google.com, pub-2480664471547226, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

“Sharon Things - Local Happenings for Sharon Springs”

Written By The Mountain Eagle on 8/20/25 | 8/20/25

By Alexis Pencar

Hey Neighbors!

That smoke last week and over the weekend sure made things difficult, with some even reporting headaches. We have also had quite the dry spell so far into August. The smoke has since cleared giving a renewed appreciation for our usual clear skies. A bit of precipitation midweek was welcome with a continuation of dry weather to come. Look out for more comfortable day time temperatures in the 70s & 80s, with lows nearing 50s.

The wonderful Klinkhart Hall Art Center Summer Concert Series in Chalybeate Park has sadly come to an end (as all good things must) but please stay tuned for more upcoming events like the Poetry Festival! Visit klinkharthall.org for more information!

The Folk Fest for Food in Cherry Valley offers more weekly concerts! This fundraiser to benefit the Daily Bread Food Pantry offers three concerts on the last three Thursdays of August, a nice way to wrap up a busy summer season! Check out the Daily Bread Food Pantry Facebook Page for weather updates and more.

The Sharon Town Pool is located at 110 Washburn Ave off of Pavillion Ave and is typically open 1:00-5:00 PM everyday through the end of the season. Friday 8/15 concludes a very memorable season of the Sharon Rec Program.

The Village of Sharon Springs holds their Regular Board Meetings on the 3rd Thursday of each Month at 6:00 PM located at 129 Main St, Sharon Springs, NY 13459. The next meeting is scheduled for: Thursday, August 21st. The Village Mayor is Denise Kelly and the new Village Clerk is Hope Bayes. The Office Hours for Village of Sharon Springs are Monday & Wednesday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. For more information please call (518) 284-2625.

The Town of Sharon holds their Regular Board Meetings on the 1st Wednesday of each Month at 6:30 PM located at 129 Main St, Sharon Springs, NY 13459. The next meeting is scheduled for: Wednesday, September 3rd. The Town Supervisor is Sandra Manko and the Town Clerk is Melissa Olsen. The Office Hours for the Town of Sharon are Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM or by appointment. For more information please call (518) 284-3010.

Sharon Springs Free Library News: Story Time is at 10:00 AM on Thursday mornings and includes a story, craft, and snack. The Library is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays from 3:00 - 8:00 PM, Mondays & Thursdays from 10:00 - 6:00 PM, Saturdays 10:00 -1:00 PM, and Sundays - Closed.  For more Library information please contact (518) 284-3126.

Your local Sharon Springs Food Pantry is an excellent local resource for all! Located in the United Methodist Church on Route 20, across from the school (511 US Route 20, Sharon’s Springs, NY 13459). They are always accepting donations! If you or someone you know is in need, the hours are Thursday 9:00 -10:30 AM & 5:00 - 6:30 PM. For more information please contact (518) 284-2687 or follow on Facebook.

Worship Services

The Sharon Reformed Church (6858 State Route 10, Sharon Springs, NY 13459) offers weekly service at 10:30 am. Contact at (518) 234-2387 for more details.

The Sharon Springs United Methodist Church (511 State Route 20, Sharon Springs, NY, 13459) offers weekly service at 10:30 am. Contact at (518) 284-2200 for more details.

Grace Episcopal Church (24 Montgomery Street, Cherry Valley, NY 13320) offers weekly Holy Eucharist at 11:00 am. Contact at (315) 858-4016 for more details.

The St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church (24 Maple Avenue, Cherry Valley, NY 13320) offers weekly mass at 10:00 am. Reminder: confession is available 30 minutes before every mass. Contact at (607) 264-3779 for more details.

The Zion St. John’s Lutheran Church Seward (114 Mesick Ave, Cobleskill, NY 12043) offers weekly service on Sundays at 9:00 am. Contact at (518) 234-3222 for more details.

Cornerstone Baptist Church (7274 Route 10, Ames, NY 13317). Sunday Service is at 10:00 am. All are welcome. Contact (518) 673 3405 for more details.

