25 Years of Success for Stone House Farm

By Alexis Pencar

SHARON SPRINGS —The Sap House at Stone House Farm in Sharon Springs is BACK next weekend starting on Saturday, February 1st for their 25th Season of these beloved weekend Pancake breakfasts!

This tradition, ‘Pancakes in the Sap House at Stone House Farm’, is loved and enjoyed by many! With all-you-can eat pancakes, maple leaf shaped waffles, maple sausages, coffee, maple milk, orange juice, and all the maple fixings like maple syrup, maple butter, and maple sugar there is something for everyone! Don’t forget all the maple products for sale afterwards too!

With fresh maple syrup from last year to start, the sap will begin boiling right in the Sap House once the sap runs and the smell is really something to experience for yourself! The sap starts running as early as February and as late as March, or whenever the days get warm and the nights stay cold.

The wonderful family behind Stone House Farm, The Everett’s, have been there since 1964. Tim and Patti Everett took over the farm in 1986, and in 1994 The Everett’s started selling maple products on the farm. Then in 2001, the couple decided to take it another step by opening up and serving the community these special breakfasts each year. 

Stone House Farm currently operates a 5,000+ tap maple syrup operation with a wood-fired evaporator inside the Sap House. It's a family business as Tim & Patti's daughters and their families also help out, making it all possible. Each time you visit, there are several generations working together! They were also able to expand the dairy side of their business a little over a year ago and now have a total of 60 Jersey milk cows that are milked in a DeLaval robot.  

Mark your calendars for the opening weekend of ‘Pancakes in the Sap House at Stone House Farm’ next Saturday, February 1st! These breakfasts will run for 12 weekends with Saturday, April 19th being their last day. 

Remember: Breakfast hours are Saturdays & Sundays from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM and it is cash only. Just like many businesses, this family-run operation has had to raise its rates for the first time in many many years. The new rates for this delicious All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast are: $13.00 per person, with a generous discount of $11.00 for Senior Citizens and just $6.00 for small children.

The Everett’s of Stone House Farm welcome everyone to taste AND learn about maple syrup production February through April, during the traditional sap season. The Sap House at Stone House is located at 305 Lynk Road, Sharon Springs, NY 13459. For more information, please contact (518) 284-2476 or visit www.thesaphouseatstonehousefarm.com.

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Richmondville Town Officials Approve 20 Organizational Resolutions at Meeting

By Chris English

RICHMONDVILLE — Government officials in the Town of Richmondville are set for 2025 after the town board approved 20 organizational resolutions at its Thursday, Jan. 9 meeting.

Council member Todd Sperbeck was appointed Deputy Town Supervisor. In that role, he will run meetings and perform other duties when Town Supervisor Jeffrey Haslun is on vacation or not present for other reasons. Joan Radliff was appointed both Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector and Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics.

Glenn Thurber was appointed Deputy Town Superintendent of Highways to fill in for Highway Superintendent Brian Manchester during vacations or when he is otherwise off. Regular town board meetings will continue to be held the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m., with the exception of the November 2025 meeting, which will be held the first Thursday, on Nov. 6.

In other organizational resolutions, salaries for elected and appointed officers were fixed for 2025. Supervisor Haslun will earn $7,871 and council members Sperbeck, Eric Haslun, George Horning and Harry Rode will be paid $2,624 apiece.

Manchester's salary for 2025 will be $57,159 and Town Clerk/Tax Collector Maggie Smith will earn $50,000. Other salaries will be $23,092 for the Town Justice, $34,925 for Assessor, $5,231 for Dog Control Officer, $16,000 for Code Enforcement Officer, $9,642 for Town Attorney and $15,069 for Bookkeeper.

Sandy Lory was appointed to the Town Planning Board for a term to expire on Dec. 31, 2029. Vivian Thurber was appointed to the Town Zoning Board of Appeals for a term to expire on the same date. Steven Swenson was designated as Chairperson of the Zoning Board of Appeals, and Robert Reed Chairperson of the Planning Board..

Also on the Planning Board, Hugh J. Crickmore was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Harold Loder, whose term is up on Dec. 31, 2025.

