Schoharie Valley Singers to Present Joyful Spring Concert

CENTRAL BRIDGE – The Schoharie Valley Singers are ready to fill the air with music, laughter, and heartfelt joy at their Spring Concert, Sounding Joy, this weekend!

The first performance will be on Friday, May 2, at 7:30 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Church Street in Central Bridge. If you can’t make it Friday, don’t worry — a second performance will take place on Saturday at 4:00 PM at the Duanesburg Reformed-Presbyterian Church. Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased ahead of time from any Singer.

This delightful program features a blend of familiar favorites and exciting new works by composers like Wilberg, Bruckner, Parker, Walker, LaBarr, Paulus, Silvey, Pederson, and many more.

Adding extra sparkle to the concerts, a wonderful lineup of guest artists will join the Singers:

• Betsy Meredith will enchant on clarinet for For This Joy.

• Burke Herrick will step up as guest conductor for Locus Iste.

• Vincent Marotta (bass) and Issac Nokes (drums) will bring a lively energy to Kyrie from Jazz Missa Brevis, followed by Credo from Gospel Mass, where they’ll be joined by the soulful voice of guest soloist Alexa Rahman.

• In the second half, Sarah Wright will grace the piano for Saints Bound for Heaven, Adrienne Canterbury will move hearts with her solo in The Road Home, and Elizabeth Hopkins will accompany the group on Homeward Bound.

The Schoharie Valley Singers have a rich and beloved history. They began in 1979 as the Depot Lane Singers under the leadership of Frances B. Tripp, a cherished Schoharie High School music teacher. Over the decades, they have evolved, changed names, and grown stronger, always carrying forward their mission of sharing beautiful music with the community.

In 2005, the baton was passed to Mitch Haverly, who was later honored as Director Emeritus when Benjamin April stepped into the role of Artistic Director in 2018. That same year, the group adopted the name Schoharie Valley Singers and officially became an independent nonprofit organization.

Exciting new chapters continued in 2023 with Rae Jean Teeter — a retired Guilderland High School music director — becoming the Singers’ fourth Artistic Director, and Mark Pracher, a retired Schoharie High School music director, joining as accompanist.

The Schoharie Valley Singers invite you to come share in an evening (or afternoon) of joy, music, and community. It promises to be a celebration you won’t want to miss!

 

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Six Positions Eliminated in $28.3M SCS Budget - Tax Levy Up 2.95 Percent, Public Vote on May 20

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - Schoharie school  board members last week adopted a $28.27 million budget for the 2025-26 school year that includes a tax levy hike of 2.95 percent and the reduction of six positions.

Expenditures are up by $649,738 or 2.35 percent, mostly due to three areas: debt services costs for capital improvement projects, health insurance, and tuition costs for students with special needs who have to go to schools outside the district, district business Administrator David Baroody told school members last Wednesday evening.

The public will vote on the spending plan on May 20.

In order to cut spending, reductions in the 2025-26 budget included: 

* Reduction of three full-time equivalent positions at the Elementary School. 

* Reduction of one FTE administrator.

* Reduction of one FTE position, business teacher in the high school.

* Reduction of one FTE position, Special Education teacher in the elementary school.

SCS officials said the reductions were due to declining enrollment.

Superintendent David Blanchard said the reduction of an administration position will result in the district having to reorganize its administration team.

Officials said state aid stood at $15 million, up by $491,000 or 3.38 percent.

A new state budget was approved late Monday night, but as of Tuesday afternoon, SCS officials had not received an update on any additional state aid. "I think there is a lot of concern about federal cuts that could impact state aid distribution in the coming year/years," Superintendent Blanchard said.

If there is additional aid, "I can’t say what the district would do if there was an increase in state aid," he said. "That seems highly unlikely, but we would consider adding back programs that have been cut in the past two years."

Mr. Baroody noted that the increased costs has been concentrated in three areas:

* Employee Benefits, an increase of approximately $441,000.

* Debt Service payments, a hike of  approximately $204,000.

* Continuation of increased tuition cost of about $400,000 over the last two years.

Officials said that over the last two school years, the district as seen a 50 percent increase of students who have moved into the district in need of outplaced special education services.

