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.