Village to Vote on Dissolution

Middleburgh is planning a vote on whether or not to dissolve the Village of Middleburgh in February. The vote, slated for February 19, is a result of a petition circulated by Gary Hayes. Under a new state law, the vote has to take place and cannot include Town residents. A report on the effects of the dissolution will be mailed to the residents of both the Town and the Village in the coming week. A copy of the original petition can be found here. An affirmative vote would phase out the Village government over the next three years, dissolving the agencies within. Informational meetings are planned over the next two months.

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Season's Greetings

From the Village of Middleburgh, Merry Christmas to all!

Miracle on Main Street

Middleburgh's Miracle on Main Street always brings out a crowd.

There were carolers on the steps of the library.

Even though it was December 7th, Santa was in town. 

Even a little rain would not interfere with the festivities.

There was food and merriment everywhere,

and horse-drawn rides through the village.

Warming Up on Rt 30

 

 

When Helderberg Stove & Fireplace arrived on Rt 30 in Middleburgh, owners Joe Haile and John Conwell were just in time to get ahead of the cold winter weather.  You can stop by their roasty, toasty showroom or visit on helderbergstoves.com.  They will be happy to show you around. 

  In addition to a variety of stoves, they have pellets, and carry accessories including repair kits.  You can even schedule service calls!  At this time of year, that warm glow from a wood, pellet, gas, or multi-fuel unit is cozy and welcoming. 

Since opening day, October 5th, 2012,  they have established hours at 4pm to7pm Tuesdays through Fridays, but on the weekends they are open 9am to 4pm on Saturdays and 10am to 2pm on Sundays.

As members of the new Middleburgh Area Business Association, they are participating in the First Holiday Shopping promotion tied in to the "Miracle on Main Street" events.  When this stove was sold, Shannon Conwell helped fill out shopping coupons for their customer's chance to win a prize in the drawing.



Veteran's Day 2012

On a pleasant Sunday afternoon, Middleburgh gathered to commemorate Veteran's Day.  Members of the VFW, including the Ladies Auxiliary, participated in the ceremony.  The flag was raised, a prayer was offered, words were read about the commitment our armed services gave to the country, acknowledgment was given about the debt we owe for that service, and a wreath was laid at the memorial.

Members of the VFW got together for a group photo at the conclusion of the ceremony and invited everyone to join them at the Middleburgh Diner for coffee.

SALT's Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Coming this month from SALT: It is for the entire county and will be held at the Days Inn and Suites Schoharie, 160 Holiday Way, Schoharie, NY 12157. To RSVP for the dinner, to donate, or to volunteer, please call the Office for the Aging at 295-2001, Monday - Friday 8 am - 5pm. Volunteers are needed on Wednesday, November 21, in preparation of the meal on Thursday. The meal is the 25th Annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner

When: Nov. 22, 2012—1:00 PM
Where: Days Inn, Schoharie, NY
(Former Holiday Inn Express)

Storm Aid's Next Event

The flood recovery group Storm Aid is holding its next event soon. It will be the Fabulous Fifties .Saturday, November 17th 5:00—9:00p.m at the Scotia Diner 114 Mohawk Avenue Scotia, NY 12302 (518) 372-9776 The Area’s Only 50’s Retro Diner! Admission: $15 Donation (Includes 50’s Style meal) Thank you for your support!

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.

On the Lookout for Horses

The twenty horses lost in Hurricane Irene have still not been found. They had been lost near Breakabeen after a fence broke in the storm. If you see them (and it looks like they may be near Fulton) call Leland Neff at 827-8767.

Luck and Preparation

 

 

 

The morning after Hurricane Sandy hit the Schoharie Valley, this was a view of the Schoharie Creek from Middleburgh.  The Creek was at its banks, and potentially threatening farmland.  As we have learned since then, 527 National Grid Customers in our area lost power, but by comparison, that wasn't too bad, compared to the more than 8 million who lost power all over the East Coast.  There are few communities that can sympathize more genuinely for New Jersey, New York City, and Long Island than Middleburgh and Schoharie after the devastation we suffered from Hurricane Irene and tropical storm Lee just over a year ago.

The Gilboa Dam was only a few feet below flood stage as Hurricane Sandy approached.  It was through the diligent efforts of our assemblyman, Pete Lopez, that an unprecedent action was taken --- to release water through the Shandaken Tunnel to lower the level at the Gilboa Dam.  The heart of Schoharie Valley was spared this time, through luck and through preparation.  Hopefully we won't have to face this again any time soon.

