Shandaken

By Jay Braman Jr.
Every year around this time the sounds of hammers banging nails and power saws cutting wood begin to fill the air. Like pictures of Shamrocks and Easter egg hunts, these are signs that spring has arrived, and with it the building season.

By Jay Braman Jr.
There are changes coming in Shandaken.
Monday night was the first night for incoming Supervisor Robert Stanley, the Republican Councilman who defeated former Supervisor Peter DiSclafani at the polls last November. And while the new administration is already shaking things up a bit with a plan to cut back on one town employee’s salary and also make significant changes to the town planning board, it was Stanley’s announcement about the town’s highway department possibly taking over some of the snowplowing chores for Ulster County that seemed to be the biggest change for 2010.

By Jay Braman Jr.
When Shandaken Ambulance squad members wake up Christmas morning they won’t find a shiny new ambulance parked underneath their Christmas tree.At their December meeting the Shandaken Town Board has decided against buying one, despite the recommendation from the department to do so.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Emily Fisher was all smiles Sunday afternoon.
Seated at the bar of her Catamount Restaurant, Fisher was brimming with pride, feeling that she and the Catamount team have struck a chord with their new concept for the eatery.

Shandaken —After 13 previous years of highly successful competition, the Shandaken Primitive Biathlon will be held again on January 17 in Oliverea.

By Jay Braman Jr.
It’s large a rural town with a large elderly population, far from any hospital, and home to a ski center that brings thousands of visitors across its borders on winter weekends. Such is Shandaken, a town said to already possess a cracker jack ambulance department, but one that would serve the community better if it had another ambulance.

Phoenicia — The Shandaken Food Pantry will hold a benefit dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at Al’s Seafood Restaurant in Phoenicia. Dinner will be served from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Shandaken voters will have several choices in the coming election, with races for supervisor, superintendent of highways, two town board seats, two town justices and two tax assessors.
Candidates include incumbent Democratic Supervisor Peter DiSclafani and Republican challenger Robert Stanley.

The third annual Toys for Tots outreach sponsored by the Catskill Mountain Classic Car Club will be held on Sunday, Nov. 8 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Big Indian firehouse.
Bring an unwrapped new toy to help that special boy or girl this Christmas. Information: 845 254-4238.

By Jay Braman Jr.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone in the Town of Shandaken that the political atmosphere is hostile. Long known as the wild west of the Catskills, this community has a history of tumultuous election campaigns and volatile government sessions.