Peg Ellsworth, Roxbury’s community resources director, has been named executive director of the MARK Group, said MARK Board President Ernest Steiglehner on Friday.
“It was a consensus decision for all of us on the search committee and affirmed unanimously by our board,” said Steiglehner. “Peg has great experience working with communities. What really sold us was her detailed plan for how to move the organization forward in the next six months and how to interact closely with all the communities we serve, because that community work is MARK’s strong suit and central to our mission.”

By Julia Green
The saga of the wandering buffalo calf ended happily Sunday afternoon when the young orphan was captured near New Kingston and will now live out her life in the company of other buffalo on a farm near Walton.
The calf was captured Sunday afternoon and transported to a foster facility, where she was impounded, placed under quarantine and ear-tagged. From there, she will be transported to her intended adoptive home, where she will be able to mature in a no-kill environment. State police are also aware of the impound of the animal.

By Matthew J. Perry
Joe Moskowitz, owner of Casey Joe’s Coffee in Arkville, says that business has been steady through the week. But he notices a difference when Saturday rolls around.
“On the weekends I’m seeing plenty of second home-owners,” he said. “But not locals. People are staying home. If they don’t have to drive, they don’t.”
With gasoline prices still north of $4 a gallon, Delaware County, like rural communities across the nation, is already feeling the squeeze of record prices for crude oil.

By Julia Green
“What has 1,000 legs, rolls, and is green from start to finish? It’s the Catskills Aqueduct Tour: the proposed bike race that will launch a five-year plan to turn New York State – and, more specifically, the Catskills Watershed Area – into the cycling capital of our nation.”
That was the lead-in at a meeting held last Tuesday about the prospect of starting a bike race in the Catskill watershed area that could, “rival the Tour de France.”

A memorial dedication ceremony in honor of the late New York State Trooper David C. Brinkerhoff will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Town of Middletown Town Hall at 42339 State Highway in Margaretville. Trooper Brinkerhoff was killed in the line of duty on April 25, 2007 in a gun battle with fugitive Travis Trim during which Trim and Trooper Brinkerhoff both lost their lives and another trooper, David Mattson, was seriously wounded.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Demolition of the Phoenicia Hotel resumed briefly this month, when crews and equipment chopped away more of the burned and rotted remains that were left behind from a suspicious fire that destroyed the old building almost one year ago. This phase, which has now halted, follows an initial effort to remove the debris earlier this spring.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The New York State Legislature on Thursday authorized the creation of a commission that will evaluate whether state-owned recreational facilities constitute unfair competition to privately run golf courses, ski centers and camping sites.

The Delaware County Democratic Committee (DCDC) welcomed more than 140 guests to its annual dinner on Saturday at the SUNY Delhi Alumni Hall Hospitality Center. DCDC Chair Cynthia Lockrow acted as emcee for the evening, marking her first turn as hostess of the long-standing party tradition since she was elected late last year.

By Julia Green
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) submitted by Invenergy in regard to the proposed wind-turbine farm along the Moresville Ridge between Stamford and Grand Gorge was the subject of scrutiny at public hearings held in May; the comments received by the Roxbury Planning Board in response to the DEIS are still being scrutinized in preparation to drafting a Final Environmental Impact Statement.

By Matthew J. Perry
The orphaned buffalo calf that has toured eastern Delaware County for the better part of a month showed up Monday evening at the Blue Deer Center on county Route 6 near Margaretville. After an extended attempt at capture, it moved on and remains at large.