Sharon Sr. Congregate Meal Site

Local residents are invited to enjoy good company and a noon-time meal year round (except holidays) at the Schoharie County OFA’s “Spa Ritz” Sr. Congregate Meal Site at the Firehouse at 137 Beechwood Rd. M-W-F. 8 oz of 1% milk is served with each meal. Orders for meals must be called into the OFA office at (518) 295-2001 before 2 p.m. for the following day. Effective January 1st the suggested donation for those 60 years old and older is $5.00 per meal. Under age 60? You’re welcome to participate for a fee of $7.50 per meal.

To share community news, upcoming events, business specials, adjusted hours, birthdays, anniversaries, or even an outstanding resident, please contact me directly at (772) 971-1410 or alexis.pencar@gmail.com. Have a great week! Thanks!

 

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Special Event: 42nd Annual Iroquois Arts Festival

HOWES CAVE — Celebrate Haudenosaunee creativity at this vibrant event featuring an all-Iroquois Art Market showcasing both traditional and contemporary arts and fine crafts at the Iroquois Museum on Caverns Road, Howes Cave Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30 and 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Highlights include:

Sky Dancers from Six Nations Reserve (Ontario) performing traditional Iroquois social dances, with opportunities for the public to join in.

Onondaga storyteller Perry Ground, captivating audiences with dramatic tales of daring feats and adventures

A family activity area with hands-on crafts.

Wildlife rehabilitator Kelly Martin, discussing regional conservation and presenting native animals, including birds of prey.

The museum’s archaeology department offers artifact identification and demonstrations of early technologies like flintknapping.

Immerse yourself in Haudenosaunee art, culture, and storytelling.

Cost: $8 members/$10 non-members/$5 children ages 5-17/free children under 5

Due to the Caverns Road being closed off of Route 7, please follow the yellow Iroquois Museum detour signs

 

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Unique Model to Display at Fairgrounds - Locomotions Sponsors Scale Model of NYC

 

By Matthew Avitabile

COBLESKILL — Joe Macken is bringing his unique model to Schoharie County. As a child in first grade, he went to the Queens Museum and saw a panorama model of New York and was “amazed by it.” In 2004, he wanted to “find a hobby” and started building the RCA building in Rockefeller Center. This led to building one, two, and three buildings at a time.

He is from Middle Village, Queens and currently lives near Albany. He moved out of the city at 20, then to Long Island until he was 42, then moved to Clifton Park in 2003.

“It was a consistent thing,” he said.

“I just loved it so much,” he said. He described the process as “addicting” and “relaxing.”

He carved the models by hand out of wood. Macken said that he had no experience making similar models prior and has “gotten better at it over the years.”

It took 11 years to build the model of Manhattan and 10 years to build the other four boroughs. He went from creating one building at a time to an entire block at a time. He was able to cut the timing from a month to a week to create a section.

Macken is a professional truck driver and delivers to many local venues, including Locomotions. He’s had the job for 18 years.

“It’s like a hobby on steroids,” he said. Many people ask him consistently about the model.

The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were his favorite buildings. He said that during the winter, you could look through the leafless trees and see the Twin Towers from his windows.

“I remember sitting on the radiator, trying to stay warm, with the blanket on me, and seeing the Twin Towers.” He remembers seeing the buildings under construction.

There are about 350 panels making up the five boroughs of the city. There is a little bit of New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester County included. His current plans are to expand to Newark Airport, the Meadowlands, part of Nassau County, and northward all the way to the Tappan Zee Bridge. Overall, the entire model will be about 95 feet long and 50 feet wide.

“It’s gonna be huge,” Macken said.

“It’s a lifelong project. I’ll never really finish it,” he said.

His favorite part of the project is Manhattan.

Macken has become especially popular in recent months. He said that there was a particular interest in his models of Manhattan and JFK Airport.

For years, Macken’s project was not as well-known except to those around him. He downloaded TikTok (@minninycity04) and learned how to use it. After Googling how to use the account, he did a video without a mic with a “horrible background” and “disheveled” and did a video about Manhattan. The video got 9.5 million views.

The video’s popularity led to other accounts doing their own takes on the model, which led to an explosion of popularity.

