SUNY Cobleskill's Emma Bayuk Named NEAC Women's Cross Country Runner and Rookie of the Year

The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) announced today that SUNY Cobleskill women’s cross country team member; freshman Emma Bayuk, Sandy Hook, Conn., Newtown High School, has been honored as both the conference’s 2016 Women’s Cross Country Runner-of-the-Year and Rookie-of-the-Year by the league’s coaches. The Fighting Tiger newcomer won the conference’s individual championship at the 2016 NEAC Cross Country Championships hosted by Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pa, on Saturday October 29^th. She becomes the first Fighting Tiger runner to ever be honored with both awards in a single season and the fourth consecutive Cobleskill runner to be named the conference’s Women’s Rookie-of-the-Year. She joined her current teammates: Senior Taylor Tommell, Guilderland, N.Y., Guilderland High School, (2013), junior AnnaClaire Piersiak, Staten Island, N.Y., Curtis High School, (2014), and sophomore Quinn Porter, Ballston Spa, N.Y., Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, (2015), as rookie-of-the-year honorees. 

The Newtown High School alumnus helped lead the Fighting Tigers to the program’s record setting eighth consecutive NEAC Women’s Championship by defeating the 92-runner field by covering the 6000-meter course in a time of 23:21.22. With her victory the Sandy Hook, Conn.  native becomes the second consecutive Cobleskill women’s runner to capture the NEAC Individual Championship and the program’s sixth conference champion. Led by her effort the Fighting Tigers posted a score of 25 points to win the team title by 74 points over their nearest rival at the meet.

During the regular season the talented first-year performer was named the NEAC Women’s Cross Country Athlete-of-the-Week three times and the both the Eastern Conference Athletic Conference’s (ECAC) Division III North Division Women’s Runner-of-the-Week and Rookie-of-the-Week during the campaign.

When notified of his freshman harrier taking both of the league’s major awards, Fighting Tiger Head Coach Mitch Tomaszkiewicz spoke highly of his freshman harrier.  

“Emma was the final piece to the puzzle in terms of us winning the conference championship this year. This young lady is a very polished and serious runner who was well prepared to run at the collegiate level by the people at Newtown High School. When she came off the disabled list, she infused us with an incredible amount of positive energy which almost immediately made us much better as a team. We’re very proud of her and happy that she is in our program.” 

  

The Fighting Tigers will next be in action on Saturday November 5^th when they travel to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Championships hosted by the association at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome Course in Milton, N.Y. beginning with the men’s race at 11:00 a.m. followed by the women’s race at 12:00 p.m.

NEAC Names SUNY Cobleskill Coach 2016 Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year

The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) announced today that SUNY Cobleskill Head Cross Country Coach Mitchell Tomaszkiewicz has been selected as league’s 2016 Women’s Cross Country Coach-of-the-Year. This marks the sixth time that the Fighting Tiger mentor has been honored as the league’s women’s coach-of-the-year award and his ninth Coach-of-the-Year honor overall since Cobleskill joined the NEAC in 2008.

Tomaszkiewicz helped guide his harriers to their eighth consecutive league title on Saturday October 29^th as Cobleskill won the 2016 NEAC Women’s Cross Country Championship at the conference’s championship meet hosted by Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pa. The Fighting Tigers posted score of 25 points to outdistance their nearest competitors in the 12-team field by 74 points with five team members earning All-NEAC Team honors. 

Among those all-conference honorees were 2016 NEAC Women’s Rookie-of-the-Year and Runner-of-the-Year league champion freshman Emma Bayuk, Sandy Hook, Conn., Newtown High School, senior Taylor Tommell, Guilderland, N.Y., Guilderland High School, the first runner in program history to earn NEAC First Team honors four times, junior AnnaClaire Piersiak, Staten Island, N.Y., Curtis High School, a three-time First Team All-NEAC honoree, sophomore Quinn Porter, Ballston Spa, N.Y., Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, a two-time NEAC First Team selection and freshman Abigail O’Brien, Stockton, N.Y., Cassadaga Valley High School, who earned a spot on the NEAC Second Team. 

Once again, when he was informed of his selection as Coach-of-the-Year Tomaszkiewicz thanked the many people he felt had a hand in helping him receive the award.  

“While it is always great to be honored by your peers, a Coach-of-the-Year award is really the result of many people doing hard work behind the scenes. My assistant coach Craig Sargent was a former high school coach for 40 years and for my money he’s one of the best in the business, our athletic trainer Kyle Liang is a rising star in the field who did an outstanding job this year getting us and keeping us healthy, our department secretary Cindy Handy  handles all of the necessary paperwork that allows us get to all of our meets prepared to run and our equipment management staff  of Mike Jorgensen and Ryan Gunzinger make sure that things like course set-up and equipment are things I never have worry about. Finally the young men and women in our program are the ones who enable me to take a lot of bows. As a coach you are only as good as your athletes and I am blessed to work with some exceptional young people who work hard in practice and the classroom on a daily basis. Without all of their efforts awards like these would never come my way. ”

     

Tomaszkiewicz is the longest tenured coach in SUNY Cobleskill Cross Country history having completed his 24^th season with the Fighting Tigers. During this time he has guided the program to 94 invitational titles, 16 conference championships, two NJCAA Region III Championships and the 2000 NJCAA Division III Women’s National Championship. The Illinois native graduated from St. Laurence High School, in Burbank, Ill. in 1980, Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Mass Communications and from Loyola University of Chicago in 1989 with a master’s degree in Higher Educational Administration.

SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tiger Weekly Recap

The SUNY Cobleskill women’s cross country team captured their eighth consecutive North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) by posting a team total of 25 points to better a field of 12 teams at the league’s 2016 championship meet hosted by Lancaster Bible College on Saturday in Lancaster Pa. Freshman Emma Bayuk, Sandy Hook, Conn., Newtown High School, captured the league’s individual title by completing the 6000-meter course in a time of 23:21.22 to better the 92-runner field. 

The Fighting Tiger men’s cross country team posted a team score of 79 points to finish in third place in a 12-team field at the 2016 NEAC Cross Country Championships hosted by Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pa. on Saturday. Junior Anthony Bouchard, Wantagh, N.Y., Wantagh High School, earned First Team All-NEAC honors to lead Cobleskill by completing the 8000-meter course in a time of 27:22.22 to place third overall in a field of 102-runners. 

Junior Morgan O’Sullivan, Killingworth, Conn., Middletown High School, led the Fighting Tiger Western Equestrian team to a first place finish and a second place finish in the opening Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) events of the season at Morrisville State College on Sunday. O’Sullivan captured High Point Rider honors in both competitions to open the season.

