Contribute to Our Community Calendar

If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you'll be able to see our Community Calendar, meant to inform people of when important events are coming up around our County. Feel free to email us at aaaabraves-at-yahoo.com to send us your tips. Make sure to include the scope of the event as well as where and when it will take place.

Summer's Last Hurrah Brings 80 Degree Highs for Schoharie County

After a chilly exit to the official end of summer marred Labor Day weekend for Schoharie County residents, mother nature decided to give us one more burst of warm, beautiful weather before the start of Fall next week.

With high temperatures expected to reach the mid to upper eighties the next two days, while lows hover around an unseasonal seventy degrees in the evening, we'll have just enough time to embrace the last hurrah of t-shirts and shorts before the weekend brings sixty degree highs back upon us, likely for good this time.

Although, with our bizarre mountainous climate that could produce snow in the Southern portion of the County while the Valley sunbathes, who really knows what to expect for our forecast any given day, especially with the potential for warm air still lingering as the seasons transition forevermore.

Singletary Slams Cherry on Site Followed by Bizarre Gun Imagery

Jefferson Supervisor Dan Singletary is not taking his Republican Party caucus defeat lightly. Singletary's loss partially due to the intercession of County Treasurer Bill Cherry has not sat well with the Supervisor, who has launched his opinion in the pages of the Times Journal and on his own site, www.schoharie-news.com (NOT associated with this website).

Singletary writes in part:

However, the question is should the "County Treasurer use his office to pick and choose Supervisors"?

However, Singletary's writings against the Treasurer are followed by a seemingly pre-existing passage about gun ownership in the form of a poem by Carl Sandberg.

Mr. Singletary quotes part of the poem directly below his musings:

"little human forefinger can tell a terrible story"

From the original.

Opinion: Desmond's Idea of Speed Enforcement?

The three-way Sheriff's race has me geared up and ready to go, evaluating each candidate's strengths and weaknesses, their proposals and experience, and how they would behave as Schoharie County's top law enforcement official.



For one of them, incumbent Sheriff Tony Desmond, we already have an idea of what to expect in another term - and one in particular - turns me sour to his reelection bid.

His department's "speed enforcement" mobile radar device, which I happened to see on a recent drive through the Village of Richmondville - placed in front of the fire house - is not only one of the stupidest police enforcement tools I have seen but a stark indicator of Desmond's view of effective road patrol.

Sure, maybe I'm being unreasonable - after all, his campaign website pledges to seek two new road patrol officers in his new term, but as an old article from news 10 ABC reported last year: "The Schoharie County Sheriff's Department has increased their overtime budget for one month, allowing them to increase the frequency and area-coverage of patrols. This budget increase has been implemented in order to deter not only the slew of burglaries encircling the town's rebuilding efforts, but also to deter an increase they have seen in general crime," perhaps he should have sought two new deputies sooner.

Between this and the department's hideous "mobile incident command" vehicle, it begs the  question of what the budgetary needs and goals are at this point and time, and maybe it's just me, but effect road patrol doesn't seem to be one of them.

Unless one considers posting a giant radar gun in the various villages main squares to be an effective tool... I, for one, would like to grab bucket of balls and see how much my pop my fastball has these days, but I digress.



Introducing Letters to the Editor

To facilitate discussion about our county and build up interest in current events, the Schoharie News would like to ask its readers to send in their opinions in letters to the editor. You must include your full name and town. We'll be publishing them when we get them and look forward to your comments!

  Tim Knight Editor

Flood Insurance Information Meeting September 9th

Information for Schoharie County residents concerned about possible changes to flood insurance policies in the wake of Hurricane Irene will be available tomorrow. The meeting, held at the Schoharie Presbyterian Church at 7pm will offer questions and answers for interested parties.

SUNY Cobleskill to Get Quilt Barn Square

SUNY Cobleskill will be another stop along the expanding Schoharie County Quilt Barn Trail. The Trail, which takes visitors across the County, will be adding in another stop. The college will be holding a contest to decide which colors to use. The winner will be getting a prize.

From their Facebook page:

Entry forms can be picked up at and returned to the Library. In addition to their colors being used for the quilt block, the winner will receive a gift card prize. Students, faculty, and staff are all eligible to enter.

SALT Holding Zumbathon Fundraiser September 14th

SALT is hoping for a big turnout next Saturday for its new fundraiser. The flood recovery group is holding a Zumbathon dancing event in Richmondville's Family Maranatha Center. There is a $10 minimum donation and half price for children or for seniors.

More information or to RSVP to the event can be found on its Facebook page here.

Hundreds Turn out for Schoharie Garage Sales

Schoharie was alight with activity yesterday as hundreds of locals and folks from out of town descended on the community celebrating its long recovery. The traditional garage sale day was buttressed with events from the Schoharie Promotional Association including a bake sale and its Junk in the Trunk event.

Schoharie FD Holding Fundrasier on 21st

The Schoharie Volunteer Fire Department is holding its annual Rock the Valley event that emerged out of the 2011 flooding.

