News

By Joe Moskowitz
Work is now underway on the final phase of the new water system for the hamlet of Arkville. The pump house at the old well on Pavilion Road was torn down recently and the site is being prepared for a new pump house.

By Joe Moskowitz
New York City arguably has the best big city drinking water in the world. New York’s drinking water travels more than a hundred miles from its source in the Catskills to the City. Then it’s chlorinated and sits in more miles of rusty old pipes.

Yet, in taste tests, New York’s water often beats high-priced bottled water. Jim Di Lolle’s springs are just a few hundred feet from the Pepacton Reservoir. He says he has spent more than $1.3 million on his water-bottling business, and can’t yet sell a drop of it.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Once again, changes at Belleayre Ski Center are causing anxiety among the locals.
The ski center is owned by New York State, but last fall its operation was handed over to the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), which made it clear that there would be adjustments made in the operation of the facility.

Within a month of taking over, ORDA angered Town of Shandaken officials by dismantling the town’s long running ski program, which gave residents deep discounts on lift tickets, ski lessons and rental equipment.

Plan is unacceptable

By Jay Braman Jr.
A climber making his way up the rock cliffs along Phoenicia’s Tanbark Trail fell about 40 feet on Sunday, causing severe head injuries.

The man, whose name is being withheld by emergency service officials, is from Manhattan and is 27 years old. He was brought by helicopter to Albany Medical Center for treatment. No further details on his condition were available.

By Geoff Samuels
At last Monday’s Flood Commission meeting, Middletown Supervisor Marge Miller said she had recently attended a meeting in Albany with she had learned that $3 million in Community Development Block Grants is about to be made available to the towns of Middletown and Sidney (on a combined basis) for further flood recovery efforts.

By Brian Sweeney
The second annual gardenFest will be held Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. along Main Street, Margaretville.

The event, which has free admission, will feature a host of interesting offerings, most centered on outdoor themes. There will also be refreshments, live music and children’s activities. In case of rain, the event will be moved inside the Galli-Curci Theater.

By Michael Triolo,
Retired Economic Development Director
Catskill Watershed Corporation

With the revised plan for the Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park now completed it seems to be the appropriate time to understand the regional importance of a project of this magnitude from the perspective of my 30 years of rural banking and economic development experience.

By Bill Birns
Personally, I wasn’t much of a fan of the Belleayre Resort when it was first proposed – how many years ago? The project itself seemed too big (two golf courses!) and some of the property was right down on the Esopus flat, and folks around here seemed to be doing all right without some big new change, right here in our beloved Catskills. Besides, the old Highmount Ski Center is right out Gayla-and-my living room window, and I like our view of the mountain, turning a gorgeous subtle red this time of year. Do I want to be looking at a hotel, a spa, for gosh sakes?

By Geoff Samuels
The idea of installing more “city funded” sewer lines in the Town of Middletown has sparked many a spirited debate among residents and town officials to say the least. And since Hurricane Irene, the concept is ever more prescient.

By Joe Moskowitz
Each year some people go to their local schools and vote for or against proposed budgets and usually one member of that school’s board of education. In the case of Margaretville Central School, the turnouts tend to be light as the budget increases are usually considered low and there is often just one candidate running. But things could be different this year.