Schoharie’s Brandon Toro jumps and shoots, scoring two third-period points for The Storm, with Lake George defenders Dan Weaver and Rick Stroup trying to block his shot.
12/12/24
Schoharie’s Noah Florussen drives the ball down court, past Lake George’s Rick Stroup. Florussen was The Storms high scorer in Saturday’s game at Fulton Montgomery Community College, with eighteen points in Schoharie’s 47-34 victory. Photos by Scott Keidong.
After grabbing the rebound under the Lake George net, Schoharie’s Devon Schrader looks past Laker Maxwell Hohman for a Storm teammate to pass the ball.
Lake George’s Rick Stroup jumps, attempting to block the shot as Schoharie’s Bryson Beck lets a three-pointer fly.
Schoharie’s Noah Florussen jumps to block a shot by Lake George’s Rick Stroup.
Schoharie’s Brandon Toro takes a jump shot with Lake George’s Rick Stroup defending the net.
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Schoharie Triumphs Over Lake George
Written By The Mountain Eagle on 12/12/24 | 12/12/24
Gilboa-Conesville-Roxbury Defeats WAJ
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Local Business Focus - Schoharie Valley Farms/Carrot Barn—A Family Affair
Ethan and Richard Ball. Photo by Diane Dobry
By Diane Dobry
The Land of Milk and Honey (and Fruits and Vegetables)
SCHOHARIE — As I approached the store known as the Carrot Barn, the street-level signs say “Schoharie Valley Farms” with greenhouses and outdoor areas for plants next to the parking lot. Pumpkins and fall décor lined the wooden front porch and surrounded the doorway into the warm, homey building. Walking in, I felt like Judy Garland as Dorothy walking out of her black and white house after the tornado dropped it into the vibrant Land of Oz. The scent of apples hit me first, as I passed baskets of at least six different varieties surrounded by products to help buyers turn those apples into pies, cakes, or just baked fruit. Bins were filled with shiny, plump, fresh peppers and others offered a selection of potatoes of different shapes, sizes and colors. Many more bins were filled with fresh, ripe produce. Carrots were available, of course, and more fruits—pears and berries.
A Few of My Favorite Things
Not sure where to look next, I ventured further into the shop in search of the promised breakfast, but I was drawn to another passion—kitchen tools and decorative items: towels, placemats, pie crust protectors, old fashioned apple peeling hardware, plates, bowls, cutting boards…and more. I wasn’t like Dorothy chanting lions and tigers and bears, oh my! I was chanting, teas, honeys, and spice blends, oh boy!
When I saw the large glass case of bakery items—cupcakes, cheesecake, cookies, brownies, and dozens of apple cider donuts, I knew this was the destination. Looking up, I scrutinized the menu boards like a tourist in New York City gazes up at the tall skyscrapers. I imagined the various sandwiches, soups, and specials meeting my taste buds, and weighed which ones best suited my appetite. I chose a few—a half sandwich, with turkey, cheese, fresh tomatoes, and my choice of mayonnaise (I chose pesto). Some creamy asparagus and vegetable soup and a chocolate cupcake piled high with frosting completed the meal. It was not breakfast, but it turned out to be an ideal lunch. Artisanal soft drinks, cider, local milk products, and specialty water filled a small fridge nearby. I was later told, the original carrot cake recipe from the former owners is also still served. Tables and chairs are positioned throughout the store with some on the porch for al fresco dining.
Spreading the Word
Excited at having discovered this gem, I vowed to return again, and hoped to tell others what I found by writing this article. After asking to meet the owner or manager, I was quickly shaking hands with Ethan Ball, co-owner and son of Richard Ball, the original buyer in 1993 of 200 acres of farmland and the Carrot Barn originally owned by the Westheimer family—thus, Schoharie Valley Farms was born. While that is the formal name of the business, some people from the area still call it The Carrot Barn.
The History of The Owners and the Store
Ethan was 15 when his family relocated from Rhode Island, where his parents helped manage a farm until the owner’s sons and nephews grew up and took more active roles. Richard, with some background in farming and nursery work before that, and his wife, Susan, worked with the owners of the Rhode Island farm from the mid-1970s until 1993. Susan also contributed creative skills of floral arranging and professional sewing to the community.
