Off-Beat Science: Water on Europa?

After it was announced in December that the Hubble Space Telescope detected massive geysers (or vapor plumes) erupting on Jupiter's moon Europa, scientists immediately began calling for further exploration into the possibility of liquid water existing elsewhere in the solar system. Europa is Jupiter's second largest of the Galilean moons and its surface is made up entirely of frozen water.

 

Because we don't have enough of liquid H2O here...

Astrobiologists, understandably giddy over the discovery, are hoping the possible presence of liquid H2O on Europa could also lead to the uncovering of life outside of our immediate universe, as their field's central dogma maintains that water + carbon = life, with water being the near impossible piece to the galaxy's puzzle.

 

Do Astrobiologists have to justify their field's existence like
my Biology professor had to during sixteen weeks of classes?

But, and this is a big but, scientists are completely missing the most important aspect of this story: tidal force. Tidal force is a secondary component of gravity, responsible for oceanic tides and in some cases severe gravitational strain that could theoretically result in the self-implosion of planets or moons under the right circumstances.

 

Alderaan never stood a chance against the intense
gravitational effects of the Empire's Death Star

Also, and proven scientifically, Europa's geysers or vapor plumes erupt only when the smoothest moon in the galaxy and Jupiter are at their farthest points, in accordance with tidal force predictions. Since we know tidal force could possibly strain moons to the point of implosion (or having all of its ice ripped off), couldn't it also be simply breaking massive chunks of ice off of Europa's surface and into the abyss of space?

Because this moon screams breeding ground for organisms

Maybe, the science is unsettled. However, I suspect we'll never know until some country is fooled into investing millions of dollars into the search for life on Europa, after which we will all watch in horror as tidal force ironically causes the Galilean moon to shatter into a million pieces - revealing the lack of liquid H2O after all...

Blaze Engulfs Sharon Restaurant

Note: Route 20 was briefly closed due to the fire, but has since reopened.

The Black Pearl, a popular restaurant in the village of Sharon Springs sustained severe damage today from a large fire. The structure fire attracted fire crews from not only Sharon but Ames, Cobleskill, and Carlisle. Richmondville and Esperance's fire departments are on standby. This chain of events was reported by the Schoharie County Fire Wire.

Letter to the Editor: Milone Argues for County Administrator

Dear Editor, Neighbors and Friends,

 

Once again I write pertaining to an issue which I whole heartedly feel would serve the best interest of the residents of Schoharie County. It is no secret at this point in time that at the January 3, 2014 organizational meeting I distributed a local law to each Supervisor calling for the creation of a County Administrator. The law gave definition to suggested educational requirements, scope of salary, functions, terms of office, etc. The law clearly gives definition to the Administrator being appointed by the Board of Supervisors, accountable and working in conjunction with the Board as Chief Administrative officer with the Board retaining final administrative authority. While this issue is not a new one, it would be difficult for anyone who is not familiar with the pitfalls of our County Government to pass judgment on its worth. I have for the last 2 years witnessed the floundering of County Government, the lack of policies and procedures, the lack of accountability, the need for an everyday "go to person" to achieve success in the workplace on an everyday basis. Please consider, for example, any business or corporation, medical facility, warehouse, transportation system, as well as local and second and third levels of government being without someone in charge on a daily basis.

 

While there are those who feel my recommendation has been presented at the wrong time, please bear in mind it is not the first time the issue has been raised. County history tells us that. Like many other important issues, it has been placed on the back burner waiting for action. I have once again put my best foot forward in an attempt to help government function the way it should. My recommendation that our Treasurer, Bill Cherry, be considered for this position was made on the basis of his capabilities and true understanding of what is needed. There are some real economic benefits to our taxpayers considering that a title of this nature hired from the outside would probably call for a salary of approximately $130,000.00 give or take. Plus, the expense of additional office space and staffing, pension costs and medical coverage could add up to something unaffordable. But by granting the administrator’s authority to someone who is already employed by the county, we could save thousands of dollars in salary and benefits, and may not have to delay or postpone this idea yet again because of the costs associated with creating a whole new position. I have worked side by side with Mr. Cherry on the county’s finance committee for two years and I have come to know his total commitment to this county and his professionalism. I stand by my recommendation even if some individuals feel I have muddied the waters by making that suggestion.

