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DCHA Summer Season Opening Saturday, May 27, 2023

Concert Friday at Landis

Adaptive Sports Foundation Named an Official Charity Partner of the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon

Sidney Drug Dealer Sentenced to State Prison

Take a Fresh Look at Your Finances

The Legend of Licky

Tempting Ice Cream Lovers for 60 Years By David Avitabile SHARON SPRINGS - Its bright and moving neon lights have been tempting and luring passersby to a refreshing ice cream cone in Schoharie County for about 60 years. First "Licky" stood on the roof of Dairylea just outside the Village of Cobleskill on Route 7. Then it was moved to the top of Dairyland, the home of "Ice Cream & Fine Food," on Route 20 in Sharon, just outside the Village of Sharon Springs. "It was the Dairylea store on Route 7," remembered resident Frank Tucker. "The low building that had the red faux mansard roof was the shop. They made the ice cream there. It is now the propane shop when Darylea went out of business, Daryland was able to have 'Licky' only if they put him on the building in Sharon Springs." Scott Barton also remembered Licky and Dairylea fondly. "Dairylea Ice Cream shop was where Laurie (Bettig-Werner) describes it. Recently torn down. They served cones with so much on them you couldn't see your hand. Every summer night there was a line out the door. We used to drive up from Esperance to get one in the 60's. The folks in Sharon bought the sign at an auction and restored it. I recall the blinking neon tongue. Such fun."Ms. Bettig-Werner added, " I believe it was Dairylea. I think the company used to pick up the milk from local farmers. They were located by Dunkin Donuts. H and R Block was in the building. You could there and get ice cream cones or containers. They had one of the glass ice cream coolers that you could look through and pick the flavor you wanted.": Resident Debra Armlin recalled, "I can remember going there in Cobleskill and used to get excited to see the boy on top the building near Dunkin Donuts and we would stop and we would all about six of us and what a treat then and so much cheaper." Dee Smith recalled both Dairylea and Licky in Cobleskill. "Yes, Dairylea used to be the brick building next to Dunkin donuts the one they just tore down It was an icon when I was growing up and loved waiting in line for my treat." Nelson Allen also remembered where Licky was in Cobleskill. "The shop in Cobleskill was possibly a Dairylea? East end Route 7 south side of road....just before Forester Road." Dave Hayner is the current owner of Dairyland and sees Licky as a perfect match for the roadside ice cream attraction. "The beauty of Dairyland is that it's authentic," he said. "If corporate America did it, it would be too perfect and Licky is authentic. You're taking what was a legitimate piece of history and bringing it back. it's a perfect match to the building. People in Cobleskill remember it." Mr. Hayner bought the business from Kyle Conley, who purchased it from Ron Perrott who bought Licky and put him on the roof in the early 2000s.

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Sharon Historical By Matthew Avitabile SHARON SPRINGS — The Sharon Springs Historical Society gave a positive grant report to community benefactor Nick Juried recently. The Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation offered the support needed to recreate a historic village in downtown Sharon Springs. The effort is going very well, said Society President Ron Ketelsen. The project included the purchase of a number of former vacation cottages at 236 Main Street to create the historical village. The program will feature a number of major improvements, including restoring the heritage of the community. The Sharon Springs hosted Presidents Martin Van Buren, Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Roosevelt, as well as the Vanderbilt and Van Rennselaer families. Furthermore, the community also had famous visitors such as Charles Dickens, James Fenimore Cooper, and Oscar Wilde. The effort of Mr. Juried allowed for the purchase, including the purchase of property, and opened the door for further development. I hope this email finds you well! I wanted to give you an update on our project. We are moving full speed ahead - made possible by your generous contribution!!! Thank you again! The Historical Society signed a contract for the nearby Ganz House this month and the possession date is set for June 1. The sign in front of the project is nearly completed and will be mounted on white posts. Ketelsen said that it would gain a “LOT of attention.” He said that visitors already stop by “on a regular basis to ask what is going on.” White scalloped fences and gardens are planned for the future. Ketelsen said that the Society is “moving right along with the Village.” He said that “The General Store, Post Office, Carriage House, and Doctor's Office are almost completed. They just need some final painting and a few other things added. Today, we started on the Dress/Millinery and Print Shops. (Photo attached) You can also see some photos in the attached newsletter. The electric and water lines for the lion head fountain will be installed this weekend. The new sidewalk in the front will be poured in about 2 weeks.” He credited the help of “four local guys working with me on the project.” “They are amazing! Two of the guys work every other week and two of the guys work every week. One of the guys is an amazing carpenter and is my lead guy. I just tell him what I want done and he does it. Today, we started on the fourth building and it had to be jacked up 6 inches because it was so uneven. No problem for these guys! They had it done by the end of the day.” Ketelsen said that the entire project was thanks to the effort of all involved, especially Mr. Juried. The Society President hopes that the project will be done “by late summer.” “At the rate we are moving, I think that is possible.” “We again thank you for sharing our vision and recognizing that it is all possible! We are so thrilled with the progress and can't wait to show off the finished project!” For more info or to assist, contact the Sharon Historical Society, PO Box 363, Sharon Springs The Society said that it is also looking for items of the date, including store tins or other items typically found in a general store, doctor's office, or a barbershop. Call Ron Ketelsen for more information at 518-860-5513.

