The Mountain Eagle

10/24/25

Six Up For Election In Conesville

Written By The Mountain Eagle on 10/24/25 | 10/24/25

Bill Federice

By Chris English

CONESVILLE — The Nov. 4 general election will find six people running in the Town of Conesville, all unopposed.

Vying for one-year terms are Town Supervisor Bill Federice, Clerk Carrie Sutton, Tax Collector Laurel Mattice and HIghway Superintendent Ward Apgar. Running for four-year terms are Councilmen Robert Proudman and Carl Fancher. All candidates are listed as Republican on Schoharie County Board of Election documents, with Sutton listed as Democratic, Republican.

As Town Supervisor, Federice — who is also Chairman of the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors — presides over town board meetings. Conesville had a difficult budget year this year and 2026 appears to be the same as Town officials try to put together a balanced budget amid rising expenses in almost every area and limited revenue.

Federice said that he worked with the Highway Department to "bring funding to a level where we now have replaced older equipment and improved Highway Department employee salaries to a competitive level and as such have attracted talent that has made the current Highway Department the best in memory." He cited his experience as County Board Chair and said that he has "worked hard to understand the workings of county, state, and federal government which has led to associations which have clearly benefited Conesville." He said that he was "fully committed" to the job with the "skills and dedication to handle the duties of understanding the needs of our town and county while working closely with the Town Board to provide town services in the most cost effective and affordable manner possible which has a direct impact on all of us."

Replacing town trucks and other equipment is also a challenge because of expense and the long time it is taking manufacturers to deliver new trucks and other equipment to municipalities.

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Learning About Thacher Park

ALTAMONT — The Wright Friendly Seniors met at Thacher Park October 2nd when they were treated to a presentation by Peter Farquharson on the history of the park. Members heard about the people, ground formations, and early trails. Peter shared his knowledge and answered questions. Members joined together later for lunch at The Babbling Brook.

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History at the Old Stone Fort - 3-Pound Cannon Ball & Cannon Ball Hole

On October 17, 1780 a force of 700-800 Loyalists and Native Americans led by Sir. John Johnson and Joseph Brant burned the Schoharie Valley to the ground, destroying at least 80,000 bushels of wheat and several dozen homes. A fight occurred at the lower fort (now known as the Old Stone Fort) at around 4pm between Johnson's forces and those defending

the lower fort.

During this fight the building was hit by at least two cannon balls as seen in these photos from the Fort’s Clay Edmunds. These pictures showcase one of those cannon balls and the cannon ball hole left from this raid. This cannon ball was found 50 years after the attack during a roof restoration. The damaged wood was taken down more recently, in 2006 during a roof restoration.

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Fire Safety at MCS

MIDDLEBURGH - From checking out emergency response vehicles to learning how to stay safe, the annual Fire Prevention Month event at Middleburgh elementary school was a huge hit.

The school welcomed the incredible teams from Albany County Emergency Services, Broome Fire Department, Middleburgh Fire Department, Middleburgh Emergency Volunteer Ambulance Corp, Tri-Village Fire Department and West Fulton Fire Department. They remind staff and students that knowing what to do in an emergency is the best way to prepare.

Photos courtesy Middleburgh Central School.

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Auto Racing News

Here are a few of the Chevrolet Corvettes on display at the Saratoga Automobile Museum.

By Tom Coughlin

This weekend, Outlaw Speedway near Dundee will present its annual Dutch Hoag Memorial. Tonight will offer Empire Super Sprints 360-winged sprint cars in a $4,000-to-win feature on the 4/10-mile clay oval. The mini stocks will also hold a feature tonight. Modifieds and Sportsman will have qualifying races for Saturday's features. Racing starts at 6:40 p.m.

Tomorrow, gates will open at 1:30 p.m., with racing at 3:30 p.m. The modifieds will compete in a 40-lap feature paying $7,777.77, the sportsman will have a $5,777.77-to-win feature, the street stock division will compete in a 50-lap feature for $2,777.77, Hobby stocks will have a $1,777.77 feature, and the CRSA 305-winged sprint cars have a 25-lap feature offering $4,000.

On Saturday, Orange County Fair Speedway will hold an open practice in preparation for next week's Eastern States Weekend. Gates open at 3 p.m., and practice is from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday will be used as a rain date.

Next weekend, the Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown will host the 64th annual Eastern States Weekend, beginning Thursday, Oct. 23, through Sunday, Oct. 26. They will present the ESW-Will Cagle 200 for the modified division. Thursday night will kick start the racing weekend with the Short Track Super Series Hard Clay Finale. Friday will be the Sportsman 50, Saturday will present the NEWS sprints and 358-modified 100, and Sunday will see the running of the big block Eastern States 200.

