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ASF Snowboarders Leave Their Mark at USASA National Championships

Trout Season Opening Day

Fishermen Turn Out for Opening Day By Liz Page BLOOMVILLE – The fishermen were few and far between first thing Saturday morning, but those who stuck it out were treated to a beautiful, sunshiny day, after midmorning. Tara Fairbairn, of Stamford, has been going out on opening day since she was a kid and her partner, Kenny Palmatier, is also an avid fisherman. Missing from their annual rite of passage on Saturday was their son, Andrew, who was feeling a bit under the weather and didn't want to get wet. The rain on Saturday morning went from steady to intermittent, producing some soaking rain in between. It was wet and Friday's showers had turned many waterways into a chocolate brown that made it difficult for the fish to see the bait. The water was high and swift, which is nothing unusual for opening day Tara was using a lure at the bridge in Bloomville, a favorite spot to cast a fishing line for many anglers. She said they usually don't go there on opening day, opting for some quieter spots, but because it was muddy, she said they were starting at Bloomville and would work their way to the less muddy water where they could hopefully switch their bait to worms. One of the keys to catching a fish is that the water is clear enough for them to see the bait. Fairbairn and I stood there for a time, marveling at how calming it was to stand at the edge of the streambank, cast a line and watch it feed downstream. "It is calming. That's why I like fishing," said Fairbairn. She said she was only one in the family to catch a fish on opening day last year, which was cold, with a couple of inches of snow. The conditions were not ideal. "I was the only one who caught a fish," she smiled. It is a family affair for them and Fairbairn is an avid angler. She said she invested in a rod last year that allows you to feel the fish strike the line. "It took a little getting used to, but I do like it." It started to rain fairly heavy again and I decided to leave. Fairbairn made her way to the car to wait out the rain again. Her only regret, she said, was not bringing a book to read while she was sitting in the car. Once the rain let up, she would go back to the streambank. Cliff Mueller was out early opening day, but said he didn't last long. "The streams looked like chocolate milk and I didn't see any other fishermen. I lasted about 20 minutes," he said. Many believe the opening day falls on April Fool's day, because the weather most of the time is not ideal. It is a teaser for anglers to get out into nature and enjoy the outdoors. So the annual rite of spring has taken place, marking one more sign of spring and soon the state Department of Environmental Conservation will be stocking local streams and ponds. To see where and when the stocking takes place, visit the DEC website at dec.ny.gov or to get the latest regulations.

Sandstone of the Catskills

THE CATSKILL GEOLOGISTS BY PROFESSORS ROBERT AND JOHANNA TITUS Opus 40, A Devonian Home? We always look into a sedimentary rock and see the sediment that lies within. At the Opus 40 quarry most of that sediment was sand. It has been cemented and thus petrified into the Catskill bluestone that we see all over the quarry today. But it was, long ago, soft wet sediment. The thick sandstones at Opus were mostly deposited in river channels, rivers of the ancient Catskill Delta. All these sands are hard cold sandstones today, but we always have to remember that these were once river channels and there were animals who called them home. We have not yet found any fossil shells or bones in the quarry, but we have found some other fossils. Take a look at our photo. That’s an unusually dark sandstone for the Catskills; it’s a black sandstone with a large number of light-gray curvy patterns within it. What earth could those curves be? Well, paleontologists know them as trace fossils. They are, indeed, not shells nor bones. Instead, they record the behaviors of ancient organisms. From time to time, you leave footprints when you walk across wet grounds. Imagine if, somehow, those prints hardened into rock. Then your footprints would have become trace fossils. That’s not likely to actually happen but it does sometimes with invertebrate animals who live in soft sediments. That’s what happened here. Think about what you are looking at. About 380 million years ago, when these sands lay on a river bottom, animals squirmed around within those sediments and that left the marks. We geologists use the word burrowing to describe this. And that burrowing produced burrows. It should have been that they would never have been preserved; instead, floodwaters should have soon washed them all away. But that just did not happen. They remained, undisturbed as the years passed by. They were buried by thicker and thicker heavy sediments and, under all that weight, slowly hardened into the rock we see today. But what were those animals, and what were they doing? That’s an interesting scientific question and it might seem one that is impossible to answer. But what does the evidence say? That evidence is in the color. Where the rock is dark that is because it is rich in biological material, mostly carbon, that’s the black stuff. Where the rock is gray, then there is much less biological material. And that is within the burrows. What happened? Maybe you can guess. Those burrowing animals, as they worked through those sands, removed the biological material. They were consuming it as food. Who does this today? Worms do. The way to bet is that these are the burrows of ancient Devonian worms.Contact the authors at randjtitus@prodigy.net . Join their facebook page “The Catskill Geologist.” Read their blogs at “thecatskillgeologist.”

