Shandaken

By Jay Braman Jr.
It appears the ongoing farm-stand flap in Shandaken is at a stalemate. A proposed farm-stand law remains in limbo, and in the meantime the man that stands to be most affected by the law made a last ditch effort recently to get the town board to scrap it altogether and start fresh.
Al Higley, the operator of the Hanover Farms produce stand on Route 28 in Mount Tremper, made an appeal to the board at the town council’s October meeting, saying that it would be a bad idea for the board to pass the law as proposed.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The Shandaken Supervisor/Budget officer has proposed a spending plan for 2010 that would jump taxes only two percent over this year, but opponents of the administration say that during these tough times the plan doesn’t cut it.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The budget process has begun this year in Shandaken with two of the most expensive departments hitting the ground running, asking for new vehicles, and another department head asking for extra, unbudgeted help for this year.
That was the case at a recent special meeting of the town board. The meeting was called to make a decision on the long-hovering tax issue for the City-owned Pine Hill sewer plant, but Supervisor Peter DiSclafani warned the budget season has apparently started as well, noting ambulance department personnel in the audience along with the town’s tax assessor, both with funding requests.

The following is an account of the Big Indian legend by author and 19th-century newspaperman Charles M. Skinner. It appears in his book Myths and Legends of Our Own Land, published in 1896.
“In the Esopus Valley lived Winnisook, whose height was seven feet, and who was known among white settlers as “The Big Indian.”

By Jay Braman Jr.
The popular annual event known as Shandaken Day is set for this Saturday and promises to be better than ever.
This year the fun plays out in Big Indian Park alongside Route 28 in Big Indian, where all the attractions of previous incarnations of the celebration will be offered. But this year, according to organizers, Shandaken Day will take on a flavor more unique to Big Indian.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Following the advice of Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) officials, the Shandaken Town Board agreed Monday to a settlement of a dispute with New York City over the assessed value of the Pine Hill waste treatment plant.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Shandaken Democrats came up with a full slate of candidates at their party caucus at the Glenford Park Pavilion last Tuesday evening.
As expected, there were no challenges to incumbent supervisor Peter DiSclafani, seeking his second two-year term. He will face Republican Challenger Rob Stanley, a town councilman now at the end of his first four-year term.

The Shandaken Day Committee together with the Town of Shandaken has announced its list of events scheduled to celebrate Shandaken Day on Saturday, Aug. 29. This year marks the sixth year of the event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Big Indian Park on Route 28 and which will showcase the hamlets of Big Indian and Oliverea.

By Jay Braman Jr.
There’s $2.2 million in Federal Stimulus dollars headed to the Town of Shandaken, where electronic road signs signal the beginning of a repaving project for Route 28.
The signs, located just west of Phoenicia and east of mount Tremper, announce that the project will begin on Aug. 10.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Shandaken Republicans unanimously endorsed councilman Rob Stanley Thursday to run for town supervisor in the November election.