Community

Margaretville — A Hurricane Irene Remembrance and Community Picnic will be held at Margaretville Central School on Thursday, Aug. 30 starting at 5 p.m.

The free event gets underway with a picnic on the school grounds. Refreshments will include hot dogs, soft drinks along with an ice cream social complete with all the fixings, donated by Stewart Shops.

Dollar General also made a generous donation to the event, providing rolls and condiments among other items.

The theme of the night will be “Remembrance, Recovery Outreach and Information.”

Highmount — Saturday at the Belleayre Music Festival, the Catskill Park Resource Foundation (CPR) announced the winning slogan of “Capture the Catskills” contest and the winner of the $1,500 grand prize.  And the winner is: “The Catskills, Always in Season.” 

By Brian Sweeney
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but for a Margaretville couple there is such a thing as a free roof. Even though they didn’t order one.

Surprise was an understatement for Jane and Steve Miller when a contractor from out of the area recently called them to explain that he had just finished putting a new roof on their camp at Perch Lake in the Town of Andes. Unfortunately, the Millers were not the owners who had ordered the roof — it was meant for a camp four doors away from their property.

Roxbury — Woodchuck Lodge, the summer home of celebrated naturalist John Burroughs, will be open for tours all three days of Labor Day Weekend.

The lodge, located at 1633 Burroughs Memorial Road will be open for free tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. September 1, 2 and 3. Follow signs from Route 30 to Hardscrabble Road, just north of the hamlet of Roxbury.

The 1862 farmhouse was built by Burroughs’ brother, Curtis on the east end of the family homestead farm. It was the summer home of the famed nature writer from 1910 to 1920.

Highmount — The Belleayre Music Festival season wraps up in hard-rocking style with “America’s No. 1 Tribute Show” The Music of Led Zeppelin - A Rock Symphony on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m.
Bridging the gulf between rock-n-roll and classical music, conductor/arranger Brent Havens takes the podium to present “The Music of Led Zeppelin,” a soaring, orchestral interpretation of some of rock’s most classic tunes.

By Brian Sweeney
The volunteers who operate Margaretville Hospital Auxiliary’s Thrift Shop will receive the Keene A. Roadman Citizenship Award at the auxiliary’s Harvest Moon Ball on October 20.

Nearly 30 volunteers help staff the Auxiliary Thrift Shop, located on Main Street, Margaretville. The shop, which offers clothing, house wares, books and other items, raises approximately $50,000 annually. The funds are earmarked each year for equipment purchases to benefit the hospital or its sister facility, Mountainside Residential Care Center.

Margaretville — The first-ever Central Catskills Great Outdoor Experience Festival kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday for a full weekend of recreational events and activities that will celebrate the natural assets and cultural history abundant in the Central Catskills of New York State. The festival is in Margaretville, in the village park behind Freshtown and on Main Street, and also on the trails, waterways, and roads throughout the Catskill Mountains.

Margaretville — The ninth annual Margaretville Cauliflower Festival will be held rain or shine on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the village park, Margaretville.

Space is still available for vendors, community organizations and artisans. Visit www.cauliflowerfestival.com to find forms, or call 586-3300 for information. Artists who prefer to be in the large tent must reserve their space with payment by August 25.

Lost to the flood

Margaretville — Members of the Margaretville Hospital Auxiliary were preparing for their annual fashion show last summer when Hurricane Irene struck the village.  Instead of putting on a fashion show, auxiliary volunteers and others worked in mud and mold to restore the Thrift Shop.
What wasn’t washed away with the muddy waters that enveloped the community and the thrift shop, was destroyed with mildew.  Hearts were very heavy with the total loss of the shop.  

This month will mark a year since the devastating flood caused by Hurricane Irene devoured whole communities in the Catskills, including the widespread destruction suffered in Fleischmanns, Arkville and Margaretville.