By Jay Braman Jr.
Belleayre Ski Center is officially under new management this week, and the man in charge of the facility spoke before the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce membership week in Kingston to assure those listening that Belleayre will cooperate with the privately owned ski centers in the Catskills.

Until last Thursday Belleayre had been under the control of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. But in the spring, Governor Cuomo called for the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) to take over operation of the ski center.

By Geoff Samuels
Town of Middletown taxpayers will face a two-and-a-half percent property tax increase when they receive their 2013 town and county tax bills in January.

At the November 13 meeting of the Middletown Town Board, the 2013 preliminary budget, as put forth at the November 7 public hearing, was unanimously adopted. Through a $53,450 savings in health insurance, a $10,000 decrease in interest payments on the Arkville Water District bond, and a $10,000 cut in the highway department’s machinery and equipment expenditures, a property tax increase of 2.5 percent was set.

Staff Report
The owner of an Arkville trailer park is being fined $250 a day, retroactive to September 10, for failing to adequately upgrade its on-site sewage collection system.

According to town officials, the problems at Carlson’s Trailer Park have resulted in spills of raw sewage that have leeched directly into the East Branch of the Delaware River.

Incumbent Carl Becker has apparently defeated challenger Gary Rosa in the race for Delaware County Judge.

Mr. Rosa confirmed on Thursday night that unofficial figures from the Delaware County Board of Elections showed Mr. Becker as the winner.

The vote tally will not be finalized until November 19, but the numbers show Mr. Becker approximately 190 votes ahead of Mr. Rosa.

An Ulster County woman was charged with multiple felonies Tuesday after she attempted to drive her car into a male acquaintance when he took refuge in the Big Indian Post Office. The incident unfolded after Denedra L. Harkless, 32, of Oliverea Road, Big Indian reportedly had a domestic dispute with a 30-year-old male acquaintance from Brooklyn who had been visiting her. Shandaken Police said that Harkless initially used her 2004 Dodge Neon to pin the legs of the victim against a guardrail.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The former Assistant Superintendent at Belleayre Mountain Ski Center has been named acting general manager of the facility by its new operators.

The announcement was made earlier this week by Ted Blazer, President and Chief Executive officer of the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA).
ORDA has taken over the running of Belleayre from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

By Brian Sweeney
Absentee and affidavit ballots are being counted this week and will determine the winner in the race for Delaware County Judge.

Official results are not expected until early next week in the spirited race between incumbent Republican Carl Becker of Stamford and Democratic challenger Gary Rosa of New Kingston. When regular votes were tallied following the November 6 balloting, Mr. Becker held a 175-vote lead. Mr. Becker received 8,335 votes to 8,160 for Mr. Rosa.

By Geoff Samuels
While Delaware County grapples with a roughly five percent surge in its upcoming budget, the Town of Middletown is striving to pare its own expenditures in an effort to stay at or below the state mandated two percent limit on property tax increases.

By Brian Sweeney
The Interfaith Council has rejected charges that it refused admission to the Holy Innocents Catholic Church because the congregation supports same-sex marriage.

The controversy exploded on Social Media this week after the Interfaith Council did not take a vote on whether to allow the Halcottsville-based church to join the council.
Interfaith Council President Adele Siegel said there was no problem with the Holy Innocents Church joining the organization.

By Trish Adams
The Roxbury Town Board adopted a budget for 2013 at its Thursday night meeting, after brief hearings to allow the public to weigh in on the budget and a local law that would permit the board to override the two percent tax cap imposed by the state last year.