News

By Jay Braman Jr.
Witches and werewolves will be on the prowl all weekend long in Phoenicia, where special events will entice all souls to partake in the fun. On Friday at 7 p.m. in the STS Playhouse on Church Street will be a special showing of the humor/horror classic “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.”

A benefit Spaghetti Dinner to assist the family of former teacher Nat Ciccone will be held on Friday, Oct. 24 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Margaretville Firehall. Nat Ciccone, known to many as “Mr. C,” is battling cancer. Proceeds from the fund-raiser will be used to assist Mr. C, his wife and two daughters to defray expenses related to his illness.

Students in grades 2 through 6 from Andes Central School will perform scenes from five plays about nature, environment and animals on Monday, Oct. 27 at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The production is the culmination of five classroom projects in the Empire State Partnership between Andes Central School and The Open Eye Theater, a not-for-profit professional company based in Margaretville. Project Director is the Open Eye Theater’s producing artistic director Amie Brockway. The performance will be on stage in the Andes Central School gym.

Opening this week is a new collective show by the Longyear member artists, featuring In Close Harmony, a solo exhibition by Nat Thomas. The artist’s reception will take place at Longyear Gallery on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 3 to 6 p.m. When Nat Thomas moved to the Catskills 24 years ago, he planned on developing three new enthusiasms – fly fishing, cross-country skiing and landscape painting. While he never quite got around to the fishing and skiing, 18 years later he did indeed pick up a brush and began painting the familiar local landscapes that have become his trademark.

Andes — The musical storytelling duo “The Storycrafters” will be the featured performers in a free concert at the Andes Central School this Friday at 6:30 p.m. Described on the “Today" show as “two wonderful storytellers captivating children,” The Storycrafters (aka Jeri Burns and Barry Marshall) have been performing together for over 15 years. With their inimitable tandem style of telling, The Storycrafters tastefully weave music and story together in performances that have wowed audiences around the world.

Andes — “The Best of Times” songs and lyrics by Jerry Herman will be presented by cabaret artists Patricia Dell and Kent Brown, at The Andes Hotel, on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. This wonderful evening of song features selections from Herman’s hit shows such as “Hello Dolly,” “Mame,” “Milk & Honey,” “Mack and Mabel” and others.

Claryville — A unique Nighttime Hike offering a chance for star gazing and watching nocturnal animals is set at Frost Valley YMCA on Saturday, Nov. 1 starting at 6 p.m. Reid Bauer of Frost Valley will lead the hike, helping participants overcome a fear of the dark by exploring how humans and animals adapt to the nighttime environment. The excursion will also be dedicated to learning how to view planets, stars and constellations with both the naked eye and telescopes, which will be provided.

Margaretville — All residents, property owners, civic groups, businesses and government officials are invited and encouraged to participate in a special “planning and visioning” workshop to shape the future of the Town of Middletown. The event will be held on Nov. 1 at the Margaretville Firehall starting promptly at 11 a.m. This is a public planning session and the entire community is encouraged to participate.

The 75th anniversary of the New Deal and its impact on the Catskills is celebrated in a new book whose author will speak at upcoming events in Fleischmanns and Arkville. Diane Galusha, author of Another Day, Another Dollar: The Civilian Conservation Corps in the Catskills, will provide an illustrated talk Saturday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. at Skene Memorial Library, Main St., Fleischmanns, and Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development in Arkville. The Catskill Center talk is preceded by a book signing at 1 p.m.

Claryville — Special theme weekends for Girl Scouts, Brownies and Youth Groups are planned this fall in the heart of the Catskill Mountain High Peaks at Frost Valley YMCA in Claryville.
Due to popular demand, Frost Valley has added a second Adventure Badge Weekend for Friday through Sunday, Nov. 7-9. This weekend is geared toward Juniors, Cadets and Seniors and has been scheduled because the Nov. 14-16 Adventure Badge Weekend was quickly filled to capacity.