Mud Season Story

Mud season is here, much to hikers’ discontent By Jennifer Patterson With it finally beginning to feel like spring, many people are itching to get outdoors. While hikers are understandably eager to dust off their boots and enjoy some fresh air, officials from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are urging outdoor enthusiasts to be extra prepared or to stay off the trails entirely during spring’s notorious mud season. It happens every year, when snow starts to melt and spring showers begin. This combination of moisture in the ground, along with fluctuating temperatures, creates the perfect environment for muddy trails. The Catskills are experiencing an early start to mud season because the ground wasn’t able to consistently freeze during the winter. And despite the heavy late snowfall, a relatively mild winter translated to little snow on hiking trails, causing a muddy mess as spring temperatures continue to warm. Mud season usually beings in late March and lasts until May or June, when trails dry up and harden with sustained warmer temperatures. Hiking during this messy season not only presents safety concerns, but it also compounds conservation challenges on trails and in forests, according to the DEC. Hikers who hit the trails early can unknowingly cause expensive damage to trail systems and the natural environment. New York’s changing climate has extended mud season, with higher temperatures in late winter increasing the contrast between conditions at the trailhead and mountain peaks, according to the DEC. These differences create a range of challenging conditions, like steep trails with thick mud, deep slushy snow, slippery areas with compacted ice (the DEC refers to narrow snowy/icy paths as “monorails”) and flooded trails. If hikers aren’t wearing the proper footwear with spikes, their adventure will be no walk in the park. Many trails can also seem to disappear from step to step and become streams. Crossing these areas is inadvisable, especially when there is fast-moving frigid water. Hikers who fall are at risk of hypothermia. In addition, when hikers try to avoid mud and walk around it, they may inadvertently trample and destroy vulnerable vegetation that is just starting to regrow after the winter months. Loss of vegetation impacts wildlife habitat, as high foot traffic causes changes to the soil and grass that animals and insects rely on. Mountain biking on muddy trails is also discouraged by the DEC, because bikes leave behind large holes that need additional repairs when they dry up, affecting the usability of the trail for the rest of the season. The DEC frequently issues “muddy trail advisories” to keep hikers off the trails, allowing snow to melt and the ground to dry thoroughly. For information, go to https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/113437.html.

SUNY Cobleskill Foundation Press Release

National Bank of Coxsackie supports SUNY Cobleskill Foundation through Corporate Partners Scholarship Program Coxsackie – The National Bank of Coxsackie has donated $1,000 towards the SUNY Cobleskill Foundations Corporate Partners Scholarship Program. The Corporate Partners Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to SUNY Cobleskill students in the form of business supported annual scholarships. To be eligible, students must be enrolled on a fulltime basis, demonstrate financial need, and have a GPA of 2.5 or above. This scholarship aids in covering the cost of books, technology, academic fees, equipment, room and board, and other crucial non-tuition educational related needs. "We are so pleased and thankful for the generous commitments by area businesses in support of our corporate scholarship program," said John Zacharek, SUNY Cobleskill Vice President for Development and Executive Director for the SUNY Cobleskill Foundation. "For $1,000, a company like National Bank of Coxsackie can name a scholarship for the year, which can make an enormous difference to an aspiring student pursuing a degree through our unique applied learning approach. The success of our students, 98 percent of whom enter their career field or go on to pursue a higher degree within a year of their graduation, is testament that a Cobleskill education truly works." “National Bank of Coxsackie is always looking for ways to support our local communities,” Middleburgh Branch Manager Heather Kelly commented, “especially if it can be directed towards our youth who have a need.” Keven Mathes, NBC Commercial Loan Officer went on to say, "NBC is excited to support students studying at Suny Cobleskill through its participation in the college's Corporate Partnerships Scholarship Program. Through our relationship we are happy to provide an impactful way to help students afford their college education." ********************* Pictured here from left to right is: NBC Middleburgh Assistant Manager Brenda Bellinger, NBC Middleburgh Head Teller Tina Fischer, NBC Middleburgh Branch Manager Heather Kelly, SUNY Cobleskill Director of Development and Corporate Partnerships Nick DeCaprio, MBA, M.Ed., and NBC Commercial Loan Officer Keven Mathes CONTACT: Nicole M. Bliss, 518-731-6161 nbliss@nbcoxsackie.com

