Middleburgh Woman Arrested for Allegedly Stabbing Husband

On May 20th, 2017 Schoharie County Sheriff's Deputies were called to a residence in the Town of Middleburgh for a report of a man who had been stabbed.

Upon law enforcement's arrival they located a man in his residence suffering from a single stab wound to his chest.

The suspect was identified as being a 36 year old Kelly Wescott, the wife of the victim. Mrs. Wescott was taken into custody without incident a short time later.

Mrs. Wescott was arrested for Assault in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, and 3 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Mrs. Wescott was arraigned in the Town of Wright Court where she was remanded to jail on $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 secured bond. Mrs. Wescott was scheduled to return to the Town of Middleburgh Court on 5/24/2017 at 5pm.

The Victim was transported ambulance to Albany Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery, and is expected to make a full recovery. // The Sheriff's Office was assisted by the New York State Police.

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State of Emergency in Schoharie County, Roads Closed

Date Sent: Tue, Mar 14, 2017, 01:27 PM
        Issuing Agency: Office of Emergency Services

        Schoharie County Chairman of the Board, Earl VanWormer III has declared a
State of Emergency for Schoharie County due to excessive snowfall causing
extremely hazardous travel conditions.

The Chairman has closed county
office buildings and sent non-essential employees home.  He has also
ordered county roads closed to non-essential vehicles.

Emergency Information can be viewed at https://www2.schohariecounty-ny.gov/CountyWebSiteApp/faces/EmergencyNotificationsIndex.xhtml

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Blizzard Warning in Schoharie County Until 4am Weds

Keep it tuned to our always updated weather page.

Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 4 am EDT Wednesday...

* locations... the Lake George Saratoga region, the greater
  capital region including the Helderbergs and Schoharie valley
  in New York, and Bennington County in Vermont.

* Hazard types... heavy snowfall, white-out conditions and
  blowing and drifting of snow.

* Snow accumulations... 18 to 24 inches, with locally higher
  amounts of up to three feet possible across higher terrain in
  southern Vermont.

* Snowfall rates... 2 to 4 inches per hour at times today.

* Timing... snow will come down heavy during the today before
  diminishing tonight. Strong winds will develop this afternoon
  and continue into the evening, with some gusts approaching 45
  mph, especially across higher elevations.

* Impacts... extremely dangerous travel conditions due to snow
  covered roads, white-out conditions along with blowing and
  drifting snow.

* Winds... northeast 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph,
  strongest across the higher terrain.

* Visibilities... one quarter mile or less at times.

* Temperatures... rising into the lower to mid 20s this afternoon
  then lowering back into the teens this evening.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions... making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If
you must travel... have a winter survival kit with you. If you get
stranded... stay with your vehicle.

The following are unofficial observations taken during the past 8
hours for the storm that has been affecting our region. Appreciation
is extended to Highway departments... cooperative observers... Skywarn
spotters and media for these reports. This summary is also available
on our home Page at weather.Gov/Albany

********************storm total snowfall********************

Location          storm total     time/date   comments                   
                     snowfall           of 
                     /inches/   measurement

New York

... Columbia County... 
   Ancramdale             3.6   552 am  3/14  weathernet6             
   Austerlitz             2.0   607 am  3/14  weathernet6             

... Dutchess County... 
   La Grange              3.8   500 am  3/14  meteorologist           

... Greene County... 
   West Kill              4.5   602 am  3/14  weathernet6             
   Greenville Center      3.5   532 am  3/14  weathernet6             
   Catskill               3.0   537 am  3/14  weathernet6             
   Halcott Center         2.0   505 am  3/14  weathernet6             

... Montgomery County... 
   Fonda                  2.5   615 am  3/14  weathernet6             
   Amsterdam              1.0   608 am  3/14  weathernet6             
   Palatine Bridge        1.0   532 am  3/14  weathernet6             