The women’s soccer team closed the 2016 by splitting a pair of conference home contests over the weekend falling to SUNY Polytechnic Institute on Saturday by a score of 4-0 then defeating Wilson College on Sunday by a 2-0 margin. Junior forward Morganne Dick, Johnstown, N.Y., Johnstown High School, scored the game winning goal on Sunday versus the Phoenix as the Fighting Tigers closed the year with a 7-11 overall record including a 3-10 mark in NEAC play. 

The Fighting Tiger men’s soccer team won one-of-three contests during the week defeating Yeshiva University on the road Thursday night 6-4 in non-conference play prior to losing a pair of NEAC home games over the weekend falling to SUNY Polytechnic Institute on Saturday 5-1 before losing on Sunday to Wilson College 3-2. Cobleskill is currently 8-8-2 overall including a 5-6-2 mark in league action. Senior forward David Vosatka, Schenevus, N.Y., Schenevus High School, had a pair of goals and an assist in the win over Yeshiva for Cobleskill.

The Fighting Tiger women’s volleyball team closed their 2016 season on Tuesday evening by dropping a 3-0 home decision to the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) by set scores of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-16. Sophomore setter Mackenzie Holbert, Sauquoit, N.Y., New Hartford High School/Herkimer Community College, had a game high 16 assists for the Orange & Black who closed the year with a 9-18 overall record.  

The Cobleskill women’s swimming & diving team dropped a 103-84 decision to visiting William Patterson University on Saturday at the Bouck Hall Natatorium to fall to 0-2 overall on the year. The Fighting Tigers received an individual win in the 500-yard freestyle from freshman Michelle Moffet, Staten Island, N.Y., Saint John Villa Academy, in a time of 7:10.28

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The men’s swimming & diving team lost a 117-93 decision to visiting William Patterson University on Saturday at the Bouck Hall Natatorium to fall to 0-2 overall on the year. Sophomore diver Sam Datri, Ravena, N.Y., Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School, posted an 11-dive total score of 408.35 points to win the event for the Fighting Tigers

The hunt seat equestrian team posted a team score of 24 points place eighth overall in a field of 11 teams at an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 2 Region 3 show hosted by Skidmore College at the Van Lennep riding Center in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

UPCOMING HOME EVENTS:

Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving vs. Sarah Lawrence & Mount Saint Vincent 11/5    

 Women’s Basketball vs. MCLA 11/15, Southern Vermont College 11/22                                       

Men’s Basketball vs. SUNY Polytechnic Institute 11/30

Seward Supervisor Barbic Resigns

Seward Supervisor Carl Barbic resigned from office after a return to service in 2013. Barbic had previously served as Supervisor before retiring from office about several years prior. He was elected back in 2013 following the term of Larry Phillips with 59% of the vote then reelected last year. His first tenure was approximately 40 years.

Barbic served on the Finance Committee.

We spoke with Barbic briefly this morning, who was thankful for his time in office.

Town Clerk Brenda Southworth sent the following email

 J. Carl Barbic has officially resigned as the Town of Seward Supervisor effective 10/31/2016 at 11:59 P.M. He did not come to this decision lightly and had given this very careful and lengthy thought. We support Carl in his decision and will miss him greatly. He has contributed to the Town for better than 40 years in variety of roles. He asked that I let you know.
Thank you.

County Building Floodgates Opened in Ceremony

The County Building was bustling Friday night. A crowd of about fifty people gathered for the opening of the floodgate project surrounding the building. Introduced by Darlene Patterson of the Schoharie Promotional Association, the event started around 5pm. County Treasurer and Flood Recovery Manager Bill Cherry was the emcee, discussing the logistics of the project and thanking those involved.

Cherry began by saying the project had a "slight asterisk." The wall is designed to withstand a 100 year flood plus another two feet. It would not be enough to sustain another Irene. The County government pushed for a wall tall enough to do so, but FEMA responded by saying that Irene was the "flood of record" and unlikely to happen again.

 Cherry referred to the project as a "terrific accomplishment." He began to thank those involved, giving credit for the idea to Darlene Patterson and Diana Jackson of the Promotional Association. The new structure is a "community courtyard," he said.

Cherry thanked Dave Nichols of Labella Associates Engineering, referring to him as the "father of the floodgates." Nichols determined how to install a giant curtain of concrete to protect the building from 32 feet of groundwater.

The Treasurer also thanked members of BBL Construction, Lamont Engineering, and Simmons Recovery. He said that Simmons acquired the money for the project and found a way for FEMA to pay for their expenses.

Cherry continued, calling the project "one small piece of the County government's recovery efforts." He also thanked the County employees for their hard work, especially Sheryl Largeteau. He then introduced Supervisors Earl VanWormer of Esperance, Chris Tague of Schoharie, and Harold Vroman of Summit.

Supervisor VanWormer, the current Board Chair, thanked many. He said that this project was especially important to him considering that he was personally affected by the flood. The Chair then thanked Assemblyman Lopez for finding state funding for the project. Lopez said that it was his "goal to give people peace."

Supervisor Tague then thanked the Treasurer, saying that the project was "beautiful." Tague said that the project showed that Schoharie's "best days are yet to come."

The last remarks came from County employee and Schoharie Village Trustee Larry Caza, who complimented the hard work on the project. He said that "The Village's downtown is the Town's downtown. The Town's downtown is the County's downtown." Cherry thanked his support and that of Mayor John Borst. Caza thanked the Promotional Association.

The group traveled outside for a symbolic ribbon cutting, followed by a cake and coffee.

Vote in Our New Poll: Your Choice for Congress

Make sure to vote in our new poll about your choice for Congress. Our poll is on the right hand side of the site.

Trump Leading in Newest Schoharie News Poll

The Schoharie News' latest poll places Donald Trump significantly in the lead of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The non-scientific poll, which ran for three weeks on our website, collected 129 votes. Of these, 66, or 51% sided with Trump. Clinton gained 31, or 24%, with Gary Johnson and Jill Stein taking 8% and 3%, respectively. Another 14% stated that they would either vote for another candidate or none of the above.

If the undecided individuals were removed from the equation, the situation would look slightly different. Clinton would improve to 28%, Trump to 59%, Johnson to 9%, and Stein to 4%. While this poll was conducted online, the Schoharie News' polling before the 2014 Governor's race was close to the actual results. Take a look online for our newest poll, regarding the Congressional race.

