Community

On Memorial Day weekend, the Catskill Mountains come back to life as the Delaware & Ulster Railroad cars chug out of the station once again for a season of fun and adventure.
Whether you're a mountain regular or a first time visitor, you haven't truly experienced authentic mountain life until you and your family enjoy a ride on the rails. One hundred years ago, the old "Up and Down" was a vibrant network, connecting farm families with commerce, news and the outside world. Every summer, the train would be bursting with city tourists, eager to take in that cool mountain air.

Margaretville – The wait is almost over for non-motorized boating enthusiasts who’ve long yearned to dip their oars and paddles into the waters of New York City’s huge reservoirs in the Catskills.
On Friday, May 25, the start of Memorial Day Weekend, the ‘OPEN’ sign will be hung at the Pepacton, Schoharie, and Neversink reservoirs for the first time. The Cannonsville Reservoir, which has been available to canoes, kayaks, row boats and small sailboats for the past three years, will once again welcome boaters as well.

By John Bernhardt
There’s not much Brittany Keator can’t do on the softball diamond. All season long the Roxbury senior has carried her team with one stellar pitching performance after another. Thursday in the Delaware League crossover championship game at Neahwa Park in Oneonta, she spoke with her bat as well as her arm, leading the Rockets to a 10-3 title win over Margaretville.

North Blenheim —The New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) lower reservoir is open to gasoline-powered engines and sailboats, removing the temporary restrictions against the use of these craft, which have been in place since the reservoirs opened for the boating season in late March.
While gasoline-powered boats and sailboats will now be permitted to access the lower reservoir, the southern end of the reservoir, which is clearly marked with a buoy line, will remain off-limits to all watercraft.

Arkville — Advanced databases and search engines containing thorough information on funding sources are now available for public use in Arkville. The Erpf Center is a new location for a satellite facility of the Foundation Center—the foremost resource for comprehensive information on grant funding.

By Joe Moskowitz
Would you like to buy a used reservoir, millions of gallons of water per mile? Even if you did want to buy one, New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) isn’t about to sell any of its reservoirs, or sewage treatment plants. No one ever buys or sells these so-called special properties and that has created a very expensive problem for the City of New York and the municipalities within its Watershed. It is difficult to place a value on something than can never be bought or sold. The City claims it is paying too much in property taxes on its reservoirs. Meanwhile the Watershed towns say the City’s annual assessment challenges are driving them broke. Tim Cox, attorney for the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) told the Andes Town Board at its monthly meeting last week that the assessment challenges have wiped out a $3 million defense fund that had been set up by the Coalition of Watershed Towns.

Gilboa — Clarence Putman, a member of the Friends of Mine Kill and Max V. Shaul state parks, the Long Path Hiking Club, and former DEC Forester, will lead a hike to an eagles’ nest adjacent to the lower Blenheim-Gilboa reservoir at Mine Kill State Park on Saturday, May 19.

By Pauline Liu
According to U.S. Postal Service, several local post offices will see their hours slashed by half over the next couple of years as a way to cut costs, but still “keep the nation’s smallest post offices open for business.”  About 13,000 rural post offices will be effected. However, when the Postal Service made that announcement last Wednesday, very little if anything was said about the fate of the postmasters and clerks, whose services have helped to make their post offices important hubs for the community.

Delhi — Town of Middletown Justice Gary Rosa will speak outside the Delaware County Courthouse on Saturday, May 26 at 1 p.m., inaugurating his campaign for Delaware County Judge. Rosa, of New Kingston, is the endorsed candidate of the Delaware County Democratic Committee.
Judge Rosa will address “The American Justice System from a Small Town Perspective.” His remarks will touch on the challenges of judging in close-knit rural communities, those of Delaware County specifically.

Delhi — Join the Delaware County Historical Association (DCHA) on Friday afternoon, May 25 for the opening of the latest exhibit in the Elijah Thomas Gallery with a wine and cheese reception.