... Schoharie County... 
   Charlotteville         1.3   546 am  3/14  weathernet6             
   Middleburgh            1.0   427 am  3/14  weathernet6             
   Richmondville          0.8   416 am  3/14  weathernet6             

... Ulster County... 
   Kingston               3.8   546 am  3/14  weathernet6             
   West Shokan            1.5   448 am  3/14  weathernet6             

... Warren County... 
   Lake Luzerne           0.5   606 am  3/14  weathernet6             

Vermont

... Bennington County... 
   Woodford               2.0   627 am  3/14  weathernet6             
   West Arlington         0.5   605 am  3/14  weathernet6             

... Windham County... 
   Wilmington             0.2   549 am  3/14  weathernet6             


**********************24 hour snowfall**********************

Location              24 hour     time/date   comments                   
                     snowfall           of 
                     /inches/   measurement

New York

... Greene County... 
   1 E Greenville         3.0   530 am  3/14  cocorahs                

... Saratoga County... 
   3 S Clifton Park       2.1   600 am  3/14  cocorahs                

Vermont

... Windham County... 
   1 WNW Wilmington       0.3   547 am  3/14  cocorahs 

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Birches Denies Corruption in Schoharie Apartments

Embattled Developer Defends Record

From 2/10 Edition


It’s been almost four years since Governor Cuomo allocated millions for affordable housing in the Village of Schoharie, yet the project is still ongoing. Birches at Schoharie has been plagued by delays, legal disputes with contractors, and rumors of pay for play involving the developer, Steve Aaron.

Mr. Aaron is the owner of Birchez Associates, LLC, which received the state contract.  Companies tied to Mr. Aaron have given well over $250,000 dollars in campaign donations to Cuomo, an astronomical amount that surpasses disgraced Buffalo developer Louis P. Ciminelli. Mr. Ciminelli is currently facing federal bribery charges.

Questions arose after Darryl Towns, head of the NY Homes and Community Renewal Agency, chose Birchez to lead the project despite scoring lower than competing companies. While this practice is legal, awarding state funds based on campaign contributions is not. While Mr. Aaron isn’t currently under investigation for any wrongdoing, questions remain regarding both his ties to Cuomo and business practices.

When contacted by the Mountain Eagle Wednesday, Aaron said that contributions to Cuomo have nothing to do with receiving the Schoharie project. "Absolutely, positively no,” he said. “It's on the street because there are people that don't like the Governor." He added that his family has two generations of ties with the Cuomo family and that the current governor has done more for affordable housing than any previous. Aaron added that he is a member of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing.

Aaron and his associated companies have been sued or accused multiple times for failing to pay contractors, gender discrimination, and failure to pay property taxes. Particularly disturbing are lawsuits from 1995 and 2012 previously reported in the Times Union. Former employees alleged that Mr. Aaron intimidated them and practiced gender discrimination, with threats including flipped tables, thrown bottles, and threatening one woman with “punching her teeth down her throat and throwing her down a flight of stairs.” Mr. Aaron settled one lawsuit, while a jury awarded $1.4 million to the plaintiffs in the other.

Regarding one lawsuit, Aaron said that he did not intimidate a former subcontractor, saying that the individual was "shooting his mouth off to the press. " Aaron said that the subcontractor is now barred from doing business in the state of New York. Apart from that, the only other case Aaron said he was ever accused of similar behavior was 35 years ago when he called an employee ”the C word.”

Two contractors sued Birchez Associates for failure to pay for work done on Birches of Schoharie, which continues a troubling trend for the Kingston based developer. Mr. Aaron has been sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of his career, which he chalks up to his “high standards,” adding, "My reputation in the housing business is that we don't deliver inferior products."

Aaron told us that any conflicts were over inferior work. While at first stating there were no issues with contractors, the conversation evolved. He said, "We have a paving contractor we had to literally escort off the job because of poor quality and some obnoxious behavior." He said another contractor physically assaulted an employee and is demanding $250,000. Toward the end of the interview, Aaron said that a total six former contractors on the Schoharie project caused problems.

