Gilboa/Conesville News by Dorothy Pickett - 28 June 2026

Happy 4th of July!  Hope to see you at our Annual Parade here in Flat Creek. Line up 11:30am. Parade kicks off at 12:00noon. Parade starts at the church, goes up Flat Creek Road, turns and comes down the back road, crosses over the back road spur and back onto Flat Creek Road to the church for free hot dogs, chips and water. All are welcome to join in at the Church. While having a hot dog the church will be open where you can view a scrapbook Historian Janette Reynolds has kept of all the parades in the past. They will be displayed in the vestibule. 

Just a reminder the Sunken City Cidery will hold their first Swine Dining Pig Roast feast on Saturday July 4, all day long. This is also in celebration of America’s 250th year. Long Island based Fleetwood Mac, CBS & N Tribute Band, Fleetwood Nash will be performing from 3-6pm, Great sounds of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Fleetwood Mac, and many classic favorites. Perhaps some of you may remember for many years in the past the 4th of July was one of the Morkaut families favorite days on the farm, It was always celebrated with family and friends at their annual Swine Dining party. This year, the Cidery is very Excited to share that tradition for the first time. All are welcome to join in this fun day at the Cidery. 

Saturday wan a beautiful day to spend at Mine kill Park in their lower Pavillion for Caleb Wyckoff’s graduation party. Caleb graduated from BOCES in Grand Gorge and GCCS as well.  Lots were there to celebrate his special day.  The kids enjoyed the bouncy house while the adults played cornhole. The Horseshoe Café provided delicious food for the occasion. Cake and cupcakes for dessert topped off the meal. Caleb is wished the very best for a great future ahead.

The Horseshoe café is located on Rte. 30 Blenheim. They do breakfast, lunch, and catering I believe they do the food and you pick it up for your event.  Thursday-Sunday until 2:00pm. Always a great place to stop by and enjoy some delicious food. 

Sunday Flat Creek Baptist Church welcomed Jeremy McMillian and his family at Worship Service. Jemery spoke about his ministry at the English Fellowship Church in Quito, Ecuador. Jemery is lead Pastor there, while his wife Sarah at the Alliance Academy, the international Christian School that their children attend as well. Jemery gave a detailed account of his pastoring in Quito. They have three children with one who just graduated and has enrolled in a college in California.  The youngest Josiah happily joined with the choir for one hymn. This family is truly devoted to their church, the ministry there, and above all, the Lord. Following the service a luncheon was enjoyed by everyone in the community room.

With thanks to Ted Latta, looking down at the lake is such a pleasure. Ted came with his brush hog and what a nice job he did. I had Brush be Gone clear that area of trees and wild bushes over a year ago. It needed another refresh of cutting the high grass down. The area that Brush be Gone a couple of months ago really looks great as well.

`Lou and Rosemary DiRubba tell me they do enjoy reading my column every week. Talking about the farm, cows etc. Rosemary gave me a little story about Lou. When they bought their camp in the 80’s in Conesville their friend Tom Molle took them down to DeWitt’s farm. Lou was so excited about that he thought they should buy a dairy farm too. After spending some time in the barn, he walked right behind a cow and with that the cow whacked him with its tail. It was then Lou the Eastchester NY guy who decided being a chef was a lot safer. They had some good laughs when thinking about it over the years. Such a good memory.

I wanted to pass on some information I received from the DOT. They want everyone to know that they will be doing an upcoming pavement rehabilitation from the Delaware County Line to Mine kill State Park here in the town of Gilboa. Although there is no tentative date please be aware when driving that Route as when they begin you may expect temporary lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic through the work zone. This route has deteriorated immensely and certainly needs to be paved. The project is expected to be done during this 2026 construction season.  Always be mindful and slow down as you come to a flagger and please drive slowly through the work area. If I hear when the work begins, I will let everyone know. I can remember my dad worked on that route many years ago. During that time Vern had taken out our cement porch along the front of the house. It was 30ft. long by 12ft. wide. It was meant to be a porch with a roof and pillars. but the owners Sate and Floyd Gorden never did anything with it. While sitting out there one day, Vern happened to look back and saw that the main beam of the house was rotted. Ken DeWitt and George Bolen replaced the main beam. Before that took place, Vern had to take out the cement. Ford Nickerson was putting in a barn cleaner up at the main farm, so Vern had him stop on his way home and with the jack hammer he tore up the cement. With Vern on the Massey Harris tractor, he cleared the whole area of huge pieces of cement and lots of stone that Floyd had put in using his stone boat and horse years before.  That is where the completely round stone that sits at my front doorstep came from. Not only that, for about seventeen years we looked at a hole in the front of the house. One day while dad was on Route 30 his boss said we need to get rid of all this fill but do not know where we can do that. Dad said I have just the spot. So…my front lawn is Route 30’s wonderful fill that had no stone in it whatsoever! Sitting out on my small front porch I often think of that old memory.

Prayer Concerns: Joe Loverro, Dave LeBel, Marci Stryker, and all who may be ill at this writing.

Birthdays: July 7 Katy Snyder (No. Carolina) and Jim Standhart., July 10 Glenn Lauria (Florida)  

Upcoming Events: 

Friday, July 3, Sunken City Cidery, live music from Trevor Collins 4-7pm The Stryker Food Truck on site.

Saturday, July 4, Flat Creek parade line up 11:30am parade kicks off at 12:00noon.

Sunday, July 5, Sunken City Cidery with music from Acoustic Blue 3-6pm,

The Stryker Food truck on site

Tuesday, July 7, 6:00pm, Gilboa Historical Society welcomes Brian Weiss. Brian will be speaking about making bread. Brian is a local in Conesville. 

Tuesday, July 7 & Friday July 10, Art on the Green in the Maple Museum located in Jefferson with Martha Hacklin.

Friday, July 10, Free Event. 6:30pm Conesville Historical Society welcomes The Catskill Mountain String Band at Conesville UM Church. Enjoy a fun night of music while having some tasty Strawberry Shortcake.

Saturday, July 11, Heritage Day in Jefferson begins at 10:00am. A full day celebration with the parade stepping off at 11:00am. Lots more going on there. Live music under the big tent with a sing along and dancing with a friend, food vendors, bake sale of delicious pies. Just so much more going on there. This is a huge event. 

Sunday, July 12, 1pm-4pm, Gilboa Museum – Gilboa Festival with craft vendors 

and music by the Sun Dogs (our own local Mike Fleischman) Another huge event with lots of vendors, food etc. 

Sunday, July 12, 9am-3pm. NYPA visitors center will hold the 55th Antique Auto Show sponsored by the Scho. Valley Antique club of America 9:00am-3:00pm. bounce houses, face painters, balloon twisters, crafts, food and so much more.   

Sunday Worship Services: 

Gilboa Methodist Church: 9:00am located on 990V, Gilboa with Pastor Dawn Richards. 

Flat Creek Baptist Church: Flat Creek Road, Gilboa with Pastor Paul Overbaugh, Sunday School 9:30am, Worship Service 10:30am. Coffee and fellowship follows in the church hall. Women’s Bible Study takes place on Thursdays 10:00am at Robinson Terrace Assisted Living Buntline Drive, Stamford. 

News is always welcome e-mail pickee@midtel.net