August Opens With Memorial Benefits, Block Party

If you thought July was a busy month, August may be even busier and kicks off this weekend with a pair of benefits in the village of Stamford.

First up is the annual Mom McGrail Memorial 5K Race, then the John's Tavern Memorial Motorcycle Run for St. Jude, and finally, a block party.

The 5K was established by the Catherine "Kathleen" McGrail family as an event to bring people in the community together for a good time in her memory. Proceeds of the race go to the Mom McGrail Scholarship Fund to provide academic scholarships to local students. Five $1,000 scholarships are awarded to students chosen from 11 local school districts each year. Donations may be mailed to the Mom McGrail Foundation, P.O. Box 26, Stamford, NY 12167.  Please make checks payable to the Mom McGrail Foundation.

The date coincides with the time of Mom McGrail's birthday. This year's race is being dedicated to a dear friend of the family, Bill Montrose, who was also known as the Kit Kat Man.

The race starts and ends at Veterans Memorial Park, located at the corner of Main St. and Railroad Ave.. The race begins at 9:30 a.m. and registration opens at 8 a.m. at the park. Registration fee is $30 for adults; $20 for students and under 10 free. Also, participants of Girls on the Run are invited to run for free. Please wear your GOTR t-shirt to registration and during the race. 

This is a fun event. It will be timed for the serious racers, but everyone from those pushing strollers and the family dog participate and do the distance in their own time. Fun is the key word.

The Memorial Bike Run to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital was started in memory of a dear friend battling cancer and continues to raise money for a worthy cause. It starts and ends at John's Tavern, located at 87 Main St. in Stamford. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., with kickstands up at 11 a.m.. All vehicles are welcome. Cost is $25 per bike or $10 per rider. All proceeds go to St. Judes. The event raised more than $8,000 last year.

The St. Jude run this year will be going to the Peppercorn in Charlotteville, the Blackthorn in Durham, then to the Prattsville Hotel, returning to Johns around fourish, a distance of 110 miles. There are plans to have a gas can at the Peppercorn so the peanut tanks can top off. Come enjoy a great day for a great cause. Dinner is included in the rider registration and includes a BBQ. There will be raffles at each stop.

The day will end with a Block Party from 4-9 p.m. in Veterans Memorial Park. There will be free music and entertainment. The Fisher Cats are on tap.  There will also be food, beer, and wine for purchase. Special thanks go to the Stamford Wellness Center, KPd Events, plus others.

Saturday is also Charlotteville Community Day at 102 Bindery Lane, starting at noon. There will be food trucks, vendors and entertainment. There is music beginning at 5 p.m.

Yard sales are set for Aug. 3 in Conesville. The Everything Shoppe will be open and maps of the sales are available at the Conesville Fire House. There will be a Chicken BBQ take out at the United Methodist Church.

If you would like to see a game of vintage baseball, the Canton Cornshuckers vs. the Bovina Dairymen is set for Creamery Field in Bovina Aug. 4. The Michigan team is touring the east and Sunday features games at 10 a.m. and noon. Admission is free. The field is located at 1396 County Highway 6 in Bovina.

The Stamford NY Farmer and Artisan Market is open from 1-4 p.m. at Mama Maria's Restaurant in Stamford.

The 87th annual Men's Invitational Golf Tournament will be taking place Aug. 9-11 at the Stamford Golf Club. It draws many golfers to the area. It's always fun to see who returns home to compete for the Jack Maxwell trophy.

The Annual Stamford Yard Sale Day is Aug. 10 from  8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with more than 50 sales registered. Maps and restrooms will be available at the Stamford Fire House, 111 Main St., Stamford. For information, call 607-652-3609 or to register your sale.

August is fair month, with the annual Schoharie County Sunshine Fair set to open on Tuesday, Aug. 6 and run through Sunday, Aug.11, followed by the Delaware County Fair Aug. 12-17.

Opening day in Cobleskill features Immortal Championship Wrestling event, Last One Standing, a micro match between Rob the Giant and Short Sleeve Sampson. County music star  Josh Turner, know for hit songs Your Man, Long Black Train, Why Don't We Just Dance, Hometown Girl and more will be performing on Aug. 7. Chubby Checker will be twisting away in the entertainment tent. The dock diving dogs are also returning and includes an opportunity for local dogs to enter. To get a full schedule of events and a list of the excitement, visit: sunshinefair.org.

The Delaware County Fair is one of the largest agricultural fairs and features kids showing their prized animals and pets. There is a large variety of animals and contests taking place all week long. 

If you haven't visited the local fair, it is a cornucopia of everything the county has to offer. There are contests and competitions, rides, educational exhibits, animals, food, commercial exhibits and information, all sorts of entertainment and so much more.

There is no other place where you can see a tractor pull, the latest model cars, racing pigs, marvel at a model train exhibit, watch kids show their animals, ride the ferris wheel, eat taffy, fried dough and a bunch of other good stuff, all in the same place. The best of the best is found at the local fair and should be a must do on the to-do list this summer.

Delaware County has a horse pull in the horse show ring on Friday evening at 6 p.m.. It is fascinating to watch. The demo derby is also a major draw.

On Saturday, Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. is the Blenheim-Gilboa Touch a Truck and Safety Fair at the New York Power Authority

The Jefferson Historical Society Music and More Series will be hosting the Fisher Cats from 7-9 p.m..

The Gilboa Historical Society will hold its annual ice cream social on Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. with music by the Fisher Cats.

Later in the month, the Hobart Rotary Club is ready to host its annual Sausage and Brew Festival from 1-7 p.m. at the Stamford Town Hall, 101 Maple Ave, Hobart. It's a time of good food and entertainment. This year they have added vendors and children's activities.