The Birchez owner stated that part of the issue with his reputation was caused by conflicts by other companies. He singled out Carver Sand and Gravel in Schoharie. Aaron said that the apartment project  was "[Carver Laraway’s] job to lose. His numbers were ridiculous. He continues to be an antagonist towards us."

In 2012 multiple municipalities in Ulster County sued Mr. Aaron for over $400,000 in unpaid property taxes, followed by a $1 million lawsuit filed by Kingston, NY. Aaron said that the situation was resolved. "It's been settled for years. I've been the subject of a number of hit pieces." Aaron stated that Kingston's Mayor and Assessor was biased against him and that he won in court. He also said that when a person "reaches the top," they receive more scrutiny.

Despite his troubling past, Mr. Aaron has been praised by federal, state and local officials alike. Former Congressmen Chris Gibson and Maurice Hinchey, along with State Senator John Bonacic all praised Mr. Aaron’s work with seniors in promotional videos posted to his website. Village of Schoharie Mayor John Borst was unavailable for comment.

Birches of Schoharie is currently accepting applications, however, there is no one living on the premises as of yet. Local and state officials are hopeful that the Birches project will bring jobs and tax dollars to the Village of Schoharie and Schoharie County as a whole. If Mr. Aaron’s history tells us anything though, it may end up being more complicated than that.

The Mountain Eagle reached out to multiple parties involved with Mr. Aaron but has yet to receive a reply or comment. We will continue to monitor the story as it develops.


Tyler James and Matthew Avitabile contributed research to this article

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Cobleskill Police Blotter

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

At 5:55 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Jason D. Shorb, 38, of Cobleskill, NY, on an Arrest Warrant for Criminal Contempt.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on No Bail.  He is to appear in Schoharie County Court at a later date.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

At 1:57 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested David Jutrenka, 57, of Cobleskill, NY, for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation and other vehicle and traffic tickets.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $1000 Bail / $2000 Bond.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on February 7th at 5:00 p.m.

At 5:53 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Theodore Manigo, 38, of Schenectady, NY, on a Bench Warrant for Failing to appear for a court date.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $250 Bail / $500 Bond.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on February 7th at 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

At 7:52 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Raymond Zabawa, 32, of Cobleskill, NY, for Stalking 4th.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and released.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on February 14th at 5:00 p.m.

At 4:52 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Pedro Luis Crespo Cardenas, 44, of Houston, TX, for Petit Larceny.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $2000 Bail / $4000 Bond.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on February 7th at 5:00 p.m.

At 4:52 p.m Cobleskill Police arrested Pedro Ibanez Bejerano, 47, of Houston, TX, for Petit Larceny.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $2000 Bail / $4000 Bond. He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on February 7th at 5:00 p.m.


Saturday, January 28, 2017

At 1:00 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Emily A. Anger, 20, of Atlanta, NY, for Violation of the Village Noise Ordinance.  She was issued an appearance ticket and released.  She is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on February 16th at 10:00 a.m.

At 1:00 a.m.  Cobleskill Police arrested Emily E. Ketchum, 21, of Cobleskill, NY, for Violation of the Village Noise Ordinance.  She was issued an appearance ticket and released.  She is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on February 16th at 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

At 12:40 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Alexis Solomon, 18, of Newburgh, NY, for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on February 21st at 5:00 p.m.

At 12:40 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Kiyon Dye, 18, of New York, NY, for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on February 21st at 5:00 p.m.

At 12:40 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Marquis Thompson, 18, of Schenectady, NY, for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on February 21st at 5:00 p.m.

At 12:40 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Nathaniel Aguilar, 18, of Bronx, NY, for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana.  He was issued an appearance ticket and released.  He is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on February 21st at 5:00 p.m.


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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.

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.

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.

