Out Lexington Way

By Christine Dwon

We extend deepest sympathy to all the family and friends of Jeannette Becker who passed away last week.

On July 9, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Town of Lexington Fire/Rescue Company delivered over 20 Christmas in July fruit boxes that included cookies, fruit and other treats.  As always, the recipients were very pleased with the visits and being remembered.

Steve Van Etten celebrates his birthday on Saturday, July 20.

Happy birthday on Sunday, July 21 to Gretchen Milton.

Also celebrating a birthday on July 21 is Debbie Simmons.

Wednesday, July 24 is Deladis Barcone’s birthday.

Best wishes to everyone

The Lexington Farmers Market will be Saturday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. under the Lexington pavilion, 3542 Route 42.  Local vendors with fresh produce, meats, cheeses, mushrooms, eggs, baked goods and so much more.

The Tannersville Fire Department’s 54th annual Chicken BBQ is Saturday, July 20, rain or shine.  Takeouts are 4 to 6 p.m. and sit down from 5 to 8 p.m.  Tickets $15 donation.

Summer worship services will be held at 9 a.m. in the Methodist Church in West Kill, 65 Spruceton Road, July 21 and July 28.  There are no Sunday services in the Methodist Church in Lexington during those weeks.

Monday, July 22 stop by the Mountain Top Library, 6093 Main Street, Tannersville from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. for an afternoon of Rock n’ Reptiles with a live presentation from Hudson Valley Reptile Rescue at 1 p.m., games, exhibits, crafts and more.

Every second and fourth (July 23) Tuesdays of the month, you are invited to the Soup and Fellowship Kitchen in the Blue Room at the Kaaterskill UMC, 5942 Main Street, Tannersville for a free bowl of soup and sandwich.  All are welcomed.

The 70th Greene County Youth Fair is Thursday, July 25, Friday, July 26, Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  There will be fireworks on Saturday night.  The Fair is held in Cairo on Joseph D. Spencer Lane.  Free admission.

You are invited to the Potluck Dinner Church, Friday, July 26 at 6 p.m. in the Ashland Community UMC, 12216 State Hwy 23, Ashland.  Invite a friend.

Are you ready for Thunder in the Mountains?  The annual Thunder in the Mountains Car Show hosted by the West Kill/Lexington Community Improvement Association is Saturday, July 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Lexington Municipal Building, 3542 Route 42, Lexington.  Breakfast sandwiches will be available and so will hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch and beverages for purchase.  There will be trophies, 1995 or newer will have their own class, lots of beautiful gift baskets for raffle and a 50/50 raffle.  Lexington Fire/Rescue Company will be there with the antique fire truck and a very special guest, Sparky the Fire Dog.  Bring the whole family and the kiddos will have fun on the new swing set.  All proceeds benefit the WKLCIA.  Call Mary at 518-989-6813.

On Sunday, July 28, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Bette Knapp will be remembered at a Celebration of Life with family and friends under the Lexington pavilion.  Please bring a covered dish to share.

The Greene County Department of Human Services Senior Nutrition Program menu for the week of July 22 – July 26 is as follows:  Monday—Beef chili, mixed vegetables, white rice, tropical fruit; Tuesday—Chicken and biscuits, mashed potatoes, green beans, rice pudding with raisins; Wednesday—Sweet and sour chicken, oriental mixed vegetables, white rice, lemon cake; Thursday—BBQ pulled pork, coleslaw, baked beans, carrots, berry shortcake; Friday—Chef’s salad with ham and Swiss, three-bean salad, macaroni salad, watermelon.  All persons age 60 and older and spouses are invited to join for lunch.  Suggested donation is $4 per meal.  Congregate dining reservations are required at least a day in advance by noon by calling the appropriate centers.  The number to call for the Senior Service Center at the Jewett Municipal Building, Route 23C, Jewett is 518-263-4392.

