Filmed Locally - Gerson Reflects on Art Career, Working with Smart on Don Barry

By Matthew Avitabile

POTTER HOLLOW — Barry Gerson has had a long and interesting career as an artist, including working with former Mountain Eagle author Paul Smart. An old friend, Gerson discussed his writing with Smart and was invited to work on Smart’s take on Don Quixote, Don Barry.

He described shooting the film in Mexico, especially with his experience as a filmmaker.

“I am a filmmaker. I make films. I don’t make narrative films.”

He described his films as “more or less abstract” and as “moving paintings.”

Being on the other side of the camera is unusual but a great experience, Gerson said.

“I thought a lot about what an actor goes through to create a part. And then I used those ideas and thoughts for my character in the film,” Gerson said. The film included elements about him as an artist, including showing his artworks.

“Now there’s this film about me in which I play myself,” he said. Gerson described Don Barry as a “wonderful film” and a “major breakthrough” in dealing with narrative.

“It’s not strictly a narrative film.”

It includes music, art, dance, documentary elements, and more to work “beautifully.”

Gerson described the use of dance as showing the undercurrents within the film.

At showings, he said that people see him as the star of the movie while he sees himself as an artist.

“So I play along with that.”

Gerson said that Smart was “terrific” in producing the film. The two share an interest in “expressing intuition,” Gerson said. Smart took into consideration that Gerson is not a professional actor.

His favorite experience was speaking at several of the showings speaking about “our placement in the universe.” Gerson said that he said that he could “go on all night” and one audience member said that he wished Gerson had.

He’d like to be in another film, said Gerson.

“It’s an experience,” he said. He added that he loved learning about filmmaking from the other side of the camera.

“One never knows,” he said.

Gerson also discussed his latest book, Elixir of Life. The book is about his experiences using red, green, and blue therapy lights to treat himself for “serious maladies” including prostate issues. He said that he has a history of similar treatments that has helped with varicose veins and increasing his creativity.

“I’m an artist and a healer,” he said.

Gerson said that he hopes to publicize his treatment through the book, which is available now.

 

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Excavation Violations in Greene County

CATSKILL — On July 25, a subject paid a penalty of more than $25,000 for violations related to the illegal excavation of protected waterbodies in Greene County.

On Aug. 22, 2022, ECOs Palmateer and Smith first responded to complaints regarding a stream disturbance in the town of Catskill. The Officers interviewed the complainant who provided a description of a truck observed transporting the excavated material and where the material was being delivered.

Investigators Sherman and Sulkey then conducted follow-up interviews with a nearby homeowner who received fill material resembling the streambed sediment, and additional residents who revealed the same individual excavated several protected streams in the area. Investigator Sulkey also obtained a receipt and video footage documenting the suspected individual selling the streambed material to a homeowner.

Lieutenant Nichols, Investigator Sulkey, and DEC employees visited the affected waterbodies and gathered further evidence, including measurements and photographs documenting the extent of the excavations. The subject was issued a Notice of Violation based on those findings for violating State regulations and the Environmental Conservation Law, including the disturbance of a protected stream, excavating navigable waters, and grading or dredging within a 100-foot buffer zone of a freshwater wetland.

In July 2025, an Order on Consent was signed and the subject was assessed a civil penalty of $26,625 for the violations.

 

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Local NWTF Chapter Hosts Annual Veterans’ Bear Hunt

Veteran Kyle Abbott of Jacksonville, North Carolina joined three fellow vets, Jeff Frederickson of Kingsport, Tennesee, and Evan Matter of Fairfax, Virginia, in the annual Veteran's Bear Hunt put on by the Northern Catskills Longbeard's Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). Three vets harvested three bears, with a fourth taken by volunteer, Ryan Young 17, of "Chappy's Outdoors," an organization whose mission is to, "Conduct hunting and fishing trips for our nation's wounded veterans in order to facilitate physical, emotional, and spiritual healing through proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ."  The bears were all harvested in or near cornfields sustaining heavy crop damage from nuisance bear activity.

