Harvest, Halloween, & Hauntings—Oh, My!

By Diane Dobry

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — Think festival fun is over by Labor Day?  Not exactly.  There are a lot of indoor and outdoor events happening between now and Halloween, even into November.  Here is a run-down of several happenings in Schoharie County.  Check other nearby county and village calendars for even more events.

Looking to work on crafty décor for fall (and beyond, including holiday gifts)? The Studio for Art and Craft on Main Street in Cobleskill is highlighting ceramic pumpkins and gourds to paint, along with a Hocus Pocus item, and other stained glass and stoneware projects. Details on special events being held at nearby locations are listed by date below. 

END OF AUGUST

To close out the summer, the weekend of August 30-31 includes the 42nd Annual Iroquois Arts Festival at the Iroquois Museum in Howe’s Cave, featuring Haudenosaunee culture, dancing, arts, storytellers, family crafts and wildlife. Charges to members, non-members, and children vary.  Then head over to Cobleskill to Empty Pockets Ranch where with FREE entry (Parking, however is $10), the 5th Annual Sunflower Festival offers vendors, entertainment, food, and animal petting. See Facebook pages for details on each event.

SEPTEMBER

The September 6th and 7th weekend features Schoharie Library’s annual Book Sale & Trustee Treasures Porch Sale on Saturday the 6th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 103 Knower Ave. See Facebook for details. On Sunday the 7th, Market in the Meadow happens from noon to 4 p.m. at Wayward Lane Brewing at 255 Ward Lane in Schoharie, with a farmers market, live music, and food trucks.  That day at 3 p.m. Serious Brewing ,116 Caverns Road in Howes Cave, hosts a Stained Glass class by The Studio for Art and Craft.  See thestudioforartandcraft.com for details and registration.

On September 13th  Grapevine Farms hosts a fundraiser Garden Party for Schoharie Animal Shelter. A $50 ticket includes dinner, music, and a silent auction from 4 to 7 p.m.  See the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley Facebook page for details and purchase tickets from the shelter or from Grapevine Farms ahead of time. (www.grapevinefarms.com or www.schoharieanimalshelter.org ).

September 14th the Joshua Project hosts an Annual Family Fun Day at Wayward Lane Brewing, Ward Lane in Schoharie, from 12 to 3. Free admission covers games and activities, crafts, and vendors. Hungry?  There’s popcorn, chicken BBQ, and more. The same day, from 4 to 6 p.m., The Studio for Art and Craft holds a Halloween pottery class at Serious Brewing on Caverns Road in Howes Cave. Register at www.thestudioforartandcraft.com.  Materials, instruction, and a drink are included.

Get into the “spirit” of the season on September 18 with a  group reading by Psychic Medium Katie Manning at Grapevine Farms beginning at 5 p.m. Light fare appetizers will be served prior to the presentation. Tickets are $65 from Katie (call 518-234-9148). Contact Grapevine Farms for details at shop@grapevinefarms.com. 

Schoharie County gets busy on the weekend of September 20th and 21st. In Chalybeate Park, Sharon Springs, the 15th Annual Sharon Springs Harvest Festival has a full schedule of artisans, vendors, live music, demonstrations, delicious food and beverages, seasonal produce and a trip to a local orchard for apple picking. 

Nearby, Cobleskill’s annual tradition of village- and town-wide tag sales begins at 8 a.m. on the 20th until 5 pm. Cobleskill Partnership, Inc. invites local organizations to share information and host activities in Veterans Memorial Centre  Park. 

On the 21st,  Laura Kelley Pottery hosts a Harvest Bazaar—open to the public-- from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Middleburgh Reformed Church, 178 River Street, with food, artisans and a café to benefit mission projects.  Contact larakelleypottery@gmail.com .  Also in Middleburgh that day, The Treasure Barn gift and thrift shop at 2956 State Route 30 hosts a Craft Fair with 20 vendors and Chris’s Concession food truck.

Don’t miss the 49th Annual Fall Antiques in Schoharie organized by the Schoharie Colonial Heritage Association on September 27th and 28th on the grounds of the Schoharie Valley Railroad Museum complex on Depot Lane, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and 10a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Heritage Crafters and dozens of vendors will be there. Country Kitchen’s selling food, desserts, and beverages. Money raised benefits Schoharie Valley Railroad Museum and the 1743 Palatine House Museum.