Here are a few upcoming events in the beginning of August:

The Greene Room Players Songbirds concert Friday, Aug. 2, 7 p.m. at the Mountain Top Library in Tannersville, free performance.

Saturday, Aug. 3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. the Greene Room Players Songbirds will have a free musical performance at the Community Center, 5494 State Route 23, Windham with favorites from the 60s and the old standards.

Saturday, Aug. 3, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Brooks Chicken BBQ at the Jewett Firehouse, Route 17, Jewett, $15, takeouts, includes chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, corn on the cob, roll and brownie.

Hunter Fire Company Annual Block Party on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Dj Frankieokie 3 to 7 p.m.; live music with The Lost Cowboys, 7 to 10 p.m.; fun for the whole family, bouncy house, climbing wall, slide, foam machine and more at the Hunter Firehouse, 17 Bridge Street, Hunter.

The Western Catskills will have a table at the Lexington Farmers Market on Saturday, Aug. 3 with information on the Town of Lexington Housing Rehabilitation Grants.  The Town of Lexington is considering applying for a Community Development Block Grant to fund the rehabilitation of homes for its residents.  If you are a full-time resident in the Town of Lexington, if you have a stick-built home, do you need health and safety repairs on your home – come and talk to us.  We need your help in building a wait list.  If you can’t come to the Lexington Farmers Market on Aug. 3, you may call or email to get on the wait list – 607-652-2823 ext. 102 or info@westerncatskills.org; www.westerncatskills.org/programs/.

Thank you to all law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, healthcare providers, volunteers, veterans and actively serving military, farmers, truck drivers and so many more.

Prayers for all who are dealing with loss, illnesses, healing, difficulties, our country, our military and their families, the world.

Until next week take care, be thankful, be respectful, be safe and please be kind to one another.  Your act of kindness may change someone’s life.

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Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC VFW Post 1545

Two weeks till our annual VFW Post 1545 golf outing. It will be held at Christmans Windham House CC on Friday August 2nd.

Registration at 9 a.m. shotgun start at 10 a.m. Four-person scramble with 18 holes of golf with cart, prizes and dinner afterwards. Come on out and enjoy the day.

Also, the Ashland Fire Department is holding a golf outing with donations going to the Westchester Burn Center. Contact Diane at the Ashland town hall at 518-734-3636 for more information regarding this worthy fundraiser. 

We are experiencing a need for our Post members to become active. We have a lot going on and we need members to step up and help keep our Post moving ahead. 

We have been in this community since 1928 and have supported veteran causes ever since. It is very difficult to continue when members, especially local veterans, do not attend meetings of veteran needs. So, I am asking any local member to come and support YOUR Post. 

Our Post is so fortunate to be supported by our community. I would like to thank Matt Grossman of M & C Power Washing LLC who came and power washed our building.

Being on State Route 23 so close to the road, the building gets a great deal of grime every year. Along with that company, we also thank John Giordano and Blue Mountain Excavation for their work on our parking lot. We salute you for your expertise and generosity.

The VFW is always working on veteran benefits in Washington, DC. Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member Pappas, and members of the subcommittee, on behalf of the men and women of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) and its Auxiliary, thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony regarding this pending legislation regarding H.R 6507, Mark our place act. 

The VFW supports this bill that would eliminate a service era requirement, authorizing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish or replace a headstone, marker, or medallion for the grave of any eligible Medal of Honor recipient irrespective of dates of service.

Current United States Code specifies the decedent must have served on or after April 6, 1917. We believe this legislation would ensure appropriate memorialization of all recipients of our nation’s highest award for valor. 

Without the work of the VFW in DC doing tireless work, veterans would be totally overlooked. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced six burial updates for service members who have been missing and unaccounted for from World War II and the Korean War. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Allan W. Knepper, 27, of Lewiston, Idaho, was with the 49th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group. He went missing in action on July 10, 1943. He will be buried in his hometown on Aug. 2, 2024. 