By Larry DiDonato

The Northern Catskill’s Longbeard’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) held its annual Veteran’s Bear Hunt once again this year. Three veterans plus one representative from “Chappy’s Outdoors” shot a total of four bears during the early firearms season’s opening weekend on September 6th and 7th. The largest of the four weighed well over three hundred pounds and all were harvested at corn fields in Greene County experiencing heavy crop damage. So, while all the vets had a great experience bear hunting in the Northeast, they were actually providing a needed service by culling nuisance bears from the landscape. Veterans, Kyle Abbott of Jacksonville, North Carolina joined two fellow vets, Jeff Frederickson of Kingsport, Tennessee, and Evan Matter of Fairfax, Virginia, in the annual Veteran's Bear Hunt put on by the Northern Catskills Longbeard's Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). Three vets harvested three bears, with a fourth taken by volunteer, Ryan Young 17, of "Chappy's Outdoors," an organization whose mission is to, "Conduct hunting and fishing trips for our nation's wounded veterans in order to facilitate physical, emotional, and spiritual healing through proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ."  The bears were all harvested in or near cornfields sustaining heavy crop damage from nuisance bear activity.

Bob Monteleone led a great group of local NWTF chapter members who expertly used their hunting skills and experience to make the vet bear hunt a resounding success. Bob expressed his great appreciation to James Novak, Sean Brady, Jeremy Fromer, and Dennis Eacott, for a job well done! They each got bears within range for a humane harvest.

Bob also thanks his family and all the volunteers who made this event possible by providing lodging, meals and other support.

The bear hunt is the second veteran’s hunting event in Greene County put on by Bob and the Northern Catskills Longbeard’s  chapter of the NWTF. This past spring, 9 of 11 veteran hunters harvested at least one turkey in another great event boasting high success rates connecting our veterans with some nice gobblers. Bob. who is the President of the local NWTF chapter said, “It’s a great experience for both veterans as well as volunteers. Our members expressed great satisfaction in trying to give back and thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice keeping us safe in our homeland.”

Happy hunting, fishing, and trapping until next time!

 

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NEW PROPOSED 1.6 MILE TRAIL AT BONNIE’S TRAILS!! - PLEASE HELP!

LEXINGTON — The Lexington Hiking Club and the Town of Lexington with the cooperation of the DEP and Green County Soil and Water are proposing a new trail which will be the longest of all of BONNIE’S TRAILS. 

AND YOU CAN HELP ON OCTOBER 4 at 10am.

Please join us to learn how you can make this new trail a reality  and to maintain the existing trails. 

Rain date:  Oct 5th at 10am

LOCATION: Across from 771 Beech Ridge Road South

If you have a lopper, work gloves, and collapsable hand saw please bring them        along. If not, we will try to supply what you need. 

If you can help or have questions, please reach out to:

Bennett Wine

518 989 6312 or 

917 939. 1520 or

bennettwine@gmail.com

THANKS!!

 

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Final Design Phase Started for Stormwater Collection System Improvements

By Michael Ryan

JEWETT - It may sound like a yawner, but the beginning of the final design phase for big stormwater collection system improvements in Jewett has government officials feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Town council members, at a meeting last week, approved a contract with SLR Engineering to perform multiple tasks related to the project that is being financed by a $133,500 Catskill Watershed Corporation grant.

“This will save Jewett taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars overall,” town supervisor Greg Kroyer said, noting CWC previously paid $22,000 toward a conceptual design.

It is hoped the finalized plans will open the door to additional CWC funding for construction of the system in the near future. Ultimate approval would emanate from the Department of Environmental Protection.

“When this is done, our municipal complex will be more flood resistant, on both sides of the road,” Kroyer said, referring to Route 23C where the highway department, salt shed and government offices are located.

“All the water will be directed where it needs to go, to Town House Brook and then the East Kill. We’ve been seeking this funding for eight years. 

Now, we are hopefully close to the end.” Kroyer said.

Final design will stretch into next year, and money provided thus far leaves local officials optimistic the CWC and DEP will continue their support.

Meanwhile, in their report, SLR Engineering states the firm, “conducted a Local Flood Analysis for the Town in 2021 – 2022 to identify sources of flooding and recommend flood mitigation options.

