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The Best Gifts from Schoharie County

SUNY Cobleskill Men's Soccer Receives ECAC Tournament Bid for First Time in Program History

Written By Editor on 11/12/16 | 11/12/16

After posting one of the best turnaround seasons in the nation the SUNY Cobleskill men’s soccer team has been selected to compete in the 2016 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Championship Tournament. The Fighting Tigers who finished the season with an 8-8-2 overall record are seeded fourth in the Region 4 bracket of the tournament and will face the number one seeded regional host the Saxons of Alfred University from the Empire 8 Conference who finished the campaign with a 8-7-2 overall mark on Saturday November 12th at 5:00 p.m. at Alfred’s Yunevich Stadium.

After finishing the 2015 campaign with a 0-18 overall mark including a 0-13 mark in North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) action; Cobleskill improved 500 percent under the direction of second year head coach Joseph Machado whose squad will be making, the first ECAC post-season appearance in program history.

Upon learning of his team’s selection to the tournament, Coach Machado was excited about the prospects of continuing the season and his team’s impressive turnaround year.
“I’m proud of what our young men have accomplished this year and being recognized by the ECAC is a testament to all of the hard work we’ve done since the pre-season. We’ve come a long way over the last 14 months and I’m happy that our seniors get to extend their careers while our underclassmen get to experience post-season play for the first time.”

The winner of Saturday’s game will face the winner of the day’s 7:00 p.m. game between the number two seeded Nittany Lions of Penn State Altoona from the Allegany Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) who finished the year with an 11-7-1 mark and the number three seeded Nittany Lions of Penn State Harrisburg from the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) who were 11-8 overall on the campaign in the quarterfinal round which will also take place at Alfred University’s Yunevich Stadium on Sunday November 13th at 2:00 p.m.

In total, 16 teams were selected into this year’s championship tournament and divided into four regional brackets. The winners of each bracket will move on to the semi-finals which will take place on Saturday Nov. 19 at site to be determined by the ECAC with kick-offs at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The tournament’s championship game will then be hosted at the same site on Sunday November 20th beginning at 12:00 p.m.


Iroquois Gas Hosts Hazardous Materials Exercise

First responders from Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties were activated October 8, 2016 to respond to a simulated emergency at the Iroquois Gas Transmission System’s Wright Compressor Station.

The hazardous material (or HAZMAT) full scale exercise simulated a leak of mercaptan during a standard delivery by Chevron Philips. Mercaptan is the distinct and recognizable odorant added to natural gas that makes it easier to detect gas leaks. It is also extremely flammable, and harmful if swallowed or inhaled in high concentrations.

 The goals of the exercise were to validate coordination and communication capabilities for a pipeline incident, and to identify the strengths and weaknesses of emergency response plans. Gallupville Fire Department and the Fulton, Montgomery & Schoharie regional HAZMAT team secured the scene, used appropriate personal protective equipment to suppress the (simulated) fire, and were processed through decontamination procedures. A hotwash discussion followed to discuss strengths and weaknesses, and determine what changes (if any) should be made to policy and/or procedures.

 “More than 70 people gave up their Saturday morning to be a part of this exercise to ensure that if this type of event were to occur in Schoharie County, our first responders would be prepared to respond effectively.” Michael Hartzel, Schoharie County Office of Emergency Services Director said.

“This drill was a great opportunity for Iroquois to train with local emergency officials in responding to an emergency on its pipeline system.” stated Spencer Robinson, Manager of Right-of-Way.

“We thank the many different agencies that collaborated in the planning and execution of this important training exercise.”

Great American Smoke Out Station at SUNY Cobleskill and Emoji Power-wall at Schoharie Central Next Week

Written By Editor on 11/10/16 | 11/10/16

 Advancing Tobacco Free Communities in Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie Counties (ATFC-DOS) in collaboration with staff at the Beard Wellness Center is working to build a healthier SUNY Cobleskill college campus where many live, learn, work and play. ATFC-DOS is funded by a grant from the New York State Bureau of Tobacco Control to the Research Foundation of SUNY at SUNY Cobleskill and works on a variety of initiatives to change the community environment to support New York State’s tobacco-free norm.