Forestry Cost Share Grant Program

DEC announces additional forestry cost share grants By Jennifer Patterson There is now $850,000 in funding available in the third round of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s “Regenerate NY” Forestry Cost Share Grant Program. Designed to assist private landowners in growing the next generation of forests, the DEC said the program is crucial to help create and maintain New York’s woods, which mitigate climate change, provide wildlife habitat, protect air and water quality, and supply an important renewable resource. “New York’s forests are under continued pressure from development, competition from invasive species, an overabundance of white-tailed deer, and the effects of climate change,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Investing in the establishment and resiliency of our forests is a critical component for ensuring the continued ecosystem services that trees provide.” Regenerate NY is funded by New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund and managed by the DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests. Private landowners planning to restore or establish five or more acres of forestland in New York State can apply for grant awards ranging from the minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000, with a required 25 percent match. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, planting trees, soil scarification, removing competing vegetation that would interfere with seedling establishment and growth, and installation of deer fencing. Applicants must work with a forester or a qualified natural resource professional to develop their project. Up to two applications may be submitted per applicant, provided the applications are for separate properties. “Efforts to support and grow private natural and working forest lands are a key climate resilience strategy,” said New York State Forester Fiona Watt. “Regenerate NY gives a vital boost to expand and restore private forests by promoting forest regeneration and ecosystem health in the face of challenges from invasive species, soil disturbance and climate change.” In December 2022, legislation was passed in New York setting the goal to support and contribute to national efforts to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. land and water by 2030. The law promotes biodiversity and preserves New York’s wildlife, forests and clean water sources, which are essential to the state’s overall health and economy. Applications for Regenerate NY can be submitted through the NYS Grants Gateway and will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Oct. 6, or until funds are depleted, whichever comes first. Applicants need to establish an account in the Grants Gateway system at https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/apply-grant . The DEC will hold a webinar for interested applicants at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 24. For information, go to https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/119950.html .

CROP Hunger Walk Raises Thousands

COBLESKILL — The amount of money collected at the May 7 Schoharie County Aggie Scott Memorial CROP Hunger Walk set a new record by surpassing last year’s record-setting total by over a thousand dollars. The fundraiser, held at Cobleskill United Methodist Church on a sunny Sunday afternoon, raised $12,816 . Last year’s record-setting final total was $11,384. However, as often happens, there are unanswered questions about the actual amount collected online. That $12, 816 figure may be adjusted upward in the coming days. The official final CROP Hunger Walk totals usually come out a few months after the spring CROP Hunger Walks. Furthermore, checks to local food pantries went out last month from the Spring 2022 events. Seventy people walked in the annual fundraiser. Cobleskill United Methodist Church earned the Golden Sneaker for being the church turning in the most money on May 7. CUMC also went home with the Mass Transit Award for having the largest number of Walkers. Helderberg Lutheran Church in Berne went home with the Silver Sneaker for raising the second-largest amount of money and the Happy Feet Award for having the second-largest number of Walkers. St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Community of Cobleskill earned the Green Sneaker for the third-largest amount of money turned in. John Jarvis took the Lee Empie award for turning in the largest number of dollars in cash and checks at Sunday’s event. Kathy Kosier and Kathy Jones went home with certificates for collecting the second- and third-largest amounts of money, respectively. In the non-church category Team Empie went home with the Golden Sneaker for raising the largest amount of money this year. SUNY’s Cobleskill Christian Fellowship brought in the second largest amount, thereby earning the Silver Sneaker in the non-church category. The SUNY students also earned the Dusty Sneaker for being the third largest group participating in this year’s fundraiser. Team Empie also had the second-largest number of in-person Walkers at the event. Schoharie County Aggie Scott Memorial CROP Hunger Walk event arranger John Jarvis commented, ”For two years in a row our CROP Hunger Walk has set new records for the amount of money raised. I’m sure that Lee Empie is looking down on us from Heaven with a big smile on his face. His legacy as leading CROP fundraiser lives on through Team Empie, which raised $5000 this year. Team Empie just amazes me.’’ Briefing before the walk. Walkers are given a map, safety instructions, and a big thank you for participating. Time for a group photo of team Empie! Photos by Robert Duso

