Community

By Brian Sweeney
The upstate community continues to support its downstate neighbors who were so hard-hit by Hurricane Sandy on October 29.

While memories are still vivid of the devastation caused in throughout the Catskill Region by Hurricane Irene in August 2011, area residents have been quick to provide assistance to the metropolitan region in this time of need.

Truckloads of help

By Geoff Samuels
Thursday night’s well attended Middletown Flood Commission meeting took place under the ominous threat of Hurricane “Sandy” bearing down on the Northeast by Monday night. Middletown Supervisor Marge Miller announced that 586-1115 had been established as an emergency number and that infor­mation could also be found under the “emergency tab” on the Middletown website (http://middletowndelaware countyny.org/). During the meeting it was further determined that in the event the storm were to hit, shelter could be found at; the Methodist Church and the Advent Chris­tian Church in Margaret­ville; the fire department in Ark­ville for the first 24 to 72 hours (then moving to Belleayre); and either the Fleisch­manns Community Church, or the Fleischmanns Fire De­partment.

Margaretville — The Open Eye Theater presents as one of their special events, Patricia Dell and Kent Brown in cabaret, “Listen to My Heart: Remembering Nancy La­Mott” with special guest artist, Mel Bellar. The performance is Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. The Open Eye Theater is located at 960 Main Street. Reservations are needed so please call 586-1660. General admission is $18 and seniors, $15. Please no credit cards.

By Trish Adams
In an October 24 meeting, the Delaware County Board of Supervisors introduced a local law that would allow the county to override the current 2 percent tax levy cap imposed on next year’s budget. The public will have a chance to comment on the measure at a hearing, Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 12:45 p.m. in the Charles Cook County Office Building in Delhi. 

Margaretville — The annual transition from theater arts to culinary arts and bargaining skills will take place at The Open Eye Theater, on Veteran’s Day, Sunday, Nov. 11, at noon, with tables laden with luscious homemade dining delights for all tastes, and live musical entertainment.

Fossils found at the Gilboa Dam in Gilboa, have been preserved and will be put on display at local institutions, the NYCS Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland has announced.
Two fossils of the earth’s oldest trees, dating back 380 million years ago that were discovered during the reconstruction of the Gilboa Dam have been loaned to the Time and the Valleys Museum in Grahamsville to be part of a permanent exhibit about the New York City watershed.

Fleischmanns — Agnes Freas is a Margaretville writer and artist. A reading and discussion of her book, A Walk To Freedom will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. at the Skene Memorial Library in Fleischmanns.

“A beautiful Sunday morning. The skies are blue and not too cold for a November day. Mother is in the kitchen preparing a breakfast....” Thus begins a harrowing tale of escape during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution of her family to America, abruptly leaving behind home and possessions, as told through the eyes of a 12-year-old girl.

Hungarian tale

The Blue Deer Center near Margaretville will be celebrating local musicians on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mike Herman will open the festival, followed by The Catskill Mountain Boys and the Tremperskill Boys for a day of local music, food, and fun for all ages.
The Blue Deer Center is proud to present this one-day music festival, featuring local talent from the Hudson Valley regional area.

By Jay Braman Jr.
People behind the Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park, slated to be built in the Highmount area, say that an important piece of information on the project should be made available to the public in a matter of weeks.

In an October 22 interview with First Tracks!!, an online ski magazine, project spearhead Dean Gitter said that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) which the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has been studying for a couple years, should soon be deemed complete by that agency and made available to the public for review.

By Jay Braman Jr.
If you’ve been there, you know them. They are the people who take care of business at the Margaretville Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop.

On Saturday night at the annual Harvest Moon Ball, held at Hanah Country Resort, the spectacular values offered at the shop were mentioned, but it was clear that the best deal of all was the one that these men and women give to the Thrift Shop in the form of their tireless efforts to run the operation.