Jefferson Drowning

Man Drowns In Blazer Pond By Liz Page STAMFORD – The body of a 36-year-old man was recovered from Blazer Pond near Stamford late last Sunday morning by a state police dive team. Two others were successfully rescued from the pond the day before after the boat the three were in capsized. Members of the Stamford Fire Department were dispatched just after 2:30 p.m. to the pond adjacent to Camp Oorah's Boyz Zone in the town of Jefferson. Stamford Fire Chief Don VanEtten, who was first on the scene, said he had two victims hanging onto an overturned canoe and a reported third victim who was not visible. He called mutual aid for additional EMS, ambulances, and water rescue resources to the scene. Members of the Stamford Fire Department were able to deploy their rapid deployment craft (RDC) to get to the two men who were clinging to the canoe and get them safely back to shore. Both men were suffering from exposure to the cold water. They were each transported by the Hobart Fire Department ambulance and AMR to a landing zone at the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) building on Route 10 in Stamford where they were put into separate LifeNet helicopters and transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital. They were listed in stable condition, according to state police, and were treated for hyperthermia. Hobart Fire Department and Jefferson Fire Department responded with additional personnel and equipment to assist Stamford with the search for the missing man, traffic control and to establish the landing zone. Also responding were members of the Schoharie County Technical Rescue Team with their boat and a New York State Police airboat, New York State Forest Rangers responded and helped with a perimeter search of the water. A state police aviation unit was responded to do an overhead search of the pond and the state police Underwater Recovery Team responded to help locate the missing man. VanEtten said the search for the missing man was suspended by the state police at dark, with the state police dive teams to return Sunday morning to resume the search. The third individual was located at about 11 a.m. Sunday, deceased in the water. He has been identified as Juann E. Parco Saez, 36, of Ecuador. Parco Saez had traveled to Jefferson from his home in Ecuador to work at Camp Oorah. The investigation is ongoing, according to a state police press release, and the drowning is believed to be accidental. The incident was reported quickly by a trio of people who were out enjoying Saturday's warm weather. They called 911 as soon as they saw the boat capsize. They also held the point where they last saw Parco Saez attempting to swim to shore when he disappeared. The caller reported none of three men were wearing life vests. VanEtten credited everyone involved with saving two lives on Saturday and indicated that members of the Stamford Fire Dept. realized the value of the RDC. They held a training on cold water rescue with NYS Forest Rangers just one week earlier. During that training, VanEtten said he learned how to triangulate the location of the boat. "It paid off big time today," said VanEtten. The RDC easily paid for itself with the saving of two lives on Saturday. The Stamford Fire Department would like to thank: Hobart and Jefferson Fire Departments; Schoharie County Technical Rescue Team; NYS Forest Rangers; NYS Trooper and their dive team, aviation unit, and airboat; AMR EMS; Lifenet of New York; Delaware County (NY) Department of Emergency Services Coordinators and Dispatchers. Also Stewart’s Shops for providing refreshments for all responders on scene. The Stamford Fire Department would also like to thank the community for supporting its 2021 fundraiser which resulted in the purchase of the RDC Boat that helped members of the Stamford Fire Dept. save two lives.