SLR documented that, “town facilities were prone to flooding from various sources including Town House Brook, which runs along the perimeter of the property, and stormwater runoff flows from Route 23C and the paved municipal parking area.

Further, “the Town House Brook culvert along Route 23C was estimated to overtop during the 10-year flood while the stormwater drainage culverts along Route 23C were estimated to overtop during the 2-year flood.

“When the culverts overtop, floodwaters flow over Route 23C toward the Jewett municipal building and highway garage,” the report states.

“Flooding at the highway department garage is particularly problematic because its first floor is below the surrounding ground level, making it a natural path for [Route 23C] runoff and floodwaters,”  the report states.

“The Town facilities are also impacted by pluvial flooding during intense

rainfall events. Runoff flows can increase rapidly due to the steep slope of Route 23C and large area of impervious surfaces that drain toward the Town’s facilities,” the report states.

“This flooding disrupts the Town's emergency response operations by hindering the highway department's ability to quickly mobilize and address community needs during such events,” the report states.

“Additionally, flooding significantly impacts water quality. When floodwaters mobilize and transport pollutants like oil, grease, sediment, salt, and litter stored in and around the highway garage, they can severely degrade water quality in Town House Brook,” the report states. 

“This brook flows into the East Kill, a tributary of Schoharie Creek, which feeds into the New York City Department of Environmental

Protection’s Schoharie Reservoir,” the report states.

“The town has been working to reduce flooding by replacing the undersized culvert that conveys Town House Brook under Route 23C and upsizing several of the roadside drainage culverts that drain to the brook,” the report states. 

“The Town is looking to further reduce flooding from stormwater runoff by

retrofitting the site’s stormwater collection and treatment systems,” the report states. 

SLR, as part of their agreement, will provide technical specification and contract documents (bid form and invitation to bid).

In other business:

—Town supervisor Greg Kroyer reported the successful installation of a new boiler at the municipal building, costing $11,500, performed on an emergency basis.

“The old boiler was shot. It was twenty-five years old and the cast iron part had rusted through. It’s been leaking for years,” Kroyer said.

“We’d been checking it everyday lately. Water was squirting out. There was two inches of water on the floor the other day. We sopped it up and called the plumber,” Kroyer said.

The call was placed to Huber Enterprises Inc., based in Catskill, a company very familiar with the plumbing system at the town hall. “They’re the same company who has done work on it all along,” Kroyer said. 

“They diagnosed the situation on a Friday, the boiler was delivered to them the following Monday and they showed up Tuesday with three trucks and five or six people, spending the day here” Kroyer said. 

“They did a very professional job, replacing some other parts too. We aren’t happy to spend the money, but we’re happy to have it done,” Kroyer said.

—Town board members unanimously reappointed sole assessor Nancy Bower to a fourth, 6-year term.

Bower has also served four years at the start of her tenure, completing the unexpired term of Georgette Krauss who had retired.

 

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Out Lexington Way

By Christine Dwon

Excellent turnout for the Town of Lexington Town Picnic on Sept. 13 under the pavilion at the Municipal Building. Of course, there was a delicious covered dish lunch that everyone enjoyed.   Senator Michelle Hinchey was there to meet everyone and spoke about concerns in rural areas and efforts to address these issues.   

Thank you Susan and Eugene Constable for my ride up Spruceton in your fabulous VW convertible on my birthday!  Was a beautiful sunny day and absolutely lovely.

I had a wonderful birthday celebration with my family on Sept. 13.  

There is a Potluck Dinner Church, on Friday, Sept. 19, 6 p.m., at the Lexington/West Kill UMC, Lexington.  Discussion will be the volunteer program at The Pines in Catskill and sharing a spiritual approach to working with people with dementia.  Everyone is welcomed.

Saturday, Sept. 20 is POW/MIA Recognition Day Luncheon, Athens American Legion Post TGM 187.  Veterans are free, other guests $5.  Program:  Meet and Greet at 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.;  Welcome Ceremony and Moment of Remembrance 12 – 12:30 p.m. and Lunch at 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.  Please RSVP to Gordon at 518-567-5529.