More information on their Facebook page.

Ethington Barnstorms in Desmond Country

Candidate for Sheriff Todd Ethington stepped into the lion's den as he began campaigning in Sharon Springs. Current Sheriff Tony Desmond had been Town Supervisor of the community for ten years after serving as Village Trustee and Deputy Mayor-- and in 2009 it was the strongest Desmond stronghold. Ethington's campaigning yesterday represented a bold strategy as the Sheriff lauds a recent large drug bust. The candidate wrote on his campaign page:

The Village of Sharon Springs opened their doors and hearts to me today, I would like to thank them all for allowing me to come into their homes and speak to them about the issues at hand.

Ethington's insurgent campaign was complicated by Desmond's party switching next year and this could be a drive towards another shift.

Desmond Hails Big Marijuana Bust

Covered by Channel 9, YNN:

MCS Names Davidson as Principal

Tracy Davidson has been named as new principal at Middleburgh elementary school. She replaces long-time Principal Amy Lennon who retired in June.

Davidson was given a probationary three-year appointment by the board at a salary of $66,667 for the first year.

Cobleskill Dems to Pick Candidate

Cobleskill town Democrats will select their candidate for supervisor Tuesday evening at 7pm in the community room of the library on Union Street.

Tom Murray, a Democrat, is currently the Cobleskill supervisor but should expect opposition. He has served two terms and was re-elected two years ago over Republican Ken Hotopp despite being implicated in the infamous "N" word incident in Cobleskill.

Cobleskill Republicans have already selected former Cobleskill-Richmondville school board member Leo McAllister to run for supervisor.

Murray's seat is very important in the Democrats retaining control of the county board. Murray, though, did not back Carl Barbic of Seward, his father-in-law, for chairman two years ago. Harold Vroman of Summit, a Republican, was elected chairman instead.

Route 7 Project Begins

Ground was finally broken on the long-awaited Route 7 water and sewer project last week. It is hoped that the $9.2 million project to extend water and sewer lines will lead to economic growth along the road.

The town, Howe Caverns, the county and grants will pay for the project. A new Stewart's on the corner of Routes 7 and 145 is already planned and other businesses may in the works for Route 7.

Broome Fire Department to Host Harvest Moon Dance

 

The Broome Fire Department will be hosting a Harvest Moon Dance on Saturday October 19th, 6-10 pm to benefit their local department. Price of admission is $7 per person, guests are invited to bring their own drinks and enjoy the Peaceful Country band perform.

 

According to the event's facebook page, Broome Town Supervisor Anne Batz and Schoharie County Sheriff candidate Todd Ethington are expected to attend, giving the Harvest Moon Dance some big supporters from within and outside their humble fire district. 

Bill Cherry: Defending the Interests of the County

A lot has been made about Schoharie County Treasurer Bill Cherry's decision to wade into Jefferson's Town election this year. His action in sending letters to every one of the Republican voters in the Town proved decisive in taking down the incumbent Supervisor Dan Singletary. Cherry wrote in part that he "has squandered his chance to get things done for Jefferson by becoming the object of public scorn as a result of his dramatics and bluster at the monthly meetings of the county Board of Supervisors."

 Singletary, who has become known as perhaps the most combative County Supervisor, did not appreciate the barb. He accused Cherry of campaigning against him, which the Treasurer does not deny. Still, the 69-36 vote split broke decisively against Mr. Singletary and towards Sean Jordan, who appears primed to win in November.

 While there has been some criticism of Cherry's role in the caucus, it is obvious that his actions have defended the interests of the taxpayers of Schoharie County. Mr. Cherry represents the voters of Jefferson the same as Mr. Singletary-- and indeed for far longer. Mr. Cherry grew tired of the obstinance that Mr. Singletary represented on the County Board, such as that of former Seward Town Supervisor Larry Phillips.

 Mr. Cherry has made a name for himself defending the interests of the taxpayers of Schoharie County. Mr. Singletary's antics are not becoming of an elected official and Mr. Cherry has made sure that such an appellation will not refer to him as such for much longer.

Town of Fulton Democratic Caucus Tonight

The Democratic Part of the Town of Fulton is holding its caucus for Town officials tonight at the Fulton Town Hall. Incumbent Supervisor Phil Skowfoe is not expected to have intraparty competition.

Launching our Political Coverage

The Schoharie News is launching its political coverage to inform on the Sheriff's Race and the 14 Supervisor's races this year. Keep checking for more information!

Middleburgh Library Marks Two Years of Recovery

The Middleburgh Library somberly remembered its long journey to recover from Hurricane Irene. The August 2011 storm was so bad that one leader of the Library even stated that the loved center of the community would "never open again." Now with the Library more popular than ever, it marked the occasion on its Facebook page.

It continued:

Look how far we've come in two years!! A heartfelt thank you again, to Steve and Anne Lamont, the rest of the library board, our staff and the countless volunteers who helped us get back on our feet. We are so blessed to be part of this community!!!