Army Pvt. 1st Class Alcario V. Flores, 37, of Coolidge, Arizona, was assigned to Company G, 2nd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on Jan. 21, 1945. He will be buried in Tempe, Arizona, on Aug. 3, 2024.

Army Sgt. Sam A. Prince, 28, of Clovis, New Mexico, was a member of Headquarters Battery, 200th Coast Artillery Regiment. He was among those captured during the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, and died while a prisoner of war on Sept. 22 that same year. He will be buried in his hometown on Aug. 8, 2024.

Army Corporal Jesse L. Mitchell, 22, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, was a member of C Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He died while a prisoner of war in summer 1951. He will be buried in his hometown on Oct. 12, 2024.

Army Pvt. William A. Smith, 21, of Syracuse, Missouri, was assigned to Company C, 149th Engineer Combat Battalion. He was killed in action on June 6, 1944, enroute to Omaha Beach in Normandy. He will be buried in St. Louis, Missouri, on Nov. 11, 2024.

Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Frank J. Tedone, 23, of Hartford, Connecticut, was a member of the 436th Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group. He went missing in action on Dec. 1, 1943. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on a date to be determined.

It is so important that these veteran’s families get their family members back for proper military honors. Let us come together as one nation. 

Veterans, since we gained independence, have fought for our freedoms. We support our troops regardless of political party and we should come together and support each other.

This past couple of weeks (or years however you want to go look at it) has been name-calling, making us divided. Support who you want and remember we are ONE NATION not a divided one. 

Keep our troops still serving around the world on your thoughts and prayers. May God bless America. 

Marc Farmilette, PDC – Commander VFW Post1545

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Windham Ambulance Corp Named Agency of the Year

By Michael Ryan

WINDHAM - It took an unexpected act by the Regional Emergency Medical Organization (REMO), naming the Windham ambulance corp as its “Agency of the Year,”  to do what was thought impossible.

“I’m speechless. Can you imagine that?” town supervisor Thomas Hoyt said, laughing heart-fully, learning of the award, earlier this month.

“This is some feather in our cap for a little town like ours, especially when you look at the whole system, with REMO covering six counties.”

In addition to Greene County, the Hudson-Mohawk Valley sector of REMO oversees all EMS agencies in Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga & Schenectady counties, including several larger metropolitan areas.

Greene County also topped the list with EMT Thomas Todd, from the town of Ashland ambulance squad, honored as Basic Life Support (BLS) “Provider of the Year.”

And the recipient of the prestigious “Harriet C. Weber EMS Leadership Award” is Greene County Emergency Medical Systems Inc. chief of operations Steven Near.

The three selections gave Greene County nearly half of REMO’s seven annual recognitions, which in the field of emergency rescue services particularly, is nothing to sneeze at.

Windham has always been ahead of the curve, forming its paid system in the late 1990’s as volunteer efforts began to fade from the landscape.

Prior to then, volunteerism flourished and Decker’s Funeral Home provided emergency rescue, arriving at the scene in somewhat startling fashion.

A funeral home hearse was known to show up. “A ride to the hospital is a ride to the hospital,” Hoyt says, noting, “they never had to come to my house, obviously. I’m still standing.”

Over the years, Windham has become one of the leading entities in the county, offering Basic Life Support (transport to a medial facility) and Advanced Life Support (on-board paramedics).

Their reputation has now spread beyond local borders, led by ambulance administrator Davia Montie who also sits on a special Task Force researching the possibility of forming a countywide system.

That study is well underway, supported by the county legislature which has hired outside consultants to gather data and make recommendations for moving forward as EMS services evolve toward full time workers.

The town of Windham, two years ago, finished the creation of a new ambulance headquarters, investing $3.5 million in the project.

Some money has been found to soften the blow of a large loan, including $600,000 in grants from the office of Senator Michelle Hinchey.

