is set for Monday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Middletown Town Hall.
Based on input received at the initial public meeting on October 16, the loan portion of the project has been reduced by $128,000. This amount was originally projected to be $875,175 and is now estimated to be $747,175.

By Julia Green
Historic or not historic – that’s the question blocking reconstruction of a bridge that spans the Dry Brook stream on George Road near Arkville.
The bridge, which provides access to a residence owned by Joe and Cathy Milnikiewicz, has been deemed an unsafe structure and as such has been closed for the past three years.
Until the mid-1960s, the bridge at the current location was a covered bridge. In 1964 or 1965, the covered bridge was removed and the current bridge was put in its place. The current bridge was relocated from another site, having been constructed in 1907.

Arkville — The Central Catskills Collaborative is getting down to business at its upcoming meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13 being held at 3 p.m. at the Middletown Town Hall.  This hands-on session, facilitated by The Catskill Center for Conservation and Devel-opment, will combine the serious business of community revitalization with serious fun: bowling. 
“Integrating a little recreation with our planning work fosters camaraderie and promotes a local business.  People living along the 50-mile project area will have an opportunity to see one of many businesses that makes Margaretville a success story,” said Lisa Rainwater, The Catskill Center’s executive director.

By Brian Sweeney
A public hearing on the proposed Catskill Recreation Center in Arkville will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Middletown Town Hall on Route 28, Margaretville.
Arkville resident Kingdon Gould Jr. presented drawings for the Community Recreation Center to the planning board at its October meeting.

By Julia Green
Tuesday will mark a momentous day in United States history.
It’s also a momentous day in the personal history of Margaretville resident Gaudys Sanford. The Venezuelan-born Sanford, 37, will be voting in her first election since becoming a U.S. citizen in February of 2007.

Arkville — Three scientists, known around the world for their work on global water issues, have agreed to serve on the Technical Advisory Committee of the Water Discovery Center (WDC.)
Dr. David Seckler, an economist specializing in water resources with Winrock Water will chair the committee, according to WDC President, Gary Gailes. Dr. Jack Keller, a leading engineer in the field of irrigated agricultural development at Keller Bliesner Engineering and Dr. Roberto Lenton, a senior advisor at the Earth Institute at Columbia University, will join the committee and begin work immediately.

By Julia Green
Despite letters being sent to all property owners within the Arkville Water District inviting them to attend a special meeting of the Middletown Town Board regarding proposed upgrades to the water system, the turnout at Thursday’s meeting was less than spectacular.
Fewer than 15 property owners attended the meeting, at which representatives from the New York State Department of Health, Lamont Engineers and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) were on hand to discuss various aspects of the project.

The 75th anniversary of the New Deal and its impact on the Catskills is celebrated in a new book whose author will speak at upcoming events in Fleischmanns and Arkville. Diane Galusha, author of Another Day, Another Dollar: The Civilian Conservation Corps in the Catskills, will provide an illustrated talk Saturday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. at Skene Memorial Library, Main St., Fleischmanns, and Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development in Arkville. The Catskill Center talk is preceded by a book signing at 1 p.m.