Schoharie County Arts Hosts Award-winning Classical Guitarist

SCHOHARIE — Peter Fletcher, an award-winning classical guitarist, will present a concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at the Schoharie United Presbyterian Church, located at 314 Main St.

The free concert is sponsored by Schoharie County Arts, a nonprofit that works to promote cultural and arts-related activities, advance individual artists and organizations, and contribute to the county’s cultural and economic growth.

Based out of Detroit and New York City, Fletcher’s critically acclaimed recordings are featured on the Centaur Records and Towerhill Recordings labels. His newest CD is titled “Peter Fletcher in Concert.”

“We’re thrilled to host award-winning guitarist Peter Fletcher,” said Lisa Ovitt, Schoharie County Arts Board President. “It will be a wonderful evening of music in a beautiful venue.” 

Fletcher has performed at Carnegie Hall and throughout the United States. He will present an audience-friendly solo concert featuring music from the Renaissance Period through the 20th century. 

The program will feature: Bach’s Chaconne and Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring; Prelude and Allegro by Spanish lutenist Santiago de Murcia; Variations on a theme by G.F. Handel’s “The Harmonious Blacksmith” by 19th century Italian guitarist and composer Mauro Giuliani; Spanish guitarist and composer Francisco Tárrega’s beautiful Capricho Araby; and Barcarole and Danza Pomposa by Polish composer Alexandre Tansman.

Fletcher will also perform Simple Gifts, a Traditional Shaker Hymn arranged for guitar by Christopher Parkening, and a captivating work titled Usher – Valse, by Russian guitarist and composer Nikita Koshkin.

The concert will culminate with Spanish composer Isaac Albeniz’s Córdoba and Leyenda from Cantos de España, arranged by Fletcher from piano to classical guitar. 

Refreshments will also be served.

In addition, Schoharie County Arts is hosting the third annual Schoharie County Arts Trail Driveabout, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-5, featuring studio tours and work by dozens of local artists.

New this year, the Cherry Valley Art Trail (https://www.cherryvalley.com) is being held on the same weekend as Schoharie’s, and the two organizations are cross-promoting events in the hope patrons will cross over and visit the neighboring counties.

For information, go to https://www.schohariecountyarts.org or https://peterfletcher.com. 

 

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SchoCo Pride Formation Continues, Committees Starting - Plans for 2026 SchoCo Pride Fest

By Lei Rowan

MIDDLEBURGH– On Tuesday, SchoCo Pride had a second meeting to discuss a modified consensus vote, 501C3 plans, and decide on a preliminary board. With turnout more than double the first meeting, a good variety of input and different opinions were able to be incorporated into decisions.

SchoCo Pride aims to provide education, wellness, resources, acceptance, visibility, and empowerment. It’s a non-political not-for-profit organization in the works. They strive to not alienate other marginalized groups and embrace intersectionality, but still have the main focus on the Queer community. “We’ve been queer, and we’ve survived here together,” Krissy Traver told the group. 

A provisional board of five members was created, with roles being internal chair, external chair, program chair, treasury, and secretary. Plans made include five committees to come together monthly on top of the meetings all of SchoCo Pride have set. The in-the-works non-profit decided to be member based, with a vote to elect board members into staggered terms. 

Eligibility to be members is still up in the air, with the general consensus leaning towards any adult in New York state can be a member, but only people within a certain radius of Schoharie county being able to be a board member. Those 17 and under can still attend meetings, but cannot become a member until they’re at least 18 years old. There was a brief discussion of members having a fee, but the set amount has not been decided. All members are able to vote in SchoCo Pride decisions. 

There are also plans to have a 501C3 to be filed with the state and federal governments by January 1, 2026. By the next monthly meeting, the five committees must produce a charter, responsibilities, authority, deliverables, and a 30, 60, and 90 day plan on how to make SchoCo Pride Fest 2026 happen effectively. There is possibly going to be a pledge drive coming up to get an idea of initial funding once the 501C3 is established. 

 If you’d like to join future meetings, mailing lists, or Discord, contact schoharielgbtqia@gmail.com or schocopride@gmail.com for more information. 

 

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Historic Marker to Honor Schoharie Cannon

SCHOHARIE — The Schoharie County Historical Society and Old Stone Fort Museum, in partnership with Schoharie Central School, will unveil a new historic marker commemorating the Schoharie Cannon on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 1:15PM.

The Schoharie Cannon was one of the replica guns added to the USS Constitution during her 1907 restoration. After being removed during a later restoration, the cannon was brought to Schoharie in 1928 and has remained an important part of the community’s history ever since.