Once in Schoharie, Ethan joined FFA (Future Farmers of America) and eventually enrolled in Ag Business courses at SUNY Cobleskill. His sister, Sarah, who also worked on the family farm, graduated from Cornell. Younger sister, JoLyn, also helps out on the farm, and with a degree from LeMoyne, also has a career in psychology. An older son, Steven, lives in New Hampshire.
Making the Business Their Own
Moving to Schoharie meant colder weather, so to extend the growing season, Richard built the first of his greenhouses the spring after they arrived. Over time they built more greenhouses along with “a great team.” It doesn’t hurt that an agricultural college is nearby, Ethan said. They currently recruit students for jobs and internships to help in the fields, wash potatoes, pack parsnips, and “go like gangbusters in the fall to get the harvest in,” he added.
While his sisters helped to create the farm-to-table soup and sandwich deli business, the family continues to grow and contribute in their own unique ways running the greenhouses, the farm, and the deli/ bakery. Ethan’s daughter, Taylor Ball, helps out in the greenhouses. Some of the younger children pitch in too, doing things like boxing up the cider donuts. “We are giving them the options of figuring out what makes them tick and to work hard at jobs of their choosing,” Ethan said.
Many Hands Make Good Products
In addition to family, they work with other farmers and partners from the community. The Rocker Box Spice Company, run by a local Schoharie woman, provides blended spices and items like shallot flakes and truffle salts. Other farmers provide their products of beef, berries and dairy products. “That is one of our strengths,” Ethan said. “We are not trying to do everything ourselves, in order to create a great product.”
The central theme of the establishment is food, so gift items include kitchen items and country décor. Though they study market trends, go to gift shows, and work with local craftspeople, Ethan says that the goal is to keep the same ambiance and atmosphere focused on farm-fresh food and a straight up country farm sentiment.
Navigating the Pandemic
I always ask the businesses I visit in Schoharie County that were around when I lived here a decade ago, “How did you survive COVID?” They all say the same thing, “It was a scary time, and lots of changes had to be made.” But country farmers are used to dealing with changes in the weather and the markets, making adjustments when necessary. The Ball family had to make some tough decisions on growing and selling food, keeping their employees working, and serving their customers’ needs.
“During COVID, our customer base expanded as more downstate people moved to the area,” Ethan explained, adding that people in lockdown were getting in touch with their need to cook and be self-sufficient. So, the store “adapted and improvised.” Since they were still farming, they added meals to their sales options and partnered with organizations to make up food boxes and deliver them to New York City. Local customers emailed them with shopping lists and the staff bagged the items and provided curbside, hands-free pickup. In spite of the uncertainty, the business kept its crew busy and employed while allowing people to get food that they needed.
“We figured out a way to make it through and we learned a lot,” Ethan said.
Country Comfort is the Goal
Whether it is the holidays, the fruitful summers, the challenges of a worldwide pandemic, the goal of the family is for people to come to the Carrot Barn (Schoharie Valley Farms) and to good there. “We are trying to make a living,” Ethan said, “but we are not aggressively selling anything. We want people to feel comfortable.”
Schoharie Valley Farms and The Carrot Barn are at 5605 NY Route 30 in Schoharie, south of Route 88. Find out more at https://www.schoharievalleyfarms.com/.
Local Business Focus - Schoharie Man Fashions Stone Art at his Chiseled Edge Business
By Chris English
SCHOHARIE — Richard McCormack loves creating art out of blank pieces of stone, and that love shows no sign of fading.
A lifelong artist and long-time owner of a full-fledged landscaping business, McCormack has narrowed his focus and has been making a nice living for well over a decade now from The Chiseled Edge venture he owns and operates from his home at 5699 State Route 30 in Schoharie.
Using a variety of tools at his home workspaces, the Schnectady native and long-time Schoharie County resident fashions statues, water features and other items people use as part of their home landscaping, home memorials or other uses. The raw materials are mostly Heldeberg or Pennsylvania Bluestone, but also some Indiana Limestone, local Fieldstone and other rocks.
"I've always been in art, my whole life, drawing, painting, whatever," said McCormack in an interview from the house he lives in with his wife Sharon. The couple have three children.