Preparing for Hurricane Sandy

On Friday, October 26, 2012, an afternoon press conference was held in front of the Schoharie County office buildings.  Assemblyman Pete Lopez, Mayor Matt Avitabile of Middleburgh, Mayor John Borst of Schoharie, and many other officials were there to address their concerns about the impending arrival of Hurricane Sandy.  Among other topics, details were given about steps being planned to open the Shandaken Tunnel between the Ashokan and Schoharie Reservoirs to lower the water level at the Gilboa Dam.

At the Municpal Building in Middleburgh, Mayor Matt Avitabile discusses with volunteers the weekend house-to-house distribution in the village of a flyer with emergency contact phone numbers and a notification that, in the event it becomes necessary, the village hall will serve as an emergency center on Tuesday, October 30 after the arrival of Hurricane Sandy.

Getting Ready for Tropical Storm Sandy

PREPARING FOR THE WORST EVEN AS WE HOPE FOR THE BEST

With Tropical Storm Sandy heading our way and reaching our area by Tuesday, we have all learned since Hurricane Irene. The Village is implementing our revised Emergency Action Plan in case of severe weather this coming week. While conditions are different from the ones that we faced last year, this letter is meant to provide useful information no matter what the effects of the storm are.

There is an evacuation center opening at the Elementary School in case you need to leave your home. This center will be ready for an extended stay with food and supplies. The Village Hall at 309 Main Street will serve as the Emergency Center. Starting Tuesday it will be open past normal hours, up to 24 if necessary. Here, the Village will have food, information, and volunteers ready for anyone that needs it. Both the Fire Department and Department of Public Works are also taking precautions.

In case of an evacuation, there are different options open for your family. Both Cotton Hill Road and Huntersland offer routes to get out in case the Schoharie Creek overflows. The priority for evacuation should come through last year's experience: if you are in the flood plain, you may consider temporary evacuation on Tuesday, it is NOT mandatory. Even if you are not currently planning on leaving, there are steps to take to be prepared in case of severe flooding. In both your home and car, leave some non-perishable food, candles, blankets, and bottled water. You should keep your gas tank full, preferably filling by Monday.

In case you need more information, below are important phone numbers to call:

Non-Emergency and Local Info: 211

Middleburgh Fire Department: 827-5277

Schohare County Emergency Management: 295-2276

Schoharie County Sheriff: 295-8114

Village Office (Local Emergency Center): 827-5143

Middleburgh Elementary School: 827-3677

Mayor Avitabile (cell): 763-6854

National Grid: (800) 642-4272

Middleburgh blog: www.middleburghny.blogspot.com

As with Irene, we will be on top of important information. Information will be given out through various means, similar to this letter and through the news media. In case you hear rumors or are unsure about certain things, please contact one of the numbers in the list to make sure.

We are tracking the storm and hope that the main portion falls south. However, please take precaution even as we hope for the best.

Preparing for Hurricane Sandy

UPDATED HERE: http://middleburghny.blogspot.com/2012/10/getting-ready-for-tropical-storm-sandy.html

The Village is preparing vital information to be released door to door. This will include where to go, evac urgency, routes, safety precautions, emergency contact, and others based on what we learned from running the response last time. If you would like to help distribute, let me know.

As for some good news:

Through Assemblyman Lopez's office, we have made progress. NYC has agreed to release 600 million gallons of water daily from the Gilboa Reservoir to the Ashokan Reservoir to the south. This will not solve all of our issues, but it will reduce the pressure on the Gilboa and the Power Authority dams. There is excess capacity in the other dams that can reduce our load further should we be inundated.

We are preparing for the worst, even if the storm moves out of our immediate pathway.

We will keep the Village Office open on Tuesday after normal hours, possibly 24 hours as the municipal response center. We will have volunteers, food, and information ready for anyone that needs it. The Elementary School will be open as a shelter. We will monitor and try to open others as we get closer.

For quick updates, you may call or text (prefer text in case I'm in a meeting) me at 518-763-6854. I will try to keep this page updated as much as possible.

