By Joan Lawrence-Bauer
Known alternatively as “Mr. Fix It,” “Mr. Legion” and “Mr. Boy Scout,” Bob Hill was remembered fondly this week for a lifetime of service to his country and his community. 

By Jay Braman Jr.
Fleischmanns Village Trustees authorized the spending of almost $60,000 of taxpayer’s funds last week on specialized swift-water rescue equipment for the village’s fire department.
At a special meeting held last week Tuesday, the trustees accepted bids for the purchase of two swift water rescue boats along with equipment and training with funds to be disbursed from the Fleischmanns Volunteer Fire Department Capital Reserve Truck Fund.

By Brian Sweeney
The rebuilt and reconfigured CVS Pharmacy in Margaretville is expected to be open by May.
Dan Katz, vice president PSK Supermarkets, which owns the shopping plaza, told the News this week that he anticipates that the new store will be open in several months.

“We are trying to get the construction finished as quickly as we can and CVS would like to open in the spring (around May),” Mr. Katz stated.
He said that the new store will have a footprint of 4,500 square feet with a 1,500-square-foot mezzanine.

By Joe Moskowitz
If you have been driving around the Margaretville area lately, and you are under the impression that there seem to be an unusually large number of New York State Troopers on patrol, you’re not imagining things.

The reason is that there is a large influx of new troopers assigned to the Margaretville barracks. Seven new troopers have recently joined the ranks. Captain Nancy Poulin of the New York State Police says there are now 10 troopers stationed in Margaretville. Recently there were only six.

By Joe Moskowitz
The wait for the long-awaited Andes Health Clinic is going to be a little longer. Workers this week are putting the final touches on both the interior and exterior of the 2,800-square-foot facility.

By Geoff Samuels
Lauren Davis and Diana Cope both filed petitions to run for the position of mayor of Margaretville. The deadline for filing petitions was February 13.

The winner will succeed Bill Stanton, who decided not to seek re-election after spending 10 years as mayor. Profiles of each candidate follow. Davis has run for the mayoral post on two other occasions. This is Cope’s first campaign for public office.

Lauren Davis

By Geoff Samuels
The Andes Town Board has tabled a resolution to join the Sheriffs’ Association and numerous other entities in opposing the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act (NY SAFE).

After hearing from several members of the public at last Tuesday’s meeting, the town board agreed to delay any vote on the measure, pending modifications to the proposed resolution.

By Joe Moskowitz
It’s President’s Week. And for the first time in three years there’s plenty of snow at area ski and snowboard resorts. That should make restaurant and lodging facility owners happy, but there is at least one huge, dark cloud over the silver lining. The cloud’s name is “Sandy.”

Because of schools being closed following Hurricane “Sandy,” many downstate kids have to make up the lost time and don’t have the full week off, and that means the loss of money for businesses that still haven’t recovered from a storm that made a direct hit, “Irene.”

By Brian Sweeney
The Roxbury, one of the world’s most interesting lodging facilities, will be featured on “America’s Best Kept Secrets” on HGTV this Friday, Feb. 22 at 11 a.m.

There are a lot of choices on TV these days and The Roxbury continues to pop up as a featured point of interest.

The Roxbury will also be spotlighted on two additional programs this spring. The facility’s not-so-ordinary fish tank will be explored on the Animal Planet show “Tanked,” on Friday, April 5 at 9 p.m.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Linda Sella, the longtime principal of the Phoenicia Elementary School in the Onteora School District, was placed on Administrative Leave earlier last week.

Parents and guardians were informed of the matter via a letter sent home by District Superintendent Phyllis McGill.

On Friday, McGill had no comment on the matter, stating that it was a personnel issue, but did read the letter when asked to do so.