"I started the landscaping business on my own and operated that for many years," he continued. "When I first started, I was also working at Price Chopper and did both full time for probably a good 8 to 10 years. We had two kids at the time. It was a crazy time."
A strong work ethic continues to drive McCormack as his business has evolved to where the primary focus is sculpting stone.
"I still do some small-scale jobs on other kinds of landscaping at times, and some masonry jobs if somebody needs something repaired," he said.
McCormack also does paintings, many of them on stone, and that work is displayed in a shed on the property and also available for sale. He didn't go to school to acquire or refine any of his skills.
"I just learned," he said. "That's the thing with art, you're always learning. It's a learning process the whole time."
His artistic bent runs in the blood to a certain extent.
"My uncle is a master wood carver and my daughter, she doesn't do it now but for many years designed custom children's clothes," McCormack noted.
Included in his work is the stone memorial at the Apple Barrel less than a mile from McCormack's house that honors the 20 victims of the horrific stretch limousine accident there in 2018.
"I do a lot of memorials," he said. "That (Apple Barrel) was one and also for people who want to be buried in memorial gardens on their properties."
Being his own boss for so many years has developed in McCormack, 64, a tried and true business philosophy.
"The hard thing with art is finding something that sells," he noted. "I've done art all my life, and you get to a point where you get discouraged with it because you make something and you can't sell it.
"I have friends who are artists too and I'm probably the only one that's grounded, knowing what is not going to sell. One friend does wood carvings. They are incredible, but he will do something and want 10 grand for it and it won't sell and he gets so discouraged. I tell him you can make a Blue Jay all day and sell it."
As McCormack said, making a living from art is a continuous learning process.
"The key is finding that niche, making things that people want to buy," he emphasized. "It seems like every item I make now sells. It might take five years for some, but eventually it sells because everyone has their own taste. I make a lot of owls, squirrels, dragonflies and butterflies. They sell."
An advertisement for The Chiseled Edge reads: "Statues, water features, paintings. HandPicked. HandCut. HandChiseled. Custom designs welcomed. Wide range of styles, sizes and prices."
Sharon helps her husband with the computer work and books. It's all workng well, Richard McCormack said.
"It keeps me busy," he noted. "Springtime comes and we get a lot of people stopping in. I'm glad I started (The Chiseled Edge) 15 years ago because now I'm getting repeat people."
For more information on The Chiseled Edge, call 518-295-7656, visit the business' Facebook page or stop by and take a look around. It's only about a mile or so off of Interstate 88.
A Great Gift
The Schoharie County Conservation Association awarded their sixth annual Lifetime Hunting/Fishing license for a youth under seventeen. This year's winner is five year old Rowan Hale of Howes Cave. Rowan is the grandson of SCCA Vice President Doug Handy. Mike Zeh, SCCA Treasurer, Stefanie Hale, Rowan Hale, and Doug Handy, SCCA VP. Photo courtesy SCCA.
Auto Racing News
By Tom Coughlin
It's getting down to that critical time when you need a gift for someone, maybe even something for yourself and you just can't think of anything that will be just right. Now you have a couple more items to choose from: Fonda Speedway and Utica-Rome Speedway are now offering their 2025 season pass packages. Available are season grandstand passes and season pit passes. Both tracks are offering the five-for-four incentive on pit passes. If you purchase four pit passes you get the fifth one for free. If you are interested in either the grandstand passes, pit passes, or a pit license. The necessary forms can be found on each track's website at www.thefondaspeedway.com. And www.uticaromespeedway.com.
Saturday, January 18, 2025 will be the annual Andy’s Speed Shop Seminar program. Featured Speakers include: Jay Castemore on Tire Prep, Dennis Palmatier from Integra Shocks by Race Prep, Bob Slack from Bicknell Racing Products Chassis, and Champion modified driver Peter Britten on What it Takes to Win. Guest Segments include: Dave Ely from Diversified Machine Inc., Terri Mohrman from the Teal Suit Safety Team, and Ryan Susice on Springs and Spring Smashing What You Need to Know: When: Saturday, January 18, 2025, Where: Varin Enterprises (212 Stoners Trail Road) Johnstown, N.Y. 12095. Times: (All Times Are Tentative, Please Plan Accordingly) 9:00 am.-12:00 pm.
