Community

The Caribbean’s got nothing on the Catskills. At least, not if you ask Terry Cohen.
Cohen, 90, moved to St. Croix last October to live with her grandson, Jonab, and his wife, who were expecting a child. But four months later, she was back.
“Why did I come back from St. Croix?” she asks. “Because there’s so much to do here.”

An investigation into numerous timber theft claims in Schoharie and Delaware counties has resulted in multiple felony charges against a Schoharie County man, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Gene Kelly announced.

Delaware Opportunities announced that a donation of $8,246.20 was received from the Delaware National Bank of Delhi (DNB) to support the food bank network.
Bob Armstrong, president and CEO of the DNB said “We asked the employees and our board of directors if they were interested in raising funds to support charitable purposes for Delaware County. Our employees agreed to solicit donations and make contributions of their own and they also agreed that the donations would be provided to support the food bank network. The board of directors agreed to provide a three-for-one matching contribution.”

By Matthew J. Perry
In one sense, the anticipated natural gas rush is yet another discussion of water rights. Hyrdrofracking, a recent technological advance that has helped to make the Marcellus and other shale formations into viable targets of exploration, requires millions of gallons of potable water.

By Matthew J. Perry
Two members of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) appeared in Delhi on August 20 before the Delaware County Board of Supervisors to provide an overview of natural gas drilling and persuade those present that the DEC is ready to deal with a rush of speculation.
State Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, also in attendance, was active in the discussion that followed the DEC presentation, explaining positions of state lawmakers and fielding questions from supervisors who expressed both curiosity and skepticism concerning Albany’s oversight of local issues.

By Matthew J. Perry
Despite the fact that drilling for natural gas is months away, if not years, debate is now concentrating on whether New Yorkers can get their gas—assuming the Marcellus Shale is indeed filled with it—at a cost the land can sustain. Meanwhile, disturbing reports from the west, where shale plays have been underway for several years, have stoked fears of wells on tightly-spaced units and the creation of an industrial zone in the Catskills.

By Julia Green
Roxbury Planning Board Chairman Joe Farleigh said Wednesday he believes that things are “in pretty good shape at this point” in terms of the wind turbine application process during the town’s monthly planning board meeting, adding that he believes the public comments submitted during the SEQR process were “quite inclusive” and doesn’t suppose anything has been left out.
The comments received during the public hearing phase of the process in response to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) are still in the hands of LaBella Associates, the primary technical consultant being solicited by the planning board, as the planning board awaits feedback in order to proceed with the drafting of the Final Environmental Impact State-ment.

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will again allow bow hunting for deer on limited areas of the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project. One hundred permits, issued in a random lottery drawing, will be provided for use during the bow hunting season: October 18 through December 16.

The Slow Food Catskills convivium will be hosting a canning workshop on Sunday, Sept. 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Delaware County Historical Association grounds. Entitled “Putting It Up - Preserving the Harvest,” this workshop will educate people on how to preserve food grown from their gardens or from local farms so that it can be enjoyed during the winter months.

A free guided hike, led by members of Frost Valley YMCA’s Natural Resources Department, is planned for Saturday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. in Claryville. The Labor Day weekend venture is the first in a series of monthly hikes offered by Frost Valley. Staff will lead hikers on a moderate 2.5-mile hike that will feature a slight elevation gain. The outing will include stops at Frost Valley’s 40-foot waterfall and Sunrise Lookout, which features stunning views of Slide and Wildcat mountains.