Community

By Jay Braman Jr.
The call to develop a Catskills regional ski pass has not only been ignored by Hunter and Windham ski areas, but the two have gone ahead and announced one that excludes Belleayre.
Last month Ulster County Legislature Chairman David Donaldson proposed that Ulster, Greene and Delaware counties team up to institute a “Catskill Regional Ski Pass” that would allow skiers to ski at any of the ski centers in the Catskill Region.

By Brian Sweeney
The 2008 Big Game Hunting Season in the Southern Zone, which opens Saturday, Nov. 15, is shaping up to be another strong one, according to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Following several years of low harvests, the 2007 deer take numbers were up sharply across most of the state. DEC officials expect the higher deer take trend to continue this year, but at a slower growth rate.

Seventy years ago, a newly-elected president created a sequence of programs to provide relief for the unemployed, recovery of the economy, and reform of the economic and banking systems. Now, more than half a century later, the country faces many of the same problems with a brand new leader.
A number of residents at Mountainside Residential Care Center in Margaretville remember the era of FDR and its challenges that have some parallels to the world we face today.

Hobart — The A. Lindsay and Olive B. O’Connor Foundation, Inc. of Hobart has announced a grant program for 2009 focused on impacting youth in Delaware County.
Proposals should demonstrate a specific impact on youth, leveraging as many other available resources as possible. The level of funding proposed for 2009 should be less than $1,000. All projects should be designed to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009.

Margaretville — The Holiday Treasure Express returns after a successful campaign last year and now it includes a Main Street parade, business showcase and shopping adventures for all. The spirit of cooperation led to the creation of a campaign that serves local merchants while creating a diverse set of entertainments for visitors and residents alike.

The South Kortright boys’ soccer season came to an end Saturday when the Rams dropped a tough 5-1 match to Hamilton Central School in the quarterfinal of the Class D state tournament. Despite a 1-1 score with just under 30 minutes left to play, two goals within 10 minutes robbed the Rams of the momentum.

By Matthew J. Perry
Less than two weeks before Election Day 2008, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court confirmed that eight Bovina homeowners—all whom keep other residences downstate—are within their legal rights to cast their votes as Bovinians.
The “Bovina Eight,” whose right to vote was challenged in 2007 and denied by the county board of elections, sued to retain that right and now have the backing of two state courts.

By Brian Sweeney
A public hearing on the proposed Catskill Recreation Center in Arkville will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Middletown Town Hall on Route 28, Margaretville.
Arkville resident Kingdon Gould Jr. presented drawings for the Community Recreation Center to the planning board at its October meeting.

By Julia Green
It would be virtually impossible not to know that Tuesday is Election Day. Anyone who has turned on a television, perused a newspaper, listened to a radio, or driven along area roads in recent weeks has undoubtedly been assaulted with news coverage on the upcoming presidential election and advertisements pushing a candidate. Bumper stickers adorn cars, yard signs grace residences and T-shirts bear political affirmations and allegiances.
Come Wednesday morning, it will all be over, save any “hanging chad” debacle reminiscent of the 2000 presidential election.
Voters will be headed to the polls on Tuesday, where the much-anticipated 2008 presidential race will be atop the ballot.

By Matthew J. Perry
The Andes Central School (ACS) Board of Education passed a resolution last Wednesday voicing support for the continuation of the Otsego Northern Catskills (ONC) Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), which serves Andes as well as the schools in Roxbury, Margaretville and South Kortright.