 

While it remains to be seen what the board does with the local law, my hope is that the issue now revived is recognized as necessary regardless of how the seat is filled.

 

The Fitzmaurice report clearly reflects the wrong doings and conspiracies that have taken place in our county government. The report contains numerous suggestions and courses of action which should be considered and very few of those recommendations have been addressed to date. I am extremely concerned that they too will fall by the wayside without proper leadership. I remain committed in attempting to rectify the wrongs and carving a way for government to function in the best interest of its workforce and its constituents.

 

Gene Milone, Supervisor

 

Town of Schoharie

Sub Zero Lows Expected for Schoharie County (1/18/2014)

After two weeks of residents enjoying a mild reprieve from Schoharie County's challenging winter weather thus far, local weathermen are not only calling for light snowfall accumulations (WNYT is predicting two inches max) this afternoon but for the return of Artic air and the accompanying sub zero temperatures that come with it.

 

Yes, it will be that cold

With highs struggling to reach the low-teens much of next week, lows are forecast in the single digits both above and below zero. Wednesday and Thursday morning in particular are expected to be extra frosty, with the former likely to fall to negative seven and the latter enjoying a tropical heat wave at just minus three.

 

Once we reach this point, the correct meteorological term is simply it's cold

There is light at the end of the tunnel, however. By this time next week highs should be back in the twenties with lows nearing a manageable six degrees Fahrenheit for early morning commuters next Saturday. 

Schoharie County Promoted as part of 'America's First Frontier'

Schoharie County and the Mohawk Valley played a pivotal role in the American Revolution and a new website will not only spotlight its significance but also promote the region as a premier, historically-themed travel destination. 

The Mohawk Valley Region Path Through History recently launched its website, MohawkValleyHistory.com, featuring information on Revolutionary War forts and battlefields, colonial- era structures, and Native American cultural centers, in an easy-to-use, educational format.

  
MohawkValleyHistory.com ties historically and culturally significant places, people, and events throughout the Mohawk Valley Region together in one story-- as “American’s First Frontier.”  The project is part of the statewide tourism venture, New York State Path Through History. 

MohawkValleyHistory.com will be a hub for visitors to plan trips using themed itineraries and events calendar, view the Region’s complete listing of Revolutionary War-related historic sites, and locate nearby merchants, including restaurants, shopping, and lodging. 

“The Mohawk Valley Region has, from the beginning, been a significant part of the birth, growth, and future of this country,” explains MVPTH Committee Chair Helen Martin.  “From the Mohawk River to historic sites, homes and markers dot the Region, peeling away the years to reveal the amazing stories of the people and events which shaped the area, the state, and the nation. This website commemorates and links this rich history, the history of Mohawk Valley’s aboriginal people and the area’s involvement in the  American Revolution.”    

“MohawkValleyHistory.com allows the Region to bring to life the content and living history previously presented in traditional formats using the newest interactive technology. The website aims to expand commerce, entertainment, historical awareness, and overall travel within the Region,” adds Martin.   The MVPTH Region is comprised of Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego, Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie and Saratoga Counties. MVPTH plans to collaborate with other regions across the state as new projects and historical themes emerge. Schoharie County historical sites featured on MohawkValleyHistory.com include Old Stone Fort Museum Complex, Iroquois Indian Museum, and Schoharie Crossing, among others.  

Additional interactive features and social media tools for MohawkValleyHistory.com are slated to be unveiled in Spring 2014. Currently MVPTH can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/mohawkvalleyhistory; on Twitter, twitter.com/MVPTH; followed on Instagram as #mvpath; and Pinterest, pinterest.com/mvpth.      

Discussion of Local School Issues Thursday at Golding

The school districts of the County are joining together in an effort to let the public know about issues currently affecting local school districts. The County Superintendents' Council and the School Boards' Association are hosting an event next Thursday, January 23rd at 6:30 at Golding Middle School.

The effort will have a presentation from Dr. Rick Timbs about local issues and difficulties faced by rural school districts.

“Schools across New York are facing a financial crisis, but none so much as rural schools like Cobleskill-Richmondville and other Schoharie County districts,” said C-RCS Superintendent Lynn Macan. “We need to come together as a community and a county to educate ourselves and our legislators on the glaring fact that rural schools are continually under-funded because of inequitable formulas, the Gap Elimination Adjustment, and unfunded mandates imposed by the state.” 