ATFC-DOS will host two Great American Smoke Out (GASO) stations on campus November 17th from 11 am to 2 pm in Champlin and Prentice dining halls. Every year, on the third Thursday of November, the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke Out challenges people to stop using tobacco and provides an opportunity to advocate for tobacco control initiatives. ATFC-DOS wants to encourage students, staff and faculty to “quit like a champion” even if just for a day. At the GASO table there will be information about tobacco issues and a list of cessation resources as well as quit pledge cards and tobacco-free campus pledge cards. If someone signs a quit pledge card, he/she will receive a pen or lanyard, but if someone turns in a pack of cigarettes/cigarillos/cigars/snus/smokeless tobacco in addition to signing a quit pledge card, he/she will earn a t-shirt. So plan to stop by and quit tobacco use. You can do it one day at a time.

Advancing Tobacco-Free Communities/Reality Check is working collaboratively with Schoharie Central School on a Great American Smoke Out (GASO) project with principal Kevin Calacone as the school’s point person. The GASO project highlights the statewide ad campaign Seen Enough Tobacco. A pad of paper emojis will be placed in each homeroom class grades 6-12.  Each student choosing to participate will be asked to write his/her name on a paper emoji so that it reads for example: “Joe has seen enough”. We also encourage students to collect signed emojis from other students and from family, staff and faculty members.  The homeroom collecting the most emojis will earn a pizza party as well as “We’ve Seen Enough” t-shirts. The collected emojis will be assembled into a highly visible power-wall within the school communicating that “We’ve Seen Enough Tobacco” to students, staff and visitors. The school’s GASO power-wall will help combat the large, visually appealing displays of tobacco products that are pervasive in stores and are intended to attract the interest of youth in addition to adult customers. In 2012 the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that tobacco industry marketing causes youth smoking.

Senate Candidate Jermaine Bagnall-Graham Post Election Statement

Written By Editor on 11/9/16 | 11/9/16

"Last night was truly a special night for me and my family. Though I did not win, I am proud of the campaign that I was able to run in only six months. I was an unknown going against the establishment, but was able to run a campaign that was clean, honest and honorable. I was able to wake up this morning and feel proud of what I have accomplished. I have met some wonderful people during these past six months. The residents of the 51st Senate District are truly amazing.

I want to congratulate Senator Seward on his victory! I was able to speak to him last night and we had a very nice conversation. With all of the attack ads on television and in the papers, we were both pleased with the civility of our particular contest. I also want to thank the people of the 51st Senate District for coming out and voting. Democracy was witnessed last night. Moving forward, I will take time to reflect on what I did and how to improve. I will also focus on family and community.

This is Senator Seward's victory, but he knows that there is someone watching his every vote and every move. If I decide to run again, I will be better prepared and will have more time to reach out to voters and let them get to know about me and what I bring to the table. I am thankful for all the support I have received during this election cycle. I have always maintained that if it ain't broke, don't fix it! The people have spoken and it was determined that the 51st District does not need fixing. When it does, I will be there to answer the challenge.” said Jermaine Bagnall-Graham, Democratic Candidate for New York’s 51st State Senate District.

Trump Takes Presidency after Winning Pennsylvania

Donald Trump has secured over 270 electoral votes to win the Presidency tonight. After polling that showed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leading by about 3% nationally, the popular vote will be very close.

However, the electoral college has swung decisively in Trump's favor. The Republican nominee has won almost every rust belt state, including Wisconsin, Ohio, and now Pennsylvania. The 20 electoral votes from that state have placed Trump with at least 275. Trump has  2,756,689 votes compared to Clinton's 2,685,252. Trump has 48.85% and Clinton has 47.58%.

