Community

Twenty-two artists are opening their studios to the public in the Andes, Arkville, Margaretville, New Kingston, Roxbury Open Studios 2012 Tour, Saturday and Sunday, July 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free, reservations are not required and all are invited!
The studios belong to sculptors, painters, printmakers, potters, a hooked rug designer, mosaic artist, weaver, contemporary quilt designer, woodworker, and designer/maker of contemporary leather outerwear.

Art only

By Jay Braman Jr.
As local highway departments continue to work on repairing the damage left by last years flooding, and try to find ways to pay for it, there is at least one annual expense that is expected to be less in 2012, thanks to Mother Nature deciding not to blanket the Catskill with much snow last winter.
In Shandaken, the sand piles are still high from the fall of 2011, when Highway Superintendent Eric Hofmeister stocked up following the horrendous amount of snowfall the winter before.

Highmount — Multi-platinum country music star Josh Turner brings his top-notch live show to the Belleayre Music Festival on Saturday, July 14 at 8 p.m.

Since his 2003 debut, Josh has have sold over five million albums and been nominated for two Grammy awards as well as numerous award nominations from the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, Country Music Television and the American Country Awards. Josh¹s latest chart-topper is “Time is Love,” the first single from his new album, “Punching Bag.”

Arkville — The Catskill Center’s 43rd annual meeting will feature a discussion on the “State of the Catskills.” The flood recovery, hydrofracking, Belleayre Ski Center, and the forest preserve are issues that will be addressed by noteworthy speakers whose unique insights promise to inform. The annual meeting will be held on Saturday, July 21, at 10:30 a.m. at the Erpf Center in Arkville. The meeting is open to the public and anyone interested is encouraged to attend.

By Brian Sweeney
Staff and volunteers at Mountainside Residential Care Center in Margaretville were recently at for their dedication to the facility.

Mountainside hosted its annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on June 21. The event serves an opportunity to thank community members who give time assisting at the long-term care residence.
As part of the festivities, a special Certificate of Appreciation was presented to “Rain,” on behalf of her dog Schnoz, a nationally certified pet therapy dog that has been a frequent visitor at Mountainside for several years.

By Brian Sweeney
The Margaretville Fire Department will celebrate its 125 anniversary with a series commemorative events, including a parade along Margaretville’s Main Street on Saturday, July 7 starting at 11 a.m.
The parade will feature more than 30 fire deparments, numerous floats and many other participants. A truck and apparatus display will be held from noon-4 p.m. after Saturday’s parade.

By Brian Sweeney
Julian Schreibman easily won the June 26 Democratic Primary and will challenge Congressman Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook) in November’s race in the 19th Congressional District.

Mr. Schreibman was facing Joel Tyner in the Democratic Primary and collected nearly 60 percent of the vote.

Mr. Schreibman, 39, resides in Stone Ridge. He is attorney and formerly served as chairman of the Ulster County Democratic Party. His law career includes a period of work for the CIA.

Highmount — ­ Rock Hall of Fame nominees The Spinners will roll out their repertoire of timeless songs to get the Belleayre Music Festival’s 21st season off to a hit-filled start on Saturday, July 7 at 8 p.m.

Roxbury — Celebrate naturalist John Burroughs’ 175th birthday with a visit to Woodchuck Lodge on July 7 or 8.

The Lodge, located at 1633 Burroughs Memorial Road, will be open for free tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Follow signs from NYS Route 30 to Hardscrabble Rd., just north of the hamlet of Roxbury.

Margaretville – Thirteen photographs by Arkville artist David Leveson are now on view at the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC), 905 Main St., in Margaretville.

Visitors are welcome to view the exhibit in the boardroom weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through August 31. All of the photographs are matted and framed, and are available for purchase.