State Police arrest Schoharie Woman for Grand Larceny 3rd

State Police in Cobleskill arrested a Schoharie woman charging her with Grand Larceny 3rd, a Class D Felony following a multi-agency investigation into a stolen ring.

Troopers arrested Cecilia M. Sena, age 20, after receiving the report of a missing diamond ring. The ring was taken from a residence that Sena had access to and was later sold to a pawn shop in the State of Arizona. State Police were able to locate the ring with assistance from the Kingman Police Department, who located the ring and a receipt for sale at a pawn shop in Kingman, Arizona. Sena was taken into custody and arraigned on the charge in the Town of Schoharie Court where cash bail was set. The ring was recovered and will be returned to the owner.

Schoharie Memorial Day Parade set for Thursday at 6:30 PM

Be sure to read this story and more in The Schoharie News - now available countywide for 75 cents per paper.

The Schoharie Memorial Day Parade will be held on Thursday, May 21st, 2015 at 6:30 pm. 

Businesses, organizations and groups are all welcome to participate in the parade. For more information call 295-7231, email wolfeden@midtel.net, or stop in at The Wolfe's Laundry Den, 299 Main Street, Schoharie.

The 2015 Grand Marshall is the Schoharie Valley Lodge #491 of Free & Accepted Masons which is celebrating its 155th year. They were granted their charter on June 23, 1860 by the Grand Lodge of the State of New York and has met twice monthly ever since. The Lodge has been meeting on the second and third floors at 297 Main Street since 1926. Hundreds of men from Schoharie and surrounding communities have been members over the past 155 years. 

A short Memorial Day Ceremony will follow the parade at Veteran's Park located on the corner of Main and Spring Streets, followed by Grand Marshall presentations and announcement of parade prize winners.

The parade and ceremony are sponsored by the Schoharie Unit #1261, American Legion Auxiliary. 

Schoharie Breaks Ground on Lily Park

Members of Schoharie Promotional were joined by local residents and public officials on Saturday afternoon in breaking ground on the new Lillies of the Schoharie Valley Walking Park and Gardens located on Fort Road in the Village of Schoharie. 

The park's location, once known as Fox's Dorf, is the historic entrance to the Village of Schoharie. It is close to the Fox Creek covered bridge, which presently attracts many passersby for its ideal photo opportunities. 

Planning to create a gravel path that stretches from Fort Road to Route 30, Schoharie Promotional is creating the park in expectation of filling it with lillies. Volunteers began these efforts Saturday by clearing brush and old tress from the area.

Envisioning the lily park as a tourist destination that will bring in needed foot traffic and tourist dollars to the still recovering community that was devastated by Hurricane Irene almost four years ago, Schoharie Promotional is focusing their attention on the park this year. 

The Village of Schoharie has recently received a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program grant from New York State to look at ways to revitalize the community with connections to the water. It is oriented to recreation and connections between Fox Creek Park and the Old Stone Fort.

Schoharie Welcomes Three New Businesses

Community representatives and public officials welcomed the addition of three new businesses to the Village of Schoharie on Friday afternoon with ribbon cuttings to commemorate their recent business openings.

Grampa George's Dugout:  Teresa VanAlphen, owner. 434 Main Street.  
Offering 40+ flavors of hard and soft ice cream. Open 7 days a week, Noon to 9 PM.  

Organized by Schoharie Promotional, ribbon cuttings were held for Grampa George's Dugout at 434 Main Street, Your Way Cafe at 434 Main Street, and Victoria's Grooming at 291 Main Street. 

Your Way Cafe:  Owner Darcy Gray.  Home style cooking and daily specials.  434 Main Street, Open Monday through Saturday 5:30 AM to 8PM and Sunday 7AM to 8PM.  295-6222.

All three events were attended by New York State Assemblyman Pete Lopez, Town of Schoharie Supervisor Gene Milone, and Village of Schoharie Mayor John Borst, as well as other business and community leaders. 