More results, including from Minnesota, Nevada, and New Hampshire are still outstanding. However, there is no path left for Hillary Clinton to take the White House.

Teachout Concedes in Congressional Race

Written By Editor on 11/8/16 | 11/8/16

Democratic candidate for Congress Zephyr Teachout called Republican candidate John Faso to concede tonight after a hard fought race.

Seward Issues Statement About Victory

Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I-Oneonta) was overwhelmingly re-elected today to a 16th term as state senator.
Senator Seward addressed an excited crowd at campaign HQ in Oneonta saying, “I am thrilled and humbled with the victory and look forward to continuing the strong partnerships I have developed with the people of the 51st Senate District ensuring our needs, our views, and our values are well represented in Albany.”

After thanking his family and supporters, Seward cited several recent victories in Albany along with his future goals.

“I first ran for state senator because I wanted to serve the public and help the people who call this area home – I am still driven by those sentiments. This past year alone, I helped advance a landmark middle class income tax cut, record aid for our local schools, new resources for our upstate roads and bridges, and vital measures to address the crushing heroin epidemic.

“Advancing broad-based economic development incentives that will attract new businesses and strengthen those already loyal to New York, solidifying a more equitable school aid distribution formula with a focus on foundation aid reforms, continuing to revamp our state regulatory system by eliminating costly mandates and unneeded regulations on our local governments and small businesses, helping young people and their families afford the cost of college, restoring the public’s trust in government, and delivering sustained property tax relief for our middle-class homeowners are just a few items that top my agenda for 2016-17,” Seward concluded.

The 51st senate district is made up of all or parts of Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Otsego, Schoharie, Tompkins and Ulster counties.

Faso Declares Victory in Congressional Race

John Faso has declared victory in the NY-19 Congressional race. Zephyr Teachout's campaign has not made any moves, either conceding or declaring victory.
With 51% of the vote in, Faso leads with 52.4%, Teachout has 47.6%. Faso won almost 65% in Schoharie County.

Trump Wins Schoharie County

Donald Trump has won Schoharie County with a wider margin than past winning candidates in. With all towns in except for Richmondville, Conesville, and Esperance, Trump is currently winning 63.6% to Hillary Clinton's 29.7%. Gary Johnson has 3.7 and Jill Stein 1.9%. Trump has 6,800 votes so far and Clinton 3,176. In 2012 Mitt Romney won 6,849 votes and 57.3% and President Barack Obama 40.7% with 4,862 votes.

Trump won Middleburgh 955-414. Cobleskill was 1048 Trump, 810 for Clinton, 83 for Gary Johnson, and 53 for Jill Stein. Clinton lost all 14 towns reported, including traditionally Democratic Sharon and Wright. There Trump won 455-208 and 477-236 respectively.

In Schoharie County, Faso Beats Teachout

There is still a lot of information still coming in from outside of the county, but within it, Republican John Faso decisively beat Zephyr Teachout. By a 65.1% to 34.8% margin, Faso won. Teachout made a major play for the County, with a strong showing in lawn signs and events. However, it was not enough to overcome the Republican advantage in the area.

More will come in about the overall race.

SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tiger Recap 11/7/16

Written By Editor on 11/7/16 | 11/7/16

The SUNY Cobleskill women’s cross country team posted a team score of 114 points to finish in fourth place in a field of 16 teams at the 2016 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Cross Country Championships hosted by the ECAC at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome in Milton, N.Y. on Saturday. Fighting Tiger senior Taylor Tommell, Guilderland, N.Y., Guilderland High School, was the team’s top finisher placing fourth overall in the 100-runner field by completing the 6000-meter course in a time of 25:04.9 to earn All-ECAC Team honors.

