Margaretville

By Brian Sweeney
Bill Stanton, who is completing his 10th year as Margaretville’s mayor, will not be seeking another term in office.

Mayor Stanton told News this week that he feels that a decade in the village’s top post is enough.
“I’m just doing the best I can, but I’ve had enough,” he stated. “It’s time for somebody else to take over.”

Margaretville — The New York Council for the Humanities has joined forces with The Open Eye Theater in Margaretville, to offer “Growing and Aging,” a monthly reading and discussion series that runs from February 26 to June 11.

Pre-registration is Tuesday, Feb. 5 from 7 to 8 p.m. at The Open Eye Theater.
“With its thematic focus, this reading and discussion program offers an unusual twist on the standard book group format by making time for thinking deeply about one idea, over time, from a variety of perspectives,” says Sara Ogger, executive director of the council.

In partnership with the Community Pantry, the Fairview Public Library has announced Food for Fines February to run throughout the month.

From February 1-28, library patrons are encouraged to bring undamaged and unexpired boxed or canned non-perishable food items to the library. Each single food item will be applied as a $1 credit toward the reduction of existing overdue fines.

The Community Pantry, located on Route 28, Arkville, serves about 130 families in the Town of Middletown.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Dales Hughes, a former Margaretville attorney, faces up to one year in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling over $220,000 from an Ulster County volunteer fire company.
On Wednesday, Jan. 16, Hughes made a plea of guilty to a charge of second-degree grand larceny. The tentative plea agreement, reached with the Ulster County District Attorney, allows Hughes to serve up to one year in jail and avoid a tougher sentence. His alleged crime could bring a sentence of between five and 15 years in prison without a plea bargain.

By Geoff Samuels
A vote to change the wording in an amendment to section 3.07 of the sewer-use law took place at the Margaretville Village Board Meeting last Thursday night.

By John Bernhardt
The Margaretville Blue Devils knew Roscoe guards Rob Taurino and Marc Rosario could wheel and deal in the open court. Taurino and Rosario had teamed with the five Blue Devil starters as part of a Margaretville AAU team last spring.

The Blue Devils reveled then when Taurino went on a “crazy” scoring run or Rosario pulled a rebound off the defensive boards and went coast to coast for a lay-up. But, Saturday in Downsville, the Blue Devils found themselves plotting to find a way to slow down Roscoe’s offensive duo.

Roscoe in front

By Joe Moskowitz
It happened in the quiet, safe community of Newtown, Connecticut, and now schools across the country are re-examining their safety plans just in case someone in their community is considering the unthinkable.

Margaretville Central School District Superintendent Tony Alabanese says, “In one blink of an eye all that is common that you believe in, becomes uncommon.”

By John Bernhardt
The Margaretville Blue Devils found themselves at the top of the Delaware League’s Upper Division Friday night after a 48-42 win on the road in Stamford.

The win concluded a harrowing week of basketball that saw the Blue Devils survive a scare with an overtime win in Davenport and then come from behind in the second half to down Stamford.

By Brian Sweeney
The Auxiliary of Margaretville Hospital and Mountainside Residential Care Center is seeking a few good men and women to help strengthen the organization’s outstanding volunteer efforts.
For nearly half-a-century, auxiliary volunteers have worked as fund-raisers on behalf of the hospital. The group’s efforts have also benefitted the hospital’s sister facility, Mountainside Residential Care Center, which was established in 1994.

By Geoff Samuels
At the Margaretville Central School Board of Education meeting on December 19, a handful of parents expressed their anxiety over their children’s safety at school in light of the recent shootings in Newtown, CT.

Faith Wayman of Arkville, the first parent at to speak, wanted to know what the current safety guidelines were at the school and if there were any “emergency plans in place.”