Second Volunteer Day Aids Five Projects

The Village of Middleburgh held its second volunteer day after the Fall Festival Parade. Organized by Mayor Avitabile, twenty volunteers came to help on five projects in and around the Village to clean flood damage. Many of the volunteers came from SUNY Oneonta's Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Its Community Service Chair Richard Cebada stated that the group wanted to come back and work on future projects. The Village is planning on planning on another volunteer day in the coming months.

Members of Phi Kappa Psi and Middleburgh resident Steve Fiero help on Straub Lane.

Middleburgh October Meeting Highlights

The Village of Middleburgh held its regular meeting on Monday, October 1st. During the meeting, the Board heard reports on various grant projects involving the Village. This included the next round of disbursements to Main Street businesses. The Village is also applying for a state grant to provide public infrastructure, including sidewalks, to encourage students to walk to school. VISTA partner Donald Osei-Owusu was present to speak about his year interning with the Village. Mr. Osei-Owusu is working with the businesses and charity groups on flood recovery and economic development. Trustee Morton suggested an expansion of the community garden. The Village set the next volunteer day on Saturday, October 6th. The Board also heard ideas from Maureen Blanchard on expanding farmer's market presence in the community while encouraging healthy living through the County. This could include grant money used for new crosswalks and involvement with the Schoharie Fresh program. 

There was a discussion with members of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church about the parking situation near the parish. Residents had complained about the parking situation along Chestnut Lane and Wells Avenue. In the last year, two accidents occurred near the parking lot on Chestnut. Fire Chief Devlin mentioned that parking during services rendered Wells Avenue essentially a one-way street and could hinder response to an emergency. Mayor Avitabile and Trustee Tinker voted to keep handicapped parking on Wells Avenue near the church. Trustees Adams, Morton, and Gruning voted to eliminate parking along Wells Avenue, citing three lots used by the Church that were not usually filled.

Meeting of the Mayors

Cobleskill Mayor Mark Galasso sat down with Middleburgh's Matthew Avitabile and Deputy Mayor Thomas Gruning for an informal chat on Thursday, October 4th. The meeting at the Cobleskill Village office centered around ways the two municipalities could work together. These included Cobleskill's recent success in consolidation efforts. Mayor Galasso explained Cobleskill's improving tax outlooks and further plans to bring the Town and Village governments closer together. The Middleburgh contingent also discussed the possibility of using the Village of Cobleskill police under contract in the future. There were no solid plans, but opened options for cooperation between the two Villages. Mayor Galasso said that the meeting was positive while Deputy Mayor Gruning stated that it was informative. Avitabile and Gruning plan on meeting with Schoharie Mayor John Borst in the near future to discuss similar outlooks.

Next Meeting October 1st

The next meeting of the Middleburgh Village Board will be October 1st at 7pm at the Municipal Building on 309 Main Street. On the agenda will include Middleburgh's volunteer day on October 6th, plans for sidewalk repairs next year, and a discussion on the parking situation on Wells Avenue. All are invited.

Volunteer Day Set for October 6th

The Village of Middleburgh is holding its second volunteer day on October 6th. The volunteer projects will start after the parade. For more information, call Mayor Avitabile at 763-6854. There are at least four projects ready at the moment. If you need a project done within the Village, please call the number above. Volunteers are also needed. Even if you can only do an hour or two, that would be of great help to those that need it.

Mayor Speaks to MCS Government Class

Being one of the only editors of the community blog leaves me in the awkward situation of having to write about myself. Most articles are written in the third person, but for this time I'll write it as it happened yesterday.

On September 25 I spoke to Mr. Kopff's Participation in Government class, made up of mainly 11th and 12th graders. I had taken the course myself, back in the day, and was happy to share my insights with his students. While there I discussed the responsibilities of being Mayor, especially trying to tie up many issues stemming from the flood or projects that should have been done years ago. On top of this, I talked about the process of becoming Mayor and why it's worth it. To see visible improvements just a year after Irene and knowing that the community is coming back strong makes the job all the better.

One thing that I wanted to impart was that this was a job open for anyone with a commitment to the community. You cannot make a difference here without hard work and stubborn desire to make Middleburgh better. I challenged the students to find one thing to make Middleburgh a better place to live. As all of the 1,500 people of the community continued the great work of rebuilding, we can provide the opportunity for the next generation.