The Fighting Tiger men’s team posted a team total of 163 points to finish in fourth place in a field of 19 teams at the 2016 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Cross Country Championships hosted by the ECAC at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome in Milton, N.Y. on Saturday. Junior Anthony Bouchard, Wantagh, N.Y., Wantagh High School, was the team’s top finisher at the event placing ninth overall in a field of 113 runners by covering the 8000-meter course in a time of 27:40.5 to earn All-ECAC Team honors.

Sophomore Mick Fryer, Ravena, N.Y., Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School, led the Fighting Tiger men’s swimming & diving team to a 138-60 home win over the Gryphons of Sarah Lawrence College on Saturday at the Bouck Hall Natatorium. Fryer won the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2:21.23 and the 200-yard breaststroke in a time of 2:36.61 as Cobleskill improved to 1-2 overall versus head-to-head on the season.

The women’s swimming & diving team dropped a 125-71 decision to the Gryphons of Sarah Lawrence College on Saturday to fall to 0-3 overall versus head-to-head competition on the season. Junior Danielle Hoyt, Wolcott, N.Y., North Rose-Wolcott High School was the team's top individual performer at the meet posting the Fighting Tigers only individual event win by taking the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2:40.82 while finishing second overall in the 200-yard butterfly in a time of 2:54.85 and the 200-yard breaststroke in a time of 2:50.68.

UPCOMING HOME EVENTS:

Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving vs. Elms College 1/17                                                          
Women’s Basketball vs. MCLA 11/15, Southern Vermont College 11/22, Keuka College 12/4    
Men’s Basketball vs. SUNY Polytechnic Institute 11/30, Keuka College 12/4, Wells College 12/5

Taylor Tommell Named Fighting Tiger of the Week

The SUNY Cobleskill Department of Sport & Exercise announced today that senior Taylor Tommell, Guilderland, N.Y., Guilderland High School, a member of the women’s cross country team has been named the athletic program’s Fighting Tiger Athlete-of-the-Week.



The senior co-captain led Fighting Tigers to a fourth place finish in a field of 16 teams at the 2016 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Cross Country Championships hosted by the ECAC at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome in Milton, N.Y. on Saturday. Tommell was the  Cobleskill’s top finisher at the meet placing fourth overall in the 100-runner field by completing the 6000-meter course in a time of 25:04.9 to earn All-ECAC Team honors.

Cobleskill’s fourth place finish represented the program’s best finish as well as a North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) women’s team’s best finish at an ECAC Division III Cross Country Championship Meet.

Cobleskill Police Blotter

Thursday, November 3, 2016

At 4:13 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Brandon Sperbeck, 23, of  Richmondville, NY, for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on November 22nd at 5:00 p.m.

Friday, November 4, 2016

At 12:42 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Thomas Foland, 32, of Middleburgh, NY, for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 2nd and Operating a Motor Vehicle without Interlock Device.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and released after posting $2500 Bail. He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on November 18th at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

At 1:30 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Wesley C. Rottkamp, 22, of Cobleskill, NY, for Violation of the Village Noise Ordinance.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on December 15th at 5:00 p.m.

Public Historians Hold Conference in Schoharie

Written By Editor on 11/6/16 | 11/6/16

Public historians from eight counties attended the Association of Public Historians of NYS (APHNYS) conference in Schoharie at LaSalle Hall November 5th.



Pictured Tom Ruller, NYS Archivist, Devin R. Lander, NYS Historian and  APHNYS region 7 coordinator Rickard "Dick" Williams of Kirkland NY.

SUNY Cobleskill Women's Cross Country Finishes Fourth at ECAC Division III Cross Country Championships

A week after capturing their eighth consecutive North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Cross Country Championships the SUNY Cobleskill women’s cross country team closed out their 2016 season in impressive fashion on Saturday afternoon by posting a team score of 117 points to place fourth overall in a field of 16 teams at the Eastern Collage Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Cross Country Championships hosted by the ECAC at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome. The Fighting Tigers fourth place finish at the meet was the best finish posted by a NEAC team at the ECAC Championships in league history.