Other appointments for the year were Jeffrey Haslun as Service and Budget Officer, Christopher Tretter (Bookkeeper), Smith (Registrar of Vital Statistics), Paige Bulmer (Town Court Clerk), Joy Musella (Town Court Clerk), Gabriel Simeon (Town Court Security Officer), Jennifer Larrabee (Dog Control Officer), Marvin D. Parshall Jr. (Town Attorney), Susan Rightmyer (Town Historian), Smith as Zoning Bookkeeper, Planning Secretary and ZBA Secretary; Michael Ferguson (Recycling Operator) and James O'Neill (Deputy Recycling Operator).

During a regular business meeting held immediately after the organizational meeting, there was a brief discussion on an audit that will be required for the upcoming Richmondville Sewer District No. 1 project. It will provide public sewer service to much of the town, including most of Warnerville, and is estimated to cost $12 million to $13 million.

Jeffrey Haslun explained the audit will be required because the town is using more than $750,000 in federal money for the project. He reiterated his hopes that bids for the project can go out in March or April and construction starts in June.

The Town Board approved an agreement with Richmondville Power & Light to install and operate street lights on poles through a small section of Warnerville at a cost of $456 a year.

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Loyalist, Royalist, Patriot??

An article by Louis George Myers - Citing the Taxation Acts of Britain on the American Colonies.

Not everyone in the 13 Colonies saw eye to eye. Of those who held loyalty to King George the Third, what did they consider themselves and call themselves?

Their hearts and minds lay with the King for a variety of reasons that many of their now disaffected brethren did not share.

The wedge came just after the end of hostilities with France according to many historians, after the French and Indian War (1754-1763), when the British Government commenced imposing new taxes on the colonists to pay for the war, leading to growing resentment with events like the Stamp Act of 1765. 

That “ Act “ burdened everyone both high and low but the main complaint of the colonists whom wanted to break with Britain was that they were being taxed by the British government without having any representation or say in Parliament, which fueled anger and resistance.

Those who supported the King in Britain 

wanted Economic Dependence. Many merchants and landowners had significant business dealings with Britain and feared disruption to their trade if the colonies broke away. 

Another concern of those Loyal to the King , those individuals in high social positions, like government officials, were dependent on the British system for their status and livelihood didn’t want that to change. Some Loyalists worried if independence came it would lead to social unrest and a lack of order. 

For these and other reasons to numerous to mention in this article many colonists felt a strong sense of duty to the King and believed that rebellion was wrong. 

But the die was now cast as the Stamp Act led to the Sons of Liberty becoming a prominent political group in New York City. 

What was intended to help keep order and ease for the Kings Subjects in America only added fuel to the Flames of Discontent. The Quartering Act of 1765 required the colonies to provide food and quarters for British troops. While those loyal to Britain found this an act worth bearing for peace and security , those whom disagreed certainly saw burden with no peace or security.

The damning one for New York was the Restraining Act of 1767. The New York Restraining Act allowed the Royal Governor to dissolve the assembly and create new ones that were more aligned with interests of Parliament in Britain.

Escalations continued with the Townshend Acts (1767) that would lead to the Boston Massacre (1770), the Boston Tea Party (1773), and the Intolerable Acts (1774 ) and finally, “ the shot heard around the world “ , Breeds Hill , Boston ( 1775 ).

The “ Shot heard around the world “ in Boston had exploded on the world stage.

But in New York, groups and individuals whom wanted change celebrated and planned to join the fire that was sparked in Boston. Those whom supported Britain and their King, planned for the worse to come and looked to the horizon with the hope their “ Loyalty “ would win out.

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Klinkhart Hall Arts Center: 2025 Brings Vibrant Growth and Cultural Offerings

SHARON SPRINGS — After a remarkable year in 2024, Klinkhart Hall Arts Center is excited to embrace another year of growth, progress, and creativity. Last year marked pivotal advancements in the restoration project, exciting cultural programs, and deeper community connections. These accomplishments were made possible through the incredible support of our community, whose dedication and enthusiasm continue to inspire everything we do.