Come over to the Ashland Town Park on Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21 for Garden Tractor Pulls Saturday starting at 10 a.m., followed by Truck Pull in the afternoon. Sunday is the Farm Tractor/Antique Pull out in the field, 2,500 to 10,500 lbs.  Sponsored by Dan’s Septic Service LLC  and there will be homemade ice cream by Wes Benson.  Breakfast starts at 8 a.m., followed by lunch and dinner prepared by the Ashland Fire Department – breakfast sandwiches, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, sausage and peppers, french fries, drinks. Admission-Boot Donation, 50/50 raffle, T-shirts and sweatshirts and hook charge per pull is $15.  Call Diane at 518-734-3636.   This event is in support of the Ashland Fire Department hosting the 138th Greene County Volunteer Firemen’s Convention to be held in Ashland Sept. 9 – Sept. 12, 2026.  Ashland Fire Department is also celebrating its 100th year anniversary in 2026.

The Annual Mountain Top Fall Car Show is Sunday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Main Street, Tannersville.  Live music all day from Whiskey Cross, Sonny Rock and Just James.  For more info or to register, call 518-589-5850 option 2 or email tannersvillecarshow@gmail.com.  Sponsored by Village of Tannersville, Pancho Villa’s, Thorpe’s GMC.

Happy wedding anniversary to Irene and Larry Barnum on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Happy wedding anniversary Sept. 22 to Elizabeth and Danny Dymond.

Sept. 22 is Bill Pushman’s birthday. 

Best wishes to all.

Be sure to stop by the Kaaterskill UMC in Tannersville on Tuesday, Sept. 23 for the next Fellowship Lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Come in for a free delicious meal and fellowship.

Bring your dancin’ shoes and a covered dish to the Barn Dance and Pot Luck Dinner sponsored by the Friends of Lexington on Saturday, Sept. 27 at the West Kill/Lexington Community Hall, 141 Spruceton Road, West Kill from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Covered dish dinner starts at 4 p.m., BYOB.  There will be a caller and live performance by Homespun Occasions.  Suggested donation $10 per person.  Tickets at the door or RSVP by Venmo.  Email friendsoflexington@gmail.com or DM@friends_of_lex or Instagram.  Many thanks to sponsors West Kill Brewing, Spruceton Inn and Rivermist Farms.

Saturday, Sept. 27 is the Haines Falls Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary Chicken BBQ from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., takeouts only. Full dinner of half chicken, baked potato and baked beans is $15, half chicken, $10.  See a member for tickets. Proceeds benefit the Haines Falls Fire Company and Auxiliary.

Greene County Public Health 2025 Flu Clinic will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 30 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the Senior Service Center at the Jewett Municipal Building, 3547 County Route 23C, Jewett. Please call 518-719-3600.  GCPH participates in most insurances—Medicare, Medicaid, Senior Blue, United Health Care, NYS Empire Plan, BSNENY, Empire BC/BS, Fidelis and CDPHP.

Also at the Senior Service Center in Jewett on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 11:45 a.m., a representative will be available for questions and with info concerning Medicare coverage.  If you would like to stay for lunch served at noon, please call at least a day in advance to reserve your meal – 518-263-4392.

The Lexington Farmers Market on Saturday, Oct. 11 will be geared towards children.  Steven Weinberg, author and artist, will be offering a children’s workshop, Lexington Fire/Rescue Company will have rescue vehicles for the children to check out and Sparky the Fire Dog will be there, Hunter Public Library will bring children’s books to give away and gently used children’s clothing will be collected and donated. Other activities are also being worked on.  The market is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. under the pavilion at the Lexington Municipal Building, 3542 Route 42.

The Greene County Senior Nutrition Program menu for the week of Sept. 22 – Sept. 26 is as follows:  Monday—Sloppy Joes (bun contains gluten), old fashioned mixed vegetables, brown rice, pears; Tuesday—Chicken Dijon, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, mandarin oranges, brownie; Wednesday—Salisbury meatballs, peas, carrots, egg noodles, carrot cake; Thursday—Chef salad with turkey, cheese, boiled egg, cucumbers and tomatoes, macaroni salad, fresh fruit; Friday—Shepherd’s pie, broccoli, fresh fruit.  All persons 60 and older are invited to attend.  Meals served at noon, suggested $4 donation for each meal.  Congregate reservations are required by noon at least a day in advance.  If you reserve a meal and are unable to attend, please call as soon as you can to cancel.  Allergen information is available for prepared food items.  The number to call for the Senior Service Center at the Jewett Municipal Building, 3547 County Route 23C, Jewett is 518-263-4392.