United Methodist Church Continues Flood Aid

From the United Methodist Church of Middleburgh:

The UMC in Middleburgh continues to host volunteer teams from around the country. We are also fielding local volunteers on Mondays and Wednesdays. Site management is done by Jack Hill from the Valley Falls UMC and local volunteer coordination/case management is handled by Pastor Carol Coltrain. There is a six unit shower trailer onsite in Middleburgh for use by volunteers - arrangements for use can be made with Carol. On Nov. 8-10 , 2012 - the Middleburgh UMC will be hosting a Youth gathering with anticipated attendance of 100+ teenagers. They will have a community workday on Nov. 10, hopefully together with SALT.

For more information, please call Greg Forrester at 607-756-7799.

Mayor's Commitment Honored for Schoharie's 300th

In what might be one of the few cases of Middleburgh and Schoharie's 300 years of "rivalry" thawing, the two communities came together for Schoharie's anniversary celebration.

Referring to the two Village's relationship as a "friendly rivalry," Mayor John Borst opened Schoharie's 300th Anniversary celebration with a speech. Recounting the bravery and time of Schoharie's residents and volunteers, Mayor Borst believes that Schoharie is as strong as ever.

Mayor Borst also had a surprise in store. The Mayor cited the commitment of nearby Middleburgh in his speech, and hoped for more cooperation in the time to come. He presented Mayor Avitabile with the key to Schoharie.

"It's an honor," said Mayor Avitabile, "But the thanks has to go to the people of Middleburgh and Schoharie that brought our communities back from Irene."

Middleburgh Announces Recovery Program

The Village of Middleburgh has launched several new projects included in a program intended to erase much of the damage of Irene. By working on these since April, the Village has been able to start the following:
- Through a Main Street Block Grant, $150,000 is being distributed to various businesses on and around Main Street. About twenty businesses are benefiting from the NYS grant money, with amounts ranging from $1,300 to $10,000. Trustee Sheryl Adams worked with the Schoharie County Planning Department to complete the project.
- Middleburgh is offering $50,000 in loans of one percent or less out of the Small Cities Block Grant. All businesses affected by the flood are welcome to apply to the Village for the loans, which will be distributed by a need basis. This was the brainchild of Trustee Bob Tinker.
- $10,000 from the Small Cities grant money will be set aside to encourage any new businesses, especially a grocery or pharmacy.
- A dramatic Main Street renewal project. $22,500 from the Main Street Grant will be used for new benches, garbage cans, flags, and other beautification works such as signs, flowers, flags, and the like. The following year, the Village plans on reworking many of the sidewalks along the business district. A new mural under the supervision of Trustee Bill Morton is expected on Main Street by next summer.
- A full time VISTA volunteer from SALT will be acting as an intern at the Village office. Working 40 hours a week, this volunteer will specialize in organizing the business community, events, and applying for grants. The VISTA partner will aid Middleburgh until the end of August 2013.

"This is a huge step forward," said Mayor Avitabile, "And the entire project will not require any tax increases." Trustee Sheryl Adams had been working on the Main Street grant and is largely responsible for it coming to fruition.

Members of the business community are enthused. This also comes as the Creekside Park project, originally slated for a 2004 opening, has just been completed. With the aid of the Middleburgh Telephone Company, the Village is planning on having the Depot Museum and Badgely Park renovations done by next summer.

These multi-stage rebuilding projects are part of a bigger plan, said the Mayor. "The Governor's office wrote the Village a comprehensive economic plan in 2005, but it was ignored. It's time to get the wheels turning again." Within the next year, the Village will propose a new economic plan, along with SALT and the new Middleburgh Business Association.

New Solar Panels in Village

The Village of Middleburgh has just become a little greener. Two sets of solar panels have been installed on the corner of Wells Avenue and Grove Street. The proud owner, Dr. Roy Korn, says that the panels are guaranteed for 25 years and may continue operating for 40. Just installed last month, the panels are another step towards green energy entering the Valley.

These are the second set of solar panels in the Village. Frank Monaco of Indian Acres placed his own set several years ago.

New Volunteer Day Needs Projects

The Village of Middleburgh is aiming to have its second volunteer day in September or October. Anyone with any projects requiring physical labor should contact the Village Hall at 827-5143 and leave a description and contact information.