2025: A Milestone Year
The 2025 season promises to be an exciting year for Klinkhart Hall. Construction on the historic arts center is set to begin, marking a pivotal milestone in the organization’s mission to create a dynamic hub for arts and culture.

Exciting Cultural Offerings
Klinkhart Hall remains committed to bringing diverse and enriching cultural experiences to the Sharon Springs community. Thanks to support from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and private donors, we are thrilled to present the following lineup:

● Klinkhart in the Park Summer Music Series

Running from Wednesday, July 2nd, through August 13th, this free weekly concert series will feature live performances at Chalybeate Park in Sharon Springs from 6–8 PM. The series showcases a range of genres, including Big Band, Folk, Rock, Country, Blues, Jazz, and Dixieland. Enjoy a beer from Eisenadler Brewery and delicious food from local vendors. Stay tuned for a complete band lineup!

● Sharon Springs Dance Festival

May 2–3, 2025, will highlight the Zorkie Nelson Gballoi West African Drummers and Dancers, with two student assemblies on May 2nd and workshops and a free public performance on May 3rd at Sharon Springs School.

● Sharon Springs Poetry Festival

October 17–18, 2025, will celebrate the power of poetry with free readings, workshops, and engaging discussions featuring acclaimed poets.

● Theater and Additional Events

Theater and other programming will return in 2025 with new performances and opportunities to engage with the arts. Details will be announced soon, follow us on social media for updates!
Stay up-to-date with all the exciting developments at Klinkhart Hall Arts Center throughout the year! Follow us on social media and visit www.klinkharthall.org for event announcements, construction updates, and more. Your continued support and enthusiasm fuel our vision for Klinkhart Hall as a vibrant hub for arts and community. We can’t wait to see you at our events in 2025!

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Grant Could Help Bring Housing to Shad Point

By Elizabeth Barr

COBLESKILL — Chacho & Sons Holdings, LLC, a local developer is applying for a county infrastructure grant Empire State Development Grant (ESD) 

Brendon Becker from Lamont Engineering presented to the Cobleskill Town Board at the meeting on January 14, 2025 a proposal is to develop 32 acres of land on Shad Point Road with 60 - 80 Units of residential housing. The owner of the proposed development is Paul Chacho from Chacho & Sons Holdings, LLC. The project is estimated to be around $15 million. 

The Empire State Development Grant (ESD) application is for $1 Million that will be applied for water, sewer and electric to the site.  The infrastructure grant has to be sent to  Shane Nichols, Schoharie County Planning and Community Development, to process the application.  

The Village of Schoharie is also applying for around $350,000 for their infrastructure for this grant as well.  

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DEC's Annual Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale is Now Open

ALBANY — The Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery’s annual spring seedling sale is now open and will run until May 14, 2025. Each year, the nursery offers low-cost, New York-grown tree and shrub species for sale to encourage plantings that help conserve New York’s natural resources and foster the next generation of forests. The annual tree and shrub seedling sale not only allows individuals, families, and organizations to affordably beautify their communities, it plays a vital role in enhancing our natural ecosystems, combating climate change, and promoting biodiversity. 

DEC's tree nursery grows more than 50 conifer and hardwood species from local seed sources, creating seedlings that are well-suited to New York State’s climate. Seedlings are sold in bundles of 25 or more and there are several mixed species packets available for those looking for a variety. Seedlings are a minimum of five inches tall and are one to three years old, depending on the species. For more information including how to order, visit the Spring Seedling Sale webpage on DEC's website. Some species sell out quickly, so order early.

School Seedling Program

Applications also are now being accepted for the nursery’s School Seedling Program. From now until March 28, schools and youth education organizations across New York State may apply to receive 25 free seedlings to plant with students. For assistance or questions, contact the Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery at nysnursery@dec.ny.gov or 518-581-1439.

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County Seeking $1 Million To Assist With Schoharie, Cobleskill Projects

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — Schoharie County is applying for $1 million from Empire State Development's County Infrastructure Program to assist with proposed developments in the Village of Schoharie and Town of Cobleskill, county Planning and Community Development Director Shane Nickle wrote in an email.