The Fighting Tigers received the first three All-ECAC Team earning efforts in program history from: senior Taylor Tommell, Guilderland, N.Y., Guilderland High School, closed her career by placing fourth overall in the 100-runner field by covering the 6000-meter course in a time of 25:04.9, freshman Emma Bayuk, Sandy Hook, Conn., Newtown High School, who followed up last week’s 2016 NEAC Championship run with a 10th place finish in a time of 25:35.3 and by sophomore Quinn Porter,  Ballston Spa, N.Y., Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, who placed 18th overall in 26:10.1.

The Cobleskill scoring was rounded out by junior AnnaClaire Piersiak, Staten Island, N.Y., Curtis High School, who finished in 28th place with a time of 26:51.4 and by freshman Abigail O’Brien, Stockton, N.Y., Cassadaga Valley High School, who finished in 63rd overall in 28:54.7.
With the 2016 season in the books Fighting Tiger Head Coach Mitchell Tomaszkiewicz had high praise for his team while beginning to look to the future.

“This was a great season for our program with winning our eighth consecutive NEAC Championship and this effort today. I think you have to give our graduating team members Taylor Tommell, AnnaClaire Piersiak and Alyssa Riewarts (Lindenhurst, N.Y., Lindenhurst High School) a lot of credit. They committed themselves to making this happen by coming into the season in very good running shape and provided great leadership throughout the year. We are going to really miss them next season on a number of levels. Now as we enter the track season we will look to continue the process of developing our returning team members as athletes and begin to focus our recruiting efforts on bringing in a class that will help us defend our conference title next year.”

SUNY Cobleskill Men's Cross Country Takes Fourth Place at 2016 ECAC Division III Cross Country Championships

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s cross country team closed out their 2016 season on Saturday posting a team total of 163 points to place fourth overall in a field of 19 teams at the Eastern Collage Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Cross Country Championships hosted by the ECAC at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome. A week after placing third at their North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championships the Fighting Tigers recorded the best finish in conference history by a NEAC team at the ECAC Championships.

Cobleskill received a pair of All-NEAC Team earning efforts from junior Anthony Bouchard, Wantagh, N.Y., Wantagh High School, who placed ninth overall in the 113-runner field by covering the hilly 8000-meter course in a time of 27:40.5 and from sophomore Josh Foust, West Sand Creek, N.Y., Averill Park High School, who finished in 25th place with a time of 28:42.1.

The Fighting Tiger scoring was rounded out by the triumvirate of: junior Zach Jacobson, Berkshire, N.Y., Newark Valley High School, in 32nd place in 29:06.1, freshman Willie Griffin, Schoharie, N.Y., Schoharie High School, who placed 40thoverall in 29:37.7 and junior Jordan Mentzel, Merrick, N.Y., Sanford H. Calhoun High School, who finished in 58th place in time of 30:45.0.

With his team’s season now over Cobleskill Head Coach Mitchell Tomaszkiewicz talked about his team’s campaign and began to look towards the future.

“Overall we had a very solid season. Last week unfortunately we had some unforeseen injuries the league championships which cost us so I was very pleased with the way we ran today and the way we dealt with adversity. We have a saying here about when things go wrong that goes, ‘You can make excuses or you can make something happen’ which is what we did today. Now we will begin to focus our recruiting efforts and runner development program during the track & field seasons towards putting ourselves in position to contend for an NEAC Championships again. We had a good season this year but now it is time to start preparing to make 2017 a great season and that begins now.”  

Letter to the Editor: No Thanks to Faso

Dear Editor:


While this election cycle has produced heated debate between friends, neighbors and family members over who should be president, there should be widespread agreement on who to vote for in the 19th Congressional District. One candidate has a very clear record in Schoharie County.

