GilboaConesville News by Dorothy Pickett - 11 September 2025

GILBOA - Go Bills! If you did not watch the Buffalo Bills and the Ravens play this past Sunday evening you missed a stunning game. With only four minutes to play we got a touchdown and then the kicker got the field goal. My Bills won 41 to 40.   

Before the game, my daughter Diane, her friend Stephanie and I enjoyed dinner at Mama Maria’s for an early celebration of Diane’s birthday, Her actual date is September 10. As I looked around the restaurant I noticed several people from Flat Creek Church were walking in for their dinner and fellowship.  

Being the weather was perfect on Wednesday I decided to cut down the whole flower bank using the weed eater. It worked perfectly.  Thursday, I knew I needed to rake everything down to the driveway which prompted a thought. Out came my electric leaf blower. Within minutes the mess ended up at the bottom of the bank right where I wanted it to. I made five trips with the gator loaded across the road where it got dumped. Going back and forth each time I could not help but notice four huge white objects by the base of one tree and on the lawn beside the tree. After dumping the last load I had to take a closer look.  I don’t know if any of you remember being in the hay fields and looking down at the ground where sometimes there would be a brown round thing growing up from the ground. We called them puff balls. I never could leave well enough alone I just had to step on them to watch with delight as the brown dust puffed out of them. Well, I am sure that is what these huge white clumps are but have not turned brown yet. They look like cauliflower except for no green leaves. I took pictures and now will wait anxiously for them to turn brown, yes, so I can step on them just to remember oh so many of my delightful childhood memories. Maybe some of you have a different name for them, something which I would be interested in knowing.

Congratulations go out to neighbor Heidi Pickett. Heidi has been in the Stamford Rotary for 32 years with 10 of those years being President. Heidi was honored by the Rotary with a superb lunch at TPs. The Pickett’s house is up behind mine on a hill that overlooks our beautiful mountains. Although our last name is the same, we are not related but we feel very connected living here in Flat Creek. 

Neighbor Pat Buel was out for his nightly walk up Flat Creek Road the other day. Stopping to talk to him and being his wife Eileen was not with him, when I asked about her, he told me she was under the weather. Get well wishes go out to Eileen for a quick feel better time. 

Diane and I drove to Binghamton on Friday as her cat Bess had to have a checkup. Bess unfortunately had to have most of her teeth removed. Her checkup went great. It was a four-hour drive which she tolerated very well. She was quiet as a church mouse all the way home. As Diane let her out of her cage in the house she took off like a bullet running up and down the stairs so excited to be back. She has no problem with eating her dry and wet food even to the point where she gained weight.

Neighbors Alicia and Bill Terry let me know the Bear has been hanging around their home these past few weeks. One night he tore all the feeders down. Then as Alicia was working outside, she noticed a freshly dug hole in the ground under their Bathroom window. Looking closer she spotted a huge honeycomb. As we all know, Bears love honey. The next day, once again looking there, most of it was gone. They are sure the Bear came back during the  night for the rest of his find. I think the Bees left too. I remember one day driving past “Dutch” Brainerd’s house on Wyckoff Road (house no longer there) I spotted most of the siding on one side of the house had been torn down. I quickly learned that a Bear had smelled honey that was behind the siding. Oh my he tore the siding off the building, got the honeycomb and did not return. I have heard they can smell honey from a very long distance. Make sure your feeders are taken down before nightfall or you too may have a visitor.  

Saturday fifteen people attended the Gilboa Museum to enjoy Popcorn and a cold drink while watching the movie “Flow” It was about a cat who experienced lots of storms, wild animals etc. All animated and no voices. Just the cat meowing, dogs barking along with other animals in the film.  The ending was the best when all of them became friends.

The Gilboa Town Board held their monthly meeting this past Monday with all business that came before the board was discussed, approved and completed. A quick reminder for Gilboa /Conesville Residents. School taxes are to be paid at Gilboa School not the Town Hall. The time and days for payment are on your tax bill. Only Property taxes beginning in January are paid at the Town Hall.  

Prayer Concerns: Eric Dahlberg, Lloyd & Clara Potter

Birthdays: Sept.15 Mike Brandow, Sept. 16 Elizabeth DeWitt, September 17 John Standhart

Upcoming Events:

Friday, Sept. 12, Rockland Cidery opens 3-8pm with live music from Lati & The Pops. Delco Food Dude truck on site.

Saturday, Sept. 13, 1:00pm Gilboa Museum presents First Drafts of History with Chuck henry from NYS Historic Newspapers.

Saturday, Sept. 13, at 10:30am Conesville Historical Society presents Ted Shuart who will be speaking on Inns, Taverns and Hotels of Schoharie County followed by Conesville’ s Touch a Truck event 12noon-4pm held at the Conesville Town Field BBQ Chicken available. Then at 7:00pm the Tremperskill Boys will hold a Square Dance.

Saturday, Sept. 13, Yoga 11am-12noon at Rockland Cidery. Then live music from Lustre Kings 3-6pm Sass Squash Food Truck on site.

Sunday Sept. 14, Gilboa Museum Psychic Fair 11:00am- 4pm 

Sunday, Sept. 14, F.A.R. Trio will entertain you at Rockland Cidery 3-6pm along with The Horseshoe Café’s great food!

Monday, Sept. 15 Conesville Hist. Soc. presents In Their own Words. 6:00pm. This is an ongoing oral history project with Debbie Hill interviewing residents of Conesville and their special memories with video clips of ten residents.  

Sunday, Sept. 14, Gilboa Museum Psychic Fair 11, 11am-4pm

Sunday Worship Services: 

Gilboa Methodist: 9:00am located on 990V

Sept. 16, Pastor Dawn will conduct a worship service at the Senior Living in Stamford 3:00pm

Flat Creek Baptist: Flat Creek Road, 9:30am Sunday school, 10:30am worship service with coffee and fellowship following the service. 

Conesville United Methodist Chapel: First and Third Sunday of the month 4:00pm, Route 990V.

Got News? E-mail pickee@midtel.net