The budget includes a tax levy of $8.95 million, up $256,675 or 2.95 percent. The tax levy increase is similar to the 2.95 percent inflation rate per the State Education Department, SCS officials said. The tax levy and rate change is within the NYS Tax Cap requirement.

In March, the district was looking at a preliminary budget of $28,752,414, an increase of 4.09 percent or $1,128,493 over the current spending plan.

The public hearing on the district budget will be on May 6 at 6pm in the high school Distance Learning Room (second floor). 

The public vote on the budget will be from noon to 8pm in the high school gym.

 

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Upcoming Events at the Old Stone Fort and Schoharie County Historical Society

May 3 – Museum open for the season

May 22 – Schoharie Memorial Day Parade

May 26 – Memorial Day Ceremony

May 30 – Decoration Day

May 31/ Jun 1 – Living history  event, muster, demonstrations – Lasell Hall Ceremony

Jun 7, 8, 14, 15 – OSF display at the GasUp and Becker Stone House

July 4 – Document readings at the Fort.  

July 12 – Lily Festival

Aug  5-10 Cobleskill Sunshine Fair

Aug 14 – Songs of the American Revolution with Cosby Gibson and Tom Staudle

Oct 4 – Fall Festival

Oct. 10 – OSF candlelight tour

Oct 11 – Trunk or Treat

Nov 11 – Veterans Day 

Dec 13 – Christmas in Schoharie (in conjunction with SCHS Fundraising Committee)

 

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Schoharie Grants Tenure to Six

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - Schoharie school board members granted tenure to five teachers and one counselor last Wednesday night.

School board members granted tenure to the following:

* Junior-senior math teacher Adriene Bush, effective September 1.

* Elementary school music teacher Danielle Couture, effective September 1.

* Elementary school counselor Lindsay DiMaso, effective September 1.

* Junior-senior high school special education teacher Michelle Haverly, effective September 1.

* Junior-senior school English teacher Keith Machabee, effective September 1.

* Junior-senior school special education teacher Carolyn Strauch, effective September 1.

Superintendent David Bradshaw congratulated those receiving tenure.

*   *   *

In other personnel moves, board members:

* Accepted the resignation of Shane Barton as interim junior-senior school assistant principal effective retroactive to March 28.

* Appointed Leesa Crawford as interim junior-senior high school assistant principal, effective retroactive to March 26 through June 30, at a daily pay of $350.

* Accepted the resignation of part-time food service helper Aleshia Davis, effective on April 11.

* Revised the appointment of special education teaching assistant Sara Tunney. It was revised to reflect the issuance of a teaching assistant Level 1 certification.

* Added the following people to the SCS substitute list: Heather Barrett, effective April 24, Cindy Lovelace, effective April 1, and Ana Schmid, effective April 4. All are non-certified and without degrees. All will be paid at current sub rates.

* Added 10 people to the Capital Region BOCES teacher substitute calling service list, all at the current sub rates.

 

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Schoharie County Arts announces six local grant recipients

By Jennifer Patterson

SCHOHARIE – In keeping with its mission to support local artists, the nonprofit Schoharie County

Arts (SCA) has announced that six artists and arts organizations will receive grant funding to bring art to Schoharie County this year.

The $300-$500 community grants were awarded with funds from Schoharie County/NYPA Relicensing Grants, and are administered by SCA.  

“Schoharie County is home to so many gifted artists,” said SCA Board President Lisa Ovitt. “We’re proud to shine a light on their talent and support them in their work.”

With a focus squarely on Schoharie County, the nonprofit arts organization is an offshoot of CREATE (Council for Resources to Enrich the Arts, Technology and Education), which administers arts grants for Columbia, Greene and Schoharie counties.

SCA works to promote cultural and arts-related activities, advance individual artists and organizations,

and contributes to the county’s cultural and economic growth. It also supports local artists and arts organizations directly with grant funding. 

Last year, SCA awarded grants to Panther Creek Arts, the Gilboa Historical Society, Klinkhart Hall, and the Theater Project of Schoharie County.

This year, the following artists/organizations have been awarded grant funding: George Landis Arboretum, for a performance by The Insolent Willies, as part of the Landis Arboretum Music Series; Artist Casey Beal, for block printing community workshops; and the Cobleskill United Methodist Church, for a performance by musician Jeff Grippen at the Community Block Party.

