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Get Training for M'burgh's Oktoberfest

Written By The Mountain Eagle on 9/11/25 | 9/11/25

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh's popular Oktoberfest is coming up fast and there will be a new attraction this year.

Village Deputy Mayor Sheryl Adams spoke about plans for the Oktoberfest on Monday night.

The Oktoberfest event will be held on Saturday, October 11 after the annual Fall Festival parade, from noon  to 5:30pm. It will be held on Baker Avenue at Bill Morton Park. 

New this year will be a Stein Holding competition, Ms. Adams said. The steins are very big and will be filled with beer so "they're pretty heavy...It's for you guys who are strong."

She noted that Caleb Wiseman has joined the Oktoberfest committee and will be the emcee for the event, as well as the organizer and judge of the stein holding contest.

The Oktoberfest will be featuring four breweries, as well as food from High on the Hog and 10 Pin Catering. "There will be plenty to choose from," Ms. Adams said.

The musical groups Crossfire and None the Wiser will be performing at the pavilion.  

There will be an area for children and games such as cornhole, bingo, and others in a separate area.

*   *   *

In other action, board members:

* Adopted a local law to allow the board to exceed the state tax cap for 2026, if necessary, after a public hearing.

* Agreed to hold budget workshops on Monday, October 6, and Monday, October 20, both at 6pm.

* Went into executive session  to discuss real property.

 

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Chuck Henry on Vintage Newspapers

Chuck Henry


GILBOA — Chuck Henry, manager of NYSHistoricNewspapers.org will be speaking at the Gilboa Museum & Nicholas J. Juried History on Saturday, September 13, 1 pm.  Co-sponsored with Jefferson Historical Society and Historical Society of Middletown, the event will take place in the Museum’s new community room and refreshments will be served. The event is part of a “First Drafts of History” series to encourage the use of our local archives. 

This free illustrated presentation promises a lively talk and a look at new search tools and easy ways to discover information at the NYS Historic Newspaper website. Chuck will also be discussing some background on newspapers and how they're published that'll help speed up searcher's work. It’s a free user-friendly site and marks over 100,000 visitors monthly for its millions of pages of newspapers from every county throughout New York State. 

Coming to the Gilboa Museum from his base in Potsdam, NY, Chuck will talk about these historic newspapers and be introduced by well-known author and the former editor of Catskill Mountain News, Diane Galusha. 

Chuck proudly describes the many kinds of information the papers make available to the international public. While genealogists make up the largest audience for the newspapers due to published obituaries, marriage announcements, births, and other details about family lives, other users appear regularly.  One fellow remembered a murder in his neighborhood when he was growing up. His childhood friends didn't recall it and, he wanted to share it with them. “We helped him find details about the case such as the murderer and eventual court case against him,” Henry said, adding “If you're into true crime, our site is a treasure trove!”

Gilboa Museum activities are funded by New York Council on the Arts (NYSCA), the Office of the Governor and the NYS Legislature; NYPA, Joyce and David Barber Fund, Nicholas J. Juried, and the Town of Gilboa. 

 

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Gilboa/Conesville News by Dorothy Pickett



Go Bills! If you did not watch the Buffalo Bills and the Ravens play this past Sunday evening you missed a stunning game. With only four minutes to play we got a touchdown and then the kicker got the field goal. My Bills won 41 to 40.   

Before the game, my daughter Diane, her friend Stephanie and I enjoyed dinner at Mama Maria’s for an early celebration of Diane’s birthday, Her actual date is September 10. As I looked around the restaurant I noticed several people from Flat Creek Church were walking in for their dinner and fellowship.  