Bank of Coxsackie Preparing for Four Year Anniversary in Middleburgh

National Bank of Coxsackie is gearing up to celebrate their 4 year anniversary in Middleburgh next month! NBC opened their doors in Middleburgh in November of 2012, shortly after the area was heavily damaged by Hurricane Irene. Since then, NBC has stood by their commitment of contributing to the community and assisting those in need. Their branch staff include Debra Mickel (Branch Manager),Jaclyn Kossmann (Platform Administrator), Dawn Leggiadro (Teller), and Jamie Casterlin (Business Development). Debbie Mickel has been with NBC since they opened their doors in Middleburgh. Herself, Jackie, and Dawn all reside in the community and quickly agreed that they “love working together, and have essentially become family” as Debbie Mickel put it. “It’s easy to love living and working in Middleburgh with how close knit the community is” Dawn and Jackie echoed.

Jamie Casterlin was the most recent addition to the NBC Middleburgh team earlier this year. “I truly enjoy working for NBC in the community I have come to love” Jamie said, “Middleburgh is a veryspecial place with great people and a real sense of unity. Working for National Bank of Coxsackie hasgiven me the ability to help customers meet their financial needs in creative ways”. National Bank of Coxsackie made a promise to Middleburgh when they opened their doors nearly 4years ago. That they are here to stay. They have stuck by that pledge by immersing themselves in the community and supporting many local events. You’d be hard pressed to attend a Middleburgh function and not see an NBC balloon and tote bag walk by. Currently at NBC, they are running a special on Christmas Club accounts and New Basic Checking Accounts. They pride themselves on offering the same products and service as the bigger banks,simply with that hometown, local feeling. To learn more about National Bank of Coxsackie, or to simply stop in for a cup of coffee, contact Debbie Mickel at the branch – (518) 827-3333 ordmickel@nbcoxsackie.com.

PA Creates New Fracking Restrictions

Pennsylvania has seen a mixed bag from natural gas hydraulic fracturing. One the one hand, thousands of jobs have been created, while on the other activists argue that there has been irreparable damage to the environment.

 The state's Department of Environmental Protection announced that their Chapter 78(a) regulations went into effect October 22nd. The current governor, Tom Wolf, ran and won the 2014 gubernatorial race based on a promise to restrict fracking.

The new regulations have a multitude of effects, including:

• Allowing the DEP to require special protective measures for drilling near school property, playgrounds, parks, forests, and other public property.
• Operators must remediate any water supply affected by oil and natural gas development.
• Electronic filing provisions for the DEP to track well development and operations.
• Strengthen regulations for storage of fracking wastewater. This includes a general, but not complete, prohibition of disposal of drill cuttings at well sites.

According to the Marcellus Shale Coalition the new requirements will increase filing requirements of 70 new forms per well. They estimate that the regulations could cost $2 million per well, which could cause a reduction in well drilling.

Cobleskill Minor Arrested after Fight at Cobleskill-Richmondville

On October 26 the Schoharie County Sheriff's Office arrested a 16 year old female for Assault  3rd Degree after an incident at the Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School involving a 17 year old female.

The 16 year old was arraigned in Richmondville Town Court and released pending a court appearance at a later date.

Soil Scientist Dr. Laura Lengnick to Speak at SUNY Cobleskill

How do we feed a growing world population when the way we eat fuels climate change? On Thursday, November 3, Laura Lengnick, renowned sustainable agriculture expert and author of Resilient Agriculture: Cultivating Food Systems for a Changing Climate, will discuss how to adapt agricultural practices and food systems to survive and thrive in a changing climate. The lecture will be free and open to the public.

“Climate change is upon us, and agriculture is inextricably involved,” Lengnick said. “Farming is fundamental to our identity as a species, and it is crucial to the health and well-being of our communities.  But the way that we eat fuels the 21st-century challenges that threaten our way of life. How do we resolve this dilemma?”

Lengnick’s book draws on the adaptation stories of 25 award-winning sustainable U.S. producers of vegetables, fruits and nuts, grains, and livestock to find answers to this question. The book features local livestock farmer and retired SUNY Cobleskill faculty member Jim Hayes.

“These producers, many of them third- or fourth-generation farmers and ranchers, have managed sustainable businesses in the same location for 25 to more than 40 years,” Lengnick said, “Since about 2000, most have experienced increased challenges associated with more variable weather and more frequent and intense weather extremes.” Lengnick discovered that these producers are innovating new strategies of sustainable agriculture to reduce climate risk and cultivate resilience on their farms and ranches and in the communities they serve.

Laura Lengnick is an award-winning soil scientist who has explored agricultural sustainability for more than 30 years as a researcher, policy-maker, educator, and farmer. Her work in sustainable farming systems was nationally-recognized with a USDA Secretary’s Honor Award and she contributed to the 3rd National Climate Assessment as a lead author of the USDA report Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture: Effects and Adaptation.

Laura led the academic program in sustainable agriculture at Warren Wilson College for more than a decade, where she also served as the Director of Sustainability Education, and taught courses featuring agroecology, change leadership, whole farm planning with holistic management, sustainability assessment, and sustainable decision-making. In 2015, Laura left the college to launch Cultivating Resilience, LLC, a private consulting firm offering ecosystem-based climate risk management services to government, business, and communities.  She serves as an advisor to the USDA Climate Science Learning Network, NC Adapt, and the North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance. She holds an adjunct faculty position in Horticulture at North Carolina State University.

Laura Lengnick’s visit to SUNY Cobleskill will precede and complement a presentation at the annual Farmers’ Museum Conference on Food & Farming in Cooperstown, where she is being sponsored by SUNY Cobleskill as the keynote speaker. This year’s conference is titled “Climate Change & Its Impact on Farming in Central New York”.

During her visit, Lengnick will meet with SUNY Cobleskill students in their classes for conversations about sustainable agriculture. Her book, Resilient Agriculture: Cultivating Food Systems for a Changing Climate, will be available in the SUNY Cobleskill bookstore and Lengnick will be signing copies.

Schedule for Thursday, Nov. 3:

5 p.m. - Book signing at Farm Fresh Café in Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources

6 p.m. - Lecture in Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources 101

7 - 8 p.m. - Book signing reception at Farm Fresh Café in Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources

Richmondville Man Arrested in Interstate Murder for Hire Plot

In a story that has hit national headlines, a Richmondville man was arrested on charges that he was acting as a hitman. The man met with an undercover agent he believed was seeking his services.

Joshua Craig Rowling, 18, of Richmondville, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, one count of possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, one count of unlawful possession of a weapon and one count of possession of a silencer. He was arrested after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (BCPO) Cyber Crimes Unit.