The county legislature delivered $100,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds and another $160,000 came courtesy of the Catskill Watershed Corporation for stormwater control reimbursements.

Hoyt says the town annually budgets $800,000 for ambulance expenses, getting a return of $300,000 from insurance billings, leaving a hefty $500,000 gap, not directly charging residents of Windham.

Windham has a contract with the neighboring town of Jewett to provide primary coverage and equips two ambulances, frequently having two available crews, most notably during the ski season.

“Agency of the Year” is bestowed upon a unit that, “strives for consistency in EMS excellence and exhibits exemplary performance when providing or supporting pre-hospital emergency medical care,” according to REMO.

The BLS “Provider of the Year” is recognized for “contributions to the community including dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, ingenuity, special skill or insight in the EMS environment.”

And the “Harriet C. Weber EMS Leadership Award” goes to an “individual exhibiting longevity, innovation/dedication, responsibility, executive and management skills in establishing, maintaining, promoting or expanding EMS organizations, agencies and committees at the community and/or State level,” according to REMO.

REMO is one of 18 state-designated program agencies servicing and overseeing the needs of New York’s pre-hospital EMS providers through coordination and education

Its 6-county area encompasses 3,500 square miles, a population of more than 900,000 and accounts for an annual call volume in excess of 150,000.

Other 2024 award recipients include advanced life support “Provider of the Year” (Harjup Singh of Guilderland Ambulance), “Physician of Excellence” (Dr. Warren Hayashi), “EMS Educator of Excellence” (Mohawk Ambulance Service and “Excellence in EMS Quality and Safety (Michael Prezioso of Wilton EMS).

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Molinaro Secures Streetscape Funding

CATSKILL — The Greene County Legislature is pleased to announce in partnership with Congressman Molinaro that Greene County will be the recipient of federal funding for a Comprehensive Streetscape Enhancement Project in the hamlet of Leeds. This initiative includes upgrades to essential infrastructure in support of businesses and residents of the hamlet.

Greene County is receiving a $2 million appropriation of federal funds. The announcement was delivered in a local presentation by Congressman Marc Molinaro (Representative of NY’s 19th District) on Monday July 1st in the hamlet of Leeds. NYS Assemblyman Chris Tague (R-102), members of the Greene County Legislature, the Town of Catskill, County representatives and local residents joined the Congressman for the announcement.

“This is a Greene County Highway Department project” noted Legislature Chair Patrick Linger.  “Greene County Highway will be leading the design, development and construction of the entire effort that is anticipated to begin in 2026.”  The total budget for the project is $2.5 million, 80% of which is covered by this federal appropriation and the other 20% funded by Greene County.”

Greene County Highway Superintendent Scott Templeton commented that the County has already selected the project engineering firm that will begin the design of the project. “The streetscape infrastructure on Main Street Leads is deteriorating and in need of improvements.  Specifically, the stormwater collection system, pavement gutters, asphalt pavement, curbing, sidewalks and amenities to the individual properties” will all be addressed.

“This represents a critical investment in the future of Leeds, ensuring enhanced safety, accessibility, and aesthetic appeal for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. These improvements are part of the County’s ongoing commitment to sustainable growth and infrastructure development”, states Legislature Minority Leader Harry Lennon. “Leeds has been part of a resurgence, and this improved infrastructure will encourage additional private investment to the area.”

The Leeds Streetscape Project is the continuation of integrated infrastructure planning by the Greene County Legislature and the Town of Catskill. The vision and accomplishments to stimulate investment through public infrastructure and capital facilities is steadily coming to fruition in support of existing and future businesses, and will spur growth on both sides of the NYS Thruway.