“It’s so funny,” he said. This was followed up by other videos that got millions of views.

“It’s just one of those wacky, crazy stories,” he added.

The models are different from other social media videos, he said. He received very positive comments on social media.

“People are really into it,” he said.

Macken delivers to Locomotions every Friday. He was asked if he could bring the model to Schoharie County.

“When I heard that someone had spent 21 years of their life working on something that meant so much to them, and all they needed was a place to put it on display, I knew this was more than just a display — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” said Meyers. 

“I had to find him a spot, and what better place than at my Aug. 23 event, paired with the Sept. 12 Remembrance of 9/11 that we’re part of.” There is a separate article about the Aug. 23 event elsewhere in this section.

The model will be at the Fairgrounds starting setting up on Saturday Aug. 23 and will be on display to commemorate the Sept. 11 attacks on Friday, Sept. 12. There may be a separate display during the time in between. We will report on additional details as the hours become more concrete.

The entire model has never been together in one piece before.

“When I set it up on the 23rd, it will be my first time seeing it all set up,” he said. The first time putting it together will be the hardest time but will become easier once the panels are ordered.

Macken said that he is not sure what to expect from the public reception. He’s received a lot of support on social media and hopes to have people come from around the area. Macken said that it could be a fun road trip.

He has been featured in the New York Post, New York Times, ABC World News, and more.

“I’m really looking forward to having it displayed and people seeing it,” Macken said.

He had been asked to display his model to the world.

“Maybe you’re right,” he said.

 

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options




Successful Summer Rec & More in Sharon

By Alexis Pencar

SHARON — The Town of Sharon held their regularly scheduled Board Meeting on Wednesday, August 6th at 6:30 PM in the Sharon Springs Community Building located at 129 Main Street. Town Supervisor Sandra Manko started the meeting off promptly with approval of the minutes from the previous July meetings with no questions or amendments.

The first point was on even year elections in response to the state wide changes. There was also a slate of candidates for the upcoming November 4th election as it stands right now provided to Board Members.

There was an update from the Rec Program and Town Pool activities from Dan Cornwell and Valerie. Manko said, “I hear a lot of good things about the activities there.” 

Dan went through explaining that there were activities planned separate from Rec with 3 field trips sponsored by the Schoharie County Youth Commission. The first was hiking and fishing at Bowmakers Pond, the second was paddleboarding, hiking, & free swim at Glimmerglass State Park, and the last trip was for whitewater rafting in the Adirondacks! SSSC provided transportation. The Sharon Springs Free Library also participated this year by offering storytime and craft each Wednesday that “become extremely popular”. 

There were a total of 99 children registered with 97 or less attending on a regular basis. In this update by Valerie, there were thanks given to the new swim instructor and new first year lifeguards. Overall, the pool has been extremely popular, with lots of people in attendance, including a record of 101 people coming to swim in one day! The Youth Commission also purchased new large umbrellas for added shade and there have only been two closures the whole season, one for weather and the other for staffing.

It is worth noting that The Joshua Project is “filling a void” by providing lunches and snacks for the Rec Program as well as for community members too. As one of the “largest Rec Project sites in the Country”, there are often 90 children per day in attendance, “some from communities outside of our own”, so this makes a huge difference for all.

The Rec Program is wrapping up the successful summer with a field trip to Minekill State Park on 8/15, the last day of the Program.

After this uplifting update, Manko got back to business with the survey that was done on July 15th, leading to a grant for playground equipment, called NY Bricks. It was explained that it is at no cost to the town to apply and is a “no match grant intended to take the current rec building itself to renovate it”. This grant could also go towards a playground or basketball court too. This is a community grant. Manko moved with a motion for a letter of support for this effort which was easily passed by the board.

There was a discussion by Highway Superintendent Barbic regarding signage and cost for Bowmakers Pond that would include trail maps, markers, etc. It was motioned and passed for the educational organization Catskill Watershed Corporation to set up information at Bowmakers Pond.