Photo credit NJ.com and Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office

The case was profiled on the ICE website, with more details about the circumstances. According to law enforcement, Rowling used internet in an attempt to obtain a firearm outfitted with a silencer and cash in exchange for committing a murder.  Allegedly, Rowling went to Mahwah, New Jersey to meet with an undercover officer he believed was intent on hiring him for murder. Search warrants at his home in New York as well as his vehicle in New Jersey, resulted various evidence.

Bail was set at $1,000,000 with no 10 percent option.  Rowling was remanded to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of bail pending his first appearance in the Bergen County Central Municipal Court in Hackensack, New Jersey, on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016.

Board of Supervisors Hears Report on Youth Drug Addiction

On Friday, October 21st the County Board of Supervisors heard a report from Norine Hodges at the Schoharie County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, or SCCASA. She presented as part of the organization's twelve year strategic plan intended to take place between 2006 and 2018.

Over the last ten years the group has been attending local schools with the goal of reducing alcohol and drug use by 85% during the twelve years. The organization works with the Cobleskill-Richmondville, Schoharie, and Middleburgh Central School districts to monitor the amount of substance abuse and other key factors affecting young people. It also works with Jefferson and Sharon Springs on other programs to prevent drug addiction.

The agency has worked on a number of programs, including staff trainings, parent training, and adult presentations. Currently, there is one full time and two part time staff members, with flat state funding since 2006. Hodges asked the County Board to request more funding from the state.

According to Hodges' presentation, approximately 45-50% of students believe in positive factors that help prevent drug addiction. She was proud to present that this year represents the first group of students graduating that went K-12 through the program.

The statistics are stark. In 2006 almost half of local 12th graders had friends that used drugs. In 2013, the most recent statistics available, that number had fallen to 29.4%. There was a similar story with 8th graders that used alcohol in the past 30 days. In 2006, that number was 31%. In 2013 it was 14%. In 2006 66% of 12th graders had used alcohol in the previous month, with 51.5% using it in 2013.

Hodges cited heroin as a major issue for the area. She said that opiod treatment "restructures the brain." She referred to opiate addiction as a "cognitive disease." She also mentioned a twenty year cycle of opiod drug use in the County that overlapped with the age of Oxycontin. Hodges said that in many ways, doctors were penalized for not prescribing painkillers.

New anti-opiod drugs help, Hodges said, but often the problem are parents that are addicted. Their children are often in foster care. Such cases have doubled in Schoharie County. She would like to increase communication between doctors and treatment options. There are currently two drug drop-off stations in the county, including one at the Cobleskill Police Station. Typically, the group collects a hundred pounds of meds per pickup. She also cited concern about sharps, including needles, around the area.

Supervisor Leo McAllister of Cobleskill recommended presentations at every town meeting. Supervisor Larry Bradt of Carlisle complimented SCCASA and asked where the drugs were coming from. Hodges replied that the former drug center in the area was Schenectady, but recently has been Syracuse. Both agreed that sealing the border with Mexico would help the problem. Hodges said that another investigator would help handle the problem. Ultimately, the supply would keep coming but Hodges said that important action could be taken to lower the demand, as well.

"We're at a crossroads," she said.

Supervisor Chris Tague of Schoharie said he was "impressed by the staff" of SCCASA. He asked what the Board could do to help. The Board members agreed to send a letter to the state requesting more funding for the agency.

Summit Halloween Party a Success

Photo and Information from Karen Cuccinello

Summit Halloween prize winners- Leo and Leah VanValkenburgh; Danny Schaffer; Jayden Cumino; Lilly St. John; Trevor Babcock; Kale, Alaina and Nathaniel Michasiow; Shavonne, Alexander and Gemma Travers. The children enjoyed arts & crafts, refreshments, a hayride and games on October 23, thanks to the Summit Rescue Squad.

Canines and Handlers Graduate from the NYSP Canine Handler Basic School

The New York State Police held a graduation ceremony Friday, October 21, for the 2016 Canine Handler Basic School. The ceremony was held at the New York State Police Academy in Albany.

The 11 graduates include members from the New York State Police, Albany Police Department, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Schenectady Police Department and Tupper Lake Police Department.

Interviews with the canine handlers listed below and B-roll of training techniques is available at www.youtube.com/nyspolice.

Interviews:  
Trooper Andrew W. Gargiulo, Canine TJ – Troop L (SP Riverside)
Trooper Heidi L. Lyndaker, Canine Ram – Troop D (SP Alexandria Bay)
Trooper Shannon J. Saunders, Canine PJ – Troop B (SP Blue Ridge)
Trooper Jason S. Sedita, Canine Rickie – Troop F (Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit)
Trooper Matthew G. Strobeck, Canine Simpson – Troop C (SP Stamford)

The canines and their handlers underwent 20 weeks of training at the New York State Police Canine Training Facility located in Cooperstown, New York. During the training, students and their partners received instruction in basic obedience, agility, handler protection, building searches, explosive or narcotic detection, tracking for fugitives and lost or missing persons, basic veterinary care and land navigation and grid searches.

The current strength of the State Police Canine Unit is 90 teams, including those who graduated today. During the first 9 months of 2015, the members of the Division Canine Unit responded to 7,434 calls for service.
Canines that are part of the Division Canine Unit are donated through the generosity of breeders, private individuals, and humane societies.  All canines are put through extensive testing and evaluation prior to assignment in the Canine Basic Handler’s School.  State Police canines are named after members killed in the line of duty.

The following is a full list of the graduating handlers, their canines and namesakes, and assigned troop or agency:
 
Trooper Travis C. Bauer, Canine Hugh – Troop D (SP Herkimer) Lt. Tremain M. Hughes
Trooper Andrew W. Gargiulo, Canine TJ – Troop L (SP Riverside) Trooper Thomas J. Consorte
Trooper Matthew S. Hinz, Canine Tomi – Troop F (SP Liberty) Senior Investigator Thomas G. Moran Jr.
Trooper Heidi L. Lyndaker, Canine Ram – Troop D (SP Alexandria Bay) Trooper Robert A. Moore
Trooper Shannon J. Saunders, Canine PJ – Troop B (SP Blue Ridge) Trooper Peter J. Formosa
Trooper Jason S. Sedita, Canine Rickie – Troop F (Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit) Investigator Richard B. Snyder
Trooper Matthew G. Stobeck, Canine Simpson – Troop C (SP Stamford) Trooper Ernest M. Simpson

Patrolman Bret C. Phillips, Canine Doug – Albany Police Department, Detective Douglas Mayville
Correction Officer Michael B. Kasper, Canine Loki – NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, no namesake
Patrolman Kevin C. Derkowski, Canine Flynn – Schenectady Police Department, Patrolman John R. Flynn
Officer Jordan R. Nason, Canine JD – Tupper Lake Police Department, Retired Chief J.D. Auclair
 

Tague: Zicha Site Figures Inaccurate, Believes Site Could Open Economic Opportunities

Last night we were contacted by Schoharie Supervisor Chris Tague about our article Saturday regarding potential jail sites. He emailed us several updates on the project, including updated estimates regarding costs.