Several infrastructure projects are currently underway. Located East and West of Catskill Exit 21 sits two strategically located commercial parks owned by the Greene County IDA and being jointly developed with Greene County. Sitework is now in full-swing on the Exit 21 East Gateway Greene Commerce Park with the completion of the new Gateway Drive to serve the recently constructed Stewarts Convenience Shop, the planned Hampton Inn Hotel, and the third parcel currently being marketed for a restaurant. Additionally, Greene County’s investment in natural gas infrastructure is slated to begin construction this month, extending existing natural gas service from Jefferson Heights to service parcels along Route 23B and to service both the Exit 21 East, Gateway Greene Commerce Park and the Exit 21 West, Austin’s Glen Commerce Park.

"This funding marks a pivotal moment for Leeds as we embark on revitalizing our streetscape and enhancing our infrastructure to better serve our community," said Legislative Majority Leader Matthew Luvera. "These improvements will not only beautify our town but also improve functionality and resilience, supporting our economic vitality and quality of life."

Funding for this initiative is made possible through the collaborative efforts between governmental partners and our State and Federal representatives to support growth and development within Greene County.

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2023-24 Cairo-Durham High School Fourth Quarter Honor Rolls Announced

CAIRO – The Cairo-Durham Central School District is excited to announce its Cairo-Durham High School High Honor Roll and Honor Roll members for the fourth quarter of the 2023-24 school year. 

To qualify for High Honor Roll, students must record a grade point average of 90 or higher throughout the quarter. To qualify for Honor Roll, students must record a grade point average between 85 and 89. 

High Honor Roll 

9th Grade: 

Aiden Choinsky, Ryan Coons, Lilyanne Dauphin, Madeline Gouza, Aiden Houston, Gianna Lendin, Destiny Mauriello, Aria McCabe, Phoenix McCabe, Abagail Multari, Isabel Newkirk, Heidi Nielsen, Anna Palmieri, Lenor Rhoades, Nevaeh Sprague and Ava Zeun. 

10th Grade: 

Avery Amoroso, Kingston Czajkowski, Amiliana DuHart, Addison Hall, Aaylla Heines, Joseph Kahle, Aylana Merrihew, Julian Miller, Emily Moon, Andrew Moran, Bridget Murphy, Daniel Mutinsky, Nicholas Olivett, Nathaniel Porter, Sophia Rennig, Logan Rhoades, Luca Rhoades, Anthony Roeber, Kaitlyn Russell, Jonathan Saad, Oliver Schrull, Aubree Shultis, Aishwarya Thakur, Nathaniel Underwood, Grace VanGurp, Candace Vlasaty, Zoe Vogel, William Woodcock, Issabella Zelinsky and Joseph Zindell Jr. 

11th Grade: 

Connor Alberson, Jessica Baeckmann, Ally Barnett, Andrew Esslie, Kevin Feeney, Rose Fucito, Dylan Galtieri, Adam Henry, Danasia King, Kaylie Long, Alan Lopez-Agustin, Rachel Maggio,

Natalie McGuire, Joshua Mulligan, Sarah Muschitiello, Isabelle Neves, Tenley O'Connell, Jenna Relyea, Kaylan Rennig, Loki Rhoades, Luciana Ross, Lenesha Sanpal, Gloriannah Santosky, Lindsay Shelhamer, Ryan Shelhamer, Mackenzie Sherburne, William Stallbohm, Loretta Stalter, Lauren Thompson, Drew Warner and Lauren Zecca. 

12th Grade: 

Kennedy Bleau, Abigail Brandow, Marc Cammarata, Ryan Clow, Nova Conti, Chloe Cunningham, Joshua Cuti, Morgan Deyo, Minhtri Dinh, Ciara Falvey, Brendan Feeney, Alexander Gouza, Tashana James, Emma Kargoe, Skyler Kelly, Jake Lane, Colin MacGiffert, Adrian McGuire, Francesco Miller-Carter, Ayla Neves, Jacklyn Nielsen, Cole Partridge, Echo Roe, Zachary Russell, Hailey Schrull, Jaylin Shores, Rhea Smith, Anthony Sternbach, Kaylee VanWagner, Zak Wagor and Tatyanna Young. 

