Margaretville

For 100 years or more, dozens of enormous maple trees towered over Margaretville’s sidewalks, dappling them in shade. Unfortunately, in order to make room for sewer and water lines, they were all cut down in the fall of 2000. But those grand old trees, it turns out, were neither lost nor forgotten. And we have Gary Mead, a master wood craftsman, to thank for that.

By Julia Green
Despite some confusion that initially indicated that the Greater Margaretville Cham-ber of Commerce would be holding meetings to discuss a proposed name change, the chamber officially adopted its new name – the Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce last week, following discussions with an attorney.
The decision to change the name was approved by a majority of the members voting. A total of 41 votes were submitted, with 34 of those falling into the “yes” column. The chamber currently has 124 members.

By John Bernhardt
Area high school soccer teams had a busy week between tournament play and league matches.
Mayor’s Cup Results
South Kortright 1, Laurens 0
Two local soccer powers squared off Saturday night in the championship round of the Stamford Mayor’s Cup. Laurens, unbeaten and perennial contenders in the Tri-Valley League locked horns with the Delaware League’s unbeaten Rams from South Kortright.

After months of work, committee meetings and community input, the Comprehensive Land Use and Action Plan is ready for public review before being submitted to the Margaretville Village Board for approval.
The Comprehensive Plan Committee, working with Ann Ruzow Holland, community plan advisor, and Delaware County Senior Planner Kent Manuel, has completed its outline, consisting of five chapters starting with a brief history of Margaretville. The plan then goes on to talk about the village’s economy and community amenities, land use and natural resources, transportation and public facilities, and next steps.

Learn about the Civil War Battle of Chickamauga at the Stone School House Annual Meeting on Saturday, Sept. 20. The traveling historian, Charles Slater of Margaretville, will share a program on the most significant Union defeat of the Civil War which halted the Union advance at Chattanooga, Tenn.

By John Bernhardt
Monday’s 2-1 loss to Davenport was a gut check of sorts for the Andes boys’ soccer team. After dropping a hotly contested come-from-behind decision to the Wildcats, the Mountaineers need to take a hard look in the mirror and decide the team they would like to be.
For the first 25 minutes Monday, Andes looked like one of the Delaware League’s top tier teams. From the left wing, sophomore Eric Reed left his footprint on the first 15 minutes of the game. Reed’s left foot initiated four serious goal attempts.

The  MARK Group, now in its 30th year, continues to serve local communities through the implementation of several programs and activities focused on rehabilitation, development and revitalization in the Catskills. Over the past 12 months MARK, with funding assistance from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal,  has overseen substantial rehabilitation projects in 42 homes  of low-moderate income  families. These projects include everything from new roofing to interior renovation and upgrades to obsolete heating and electric. MARK also manages an eight-unit senior housing facility, 32 units of mixed senior and family housing at Mountain Laurel Gardens and four additional units at the Golden Seal Building in Roxbury, currently in process of restoration.

The Catskill Watershed Corporation Board of Directors August 26 approved five grants – three to correct storm water problems and two to address streambank erosion that threatens property and public utilities.

The Historical Society of the Town of Middletown (HSM) will welcome scholar and author Carol Berkin as the featured speaker at its Fourth Annual Meeting Sunday, Sept. 7 at the New Kingston Valley Grange Hall, Cemetery Road, Margaretville. Prof. Berkin’s topic will be courageous women of the American Revolution. Her talk, “It Was I Who Did It: Spies, Saboteurs, Couriers and Other Heroines of the Revolution,” is made possible by the New York Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Margaretville Hospital and Mountainside Residential Care Center Auxiliary will host its fifth annual Fashion Show & Buffet Luncheon on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 12:30 p.m. at the Purcell Parish Center, Margaretville. Eleanor Barrack will again be the fashion designer utilizing clothing items donated from the auxiliary's Thrift Shop. All the clothing being modeled will be for sale. Many of the items are brand new with original tags.