Photo Gallery

NORTH BLENHEIM — There was a zoological field day at the Blenheim-Gilboa Mine Kill State Park. It was, of course, the 2026 Wildlife Festival. A yearly event which brings families back year after year. There were many animals from around the world, in and out of cages, some to be held or petted, others to keep fingers away from beaks and mouths. It took place in weather which drifted from heavy mis

Where the Mountains Reach the Wider World

FLEISCHMANNS — With cool mornings beginning to hint at autumn, Fleischmanns made the most of one of summer's final holiday weekends Sunday as Main Street filled with music, food, art, yard sales and neighbors for the village's annual Labor Day Street Festival.Before noon, vendors hurried through last-minute preparations while residents arranged the traditional assortment of yard-sale discoveries a

BEDELL CEMETERY — This past Saturday, I had the honor of being invited to the unveiling of a marker dedicated to the memory of Revolutionary War veteran, Sylvenus Kelly. The Kelly family are indeed a remarkable group, among a remarkable group of families. I discovered a while back that there are families here in the Catskills with long memories. At screenings of "The Calico Rebellion," a film abou

Story and Photographs by Lorcan OtwayGRAND GORGE — A new restaurant opened in Grand Gorge today. Time will tell if it is a pop up, or a long standing culinary institution which will become part of the family memories of generations of diners in our Catskill town. It is a partnership between sisters and cousins of a well loved and much needed business which serves this motoring hamlet. We all know

Story and Photographs by Lorcan OtwaySTAMFORD — The Venue for the magic show is the old train station, currently the home of the Stamford Historical Society. Passenger trains stopped coming here in 1954. Freight trains stopped coming to Stamford in the late 1970s. It is well preserved and full of the history of the village, bringing back my warm memories of Stamford in the 1960s and 1970s and inst

ROXBURY — Dear Neighbors, most know that I love to tell the stories of the people of the Catskills, their tough and creative lives. I love telling these stories because I have over the years had to tell the harder stories. I started in the occupied counties of Ireland in the mid-1970s. I then did general reporting in NYC, from crime to fashion journalism. I photographed fires, arrests, streets blo

MARGARETVILLE — The tantalizing smell of wood-smoke fills the air as meats sizzle in the big smokers outside of the clubhouse at the Meadows Golf Center in Margaretville. It’s Saturday night and Duane Wilkins, a master at turning out Southern-style barbecue, is on the job, over-seeing the wood-smokers. The fun and good eating is underway.  Barbecue lovers of all ages are heading to The Meadows Gol

ANDES — There are communities that hold annual festivals, and then there are communities that celebrate themselves. Andes Community Day once again demonstrated why this small Delaware County hamlet has become one of the most welcoming and vibrant places in the Catskills, as residents, visitors, volunteers and local organizations filled Main Street and neighboring businesses for a full day of festi

STAMFORD – The Stamford Women's Golf Association recently completed its 21st annual Queen of the Catskills Womens Golf Tournament at the Stamford Golf Club. They had a full slate of 72 golfers competing from a wide area.This annual tournament has grown into one of the most successful ladies’ golf tournaments in the Catskill Region, Delaware County and the SGC. "We're very proud of what we've built," said Stacy Keck-Colliton, SWGA president and chair of this year's tournament.For the first time this year, she said they are started a new tradition to select a charitable organization to benefit from the tournament. The inaugural beneficiary, according to Keck-Colliton, is the Catskill Mountain Little League, which will receive a check for $780.This year’s honorees were Tom and Mary Sherwood. They have been a part of the Queen of the Catskills every year it has existed, so we honored both of them,” said Keck-Colliton. Tom has been a steadfast at the registration desk and Mary has been a committee member for 20 years, she had to step down in 2026. “We’re working hard at the club to grow our membership, especially among women,” said Keck-Colliton. “We’re doing good things here. The Stamford Golf Club remains one of the most affordable golf courses in the region, and 1897 Tavern on the Hill has become a destination for outstanding food and hospitality.”Keck-Colliton explains the SWGA is working hard to grow its membership in collaboration with the Stamford Golf Club, where she is also a board member. They are making it a priority to promote women's golf.She said she is most thankful to a long list of committee members and others, who helped make the Queens Tournament a success, including her tournament co-chair and SGWA vice president, Andrea Miner; Bonnie Lockett, tournament and SWGA treasurer; JoAnn Rockefeller, secretary of both the tournament and the SWGA; Judy Kramer, Barbara Schauer and Anna Mathews, committee members; Richy Gabriel, member of the SGC board and a committee member; Michelle Decker, former SWGA president and chair of the tournament; Janet Marnane, president of the SGC and a committee member. She also thanked Profession Golf Association Professional Mike Bell, his staff and many volunteers. "We are forever in their debt," said Keck-Colliton.The weather was perfect and the flights got off on time. Flight winners were, as follows:A Flight -1st Gross: Mary Diefendorf & Peg Squazzo – 701st Net: Patty Prezekop & Kathleen Scheibner – 56 2nd Gross: Janet Marnane & Nicole Hitchcock – 70 2nd Net: Sue Johnson & Dee Croucher – 613rd Gross: Stacy Keck-Colliton & Amy Pindar – 793rd Net: Pat Reynolds & Liz Gaudet – 65B Flight -  1st Gross: Bea Morra-Hull & Danielle Hull – 75 1st Net: Stephanie Brown & Robin Raco – 59  2nd Gross: Andrea Cammer & Peg Elsworth – 78  2nd Net: Carolyn Moylan & Theri Jo Snyder – 62  3rd Gross: Barbara Scherer & Deb Neale – 81  3rd Net: Nikki Brandt & Andrea Miner – 65C Flight1st Gross: Mary Frollo & Christa Giarrizzo – 791st Net: Jessica Watson & Sarah Scoble – 612nd Gross: Toni Nyberg & Fay Woodmansee – 832nd Net: Colleen Martin & Wanda Scholl – 613rd Gross: Mary Melia & Lynn Abarno – 863rd Net: Mary Sherwood & Mary Beth Getchell

Wildlife of all kinds spotted across the Catskill region