Honor Roll 

9th Grade: 

Kayla Alberson, Tanner Berg, Stephen Brandow, Jr., Ashton Burgan, Nia DeRose, Gabriel DiPrima, Lily Haugh, Raymond LaRose, Gia Palmer, Angelina Pitcher, Charlotte Rae, Gabrielle Rae, Amanda Ramos-Rivera, Shiree Rooney, Grace Snedeker and Leia Sorokurs. 

10th Grade: 

Wyatt Cammarata, Joshua Campbell Jr., Dominique Crianza, Shannon Gavin, Alexis Hammond, Abby Hartmann, Desiree Jenes, Chase Kelly, Nicholas Strother and Jaide Wolf. 

11th Grade: 

Kaylee Cassimore, Margo Cochrane, Briana Frey, Anayeli Garcia-Jacinto, Kaylee Ireland, Mackenzie Meacher, Anthony Panicola, Dezaray Riley, Valentino Rivera, Zander Santarelli and Andrew Searing-Burke. 

12th Grade: 

John Boz, Ayrissa Butta, Christopher Cherrington, Connor Jackson, Jose Mejia-Deyo, Alexander Nieves, Kaitlyn Peterson, Robert Poelstra, Axel Rendon, Charles Smith, Joseph VanHolsteyn and Rielli Webner. 

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Theater Explorers Returns This August to Sugar Maples!

After a successful inaugural launch in summer of 2023, Maude Adams Theater Hub (a program of Catskill Mountain Foundation) is expanding their Theater Explorers to two weeks this August 5-16! Combining all the arts that go into creating a staged performance, Colleen Weiman and Hedda Flynn will be guiding kids ages 9-12 through the joy of writing, designing, and acting their own plays based on the theme: Superpowers of Theater. 

Students may enroll in either week–or both–as the curriculum will build, but still be unique both weeks. Featured guests will provide lessons on costume design, stage combat, theater dance, improvisation, stand up comedy, puppetry, playwriting, scenic design, production, and much more! Kids will get to pursue the parts of theater that they love most while developing a rich understanding of all that goes into putting a production together from the ground up. 

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RARE SILENT FILM FOOTAGE FEATURES SCHOHARIE RESERVOIR CONSTRUCTION AND LAST DAYS OF GILBOA VILLAGE

GILBOA—The Gilboa Historical Society is pleased to announce a new exhibit, NYC Needs Water, Upstate Village Sacrificed that features rare footage of the Schoharie Reservoir construction and the last days of Gilboa Village.

This rare footage is the outtake material from two filmings in 1923 and 1925 by Fox cameramen for a prospective silent Fox News program. Found in the Moving Image Research Collection at the University of South Carolina, the archival footage provides us with the only known moving images of Gilboa Village and the construction of the Schoharie Reservoir.

The original silent Fox Newsreel, if completed and released, has been lost. But this surviving outtake footage licensed by the Gilboa Historical Society, has been edited and scored to resemble what that 1925 silent newsreel might have been.

Gilboa Historical Society Board Member Lee Hudson secured funding for the newsreel project from the Nicholas J. Juried Foundation before forming a production team of Brett Barry of Silver Hollow Audio and Tony Coretto of Ars Coralis, an exceptional choral music organization based in Woodstock.

Drawing from the outtake footage, the team created a six-minute newsreel in the silent era style. A short introduction was added to familiarize viewers with the silent newsreel format and Gilboa history during the village evacuation. 

This unique newsreel and introduction can be kiosk-viewed as part of a larger display describing these newsreels and Gilboa’s participation in the emerging silent film industry.

The exhibit and newsreel can be seen during regular museum hours every weekend thru October 14.