Middleburgh Central Board Race

Lawton, Snyder Eyeing One Seat on MCS Board By David Avitabile MIDDLEBURGH - Sean Lawton and Bonnie Snyder are vying for one seat on the Middleburgh school board in Tuesday's district election. They are running for a seat being vacated by Scott Van Kuren who is not running for re-election. Sean Lawton Mr. Lawton, who also ran for the school board last year, is a local business owner, and has children in the district. "I believe parents need to be an active part in the process of their children’s education, so for the last year, after moving back in the district, I have put my money where my mouth is. This is the natural progression of wanting to be involved in their education," he said. "I have a great concern for the safety of our children and have made that evidently clear over the past year. However, I feel like the district has a lot of work ahead of them to make this district safer for our kids." Mr. Lawton said he has attended almost every school board meeting in the past year. "I have brought up situations and concerns from both my perspective and from those who reached out to me with their concerns. I’m not afraid to speak up! I have worked in mediation throughout the past 20 years and I have organized volunteer teams as well." Several issues are facing Middleburgh Central School, Mr. Lawton said. There has been "a massive decking in student enrollment. An approximate 300 student loss over the past 3 years! Why are we not more concerned about this? Why are we not looking into why this is happening?" There are also pressures from the state level, he added. There is "unrealistic expectations passed on through the NY state legislation. The move to all electric buses by 2032 is not feasible currently within this district. Early research has stated that there is not enough power supplied within the community of Middleburgh to just facilitate the charging stations for the bus garage. The infrastructure changes would be astronomical, not to mention the weight of these busses are almost as much as a typical fully passenger ladened 60-passenger bus. Are they going to be able to pass over some of our bridges? Who is going to be paying for all of the infrastructure changes?" On the local level, Mr. Lawton said there is "a lack of community participation. "I believe there needs to be a more purposeful pathway to parental participation. I believe we need to be asking how can we get more of the community involved with what is going on in their school district." Bonnie Snyder Ms. Snyder, a life-long resident of Schoharie County and is seeking her first term on the Middleburgh Central School Board. She has resided in the Middleburgh School District for more than 30 years. Her two children both graduated from the district with honors and participated in sports, musicals, band and clubs. Ms. Snyder is a former educator who retired from Schoharie Central School. She "values education and would like to continue her service to children and give back to a community that gives so much!" She said that since she has "personal experience inside the brick walls as a teacher, I am prepared to tackle challenges as a board member. Students' health, safety, and learning will be my priority. Every decision made will be based on what is best for students as well as fiscally responsible." Ms. Snyder also sees challenges facing the district. "The greatest challenge currently in education is the learning loss, emotional damage and behavioral issues caused by Covid closures, and she has ideas to get students caught up again." She added that she believes "a solid education is a child's startup in life, and a keystone for success. Equally important, a great school district is necessary for community progress. I will do what is possible as a board member to carry out this belief."

