KyMar Hosting 2015 Arts Awards Celebration

On Wednesday, April 22 at the KyMar Distillery in Charlotteville at 6:30 P.M., the Greene County Council on the Arts will be awarding state funds to arts and producers in Schoharie County as part of the New York State Council on the Arts Community Arts Grants Program.

These taxpayer monies are used to produce art and art events in Schoharie County for the benefit of all Schoharie County residents. Fiscal year 2015 recipients include: The Richmondville Historical Society for the Bunn Mill Music Series, The Theater Project of Schoharie County, The Schoharie Colonial Heritage Association for their children's summer workshops as well as Sonny Ochs for The Not So Quiet Music Series and more. 

The celebration on April 22 will include live music, tours, and tasting. This part is free and is an excellent opportunity for Schoharie County residents to meet and know their fellow artists and producers as well as sample some of Schoharie County's first "legal" distillery's products. All are invited.

For details about the Community Arts Grant Program, please contact Grant Coordinator, Renee Nied at www.schoharieartsgrants@gmail.com 

Red Cross Shelter Training at Summit Fire House

The Schoharie County Office of Emergency Services will be hosting a Red Cross Shelter Training seminar tonight, Tuesday June 24, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 pm at the Summit Fire Department located at 2912 State Route 10, Summit, New York. 

Training will focus on instructing local residents on opening and operating an emergency shelter in case of catastrophe. Those interested in taking the course should email the Office of Emergency Services at emo@co.schoharie.ny.us or call 295-2276 to register. 

There is no cost to attend.

Summit Fire Department Spaghetti Dinner March 30th

The Summit Fire Department and Summit Conservation Club are holding a spaghetti dinner on Sunday. March 30th to benefit a local family. The event, that starts at 1pm costs just $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Photo credit: Schoharie County Fire Wire Facebook Page

Charlotteville Fire Department to Host Buffet Dinner March 14th

The Charlotteville Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting a benefit buffet dinner on Friday, March 14th from 5-7:30 p.m. 

Members of the public are invited to attend the community spread, which will feature an exciting Irish themed menu of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, Irish soda break, green bean casserole, and much more.

Cost of admittance ranges from $9.95 for adults, $5.00 for kids 6-12, and no charge for children six and under. For more information, please contact Georgia at 607-397-8054.

Vroman Only Ethington Ally Left on Board

Only one open member of the Cassandra Ethington caucus remains on the Board of Supervisors after yesterday's wave election. Supervisor Harold Vroman of Summit was unopposed in the election and in fact had the Republican, Democratic, and Conservative lines.

The former Chairman of the Board has been among the most obstinate members of the Board of Supervisors. On Friday he was the only person to vote along with Dan Singletary of Jefferson to not suspend Cassandra Ethington and not to release the second portion of the Report.

Vroman also donated money towards Dan Singletary's re-election bid, paying for an ad in last week's Cobleskill paper. His involvement in the Conservative Party mailer was also suspected.

Mr. Vroman is a long-time incumbent and was at the middle of many of the negotiations surrounding the issues with the Health and Personnel Departments. Much of the most extreme infighting between the Supervisors themselves came under his tumultuous tenure as Chair of the Board.

Mr. Vroman still remains popular in Summit, receiving almost all the votes yesterday while unopposed. Mr. Ethington also carried Summit-- which he only did there and in Jefferson. Ousting Mr. Vroman would be a particularly difficult task.

However, he is just one member of 16 now with Ethington's support.

Nine Supervisors Face Opposition, While Vroman Bides his Time

In an election cycle where anti-incumbency is running at all-time highs in Schoharie County, following the tumultuous reign of Summit Supervisor Harold Vroman and the inquiry marred tenure of Fulton Supervisor Phil Skowfoe, it is no wonder that twelve of fourteen town supervisor races are contested this year and that we could possibly witness half of the board removed on Tuesday.

 

However, there are two incumbents that are fortunate enough to escape the voters evaluation. One being the likeable Supervisor of Gilboa, Tony Van Glad, who hasn't faced a challenge in years with the other being the aforementioned Supervisor of Summit, Harold Vroman, who in the eyes of the Schoharie News is rather deserving of an opponent.

 

On principle we believe that all incumbents deserve to be challenged, basing our belief on John Dalberg-Acton's famous quotation that "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." As such, no occupant of any level of governance should feel entitled to keep his power without the consent of the governed through a contested vote.

 

This holds especially true in regards to Mr. Vroman, who during his two years atop the Board of Supervisors oversaw not only a county government that engaged in harassment and misconduct by its Personnel Director against its own employees but a county board that was sued by half of its members because Mr. Vroman switched committee assignments mid-year to accommodate his allies.

 

While all of his lieutenants face serious challenges across the county on Tuesday, Mr. Vroman will remain at ease with full knowledge that his reelection is guaranteed. Thanks in part to his name appearing on the Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Independence Party lines, eliminating any hope for even a write-in to possibly mount a last minute bid.

 

With the balance of power very narrow in county politics at this time, all Mr. Vroman needs is for one town to flip and his coalition will once more regain control of the board, all the while he rests comfortably in Summit while the current board Chairman Phil Skowfoe fights off a tough challenge in Fulton - the way every incumbent should have to, particularly those with heightened influence in the political realm. .