Pharmacy Opening a Success

Middleburgh opened the doors of a new pharmacy on Main Street. Two dozen well wishers welcomed the Valley Pharmacy into town. The pharmacy will be open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm.

Artisan's Gallery Hosting Local Artist

All are invited to an opening reception of the watercolors and prints by local artist Sherry Holmes at the Artisan’s Gallery on 322 Main Street, Middleburgh on August 8th from 5pm to 7pm. Meet and greet the artist, and view other work produced locally to enhance your home and special gifts. Light refreshments will be served. Sherry’s work will be shown as the guest artist until September 30. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday 10am-5 pm; Saturday 10am-4pm. See you there!

More Flood Damaged Office Space Ready to Repair

More flood damage being repaired in the business district.

 We've been very fortunate to have many partners in the flood recovery process, especially SALT Recovery. You may have noticed three locations that SALT and Southern Valley Recovery is working on in the business district (two on Main Street, one on Railroad Avenue) after the Village and building owners requested assistance.

 Time for two more locations to get fixed. Starting next Saturday, March 22nd, two more office spaces located on the Railroad Avenue side of 308 Main Street (two doors down from Value Village) will be fixed in a cooperation between SALT, the Village and the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity at SUNY Oneonta. SALT is providing the plans and materials, my office is coordinating efforts, and Phi Kappa Psi (which has helped at two previous volunteer days) is providing much of the labor. The project will start this week.

If anyone would like to volunteer their time, please message me or give me a call at 763-6854. I'll be there next Saturday if anyone would like to walk in and help out. We need all hands on deck to restore another portion of the business district!

Artisan's Galley Hosting Wine Tasting February 8th

On February 8, 2014 The Artisans' Gallery at 322 Main Street in Middleburgh will host a Wine Tasting of Hummingbird Hills locally produced wines. Come from noon to 4pm and enjoy and be able to purchase lovely Valentine's gifts for the special guys and girls in your life from our fine selection of locally produced art and fine crafts!

Accounting Office Opens on Main Street

Valley Tax and Accounting opened at 296 Main Street earlier today. Responding to outreach from the Mayor's office asking for an accounting office, owner Francis Pipczynski made the decision to open on Main Street.

"We are pleased to be here and be part of the rebuilding process after such widespread devastation. What has so impressed us so much is that after what seemed like a knock out punch, the residents and business owners did and continue to do whatever is necessary to get back on their feet." Mr. Pipczynski said.

The new business can be reached at 827-3311 or on its website and is available for all sorts of personal and business accounting needs, and more.

Members of the Village Board and Business Association were on hand for the ribbon cutting. Mr. Pipczynski is eager to start serving the community. "I read once that in life you need to 'Dream it, Conceive it, Believe it, and Achieve it' - our vision here is to deliver comprehensive and professional tax, accounting, and additional services to the residents and business owners that they need and value," he said.

Brewery Seeing Steady Progress

From Green Wolf Brewery's newsletter:

Middleburgh's first microbrewery is getting closer to opening it's doors to the public.  We have come a long way, but still have much work to do before the brewery and taproom are bustling.

Here are some of the milestones we've already passed:

• Approval of our Federal Brewer's Notice & New York State Farm Brewery License.
• Successfully achieved our fund-raising goals.
• Found appropriate insurance coverage.
• Approval from local zoning and planning boards.
• Acquired all major brewing equipment.
• Begun to hoard various appliances, tools, furniture, and other accoutrements.
• Finalized the first seven beer styles to be brewed.
• Developed company logo & label designs.

The remaining hurdle is to get the space on Main Street finished.  The basic refit (sheet rock, finished ceilings, installing the bathrooms, rebuilding the front entrance, installing the dumb waiter, etc.) should be finished by the end of the year, with finishing work (hooking up the brewing equipment, building the bar, lighting, etc.) to be done in January.  

Hopefully we're brewing beer in February for an opening in March.  Or at least, that is the plan.  Look for a grand opening announcement some time after the new year.

The local support over this last year and a half has been inspiring, to say the least. It is heartening to be a part of such a special village and county.

Santa Coming to National Bank of Coxsackie

Santa is coming to National Bank of Coxsackie on December 19th from 3 pm to 5 pm. Stop in and get your picture taken free with Santa. All kids receive a candy cane and a special gift!

Middleburgh Welcomes Architect, Engineer

Middleburgh celebrated several big events on Saturday-- its annual Fall Harvest Festival brought hundreds, there was a dedication service for the deer mural on Main Street, and the welcoming of a new business on Railroad Avenue. Stony Creek Architecture and Hudson River Valley Engineers opened their doors last week and held a ribbon cutting today.