Victoria's Grooming:  Beth Chambers and her daughter, Madison McPherson, have located their pet grooming business at 291 Main Street.  Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 3:30 PM. 391-3100.

Schoharie Promotional to Break Ground on Lily Park

The Schoharie Promotional Association is planning to create a walking path and gardens using approximately three acres of village owned land located between Route 30 and Fort Road and Fox Creek and the Old Stone Fort cemetery.  This area, once known as Fox’s Dorf, is the entrance to the Village of Schoharie.  Close to the Fox Creek covered bridge, which already attracts many for its ideal photo opportunities, the plan is to create a gravel path, winding through the area, from Fort Road to Route 30.  

Once the path is completed, our vision is to fill the park with lilies.  We will be requesting residents, businesses, and organizations to assist us in this endeavor.  They will be asked to plant lily varieties around trees and along borders of the path.  Since lilies are easy to grow, we envision that many will transplant varieties from their own gardens, making this a true community garden.  Contributors can plant a given area for which they will receive plaques to be placed in their areas, inscribed with the donor names and types of lilies.  We will be reaching out to the three churches in our area to create a small labyrinth for quiet reflection in the lily park.  This project will be a community effort and one that the community can share for years to come.

The Promotional Association is focusing our efforts on the park this year.  The village crew has been in the area cutting dead trees and brush and filling in low areas.  With four landscaping companies in Schoharie, we are seeking their advice and help to accomplish the layout of the park area and path direction.  We plan to rely on volunteers for much of the work that needs to be done.  

The Village of Schoharie has received a NYS Department of State Grant in the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) which is a planning grant looking at ways to revitalize the community with connections to the water.  It is oriented to recreation and connections: enhancements at Fox Creek Park, better connection of the park to the Old Stone Fort, and linkages between (sidewalks and paths).   It has been recognized for many years that Schoharie needs to connect the south portion of the village to the north.  Along with connections, a objective is to create a path under the Route 30 bridge to connect Fort Road and the lily park to Fox Creek Park on the other side of Route 30.  Linking the north and south sides of the village will see more walking and jogging participants, as well as providing a safe route to Fox Creek Park, the Little League fields, the Old Stone Fort, and the lily park.  

Nearly four years after the devastation of flooding from Hurricane Irene, the Village of Schoharie struggles to recover. Along with flood recovery, Schoharie needs to focus on ways to improve its economy and to attract prospective home owners and businesses.  One attribute to capitalize on is the valley’s beauty.  Along with the village’s three museums – the Old Stone Fort, Palatine House, and Train Museum, and the popular covered bridge over Fox Creek, the Lilies of the Schoharie Valley Walking Path and Gardens will add another tourist attraction to bring needed tourist dollars to our area.

Opinion: Schoharie's Albatross

Our view from the third floor of The Schoharie News office in Schoharie is unmatched, for we possess a commanding vantage point to observe all the historic village has to offer. 

To our right we can see the Daughters of the American Revolution Hall, the Heritage House, and the beginning of the municipality's residencies. In front of us resides the county building, courthouse, and the daily coming and going of hundreds of people. 

Looking left, we encounter both Schoharie's finest and most disappointing displays. On the finest spectrum rests the village's business district, which has grown at a impressive rate since the floods of Irene subsided in August 2011. It's truly inspiring to see as storefront after storefront has become occupied.

However, also looking to the left, we can't help but see what stands as the albatross of Schoharie: the Parrot House, which for one reason or another, has remained vacant for years and as such has stood out like a sore thumb in a beauty contest on Main Street. 

We understand the reasons behind its current closure: expensive repairs, health violations, and a series of less than savory operators. The Parrot House is old and it requires more than just a little tender loving care to bring it back to glory. (probably to the tune of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars). 

But bring it back to glory, we must. 

More than just a bar and restaurant, the Parrot House offered curious visitors to the Schoharie Valley a historic lodging to rest their spurs at, fine food to wet their appetites with, and a starting point for which they could experience all we have to offer. 