Morning speakers, 12:00 pm.-12:30 pm. Lunch, 12:30 pm.-3:00 pm.
Afternoon speakers, Question & Answers session with ALL speakers to follow. Open house at Andy's Speed Shop following Q&A. All payments must be in by January 6th. Cost per person for the day is $100 with luncheon included and plenty of Give-a-Ways and Door prizes. To reserve your seat and get any additional information please call the speed shop at 518-762-1333.
Utica-Rome Speedway has started to leak out a few teasers about their 2025 racing season. Friday, April 11 will be an open practice for all divisions and Sunday, April 13 will begin the racing season with the annual "Honoring Alex" for the modified division headlining the program. Fonda Speedway is also scheduled to hold an open practice on Saturday, April 12 with their season opener on Saturday, April 19.
The membership of the Eastern Motorsports Press Association has just completed voting on the recipients of their 2024 awards.
The Hall of Fame inductees for this year include dirt modified driver Jimmy Horton III, Journalist Mark “Bones” Bourcier, dirt modified driver Alan Johnson, sprint car driver Sammy Swindell, NHRA Funny Car driver Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, and NASCAR Cup Series driver Steve Park. The Richie Evans Memorial Northeast Driver of the Year on Asphalt will go to Justin Bonsignore and the Richie Evans Driver of the Year on Dirt will go to Mat Williamson. The Al Holbert Memorial National Driver of the year on Asphalt is NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson and the Al Holbert Memorial National Driver of the Year on Dirt is World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion David Gravel. The 2024 John Blewett III-Young Gun Award will be presented to multi-talented dirt and pavement racer Corey Day. Earning the Chris Economaki Memorial Newsmaker of the Year Award is veteran sprint car and NASCAR Cup Series driver Dave Blaney. The Junie Donlavey Memorial Spirit of the Sport Award recipient is Ryan Flores.
The EMPA Promotional Effort of the Year recipient is Doug Rose, who currently operates the Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey. The World Racing Group has named BAPS Motor Speedway owner Scott Gobrecht as the recipient of the Jerry Reigle Outstanding Contribution to Sprint Car Racing Award. Elections also took place for the EMPA-Board of Directors and retaining their seats were were current EMPA Vice-President Karl Fredrickson and Secretary Carol Houssock.
During the formal awards dinner presentations in January the EMPA will recognize the Jim Hunter Memorial Writer of the Year and the Ace Lane Sr. Memorial Photographer of the Year, along with others whose talents are recognized in the EMPA Pocono Raceway Writers Contest and the Brice's NAPA Auto Parts Photo Contest.
The 31st. Annual New York State Indoor Kart Championship took place last Saturday & Sunday at the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse. A number of area drivers from various divisions were on hand to test and improve their skills during the cold December weather. In no particular order area drivers attending included Marc Johnson who won in the Pro Champ Animal Black division, Kirsten Swartz, Joey Williams who won in the Junior Clone Green division, Brexley Hartman, Brayden Stratton who won in the Junior Sportsman 206/champ 325 division, Derrick McGrew Jr., and Tim Hartman Jr.
Commission Recommends Approval of Wright Dollar General
By Chris English
WRIGHT — Schoharie County Planning Commission members have given their blessing to a controversial proposal for a Dollar General Store in the Town of Wright, but that blessing did not come without stipulations.
The county planners voted 8-0 at their Monday, Dec. 9 meeting to recommend approval of the store, with the recommendation coming with modificaitons that landscaping and lighting must be done according to plan, that landscaping and lighting be finished to coincide with completion of construction of the store, and that the state Department of Transportation look at speed limits on roads going by the store to see if any need to be lowered.
The 10,640 square-foot Dollar General is proposed for a site at Shutter's Corners in the Gallupville hamlet of the town. Approval was recommended Monday night by county Planning Commission Chair Denise Lloyd and members Kayleigh Robinson, Becky Leggieri, Delores Benedict, Ron Ketelsen, Ray Gillis, Paul Koopman and Kathryn Saddlemire. The full board consists of 11 members. Koopman is an alternative member who sat in for a regular member who was unable to attend the meeting.