This Sunday is the final day of "The Corvette Story, Speed-Style-Legacy" at the Saratoga Automobile Museum at 110 Avenue of the Pines in Saratoga Springs. The exhibit features Chevrolet Corvettes from 1953 through 2019. After the Vettes leave, Pontiac will take over the museum, opening on Wednesday, Nov. 5, with "Pontiac-The Dawn of Muscle." One popular model on exhibit will be the customized convertible 1966 GTO-Monkeemobile, which was made specifically for the hit T.V. show “The Monkees.”

Dodge City Speedway will celebrate its 2025 season at Checkers Out Speedway in Johnstown on Friday, Nov. 7, with appetizers at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are $40. Please R.S.V.P. to Paul Montenaro by Nov. 3.

On Sunday, Nov. 2, Lebanon Valley Speedway will hold its annual Super Swap Meet from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., rain or shine. On Saturday, Nov. 8, Elmo's Speed & Supply will host its 10th annual Swap Meet on the grounds of Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

In long-range calendar events, Utica-Rome Speedway will hold its 2025 championship banquet at the Haven in Chittenango on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.

Results From Last Week

On Friday night, the Brockville Ontario Speedway in Ontario, Canada, held its Fall Nationals for the big block modifieds of the Super DIRTcar Series. Mat Williamson claimed the victory in the 100-lap, $10,000-to-win feature over Alex Payne, Darren Smith, Mike Mahaney, and Jack Lehner.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama for the Love’s RV Stop 225. Kaden Honeycutt, driving the Halmar-Friesen Racing number 52, qualified fifth, finished sixth in stage one, second in stage two, and tenth in the final stage.

Outlaw Speedway near Dundee presented its annual Dutch Hoag Memorial Weekend. On Friday, Davie Franek won the 25-lap Empire Super Sprints 360-winged feature. In the sportsman division, Tyler Peet and Payton Talbot won the two dashes to earn the front row for Saturday’s 35-lap Sportsman Challenge.

On Saturday at Outlaw, Mike Maresca earned the 40-lap, $7,777.77 modified feature over Tommy Collins and Bobby Varin. Payton Talbot collected the $5,077.77 for winning the crate sportsman feature. In the 30-lap, 305-winged C.R.S.A. feature, Dillon Paddock took the win. With his second-place finish, Zach Sobotka was crowned the 2025 C.R.S.A. series champion and Rookie of the Year.

At Hagerstown Speedway on Saturday, Matt Sheppard scored the win in the 50-lap Short Track Super Series Octoberfest modified feature over Alex Yankowski and Anthony Perrego. Rocky Warner finished sixth.

On Saturday night, the DIRTcar 358-modified series was at Brockville Ontario Speedway, and Mat Williamson made it a sweep of the weekend by winning the 100-lap feature over Felix Roy and Gary Lindberg.

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Adventure at SCS

SCHOHARIE - Earlier this month the Schoharie Central School Adventure Club took a trip to Overlook Mountain.

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All About Racing

Cliff Haslun of Sloansville poses in victory lane after winning the vintage Late Model event at Afton Motorsports Park. Track photo

By Ed & Betty Biittig

*The photo of Cliff Haslun included this week was omitted in last week’s column.

The weather is still cooperative for racing in the Northeast, and several tracks took advantage of that this past weekend.

The Super DIRTcar Series was in Canada at Brockville Ontario Speedway this past weekend and in Friday’s series Modified event, Mat Williamson of St. Catherine’s once again took the checker flag and padded his point lead in the SDS Championship run.

On Saturday at Brockville, Richard Murtaugh of Fulton was the winner of the DIRTcar Sportsman event and Shane Pecore of Savannah was won the DIRTcar Sportsman Championship.

The next event for the SDS is at Georgetown Speedway in Delaware on November 1 and the Modified DIRTcar champion will be crowned at the World Finals Nov. 5-7, at the Dirt Track at Charlotte in North Carolina.

Also racing this past weekend was Georgetown Speedway in Delaware and on Friday night, Billy Pauch, Jr., of Frenchtown, NJ was the winner.

The Short Track Super Series was at Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland for Oktoberfest on Friday and Danny Bouc of Pipersville; PA was the winner of the 358-Modified event. In Super Late Model competition, Trever Feathers was the winner.