In other notable business: Court fines for June were $1115 and for July it was $2435. The Slate Hill Cemetery Report and Dog Control Officer Report were presented to Board Members with nothing notable to add. The Code Enforcement Officer office hours will change starting 9/5/25 to Friday from 1-4 PM.

In the Highway Superintendent update from Barbic, there have been more shoulders put on town roads in addition to the other large road improvements around town. $300,540.85 total in these improvements from CHIPS money have been used so far. Barbic was able to save money throughout the process and proposes that they spend an additional $93k to seal the roads and shoulders in an effort to increase their overall longevity, saying a “better product that will last longer”. In a slight discrepancy between Barbic and Manko on totals, the motion was presented to “not to exceed $390k in CHIPS money”. Barbic mentioned that the Town typically rolls over $100k each year. The motion was passed with a roll call. 

Barbic has a retired town vehicle that needs to be sold and he looked for the Board’s feedback on listing it for sale to private parties, rather than selling through auction. Barbis said he believes he can get more money for it that way. The motion was presented and passed.

With more points and business discussed, check out the full meeting online at SCHOPEG, the video recording service for Schoharie County. Visit schopeg.com and check out “Video On Demand” for more town and village meetings, and event recordings.

The regularly scheduled Town of Sharon Board Meetings are the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM at 129 Main Street, Sharon Springs NY 13459. Call (518) 284-3010 for more information.

 

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Upcoming Free Events in Summit

SUMMIT — Take part in one or more of these upcoming free events in Summit. 

FREE! Sunday  8/17/25   12:30- 1:30. Wildlife Alive!  Up close encounters with live native animals with a focus on natural history and what to do when encountering distressed or injured wildlife. 2861 Rte 10, Summit, upper parking lot. 518-287-1660

FREE! Sunday  8/24/25   12:30- 1:30. Naturelogues. Penguins, tortoises & finches from Galapagos Island, slide show and discussion. 2861 Rte 10, Summit, upper parking lot. 518-287-1660

FREE! Sunday 8/31/25 12:30- 1:30. Catskill Turtle Corvid Rescue. Meet live animals up close, rare native turtles,  & birds that are smarter than your 5th grader!

2861 Rte 10, Summit, upper parking lot. 518-287-1660

 

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Using Art to Support Literacy

Submitted by Rose Walker, Member, The Friends of The Community Library

COBLESKILL — The Friends of The Community Library in Cobleskill are holding an art show as a fundraiser this fall. Local artists are invited to decorate roof slates, which will be displayed at the Library and then sold in a "silent auction" on the evening of the art show in November.

The roof slates, which will serve as the "canvases" for new paintings, are relics of the original Cobleskill Union School and Academy (built in 1884). Students living within the Cobleskill school district attended at no charge and walked to school or rode the school bus. Out-of-district students paid tuition and occasionally “boarded” with local families. Some students commuted by train from as far away as Esperance, so that they could attend "high school" here.

The slates, which were salvaged from the Library's roof replacement project in 2009, measure 12"x14" if rectangular. However, some of the slates are angled, which is not unusual if you consider that they were produced to fit the complex roof structures of the late Victorian era.

Local artists are hereby invited to lend their talents to the cause of literacy by decorating and submitting slates for the upcoming art auction.  Anyone willing to join this effort should visit The Community Library at 110 Union Street in Cobleskill to register and pick up the necessary blank roof slate(s). Completed artwork and unused slates must be delivered to Library Director Kim Zimmer by Friday, October 24. The public art exhibition and auction will be held at the Library, 5 p.m.— 8 p.m., Friday, November 14, 2025.

 

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

KIRKSIDE GROUNDBREAKING IN ROXBURY

ROXBURY — Groundbreaking for the geothermal well system took place at the historic Kirkside Mansion in Roxbury Friday afternoon.  Manning the shovels for the first dig were Executive Director, Peg Ellsworth, Town Historian Anthony Liberatore, Assemblyman Chris Tague and former M-ARK board member Tom White.  This begins the transformation of the Kirkside Estate into a hotel and restaurant hub.  A large crowd attended on a beautiful summer’s afternoon with photos by our own Iris Mead.

