Community Wellness Fair January 10th

Have you thought about your New Year's Resolution? The Community Wellness Fair is the PERFECT opportunity to find all of the best resources right here in Schoharie County! Maybe you would like to take up a new hobby or learn a new way to relax? How about trying a new exercise class? Whatever your goal or interest there will be something here for you!

 This event is FREE at the Middleburgh Library on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 9:00am - 2:00pm! There will be raffle tickets for sale at the door for a variety of prizes from our generous vendors. If your business or organization would like to join us, please email Amber Shultes at ambershultes@yahoo.com or call 827-6046

More information here.

Take the Comprehensive Plan Survey

All residents and property owners are welcome to fill out the Survey for the Comprehensive Plan.

It will be used to build the next Town-Village Comprehensive Plan. It can be found here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MiddleburghSurvey

There is a public hearing about the plan at 7pm on October 22nd at the Elementary School. All are invited to attend.

Janet Mayer Retirement Celebration on the 18th

The retirement celebration for Janet Mayer will take place next weekend at the Middleburgh Fire House. Bring a plate of cookies and well wishes for Janet, who is stepping down after serving Middleburgh for 41 years. The event will be from 1-3. All are invited.

Quilt Show to Benefit Library October 10-12th

A Quilt Show by the Schoharie County Piecemakers Quilt Guild will benefit the Middleburgh Library this weekend. The event, slated for 10am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday and 12-3pm on Sunday will be held at the Library and Best House. Entry is $5 at both locations. Donations are appreciated.

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.

New Welcome to Middleburgh Sign Near Bridge

A new Welcome to Middleburgh sign was placed by the Village crew near the bridge. The sign in Tim Murphy Park was paid for through the NY Main Street Grant.

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!

Library Book Sale Saturday

The  Middleburgh Library Annual Book Sale will be held on  Saturday, July 26, from 9:00 to 1:00. 

We have a great selection of books, fiction, non-fiction, and children’s.  Also DVD's, CD’s and Audio Books.       

2nd Annual Heritage Day Set for June 14th

Tomorrow, Middleburgh will celebrate its second annual Heritage Day, sponsored by the Village of Middleburgh and the Middlebrugh Area Business Association.

Among the events will be:

• Exhibits at the businesses
• MCS Rountable Pulled Pork fundraiser starting at noon
• Technopalooza on the school lawn
• MABA scavenger hunt
• Sloughter 5k Run
• Baker Avenue Creekside Park pavilion mural unveiling at noon
• Fish Tales and Fur pet store grand opening at 1pm

Boy Scout Troop 2 Fundraiser June 1st

Boy Scout Troop 2 is raising money for camping equipment. There is a spaghetti dinner Sunday June 1st 5pm-7pm at the Middleburgh Reformed Church. $8 anyone 12 to 54 $5 anyone under 12 and over 54 Serving spaghetti with meatballs, salad, bread and dessert. Please contact Camilla Hannmann for tickets or any questions.

New Mural Opens in Creekside Park

The brainchild of Trustee William Morton and painted by local artist Patricia Broncoforte, the fourth mural in Middleburgh opened today in Creekside Park on Baker Avenue. Trustee Morton was helped by George Brathauer and Claude Brown in putting it up yesterday.

Sixth Volunteer Day Aids Two Projects

Another volunteer day assisted two projects on Railroad and Wells Avenue. The five volunteers from the Phi Theta Kappa fraternity at SUNY Oneonta assisted in the rebuilding of two projects. They have been to Middleburgh five times in the last two years.

Village Launches Wildflower Website

The Village of Middleburgh has launched a site highlighting its famous wildflowers and designating the community as the "wildflower capital of New York State." The site, found here, promotes the project that was created by Trustee William Morton. Visitors can donate, find out more information, and see where the plots will be this year. The site design was done for free by Mayor Avitabile and the flowers themselves should start springing up in July.

Fifth Volunteer Day Helps Three Projects

The Village of Middleburgh held its fifth volunteer day since 2012. Members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity of SUNY Oneonta helped on three projects around town.

Photo credit: Sheila Donegan.