Village Completes Creekside Park

The Village of Middleburgh has just completed its Baker Avenue Creekside Park on September 6th. The new park encompasses much of the area behind the library and leading to the Little Schoharie Creek at the end of the street. The park includes the community garden, benches, a new parking lot, and access to the creek. Hopes are that this new park can be used in conjunction with any projects the Middleburgh Library may use its newly acquired plot for. The park is also visible from the historical mural completed in July. The Creekside Park was part of a grant program originally scheduled for completion by 2004.

Trustee Morton tending his plot

The Mayor with some of the bounty

The community garden is modeled after the Victory Gardens established during World War II. The garden affords an opportunity for residence of the village and town of Middleburgh to have a plot of land to grow vegetables and flowers for their own use. The plots range in size from either 20 ft. by 20 ft. or 20 ft. by 40 ft. An annual fee of $15 will be charged for the smaller plot and $25 will be charged for the larger plot. The fees are necessary in order to rent equipment for tilling the soil. The Village's community garden is situated on very fertile soil that is almost free of stones. The Village is encouraging those who are interested in having a garden plot next spring to contact Village Trustee Bill Morton at 827-4343 for further details.

Fundraiser at the Track

Middleburgh, Schoharie, Prattsville, and Schenectady were invited to the Saratoga Raceway for the NY Racing Association to donate $5000 for flood victims while accepting donations from patrons. Mayor Avitabile and Deputy Mayor Gruning were there for the honors on August 31st.

Middleburgh Celebrates 300 Years

Middleburgh's 300th celebration from August 4-6 was a success, garnering hundreds of onlookers and many exhibits for visitors. Some photos from the weekend. (Photo credit Sheila Donegan)

Storm Aid helped raise money for flood victims

On former Mayor Wilkens' lawn

The beard competition

Civil War band

Main Street

Assemblyman Lopez's speech

Village Board

Middleburgh Challenges Agencies on Irene

The Village of Middleburgh believes that there need to be answers from some New York State and City agencies over their role before and during last year's flooding. Letters have been sent to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection that runs the Gilboa Dam, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the NYS Power Authority. The letters ask if proper procedure had been followed and if there were plans in motion that could prevent another disaster from occurring.

"We owe this to the volunteers and flood victims," said Mayor Avitabile. "Their efforts have brought us back-- we need to make sure that the same is being given from these larger agencies." In particular, Middleburgh wants to find out if procedure had been followed by the Power Authority when it allegedly let water out of its earthen dam in Blenheim.

The letter in part reads, "Middleburgh and its surrounding communities request that your organization review flood and emergency protocol to ensure that future events do not approach the level of damage of Irene and Lee."

"I hope that this is a precedent for the other municipalities and the County to follow," the Mayor said.

Charities Well Represented at 300th

A series of charities brought their message of giving to both the 300th Anniversary and Arts and Crafts festivals in Middleburgh. Storm Aid 2011 has been raising thousands of dollars for affected residents of four Upstate counties since Irene and was represented by various members.

So was Fields of Grace Outreach, which has helped many lives with its Rooms of Hope program. Also represented was Project Hope.

The celebrations were a success and a testament to how far Middleburgh has come in the last year.

August Village Board Meeting

August has gotten off to a great start in Middleburgh. The 300th Anniversary celebration was well attended, including guests Peter Lopez, Jim Seward, Chris Gibson, Paul Tonko, and State Historian Bob Wiebel. The Village held its meeting on Monday August 6th. The Village Board expressed interest in placing a stop sign coming down MT Path at the junction of Union Street. The Village would like to remind residents not to park in no-parking zones along Chestnut Lane and Wells Avenue and to slow for children at play. The Village Business Association also held a successful meeting in July to shape a charter. The Village is nearly done with the Creekside Park project, which was originally slated to be completed by 2004. The Board also agreed to send letters to New York State and New York City agencies pressing them to revise their flood plans, especially as pertaining to the Power Authority and Gilboa Dam. There was discussion on how to attract a grocery store, with Mayor Avitabile stating that he had reached out to various parties about it and a pharmacy.

Successful Arts and Crafts Festival

Middleburgh had another successful Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday, July 28th. Dozens of crafters, charities, and vendors were represented at the well-trafficked event. Below are some pictures shared with us from the Flying Song Garden:

All eyes are on the 300th Anniversary celebration this weekend, August 3, 4, and 5.