Manning the shovels for the first dig were Executive Director, Peg Ellsworth, Town Historian Anthony Liberatore, Assemblyman Chris Tague and former M-ARK board member Tom White.

  1.  

     

    Glen Faulkner, Supervisor, Town of Middletown, Mayor of Margaretville John Hubbell and Assemblyman Chris Tague

  2.  

     

    Part of the large crowd

  3.  

     

    Exec. Dir. Peg Ellsworth welcoming the crowd

     

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options








Armchair Cemetery Tour August 23 and 24

MIDDLETOWN — Seven people from the past and a narrator to introduce them will be featured in the Historical Society of Middletown's 2025 Living History Cemetery Tour August 23 and 24.

Instead of a walking tour through a cemetery, this year’s event has been reimagined as an “Armchair Tour” for the stage at Open Eye Theater in Margaretville. The stories will be just as compelling as in past years, however, with the addition of background visuals. 

In this 11th living history event sponsored by the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown, seven characters, individuals who are buried in cemeteries throughout Middletown, will tell their stories. They include:

Fanny Hubbell, the “fourth Hubbell Brother,” who was crucial to maintaining the family business in Kelly Corners, portrayed by Rebecca Newman;

Conservation Officer Bryan Burgin and his outdoorsman friend Burt Tubbs, played by John Bernhardt and Frank Ryan;

Mathew Halcott, first postmaster of Halcottsville and the son of a British soldier who switched sides during the American Revolution, played by Burr Hubbell;

Maria Haner, who bore the loss of a son and her husband in the Civil War, portrayed by Amy Taylor;

Tillie Edelstein, better known as radio and TV star Molly Goldberg, who discovered her passion for performance at her family’s boarding house in Fleischmanns, played by Adrienne Gusoff; and

Boaz Searle, an early settler in Middletown who ministered to his neighbors as a physician, played by Ward Stevenson.

Kent Brown, narrator, will introduce the characters, linking them in the continuum of Middletown history.

Directing the production will be Joyce St. George and Frank Canavan.

Reservations are not needed to attend the performances, scheduled for 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24. Admission is $20. Children under 15 get in free.

For more information on HSM events visit mtownhistory.org where there is much more local history to be enjoyed.

 

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Feast of Friends Brings The Doors to Pine Hill

Feast of Friends - Eric Letterio, Jude DeFalco, Joe McCausland,  Frank Casciaro Jr. and Mark Davidoff (l-r) Photo provided by Feast of Friends


PINE HILL — Feast of Friends will perform Saturday, August 16th at Pine Hill Community Center at 7pm.

Formed in 2013 in upstate New York, Feast of Friends stands out as one of the only continuously active Doors tribute bands in the Northeast. Each mind-bending performance features classic Doors hits as well as deep cuts rarely performed live by The Doors. They have also been known to perform The Doors 1969 self-titled debut, Strange Days, and L.A. Woman albums in their entirety. 

Feast of Friends is made up of Joe McCausland on lead vocals, Jude DeFalco on drums, Mark Davidoff on guitar and vocals, Frank Casciaro Jr. on bass and vocals, and Eric Letterio on keyboard and vocals. They honor the music of The Doors with precision and passion, blending the studio sound with the band's epic live improvisation, giving performances that have been described as "Powerful and electrifying."

Pine Hill Community Center is located at 287 Main Street, Pine Hill, NY 12465. The performance runs from 7-9pm and is free with a suggested donation of $10. All are welcome!

Pine Hill Community Center is dedicated to enriching the lives of the people in the Central Catskills Region by providing community-building activities that nurture creativity and lifelong growth. Information about this and all upcoming events can be found at pinehillcommunitycenter.org.

 

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Celebrating a New Class of Firefighters in Ulster County

Graduates from three classes of Ulster County Firefighter I assemble after graduation in New Paltz



Photos and Story by Christein Aromando

NEW PALTZ — The Ulster County Firefighter I graduation ceremony was held on July 28th at SUNY New Paltz. Firefighters from every corner of Ulster County completed a rigorous 16-week course that consisted of both written and practical tests focusing on skills that included fire behavior, search and rescue, hose and ladder operations, and use of personal protective equipment. Completing Firefighter I means a firefighter is trained and qualified to safely enter burning buildings and perform critical emergency operations.

