News

Margaretville —The second annual Holiday Treasure Express, a community-wide celebration and “shop local” campaign, has its official launch this Saturday, Nov. 29 at 3:30 p.m with a parade up Main Street, Margaretville. 
The parade boasts over 30 units, including a band, the Delaware County Dairy Princess, floats, antique cars, fire trucks and promises a little something for everyone. 

Claryville — A hike focusing on Green Technology will be held at Frost Valley YMCA on Saturday, Dec. 6 starting at 9 a.m. The event will feature a two-mile walk along the Neversink River. Participants will also get a firsthand look at the ways in which Frost Valley is doing its part to minimize the facility’s impact on the earth.

Margaretville — Watercolors and oil paintings by Tannersville artist Athena Billias, who paints in the style of the Hudson River School, are now on view at the Catskill Watershed Corporation’s office in Margaretville.
“Catskills Waterworld” includes 15 stunning paintings of streams, waterfalls and other scenes from the rugged Mountaintop region of Greene County where masters of the Hudson River School of Art found inspiration 150 years ago.

Halcottsville — The Pakatakan Farmers’ Market will host its annual Holiday Market on Saturday, Nov. 29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Round Barn on Route 30, Halcottsville.
Vendors for this annual event will be regulars from the Pakatakan Farmers’ Market that operates on Saturdays from May through mid-October at the historic Round Barn.

Margaretville — “To have a Cricket on the Hearth is the luckiest thing in all the world,” says Dot Peerybingle in The Open Eye Theater’s production of Charles Dickens’ “The Cricket on the Hearth,” opening Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m., at The Open Eye Theater in Margaretville. 
The story, one of Dickens’ Christmas novellas, has been adapted for the stage by Amie Brockway, and is directed by Monica Wildermuth.  Adrienne J. Brockway has designed the set and lighting. 

By Brian Sweeney
Wood-fired pizza is the latest innovation at Oakley’s Place on Route 28, Arkville.
Owners Corine and Gerard DeBari purchased the business from John McDaniel nearly seven years ago and have been slowly shifting the focus of the business from that of a bar to more of a restaurant.
The DeBaris both enjoy the unique flavor of wood-fired pizza and since no one else in the immediate area was offering this type of food preparation, they decided to add wood-fired pizza to their menu options.

Andes — The Village of Andes kicks off the holiday season with its annual tree lighting celebration on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 4 p.m. Residents will gather at Bohlman Park, adjacent to the library.  When the tree it lit, everyone will join in singing Christmas carols while they wait for Santa to arrive by fire truck.  He’ll be bringing gifts for all the children and taking careful note of their Christmas wishes.

By Matthew J. Perry
The Delaware County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on its proposed 2009 budget on November 25 at noon. Presently, the county has proposed a spending plan totaling $99,706,075 and a 4.97 percent increase in the tax levy, a substantial increase over last year’s increase of one percent.

By Jay Braman Jr.
An organization that opposes the Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park has asked Governor David Paterson, who is this week seeking $2 billion worth of cuts to the state’s budget, to reconsider the $60 million expenditure currently earmarked for a proposed public/private partnership project at Belleayre Mountain, saying that now is not the time for this type of public spending.
But the developers of the project quickly countered with an announcement that they feel the region needs this type of public spending now more than ever.

By Matthew J. Perry
Delaware County has scheduled four public meetings on New York City’s land acquisition program for the week of Nov. 17 to 21. Watershed commissioner Dean Frazier and representatives from Downeast Development Group, a consulting firm from Nova Scotia, will officiate at each meeting.