“We are so excited to honor this iconic Schoharie landmark and the history it represents,” said Mary Johnson, Director of the Old Stone Fort Museum.

The ceremony will take place on the grounds of Schoharie Central School, where the cannon is located. The event is open to the public and will bring together community members, students, and local partners to recognize this piece of both regional and national history.

Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Location: Schoharie Central School Front Lawn
Time: 1:15PM

 

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School Crossing Light Repaired in M'burgh

MIDDLEBURGH - A crew from the New York State Department of Transportation repaired the crossing lights at Middleburgh Elementary School Monday.

Photo courtesy Village of Middleburgh.

 

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Schoharie County Historical Society Members Meeting

SCHOHARIE — The Schoharie County Historical Society will hold its Fall Members Meeting on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the historic American Hotel in Schoharie.

The evening will include a Hors d'oeuvres/social hour, business meeting, and program on the historical American Hotel along with a tour.

This meeting is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.

 

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SCS Building Project Almost Done

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - The ongoing Schoharie school building project should be virtually complete by the end of the month.

The capital project will have punch list items to be completed, but everything else should be done in October, SCS Superintendent David Blanchard told school board member at their September meeting. 

At their September 18 meeting, he told members that the project was "moving along, not moving along as fast as I'd like." He noted that windows were going in up to the first days of school.

Superintendent Blanchard 

He said that the work, which transformed the elementary school, will be showcased in a celebration.

When students returned to Schoharie elementary school in September, they were greeted by an almost new school as crews of construction workers put the finishing touches on the media center/library, cafeteria, gym, and many classrooms.

When completed, its marks about four years since Schoharie officials began planning for the $25.9 million building project that was approved by voters in the spring of 2022.

The project has transformed many areas of the elementary school.

The former "1952" gym with its wooden walls and floors and a vestige of a stage has been transformed into a modern media center. 

The formerly overly large library has become a new cafeteria with a sparkling kitchen and large eating area. The kitchen includes new storage areas and equipment. The eating area has new tables and additional tables and seats in the wall which fold out "Murphy bed-style" if needed. There is also an indoor recess area in the cafeteria which can be used during inclement weather. 

Students found a new gym at the elementary school. The gym is actually a "gymnatorium" with a stage on the front end. The gym, which is the same size as the high school gym, was transformed out of the former kitchen and cafeteria and the old and much smaller "1976" gym.

The gym was not ready until around October 1. Students had outdoor physical education classes until that time.

In addition to those three areas, every classroom in the elementary school got new windows. Windows in the 1999 wing of the high school were also replaced as they were not replaced during the previous project.

Older students have not been forgotten as a new weight room and lockers rooms welcomed secondary students. Team rooms, coach's offices, and new bathrooms have also been completed.

The elementary school and high school work completes the project which began with turf fields, lights for the athletic fields, and tennis courts two years ago. 

The transformation of the elementary school began late last summer and has continued through the rest of the fall, the winter, the spring and now the summer. 

Last year, board members approved four bids for the project. The district received four bids for general construction and approved a bid from Murnane Building Contractors for $9.1 million. There were six bids for mechanical work, and board members approved a bid from Crisafulli Mechanical for $1.5 million. There were five bids for the electrical work and board members approved a bid from SW Burke Electric for $1.4 million. The district received five bids for the plumbing work and board members approved a quote from Tri-Valley Plumbing and Heating for $631,000.

The $25.9 million project was approved by voters in May 2022. The project does not require any new local taxpayer funds as state aid and the current building reserve will cover the costs.

 

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SCS May Ask for Extension for Electric Buses

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - Electric school buses may soon be required in New York State, but the mandate still does not makes sense for rural districts like Schoharie, Superintendent David Blanchard said last week.

In 2022, New York State approved a budget that included a provision that mandated that all new school buses be zero-emission by 2027, with a complete transition to electric buses by 2035.

While the technology for electric buses may improve, electric buses does not make sense for rural districts like Schoharie, Superintendent Blanchard told board members at their meeting Thursday evening.

Knowing that, the district can ask for a waiver in December, the Superintendent said.

"If we were approved for both waivers the earliest we would need to start purchasing electric buses is 2031," Superintendent Blanchard noted.

"It doesn't make economic sense for Schoharie," he added. The cost for electric buses is still extremely high and the range is still not enough for districts like Schoharie, Superintendent Blanchard said. If an SCS bus goes to Albany, the bus cannot make it back without charging up. "That's a real challenge...The technology is not there yet."