Yes, Ginny (fellow columnist), we are sworn to secrecy, but oh, the stories we could tell.

Thank you to all law enforcement firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, volunteers, healthcare providers, veterans, actively serving military, farmers, truck drivers and so many more.

Prayers for all who are dealing with loss, illnesses, healing, difficulties, our country, our military and their families, the world.

Until next week take care, be thankful, be respectful, be safe and please be kind to one another.  Your act of kindness may change someone’s life.

 

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Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC VFW Post 1545

At this past VFW Post 1545 business meeting we had a motion to donate to Tunnel 2 Towers. In an earlier article I wrote that I did some investigation regarding this organization and found that they use 95% of donations to help veterans and first responders with getting help with their lives. 

Our post will donate $11.00 a month to their causes. I personally donate myself and encourage everyone to consider donating to this organization.

I need to share some personal thoughts. Over the past few weeks, we've witnessed truly disturbing acts of violence. It's heartbreaking and deeply troubling.

Let’s all take a moment to pause, take a deep breath, and be thankful—we live in one of the greatest nations on Earth. But we have to ask ourselves: have we really come to a place where we kill those we disagree with?

What kind of society are we creating when we continually release violent offenders without consequences? Our elected judges—many of whom have spent years studying the law—need to seriously reconsider what kind of message this sends to our communities.

This isn’t about being liberal or conservative. It’s about using common sense. It's about valuing life, law and the well-being of our society.

We choose our leaders through elections. If your preferred candidate doesn't win, that is not a reason for violence. It's a time to reflect, to regroup, and maybe even say a prayer of gratitude for the freedoms we still have.

Let’s stop the madness and find our way back to decency—together.

One more thing: For those who fought for it.. Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

For some news regarding the VFW: Join co-hosts Rob Couture and Brittany Dymond Murray as they chat with experts, lawmakers and leaders from the veteran community about everything from military and VA issues to the work of the VFW.

Catch #StillServing: The VFW Podcast on your favorite platform—and watch the latest episode, Rockstars!, featuring VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore and VFW Auxiliary National President Lois Callahan, now on YouTube.

This week we honor  U.S. Army Master Sgt. Donald P. Gervais, 24, of New Orleans, Louisiana, killed during the Vietnam War. This is his story: In the spring of 1968, Gervais was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On May 1, he was the door gunner on an OH-6A Cayuse helicopter on a reconnaissance mission over the A Shau Valley, Republic of Vietnam. A nearby aircraft reportedly witnessed the helicopter hit a dead tree and crash into a ravine. Due to enemy ground fire and dense vegetation over the rough terrain, the aircraft was unable to conduct a visual reconnaissance of the crash site. A nearby infantry platoon attempted to investigate the area but were forced to withdraw when they encountered enemy fire. On July 25, 1978, the U.S. Army changed Gervais’s status from Missing in Action to Killed in Action and posthumously promoted him to the rank of Master Sgt.

From October 2018 to April 2025, DPAA recovery teams conducted eight excavations of the crash site, where they recovered osseous remains, life support equipment, and aircraft wreckage, that was accessioned into the DPAA Laboratory. Gervais’s name is recorded on the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the American Battle Monuments Commission’s Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, along with others who are unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Let us all thank God for this nation he gave us and its warriors. Keep this warrior in your thoughts and prayers along with all veterans and those still serving. 

On a sad note, this Wednesday we honored Ken Smith, a past commander of Post 1545 who served in the United States Marine Corp during the Korean War where he received the Purple Heart. He was buried with full military honor. Semper Fi my friend!

Marc Farmilette, PDC – Commander VFW Post 1545

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Donald P. Gervais, and at work.

