News

There will be three familiar faces absent from the halls of Margaretville Central School when classes begin next fall. Superintendent John Riedl, elementary teacher Jackie Garelick, and aide Karen Cohen are retiring from teaching at the end of the 2007-08 school year.

By Julia Green
The saga of the wandering buffalo calf ended happily Sunday afternoon when the young orphan was captured near New Kingston and will now live out her life in the company of other buffalo on a farm near Walton.
The calf was captured Sunday afternoon and transported to a foster facility, where she was impounded, placed under quarantine and ear-tagged. From there, she will be transported to her intended adoptive home, where she will be able to mature in a no-kill environment. State police are also aware of the impound of the animal.

It was a weekend of celebration around Delaware County as local schools celebrated high school commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday. Andes, Roxbury and Margaretville Central schools held their commencement ceremonies on Friday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon, respectively.

The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development announced Monday that Lisa Rainwater will be its new executive director. 
Formerly the policy director at Riverkeeper in Tarrytown, Rainwater will be introduced to the members at The Catskill Center’s annual meeting on July 19 and take the helm in early August. In making the announcement, Catskill Center Board Chair Claude Shostal said, “We are pleased to welcome Lisa Rainwater as The Catskill Center’s new executive director. Her passion for the Catskills will further strengthen our connection to local communities, while her spirit and enthusiasm will generate new bonds and partnerships throughout the region. We look forward to embarking on this new journey, with Lisa’s years of community advocacy, government relations, and strategic planning guiding the way.”

By Matthew J. Perry
Joe Moskowitz, owner of Casey Joe’s Coffee in Arkville, says that business has been steady through the week. But he notices a difference when Saturday rolls around.
“On the weekends I’m seeing plenty of second home-owners,” he said. “But not locals. People are staying home. If they don’t have to drive, they don’t.”
With gasoline prices still north of $4 a gallon, Delaware County, like rural communities across the nation, is already feeling the squeeze of record prices for crude oil.

By Julia Green
“What has 1,000 legs, rolls, and is green from start to finish? It’s the Catskills Aqueduct Tour: the proposed bike race that will launch a five-year plan to turn New York State – and, more specifically, the Catskills Watershed Area – into the cycling capital of our nation.”
That was the lead-in at a meeting held last Tuesday about the prospect of starting a bike race in the Catskill watershed area that could, “rival the Tour de France.”

A memorial dedication ceremony in honor of the late New York State Trooper David C. Brinkerhoff will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Town of Middletown Town Hall at 42339 State Highway in Margaretville. Trooper Brinkerhoff was killed in the line of duty on April 25, 2007 in a gun battle with fugitive Travis Trim during which Trim and Trooper Brinkerhoff both lost their lives and another trooper, David Mattson, was seriously wounded.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The New York State Legislature on Thursday authorized the creation of a commission that will evaluate whether state-owned recreational facilities constitute unfair competition to privately run golf courses, ski centers and camping sites.

Congregation Bnai Israel in Fleischmanns celebrates its 90th year with Sabbath services led by Rabbi Moshe Pomerantz, and Hebrew classes for intermediate and beginning students conducted by both Rabbi Moshe and Kay Pomerantz. A special musical program is planned to culminate the celebration at summer’s end.

The Delaware County Democratic Committee (DCDC) welcomed more than 140 guests to its annual dinner on Saturday at the SUNY Delhi Alumni Hall Hospitality Center. DCDC Chair Cynthia Lockrow acted as emcee for the evening, marking her first turn as hostess of the long-standing party tradition since she was elected late last year.