John Faso served as a consultant for Tennessee Gas, a company which pursued a ten year long law suit against the county demanding to get the taxes they pay on a multi-million dollar pipeline and compressor station reduced.  It seems that Tennessee Gas didn’t think they should pay their fair share to our county, towns and school districts. John Faso agreed. The cost of defending the county from the lawsuit brought by Mr. Faso’s employer was borne by Schoharie County taxpayers. When the County ultimately gave up and reluctantly handed Tennessee Gas a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement, the taxpayers were left to make up the difference.

Mr. Faso later because a consultant to, and spokesperson for, Constitution Pipeline Company. As he stood before the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors touting his new employer’s plan to run a gas pipeline through the backyards, woodlots and farm fields of Schoharie County residents, Constitution was harassing those residents with unannounced high-pressure visits, intimidation and letters threating to take them to court if they didn’t voluntarily surrender their land for pipeline easements. Ultimately, Constitution used private process servers and Schoharie County sheriff’s deputies to serve angry residents with legal papers in their driveways and store parking lots then hauled them into court, seizing their land under eminent domain. The pipeline company believed they had a right to take private property to increase their profits. John Faso agreed.

John Faso’s record is clear. He is no friend of Schoharie County, no friend of private property rights and the last person we should want representing us in Congress.  The last thing we need is another lobbyist/politician beholden to special interests, bankrolled by corporate money, working against us instead of for us.


Bob Nied
Richmondville

Man Arrested for Marijuana Possession, Was Wanted for Assault in Albany

Written By Editor on 11/4/16 | 11/4/16

On 11/3/16 the Schoharie County Sheriff's Office with the Schoharie County Probation Department while conducting an investigation on Rail Road Ave in Middleburgh arrested Andrew M. Craig age 18 of Albany NY for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. Further investigation revealed that Craig was wanted by Albany Police Department for Assault 2nd degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree.

Craig was turned over to the Albany Police Department.

3rd Annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner at SUNY Cobleskill on November 10th

The SUNY Cobleskill Student Veterans Association and Culinary Department would like to invite you to attend the 3rd Annual Veterans Appreciation Spaghetti Dinner on Thursday, November 10th from 5-7pm in the Bouck Ballroom. Please join us for a night of camaraderie and delicious food prepared by our talented students. Veterans eat for free, and non-veterans will be charged $7.00. All proceeds will support the establishment of the Student Veterans Association Scholarship. This event would not be possible without the support received from the Faculty & Staff. If you are interested in volunteering for the event please contact Katie Rossano at rossankm@cobleskill.edu.

Letter to the Editor: This Won't Change Your Mind

Written By Editor on 11/3/16 | 11/3/16

Donald Trump's supporters are angry with the American government. So are Hillary's. So are Sanders's. So are Stein's. The government is a morass of shady politicking, bought officials, and inaction. The economy is booming for Wall Street. Have you noticed it booming for you? Money is all going to the top one percent.

Plenty to be mad about, no argument. But you can choose crazy chest-thumping mad, or thoughtful legislative reform. You can alienate every country on the planet, or you can go to (watch out for this awful word!) progressive thinking. We're actually not so far from a human-oriented, non-rich-corporation-oriented Washington. This election or next we could actually see change in that direction.

There are about a billion differences between the candidates. Here are a couple.

Most of what Everyone Knows about Hillary is rumor and hatred. She is not “under indictment.”
Donald is in court in November on racketeering charges. Again in December on child rape charges.
If you are a Hillary supporter, get out to vote and bring a friend. If you are a Donald supporter, please think about the above. And then you, too, should go out and exercise your citizenship by voting.

You can check on all this at “Snopes.com.”

I got into fact checking awhile ago. Someone told me, in all solemnity, that Obama had had a foreign student loan for his college education. Of course it set me thinking, “If he had a loan from that program, how does it fit with his American citizenship?”

Here's the thing: the fellow who told me that believed it. I knew him to be an Obama hater because he worked it into the first three sentences of our conversation about a music venue. So he was gratified to hear affirmation of what a cheat the President was, and evidence that he was not American, and to repeat this statement to any and all. But it wasn't true.