Being the weather was perfect on Wednesday I decided to cut down the whole flower bank using the weed eater. It worked perfectly.  Thursday, I knew I needed to rake everything down to the driveway which prompted a thought. Out came my electric leaf blower. Within minutes the mess ended up at the bottom of the bank right where I wanted it to. I made five trips with the gator loaded across the road where it got dumped. Going back and forth each time I could not help but notice four huge white objects by the base of one tree and on the lawn beside the tree. After dumping the last load I had to take a closer look.  I don’t know if any of you remember being in the hay fields and looking down at the ground where sometimes there would be a brown round thing growing up from the ground. We called them puff balls. I never could leave well enough alone I just had to step on them to watch with delight as the brown dust puffed out of them. Well, I am sure that is what these huge white clumps are but have not turned brown yet. They look like cauliflower except for no green leaves. I took pictures and now will wait anxiously for them to turn brown, yes, so I can step on them just to remember oh so many of my delightful childhood memories. Maybe some of you have a different name for them, something which I would be interested in knowing.

Congratulations go out to neighbor Heidi Pickett. Heidi has been in the Stamford Rotary for 32 years with 10 of those years being President. Heidi was honored by the Rotary with a superb lunch at TPs. The Pickett’s house is up behind mine on a hill that overlooks our beautiful mountains. Although our last name is the same, we are not related but we feel very connected living here in Flat Creek. 

Neighbor Pat Buel was out for his nightly walk up Flat Creek Road the other day. Stopping to talk to him and being his wife Eileen was not with him, when I asked about her, he told me she was under the weather. Get well wishes go out to Eileen for a quick feel better time. 

Diane and I drove to Binghamton on Friday as her cat Bess had to have a checkup. Bess unfortunately had to have most of her teeth removed. Her checkup went great. It was a four-hour drive which she tolerated very well. She was quiet as a church mouse all the way home. As Diane let her out of her cage in the house she took off like a bullet running up and down the stairs so excited to be back. She has no problem with eating her dry and wet food even to the point where she gained weight.

Neighbors Alicia and Bill Terry let me know the Bear has been hanging around their home these past few weeks. One night he tore all the feeders down. Then as Alicia was working outside, she noticed a freshly dug hole in the ground under their Bathroom window. Looking closer she spotted a huge honeycomb. As we all know, Bears love honey. The next day, once again looking there, most of it was gone. They are sure the Bear came back during the  night for the rest of his find. I think the Bees left too. I remember one day driving past “Dutch” Brainerd’s house on Wyckoff Road (house no longer there) I spotted most of the siding on one side of the house had been torn down. I quickly learned that a Bear had smelled honey that was behind the siding. Oh my he tore the siding off the building, got the honeycomb and did not return. I have heard they can smell honey from a very long distance. Make sure your feeders are taken down before nightfall or you too may have a visitor.  

Saturday fifteen people attended the Gilboa Museum to enjoy Popcorn and a cold drink while watching the movie “Flow” It was about a cat who experienced lots of storms, wild animals etc. All animated and no voices. Just the cat meowing, dogs barking along with other animals in the film.  The ending was the best when all of them became friends.

The Gilboa Town Board held their monthly meeting this past Monday with all business that came before the board was discussed, approved and completed. A quick reminder for Gilboa /Conesville Residents. School taxes are to be paid at Gilboa School not the Town Hall. The time and days for payment are on your tax bill. Only Property taxes beginning in January are paid at the Town Hall.  

Prayer Concerns: Eric Dahlberg, Lloyd & Clara Potter

Birthdays: Sept.15 Mike Brandow, Sept. 16 Elizabeth DeWitt, September 17 John Standhart

Upcoming Events:

Friday, Sept. 12, Rockland Cidery opens 3-8pm with live music from Lati & The Pops. Delco Food Dude truck on site.

Saturday, Sept. 13, 1:00pm Gilboa Museum presents First Drafts of History with Chuck henry from NYS Historic Newspapers.

Saturday, Sept. 13, at 10:30am Conesville Historical Society presents Ted Shuart who will be speaking on Inns, Taverns and Hotels of Schoharie County followed by Conesville’ s Touch a Truck event 12noon-4pm held at the Conesville Town Field BBQ Chicken available. Then at 7:00pm the Tremperskill Boys will hold a Square Dance.