Wayward Lane Award

Press Contact: Andrew Rowles, Co-Owner Wayward Lane Brewing AGRowles@gmail.com (508) 733-1583 PRESS RELEASE Schoharie County Brewery, Wayward Lane Brewing, Wins New York State 2023 Brewery of the Year Schoharie - The New York State Craft Beer Competition has awarded Wayward Lane Brewing the 2023 Brewery of the Year. The farm brewery opened in 2021 on a 65-acre former hop farm in the town of Schoharie, which resides within the Mohawk Valley region of New York. The brewery prides itself on its classic styles of beer, but brews a full range of everything from West Coast style and hazy IPAs to English ales, lagers, wild-fermented ales, and even barrel aged strong ales. The production facility and taproom are situated in a restored 1800s hop house, an homage to the legacy of hop production in Schoharie County. The brewery also resides and is in partnership with Hop House Farm, which is primarily a beekeeping farm that supplies honey and fruit for some of the brews including special bottle conditioned beers that utilize wild yeast and bacteria for unique characteristics and flavors. The Brewery of the Year Award is given to the brewery that earns the highest number of points in the competition. Points are determined by the number of medals won. The points system offers three points for gold, two points for silver and one point for bronze. Wayward Lane took home the gold for both their Hazy Pale Ale, Cultivar: Motueka and their English Style Wheatwine conditioned on amburana, Xylem. They also won silver medals for their Hazy Double IPA, Cloud Generator, and their Cold IPA, Prizm. Wayward Lane Brewing is owned and operated by a group of friends who love beer, farming, and the community it creates. The brewery is committed to crafting high-quality beers that capture the essence of the land using locally sourced ingredients, many of which are produced on the farm. The awards speak to the quality of their beers, but the brewery has also become a place of community. Hosting regular events like their most recent winter Luau party, frequent live music, weekend yoga classes, tap takeovers and collaborations with breweries from all over; Wayward Lane Brewing has gone beyond being just a brewery. They are especially excited to usher in the summer event schedule, which can be found on their website www.waywardlanebrewing.com “We are proud to represent Schoharie, and it has always been our ambition to share the beauty of this area with people from all over. Upstate New York is full of opportunity, has a wealth of resources, and everyone I bring here falls in love with it immediately. This win is a chance to shine a spotlight on our community that prides itself in its rich history and agricultural heritage. People here think creatively and support each other to make those agricultural roots work in the modern world,” commented Co-Owner Andrew Rowles. As an extension of this commitment to agricultural community and tourism, Wayward Lane Brewing will be kicking off its second year hosting Market in the Meadow, a Farmers Market held in the “Bier Meadow” at the brewery. Starting Sunday, May 7 th , it will be held on the first Sunday of the month from May - October, 12 - 4pm. The event features a variety of local vendors featuring a variety of craft and artisan goods, live music, food, and of course, beer. If you are interested in learning more about attending the Market in the Meadow or are interested in becoming a vendor, contact Andrew Rowles at info@waywardlanebrewing.com, or visit their website for more details. More photos are available by clicking here. ### About Wayward Lane Brewing. Wayward Land Brewing is situated on 65 acres of rolling farmland in the scenic Schoharie Valley of upstate NY. They offer a large outdoor event space where they hold concerts on the weekends. The farm specializes in beekeeping, unusual fruit production and more. Currently the farm keeps roughly 80 beehives, and 4 acres of fruit trees/ shrubs including: aronia, elderberry, brambles, currant, pawpaw, persimmon, tart cherry, plum, peach, apricot, nectarine, cornelian cherry, kiwi berry, apple and pear. Some of the ingredients foraged from the farm will be used towards long term, oak conditioned, spontaneously fermented wild ales.

Bushel opens new exhibition Inside Voice by Saira McLaren and Nancy Diamond, April 8

Hartwick Colleges Spring Visiting Writers Series Spotlights Fiction, Poetry

Spring Garden Day at Earth Fest

Audubon to Host Dr Casey Coomes - Live Program on How High Temperatures are Affecting Birds and their Songs on Friday, April 21 - 4 April 2023