By Geoff Samuels
Supervisor Marge Miller and Attorney Kevin Young admitted last week that they are responsible for changing a Middletown law without authorization from the town board.
As reported in the May 21 issue of this paper, Middletown Attorney John Fairbairn had discovered in April that an entire page had been replaced in the New York State Department of States’ (DOS) copy of Middletown’s 2012 Sewer Use Law.

By Joe Moskowitz
Every time it rains, it doesn’t necessarily rain pennies from heaven. For far too many area residents, it rains memories of dollars and homes that have been lost or damaged. It has been nearly two years since Hurricane Irene tore through the area, but every time it rains and the rivers turn brown, too many of us wonder if the rain will stop in time.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Ulster County Executive Michael Hein has taken legal action against the Catskill Mountain Railroad, informing the group that it faces eviction from the county-owned tracks unless several violations to the CMRR’s lease are corrected within 30 days.
This marks the latest shot fired in a long battle between Hein, who wants to turn the tracks between Kingston and Mount Tremper into a rail trail, and the CMRR, which has visions of restoring the tracks and running a tourism based train back and forth instead.

By Jay Braman Jr.
What a bear cub thought was going to be an evening of fine dining behind the Phoenicia Methodist Church turned into a night of terror for the cub after someone shut the lid on his festivities. Literally.
On Saturday, June 1 Shandaken Police received a 911 call about a bear whose head was stuck in the doorway of a metal “Bear-i-cade” Dumpster. Apparently the bear, only a little yearling, was inside the steel box when someone came by and threw some trash into it and closed the bear-proof top.

Graduations will be celebrated this weekend at area high schools.
Andes Central School will hold its commencement on Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m. The outdoor ceremony will be held under a tent.
Tristin Tait will address the audience as class Valedictorian and Kelsey Little will offer a speech as Salutatorian. Guest speaker at the graduation will be Jeffrey Rhone, Spanish language instructor at ACS.
Graduation at Margaretville Central School will be held on Saturday, June 22 at 1:30 p.m. in front of the school, weather permitting.

By Joe Moskowitz
Saying that, “the people deserve a choice,” Arkville resident Nelson Delameter has decided to challenge incumbent Marjorie Miller for the job of Town of Middletown Supervisor.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) has joined the chorus of support for the Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park, a $365 private-sector plan to build an18-hole golf course and related facilities featuring 370 hotel rooms and other lodging units all alongside the state-owned Belleayre Mountain Ski Center.

By Joe Moskowitz
Town of Middletown Judge Glen George has decided to appeal a ruling that would remove from the bench but he has now been suspended, pending the outcome of that review.
George, as previously reported in the Catskill Mountain News, was declared unfit to serve as a judge in the State of New York by the Commission for Judicial Conduct.
Where it started

By Jay Braman Jr.
After being sold and closed down 15 months ago, the historic Al’s Restaurant in Phoenicia looks very different today.
The back portion of the building has been partially torn down by Mike Ricciardella, the local restaurateur who purchased the property shortly after previous owner Paul Pettinato ended its seven-decade stewardship of fine dining.
On Tuesday, Ric Ricciardella, a local realtor and the brother of the new owner, said that the famous structure is not being destroyed.

By Geoff Samuels
An important “open house” meeting of the East Branch Flood Commission will be held this coming Monday, June 17 at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium at Margaretville Central School.