Much like Guilford Mills did in Cobleskill, the Parrot House poses daunting challenges to the future of Schoharie, because in its current state the building is a neutral object that, although unused, isn't causing a net loss to the village, but fully operational it would be nothing short of beneficial to its revitalization.

The first step to solving any problem is to admit that a problem exists in the first place, which I hope we all know by this point. Our question is: how do we get to step two and start addressing Schoharie's albatross in a productive and successful manner? 

That - we are not pleased to admit - but we don't even know where to begin. What we do know is going back to our commanding view of the village, that we reside somewhere special with a lot of potential, which when put together, will restore Schoharie back to being the jewel of the Valley. 

Schoharie Promotional Welcomes New Attorney to Main Street

Members of Schoharie Promotional welcomed attorney Shawn Smith to the community on Monday morning with a ribbon cutting attended by business owners, elected officials, and representatives of the Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Smith, who is the municipal attorney for Schoharie, Fulton, and the Village of Cobleskill in addition to his private practice, moved his primary office from Blenheim to Schoharie in December, 2014. 

He still maintains a office in Blenheim, where he also serves as Town Supervisor. 

A graduate of Albany Law School, Smith has been practicing law for four years and specializes in family law, real estate law, and wills and estates. Joined by his Legal Assistant Amanda Schultz, his practice is welcoming new clients.  

Wolfe's Den Laundromat Receives $25,000 National Grid Grant

Albany, N.Y. – For many in the Schoharie Valley region, the severe weather of 2011 is a distant memory.  In other areas, the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee is still evident in empty storefronts and forever changed landscapes. 

            The Schoharie Laundromat was in operation for many years at 299 Main Street in the village of Schoharie.  As conditions from the storm worsened, the laundromat closed early and never reopened.  For nearly two years, area residents had to go to Middleburgh, Cobleskill or even further afield to find a laundromat to do a basic every day chore.

Nancy and John Wolfe purchased the property to re-establish the business and invested hundreds of thousands of dollars. The building was gutted and new electric, plumbing, HVAC and hot water tanks were installed. The ceiling and walls were replaced and the bathroom made larger and handicap-accessible. New washers and dryers were purchased and installed.

“To live through the storms was bad enough, but to see these businesses that never reopened, that was a shame,” said Nancy Wolfe, owner of the Wolfe’s Den Laundromat.    “We knew that we couldn’t do it all ourselves, but my husband John and I were determined to bring the laundromat back to Schoharie. We’re so thankful that the grant from National Grid helped us get up and running.” 

National Grid’s $25,000 grant from the Main Street Revitalization Program helped to mitigate the risk of the major investment made to start the business. To meet the qualifications of the grant program, projects have to be located in a central business district/commercial area and the building itself had to be temporarily vacant due to the impact of the storms. Funds could be used for site preparation and construction, and renovation and rehabilitation of commercial, industrial or mixed-use buildings smaller than 100,000 square feet.

“By helping to bring another business back to Schoharie’s Main Street, other businesses in the immediate area have benefited from the additional foot traffic, the return of services and the psychological lift of getting rid of a visible reminder of those harrowing storms,” said Bill Flaherty, National Grid Director of Community and Customer Management for Eastern New York.  “This type of assistance from National Grid helps get these communities back on their feet by providing a little extra support to small businesses.”

            In addition to the restoration of power to hundreds of thousands of area residents and countless volunteer hours, National Grid, with special permission from the Public Service Commission, extended millions of dollars in grants to help businesses and communities rebuild.

Those interested in learning more about National Grid’s economic development programs should visit: http://www.shovelready.com/programs.asp#anchor21

Borst, Neary Win Re-Election Unopposed

Residents of the Villages of Richmondville and Schoharie headed to the polls on Wednesday to send their communities respective Mayors back to office for another term. 