OCTOBER

There is no place like the historic Stone Fort (and nearby cemetery) at 145 Fort Road in Schoharie to begin celebrating the fall season. On Saturday, October 4, their 3rd Annual Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., features craft vendors, local organizations, and a quilt show from 10 to4. There’s music all day, food vendors and adult or non-alcoholic beverages,. 

Saturday, October 11th also at the Stone Fort in Schoharie, a Trunk or Treat event, features cool cars and candy, between 2 and 5 p.m.  

Check out the Middleburgh Oktoberfest on the 11th, at the Baker Avenue William “Bill” Morton Park Pavilion from noon to 5:30 p.m. Live music featuring Crossfire, family games, along with Chicken BBQ from Ten Pin Catering, New York State produced beers and cider. Middleburgh Fire Department receives $5 from every dinner sold. More details on the Middleburgh Oktoberfest Facebook page.

Grapevine Farms on Route 7 in Cobleskill will host a dinner on October 11th with a presentation by Orange County Paranormal followed by a mini- investigation on the premises. Dinner is $45, and another $45 covers the hour-long investigation.

More from The Studio for Art and Craft at Serious Brewing on Caverns Road in Howes Cave on October 19, with a class on painting and decorating stoneware plates and serving dishes, just in time for the upcoming holidays as gifts or for those big holiday meals.

Trustco Bank in the Walmart complex in Cobleskill will hold a Trunk or Treat on October 24th in the parking lot close to Dollar General behind the branch. 

Prepare for Halloween Schoharie style on October 28th  by gathering for the Foxes Town Ghost Watch after dark at Lily Park. Bring lawn seating or blankets to sit on and wrap up in, and wear warm clothing. Candlelit pumpkins and lanterns illuminate the lawn between the park footpath and the covered bridge where the Schoharie (and beyond) ghostly tales will be told. Flashlights are recommended for navigating to and from parking and the event. Cost per person will be $10 cash/check only for 10 years and older. Under 10 free. In case of rain, group will meet in the nearby Nicholas Juried Pavilion.  Bring a camera for the end of the ghost tales. Details for parking and more available on www.turningpoint1777.com . 

Look for upcoming stories of ghostly encounters in Scary Schoharie County – planned  for October.

 

Grapevine Farms headstone

                                                                        Empty Pockets Ranch

                                                                            Stone Fort

Psychic Medium Katie Manning at Grapevine Farms

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Locomotions Packs Crowd - Raises Money for Animal Shelter

Overall photo of the vendors and tent setup during Saturday’s Block Party at Locomotions in Cobleskill. Photos by Robert Duso.

Free face painting was the rage. Children were lined up and waiting.

One of the many vendors that were at this year's doings, Honey!

A model of the buildings in Manhattan, NYC

The masterpiece! A large-scale model of the city of New York. The view is looking north from New Jersey. I noticed that the world trade center is still standing in the model.

I found a one-armed bandit while walking around and checking out the vendors. I'm sure they had it operational by 2 O'clock as planned.

 

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GOP Faithful Cheer Tague, Stefanik

By Matthew Avitabile

COBLESKILL — It was a change in venue with rain and protests to start, but that didn’t stop the 2025 Republican annual picnic from drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd. Protesters arrived for the Sunday event, which didn’t phase Schoharie County GOP Chair and State Assemblyman Chris Tague.

“We don’t protest at their events,” he said. However, the demonstrators are “free to protest. Freedom of speech,” he said. Tague cited the “peaceful” nature of several protests at recent Republican events, adding that he believed that the protests were linked to the return of President Donald Trump to the White House.

There were a number of local officials and candidates for office at the picnic, which took place at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds. The crowd was amped up for the different officials, breaking into cheers on numerous occasions.

Assemblyman Chris Tague presented former County Treasurer Mary Ann Wollaber-Bryan, Sheriff Ron Stevens, and Summit Town Supervisor Harold Vroman with Assembly Citations for their years of service, calling them “dedicated public servants.” He said that Stevens is an “incredible Sheriff” who, alongside his wife Kathy, donated much to the GOP over the years.

“Keep up the fight,” said Wollaber-Bryan. “For Elise. We need her.”