The Village of Schoharie project is a 46-unit housing development proposed by Mainbridge for a site at 218 Main Street. It would include 70,000 square feet of commercial and residential space, with the residential units proposed to be two to three-story units with parking and green space, according to the information provided by Nickle. The county is applying for $350,000 on this project that would be used for infrastructure (sewer/water, power) and sidewalks, he added.

The Town of Cobleskill project is being put forward by Chacho & Sons Holdings for a site on Shad Point Road between that road and Route 7. It is slated to be a 60 to 80-unit housing development with a mix of residential including apartments, townhouses and single family. Schoharie County is applying for $650,000 on this endeavor that if the funds are obtained  would be used to extend sewer/water service within the site, extension of power, roads and telecommunications, Nickle stated.

"Only the county is eligible to submit one application this year," Nickle wrote in the email. "We wanted to move quickly and be transparent so at the end of December, we notified all county municipalities of the grant opportunity. The deadline for municipal submissions to our office was January 13. Based on the submissions, we assembled a proposal and discussed it with Bill Federice (Chair of the county Board of Supervisors)."

Nickle stated he is in the process of assembling a letter of intent that he wants to submit by the end of this week. Once the LOI is submitted and reviewed, he said he anticipates being instructed by ESD to proceed. Nickle added that he and county Community Development Coordinator John Crescimanno then plan to meet with the developers next week to get more details for the full grant application, which is due by April 1. The grant requires the developers to commit to a 50 percent match, Nickle added.

He continued that a decision is expected from ESD within roughly a month after the full grant application is submitted.

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County Looks To Expand Tax Break Program for Firefighter, Ambulance Volunteers

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — More volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers will be getting breaks on their Schoharie County property taxes if the county Board of Supervisors approves a proposal to be considered during a public hearing at the Feb. 21 BOS meeting.

The board set the public hearing at its Jan. 17 meeting. As explained by county Director of Real Property Lisa Thom at the Jan. 15 county Personnel/Finance Committee meeting, the current law from 2023 allows 10 percent exemptions on the property assessments of volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers if they live in the same town where their volunteer agencies are located.

If the amendment is approved Feb. 21, the exemption would be allowed to any volunteer firefighter or ambulance worker so long as he or she lived in the county. That volunteer would no longer be required to reside in the town where his or her volunteer agency was located.

According to the specific language in the proposed amendment, tax exemption eligibility would apply if the "applicant resides in the County of Schoharie and is a member of an incorporated volunteer fire company or fire department or incorporated volunteer ambulance service which provides service within the city, village, town or school district or who provides service to a neighboring city, village, town, county or school district."

"We currently have two individuals who are members of our volunteer fire department in Richmondville but live in the Town of Seward, and this would make them qualify," said county Supervisor Jeffrey Haslun of Richmondville.

In another action from the Jan. 17 meeting, the BOS approved a resolution that appoints Richard Prokop to a three-year at large term to the county Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors. In addition, Supervisors Harold Vroman and Alicia Terry were appointed to one-year terms, Leonard Prezorski was appointed to a one-year term as a representative from the Farm Bureau, and Claude Coons was appointed to a two-year term as a representative from the Grange.

The resolution fixes compensation for members of the board at "$90 for each calendar day that they are actually engaged in the performance of their duties and mileage to be paid at the current county rate per mile for going and returning from places where they are required to go in performance of their duties."

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County Hires Search Firm To Find New Administrator

Pracademic Partners Owner and President Ian Coyle addresses the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors on his firm’s executive search for a new county administrator. Photo by Chris English.

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — Schoharie County officials have turned to a professional in their quest to find a new county administrator.

The county is looking for a successor for Korsah Akumfi, who left Jan. 3 to take the same position in Tompkins County. At its Friday, Jan. 17 meeting, the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors listened to a brief presentation from Ian Coyle, owner and president of Livonia-based Pracademic Partners that will be conducting the executive search at a cost of $19,500.

