News

By Julia Green
There’s a special gem in Delaware County that you probably don’t even know about, but the secret’s about to break.
The Arc of Delaware County (Delarc) has been gaining attention on some rather impressive stages as organizations from a variety of areas around the country are taking notice of the agency’s success and seek to duplicate it. This past week, representatives from an agency in Georgia visited the Arkville facility as part of a year-long contract that Delarc signed with the state of Georgia to introduce its methods to six agencies and programs in the state.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Belleayre Mountain will be open for riding and skiing seven days a week for the 2008-2009 season, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced Monday. Weather and conditions permitting, Belleayre will open the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 28, and run through March, operating six lifts and 41 trails and glades.

By Brian Sweeney
A Halloween decoration is being blamed for a Thursday morning fire that destroyed a Clovesville house and left a family of five homeless. The fire broke out shortly after 2 a.m. and gutted the two-story home. The family dog is credited with barking to wake up the occupants.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The folks at Belleayre Mountain want you to know something.
Contrary to popular belief, the ski center’s popular Fall Festival has not been cancelled.
True, it won’t be on the grassy slopes where visitors can stand in awe of panoramic views of the Catskills in full color. But, Belleayre and its new partner, the Delaware and Ulster Railroad (DURR), think they’ve come up with a pretty good alternative.

By Matthew J. Perry
The Delaware County Board of Supervisors will vote today on a resolution that calls for the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) not to single out the county for stricter regulations concerning natural gas drilling. Resolution 191, which was filed by Middletown Supervisor Len Utter on October 2, is a lengthy document that will be forwarded, if passed, to many state officials, from the governor down to members of New York City’s council.

The Town of Middletown local voter registration will be on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 2-9 p.m. at the town hall, located at 42339 state highway 28, Margaretville. A public meeting for residents of the Arkville Water District to receive information and ask questions about a proposed renovation of the water system is set for Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The Town of Shandaken’s preliminary budget has appeared on schedule this year, unlike last when the same document didn’t jump out of town hall until close to Halloween. But this year’s $5 million spending plan may still give taxpayers a fright. Filled with raises for all public officials and nonunion employees plus a whopping 18 percent increase for the town’s ambulance squad.

Fleischmanns — Homeowners in this historic village are opening some of its most interesting homes for tours and hosting an entire day of family fun and base ball on Sunday, Oct. 12 during “Fleischmanns First Floors Historic House & Garden Tour.” With the Belleayre Fall Festival located just a few minutes away in Arkville this year, you can easily spend some time at Fleischmanns’ all-day festival of fun without missing a thing.

Fiddlers!, the annual festival of fiddle music at The Roxbury Arts Group this Sunday will have a different format in this its 15th year. An all-star concert featuring three talented women fiddlers; Liz Carroll, Andrea Beaton and Hope Grietzer, will begin at 5 p.m. while the usual Fiddlers! square dance will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. In between there will be food, baked goods, and all manner of drinks for sale.

Alexander “Pete” Grannis, commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), will be the keynote speaker at Catskills Local Government Day Wednesday, Oct. 22 at Frost Valley YMCA and Conference Center, Claryville. Registration is open to the public. Deadline for registering is October 10. There is a $10 fee which includes lunch. Go to the CWC website for registration forms, or call Frieda at 586-1400.