Saturday, Sept. 13, Yoga 11am-12noon at Rockland Cidery. Then live music from Lustre Kings 3-6pm Sass Squash Food Truck on site.

Sunday Sept. 14, Gilboa Museum Psychic Fair 11:00am- 4pm 

Sunday, Sept. 14, F.A.R. Trio will entertain you at Rockland Cidery 3-6pm along with The Horseshoe Café’s great food!

Monday, Sept. 15 Conesville Hist. Soc. presents In Their own Words. 6:00pm. This is an ongoing oral history project with Debbie Hill interviewing residents of Conesville and their special memories with video clips of ten residents.  

Sunday, Sept. 14, Gilboa Museum Psychic Fair 11, 11am-4pm

Sunday Worship Services: 

Gilboa Methodist: 9:00am located on 990V

Sept. 16, Pastor Dawn will conduct a worship service at the Senior Living in Stamford 3:00pm

Flat Creek Baptist: Flat Creek Road, 9:30am Sunday school, 10:30am worship service with coffee and fellowship following the service. 

Conesville United Methodist Chapel: First and Third Sunday of the month 4:00pm, Route 990V.

Got News? E-mail pickee@midtel.net

 

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Gilboa Museum to Host Craft and Psychic Fair

GILBOA — The Gilboa Museum & Juried History Center will host a Craft & Psychic Fair on Sunday, Sept. 14. The event is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the museum, located at 122 Stryker Road.

Admission to the fair is $5 per person. The museum will also be open to visitors during the event.

The fair will feature craft vendors, several psychic readers, and the Sass Squash Food Truck. Psychic readings will be available for $45 for a 20-minute session.

Organizers have stated that additional vendors are welcome to participate. Interested parties can contact Linda at (518) 827-5578 for more information.

 

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Gilboa Changes October Meeting Date

By Liz Page

GILBOA – The town highway crew was expected to pave Wyckoff Road last week and move on to chip sealing other town roadways in the town of Gilboa and town council members approved the close out of the project on the town highway garage during their regular meeting on Monday. 

After a conference call that involved the town highway superintendent, town supervisor, designated council members and the town attorney with the contractors and material suppliers the town board approved the final payment and change orders on the project of $44,981. The town had questioned frost along some of the seams in the newly installed siding. After consulting, it was determined that altering the original installation process would negate the warranty.

The town is now preparing for a project at the sand/salt shed, which is expected to begin later this month.

The cost of paving Wyckoff Road will be shared, 50-percent, by Schoharie County. It has served as a detour  around the closed area of county-owned Flat Creek Road for three years. Flat Creek Road has been repaired and is open, but still needs a culvert installed. The culvert is expected to arrive in late October. It is unknown if that will be too late for installation this year. 

Supervisor Alicia Terry reported that South Gilboa Road is expected to reopen later this month.

She also reported that the tax exempt bond funding application for the Camp Oorah's girls division, will be reviewed and decided at the Sept. 25 meeting of the Schoharie County Capital Resource Corporation.  She said a transcript of the public hearing is now available to the public at the town clerk's office.

Due to Columbus Day, the next town board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the town hall.

Board members also set a budget workshop for Oct. 20 at 8:30 a.m.. The budget hearing will open at a special meeting on Nov. 6 and will remain open through the regular meeting on Nov. 10. A public hearing on the Gilboa Fire Protection District will also be held on Nov. 10. 

Supervisor Terry said work on installing fiber optics will begin in the southern end of the county, to provide service to areas without any service. 
A current lack of EMS personnel is responsible for the lack of an ambulance being staged at Blenheim by the county. 

Before adjourning the meeting, board members closed a public hearing on a NewYork City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) proposal to purchase 517+/- acres of BARI Valley Farm LLC, property along Road Seven and state Route 30 for watershed  protection. The town is requesting that all easements to the property be honored, because it is located in an area where NYSEG electric lines are often affected, creating outages and that it remain open to recreational uses, such as hiking and hunting, as well as existing agricultural uses.