Zachary Thompson, a county Planning and Development Agency staff member who advises the planning commission and attends its meetings, explained that the recommended approval with modifications means that the Town of Wright Planning Board _ which has the final say on the matter _ would need a super majority to approve the store without the modifications. That would be at least five of the seven-member town board. To approve with the modifications would require just a simple majority of four members voting to approve, Thompson added.
The Town of Wright Planning Board will hold a special meeting on the Dollar General on Tuesday night, Dec. 17. The only member of the general public who attended the Dec. 9 county meeting was Wright resident Frank Weber, who lives near the site of the proposed store and talked expansively about all his various objections to it. They include increased traffic and noise, its proximity to wetlands, the land's historical significance related to the Revolutionary War, negative impact on community character, and the potential for accidents caused by the increased truck and other traffic and some dangerous curves near the site.
Weber added that he fears lights from the store will shine into his house. His other concerns are shared by many in the town and surrounding area. While saying they felt they had done all they can on the matter, county planning commission members encouraged Weber to attend Tuesday night's town meeting and voice his concerns.
"I would give a lot of credence to what he has to say," Lloyd noted.
At the Dec. 9 meeting, county planners also recommended approval of a zoning and map amendment in the Town of Richmondville, amended subdivision regulations in the Town of Schoharie, a comprehensive plan update in the Town of Summit, and a new dog kennel called Meadow Park Kennels in an existing barn in the Town of Carlisle.
All votes for recommended approval were 8-0 and were accompanied by 8-0 votes that the various agenda items had countywide significance.
Celebrate the Season with ‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’
RENSSELAERVILLE – R’ville Stage Creations is closing out its 2024 season with Joe Landry’s creative reimagining of the cherished holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. This uplifting production, staged as a 1940s-style radio broadcast, will transport audiences to the golden era of radio for an unforgettable evening of entertainment. The show runs December 13–15 at Hilltown Commons in Rensselaerville.
Set in the studio of a vintage radio station, complete with a sound effects table, live piano accompaniment, and a talented cast of 14 local actors, this production retells the iconic story of George Bailey. Through his journey, George learns how deeply his life has touched others. With timeless themes of love, hope, and redemption, It’s a Wonderful Life is the perfect way to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season.
Performances will be held in the Guggenheim Pavilion Theater at Hilltown Commons. Formerly the Carey Institute for Global Good, Hilltown Commons reopened this year with a renewed focus on fostering creativity and connection in the Helderberg Hilltowns. This marks R’ville Stage Creations’ inaugural production in the Guggenheim, which Director Tara Hostash described as "the ideal space for this production" after the group’s rehearsals and monthly Playhouse events were hosted there throughout the year.
Whether you’re revisiting this beloved story or experiencing it for the first time, this production is sure to enchant audiences of all ages. Don’t miss this joyful celebration of community, family, and the human spirit.
Performances of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play are Friday, December 13, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, December 14, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, December 15, at 2 p.m. Doors open one hour before each show. The Guggenheim Pavilion is located at Hilltown Commons, 100 Pond Hill Road, Rensselaerville, NY 12147.
For more details and to purchase tickets, visit R’ville Stage Creations’ website at https://rville-stage-creations.square.site or call 518.248.3261.
The cast of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play on break from rehearsal at Hilltown Commons. Photo credit: Tara Hostash
Charlotte Valley Girls Down M'burgh 59-17
CHARLOTTE VALLEY - The Middleburgh girls varsity lost to Charlotte Valley 59-17 Monday night.
Peyton Yung led the scoring for Middleburgh with seven points. Madi Randaisi had six points. Vivian Chen and Kay Layton had two points each.
Exemption Debate Top Topic in Conesville
By Matthew Avitabile
CONESVILLE — The Conesville Town Board had a light agenda during their regular monthly board meeting this Tuesday evening before a sparse crowd. Much of the discussion centered around covering the cost of property tax exemptions provided to local residents.