Dr. Timbs will share research illustrating how rural New York state districts continually receive inequitable and insufficient funds in comparison to the rest of the state and what this means for the futures of school districts such as ours.

More information on the CRCS site here.

Submit Your Questions to Congressman Gibson

The Schoharie News was fortunate enough to schedule a thirty minute sit-down with Congressman Chris Gibson this upcoming week. As such, while we tinker with the interview's format and how we would like to approach this special opportunity, we would like to open the floor to your concerns for Schoharie County's representative in Washington.

 

With that in mind, please feel free to submit your questions for Congressman Gibson in either the comments section of the webpage, or directly to the editor at aaaabraves@yahoo.com. We're looking for five, maybe six reader submissions in addition to our current list of questions. Readers have until Sunday evening to get them in.

 

 

 

 

Village of Schoharie Approves Tax Abatements

Village of Schoharie officials made the case to a handful of residents on Tuesday evening for passing their own version of tax abatements to compliment the Town's controversial four local laws approved last year. Town Supervisor Gene Milone has since called for neighboring municipalities and even the entire county to adopt the targeted exemptions.

 

Mayor John Borst, who stressed the abatements were being implemented to, "try to revitalize the community," explained to the small audience that the laws would offer partial assessment exemptions to first-time and existing homebuyers for reconstruction efforts among other factors. Trustee  Balliett concurred, arguing that there was no downside to abatements and that badly damaged homes could be fixed up. He would later go on to say, "God Bless anybody who could fix up these houses."

 

Board members unanimously supported the proposed abatements, drafted as four local laws, after holding a thirty minute public hearing before the regularly scheduled January village board meeting.

 

In other action board members:

•  heard that the Village has been awarded $41,750 from the NYS Department of State for Waterfront Recreational Assets Planning and that talks will soon commence to develop a contract.
• noted that the Community Reconstruction Program committee will be meeting on Thursday, January 23rd, 7pm at the Schoharie Town Hall and that the group is close to prioritizing funds. One proposed project is to rebuild the historic Central Bridge-Schoharie railroad.
• requested a $302,906.66 disbursement from HELP (2011 Hurricane Emergency Loan Program) to fund repairs to the WWTP. Board members described the request as mostly cash flow as cost is subject to FEMA reimbursement. The Village was required to put down an $8,000 payment at 0% interest.
• appointed Town Justice Kenneth Knutsen to serve as acting Village Justice in the absence of Judge Kennedy at a rate of pay of $25 per occurrence.
• approved a motion to propose Local Law #5-2014 and to hold a public hearing at 7pm on February 11th, 2014 at the Village Offices. The proposed law would grant the Village authority to exceed the 2% tax cap if necessary.

 

 

Zumba Event to Aid Flood Victims

All are invited to a Saturday, February 8th "Zumba-thon" to assist flood victims. The event, done in partnership with SALT is a great opportunity to exercise and also to help out a good cause. The three hour event offers a chance to learn new techniques and costs just $10 minimum donation.

More information can be found on the event page here.

Scho-Burgh Tickets Available at Schoharie School Office

If you are getting excited about the Scho-Burgh game coming up between rivals Schoharie and Middleburgh, tickets are available before the game at the Schoharie High School office. Tickets are $2 for adults and $1 for students. T-shirts are also available for $15 each. You can pick up the tickets through tomorrow-- and they will be available at the door at SUNY Cobleskill.

Vote in Our New Poll: Do You Approve of District Attorney James Sacket?

In this new poll, we are asking readers to weigh in on whether they approve or disapprove of District Attorney James Sacket's performance as chief prosecutor in Schoharie County's justice system. The District Attorney was re-elected without opposition in November.

 

This poll will be open until Tuesday and is located on the right-hand sidebar on the Schoharie News website

Middleburgh Hosting College Information Night

From the Middleburgh Central School Facebook page, the school is hosting an informational night to assist juniors considering career and educational options.

The High School Guidance Counselors will be hosting a Junior Information Night on Tuesday, January 21 at 6:30 pm in the high school library. They will be discussing SAT's, SAT II's, ACT's, New Visions, Scheduling, College Timeline and Military options. If you have any questions, please call the counseling center at 827-3601.