 

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Loudonville Defeats Schoharie 7-1

LOUDONVILLE — Loudonville Christian School boys varsity team continues their strong season start after defeating Schoharie 7-1. Esiah Bodnaruk scored a hat trick and Cooper Bibighaus scored a pair, as they proved too much for the Schoharie defense. 

Goals were added by Izel Korostil and Ryan Quadrini. 

After a 4-0 halftime lead, the Eagles came out and scored two more quick goals to deter any type of a Schoharie comeback. Schoharie did get on the board when RJ Smith collected a ball in the top right of the box and found the opposite side netting on a great shot. 

Another bright spot for Schoharie was in rookie Goalkeeper, Issac Gagnon, who came on during the second half had a total of 12 saves in his varsity debut.

Special thanks to Prince Knight for the information. 

Schoharie 1

Loudonville Christian 7

Scoring:

Schoharie

#2 RJ Smith 1G

GK #00 Alex Wray 7 saves on 13 Shots

GK #99 Isaac Gagnon 12 saves on 13 shots

LCS

#10 Cooper Bibighaus 2G

#7   Esiah Bodnaruk 3G

#4   Izel Korostil 1G

#15 Ryan Quadrini 1G

GK #1 Liam Deeb 5 saves on 6 shots

 

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M'burgh Time Capsule to be Buried on Oct. 10

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - A time capsule with items from 2025 will be buried in Memorial Park on Main Street in Middleburgh on the afternoon of Friday, October 10, the day before the annual Fall Festival parade.

The time capsule will include pictures of local buildings, menus, and other items that are similar to those in a time capsule that was unearthed last summer. Melanie Laraway, Middleburgh village clerk and deputy clerk Becky Kelley, are heading the effort to find items to put in the time capsule.

The time capsule will be buried on October 10 at 3pm.

It will be buried in the same spot in the Memorial Park and will duplicate what was in the original so the public will have a 50-year picture of the village. The items will include pictures of buildings, menus, and other items.

A sealer machine to seal so got moisture will not get in the items. Funeral director Matt Coltrain said a new and better container could be used or the same box may be used with new sealant.

If you have ideas for items, contact the village office at 518-827-5143.

Some new technology may be buried. "Maybe a flash drive and hopefully 25 years form now we are still using flash drives," Ms. Laraway said.

The deadline for ideas it the middle of September .

The former time capsule was buried on October 11, 1997.

Last August, Middleburgh village officials traveled back in time to that date when they unearthed and opened a time capsule that was buried before the Fall Festival parade more than 26 years ago. The time capsule, a marble internment box donated by funeral director Joe Spink, had been buried in upper Memorial Park. The items are still on display at the village hall on Main Street.

 

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M'burgh Village to Add Parking Signs at Depot

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - In an effort to battle illegal parking at the railroad depot on Wells Avenue, Middleburgh village officials agreed this week to add three parking signs on the property.

Mayor Tim Knight said at Monday's board meeting that the village has received complaints about people parking at the depot as well as people working on their car in the parking lot.

The parking issue is related to an order to remedy parking issues at the neighboring property on Wells Avenue earlier this year.

Mayor Knight suggested blocking off the parking at the two lots, but Trustee Bob Tinker proposed putting up parking signs instead of a fence. Mayor Knight noted that the DPW has been given a notice to have illegally parked cars towed.

It was agreed to put up three signs, two on Wells Avenue and one on Maple Avenue. The signs would state Depot Parking Only and a two hour limit.

If the parkers are not permitted, the cars will be ticketed.

*   *   *

In other road news:

* Mayor Knight announced that the paving of Wells Avenue and Straub Lane is scheduled for later this month, weather permitting. Wells will be milled and then paved and will be done on the first day and Straub will follow the next day.

* The Mayor said the parking spots on Main Street and Railroad Avenue were restriped Sunday. The DPW is interested in the village buying its own striping machine. Mayor Knight noted that the village crew had to work overtime over the weekend and the striping machine would pay for itself in two years.