Middleburgh's Business Community Reaches Pre-Flood Level

The Village of Middleburgh has reached a major milestone in its recovery. Two years ago Hurricane Irene smashed much of Middleburgh's business district, leaving six merchants out of business.

Facing this crisis, the Village launched its ambitious business recovery program in April 2012 and is now seeing results. The initiative freed up projects in varying states of decay, including the recent closeout of the almost $200,000 NYS Main Street Grant and over $50,000 in zero percent loans. The project also created the Middleburgh Area Business Association and new events.

Now a year and a half into the program, a major milestone. Middleburgh has seen the number of businesses in the Village equal that of before Hurricane Irene. The news comes as the accounting services of Valley Tax and Accounting announced their opening on Main Street later this year. The owner, Francis Pipczynski, has been in negotiations with the Mayor's office for four months to replace the Joseph Muniz accounting services lost in the flood.

There are still other needs in the community, including a grocery store. Still, it is a large step in the right direction.

Village Closes Out Major Grant

Last Saturday, the Village closed out a major project to repair flood damage and get our business community back on its feet. Last year the new Village Board found five underdeveloped grant programs-- four of which were on the verge of expiration. One of the largest was the NYS Main Street Grant program. The grant was slated for a 2008 completion but was hardly touched until last year. Without the rescue, we would have lost the entirety of the remaining money.

Due to our efforts we've been able to rescue almost all of the money for our businesses and the character of the Village. On the business side, we've provided about $150,000 in grants to over a dozen businesses. Most of this money was used to fix or finance flood repairs.

 On the other hand, over $22,000 was used on various streetscape projects to make our Village really bloom. Included in the uses of the Main Street Grant are some great projects:

- The wildflower projects
- The Creekside Avenue Pavilion and picnic tables
- The visitor's kiosk in Creekside Park with quilt squares
- The Deer Mural and Welcome to Middleburgh murals on Dan Ross' building
- New signs for parks, the pool, and to welcome people into Middleburgh

 Special thanks to all of the businesses that helped make this happen!

Hardware Store Holding 125th Anniversary Celebration

The Middleburgh Hardware store is holding its 125th anniversary celebration on Saturday, August 24th between 2-7pm. All are invited for food and to share in the history of this dynamic business!

Scenes from Middleburgh Pride Day

Scenes from the July 6th community celebration.

Green Wolf Brewery, Middleburgh Featured on WNYT

The Village of Middleburgh was featured on WYNT tonight for its incoming business, Green Wolf Brewery. Both Justin Behan and myself were interviewed. Check it out here!

 

Village Assists New Businesses

The Village of Middleburgh is pleased to welcome Green Wolf Brewery into Main Street as part of the business development program. Owners Justin Behan and Chuck Manning's microbrewery will brew beer at a 62 gallon capacity each brew day. They will brew once or twice each week. Green Wolf was assisted by the Middleburgh Telephone Company, Middleburgh Area Business Association, and the Village of Middleburgh. The Village provided out of its zero percent loan program and a grant to help repair a flood damaged building. Mr. Behan wrote, "It is fantastic to see the outpouring of assistance from the village of Middleburgh." More information can be found greenwolfales.com. Green Wolf is planning a Fall 2013 opening.

 The Village also assisted Andrew Reightmyer in the opening of Andy's Tire and Alignment on Main Street. Mr. Reightmyer has opened in the former location of Den's Tire. His business is receiving the same loan program and grant. He is planning a grand opening later this year.

 These projects are part of the Village's wider economic recovery program, including over $170,000 in local business repairs through a Main Street Grant, $60,000 in zero percent loans (including those given here), $22,000 in beautification, and assistance from community groups. The grants process has been kickstarted in the last year and will be enough to finish the Theatre on Main Street later this year and the former Railway Depot on Maple Avenue.

Village Extends Main Street Grant

The Village of Middleburgh will be closing out its NYS Main Street Grant over the next five months. The project was awarded to the Village in 2005 for an expected 2008 completion. By 2012, after six extensions, almost none of the money meant to improve Middleburgh's scenery and provide money for local business improvements was expended. Last year there was a dash to get out about $150,000 in money to most businesses on Main Street to cover flood damage and beautification efforts and a further $20,000 for Village efforts such as signage and parks.

Upon the Village's request, almost $70,000 in unused funds will be forwarded to the Village to help with reimbursing flood damage. Of that money, about $2,500 will be used to complete the new pavilion on Baker Avenue, the dog park, and a new mural on Main Street. The rest will be granted to some of the local businesses that had already participated in the previous program  to help cover flood damage or other repairs. Without the Village's work, all of this money would have been lost.

Middleburgh Hosts Dinner

Middleburgh hosted March's Schoharie County Village Officer's dinner on March 27th. The dinner was held at Pasta and Grill on Main Street. Representatives from Sharon Springs, Middleburgh, Schoharie, and Esperance spoke of their community's progress in the last several months. Barbara Van Epps from the NYS Council of Mayors spoke about the state's two percent tax cap law. Approximately $500 was injected into Middleburgh's local economy.