Pavilion Opens in Middleburgh

A joint effort of the Rotary and Knights of Columbus has led to a new picnic pavilion in the Timothy Murphy Park. Yesterday's event brought together 40 people for the ribbon cutting of the replacement of the pavilion destroyed in 2011.

Photo credit Sheila Donegan

Spring 2014 Wildflower Fundraiser

Spring 2014 Wildflower Fundraiser

The Village of Middleburgh is pleased to announce that the wildflower project will be continued and expanded in 2014. This year we are fortunate to have assistance from Catholic Charities, which is providing volunteer manpower to help with preparation of the wildflower plots and expansion of new plots. Several homeowners have also graciously volunteered their front lawns for private participation in this project.

In addition, we are also excited to announce a new facet of our flower project involving the establishment of a rose garden. Two volunteers, Laura and Bill Milak have eagerly offered their services to oversee the development of a rose garden in the Timothy Murphy Park across the Schoharie Creek. Both are master gardeners and have been involved with the Schenectady Rose Garden for years, considered the second most prestigious rose garden in the United States.

Residents of Middleburgh are welcomed to participate. Homeowners with property along River Street and Main Street are encouraged to establish a patch of wildflowers in their front yards to create a visible expansion of the project. Lastly, all those that have a connection with Middleburgh are encouraged to donate to the project. Any money would go a long way towards the success of the wildflower project and the rose garden. Please send any checks to the Village Hall, PO Box 789, Middleburgh NY 12122.

- Trustee William B. Morton

No Tax Increase for 2014

The budget that I've presented to the Village Board for the April 7th meeting has a lot of good in it. The 2014-2015 budget will include no tax increases for the third consecutive year-- the first time this has happened since between 1997 and 2000.

Some highlights in the budget:

- $2,000 more for funding Middleburgh's park projects, spearheaded by Trustee Bill Morton.
- A $20,000 one-time increase in Fire Department funding for long-needed repairs in the firehouse.
- Additional funding for street and sidewalk repair.
- Putting aside additional money for the Youth Commission, which runs the pool and summer programs.

These policies have saved homeowners a significant amount. The previous administration raised taxes an average of 2.66% per year. Zero tax increases compared to that rate means that the average homeowner has saved $139 over the last three years.

DCC to Hold 9th Annual Annual Meeting

The Dam Concerned Citizens will be holding its ninth annual meeting on Tuesday, April 8th at 7pm at the Fultonham Union Church on Route 30. Representatives from the NYC DEP will speak on the Gilboa Dam renovation progress and the operations support tools that the organization is putting into place. There will be news about the three proposed USGS dam gauges along the Schoharie Creek. All are invited.

Fourth Volunteer Day Aids Three Office Spaces

Three office spaces in the Village were worked on yesterday, March 22nd by over a dozen volunteers, mainly coming from the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity from SUNY Oneonta. SALT provided the materials for the projects. The group has assisted in two other volunteer days. This is the fourth volunteer day that we've organized since I took office two years ago and this has been a wonderful way to fix up flood damage and raise community spirit!

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!

Free Health Screening April 9th

The Cancer Services Program of Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties is offering FREE health screenings to women 40 and older who are uninsured. There will be a FREE screening at The National Bank of Coxsackie Middleburgh Branch on Wednesday, April 9th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 1-888-345-0225 for your appointment.

Community Welcoming New Flood Recovery Partner

The Village is proud to report that we will have another VISTA Volunteer to aid us with flood recovery. Starting tomorrow, the secretary of the Business Association and good friend Sheila Donegan will start at the office. She will work for both regional and local development, including coordinating volunteers, grant efforts, and other tasks. She follows Donald Osei-Owusu, who organized business initiatives, volunteer days, and worked with me on a bunch of grant proposals. Sheila is working through SALT, which has been instrumental in this and many other recovery projects in the area.

Middleburgh Quarterly Newsletter-- Feburary 2014 Edition

The following was sent out in the February water bills.