Lopez, Gibson to Attend Education Forum in Oneonta

This Saturday at 2pm at the Oneonta High School a presentation rebutting recent education reforms will be taking place. In attendance will be Assembly members Peter Lopez, Bill Magee, and Cliff Crouch and Congressman Chris Gibson. There will be a presentation from Carol Burris, a long time educator and two others. They will discuss the effort to "provide a voice to concerned parents and teachers about  implementation of the Common Core, APPR, high-stakes testing, data privacy, and the Regent Reform Agenda."

The event is being sponsored in part by the NYS Union of Teachers and the local Oneonta Teachers' Association. The event is free to attend.

Duanesburg Tops Middleburgh 65-59 in Tough Bout

In a tight battle between two closely matched varsity squads, the Duanesburg Eagles were able to pull away from the Middleburgh Knights in the fourth quarter to come out of Knights territory with a tough 65-59 victory on Wednesday night.

 

The Knights, relying on Troy Hinkley's sixteen point performance, led after the first quarter and held their own against the Duanesburg squad. Both Ryan Bechtold and Keith Campbell successfully converted three shots from beyond the arch, a major contribution to Middleburgh's home court effort.

 

Duanesburg struggled in the paint, but made up for it with nine three-pointers and a 71.4% overall success rate at the free throw line. Chris Smalls and Dylan Madison each put up sixteen points in support of the Eagles victory, which was in doubt until the very end due to the competitive nature of both teams.

 

Middleburgh has Thursday evening off as they prepare for Friday night's annual Schoburg matchup against Valley rival Schoharie. This years contest will be held at SUNY Cobleskill, with action kicking off at 6 pm between the girls varsity squads, which will be immediately followed by the boys.

 

Middleburgh 59
Duanesburg 65
                      1st 2nd 3rd  Final
Middleburgh  16  32  46  59
Duanesburg  15  32  48  65

 

 

Opinion: Sophomoric Management Fails Valley Communities

Governor Cuomo's initial announcement of $12 million for four of Schoharie County's worst hit communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee seemed like a miracle for the Villages of Middleburgh and Schoharie and the Village and Town governments of Esperance. It offered a chance to not only further rebuild their communities, but to offer local incentives to small business, conduct stream remediation efforts and much more.

And then it didn't.

 

Rather than allowing the local municipalities to decide where the money would best be spent, as was originally intended, the NY Rising program was altered and local elected officials lost control of the funds and were left with only submitting ideas for consideration to the Community Reconstruction Program (CRP) committee. Even worse, funds no longer had to be earmarked for specific boundaries - meaning the end result could theoretically have all $12 million going into a single route 30 corridor wide project.

It would be unfair to everyone involved to not describe the state's poor handling of these funds as nonsensical, due primarily to the bind it places on local officials within their own communities by having them explain why "their money" might end up going to some other project. Not to mention the lets put it together as we go along mentality of the NY Rising program screams of sophomoric management by the governor's administration. There have been heroic efforts on the parts of the CRP Committee and Co-Chairs Georgia van Dyke and Sarah Goodrich to make sure that the money is well spent, but this in no way excuses the format of the program set up by the governor's office.

Now the Community Reconstruction Program is reportedly close to prioritizing projects for funding under the NY Rising Program and elected officials are preparing for the committee's next meeting on Thursday, January 23rd, 7pm at the Schoharie Town Hall (the 300) to weigh in on their communities specific priorities. Great, but the real question remains: will their last minute pleas make any difference?

At this point, we already know the answer to that.

All we can do is hope that the committee acts reasonably and that the state doesn't repeat its mistakes with the new $12 million in funding the Schoharie News exclusively reported has been awarded to the Towns of Blenheim, Fulton, Middleburgh and Schoharie. Once again, however, we probably already know the answer to that...

Poll: Little Public Support for Independent Fire Department in Schoharie

The latest Schoharie News poll has found significant opposition to the creation of an independent Schoharie Fire Department by participating readers. The issue has recently entered the political conversation as relations publicly frayed between Town of Schoharie Supervisor Gene Milone and SFD President Martin Shrederis.

 

Only 25% of readers supported the idea, while 69% were opposed and the remaining 6% chose to remain neutral on the question. Slightly over one hundred people participated in the poll, which was open for five days on the right hand sidebar of the website.

 

 

$12 Million in New Flood Recovery Money on its Way

Governor Cuomo's NY Rising Program, launched in August, has provided up to $12 million in total funding for projects in the Villages of Esperance, Middleburgh, and Schoharie and the Town of Esperance. Now, with more federal dollars headed to the state to fund other projects, there is word that the program will expand to cover other areas devastated by the 2011 flooding.