In our article we cited figures from Flood Recovery Manager Bill Cherry's October 3rd letter to the members of the Buildings and Purchases Committee and Law Enforcement Committee. In our piece, we wrote, "Water lines would need to be extended either from Schoharie four miles away or five to six miles from Cobleskill. Sewer lines may be extended one mile from Central Bridge depending on capacity. It is currently unknown if the site is still for sale."

Supervisor Tague sent us an email from October 17th, in which he cites information from Jack McDonald, the engineer of record for the Cobleskill to Howes Cave water system and the Central Bridge Water and Sewer District. McDonald's estimate is that running water from the corner of Route 7 and Zicha Road, a distance of 3.8 miles, would cost $2.9 million. McDonald stated that a one mile extension from Central Bridge would cost approximately $686,000. Tague called either "a cheap investment in the possibility of serious economic development to benefit the entire county down the Route 7 Corridor."

For Tague, this is the best possible location for the jail as it is near access points to the Capital District and near the courthouse in Schoharie. He cites the fact that the Central Bridge sewer system is new and the District recently received $5 million in grants for projects expected done by the end of 2017.

Seward: New Heroin Recovery Laws Taking Hold

As a member of the Senate’s Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction I have worked to enact new laws to fight the heroin and opioid abuse crisis.  The laws focus on a number of key areas including initiatives to increase access to treatment and support those who are in recovery.

Several changes in our laws are now in effect and just recently the Department of Financial Services (DFS), the agency that oversees and regulates insurance companies in New York State, outlined the revisions in a special guidance letter to health insurers.

The guidance issued by DFS outlines the new requirements insurers must adhere to in regard to medication, inpatient and outpatient treatment, and other vital addiction recovery services.

Here are some of the key changes that I have fought to enact.

Ending Prior Insurance Authorization for Immediate Access to Inpatient Treatment Services: Requires up to a minimum of 14 days of coverage for necessary inpatient treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) without prior approval or concurrent utilization review (UR) during those 14 days for in-network providers.

Lengthening the Amount of Time Families Can Seek Emergency Drug Treatment: Extends the amount of time a person can be held to receive emergency services related to substance use from 48 hours to 72 hours. This bill also ensures the provision of adequate discharge planning from treatment facilities, provides individuals with the opportunity to seek further substance use treatment, and requires the dissemination of information on the dangers of long-term substance use and treatment resources.

Using Consistent Criteria to Determine the Medical Necessity of Treatments: Allows providers to determine the most appropriate level of care for a client with a substance abuse disorder, regardless of what diagnostic tool is used to determine treatment service levels. Providers could use either OASAS’s Level of Care for Alcohol and Drug Treatment Referral (LOCADTR) or any other diagnostic tool approved by OASAS – increasing the ability of providers to make sure that patients are able to receive the treatment they need.

Authorizing Emergency Substance Use Disorder Medication Coverage: Requires insurance coverage, without prior authorization, for an emergency five-day supply of medications for treating a substance use disorder when emergency conditions exist. Any copayments or coinsurance collected for the emergency supply must not exceed the copayment or coinsurance otherwise applicable to a 30-day supply of such medication.

Expanding Access to Naloxone/Opioid Reversal Medication Coverage: Requires insurance coverage for Naloxone or other overdose reversal medication, whether it is prescribed to a person who is addicted to opioids or their family member covered under the same insurance plan.

DFS will review health insurers’ compliance with requirements for coverage during market conduct exams and will take action against any insurers found to have failed to meet all statutory and regulatory requirements for coverage of substance use disorder treatment.

The full guidance letter can be found on the DFS website at http://www.dfs.ny.gov/insurance/circltr/2016/cl2016_06.pdf.

Going forward, we must also take additional steps to target drug kingpins who prey on the addiction of others.  One piece of legislation that would help, known as Laree’s Law, would establish the crime of homicide by sale of an opioid controlled substance.  The bill (S.4163) would allow law enforcement officials to charge a dealer with homicide if heroin or an opiate-controlled substance they sell causes an overdose death.  The senate has passed the bill in each of the last three years, but the assembly has failed to consider the measure.  Those who prey on the addiction of others are abhorrent and should be dealt with severely.

Heroin and opioid addiction is a public health crisis and no one is immune to the crippling effects of this epidemic.  I will continue to work closely with community agencies, healthcare professionals, and local law enforcement to assess the effectiveness of these new laws and take additional actions as needed.
         
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            Senator Seward’s office web site is www.seward.nysenate.gov.
            Like Senator Seward at www.facebook.com/senatorjimseward.

A Look at the Proposed Jail Sites

A number of proposed sites for a new jail were discussed at Friday's Board of Supervisors meeting. The Buildings and Purchases and Law Enforcement Committees had a joint meeting on October 4th. The Chair of the Buildings and Purchases Committee, Gilboa Supervisor Tony VanGlad identified several sites as among the most advantageous.

The County is currently working with LaBella Associates engineering and planning firm, Lamont Engineering, BBL Construction Management, and the West Law Firm to determine cost estimates for each site. These reports are expected in mid-November.

According to information provided by Flood Recovery Manager Bill Cherry, the following are sites are considered:

Zicha Road: The site has no water or sewer and due to a slope the building would have to be placed close to the intersection of Zicha Road and Route 7. Water lines would need to be extended either from Schoharie four miles away or five to six miles from Cobleskill. Sewer lines may be extended one mile from Central Bridge depending on capacity. It is currently unknown if the site is still for sale.

A&S Garage: The former site currently has no water or sewer. Water lines would likely need to be run from the Village of Middleburgh, approximately three miles away. There could be significant environmental costs to clean up years of automotive debris. The site is currently for sale.

Fire Training Facility: This parcel was created by the dumping of soft fill from quarry byproducts. The site does have wetlands and soft spots and the only buildable site is where the Fire Training Facility stands. The building was constructed several years ago, half funded by state grants, which could cause issues with demolition. Both water and sewer are close but not on the parcel. The parcel is currently owned by the County.

Doc Reilly Park: This site does have water and sewer services at the property line. There are significant legal hurdles to turn a current park into a jail. This could be an insurmountable challenge according to the County's legal team. Furthermore, the parcel is in the 500 year floodplain and it is unknown whether the portion outside of the floodplain was inundated in 2011. The property is currently owned by the Town of Cobleskill, with a deed restriction limiting its use to a municipal park.