Participants also completed additional flashover training which prepares them for the most dangerous conditions they can face, such as extreme heat, thickening smoke and rollover flames. They learned techniques to escape or control these situations, building quick decision-making skills that can save lives.

The ceremony kicked off with a bagpipe procession and included remarks from Ulster County Executive, Jen Metzger, Emergency Services Director, Everett Erichsen, and Keynote Speaker, Chief Robert Troncillito. 

Graduates included: Fall 2024 - Jordan Anspach, Luke Bulla, Piero Di Nova, Josh Doyle, Peter Enea, Keely Fell, Robert Flynn, Raanan Gabriel, Kenneth Hanley, Isaiah Hilferty, Philippe Hyman, Daniel Knoth, Ricardo Martinez, Brianna O’Brien, Vincent Provenzano III, Tyler Syracusano, Edward Vickers and Donnie Yinger Jr.

Spring 2025 - Allen Baldwin, Maria Barca, Nicholas Caratzas, Daniel Casey, Christian Davis, Michael Finch, Kevin Hubbell, Payton Kothe, Chase Matteson, Cole Matteson, Isabella McLaughlin, Norbert Menetrier, Colby Merck, Angel Molina, Ryan Moxham, Richard Repetti, Lisa Roth, Izaak Schwaiger, Derek Stapleton and Nicholas Torres.

Summer 2025 - Gabriel Appler, William Facompre, Brody Lake Ferris, Zack Fox, Elise Franck, Aiden Freer, Maxfield Heisler, Cody Houghtaling, Colin Kordich, Cayden McQillan, Keith Mon, Thomas Murphy, Daviyan Parra, Tanner Pesce, Dylan Peterson, Hunter Pitkin, Tomas Rondon, Lukasz Sztaberek, Finn Wakely, William Walter, Patricia Wind, Nicholas York and Adel Zhamsapov.

We honor and celebrate these graduates who dedicated their time and hard work to become certified and who are willing to lay their lives on the line, most for no pay, to serve our communities.  

 

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Film Screenings at Open Eye Theater Aug. 16

MARGARETVILLE — The Open Eye Theater and Cellar Door Cinema Club presents a film screening of animated films by local Hudson Valley and national filmmakers on Saturday, August 16, 2025 from 6:00-7:30pm, with a Q&A following the screenings.

Curated by Jack Warren, filmmakers include Beck Underwood, Kristie Kish, Shannon Miller, Gianna Bravaco, Daniel Sousa, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, John Quinn, Connor Rea, Dusty Deen, Alan Power, Mary Margaret Grant, David Goldin, and Sam Henderson.

Tickets are Pay-What-You-Will, $15 Suggested, and available on The Open Eye Theater https://www.theopeneyetheater.org/events-tickets

 

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Four Weeks Left for Bovina Farmer’s Market

BOVINA — Friends, we only have 4 weeks left of the Bovina Farmers Market 2025 season, and we’ve got a full house tonight.

You’ll find the freshest local produce, pasture-raised beef, pork, chicken, lamb, honey, maple, bread, baked goods, pickles, handmade soap, flower essences, handcrafted wood bowls, wool textiles, and other artisan crafts.

Hoody’s Italian Ice will be here, Chinese Take-Out is serving up another authentic menu, and Mike Herman is live on the country blues guitar. We’ll have the cornhole boards out on the field, and you can dip your toes in the Little Delaware River.

We’ll see you soon from 4-7 PM at Creamery Park, 1394 County Highway 6, Bovina, NY 13740.

 

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Check Out Local Theatre!

Check Out Local Theatre!

Donate to Support Local Journalism

CONTACT US:


By phone: 518-763-6854 or 607-652-5252
Email: mountaineaglenews@gmail.com
Fax: 607-652-5253
Mail: The Mountain Eagle / PO Box 162 / Schoharie NY 12157

https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=M6592A5TZYUCQ

Subscribe!

Site Archive

Submit your information below:

Name

Email *

Message *