Richmondville

With 28 total ballots cast, nine-term incumbent Mayor Kevin Neary was able to receive twenty-seven of them and secure a tenth term in office. Also running unopposed, Village Trustee Natasha Foote was reelected with 26 votes, and newcomer David Hotzler won with 25.

Schoharie 

Long-time Mayor John Borst received all eighty-nine votes cast to earn himself another term as the shepherd of the county's seat in the valley. Trustee Larry Caza was re-elected with 80 votes, while Trustee John Balliett gained another term on the back of 42 write in votes.

Village Justice Fred Kennedy was also re-elected with sixty-seven votes, and all candidates ran unopposed.

Schoharie Scouts Test Popsicle Bridges

Members of the Schoharie Webelos Den 1, Pack 4 might be fourth graders, but in order to secure their Engineer Activity Badge and Cub Scout Mathematics Belt Loop and Pin, they utilized principles from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

David S. Danner, Webelos Den Leader, Pack 4,
explains to his scouts that the test is not a
competition, but rather an individual exercise.

Conducting a demonstration Monday evening at the Schoharie Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, the Scouts to be tested the compression and tension of several Popsicle Bridges on a device designed to test the dynamic load bearing weight of the bridges. 

The device, which Troop 4's Scout Master Curt Van Steele described as a "contraption," was designed by Van Steele's father, Ronald, a Material Engineer and former instructor at RPI. The test measured how much weight each bridge could sustain.

Scout Master Curt Van Steel explains the
science behind the demonstration, with a
bridge ready to be tested.

Just the next step in securing their Engineer Activity Badges, Webelos pack members Jakob Danner, Joshua Mitchell, and Keenan Repicky constructed their bridges in different sizes and ways, with each design rendering its own strengths and weaknesses. 

Keenan's sister, Molly, a Girl Scout also joined in the fun with her own bridge as well. 

The results were impressive, as it took 40 lbs and 15.3 oz for Jakob's bridge to fail, 17 lbs and 11oz for Joshua's, 09 lbs and 11 oz for Keenan's, and besting all the boys, Molly's took 47 lbs and 5.8 oz of tension before her bridge splintered in pieces. 

Jakob Danner's bridge required several weights
in addition to the machine's tension to fail.

Webelos Den 1, Pack 4 was started last fall in Schoharie and its participants have had a perfect attendance record, with meetings held weekly during the school year and bimonthly over the summer. The boys will also be attending the Camp Henderson Boy Scout camp for a week this summer.

Borst, Neary to Seek Re-Election

SCHOHARIE - Schoharie County's two longest serving Mayors are set to extend their time in office next month, when residents of the Villages of Richmondville and Schoharie head to the polls on Wednesday, March 18th. 

Filing the necessary petitions to seek re-election as mayor of their respective municipalities, both Kevin Neary of Richmondville and John Borst are all but assured victory with no declared opponents to their candidacies. 

Now concluding his eighteenth year in office, Mr. Neary has overseen the administration of the county's only self-sustaining municipal operated electric company, Richmondville Power and Light at low cost to citizens.  

Mr. Borst on the other hand, has obtained minor fame from appearing several times on the David Letterman Show, but is primarily recognized for his work in leading recovery efforts in Schoharie following the devastation of Irene. 

In addition to the mayoral campaigns, village residents in Richmondville will be electing two Trustees; neither of whom are opposed, while voters in Schoharie are set to also elect two Trustees as well as one Justice. 

Following Neary and Borst as the longest serving mayors is Matthew Avitabile of Middleburgh, Doug Plummer of Sharon, Linda Holmes of Cobleskill, and most recently, Charles Johnston of Esperance. 

Apple Barrel Holding Fundraiser for DAR House January 29th

The Apple Barrel is continuing its role in local giving by hosting a major fundraising push later this month. The event, known as 'Cabin Fever,' will be held to assist the Daughters of the American Revolution house on Main Street, Schoharie.

The event will include a dinner, shopping, raffle, wine tasting, and more.

Photo credit: Schoharie Promo Association