A special showing of the newsreel followed by a Panel Discussion: “Making History” is scheduled for Saturday July 27, 1pm at the Museum. The panel participants are:

Brett Barry, Producer, Silver Hollow Audio

Tony Coretto, Musician/Composer

Diane Galusha, Pres., Middletown Historical Society; author, Liquid Assets: A History of  NYC’s Water System

Lee Hudson, Researcher/Script, Gilboa Historical Society

Exhibit open on weekends through October 14th; 12pm-4pm. No admission charge. Gilboa Museum, Nicholas J. Juried History Center, 122 Stryker Road, Gilboa NY 12076     Call for info:  or tour by appointment, 607-588-6894.

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7th Annual Lily Festival Bigger Than Ever

By Joshua Walther

SCHOHARIE - Lily Park came alive once again this spring, and not only with its daylily namesake. Instead, tents bloomed like flowers under the hot afternoon sun as the Promotional Association held its annual Lily Festival.

What originally started out as a simple gathering seven years ago has now turned into the pride of Schoharie, requiring months of planning and even coordinated parking in order to draw people in from all over the northeast.

However, the Promotional Association couldn’t be happier to tackle the challenge. President Darlene Patterson presided over the grounds last Saturday, making sure to attend to all seventy five vendors that were present.

The atmosphere was nothing short of a mini Sunshine Fair. Each of the tents offered food, jewelry, trinkets, wall hangings, wood carvings, and so much more, and there were further events still for dog contests, therapy pigs, birds of prey exhibits and live music.

And yet, even with all of the festivities, the amount of things to do was still outclassed by the people in attendance. Lily Park was swarmed by hundreds of wandering patrons, drawn in from surrounding counties and even other states from previous news coverage.

Mrs. Patterson said that she stopped counting the revelers early, but she was floored by the event’s success, stating “We appreciate everyone coming and the volunteers who donated their time.”

She wasn’t alone in her sentiment, as many of the vendors themselves were all too happy to serve their customers. Jim Ackerman, the man behind Ooh Fudge It’s homemade fudge, couldn’t be seen with anything but a smile on his face.

Mr. Ackerman explained that although he’s used to other local events like the Sunshine Fair or Middleburgh’s Fourth Fridays, he appreciated the energy of the festival, only hoping for “more fudge conducive weather” for next year.

His attitude was shared even among those coming from further away, as well. Erica Means and her Schenectady-based business OldWolfs Run braved the trip out as a “labor of love,” going further to say “It’s nice to have a town event where people really come out like this.”

With the phenomenal growth of the festival, vendors, attendees, and the Promotional Association themselves are already looking forward to next year’s gathering, which may prove to reach even greater heights.

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Mine Kill State Park Summerfest this Weekend

NORTH BLENHEIM — Love having fun in the sun? Join us July 20th at Summerfest 2024! Summerfest is a celebration of summer held annually at the Mine Kill State Park pool complex. From 11:00am to 5:00pm, the pool complex will be full of fun arts and crafts activities, carnival games, and more, all completely free of charge! Local vendors and food trucks will also be setting up in the parking lot so bring a little cash if you want to support local business!

Summerfest this year will also offer a drainpipe regatta, an upcycling boat race craft, where race times start at 12:30pm. The event will also host the Blenheim Fire Department for open recruitment. Join for a great cause!

If you’re looking for a fun way to spend your Saturday with the family, consider stopping by at Summerfest! We’ll see you there!

For more information, find us on Facebook, call the park office at (518) 827-8690, or email Katrina.Vance@parks.ny.gov.

Located in the scenic Schoharie Valley, Mine Kill State Park overlooks the NY Power Authority's Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project. Providing good fishing opportunities, the lower reservoir is stocked with trout and walleye, and has several other species, including bass and is ideal for motor boating, kayaking and water skiing. 

Cascading 80 feet through a narrow gorge is the picturesque Mine Kill Falls for which the park is named. A separate parking area, 1/4 miles south of the parks' main entrance, provides access to the overlook viewing platforms, as well as the Long Path hiking trail to the lower falls and beyond. 

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