News

Andes — Writers in the Mountains (WIM) will present “The Significance of Story” with popular instructor Carol Little for six Monday sessions, April 15-May 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Andes Public Library.

Regarding the class, Carol states, “Every person’s story is unique. Stories have personal meaning, turning points and markers. As we remember and write, or write and remember, we bring together parts of ourselves that may have been scattered, distorted or hidden.”

Fleischmanns — Spring in the Catskills is often announced by the trill of returning birds and sap running from maple trees immediately followed by the sweet amber signature of the mountains, pure maple syrup. So what happens when you mix that sweet succulent syrup with culinary prowess—the annual Fleischmanns First Maple Bake-Off to be held on Saturday, March 23 during the Maple Festival weekend in Fleischmanns.

Margaretville — A“March Out Like a Lamb Sale” will be held from March 18-31 at the Thrift Shop operated by the Auxiliary of Margaretville Hospital and Mountainside Residential Care Center.
During the sale, all spring and summer wear will be offered for only for $1 an item! Everything from jackets, sandals, Rollerblades to swimwear. New items added daily.
The Auxiliary Thrift Shop is located at 850 Main Street, Margaretville. Hours are: Monday-Saturday from noon-4 p.m. For additional information, please call 845 586-3737.

Andes — Filming is scheduled during May and June for “Promies, Passion and Pride: The Story of the Anti-Rent War of Andes,” an educational short film being shot at landmark locations in Ulster and Delaware counties.

By Jay Braman Jr.
After years of foot-dragging, all of the municipalities that were part of a New York State Scenic Byway initiative have decided whether or not to officially participate, with the Ulster County Town of Olive being the last to take action.

On Tuesday, March 12 at town hall in Shokan, Olive’s five-member town board voted three to two to join in the effort to secure a Scenic Byway designation from the state’s Department of Transportation, a designation that promoters say will put the communities in a position to get grants funds for projects otherwise not available.

By Joe Moskowitz
It’s maple season. Last year, with exceptionally warm weather in March, it was already over by now. This year, syrup producers still can’t tell if it’s going to be a good or a bad year. It’s all up to the weather, which hasn’t cooperated very much so far this year.

We spoke with four “maple men” about this annual tradition.

Margaretville — The Open Eye Theater is proud of two local students, Melissa Day and Cedric Taylor, who were invited to write a play on the subject of bullying for submission to a national program,

Theater In Our Schools’ USA Play Daze. Their plays were posted first and third, respectively, on the website of the American Alliance for Theater and Education (AATE) and have been widely circulated on social media Facebook and Twitter. Melissa and Cedric were participants in The Open Eye’s Youth Theater Workshop, “Read, Write, Play” in summer 2012.

By John Bernhardt
After 30 seasons on the sidelines as a high school softball coach, you couldn’t blame Roxbury coach Jane Ware if the game was feeling a little old as she prepared for yet another season. Not a chance. Ware brings a love of the game and a youthful eagerness into the spring each year, and this March is no different.

Political newcomer Diana Cope will be Margaretville’s new mayor following a 102-24 win over longtime village resident Lauren Davis on Tuesday.

Ms. Cope ran a low-key campaign during her first run for public office.

Mr. Davis was seeking the village mayoral post for the third time. He waged a public battle during his campaign, often criticizing the actions of current Mayor Bill Stanton and the board of trustees.
The new mayor will take office on April 1.

The Fleischmanns Village Election results are as follows:

By Geoff Samuels
In a recent interview with the Catskill Mountain News, soon-to-retire Margaretville Mayor Bill Stanton stressed that he saw no reason for the dissolution of the village.

Even though last month’s board of trustees’ meeting saw the raw nerve of skyrocketing property taxes exposed, the “bombshell” has been defused somewhat by recent efforts of the budget committee to gain some degree of control over the situation.

Nevertheless, the specter of substantially higher taxes has certainly risen more than a few taxpaying eyebrows.