GilboaConesville News by Dorothy Pickett - 7 September 2025

GILBOA - It is back to school for our children. Remember especially the little ones who are attending school for their very first year, you need to be cautious when driving past any school. Being so excited they tend to avoid looking both ways when crossing a road.  Always be aware of your surroundings. One little tyke starting Kindergarten is Wilder Pylinski. His mom tells me he spends his free time playing with their lovable great Pyrenees puppy, riding the sheep and then pretending to do hay like his grandpa Harry and Uncle John. One day he is sure to have a hay business like his grandpa!

Marilyn Wyckoff Pylinski has a unique farm stand “Wild Desire a Frugal Homestead” located on 268 Wyckoff Road which is open 24/7. Many items including eggs, local maple syrup and honey, Tallow skincare and no spray produce seasonally. They offer NYS Grown and certified chicken and lamb. They are taking orders for Thanksgiving Turkeys. So… that means you need to stop by this stand, follow the parking signs that are off the main road and just have a great time. I will keep all of you posted as Fall arrives and what she has in the farmstand. 

It was ladies’ night out Friday as my friend Barbara and I enjoyed dinner at Hubie’s in Middleburgh. We have been looking forward to it since last Christmas. We decided instead of giving gifts we would go out to dinner. Since the weather did not cooperate during the winter months, we thought it was best to do it later in the summer. Following that, we made a short stop at Wayman’s Auction. 

Saturday morning, I stopped by Ginny Gurley and Shelly Brainerd’s garage sales. The weather could not have been better for people to hold their sales. I did purchase a few things from both of the sales. It was a busy day for them for sure. 

On Sunday fifty people gathered at daughter Diane’s home in Grand Gorge for her annual end of the summer picnic. Diane had a huge tent set up along with three canopies. Everyone bought food, their chairs and their friendship. Lots of laughs, conversations, great food and just an all-around good time. All were in awe with Alicia Terry’s wonderful gluten free peanut butter iced cake. The peanut butter icing was a beauty to behold as she had swirled, curled and just had that amazing look almost like it had been sculptured. It was gone very quickly. So much food, so many desserts and so many selections. Best of all was the whole day.

Neighbors Gary and Ann Elizabeth were up to their camper Sunday afternoon. Saturday, I mowed their field. It did not take long with the Zero turn. When I arrived home Sunday evening there was a thank you note at my door. On Monday they left a gift. I stopped by to visit them during the evening.

Flat Creek Baptist Church’s Pastor Paul and wife Karen held a Labor Day picnic at their home in Greenville. Pastor baked several homemade pizzas in the hugs brick pizza oven that was under their pavilion. Everyone came with a dish to pass. After the blessing and delicious food, Debbie McMillian played her guitar as everyone joined in some great hymns. When it came time for dessert a Happy Birthday was sung to Nina Mateyunas as she blew out a candle in the cake Yvonne Wood made. Nina celebrates her special day on September 4. This was followed by toasting marshmallows while everyone sat around the fire pit as the night sky filled with stars.

Back in Time: With a chill in the air my mind wandered back to when we had to head to the woods to cut and gather wood for the winter months ahead. Erniel and I would head out early on the Silver King Tractor pulling the wagon behind. With a little bit of a bite in the air we both had dressed warmly only to have to shed our jackets before noon. The trees that had fallen throughout the spring and summer months were cut up with a gas driven chain saw by Erniel. My job was to pile the branches upside down on top of each other until they were quite high. Erniel made it a point to me that was the way you did it so the rabbits could crawl underneath and be warm all through the cold winter months. When it came to cutting wood, and clearing the area he was very particular, and I had to do it just right. We would load the wagon and up to the boarding house we would go. The men’s job was to split the wood with a sharp ax (wood splitters had not been invented then). The wood was placed neatly from stake to stake until a full cord was piled There were always enough cords to go the whole winter. Coming in from the barn on a fridged evening, after milking time, the first thing we did was walk to the wood stove and stand with our backs to the stove, hands crossed behind our back just to get warmed through.  th Not Erniel, he sat down in the rocking chair next to the stove and fell asleep.   

Birthdays: Sept. 6 John DeWitt, Sept. 7 Caleb Wyckoff, Sept. 10 Daughter Diane Pickett, Patsy Nicosia, and Stephanie Knap. Everyone, enjoy your special day, Blessed in the Lord.

Anniversary Blessings: Sept. 5 Carla and John Maggiolo, September 8 Preston and Marilyn Pylinski. Congratulations with Blessings on both couples. 

Upcoming Events:

Friday Sept. 5 Welcome back with Happy Time at Rockland Cidery 3-7pm.

Friday, Sept. 5 Farmers market Gilboa Museum Pavilion 4-6pm need more information      contact Marilyn at wyckoff12076@gmail.com or 518 646-3348

Saturday Sept. 6 Rockland Cidery Yoga 11am-12noon, Live music from Soul City 3-6pm and Food truck Sass Squash.

Sunday, Sept. 7 Rockland Cidery line dancing 1pm-3pm, Live Music Bob Naumowicz 3-6pm and Sass Squash food truck available.

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

Saturday, Sept. 13, 10:30am Conesville Historical Society presents Ted Shurart 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 Zadock Pratt Museum will hold a Victorian Tea. With seating at 11;30am, 1;30pm & 3:30pm $35 per person reserve your spot text Lisa for more info 713-594-8118

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. 2 3:00pm worship service at the senior living in Stamford with Peg leadingthe service. 

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