The Nark Farm on Shady Tree Lane: Has water, sewer, and natural gas services at the property line. The site is level and the facility would be largely out of the Route 7 viewshed. The corner of Shady Tree Lane and Route 7 would need substantial work to eliminate a steep angle of the intersection. It is estimated that this could be done within budget. The site is currently for sale.

Rubin Road Site: This site lies between Route 7 and I-88 across the road from MOSA. It has water, sewer, and natural gas at the property line. The parcel is rocky and sloping which could limit the size and positioning of the facility and further study is needed to see whether excavation costs would be prohibitive. The jail would likely be visible from I-88 but not Route 7. The site is for sale.

Mineral Springs Road: There are two Industrial Development Agency-owned parcels in the Town of Cobleskill. There is natural gas, water, and sewer access at the property line. These two could be combined to create the facility. This site has the lowest expected excavation and site-preparation costs. The building would be visible from part of the Village of Cobleskill and I-88. It is unknown whether the IDA would sell these parcels.

Forrester Road: This site has water, sewer, and natural gas access at the property line. The facility would sit higher behind the Dunkin' Donuts in Cobleskill. The property owner indicated they would not sell the site if it would be made into a jail.

Camp Summit: There is no water or sewer service near the site and the driving distance to the Schoharie Courthouse would be prohibitive.

According to the letter from the Treasurer, the County must consider several factors. These include the site being outside of the 500 year floodplain and not impacted by Hurricane Irene. It must be a minimum of 15-20 acres, but larger would be better. It should be adjacent to municipal water and sewer. It should be within ten miles of the County Courthouse. There should be minimal social impact, and not within a residential neighborhood. The County is looking to avoid eminent domain issues. The County is also prioritizing access to routes to the Capital District.

CRCS JV Football Team Loses to Schuylerville

Information from Karen Cuccinello

The Bulldogs scored a dynamic touchdown at the end of the game but it wasn't enough to overcome Schuylerville, which won 14-8.

Zombie Run a Success at Best House

Information and Photos by Karen Cuccinello

The Zombie 5K run was a success again held last Saturday and largely organized by Bobbi Ryan.

Age category 6-11 Harley Spohn (front left), 

18 and Over Erica Bornhoff (middle front)

12-17 Jack Burton (Right front)

back row- Zombie Goblet Team Winners: The Spartins (winners second year in a row)

Board of Supervisors: Jail Site Decision Later this Year

The Board of Supervisors discussed possible jail sites at their meeting today. Flood Recovery manager Bill Cherry spoke to the members about several potential jail sites.

Supervisor Larry Bradt was concerned about the designed capacity of the Central Bridge wastewater if the jail site was placed there. Supervisor Tague added, “I sent Bill [Cherry] the information.”

Supervisor Tony VanGlad of Gilboa discussed the twelve original sites recommended by Cherry and the Committee whittled it down to five potential spots. VanGlad would like to further reduce the number of choices to three and asked the Board to give opinions. He asked the Treasurer how quickly he would need a response. Cherry said that all five needed more information and requested the Supervisors waited until then to fill out any survey.

“We know that it has to be out of the 500 year flood plain,” Cherry said, “Topography is an issue. Distance from the County building is an issue.” Supervisor Federice asked about how the ranking is different than how the Seebold site was chosen. Cherry replied that many of the factors were similar but factors had changed.

Leo McAllister asked about a timeframe for choosing a jail site. “It would appear we need to make a decision relatively quickly,” he said. Cherry replied that even if the reports were in at the November meeting, the Board would still need time to review. He said that there could be intervening factor, including potential legal issues or cost. He said it would likely take until the end of the year.

State Police in Cobleskill investigate rolled over tractor trailer on I-88

On October 19, 2016 at approximately 3:30 AM State Police in Cobleskill investigated a tractor trailer rollover accident on I-88 Eastbound.  Investigation revealed that a 2007 Volvo tractor trailer was traveling Westbound on I-88 in rainy conditions, when the operator Robert K. Wilson, age 57, of Belchertown, MA lost control of the vehicle and traveled through the median, and across the Eastbound lanes of traffic before overturning onto its side in a ditch.  As a result Eastbound lanes of traffic were closed for several hours while the vehicle was being recovered.  Wilson was ticketed for Failure to Keep Right, Speed Not Reasonable and Prudent, Moving From Lane Unsafely, and Failure to Use Designated Lane.  He was transported to Cobleskill Regional Hospital where he was treated and released for minor injuries.

Cobleskill Man Arrested for DWI

On 10/14 16 at 8:15 PM the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jesse J. Stanhope, age 24, of Cobleskill NY on Hite Road in the Town of Richmondville for several vehicle and traffic charges.

Stanhope was originally stopped for Failure to Keep Right. Upon further investigation he was additionally charged with the misdemeanors of Driving While Intoxicated, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 3rd Degree and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 1st Degree a Felony for operating a motor vehicle while his license was suspended after a previous alcohol related offense.

Stanhope was arraigned in Richmondville Town Court and released without bail to appear back in court at a later date

CRCS JV Defeats Ichabod Crane 22-8

Photos and information by Karen Cuccinello

Cobleskill-Richmondville's JV football team defeated their counterparts at Ichabod Crane this week.

CRCS JV half time huddle with coach Shuart at Ichabod Crane Central School

CRCS JV Football versus Ichabod Crane 1st touchdown of 3

State Police arrest three men for Burglary following trespass complaint in the Town of Broome

State Police in Cobleskill arrested three Connecticut men charging them with Burglary 2nd and various other charges following a trespass complaint on Bates Hollow Road in the Town of Broome on October 8, 2016.
Troopers arrested Daniel W. Tarantino, age 44, of Waterbury Connecticut, Carl R. Colangelo, age 51 and Matthew J. Colangelo, age 22, also of Waterbury Connecticut, charging all three with Burglary 2nd a C Felony. Carl Colangelo and Daniel Tarantino were also charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 5th, a Class A Misdemeanor. The arrests were made following a complaint of an active trespass that was received through the Schoharie County 911 Dispatch Center. During the investigation Troopers located the defendants based on vehicle and personal descriptions. Stolen property from the the crime was recovered at the time of arrest. All three defendants were arraigned and remanded to the Schoharie County Correctional Facility in lieu of cash bail and given a return date of October 12, 2016 at the Broome Town Court. This investigation was a joint investigation headed by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation with assistance from the SP Cobleskill Road Patro

Matthew Colangelo

Carl Colangelo

Tarantino

Esperance Man Arrested on DWI Charges

State Police based in Cobleskill arrested an Esperance man for Driving While Intoxicated and multiple drug charges following a traffic stop on October 8, 2016.