Went home and googled “Obama Foreign Student Loan.” A site called Snopes.com explained that this was an e-mail hoax that had been going around for some time. Purpose? To denigrate Obama.

This cuts both ways. It flashed all over Facebook that Usain Bolt and Shakira donated millions to Haiti for hurricane relief. All the fans and liberals rejoiced in such uplifting news. But it was a fake news report. Purpose? To create lots of clicks and ad revenue online.

The internet is a marvelous source of information. But anyone can say anything there. Fortunately, it is also a lie detector. People post all sorts of “news” on my Facebook feed. Apple is giving away free computers! Mr. Rogers was a Navy SEAL! Tom Hanks is dead! Sometimes we know better. Sometimes we get carried away with delight or shock and promptly repost it. Someone eventually looks it up and posts the truth. Sometimes we are very chagrined!

Google “good fact-checking websites.” and take your pick. (Fact-checking is also fun, you'll find!)

***

Hope this WILL change your mind.

I have met Zephyr Teachout twice, here at Green Wolf Brewing in Middleburgh. She is quite as sprightly a person as she appears in the ads. (Well, her ads. The Republican attack ads are something else. And isn't it funny how one candidate's campaign can always find a horribly unbecoming photograph of the other fella!) She had conversations with a lot of people, gave a short speech, had more conversations. I'm sorry if you missed these events.

She spent some time explaining that two rich guys each wrote Faso a check for $500,000. That's a lot of leverage in an election for two people. Her average contributor gives $19. “If only,” she said, “we could get the Bernie people to give us the other seven dollars!”

To make her feel better, my wife and I wrote her a check for $500,000. Unfortunately, we had to say, “Good luck cashing that,” and swapped her for one a whole bunch smaller. Faso is a lobbyist in favor of fracking, the pipeline, and privatizing Social Security, which means big banks will be in charge of it.....oops!

Teachout is in favor of clean water, getting big money out of politics, and renewable energy. About the only thing the opposition can find to say bad about her is that she is a college professor. And that she is a NYC politician out-of-sync with “us.” (Grew up on a dairy farm in Vermont.)

A quote from Bernie Sanders (don't run away, now!) “You have at least three billionaires, including Sheldon Adelson, pouring millions of dollars into super PACs to try and buy this seat in Congress. The super PAC funded by Adelson has spent more money attacking Zephyr than they have for any other candidate in the country.”

“The most important congressional race in the country.”

Little ol' us!

You takes your pick.

She got away before Bernie the fiddler and I could challenge her to demonstrate her clog dancing.

***

This aging (beats the alternative!) troubadour plans to present himself to participation in the various open mics around the Schoharie Valley and environs. Watch for reports. Or go on out there yourself and report it here. Meanwhile, let's give a big Bravo! to the Green Wolf Brewing Company's pub on Main Street in Middleburgh. Music every Friday and Saturday. I cannot give enough appreciation to a club that instantly devotes itself to regular live music. That's coming from a musician. As a patron, hearing the music made and conversing with the makers is way more fun than pushing F5. That's not mentioning the beer, which is attracting aficionados.

Your Tip of the Week (lotta categories being created here---will we live up to them?) is to e-mail Sonny Ochs at sonnyo@midtel.net and ask her to add you to the concert mailing list. This will bring you news of folk music events, including her very friendly series in the back room of the Middleburgh Library. The ambiance will easily match 8th grade homeroom, and you may have to sing along and stack your own chair after the show. These concerts are a great pleasure. Artists up front and five feet away. Can't beat it.

First interesting date: Nov. 8th, when the election results are tallied.

Second interesting date: Nov. 9th, when we see what Mr. Trump has to say about

the result. (Assuming he loses, which he seems to have made inevitable.)

Watch this space.

Dennis D'Asaro
Middleburgh

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