The move to a search firm comes after the BOS has been unsuccessful in finding a new administrator without the services of a search firm. The position was offered to someone late last year, and that person turned it down after about a week of consideration. The job was then reposted until Jan. 3, and the Supervisors decided to engage a search firm if no viable candidates for the position emerged by Jan. 6.

Coyle told the BOS at the Jan. 17 meeting that his firm has extensive experience finding administrators for rural upstate New York towns and counties.

"A handful of people have expressed interest in this position," he said. "We want to find someone who is a good fit for Schoharie County on a long-term basis. Public recruitment has been challenging the last few years. We want to find someone comfortable working in a rural county, and comfortable working with this Board of Supervisors."

Supervisor Donald Airey of Blenheim questioned Coyle about how difficult it will be to find a qualified new administrator.

"We've heard comments that no one wants to work for Schoharie County," Airey said. "It's difficult to find position ready individuals and increasingly difficult to fill these kind of positions in New York State."

Coyle responded that it will be a challenge to fill the position but "not exponentially more difficult."

"I'm from upstate New York," he continued. "I live here and I will die here. The key is you have to sell and market what you believe Schoharie County's natural assets are. We want to find someone not necessarily motivated by big money or living in a big city. I live and breathe county government. It's something I'm very passionate about."

According to a resolution approved by the Supervisors at the Jan. 17 meeting, the county administrator is due to make a salary of $139,772 in 2025. The resolution fixes salaries this year for county officers who are elected or appointed to a fixed term. The salaries reflect the 2.5 percent pay increase for such officers approved late last year.

The resolution affects 27 county officials, and nine of them will be earning salaries of $100,000 or more this year after approval of the document. In addition to the county administrator, they are county treasurer ($104,445), county clerk ($104,445), district attorney ($221,100), DPW commissioner ($104,445), county sheriff ($104,445), probation director ($100,332), social services commissioner ($117,354) and administrator of indigent defense ($124,397).

The chairman of the Board of Supervisors will be paid $26,295 for the job in 2025, and BOS members will be paid $15,123 each.

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County Chamber Hosts Business After Hours Networking Event

COBLESKILL — The public is invited to the Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours Networking Event from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM on January 30th at The Bull’s Head Inn, 105 Park Place, Cobleskill.

“At the Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce, we believe that a connected business community is a successful business community and look to provide opportunities for those connections. Business After Hours is a networking event focused on bringing together local business professionals.  This is a fantastic opportunity to network with fellow professionals, exchange ideas, and build valuable relationships in a relaxed, after-work setting,” said Ron Ketelsen, President of the Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce.

Everyone is welcome, not just Chamber members.  The relaxed, social atmosphere allows you the opportunity to meet top business leaders, engage with new potential clients and network with your peers to forge powerful partnerships for yourself and your company.

Hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be provided.  Schoharie County Chamber members are free; $10 for non-members.  Reservations to attend this event are suggested.  Please go to: https://schohariechamber.com/network/ to make reservations.

For more information about the event, contact admin@ schohariechamber.com or by phone at (518) 860-5513.

Members interested in hosting a Business After Hours event are encouraged to email us at admin@schohariechamber.com or call (518) 860-5513.

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Ag Solutions & Networking Expo Feb. 18

COBLESKILL — Regional farmers, rural landowners, and aspiring agriculturalists are invited to attend an Ag Solutions & Networking Expo designed to focus on the topics and issues that are important to the agricultural community in our region. The Ag Solutions & Networking Expo will be held on Tuesday, February 18th from 9 am- 4 pm at the Institute for Rural Vitality (in Prentice Hall) at SUNY Cobleskill. Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties, the Schoharie County Farm Bureau, Schoharie County’s Agricultural Development Specialist, SUNY Cobleskill's Institute for Rural Vitality, and NYSERDA/National Grid are collaborating to offer this event which is free to attendees from the agricultural community.