In addition: Schoharie Promotional Association, for a performance by The Red Wagon at its Summer Concert Series; Jefferson Art Room, for the creation of parade puppets to march in Jefferson’s 2025 Heritage Day Parade; and The Community Library, in collaboration with artist Pam O’Connor, for the creation of eight Schohary 250th jackdaws for children that will include authentic items from the Revolutionary War time period. 

SCA also sponsors community events throughout the year and collaborates with Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corp. (SEEC) to shine a light on local artists by providing a venue to display their artwork at 287 Main St. in Schoharie.

The latest exhibition, titled “Edge + Overlap” by Schoharie artist Kristen DeFontes, will be on view through early summer. Featuring abstract works of the last decade, the exhibit spans a

range of artistic processes, from printmaking and collage to bronze and found object assemblage.

For information about Schoharie County Arts, go to https://www.schohariecountyarts.org.

 

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Nourished at Middleburgh—Where Tradition Meets Today

MIDDLEBURGH — Welcome to Nourished at Middleburgh, a new-faith community. Not familiar with the name? That’s because we’re new. Until recently, we’ve been known as Middleburgh United Methodist Church (MUMC). MUMC has been part of the Middleburgh community for more than 200 years, but times have changed. Our church culture has shifted, and a new leadership team has cast a vision that moves beyond the traditional framework to which Middleburgh UMC felt bound. Through our research and many conversations with the community, we have decided to recreate our church. 

Still located at 281 Main Street, our new church is more community-centered, actively welcoming a greater variety of people outside the church’s former identity as a traditional church serving traditional church members. Our new church is a safe refuge without judgment for families and individuals who have felt excluded from other religious settings. 

We aim to help all in need through a multi-faceted approach. We are now a healing place for your mind, body, and spirit. Our Sunday church service is an informal time of sharing and learning how Scripture can help us through daily life, sometimes around a meal, and sometimes meeting people where they are. We offer a weekly Bible study to expand on our Sunday message or to discuss whatever is on our attendees’ minds. 

Part of our outreach will include our already successful Twice Is Nice mission store, where we have three goals: to help people in need through the sale of our donated, high-quality clothing and other items, to help the environment by decreasing what goes into the landfills, and to use a percentage of the income to maintain the condition of our building and property. 

Our Blessing Box is open during store hours and by appointment. Located on the Clauverwie side of our property, those in need can find a revolving supply of food, feminine and baby needs, pet food, and cleaning products. Donations are welcome. Please call, email, or stop by. We’re open on Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Last but not least, we will be offering many events for the community to enjoy! Experience the joy of music through mini-concerts and open-mic nights. Express yourself in a drum circle, Zumba, or dance gathering. For those looking to focus on healing and wholeness, we offer a healing room with a space intentionally created to nourish the body, mind and spirit.  Elena Mauceri offers sessions here that focus on sound and healing frequencies.  She has studied and received a certificate in sound and energy healing.  

Enjoy community gatherings such as dinner theater, game nights, trivia challenges, and puzzle time. 

Our former sanctuary, newly redesigned, is available for events, both private and public. We have many opportunities for volunteering as well! Please call us at 518-827-5126 or 518-4917365, or email Pastor Maryellen Moore at melenamoore2323@gmail.com. 

Nourished at Middleburgh. Open hearts, open minds, longer tables. Come as you are.

 

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Proposed Gilboa-Conesville Budget Has 1.84% Tax Increase

By Chris English

GILBOA-CONESVILLE _ A proposed 2025-26 Gilboa-Conesville Central School District budget has a 1.84 percent property tax increase, the cap set for the district by the state for next school year.

School district residents will say yes or no to the proposed spending plan at the annual budget vote on May 20.

During her budget presentation at the Wednesday, April 23 school board meeting, GC Superintendent Bonnie Johnson said the decision to ask voters to approve a budget with a tax increase at the cap does not come easily. However, she said she and other school district officials feel it is warranted for 2025-26 in the face of rising expenses in almost every area.

The board voted unanimously to approve the proposed $12.87 million budget and present it to voters later in the meeting.

"We will be asking the community to get us to the cap," Johnson said. "The Board of Education has been very supportive of the community here and over the years has passed budgets representing a lot of savings to the community. So, we hope they will support this going forward."