Delaware County Board Meeting

Sculpture Tour Coming to DelCo Board Chair Advises on Title 42, Migration Expected to Double By Mary A. Crisafulli Delhi - Richard Lowe the director of economic and regional development for Hancock Partners announced plans for an art trail at a Delaware County Board meeting on May 10. The trail, which is expected to bring in 10 to 15 thousand visitors, is a collaborative effort between the partners, town, and Hancock Area Chamber of Commerce, of which Lowe is vice president. Seven nature or family-focused sculptures reaching six to eight feet in height and width will be craned into various locations throughout the county. Organizers have chosen Deposit, Downsville, Walton, Andes, Margaretville, and Hancock as featured locations. The tour will launch on July 4 and run until Oct. 31. Each sculpture will be placed on pre-approved private property atop a blue stone base. All seven featured sculptures are for sale totaling approximately $8 million. According to Lowe, if a sculpture is sold during its time in Delaware County, the municipality that it was sold in will receive 30% of the sale price for an endowment or public fund to be reinvested into the community. If a sculpture is sold for $1 million, that's $300,000 for the municipality. Tour visitors will have access to a downloadable application that will feature a map of all the art destinations. Local artists and businesses have an opportunity to be placed on the map as well. If a business displays art of a local artist in its shop, it can become a featured destination. In addition, Lowe said, all art venues will be featured on the trail. All towns are welcome to participate in these ways, he said. For more information on the art trail visit hancockpartners.org . In another discussion, Chairperson to Supervisors and Bovina Supervisor Tina Molé relayed information from the governor's office regarding Title 42, which allows curbs on migration due to public health protection. Immigration across US borders has been restricted for three years due to the global pandemic. Such restrictions have expired this week. According to Molé, Governor Kathy Hochul Administration is expecting migration into New York City (NYC) to double in the next two weeks. On May 9, Hochul issued an executive order to respond to the anticipated migrant increase. The Hochul Administration has advised NYC to place individuals in counties outside of the five boroughs. It is Molé's understanding that upstate counties must comply with NYC placements and will be compensated for their arrangement. Individuals will be placed through the county's department of social services. In other business, Supervisors approved a centralized arraignment plan. The plan will support the county's obligation to provide proper counsel and arraignment to all individuals, said Josh Shapiro, representative of the special counsel of the 6th judicial district. A centralized system was made available to municipalities by the state approximately five years ago to develop a more efficient arraignment process. Since the adjustment of the state, counties have been organizing and implementing plans. Broome County was the first in the 6th district to execute a centralized arraignment process in 2017. The plan will be reviewed by the state for approval. If approved, arraignments will take place at the public safety building on Phoebe Lane, Delhi. Town justices will be scheduled by the magistrate association for arraignment times held daily at 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Hancock Supervisor Jerry Vernold spoke on behalf of his town justice who, due to aging, is unable to drive down to Delhi for arraignment. Vernold asked if justices can opt-out of the scheduling. President of the magistrate association and Hamden Justice Gay Merrill said they are able to accommodate justices' needs and asked they contact her or the magistrate association for more information. The next board of supervisors meeting is scheduled Wednesday, May 29, at 1 p.m.

Watershed Education Grants Approved

CWC Board Approves Public Education Grants ARKVILLE – Grants totaling $200,000 were recently awarded by the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) to schools and non-profit organizations for watershed education projects and programs throughout the West-of-Hudson Watershed as well as the Five Boroughs of New York City. Thirty-one grants will bring lessons in water quality, the New York City Water System and Watershed to more than 28,000 students and teachers. Five thousand people will participate in programs and projects geared toward public and adult audiences. Grants from CWC will fund a range of projects, from watershed education initiatives to water quality testing, Trout in the Classroom, and multiple field trips to environmental institutions. Each will teach the importance of clean water, the connection between New York City and the Catskill-Delaware Region where most of the City’s water originates. Four new applicants were approved for funding in this year’s grant round. These new applicants included Pace High School, P.S. 56 Lewis H Latimer, PS 84 Jose De Diego, and Public School 250. All four of these new applicants applied for funding to implement Trout in the Classroom with their classes. Watershed region recipients include Delaware County Historical Association in Delhi, Time and the Valleys Museum in Grahamsville, Onteora/Bennett Elementary School in Boiceville, Hanford Mills Museum in East Meredith, Woodstock Day School, Catskill Water Discovery Center in Arkville, Michael Kudish Natural History Preserve in Stamford, John Burroughs’ Woodchuck Lodge in Roxbury, Catskill Center for Conservation and Development’s Visitor Center in Mount Tremper, Prattsville Art Project, and Catskill Mountain Club in Margaretville. New York City recipients include Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science and Technology, Pace High School. PS 56 Lewis H Latimer, PS 19 East Village Community School, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School, City Parks Foundation, NYC H2O, Inc., The Horticultural Society of New York, South Street Seaport Museum, The Brooklyn New School/PS 146, The Earth School, PS 84 Jose De Diego, Queens Museum, MS 371 SEED: Harlem and Public School 250. CWC education grants are provided annually in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. The CWC is a non-profit, Local Development Corporation responsible for environmental protection, economic development, and education programs in the New York City Watershed West of the Hudson River. www.cwconline.org Teachers, parents and school administrators can find information on Watershed environmental education programs and resources, including some produced with funds from this grant program, at www.watersheducators.org .