Pictures of the Middleburgh Mural

Unveiled July 4th:

Patricia Brancoforte working on the mural

Blanding's Turtle Visits Middleburgh

A turtle normally native to the Finger Lakes region and the border with Canada was a visitor to the Schoharie Creek today. The little guy was seen on Main Street and was transported to the future site of the Tim Murphy monument on the Schoharie Creek by a wellwisher.

Photo credit: USGS

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.

Middleburgh Summer Band Concerts

On the MCS High School Lawn from 8-9pm.

Friday July 20- Ice cream social at the Lutheran Church
Friday July 27- Ice cream social at the Reformed Church
Friday August 3- Ice cream social at the Methodist Church

Rehearsals are held in the MCS High School from 6:30-8:30pm the Thursday night before the concert. Members needed-- grab and instrument and join us!

Information Available at the Village Hall

The Village Hall is distributing various fliers and forms of information for those that may need it. These include:

- FEMA information
- 300th Anniversary information
- Maps of Schoharie County
- Municipal pool information

Please stop by Monday through Friday from 9am to noon and 1pm to 3pm for more information.

Middleburgh 300th Anniversary Schedule

Friday, August 3rd:

- Art/Antique/Quilt Show- 10am to 5pm at MCS High School Gym
- Best House Tours
- Ice Cream Social- 7pm at High School Lawn
- Band Concert
- Restaurant Week

Saturday, August 4th:

- Architectural walk of River Street- 9am
- Art/Antique/Quilt Show- 10am to 5pm at MCS High School Gym
- Stamp Cancellation- 9am to 12pm at Middleburgh Library
- Parade- 11am
- Awarding of Prizes- Brothers of the Brush and parade winners
- Musical concerts on MCS front lawn
- Old Thyme Baseball Game
- Old Timers Softball Game (Middleburgh vs. Schoharie)
- Youth Activities 1pm to 4pm
- Schoharie Valley Concert Band Concert- Front lawn of MCS
- Fireworks- 9:30 MCS high school athletic field

Sunday, August 5th:

- Ecumenical church service- 11am at front lawn of high school
- Community picnic following service
- Art/Antique/Quilt Show- 1pm to 5pm at MCS High School Gym
- Cemetery tours
- Memorial service at cemetery

Saturday, August 11th:

- Vroman's Nose hike

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.

Upcoming Historical Society Events

July 21, 2012 Picnic @ Huntersland Schoolhouse
12 noon Bring covered dish and a chair

August 4,5,6 2012
2012 Town of Middleburgh 300th Anniversary:
Band Concerts, Ice Cream Social, Fireworks, Art/Antique/Quilt Show, Parade, Old Thyme Baseball, History Documentary, “Bridging The Years”, Church Services, Youth Activities, Memorability, 5K Run, Hike Vromans Nose Restaurant Week, Stamp Cancellation and more

August 4, 2012 Architecture Tour of River Street
9:00am Howard Bartholomew, Leader

August 28, 2012 Wes Laraway’s Animal Rescue Farm
6:00pm Tailgate Party

September 25, 2012 Show and Tell
7:00 pm Refreshments- Matthew Coltrain and Fred
Pomygalski

October 23, 2012 Karen Cuccinello – Schoolhouses
7:00pm Refreshments – Pat White and Diane France

November 27, 2012 Christmas Decorations
7:00 pm Refreshments – MEN

December 8, 2012 Victorian Tea @ Best House
1 to 4 pm Bring Cookies

January 22, 2013 Pot Luck Supper

July Village Board Meeting

The Village of Middleburgh held its regular meeting on July 2nd. Trustee Adams reported on the successful business association meeting and plans for developing it further. Trustee Morton reported that the mural project on Main Street was completed. An unveiling was held on July 4th. Board members discussed traffic signage. Mayor Avitabile presented a plan that was approved by the Board to dispense ten checks totaling $3,000 from the Village Relief Fund for businesses that did not receive money from the first round last December.

Village Distributing More Flood Funds

The Middleburgh Village Board approved a second round of flood relief money. The money from the Village Relief Fund will reach businesses not included in the first round, conducted in December. This money will help ten establishments at a rate of $300 each. It serves as another reminder of the Village's commitment to the flood victims, even almost a year after the devastation.

Mural Unveiled

The Village of Middleburgh unveiled its beautiful new mural on Main Street on Wednesday, July 4th. The ceremony was attended by about 50 people and is on the side of the Artisans' Gallery building, owned by Rich and Heather Villegi.