 Troopers arrested Roger E. Sulem, age 38, of Esperance charging him with DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 1st, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 5th, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. The charges occurred after Sulem was stopped for a traffic violation on State Route 20 in the Town of Esperance. Sulem was arraigned on the charges and remanded to the Schoharie County Correctional Facility in lieu of cash bail. Sulem is expected to appear in the Town of Esperance Court on October 12, 2016 at 6:00pm.

MIddleburgh Business Assn Reviews the Last First Friday

Photo and article by Sheila Donegan

The business association in Middleburgh, known as MABA, has experimented with varying times for its regular monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of the month. It has varied between morning and evening hours, in the attempt to include as many members and guests who can attend. This month, it was 8:30am today, at the Green Wolf Brewing Co.

 Of course, the conversation began with the most recent First Friday event, October 7, and that will be the last one for this year. It gets darker, earlier, and it was suggested that visiting vendors be told they might want to arrange for some lighting when they participate in the autumn. The event was very well-attended, despite the school homecoming game. Lots of people showed up after that.

 As always, stores and restaurants in the village keep later hours, vendors are allocated a spot to set up, there may be special activities, and there is always music. Curiosity takes people up and down the sidewalks, and everyone seems to have a good time.

Sheriff's Office Unveils Project C.R.A.S.H to County High Schoolers

COBLESKILL - Following months of shooting film and countless volunteer hours, the Schoharie County Sheriff's Office unveiled a twenty-seven minute film to the bulk of the county's high school students at SUNY Cobleskill on Thursday morning as part of the department's Project C.R.A.S.H initiative to discourage distracted teen driving.

Photos by Timothy Knight

Spearheaded by Schoharie County Deputy Bruce Baker, in conjunction with SCCASA, the project began as an idea that soon took on a life of its own. A life that would not have become reality if not for the community's support.

The acronym for Project C.R.A.S.H stands for Creating Real Alternatives & Spreading Hope, which Deputy Baker hopes can fill the void left by DARE and other programs following Irene. 

Operating on the mentality that, "If we're going to impact the community, we need to include the community," Deputy Baker told The Schoharie News in a recent interview that all hands were on deck for this project. 

The film was showed in two viewings, hosted in the
SUNY Cobleskill Ballroom at Bouck Hall.

From involving the county's six school districts and various EMS/Fire Departments to Schopeg and LifeNet, volunteers came out of the woodwork to assist Baker in the development of the emotional video, which depicts the fatal effects of distracted teen driving.

The film's cast consists of high school students, law enforcement officials, first responders, local stage actors, and News10 ABC reporters, while video was shot and edited by the county's public access station, Schopeg. 

The first of many school buses arriving to drop off
hundreds of Schoharie County high schoolers for the premier.

Unveiled in two premiers to the entirety of the county's Junior and Senior high school students, News10 morning reporter Samantha DiMascio tweeted on the scene that students were crying throughout the film, with some even leaving the room altogether. 

Encouraged by the tremendous outpouring of community support and the students favorable response, Deputy Baker indicated that the Sheriff's Office will be tackling other topics in future films, including substance abuse and suicide prevention. Baker told The Schoharie News that he is eyeing the release of both by this holiday season.

The video has been published online by Schopeg for anyone to view, while the Sheriff's Office has launched a Facebook page to promote Project C.R.A.S.H.

Cobleskill Police Blotter

Monday, October 3, 2016

At 2:00 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Dane Knight, 21, of Cobleskill, NY, for Menacing in the 3rd degree.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and released on his own recognizance.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on October 18th at 5:00 p.m.

Friday, October 7, 2016

At 12:25 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Zachary R. Foland, 24, of Cobleskill, NY, for Aggravated Harassment 2nd, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th and 2 counts of Harassment 2nd.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $1000 Bail / $3000 Bond.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on October 11th at 5:00 p.m.
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At 2:31 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Todd Mills, 42, of Cobleskill, NY, for DWI and other vehicle and traffic tickets.  He was released and is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on October 25th at 5:00 p.m.

Fire Heavily Damages Main Street Building in Cobleskill

On Sunday, October 9th, 2016 at about 10:12 pm, the Cobleskill Police Department received a report of a structure fire at 695 East Main Street in the Village of Cobleskill. CPD Patrol units immediately responded and observed smoke coming from the building. Sgt. Harold Wilday entered the structure, a multi-unit apartment building, and was able to evacuate all of the tenants that were still inside of the building, as well as a cat belonging to one of the tenants. All tenants were evacuated safely without injury.

The Cobleskill Fire Department arrived on scene and, with assistance from the Richmondville Fire Department and County FAST team, was able to extinguish the fire.

The New York State Police and Schoharie County Sheriffs Office responded to the scene and assisted with traffic control.

The cause of the fire was investigated by the Schoharie County FIVES team and determined to be of accidental origin.

At this time, the building is uninhabitable, and the former occupants are being assisted by the Red Cross.

Man Arrested in Middleburgh on Weapons Charge

Sheriff's Deputies carried out an arrest in the Town of Middleburgh last week following a traffic stop. On October 6th, Robert D. Cooper, 43, of Schenectady, was arrested following a traffic stop on Route 145 in Middleburgh. He was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree, which is a Class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket to reappear in the Town of Middleburgh Court at a later date.

Seward Man Arrested on Weapons Charges

Edward Merwin, 46, of Seward, was arrested on October 6th. He was charged with Menacing 2nd degree and criminal possession of a weapon 4th degree. Both are Class A Misdemeanors. He was issued appearance tickets to reappear in the Town of Seward Court at a later date.

Seward: Standing up to Domestic Violence

By State Senator Jim Seward

Since 1987, our nation has observed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Tragically, nearly one in four women and one in seven men are victims of domestic violence and abuse.  Domestic violence is a crime that rips apart the very fabric of families.  It can afflict every segment of society and knows no economic, ethnic or geographic boundaries.

I have been a strong voice against domestic violence and have worked to enact laws that combat this crime here in New York State.  Over the years, several measures have been adopted to help innocent victims, provide police and prosecutors with the tools they need to arrest and convict those who commit such heinous acts, and to increase the penalties imposed on the offenders.