The reports were relatively brief. Town Assessor Marie Stuber said in a written statement that she mailed exemption renewals on Dec. 1. Residents must mail back information by Mar. 1 to continue their renewals. Town Clerk Carrie Sutton said that there was one death certificate issued. Town Tax Collector Laurel Mattice said in a written report that she attended the Schoharie County meeting of tax collectors and is preparing to send out tax bills. The sewer plan flow meter flume was cleaned according to Chief Operator Travis Castle in a written report.
Conesville Highway Superintendent Ward Apgar said that the town crew replaced the culvert at the intersection of Shale Pit and Upper Horseshoe Roads. The crew also regraded Ackerly, Hughes, and Horseshoe Roads. The crew did well in responding to the first significant snowfall of the year around Nov. 22.
Supervisor Bill Federice gave a report regarding his service as Schoharie County Board chair. He said that Schoharie County is revisiting the “forced assessment process” for renewable energy projects with the state.
“We didn’t like it but we hired an attorney that was really good at this stuff.” The county and all 16 towns sued the state.
“We didn’t think we had a chance,” said Federice.
The state was represented by the Office of the Attorney General. While the AG’s office attempted to have the case dismissed quickly, the judge found that the county and towns had standing.
Revised renewable energy assessments, which Federice said would more accurately reflect value, could be worth “millions to towns in the county.” A project in Greenville in Greene County is worth about $10 million alone.
“We really have some good grounds here.”
The judge is expected to issue a judgment in the next 80 days or so.
“It’s only fair,” said Federice.
Federice also reported on the announced $30 million broadband grant for “last mile” services. The county is working with the Middleburgh Telephone Company on 298 miles of fiber, which will be both buried and on poles.
Federice expressed caution, however, saying that it was “not a 100% done deal.”
The program is reimbursable but Federice reminded the audience of the Schoharie County Streambank Project, which the county is still processing after about a decade.
The supervisor also said that he was “pleasantly surprised” by a visit from U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer this week. We have an article about the event in this week’s edition. The money will assist Schoharie and the Schoharie Fire Department.
“I have a new best friend,” he said.
Much of the discussion during the meeting centered around agricultural and forestry tax exemptions. Supervisor Federice said that a Conesville resident brought up the topic recently and that members of the town board met with the individual to discuss the concerns. The resident had originally stated that there were $30 million in local exemptions that cost him personally $3,000 more in property taxes. He also said that this could mean hundreds of thousands of dollars of new tax revenue for the town, which could give it a large surplus.
However, Federice said that the original estimates by the resident were incorrect. He said that the $3,000 figure had been “corrected” and that the true exemption value was about $5 million, or less than 3% of the final total property value in Conesville.
Federice called the exemptions an “unfunded mandate.”
“Good luck going to the state,” he said.
The supervisor said that the resident focused on whether or not all exemptions should be reimbursed by the state. This included tax exemptions for age, the disabled, and veterans. The resident asked the town to lobby Albany. Federice said that he spoke to the attorney for the New York Association of Towns, who said that there was “not a lot of interest” of reform at the state.
“Fact of the matter is that the [New York State] Comptroller’s Office says we’re on the way of being broke,” referring to state finances.
Federice asked whether the state would give up millions of dollars in tax revenue annually to reimburse towns for the value of the exemptions. Furthermore, the resident requested that the value of previous years’ exemptions also be clawed back.
Federice said that action would be unlikely because it had to be done by the state legislature. He argued that a state legislator “from Queens, New York” was unlikely to want to “pick up the tab for Conesville.”
The resident was enthusiastic, Federice said. “I’ll give him that.”
The board met with the resident but no specific detail was given. The supervisor added that he did not like a Facebook post from the resident claiming that the “Town Board doesn’t do anything,” in Federice’s paraphrasing.
The supervisor said that “someone forgot” that the Town has received more than $10 million in grants.
“I take umbrage at that,” he said. Federice called it a “keyboard coward’s way.”
“People believe it,” he added
“Some things just cannot be done. Such as this idea,” Federice said.
The supervisor said that the resident was welcome to proceed but that he would not.
Federice said that he didn’t mind paying a little extra in taxes for veterans and the disabled.
Town Councilman Carl Fancher said that even if the exemption reimbursement occurred, the “taxes come from somewhere.”
The town planned its organizational meeting for Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7 pm. All are invited.
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