The mural depicts various scenes from Middleburgh's history. The Mural Committee was headed by Village Trustee Bill Morton. The project had help from various local artists, including Gladyl Gardner, Patty Turner, Bonnie Morton, and Patricia Brancoforte. There was help from various organizations, like Rotary, MEVAC, St. Mark's Church, Bush Lumber, the Arts and Crafts festival and others.

Residents were enthusiastic. Trustee Morton offered his "profound thanks," while former judge Jim Spencer stated that the mural was a "jewel in the crown of Middleburgh." Mayor Avitabile said that the project is yet another that has been completed over the last several months.

Timothy Murphy Playhouse Summer 2012 Schedule

The Timothy Murphy Playhouse is putting on the following productions this summer:

Aladdin Jr., a children's musical:

July 28 7pm
July 29 2pm and 7pm

Kiss Me, Kate, Community musical production:

August 10 7pm
August 11 7pm
August 12 2pm

All shows are at the Middleburgh High School.

Village Reforming Merchants Association

The Village of Middleburgh held a meeting to re-form the Middleburgh Merchants Association, which has been defunct since around 2003. The Village Board hosted about 20 people during the meeting, including members of the public and many of the community's businesses. Represented at the meeting were officers from the Rotary and Renaissance Council. Dan Merrill from National Grid gave a presentation on programs to make businesses more energy efficient. Mayor Avitabile mentioned that he had asked National Grid for money to help repair store fronts and fix the clock in front of the Library.

Dan Merrill from National Grid presents options for businesses to save on energy costs 

Various topics were discussed, including the organization of any such association and its activities. Most business owners agreed that the group should be loose, and not a chamber of commerce. There was also discussion on possible events to bring more people into the Village. One concern that was addressed was the need for a grocery store. The Mayor presented the chains that the Village had contacted to come into the community. One potential plan is to have the Great American from Cairo move into the old Grand Union Building.

In addition, there was wide consensus on the need for more parking. Some suggested moving Middleburgh to a two-hour parking schedule. The business leaders agreed with a plan to turn the former NAPA building into a parking lot. To offset the loss of one property, the Village is planning to sell or lease its lot behind the NAPA for another business to come in.

The meeting was organized by Mayor Avitabile, Jamie Casterlin, the Branch Manager at NBT Bank, and Trustee and Business Liaison Sheryl Adams. Adams and Trustee Tinker organized seventeen different members for the Merchants Association. Trustee Adams said, "Hopefully this will be a turning point for the businesses and Village to work together."

Another meeting is being set up to discuss a possible charter. The Village has taken the lead on the project and would like to build upon it to create a medium to long-term economic plan for Middleburgh.

Middleburgh Hosts Officers Dinner

The Village of Middleburgh hosted the June meeting of the Schoharie County Village Officers Association. The Village chose Mrs. K's Kitchen as its eatery for the thirty people attending. The event helped the different Village governments communicate ideas and events and pumped about $750 into the local economy.

Volunteer Day a Success

The Village of Middleburgh organized its first volunteer day since the aftermath of Irene and Lee on Saturday. About 30 volunteers worked on eight projects in and around the Village. This effort was joined by the Middleburgh Library. Led by Mayor Avitabile, Trustees Gruning and Morton, and Steve LaMont, the volunteers were able to repair various scars left from the flood. Volunteers led by Morton, Gruning, and LaMont removed debris from the Schoharie Creek near the Library, as well as gravel and dirt from other sites. The Mayor mowed lawns of flood abandoned properties and planted flowers. Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church served lunch to the volunteers and added to the sense of community. SALT helped organize some of the volunteers.

Trustee Gruning and Volunteers at the Library

"It's yet another sign that things are finally getting done." Mayor Avitabile said. The reopening ceremony of the Village pool was the same day. In addition, the wall along River Street is being repaired and should be done by August 1. LaMont lauded the initiative, "It is very admirable that people travel long distances to help others week after week. It is a perfect reminder that we do live in a great place."

The large mower was donated by Village Code Enforcement Officer Lloyd Stannard. One volunteer donated an additional wheelbarrow to the Village. The Village will consider another volunteer day for this or next year. The amount of debris in the Village has been significantly reduced in the last several months, as the Village's free dumpster program removed much of the remaining brush and damaged items. The Village is also working with the County's initiative to hire temporary workers to remove many of the remaining scars of last year's storms.