The program will expand into municipalities not covered by the initial burst of grant funding. According to a release from SALT Recovery, another $12 million will be added to a second round of funding-- for $24 million in total. According to the information, the Towns of Middleburgh, Blenheim, Fulton, and Schoharie will all be eligible for $3 million in grants each.

This expansion of funding was requested by the local governments and by the co-chairs of the existing local NY Rising Committee, Sarah Goodrich and Georgia van Dyke. According to a statement Goodrich released, "We believe that the needs of these towns, in addition to the villages, must be addressed and that the level of damage justified the additional funding. We are thrilled that our voices were heard, and with the expansion of the funding our request was honored."

The money will be sent to a NY Rising committee made up of local dignitaries and those suggested by the local municipalities. They will then work out a series of prosepctive projects for the NYS Department of State and the Governor's office to review. The committee will have to balance needs of recovery with emergency services, business development, housing issues, flood mitigation, and others that could come up.

National Bank of Coxsackie Donates $500 to Best House

After joining forces to raise $1,000 in support of the Dr. Best House, which is located on Clauverwie Road in the Village of Middleburgh, the National Bank of Coxsackie presented Bobbi Ryan of the Best House with a $500 donation on the morning of Monday, January 13th.

The National Bank of Coxsackie, seeing potential in one of Schoharie County's "many hidden gems," pledged during the summer to match donation funds raised by the Best House up to $500, a sum the historical medical exhibit raised in just a couple of months.

In the picture from left to right is Middleburgh Branch Manager Debbie Mickel,
Marketing Officer Nicole Nazi, and Bobbi Ryan from the Dr. Best House.

Being in the Middleburgh area for over a year now, the community minded bank is looking for more unique ways to get involved in the community and give back. The National Bank of Coxsackie has seven branches, primarily located in the Catskills and is hoping to further expand.

The Dr. Christopher S. Best House, which showcases turn of the century medical devices and artifacts original to the home itself, is truly representative of America's late 1800's small-town family practices. The exhibit is open for guided tours May through October on Thursdays from 10-2pm, Saturdays in July and August 10-2pm as well as by appointment at 518-827-5142. 

Leadership Key in Cobleskill Transition

With the transition of both executive offices in Cobleskill now complete, the hard work begins for Mayor Linda Holmes and Supervisor Leo McAllister. Both have to deal with the issues of Cobleskill's stalling economies and how to deal with programs initiated by their predecessors.

For McAllister, the learning curve was set when he took office. Seemingly ready for the job, McAllister impressed at the January County Board of Supervisors meeting, showing an acumen that has not inhabited Cobleskill's seat at the chamber in years. Meanwhile, his connections in the business community seem to be paying off as projects such as a new gym and Mavis Tire are finally completed.

For Mayor Holmes, decisive action was the order of the month in December. While thanking former Mayor Mark Galasso for his input on the issue of dissolution, her decision to dissolve that committee was met with mostly positive reviews. It also showed that her focus on community involvement would not be overshadowed by an effort to dismantle the village of Cobleskill. Beyond this, her leadership in creating a Cobleskill facebook page and the recent clearing of snow by her and her trustees have been winners with popular opinion.

Whether or not this trend will continue, it is a different, more cooperative tone than Cobleskill has seen since the election of Mike Sellers portended political dysfunction that coincided with other economic issues that the community faced.

90% of Middleburgh Dissolution Costs Covered by NY State Grant

Although Village of Middleburgh residents voted overwhelmingly against dissolving their historic municipality eleven months ago, there still remained one hiccup due to the voter initiated proposition: the nearly $2,200 bill the controversial referendum cost the small village's taxpayers.

 

A bill local residents no longer have to worry about.

 

Shortly after the proposition failed, Village Board members applied for a New York State grant to cover the costs of the voter initiated dissolution vote. On December 24th they received word from the Citizens Re-Organization Empowerment Grant program informing them that their request had been approved at 90%. $1,993 is being reimbursed.

 

The initiative to dissolve the Village of Middleburgh into the Town was the brainchild of former Village Mayor Gary Hayes, who argued that doing so would decrease the taxpayers burden and promote efficiently of local government. Only 71 residents agreed.