* The village would be completing a drainage project on Danforth Avenue this week. The project was begun last year.

* A new sidewalk was poured on Railroad Avenue to help with parking in the new lot at 111 Railroad with the demolition of the building on the lot.

* The Straub Lane sidewalks were also replaced.

* The historic light poles on River Street were cleaned and repainted.

* The village is working on a GIS project that would detail the water shutoffs and lines. The village applied for and got a grant for the work.

* A water leak was repaired on Wells Avenue.

* Water meter readings will be done next month.

 

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M'burgh Village Will Keep Alleyway; Pave It

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - After some research, Middleburgh village officials have decided to retain the ownership of Van Dyke alleyway  and have also agreed to pave it next year.

Mayor Tim Knight announced the decision on Monday night. "After doing some research into the property and state law, Attorney (Fred) Mauhs and ZBA Chairman (John) Wingfield) and I came to the determination that 1. Yes, it is village-owned property, and 2. It would be cheaper to pave the alleyway than go through a legal proceeding in an attempt to abandon it." Last month, Rich and Heather Vilegi, owners of Middleburgh Hardware, which is next to the alleyway, said they wanted to take ownership of the property.

Mayor Knight said he spoke to the Vilegis and they "have offered to peel back the existing alleyway by six inches and to smooth it out for now and the village is going to get quotes to pave it next year."  

In July 2019, the village agreed to "bare minimum maintenance" on the alley between the hardware store and Cullen's bakery. The Vilegis attended the August 4 village board meeting and gave their reasons for assuming full ownership of the alleyway.

Mr. Vilegi said his parents, the prior owners of the hardware store, and he and his wife, have plowed and filled potholes as well as they could. Mr. Vilegi called it a "pothole heaven."

DPW streets superintendent Cole Keyser said it is difficult to get the village truck in the alleyway to do any work.

Mr. Wingfield said the land has to be abandoned in order for the village to allow ownership and a public hearing would be needed before any action could be taken.

Mr. Mauhs suggested studying the issue before taking any action and a meeting was held earlier this month.

 

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New Info Sign in M'burgh Village



MIDDLEBURGH - The Village of Middleburgh recently installed a new sign at the Library advertising local parks, museums, and other services available within the community.

Special thanks to the Middleburgh Library for working with them on the development of this sign and allowing us to place it on their property.

 

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49th ANNUAL “FALL ANTIQUES IN SCHOHARIE” Sept. 27 & 28

SCHOHARIE — The plans are set, the dealers are signing up and we are excited to be back at the Schoharie Valley Railroad Complex on Depot Lane in Schoharie Village.  On the weekend of September 27 and 28, Schoharie Colonial Heritage Association (SCHA) will once again be hosting our annual Fall Antique Show.  

Antique dealers from Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and New York will be bringing their treasures.  Visitors will find quilts and blankets, jewelry, antique furniture, stoneware, oriental rugs, glass and china, baskets and bowls and collectibles of every kind.  Special heritage crafters have also been invited—the broom maker, the blacksmith, the candle maker, the potter, the candy lady and more.  

The Schoharie Valley Railroad Complex backdrop is certainly one of the most unique to visitors.   The Railroad Museum's 1865 Station House and 1891 passenger car of the Middleburgh & Schoharie Railroad will be open to the public all weekend. The freight shed, which houses all kinds of railroad memorabilia, including a restored 1917 Delaware & Hudson Railway caboose, will also be open to show-goers.  The volunteers of SCHA are most anxious to present yet another special show for all.  Our buildings and grounds will be filled with quality dealers who show and sell quality treasures from our past.   

The cooks of SCHA have put together another scrumptious selection of lunch items with our famous homemade desserts for you to come and enjoy great food under our picnic tent.