The cost for electric buses is about twice the cost of a gas or diesel bus, he noted.

Schoharie likes to be among the leaders in other areas of education, but not in this area, Superintendent Blanchard noted.

"This is not an area we want to lead on."

*   *   *

In other action, board members:

* Approved the following field trips: Seventh grade trip to the FDR Presidential Library in New Hyde Park and the Bronx Zoo on October 1; the 10th grade trip to Philadelphia from October 13 to 14; and the 11th grade trip to Washington D.C. from November 10 to 13.

* Heard that the review period for the update district-wide safety plan started on September 16 and continue for 30 days. Comments and questions may be submitted prior to the October 16 school board meeting.

 

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SkillsUSA: Schoharie CTE Campus leaders sworn in

                        Schoharie SkillsUSA Jr. and Sr. Officers, Krstin Rooney, Maureen Bernherdt

SCHOHARIE – Students ranging from future chefs to future heavy equipment operators will lead the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center – Schoharie Campus SkillsUSA chapter for the 2025-26 school year.

The officers were sworn in on Sept. 25 during a tradition-rich ceremony in front of parents and friends.

SkillsUSA officers, their program, and home school districts are as follows:

Morning session

President Lydia Waage, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation (HERO), Cobleskill-Richmondville (CRCS) 

Vice President Emily Gwoozdz, Electrical Trades, Sharon Springs

Media Specialist Marley Wayman, Criminal Justice, CRCS

Secretary Riley VanDenburgh, Criminal Justice, Schalmont

Treasurer Alexzina Merritt, Criminal Justice, Sharon Springs

Afternoon session

President Corrine LiVecchi, HERO, Middleburgh 

Vice President Allie Smith, HERO, Schoharie 

Media Specialist Abigail Rose, Welding and Metal Fabrication, Schalmont

Secretary Caylee Faulkner, Early Childhood Education, CRCS

Treasurer Jordan Jones, Criminal Justice, Berne-Knox-Westerlo

Historian Joanna McCann, Cosmetology, CRCS

Parliamentarian Anilah O'Brien, Welding and Metal Fabrication, Schalmont

SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization serving more than 395,000 high school students. The organization promotes personal and professional growth and offers students the opportunity to network with industry executives and professionals at the local, regional, state and national levels and to compete in competitions. The organization also promotes giving back to the community, which locally results in collections each year for food pantries, as well as other charitable organizations.

 

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Streets Paved in M'burgh

MIDDLEBURGH - Wells Avenue and Straub Lane in Middleburgh are a smooth ride after crews paved the two streets last week.

Wells Avenue was milled last Wednesday and heavy rain postponed the paving of the two streets to Friday.

Village officials thanked residents and visitors for their patience and understanding as both Straub Lane and Wells Avenue were paved.

"Our Village DPW Crew did a great job supervising and conducting traffic control, and we appreciate the Fire Department spraying the freshly paved roads so that we could reopen them sooner," village officials said.

Photos courtesy Village of Middleburgh.

 

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Switchgear Delivery Delay May Push SCS Solar Project to Spring

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - A widespread delivery delay in some vital equipment may push the completion of the Schoharie Central School solar project to next spring.

Most of the project has been complete for some time, SCS Superintendent David Blanchard told school board members at their September meeting.

The solar panels are in and the transformer is in place, but the district is still waiting for a key piece, the switchgear, he said.

The long lead time on the solar project is due to delays getting the switchgear, Superintendent Blanchard added. "The long lead times on switchgear seems to be an industry-wide problem right now. We are looking at a work around as the switchgear doesn't look like it will arrive until late spring."

Officials had hoped to have the equipment "hooked up by now," he told board members.

Much of the project was completed by the beginning of the year.

The road to the project in the "lower 40" had been installed and significant work by mid-December was done. All the foundations and structures are in for the panels, as are the panels.

Once completed, the 148 kilowatt project should save SCS about $150,000 in electric costs, Mr. Blanchard said. The district is also eligible for numerous government rebates.

The solar field is to be built on one acre behind the track in the "lower 40."  The total cost of the EPC was $2,750,000.

The project is part of the district's $25.9 million building project that was approved by voters in May 2022. The district looked at either putting more solar panels on building roofs or on the back property before making a decision.

National Grid has provided 90 percent of the cost for the building of the electric vehicles stations, which were also part of the project. Any revenue would go to the district. Each station have two chargers each. The stations were installed last summer and operational by the time school started. Two of the stations were built by the construction area and the rest near the bus garage.