Tague also presented New York State Young Republicans Club Chair Bobby Walker with the Chairman’s Appreciation award. He cited Walker’s help driving around the North Country when there was almost three feet of snow in Boonville. Tague said that there was “no bigger Donald J. Trump or Elise Stefanik or Peter Oberacker or Chris Tague supporter than Bobby Walker.”

Candidate for Sheriff Albro Fancher spoke, saying that he had “awful big shoes to fill” with the retirement of Sheriff Stevens.

Fancher said that he was a “local kid” raised on “hard work, work ethic, reliability.” He recently retired from 31 years of service in the New York State Police.

District Attorney candidate Chris Luhr cited his four years under former District Attorney Jim Sackett as Assistant District Attorney and 21 years as an FBI Special Agent as his experience, saying that he hoped to act with “equality under the law.”

He said that he was against “lawfare” and sought to strictly enforce personal liberties and the law.

“I am not one of those prosecutors,” he said, citing crime statistics in large cities.

Other candidates including Diana Salazar for Supreme Court and Michael Henry for State Attorney General spoke before the state and federal officials.

State Sen. Peter Oberacker discussed now as the “proudest” he’s been to represent the 51st State Senate District. He said that he wanted to see God enter people’s lives, to be positive, and to care for your family.

Tague got the crowd excited discussing the state of the state. He argued that Gov. Kathy Hochul was incompetent and that Stefanik would make a great governor.

“It sure feels good to be in a room of fire-up, proud Republicans,” he said. “We say God Bless America without apology.” He also cited Schoharie County as the “Heart of Upstate, New York.”

The assemblyman said that now is a “turning point in our nation’ history and thank God we have the right man in the White House.” He said that the Trump administration was “taking the fight straight to the radical left” and that the “America First agenda is alive and well.”

Before bringing Stefanik to the podium, he said that the state was “under siege” under Gov. Hochul, citing immigration, crime, and “chaos.”

“It isn’t just broken,” he said, saying that the current state of affairs in New York was a “disgrace.”

“I had had enough he said.” he sought “someone on the way to save our state.”
Stefanik received a standing ovation. She called Hochul the “worst governor in the country.” The representative also cited that New York was losing the most population in the nation. She hopes to bring her experience to Albany, citing spending on illegal immigrants, and more.
“We need to put law-abiding New Yorkers first,” Stefanik said.

 

Assemblyman Tague giving Assembly Citations to Vroman, Stevens, and Wollaber-Bryan

Carlisle Town Supervisor John Leavitt and former Middleburgh Town Supervisor Wes Laraway

 

                                        Cobleskill's Ray Gillis talking to Gilboa's Dottie Pickett

Fire Mark Insurance's Ray Gillis with Cobleskill Mayoral candidate RJ Freitag

Former Schoharie Deputy Supervisor Bob Vedder puts a ticket in for the raffle

                                        John and June Brown from the Breakabeen General Store

Left to right: Roger and Kathy Slater, Scott Sherman, and former Middleburgh Town Supervisor Pete Coppolo prepare for the good food

Middleburgh Councilwoman Sue Makely preparing the audience for the chicken dinners

Rep. Elise Stefanik received considerable attention and applause during her speech

                                                        State Sen. Peter Oberacker, Rep

Schoharie's Brendan Archer serves chicken from Barbecue Delights during Sunday's annual Republican picnic at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds

 

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A Very Green Thumb in Schoharie County

Believe it on not, this was a medium-sized example in the Northeast Gardner's crop

David Laraway showing off an enormous zucchini

The tomato plants were taller than David Laraway, who grew some very impressive examples.

 

Under the canopy of tomato plants, which was taller than a person

 

By Matthew Avitabile

SLOANSVILLE — David Laraway has a talent and is especially good at both showing and explaining it. The Northeast Gardner has long been a staple of the local growing community, appearing on the Albany television channels, in local press, WSDE, and on SCHOPEG.

And this season he appears to have outdone himself.

He welcomed me to his home and extensive garden last Friday where he showed me his great skill at effectively making anything grow.

The retired Navy veteran has always been a gardener, he said, crediting his parents. He said that to them, “gardening wasn’t a hobby.” The family ate homegrown food twelve months a year..

Special credit went to his mother, who he dedicated his book of expertise to. He said that his mother went to the Grand Union with their new neighbors, where they tried to buy potatoes. His mother told them that it was a “disgrace” to buy any vegetables and had potatoes ready for them in the cellar.