Welcome Back to Four Star Realty Group

Tracy Boomhower, Licensed Real Estate Broker and Lisa Tenneson, Licensed Sales Associate, are proud to announce that they have reopened on Main Street in Middleburgh.

Previously located at 322 Main Street prior to the flood, they have moved just a few doors up to 308 Main Street on the corner of Main and Railroad Avenue and across from the Village offices. “We were fortunate that we were able to work with the owners of the building and design the space to be exactly what our growing real estate company needed.” The new space has individual desks for their agents, a waiting area, a main floor time desk and a small kitchenette area. It also has a conference room that can be utilized for real estate closings or just to offer more privacy when discussing your real estate transaction.

Martha

As Tracy Boomhower explained, “It was difficult after the flood because many of our calls are from out of the area, so although we didn’t have a physical office, the calls continued and we needed to move forward doing business as if nothing had happened. We temporarily moved the office to my home in Greenville, but soon after, we realized that we wanted to be back in Middleburgh. We are so pleased to finally be in our new space. It is great to be back and have an office to call home again!” Tracy and Lisa would also like to offer a huge Thank You to the community for their continued support.

Tracy

A grand re-opening is in the planning stages, but in the meantime, please stop by and visit them, check out the new office, relax and have a cup of coffee.

Lisa

“We have our eyes on the future and we are looking forward to bringing more agents on board and continuing to see our business grow.” Tracy and Lisa, as well as, Martha Crisafulli, a seasoned real estate veteran, at Four Star Realty Group are looking forward to continuing to serve all your real estate needs. Feel free to reach them at 518-702-4194 or check out their listings at
www.FourStarRealtyGroup.com

Rt 30 Welcomes the Natl Bank of Coxsackie

 
The National Bank of Coxsackie opened its newest branch here on Nov 3, 2012.  Gathered outside are, Asst VP Joseph Sinski, Assemblyman Pete Lopez, Bank President James Warren, Sr VP Mark Maraglio, Bank VP Donald Gardner, and Marketing Communications Manager Nicole Nazi.


Inside the bank, Pete Lopez spoke with Jim Warren and Joe Sinski, welcoming them to this area.  Some other branches of the National Bank of Coxsackie, in Greene County, are also in the assemblyman's wide-ranging district.

NYS Senator Jim Seward was on hand, talking with Jim Warren and Mark Maraglio. The bank president said he had been familiar with Middleburgh for years and, after studying the demographics of the area, it seemed to be a good fit for the bank. 



 Mr. Warren went on to say that it is the people who make a community, not the buildings. Senator Seward commented that the National Bank of Coxsackie is a great community bank and would be here for many years.

The bank lobby was very welcoming, festively decorated, and offered a variety of refreshments.  There were many bank employees on hand to answer any questions and several new accounts were opened. During the course of the day, the bank was visited by many residents and local officials.



Middleburgh Mayor Matt Avitabile said it was a step of economic progress for the community.



The ribbon cutting ceremony was scheduled for 1pm, with bank personnel and local officials participating in the moment.

Village Offering Website Design for Businesses

The Village of Middleburgh has offered its Commerce Association a means to help modernize with the development of low-cost websites. Through these sites, local businesses would be ranked on Google and other search engines, helping propel customers and to get information out. This would also bolster Middleburgh's exposure on the web. Sites would only cost $10 per year to host and those applying would be taught how to run them once up.

Mayor Avitabile is building the sites as part of the initiative to get Middleburgh's businesses back on their feet. Businesses and other community organizations are free to apply to the Village for website design. A small donation to the Business Association would be asked. A professionally done site could cost upwards of $1,000. Business Liasion and Trustee Adams has been very helpful in organizing the information for the businesses. Together with Manager Jamie Casterlin at NBT Bank, the Business Association will be holding a meeting to design a charter on Tuesday 24th at 7pm at the Village Hall.

Village Sends Out $3,300 for Business Relief

The Village of Middleburgh took another step towards helping the damaged businesses of the community. $3,300 from the Village Relief Fund was approved for disbursement by the Board at the July meeting. Mayor Avitabile's plan was announced at the Commerce Association's reorganizational meeting on June 26th. The program aids eleven businesses not included in the first payments in December. Then-Trustee Avitabile formed the fund in the aftermath of the flood that has dispersed about $20,000 to almost 70 flood victims. Former Trustee Butch Ingraham helped with the first round of payments while current Trustee Sheryl Adams has helped with coordinating with the businesses.

The Village has about $6,000 left in its fund that may be used for various relief purposes, including work on a grocery store or co-op.