Square Dance for a Cause

HALCOTT — The Tremperskill Boys and friends recently offered to hold a fundraiser Square Dance for the Halcott United Methodist Church building fund.  There are several advantages to this generous gesture.  The church, organized in 1829, needs costly repairs, including a drainage system and stabilization of the foundation.  These needs occur at a time when matching grants for Greene County are diminishing.  At the same time, a venue was being sought to mark 100 years since the birth of legendary fiddler/caller Hilton Kelly.  He and his band, The Sidekicks, which included his wife, Stella, were regulars on the Halcott Grange stage for several years.  Both purposes coincide with an effort to increase family programming opportunities in Halcott, sometimes dubbed "the place you can't get to from here".    

These causes will unite in an evening of toe tapping music at the Halcott Grange Hall on Saturday, October 25th from 7:00 - 10:00 pm.  It is located on Greene County Route 3, approximately four miles outside of Fleischmanns.  The suggested minimum donation of $10 for folks over age 12 is family friendly, yet leaves room for more generous donations.  Residents and visitors of all ages can listen to lively music or learn some of Hilton's square dances.  Memorabilia will be on display with cake to round out the celebration.

Featured musicians of the evening will be John Jacobson and Dane & Patti Scudder of the Tremperskill Boys.  Their guests will include Earl Pardini, Jim Rauter, Paul Rosenberg and Lynn Brittain.  For some of these talented folks, this event is a homecoming of sorts.  As for the late Hilton Kelly, his Halcott ties go back to the Revolutionary War.  Literally!  He was a descendant of town founder, Major John Halcott.