Adjoining the garden are two ponds, including one that he hand-dug himself. There are also a number of fruit trees, including Golden Delicious and Macoun (Macintosh and Jersey Black hybrid) apples. Nearby are new apple, plum, and peach trees. The expert said that one of the secrets to allowing trees to grow and bear good fruit is to not add anything additional to the soil other than what is taken out.

“Don’t add anything to the soil except what you take out,” he said.

“Work with mother nature and she will work with you,” he said. If you fight her, he said “you will lose every time.”

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

All of his products are grown organically with no chemical pesticides. He credits a number of traditional remedies, including using copper fungicide, which can halt the growth of numerous diseases. He added that to prevent blossom end rot, the traditional remedy of adding calcium through eggshells can be supplemented with oyster shells. The treatment also prevents voles and moles from getting into the garden, as well.

“People are like plants, plants are like people,” he said.

Every year Laraway continues his family tradition of “take the best, leave the rest.” By selectively breeding, his family has six generations of plant seeds which produce the impressive fruit and vegetables displayed last week.

The results are particularly large and juicy tomatoes that are nearly seedless and have a taste superior to those you find at stores.

All tomatoes, for example, are heirloom varieties and open-pollinated. So is the corn and squash. Laraway showed squash and zucchini in both large and enormous varieties..

He said that he tried to outdo himself each year and see “what I can grow.”
This includes extensive cucumbers, as well as significant watermelons he was warned he couldn’t grow.

“They didn’t read the book,” he said.

Joining the fruit and vegetables are potatoes.

Despite the special success with several varieties, Laraway said that “everything” is fun to grow.

If it’s a challenge, he loves it, he said.

Perhaps even more impressive than David Laraway’s garden is his sense of humor and prepared products. Always prepared with a good joke and a friendly demeanor, he showed and sampled a number of delicious products. He has more types of pickles than I can list here, but included are garlic dill, hot pickles, bread and butter, crock dills, and far more. He also showed his own Schoharie County Sloughter Slaw and peach jam.

For someone well-known for his skill in the garden and the kitchen, somehow David Laraway found a way to outdo himself (and taught me some new jokes in the process).

For those interested in taking a look, and even taking pictures, Laraway is hosting a harvest sale this weekend at his home and garden at 103 Beckers Corners Road, Sloansville along with a two-family garage sale. His book on gardening, Guide to Bigger Fruits and Veggies,: Homesteaders Guide to Gardening & Canning, is available at his farmstand and on Amazon. The book is dedicated to Laraway’s mother, Pauline Laraway Shilstone, who is described as a wonderful woman and key influence.

 

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A Look Back in Esperance's History (photos only)

 Esperance “Remembering Esperance: Readers' Theatre Performance, based on 1930's Esperance performed last Saturday and pitched as stepping "into a 1930s living room and hear nine women reflect on small-town life, with a few unexpected twists along the way." Photos by Karen Cuccinello.

 

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Legion Changes Name to “Tony Desmond Post 1269”

By Alexis Pencar

The American Legion in Sharon Springs recently presented a proclamation to officially change the Post’s name to “Tony Desmond Post 1269” in dedication to the late Tony Desmond for his excellent commitment to the community.

This moving proclamation was presented to Patti Desmond, Tony’s wife, during the last American Legion meeting on Tuesday, August 19th 2025 at the Sharon Community Building. To make this change, the group had a unanimous vote in May, the change was approved in July, and just made official. This was a change from the previous name: “Sharon Springs Post 1269”.

Mr. Tony Desmond passed away just last year on October 23, 2024 at the age of 81. He was well known for his devotion and commitment to the community, serving in numerous impactful roles throughout his lifetime including in the military, as New York State Trooper, Schoharie County Sheriff, Town Supervisor, Town Judge, and many more. His influences on the community will be felt for generations.

Please help support the American Legion! Find the American Legion tent at the upcoming Sharon Springs Harvest Festival on September 20th and 21st. Chat with Legion members and enter into the annual raffle and fundraiser. If you are interested in becoming an American Legion member, volunteering, donating, or more, please contact Commander Paul Todd at (518) 649-0024 for more information.

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. The American Legion's mission statement is: To enhance the well-being of America's veterans, their families, our military, and our communities by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

 

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