By Matthew J. Perry
Kirsten Gillibrand was sworn in to the United States Senate as Hillary Clinton’s replacement yesterday. Back in the 20th Congressional District of New York, which includes most of Delaware County, the major political parties are hustling to find a candidate with the best chance of winning Gillibrand’s old seat in a special election.
The election will occur between 30 and 40 days after Governor Paterson calls for it.

By Jay Braman Jr.
There’s a little known part of Governor Paterson’s budget plan that, if adopted by the legislature, would raise property taxes for private landowners in the Catskills.
The proposed 2009-2010 budget includes a change to the tax law, which would cap town, county and school taxes paid on state-owned land at their current dollar levels. The change is intended to save the state $9 million in increases over last year’s $183 million property tax bill.

By Julia Green
Peg Ellsworth, executive director of the MARK Group, was on hand at last Tuesday’s meeting of the Middletown Town Board to discuss an application for a comprehensive plan grant that is being sought through the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) as a supplement to a grant obtained by Margaretville resident Carolyn Konheim.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The Catskills region has some of the worst mercury contamination in the nation, in large part due to smokestack industries located in the Midwest. The naturally occurring element is transformed into the highly toxic methylmercury by a number of environmental factors prevalent in the region.

By Matthew J. Perry
The Bovina Town Board held its 2009 organizational meeting on January 13 and approved reappointments to most town posts and a new appointment to the town’s assessment review board.

By Matthew J. Perry
The Town of Middletown Planning Board, working in concert with a consulting planner, is heading towards the second phase of overhauling the town’s comprehensive plan.

By Brian Sweeney
Margaretville Hospital’s goal of renovating its Emergency Department will begin soon due in great part to the generosity of a longtime local priest.

By Matthew J. Perry
The Town of Andes kicked off 2009 with a preliminary announcement of a new source of funding for its proposed highway garage at its organizational meeting Monday.

By Brian Sweeney
Carol O’Beirne and John VanBenschoten have announc-ed that they will be running as Margaretville mayoral candidates on March 18.
William Stanton, mayor for the past six years, recently announced that he will not be seeking another term.

By Matthew J. Perry
An archeological survey conducted last November on the proposed site of the Catskill Recreation Center, on county Route 38 in Arkville, may have unearthed native American Indian artifacts and has put those plans on temporary hold.