Village of Middleburgh Community Newsletter

January 2014

The Village has been hard at work on multiple projects to make the community a better place. Included in the list of projects are the following:

• After cooperation between the Village, Department of Public Works, and the Fire Department the skating rink in Bagley Park is open for the first time since 2003. The rink is open from dawn till dusk.
• The Village is encouraging residents to drop off their unused skates at the Village Hall at 309 Main Street for a skate loan program.
• The Village applied for a grant to improve lighting near the Elementary and High Schools to make the area safer.
• The Library held its first annual Health and Wellness Fair January 11th.
• The Village added another business, Valley Tax and Accounting at 296 Main Street. Their number is 827-3311 and email is ValleyTaxMB@gmail.com.
• The Timothy Murphy monument is on track to be opened this year. The stone and design will be done exclusively in the United States. Anyone willing to donate to the project or purchase a specially designed commemorative brick paver can call Trustee Morton at 827-4343.
• Miracle on Main Street was its largest yet-- with approximately 800 people packing Main Street with its most exhibits yet.
• The Village was reimbursed $1,933 for the cost of the 2013 dissolution vote which originally was spent out of local taxpayer dollars.
• The Schoharie News (www.theschoharienews.com) opened an office at 308 Main Street and can be reached at 231-1465. This and the accountant are businesses number seven and eight to open since the Village launched its business program in April 2012.

Our Board members have been hard at work. Some of their projects include:

• Trustee Sheryl Adams (quebec@midtel.net) and the Renaissance Council was able to successfully plan Miracle on Main Street and worked on the final touches of the Main Street Grant program, which aided over a dozen businesses and provided for local projects like the Baker Avenue pavilion and the wildflower project.
• Mayor Matthew Avitabile (avitmw@gmail.com) worked on proposals for solar energy for the community. He convinced Valley Tax and Accounting and the Schoharie News to open in Middleburgh and is working on multiple other business and municipal projects.
• Trustee Tom Gruning (gruning@midtel.net) also worked on a potential solar project.
• Trustee Bill Morton (wbmort911@gmail.com) worked with SUNY Cobleskill's Department of Landscape Architecture on a draft plan for the Timothy Murphy Park. The design, done by Middleburgh native Dessa Shaul will serve as a template for future projects. Trustee Morton also suggested the skate loan program and is working on the Timothy Murphy Park.
• Trustee Bob Tinker (rtinker@nycap.rr.com) has been aiding multiple projects, including the Joshua Project's plans to rehab the old ARC building on River Street.

Anyone with questions can contact the Board members above. 2014 is looking to be a year of ramping up the local recovery. The local community blog is www.middleburghny.blogspot.com.

Lighting Working at Skating Rink

Skaters are encouraged to use the skating rink in Bagley Park after dark. The lighting system, made up of four parts is now working again, staying on until at least 10pm. All are welcome to use and to take part in our skate loan program.

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!

Middleburgh Hosts Countywide Dinner

The Village of Middleburgh again hosted a dinner of village officials from around the County. The dinner, held at MJ's Cafe on Main Street was excellent and attended by approximately 15 people. Middleburgh Highway Superintendent Dale Nunamann discussed local highway consolidation.

Village Starting Skate Loan Program

From Trustee Bill Morton:

 The Village wishes to announce that the ice rink is open and the cold weather has made for excellent ice conditions.

 We are establishing an ice skate donation program whereby anyone who has ice skates laying around which you no longer use, you can drop them off at the Village Hall at 309 Main Street to be lent out to kids and adults who want to skate.

 We want to build an ice skating program over the next few years so people will have a nice outdoor activity during winter.

Skating Rink Back Open

The village skating rink in Bagley Park is again open, filled by the Fire Department. It is open from dusk till dawn every day. Everyone is invited to take part.

Village Considering Solar

The Village of Middleburgh is considering two routes regarding possible green energy usage. The Village hopes to cut its electric bill by considering either purchasing a solar array or leasing one. The possible proposals, each 250kw were presented at Monday, January 6th's meeting. The Board hopes to make a decision by April but is waiting on more information.

Skating Rink Repaired

The Village skating rink in Bagley Park is working for the first time in ten years. The rink opened up Tuesday and followed assistance from Trustee Bill Morton, the MFD, and the Village crew. It is open from dusk till dawn.