Proceeds from the antique shows fund the ongoing historic activities of the Schoharie Colonial Heritage Association.  Mark your calendar:  Saturday, September 27 from 10-5 and Sunday, September 28 from 11-4.  There is plenty of free parking.  For further information call 518-295-7505 or show manager, Ruth Anne Wilkinson, at 518-231-7241.

 

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Road Closures During Conesville Nov. 29 Fundraising 5K

By Chris English

CONESVILLE — Sections of several roads will be closed during a fundraising Turkey Trot 5K Run Nov. 29 in Conesville.

The town board approved the resolution authorizing the closures at its Tuesday, May 9 meeting. Clearance will also be needed from the New York State Department of Transportation and Schoharie County Public Works because some of the road closures involve state and county highways.

Scheduled to be closed are sections of Route 990V and Bear Kill Road. In addition, motorists will be temporarily prevented from exiting onto Bear Kill Road from Woods, Brand and Karlau Roads. The closures are being scheduled "for the safety of participants and volunteers", according to the resolution.

The event is being organized by the Conesville Historical Society in partnership with the Conesville Fire Department and will run from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 29. Proceeds will benefit the historical society, and the fire department is providing traffic control and other help.

According to the resolution, the "run will commence at a point on State Route 990V located at the intersection with Robinson Road in the Town of Conesville to the intersection of State Route 990V and Bear Kill Road and continuing on Bear Kill Road to the intersection with Wood Road and a return on the same route to the Conesville Firehouse at 1292 State Route 990V."

In other actions from the Sept. 9 meeting, Town Supervisor Bill Federice _ who is also Chairman of the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors _ went over during his county report the situation with a group called the Senior Council soon ending its contract with the county to provide drivers for several county transportation services.

Federice said the council will end providing drivers for most services, including driving people to medical appointments, on Sept. 30. He said the agreement to provide drivers for the Meals On Wheels program will continue until the end of the year. Federice said he is confident the county will find other ways to continue all transportation services, possibly by coming to an agreement with a nonprofit or maybe hiring temporary county employees.

"We will be able to continue that service, we will get that done," he said Tuesday night. The matter will be a subject of a special county Board of Supervisors meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11.

During the Sept. 9 Conesville meeting, Federice recounted how representatives from the Senior Council came to the county BOS several months ago and asked for $100,000.

"We asked to see their books," he continued. "We got something but it wasn't books. They weren't happy when we didn't give them the $100,000. My personal opinion is they overextended themselves."

Town Highway Superintendent Ward Apgar reported that he and his crew have been busy clearing a lot of ditches and regrading several roads. He added that a new generator was recently delivered and installed at the highway garage.

"I'm getting lots of compliments on your work done over the summer," Federice told Apgar. "It's a good crew."

Town Historian Kim Young reported that the big Conesville event to celebrate the country's 250th Birthday next year is now being scheduled for Sept. 19, 2026. The original date under discussion was a week earlier on Sept. 12 but Young said that would conflict with another big nearby event.

"We're working on details and speaking to organizations that want to participate," Young said. Among the many possible events to take place that day is a vintage baseball game, she added.

 

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SCHOHARIE COUNTY DESTINATION FARMERS MARKET SEEKS FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS

SCHOHARIE — Many people agree that Schoharie County needs a centrally located, easily accessible farmers market. Since last spring, an exploratory committee has surveyed community members and local producers, held productive community meetings to discuss the results of the surveys, and the county’s Agriculture Development Specialist has applied for grant funding to pursue this goal.

The next step in the process of creating a new farmers market is the formation of a Board. Local agricultural producers, vendors and community members who are interested in participating in the formation of a farmers market are invited to apply to serve on the farmers market’s founding board by completing a brief application (linked here). Applications should be submitted by September 30, 2025. Applicants will be invited to participate in brief online interviews in early October.

Farmer's Market Board Application: https://forms.office.com/g/QVvLwUyKWe

If you have questions, or need a hard copy of the application, please contact Caroline Myran, Schoharie County Agricultural Development Specialist, caroline.myran@schohariecounty-ny.gov, 518-295-8785

 

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