Johnson said the district splits the budget up into three parts: administrative, capital and program. Each is going up in 2025-26, in large part because of increased salary and benefit costs and also other factors. The superintendent said the administrative budget is going up $427,426; capital $395,000 and program $197,475. Employee health insurance costs are going up 10.5 percent and dental insurance up 3 percent, she added.

Included in the May 20 vote is a transportation proposition that will ask voters to approve the purchase of a full-size, 60-passenger school bus at a cost of $167,140 and two seven-passenger vans at a cost of $41,989 apiece.

The May 20 vote, which will also include the school board election, is noon to 8 p.m. at the school, 132 Wyckoff Road, Gilboa. At the April 23 meeting, the board approved incumbent Stephanie Bruck as the school board candidate for a five-year term.

The school board will hold a special meeting to lay out the proposed 2025-26 budget at 7 p.m. on May 6 at the school.

In other news from the April 23 meeting, the board heard a presentation from Social Studies teacher Michelle Fleischman and some students on their upcoming trip to the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida July 5-10.

Attending for GC will be Fleischman (adviser to the school's FCCLA chapter), Elementary Reading teacher Michelle Dumas (chaperone) and students Bray Shultes (8th grade), Abigail Woodcock (9th grade) and Ariana Yepez (9th grade).

Fleischman said 8,000 from across the country are expected to attend and among the many activities will be competitions in 32 different events. Students will be attending youth workshops, listening to National Officer Candidate speeches, attending general sessions and presenting projects they have been working long and hard on.

"We appreciate the support that the board and administration has given us over the years," Fleischman said at the April 23 meeting. "We're in the heat of fundraising (for the trip) right now."

In personnel action items near the end of the meeting, the board approved Jacqueline Lewis as a long-term substitute in Spanish retroactive to April 3 and accepted "with regrets" the retirement of long-time grades 7-12 English Language Arts teacher Andy Dumas effective June 28.

 

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Powerful Pitching Performance From Noah Spencer Carries Schoharie Storm Past Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons

Information by GameChanger Media

Noah Spencer struck out 12 batters as the starter led Schoharie Storm past Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons 9-0 on Friday. Spencer gave up one hit and zero runs over six innings while walking two.

Schoharie Storm scored six runs in the fifth inning on the way to victory.  Tyler Dingee grounded out, scoring one run, an error scored one run, Kolebyn Scheemaker doubled, scoring two runs, Skylar Corrodore singled, scoring one run, and an error scored one run.

Schoharie Storm were the first to get on the board in the first when Lawrence Zuefle hit a solo home run to center field.

Andrew Roberts took the loss for Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons. The starter went four and one-third innings, allowing six runs (two earned) on five hits, striking out five and walking three. Emmett Gagnon tossed one inning of no-run ball for Schoharie Storm in relief. The hurler gave up one hit, striking out two and walking two.

Corrodore and Scheemaker were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for Schoharie Storm while hitting back-to-back. Dingee led Schoharie Storm with two runs batted in.  Zuefle, Justin Vangasbeck, and Luke Stevens each stole multiple bases for Schoharie Storm. Schoharie Storm stole 10 bases in the game. Schoharie Storm turned one double play in the game.

Anthony Dobkowski and Anthony Cella each collected one hit for Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons.

Next up for Schoharie Storm is a game against Johnstown on Monday.

 

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New Sign at Memorial Park Thanks to M'burgh Rotary

MIDDLEBURGH — The Memorial Park on upper Main Street in the Village of Middleburgh has a new sign thanks to the members of the Middleburgh Rotary. 

The Middleburgh Rotary adopted the Memorial Park and in the future they will be replacing the fountain pump (again), cleaning the monuments and adding flowering plants, thanks to the public's support of their fundraising efforts.

 

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M'burgh's 250th Committee Planning to Celebrate America's Birthday

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh officials are coming up with plans to celebrate the United States' 250th birthday on July 2026.

The committee met again in April and members came up with "a lot of good ideas," Trustee Sheryl Adams told village board members at their April meeting.

Among the ideas were a community picnic, possibly in Tim Murphy Park, a band, and, hopefully, fireworks. Other events will be planned, Ms. Adams added.

The celebration is more than a year away but "this is a good start," Mayor Tim Knight said.

Village board  members named the members of the 250th committee earlier this year. 