The goal of this event is to bring the regional agricultural community together to network and connect farmers to opportunities, solutions and new ideas. Attendees can interact with exhibitors and vendors at the Expo, enjoy a free networking lunch which will feature an update on NY State's agricultural legislative issues by the NY State Farm Bureau’s public policy team, and participate in two break-out sessions. Planned break-out sessions include: Clean Energy Solutions for Greenhouses & CEA; Value Add and Product Development; Going Green: Renewable Energy Support for NY Farms; Farm Diversification; Succession Planning/Farm Transition; Local Ag Issues; Waterway Issues; and Agritourism. 

Pre-registration is required by February 11th via this link: https://www.eventleaf.com/e/AgNetwork 

There are also still opportunities for sponsors, vendors and agricultural support organizations to support and exhibit at the EXPO. Exhibitors will have access to a table space central to the meeting space on the second floor of Prentice Hall, and will be recognized through Expo advertising and during the event. For information on sponsorships (suggested starting at $50), exhibiting sponsors (suggested starting at $150), and break-out session sponsors (suggested starting at $250), or for more information about participating in this event, please contact Steven Smith at sesmithfarmmgtllc@gmail.com or (518)207-7112 or Deb Pernat at pernatdg@cobleskill.edu or 518-255-5537 with any questions.

The Mohawk Valley Region Clean Energy Hub, also known as Smart Energy Choices - Mohawk Valley, is one of 12 Regional Clean Energy Hubs in New York state. Smart Energy Choices - Mohawk Valley is a collaboration of Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego and Schoharie Counties. The Hub deploys Energy Advisors to help residents and businesses in the Mohawk Valley make informed energy decisions and carry out energy saving projects. For more information about the Hub or to be put in touch with a local Energy Advisor, visit mohawkvalleyenergychoices.org/meet-our-team.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.  Please contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego Counties offices if you require an accommodation.

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Thayne Named Fighting Tiger Athlete of the Week

COBLESKILL — The SUNY Cobleskill Athletic Department has named senior women’s basketball player Logan Thayne (Hoosick Falls, NY) as the Fighting Tiger Athlete of the Week for the period ending January 19, 2025.

Logan Thayne delivered three consecutive double-doubles this week, increasing her NCAA-leading total to 16 for the season. Over the three games, she averaged 18.7 points, 14.7 rebounds (7.3 defensive, 7.3 offensive), three assists, and one block per game.

In a matchup against UMPI, Thayne scored 22 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and added two assists, shooting 8-of-14 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. She followed this performance with a game-high 19 points, 20 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal in a narrow loss to Husson on Saturday. Against Maine Maritime, the senior recorded another game-high with 15 points, along with 14 rebounds, four assists, and one block.

Thayne and the Fighting Tigers return to action on Friday, January 24, as they travel to VTSU-Lyndon for a 5:30 p.m. NAC contest.

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Youth Service Day Set for April 26

SCHOHARIE — The Schoharie County Youth Bureau and Schoharie County Office for the Aging are excited to announce the 17th annual Youth Service Day on Saturday April 26, 2025! The Schoharie Youth Bureau is actively looking for families, youth groups, individuals, etc. to volunteer from 9am-12pm on April 26th helping Senior Citizens residing in Schoharie County with Spring cleanup of their yards. 

The Youth Bureau recruits and coordinates the volunteers and the Office for the Aging builds the list of Senior Citizens in Schoharie County requesting extra help with their Spring cleanup! 

This amazing opportunity connects youth and families with senior citizens who say that this event is a major highlight of their year. 

If you and a group you know of would like to participate please fill out the volunteer survey following this link https://forms.gle/gBNBrAMx9v8ASiSj7 or through the QR code. If you have any questions or prefer to email the Youth Bureau regarding the event, the best email is youth@co.schoharie.ny.us. 

We look forward to this event each year and are grateful for the groups that volunteer year after year to support our senior citizens!!

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Obituary - Carl Walther Jr.

Carl Walther Jr., a longtime resident of Sharon Springs, died at Albany Medical Center Hospital on Sunday, January 19, 2025. He was 83.

Born in Long Branch, New Jersey on March 4, 1941, he was the son of the late Carl and Adrienne (Capdeville) Walther Sr.

