By Julia Green
When area schoolchildren reported to class after the Labor Day weekend holiday, they were presented with an uncommon opportunity.
Students at Andes and Margaretville central schools had the chance to hear back-to-school remarks by President Obama via C-SPAN when the president addressed the nation’s schoolchildren from a high school in Wakefield, Va., at noon on Tuesday. At Roxbury Central School, the president’s address is being taped for later viewing.

By Brian Sweeney
Renovations to the new Freshtown Supermarket in Margaretville are in full swing and store officials hope to have all work completed by Christmas.
PSK Supermarkets Vice President Noah Katz said this week the renovations of the former A&P Supermarket on Bridge Street are progressing well. The store reopened as a Freshtown last January. After a number of months of planning, major work on the total overhaul of the store got underway several months ago.

Summer is drawing to a close, and area schoolchildren will report to classes in the coming weeks. Students at Margaretville Central School begin classes today, while students at Andes and Roxbury central schools report to class on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

By Brian Sweeney
The organizers behind the Catskill Recreation Center have applied for a building permit for a proposed community swimming pool project in Arkville.
Representatives of Arkville resident Kingdon Gould Jr. and his family, who are spearheading the project, attended the Middletown Planning Board’s Aug. 13 meeting and presented updated plans.

Andes —  “What you need to know about gas drilling in the Catskills,” an issue that generates strong feelings both for and against, will be presented by Wes Gillingham, of Catskill Mountainkeeper, and writer/researcher Anne Saxon-Hersh at the Andes Public Library on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m.

Kingston — A $500,000 grant announced by Governor David Paterson’s office last week brings total home buying and home repair resources currently available in Ulster County to $1.6 million in direct spending for the purchase and post purchase re-habilitation of Ulster County homes.
Rural Ulster Preservation Company (RUPCO) officials believe that the latest grant announcement plus other resources in-house will help them top last year’s total investments of $1.8 million spent for 34 new homeowners and 75 rehabilitated homes.

The 23rd annual Street Fair will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Main Street in Margaretville. Sponsored by the Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce, this event is free and family-friendly.

By Brian Sweeney
Two Independent candidates in the Town of Andes filed petitions with the Delaware County Board of Elections by last Tuesday’s deadline to have their names added to the ballot for November’s election.
Denise Norris will be running on the Independent line for a seat on the Andes Town Board. She will be running against Republican incumbents Martin Liddle and Daniel Grommeck. The top two vote recipients will win election.

Margaretville – The 23rd annual Street Fair will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Main Street in Margaretville. This popular summertime event features vendors offering quilted crafts and fabric items lovingly made, designer sterling silver jewelry, hard to find antiques and collectibles, ever popular country lawn decorations, wooden crafts, and much more.

By Jay Braman Jr.
State police have arrested an Onteora High School employee and charged her with felony grand larceny and related charges, alleging that she stole over $9,000 that school groups accumulated by holding fund-raisers.
Elizabeth Sopata, 45, of Kingston was charged on Aug. 4.