News

By Joe Moskowitz
Voters in Margaretville are about to choose a new mayor. Bill Stanton is stepping down. He will be replaced either by Diana Cope, former executive director of Margaretville’s Fairview Library, or Lauren Davis, a retired chemical engineer.

The village election will be held on Tuesday, March 19 with balloting from noon-9 p.m. in the village office on Main Street.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Fleischmanns Village Trustees gave three property owners a free pass on their water bills Monday night, despite warnings that doing so might allow more disgruntled rate payers to come out of the woodwork looking for the same deal.

Two of those granted waivers for water bills, Brian Grocholl ($1,035.22) and Harriet Grossman ($696.97) got the treatment due to extended water problems. But the third, identified only as Mr. Mendlovic, was given a pass on no less than $14,304.99 in past due water bills.

By Brian Sweeney
A number of recent break-ins at area businesses are under investigation by state police at Margaretville.

The largest incident occurred last week in Clovesville where thieves broke into 20 self-storage units owned by Halcott Center residents Pete and Nancy Ballard.

Mrs. Ballard said she was alerted to the problem on the afternoon of March 5 when one of the renters reported that her storage unit had been forcibly entered.

By Brian Sweeney
The Margaretville Post Office has opened its doors to deliver seven-day, 24-hour mailbox access for patrons.

Customers, according to Postmaster Bob Cron, have welcomed the change, which went into effect in early December.

“People can now get their mail anytime,” Mr. Cron explained. “There are a lot of people from the city who have post office boxes here who can never make it by noon on Saturday.”

By Jay Braman Jr.
Thanks to an unused $5.5 million contingency fund, property owners in the Onteora School District may see a zero percent tax increase again this year.

The money was put aside in the event that City of New York, which owns the Ashokan Reservoir and is the district’s largest taxpayer, was victorious in a tax-assessment challenge mounted in the Town of Olive.

A settlement was reached and district officials are planning on using up to $3 million of the fund to offset property taxes in the 2013-14 school year.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Benjamin Franklin coined the phrase, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” If Franklin had he lived in the present-day Catskill Mountains, he might have added, “flooding” to that very short list of certain things. Few would disagree with him.

By John Bernhardt
One of the highlights of 2011 Andes Central School Travel Club’s adventure in southern California was a visit to the home of Jodie and Jason Womack.

The Womacks, a husband and wife team, operate The Jason Womack Company. Jason, an author, motivational speaker and productivity expert, provides workplace performance workshops and executive coaching for clients around the world.

Hamden — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County is offering a program on high bush blueberry production, to be held at Extension’s Resource Center, 34570 State Highway 10, Hamden on Thursday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with sign-in beginning at 9:30 a.m. 
Cornell’s berry specialists will cover the key topics in production and marketing of blueberries.

Margaretville — Opening this week at the Longyear Gallery is “Spring Forward,” a group show featuring the work of Longyear Gallery members. The artists’ reception will take place on Saturday, March 16, from 3-6 p.m.

Arkville — The Catskill Center is offering two scholarship programs in 2013. One is a college scholarship and the other sponsors a student to attend NYSDEC Camp DeBruce for one week.
The Catskill Center is offering a scholarship to seniors graduating from high schools that have a portion of their district within the Catskill Park.