Carl was a 1960 graduate of Greenwich Central School and a veteran of the United States Air Force.  While in Schoharie County, he worked in the audio/visual department at SUNY Cobleskill for twenty years, retiring from the college in 2004.  He also worked at the town of Sharon transfer station for about thirty years and a longtime for SCHOPEG.  While at SCHOPEG, he would record town, village, and county meetings to be broadcast locally, as well as maintain a list of upcoming events for the Access Channel.

Carl was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints in Central Bridge for fifty years. His pastimes were taking music lessons, playing the church organ, and enjoying the companionship of his dog, ‘Kinzie’.

Survivors include his wife, Louise (Barratt) Walther; three sons, Joshua Walther, Carl Walther III, and Dennis Faulkner; two daughters, Julie Walther and Angela Schmith; sixteen grandchildren, Oakley, Isabella, Marina, Marissa, Gabriel, Alexander, Jedidiah, Michael, Marc, Kimberley, Amanda, Brittney, Kelsey, Jessica, Chris, and Ashley; and nineteen great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by two siblings; Peter Walther and Carolyn McVicker.

Calling hours will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday, January 24, at Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.  Burial will be at a later date in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Springs Central School music department, POB 218, Sharon Springs, NY 13459.

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THE CATSKILL GEOLOGISTS BY PROFESSORS ROBERT AND JOHANNA TITUS - An Ice Age landscape at the Mountain Top Arboretum

Why on earth would anyone visit an arboretum in the middle of the winter? The leaves have all fallen down and blown away. The branches are bare, and you can hardly tell one type of tree from another. Let’s make it worse: let’s go there on a rainy day, a cold rainy day! Yep, that’s what we did recently. Why on earth would we do that? Well, we had been thinking about the West Meadow. That’s the field, just to your left as you drive onto the grounds. We have been there many times, and we have written about it several times. We know that there are number of locations there that display exposed bedrock and that ice age glaciers had scoured those outcrops. But we were thinking about all the material that overlies that bedrock. What was that stuff? How did it get there? Who else but a couple of geologists even think of asking such questions?

We walked through the gate to the West Meadow and saw one very fine exposure of that bedrock. See our first photo. As we had picked a rainy day, we knew that this rock would be shiny and that that would make any structures exposed on that surface very clear to see. Sure enough, there they were – glacial striations. If you have been reading our columns long enough then you will look at our photo and see those striations for yourself. They are those right-to-left scratches on the surface. Each one was etched onto that surface by a rock being dragged along by an advancing glacier. We had brought a compass and found that they were all oriented exactly north-to-south. Glaciers are really good at moving from the polar north to the warmer south and that is what we were looking at.

                                                                                 

We stood upon that scoured surface, turned north and then were transported into a distant past. It was about 25,000 years ago and the main ice sheet of the most recent glaciation was adancing across this site. About 2,000 feet of ice rose above us and so it was totally black down here. But we were the mind’s eyes;  we could see everything around us, near and far. All across the North Meadow it was the same. The ice was pressed against the bedrock and it was scraping up and carrying away everything above that scoured surface.

Centuries passed by and we stood there; the mind’s eyes are patient, they can do such things. Then the climate warmed and we saw that the ice was melting away. Slowly the glacier above us was disappearing. This had been dirty ice; it had picked up a lot of earth, rocks and even boulders as it had descended from the north. As it melted, all of the meltwater flowed off to the south. That carried off a lot of earth with it. But most of the sediment that had been in this “dirty” ice settled onto all the arboretum grounds. Then the ice was all gone. We looked around and saw bare earth. It looked a lot like the North Meadow but with no plants of any sort. These lands were dotted with cobbles and boulders. We had solved our problem.

This was what glacial geologists call a “ground moraine.” It was a foot or two of rocky earth, all lying upon that scoured surface. Over the next 14,000 years or so it would slowly begin turning into something of a real soil. Foliage would invade this site and someday people would plant the trees of an arboretum here. See our second photo. Nice, isn’t it?

                                                  

Contact the authors at randjtitus@prodigy.net. Join their facebook page “The Catskill Geologist.” Read their blogs at “thecatskillgeologist.com.” Visit the arboreum webpage at mtarboretum.org.

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