Named to the committee were: village: Mayor Knight, Trustee Adams, and resident Matthew Lacy; town: Supervisor John Youmans, Councilwoman Sue Makely; and Town of Fulton: Councilman Richard Mix.

The committee is hoping to have one big celebration instead of smaller ones.

It was noted that Mr. Lacy's late father, former Supervisor Lee Lacy, was a member of the 200th committee.

Mayor Knight said the issue was first broached at the joint village-town meeting last June.

*   *   *

In other action, board members:

* Heard that more than $550 has been donated in memory of former Clerk Janet Mayer.

* Heard Trustee Bob Tinker say that some trees have to be taken down in the cemetery. The village does not want falling trees taking down any stones, he said.

* Heard Mayor Knight say that the village will have an intern for the fall, a former student of the Mayor.

* Agreed to hold the joint town and village meeting on Thursday, June 12 at 6pm at the Middleburgh firehouse.

* Heard Fire Chief Darwyn Gregory say that the fire department's tower truck passed the fire test and the department is waiting for hose to replace older hose.

* Heard Chief Gregory say that the burn ban is still in effect.

* Heard Chief Gregory say that the department responded to several motor vehicle accidents and mutual aid calls in other areas.

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M'burgh Village Still Replacing Water Meters

MIDDLEBURGH - The Village of Middleburgh continues to replace old water meters with new and computerized models.

Appointments can be made to replace residential meters by calling the village clerk's office. The replacements are normally done on Wednesdays.

*   *   *

In other village news:

* There has been an increase in water usage, but the water plant is keeping up without an issue, officials said.

* A water line leak on Lawyer's Lane was repaired earlier this month.

* The village sewer plant had a DEC inspection in April and passed.

* Village officials are seeking quotes for summer paving.

* The village crew installed some new street signs.

* All flags have been washed and are ready to go up.

 

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M'burgh to Seek Historic Designation for Village Hall

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - The two-story brick Middleburgh Village Hall is a historic building and village representatives want to make that official.

The Village Hall on Main Street in Middleburgh has been serving the community for more than 145 years and Mayor Tim Knight will be doing research on getting an official historic designation for the building. The building served the village as a bank from 1880 through the early 1960s and then became the village and town hall. It has been the village hall since the mid-1990s.

"We are going to start with a state historical designation, and potentially work our way towards national recognition if the state is receptive," Mayor Knight said this week.

"Village Hall is a historic structure; it stands as a living intersection of our community's business and government operations," the Mayor noted.

In addition to the notoriety of being on the Historic Registry, a designation would help the village receive grants for the building.

"Receiving a historical designation would also make Village Hall eligible for more preservation grants in the years ahead, as we want to ensure this structure as all the funding necessary to operate well into the 21st century," Mayor Knight said.

"In addition, I am optimistic that a historical designation would also open up additional funding to make Village Hall handicapped accessible." 

The village has been seeking funding for several years to make the building handicapped accessible but have found the cost unaffordable.

At their April meeting, village board members were very much in favor of the seeking the designation.

Trustee Bob Tinker said it was a good idea and that some grant funding could be used to remove the drop ceiling on the first floor and expose the original ceiling.

"It would be gorgeous," Trustee Tinker said. "I think it would add to the looks of the building."

Trustee Sheryl Adams said that the building has "been so many different things" and is "very historical."

The bank was also the site of the last heist in the long and storied career in crime of Max Shinburn, aka "The Count" and "The King of Crooks." His career came to an unlikely end after his last score, the contents of the safe of the First National Bank of Middleburgh in 1895.

As recounted in a Forgotten Schoharie County feature in 2022, after being pursued on two continents for more than 35 years, the man who was nicknamed "The Count" in Europe and was also known as the "King of Crooks," was arrested in New York City by the detectives from the famous Pinkerton Agency. He stood trial in Schoharie on burglary charges and nearly escaped, and probably could have, after being jailed in the county jail during the trial.

Being arrested was nothing new to Mr. Shinburn, once called "The greatest bank, safe and vault burglar that has ever been known in police history" by Robert Pinkerton of the Pinkerton Detective Agency.

He was first arrested in Saratoga after robbing the Walpole Bank in New Hampshire in 1864. Police closed in on him on April 10, 1865, just four days before the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He was convicted but later escaped from New Hampshire State Prison, a pattern he repeated several times during his infamous career.

 

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