On Saturday Matt Sheppard of Savannah, NY was the winner at Hagerstown in the STSS Modified event. Joe Toth of Upper Makefield, PA was the winner in Sportsman action.

Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, NY held the Dutch Hoag Memorial event on Saturday and Michael Maresca of Potsdam was the winner in the Modified event. Sportsman winner was Payton Talbot of South New Berlin and Dillon Paddock of Savannah was the CRSA Sprint feature winner.

Racing in the Northeast takes a few special events to close out the season and this coming weekend is one of the oldest in the country.

Kicking off the 64th Eastern States Weekend on Thursday, October 23rd, the STSS will run the Hard Clay Finale at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, NY.

Friday, Oct. 24 Eastern States 50 for Sportsman plus Big Block Modified and 358 Modified time trials plus qualifying heat races.

Saturday, Oct. 25, 358-Mod Eastern States 100 plus NEWS Sprint Complete Show and Big Block Mod practice.

Sunday, Oct. 26, Eastern States 200 for Big Block Modifieds plus Last Chance qualifiers and Street Stock event.

Also racing this weekend, Friday and Saturday are Delaware International, Penn Can Speedway in PA. and on Saturday, Brookfield Speedway will hold a Spooktacular headlining Sportsman plus Pro Stock, Slingshots, 600 Series, Four Cylinders and a 50-lap Enduro. Pre-Race Kids Trick or Treat in the pit area.

For information on all these special events please check the speedway website or other social media.

Demetrios Drellos, of Queensbury, Track Champion at Fonda and Albany-Saratoga in 2023, competed in the RUSH Late Model series this season, earning the 3C Graphix Rookie of the Year award for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Late Model, Flynn’s Tire-Gunter’s Honey Touring Series. With four top five and eleven top ten—his best being third place twice at Stateline Speedway—he will receive $3,000 for Rookie of the Year and $7,500 for finishing third in tour points. Congratulations Double D.

Until next Week please send all news and/or comments to biittig@yahoo.com

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Shaffer Endorses Ansel-McCabe

Middleburgh Town Council candidate Erynne Ansel-McCabe, right, has the endorsement of former New York Secretary of State, Gail Shaffer, who’s also a former Blenheim town supervisor and a state assemblywoman.

MIDDLEBURGH – Erynne Ansel-McCabe is making a second try for a seat on the Middleburgh Town Board, and this time she has a key ally: former New York Secretary of State Gail Shaffer.

Ansel-McCabe lost her last bid for a councilman’s post on the board, but with her extensive work in the community, she decided to run this November.

She’s running against two incumbents, Wes Laraway and Carrie Shaul, and the top two vote-getters will win the two seats.

Even after Ansel-McCabe lost her last bid, she attended town board meetings to encourage councilmen to act on issues. She also continued to survey residents to learn what they wanted to see in Middleburgh.

Those actions caught Shaffer’s attention. The Blenheim resident---former town supervisor, former assemblywoman and the state’s longest-serving secretary of state---called Ansel-McCabe last winter.

“Gail said, ‘Erynne, I think you’ve got something here,’ ” Ansel-McCabe said. “She encouraged me to run. I’m thrilled.”

“I had people encourage me when I started,” said Shaffer, Blenheim’s supervisor in the late 1970s. “Erynne’s just the kind of person Middleburgh needs.”

Ansel-McCabe is active with the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley, the Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation and Schoharie County tourism, among other causes, and she was director of the Iroquois Indian Museum for 12 years.

Middleburgh has been her recent focus. Ansel-McCabe wants to work on safety issues, such as sidewalk replacement, speed limits and traffic lights, and she believes the town board should work on those issues with the village board and the state because Main Street is State Route 145.

Ansel-McCabe also wants to form a town board sub-committee to cooperate with the village, Middleburgh Area Business Association and the Rotary Club to support businesses and draw new ones to Middleburgh.

“I’m already doing some of this, but it needs to go to the next level,” Ansel-McCabe said.

Such involvement---past and present---impressed Shaffer.

“Erynne’s done a lot of community service,” she said. “We need people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and go to work.

“Erynne brings experience and passion, and it’s important to have quality people at the local level.”

Shaffer has been active in government and politics for years at the local, state and even national levels; besides her work in New York, she participated in three national Democratic conventions. Her longtime interest, however, has always been the Schoharie Valley.

“This is a great opportunity for Middleburgh,” Shaffer said.

Besides her work in Middleburgh, Ansel-McCabe has experience with the Joshua Project, the County Chamber of Commerce, the Best House and Middleburgh Library, and was an original member of the Save Our Schoharie.