The project does not require any new local taxpayer funds as state aid and the current building reserve will cover the costs.

*   *   *

In other action, board members:

* Heard a parent of a kindergartner say he had communication issues with the bus garage at the beginning of the school year. They were not sure when the bus was coming on the first day and waited a half hour. There were a "couple tough days with communications."

He also mentioned that the rooms were very warm in the elementary school for a soccer meeting.

Board members thanked the parent for the input and Superintendent Blanchard asked him to call his office.

 

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Charlotte Valley/Schenevus Downs Milford to Win Tourney - Boys Defeat Cherry Valley in Consolation Game

By Jaquelyn Carlo | SUNY Institute for Local News

On assignment for The Mountain Eagle

CHARLOTTE VALLEY — The Charlotte Valley/Schenevus varsity girls soccer team defeated the Milford Central varsity girls 5-2 at home this past Saturday to claim the Chic Walshe Tourney title. 

The battle of the Wildcats started off in Charlotte Valley’s favor with a staggering four uncontested goals in the first half. The ball moved intensely on both sides, though Charlotte Valley dominated early on. Jordan Odell struck first against Milford. Carleigh Reed scored next on an assist from Schuyler Maynard. Odell then netted another pair of goals, giving the Charlotte Valley Wildcats a 4-0 lead going into halftime.

A crowd of around 70 gathered in Davenport at the Charlotte Valley Central School soccer fields for the annual district championships. Proud family and friends filled the bleachers. In the second half, a shot in the net from Charlotte Valley was called offsides, resulting in loud boos and jeers at the referee. A food truck selling drinks and grilling added to the lively atmosphere. 

Ten minutes into the second half, Milford’s Lexi Sutphin scored the first goal of the game for

the away-team Wildcats. Later, Sutphin sunk another shot into the net, her second and the Milford girls’s last score of the day. Before it was all over, Odell scored yet another goal for the home team, securing the 2025 Chic Walshe Tournament victory for the Charlotte Valley Central School Wildcats along with a tournament MVP award for herself. 

Charlotte Valley head coach Cheryl Butler said afterward, “We felt we matched up pretty well with Milford. It’s always a great feeling winning your home tournament.”

The 2025 Chic Walshe Girls Soccer Tournament All-Star Team was announced in the awards ceremony following the match. Alongside MVP Odell were Charlotte Valley teammates Carleigh Reed, Brinlee Wright, and Abby Vroman. And for Milford, Bella Garlick, Altanah McCoy, and Lexi Sutphin were also named all-stars. 

So far in this year’s regular season Charlotte Valley’s varsity girls soccer team are off to a 1-2 start. The Milford Wildcats are 6-4. Coach Butler said of the Chic Walshe tournament, “This was definitely one of the best games we’ve played all year.”

Also during this year’s Chic Walshe Tournament, the Worcester Wolverines shutout the South Kortright/Andes Rams 2-0 to win the boys varsity soccer title. The Charlotte Valley boys beat Cherry Valley/Springfield 1-0 in the consolation game. Meanwhile, in the girls varsity consolation game, South Kortright/Andes triumphed 4-0 over Worcester. 

 

                                            Sophia Camilleri battles for the ball this weekend.

 

 

 

 

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Gilboa-Conesville/Roxbury Blanks SCS

Just one minute into the game, Gilboa-Conesville Roxbury’s Chris Cox gets down and boots one past Jefferson Stamford goalkeeper Max Eisel, putting GCR on the scoreboard with an early lead. Photos by Scott Keidong.

Jefferson Stamford’s George Nebesnik drives the ball downfield as Gilboa-Conesville Roxbury’s Gavin Murales moves in to try and take it away.

 

Jefferson Stamford goalkeeper Max Eisel slaps the ball away with the save on a shot by Gilboa-Conesville Roxbury’s Chris Cox.

Jefferson Stamford defender Charlie Miller brings the ball to midfield with Gilboa-Conesville Roxbury’s Liam Tyree hot on his heels.

 

Gilboa-Conesville Roxbury’s Roni Grieco dribbles, about to pass the ball to a teammate.

 

Gilboa-Conesville Roxbury’s Gabe Allen fires off a pass to a teammate.

 

Jefferson Stamford goalkeeper Max Eisel comes out of the goal as Gilboa-Conesville Roxbury’s Roni Grieco jumps to head the ball towards the net. Grieco lead his team with two goals for GCR in their 4-0 Friday victory over Jefferson Stamford.

 

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