 

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LEGISLATURE STUFF - Maintaining Peace in Your Mind

“Maintaining peace in your mind is the biggest thing for us,” says Army  veteran Bill Pillon (left)  joined at Vet2Vet Day by (second left to right) veteran and good friend Rich Millard with veteran Tom Tiano and his wife Amy, organizers of the fundraising Route 66 Corn-hole Tournament

Greene County Vet2Vet Community Day was held, last Saturday, at Angelo Canna Park in Cairo. Among those on hand were (left top right) Vietnam War veteran John Telga, county legislator and veteran James O’Connell (District 3, Athens), county Veterans Services Officer Anthony Derrico, county Veterans Services Agency director Tyler Lynch, county Human Services executive director Amanda Lyons, Vet2Vet program manager Arin Vandermark, county legislature chairman Patrick Linger, legislator James Thorington (District 6, Prattsville, Ashland, Windham & Jewett), and county sheriff’s office Sgt. Andrew Messina. 

By Michael Ryan

CAIRO - “It was different” is all that U.S. Army veteran Bill Pillon would say about his own military service during Vet2Vet Community Day, last Saturday, at Angelo Canna Park in Cairo.

Pillon, an armor crewman, was more than willing to open up about his compatriots, however, saying, “I’m here to serve all these people.

“They deal with a lot. So many of us are struggling with a multitude of different things, adjusting to being back here,” Pillon said.

“Maintaining peace in your mind is the biggest thing, dealing with what they’ve seen and done, what we all saw and did,” Pillon said.

“This is about being there for them. Sometimes it can feel like yourself against the world,” said Pillon, in uniform from 1997-2003.

A battle of a personal, private sort is fought by Vet2Vet Community Day, hosted by the Greene County Veterans Service Agency and strongly supported by the county legislature.

Lawmakers contributed $5,000 to the event, connecting with military veterans on the most human level, understood only by those who experience the realities of service to country.

“This is about bringing our veterans and the community together,” says county Veterans Service Agency director Tyler Lynch.

The mission of Greene County VET2VET, operating under the NYS Joseph P Dwyer Program, is to provide peer support to veterans and their families, according to their website.

That is accomplished by “raising awareness about the unique struggles veterans face, and building a stronger veteran community with camaraderie and mutual support, while honoring the veterans for their dedication to our country,” the website states.

“The program is 100% confidential and FREE and it provides non-clinical support and advocacy to the military community as well as their families,” the website states.

Greene County Vet2Vet links veterans to “resources such as benefits (SSI, SSD, service connection), food pantries, housing assistance, social activities and much more,” the website states.

“There are two purposes,” says Amanda Lyons, executive director of the county Human Services agency, overseers of Veterans Services.

“It is meant to let veterans and their families know the community embraces them. We also want to make sure veterans are aware of the services and programs available to them,” Lyons said.

This was the second Vet2Vet Day in what is now an annual gathering that in the viewpoint of lawmaker James O’Connell should know no bounds.

“We don’t do enough for our veterans,” said O’Connell, who served with the 82nd Airborne Paratroopers. “Don’t get me wrong, this is a great thing.

“Amanda Lyons is crushing it. She is a godsend, But we are where we are in this country because of veterans,” O’Connell said.

“Many of these veterans are struggling. We should be there for them the way they've been there and sacrificed for this country,” O’Connell said.

John Telga was among the vets stopping by, serving two tours in Viet Nam from 1964-67, assigned to Navy Sea Wolf Operations, providing river support in the delta region.

He and his wife Marilyn have been married for 55 years, still having that look in their eyes when they speak of one another.

Marilyn is the daughter of John Smith who ran the old National Bank of Windham in the historic brick building on Main Street.

John Smith was a trusted banker and Marilyn picked someone of the same trustworthy ilk to go with side-by-side through life.

“Fifty-five years isn’t long enough,” John Telga said, smiling and listening to the Lost Cowboys Band offering country music, led by Carson Hotaling from the getting-mountainy village of Palenville. 

“I love what is happening here today,” said Hotaling, who served with Air Force Security Forces between 1998-2001.

Hotaling played rhythm guitar, accompanied on the drums by Gene Edwards, also of Palenville, a Marine and National Guardsman.

“My son just graduated from boot camp,” Edwards said. “What’s his name? His name is Jacob. How do I feel about it? Proud of him. Very proud.”

 

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