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Great Ride!

Bill Dyer drives his Cha Cha 1 during last week's Fall Festival Parade in Middleburgh. We meant to have this one in last week's paper but saved it for this week!

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Lots of Pep at MCS

MIDDLEBURGH - From cheers to challenges, the homecoming pep rally brought the energy at Middleburgh high school earlier this month.

Photos courtesy Middleburgh Central school.

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Sorady, SCS Staff Greet Walesa

SCHOHARIE/NEW YORK CITY - On October 18, retired Schoharie Social Studies Department Chair John Sorady along with members of the current SCS Social Studies Department went to NYC to attend An Evening with President Lech Walesa.

The 82-year old Cold War icon gave a speech detailing his fight for freedom in Poland, followed by a question and answer session with the audience. This was truly a memorable event.

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SCS Students Nominated

SCHOHARIE - Congratulations to Schoharie students Hanna Peters, Ethan Peters, and Julianna Slater for their nomination for the NYSED Academic Excellence Scholarship! There are only three students recognized per high school across the state.

Photo courtesy Schoharie Central School.

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Gallupville Gospel Wins Minors Softball Tourney - Schoharie Valley Masons Take 1st Runner Up

Congratulations to our two Schoharie Little League’s Minors Softball teams! Gallupville Gospel took 1st Place and Schoharie Valley Masons took 1st Runner up at the Bill McCabe Tournament at Middleburgh Little League on Oct. 4.

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Gallupville Evangelical Lutheran Church Receives Sacred Sites Grant

Gallupville Evangelical Lutheran Church Photo The New York Landmarks Conservancy

GALLUPVILLE — The New York Landmarks Conservancy has announced 15 Sacred Sites Grants totaling $244,500 awarded to 15 historic religious properties throughout New York State. This includes $5,000 to the Gallupville Evangelical Lutheran Church to help fund an architectural survey of the belfry.

Built in 1853 by local builder Jacob Wolford for a mostly German congregation, the Evangelical Lutheran Church was one of the first churches in Gallupville. The wood framed, clapboard sided vernacular Greek Revival church is typical of country churches built in the mid 1800's. The current tall geometric stained-glass gothic-style windows were installed in 1871, replacing the original clear glass windows. An open belfry with columns surmounts the staged bell tower above the ridge, where the original bell remains in place.

Activities at the church serve just over 1,000 people annually beyond membership. Activities and programs include a food pantry, a “Mitten Tree” (a collection point for supplies for schools and families in need), prayer breakfasts, a grief share program, a senior citizen group, a blood drive, first aid courses, boy scout troop meetings, Sunshine Baskets (distributed to those who are sick or grieving), game nights, movie nights, an acting group, and multiple summer camps.

“Religious buildings are important because they tell us about history, architectural development, beauty and hold so many communal memories,” said Peg Breen, President, The New York Landmarks Conservancy. “But congregations, including these recent grant recipients, also serve an important role today by providing their communities with a variety of social service and cultural programs.”

The Sacred Sites Program provides congregations with matching grants for planning and implementing exterior restoration projects, along with technical assistance, and workshops. Since 1986, the program has pledged over 1,700 grants totaling over $14.4 million to more than 870 religious institutions statewide, helping fund over $818 million in repair and restoration projects.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy

The New York Landmarks Conservancy, a private non-profit organization, has led the effort to preserve and protect New York City’s architectural legacy for more than 50 years. Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $62 million, which has leveraged almost $1 billion in nearly 2,000 restoration projects throughout New York, revitalizing communities, providing economic stimulus, and supporting local jobs. The Conservancy has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both nonprofit organizations, and individuals. The Conservancy’s work has saved more than a thousand buildings across the City and State, protecting New York’s distinctive architectural heritage for residents and visitors alike today, and for future generations. For more information, please visit www.nylandmarks.org.

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Schoharie County Facing 2026 Budget Crunch

Schoharie County Supervisor Alex Luniewski, center, laid out a gloomy 2026 county budget outlook at the Oct. 17 Board of Supervisors meeting. Photo by Chris English.

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — Officials in Schoharie County will be working very hard over the next few weeks to whittle down a property tax increase in the 2026 county budget that now stands at 40 percent, Wright Town Supervisor Alex Luniewski said at the Friday, Oct. 17 Board of Supervisors meeting.

He laid out the rather gloomy budget outlook for next year in his report as Chair of the Finance Committee.

"In my 10 years here, I have never seen this," Luniewski said. "We're going to have to find money somewhere to get this (tax increase) down to something reasonable. There is no stone that will not be turned over to find funds."