In 2012, a landmark law was enacted increasing penalties for those convicted of domestic violence, creating several new crime classifications, and expanding protections available to victims.  Then in 2015, a pair of measures that were part of the senate’s Women’s Equality Agenda were signed into law:

Senate bill 5 prohibits discrimination against domestic violence victims in housing, and, under the provisions of the law, a violation of this prohibition would be a misdemeanor. The new law amends the Real Property Law to protect victims of domestic violence from discrimination when they attempt to rent or lease housing and provides victims a defense in eviction proceedings.  The legislation also allows the option of a civil action for a violation of the prohibition;

Senate bill 6 allows domestic violence victims to electronically file for orders of protection.  Victims of domestic violence face too many obstacles in securing protection from their abusers.  Some victims require immediate temporary orders of protection, but have no means to travel to the appropriate family court.  The legislation creates a pilot program to allow domestic violence victims to seek temporary orders of protection through electronic means rather than having to appear in person.   The new law also requires the Office of Court Administration to review and update their policies and services for all crime victims in the courts to make sure that their needs are being met so victims are truly protected.



The new laws are both key steps in assisting victims of domestic violence, however, there are additional measures I am continuing to fight for.  This year, a pair of bills were passed by the senate:
                   
S.6658 – The Domestic Violence Protection Act, also known as Brittany’s Law, that would create a publicly accessible registry of all individuals convicted of a violent felony and allow local law enforcement to keep track of their location.  The registry would be accessible to the public, similar to the registry of sex offenders that the state currently has in place;

S.3087 – Allowing domestic violence victims to testify via closed circuit television to avoid courtroom intimidation by alleged abusers. Current law only allows children who are considered vulnerable by a judge to testify via closed-circuit television. This legislation would also give domestic violence victims the option of testifying outside of the physical presence of their abusers to help facilitate cooperation with prosecutions.

While both bills passed the senate, the state assembly failed to bring either to the floor for consideration.

Domestic violence victims are often dealing with both physical and emotional trauma.  These bills ensure that victims are not mistreated further and are able to start rebuilding their lives.  In addition, Brittany’s Law would increase community awareness of predators and help strengthen public safety.

We are also fortunate to have several local organizations providing help to vulnerable individual.  I have consistently secured grant funds for these agencies to help them in their efforts to make our communities safer.  These agencies are lifelines and, in many cases, are all that stand between a domestic violence victim and a tragic situation.


By toughening our laws -- and continuing to increase public awareness -- we will better protect victims of domestic violence, while also bringing perpetrators of this terrible crime to justice.

Schoharie ARC Partnerships Fund Charity Partnerships

By Tammy Ruise

Schoharie County ARC's Toe Path Redemption Center has been working with the Wright-Schoharie Valley Lions Club on a collaborative recycling effort. Every Saturday morning, Jim Lord greets smiling faces of those returning cans & bottles at the Town of Wright Transfer Station. Mr. Lord saves the returns for pick up from the Schoharie ARC's Toe Path Redemption Center. The recycling efforts help raise over $2,000 to benefit many local charitable programming efforts sponsored by the Wright-Schoharie Valley Lions Club including: hearing and sight initiatives, scholarship and student leadership programming, the Regional Food Bank and the Joshua Project to name only a few. Pictured are David DiNicola, General Manager for Schoharie ARC's Toe Path Redemption Center; Jim Lord, Chair of the Lions Club Recycling Program and club director; Tom Snowdon, the Club's vice-president; and Kirk Playford, an employee at the Toe Path Redemption Center. Schoharie ARC has also partnered with the local Lions Club on other fundraising projects including pumpkin sales. Donations of redeemable cans and bottles (and other recyclable items) can be made at the Town of Wright Transfer Station on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:00 and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m.) For more information on the Lions Club, their recycling program and their charitable efforts, please contact Ellen Snowdon at snowdeersnow@msn.com. Schoharie ARC's Toe Path Redemption Center is open Mon-Fri 9-4 and is located at 121 Opportunity Drive, Schoharie NY. Donations for the Lions Club may also be made at this location during regular business hours. For more information on Toe Path Redemption Center, Please call 51-295-8130.

Vote in Our Poll: Your Choice for President

2016 has proven one of the most interesting election cycles in memory. With the debate tonight, it seemed fitting to have our poll be about the race. Make sure to vote in our poll, located on the right hand column of the site. We'll be publishing the results later this week.

The Schoharie News, WSDE 1190 AM Announce Partnership

WSDE of Cobleskill and the Schoharie News have announced a partnership. The two media organizations will share news resources and reporting, including breaking news from across Schoharie County. The Schoharie News aims to send original content for WSDE LITE FM 94.3 AM 1190, including interviews of local officials, history programs, and more.

The Schoharie News' owner Matthew Avitabile said that the partnership was a natural choice, praising Ed Sherlock's leadership at WSDE. "I know we can make great things happen," he said, "We will leave no stone unturned."

WSDE owner Ed Sherlock said that he was excited for the endeavor and looked forward to the partnership.

The Schoharie News and WSDE announced a 30% discount for ads taken for both mediums for periods three months or longer. Both companies aim to expand their coverage and move in a mutually beneficial direction for media consumers in Schoharie County. For more information please contact Mr. Sherlock at ed@1190wsde.com or the Schoharie News at theschonews@gmail.com

Laraway Leads Middleburgh Cemetery Cleanup

Photos and information from Karen Cuccinello

The Middleburgh Central School Schoharie County History class spent the day at the Middleburgh Cemetery on October 7th. The 22 students first cleaned up some sections of the cemetery and then went on a tour, given by their teacher Wes Laraway, highlighting some of the more significant residents of the cemetery.

Class and students stood up the grave stone of Harriet (Chase) Neville who died February 24, 1862 aged 23 years.

The day closed with pizza from Hubie's and goodies made by Bunnie Bates, and a tour of Wes's NY Wildlife Rescue Center. The lunch was provided by the Middleburgh Historical Society.

Best House Part of Successful First Friday Celebration

Article and Photos by Karen Cuccinello

The last 1st Friday Street Festival, for the 2016 season, was held in Middleburgh on October 7. The Dr. Christopher Best House and Medical Museum has offered classic car Cruise-Ins and assorted other activities during all of the Street Fests that took place June through October.

One of the highlights of the evening was when Bobbi Ryan, director of the Dr. Best House, raffled off a gas grill and television. The grill raffle was a way for the Best House to thank the participants of the classic car Cruise-Ins. The raffle tickets for the grill were given only to Cruise-In participants every time they parked their classics at the Best House. Tom and Beth Tilley, of Freehold, NY won the grill. Barb Coons owner of Sears Hometown Store of Cobleskill and Hilltown Pools donated the grill.

The television raffle was a fundraiser for the Best House. Terri Jeffrey, of Gallupville, won the 32” television.