He continued: "We're at the worst possible position we can be in. We're not coming away this year without a tax increase. Everything has caught up with us. Everyone think about what they feel is an acceptable tax increase and shoot me an email. Give me your thoughts and we'll go to work."

County Administrator Bryan Best said the biggest driver for the possible steep tax increase is a projected $1.7 million increase for employee health insurance for 2026 but many other factors are also involved. Luniewski said that to start using larger and larger chunks of the county's fund balance, or surplus, would result in an eventual "bloodbath."

Best said the current unassigned fund balance stands at about $24 million, and he believed the assigned fund balance was around another $10 million for a total of $34 million.

"I'm in total lockstep with Alex," regarding the budget, Best said. "We're in a situation. There's a lot of work ahead of us. There will have to be cuts across the board."

As part of the budget discussion, the Supervisors voted to freeze their pay for 2026. A public hearing on the tentative budget for next year was scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 10 in the meeting room on the third floor of the county office building in the Village of Schoharie.

"We need to look at each department with a fine tooth comb, look at them with a microscope," Luniewski continued.

Supervisor Donald Airey added that in the past few years "we've tried our level best" on the budget. "We've used fund reserve to soften the blow. We've tried to protect the taxpayers (despite) mandates and the lack of revenue the state brings to rural counties. Upstate New York is carrying an unfair and outsized burden."

In other actions from the Oct. 17 meeting, the BOS approved another six-month moratorium on the use of Biosolids in Schoharie County. It's a continuation of the current six-month moratorium which expires at the end of October. Biosolids are the organic matter that is left after sewage is treated.

County Economic Development Coordinator John Crescimanno reported that the $33.6 million broadband project started Oct. 10 in Sharon Springs and is working its way toward the Richmondville area. About 20,000 feet of fiberoptic cable has been laid so far, he added. The project when done should mean that every county resident would have the ability to connect with the Internet.

Supervisor John Leavitt presented the county Youth Bureau with a $500 check on behalf of the Cobleskill Fairgrounds and lauded the Bureau's recent work before and during the August Sunshine Fair at the Fairgrounds.

"They came down before the Fair and painted fences and posts," Leavitt said. "I can't tell you how much of a help they have been. Our Youth Bureau has done a tremendous job."

Youth Bureau Director Cody Robinson-Bullock gratefully accepted the check and updated the BOS on some of the bureau's initiatives.

"We've been so lucky to work with youth in all six county school districts," he said. "We are focused on building the workforce Schoharie County needs so desperately. We are just getting started."

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Singer-Songwriter John Flynn to perform at Middleburgh Library

MIDDLEBURGH — John Flynn is an American singer-songwriter and activist known for his powerful music and tireless efforts on behalf of the lost and the lonely, the shackled and scarred. His career has embodied an authentic troubadour odyssey that moved legendary folk DJ Gene Shay to call Flynn “the most quintessential folk singer in my life”, and Deana McCloud, Executive Director of the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma to write, “John Flynn is the real deal. His work follows in the footsteps of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Kris Kristofferson, and other social justice troubadours as he speaks the truth and gives a voice to society’s disenfranchised. His work fills your heart and opens your eyes as he continues to walk the walk of a true advocate for equality, justice, and peace.”

John Flynn will perform at 4pm, Sunday, November 2nd at the Middleburgh Library, as part of the Not So Quiet Concert Series. There is a suggested donation of $15.00 – space is limited, so reservations are required – call 518-827-4953.

All shows in The Not So Quiet Concert Series are fundraisers for the Middleburgh Library. This program is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the NYS Legislature and administered by CREATE Council on the Arts.

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Six Up For Election In Conesville

Written By The Mountain Eagle on 10/24/25 | 10/24/25

Learning About Thacher Park

History at the Old Stone Fort - 3-Pound Cannon Ball & Cannon Ball Hole

Fire Safety at MCS

Auto Racing News

Adventure at SCS

All About Racing

Shaffer Endorses Ansel-McCabe

Great Ride!

Lots of Pep at MCS

Sorady, SCS Staff Greet Walesa

SCS Students Nominated

Gallupville Gospel Wins Minors Softball Tourney - Schoharie Valley Masons Take 1st Runner Up

Gallupville Evangelical Lutheran Church Receives Sacred Sites Grant

Schoharie County Facing 2026 Budget Crunch

Singer-Songwriter John Flynn to perform at Middleburgh Library

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Written By The Mountain Eagle on 10/24/25 | 10/24/25

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