| Watershed Post

100 years since Catskills water came to NYC

Above: A view of the downstream face of the Olivebridge dam in 1911 as it was under construction as part of the soon-to-be-flooded Ashokan Reservoir. Image via the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program. Used with permission.

One hundred years ago, on the evening of December 27, 1915, clean drinking water from the Ashokan Reservoir, located in the Catskill Mountains near the Ulster County town of Woodstock, arrived in New York City taps for the first time.

It was a quiet milestone, according to an article published by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection on Tumblr.

The Ashokan Reservoir had begun filling its 128-billion-gallon basin two years before, in 1913. In November 1915, water from the Ashokan began flowing through miles of tunnels towards New York City, 100 miles south. In December, it reached its first customers in the Bronx:

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NYC Water Supply System

Zephyr Teachout greets Delaware Co. Democrats, mulls run for Congress

Above: Zephyr Teachout, right, a potential Democratic candidate for the 19th U.S. Congressional District seat, spoke with town of Andes Supervisor Bud Gladstone on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at a gathering in Delhi. Photo by Robert Cairns.

Zephyr Teachout, the Fordham University professor who ran an unsuccessful primary campaign against Andrew Cuomo for governor of New York in 2014, is eyeing a run for the 19th U.S. Congressional District seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Chris Gibson.

Teachout, a Democrat, greeted about 50 supporters on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at the Shire Pub in Delhi. Despite a social media campaign by organizers of the event, Teachout said she had only expected to meet with Delaware County Democratic Committee Chairman Tom Schimmerling and “one or two other people.”

“I'm trying to decide whether I'm going to run for Congress,” she said.

She said, however, that she has not made that decision. “I have a timeline in my head which I'm not going to tell you, but I'll promise I'm going to decide within the next couple weeks.”

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19th Congressional District

Zephyr Teachout

19th Congressional District election 2016

Squalls, wind and lake effect snow forecast for Catskills

Above: Radar shows a band of nasty winter weather heading for the Catskills on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 12. Image via NWS Binghamton.

Snow squalls, lake effect snow, high winds and general weather nastiness are forecast for portions of the Catskills this afternoon, Tuesday, Jan. 12, and into tonight and early tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Three to six inches of lake effect snow may fall in the Schoharie Valley between 7 p.m. tonight and 7 a.m. tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service in Albany.

Wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour may hit through the Catskills region between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. tomorrow, according to NWS Albany.

Snow squalls bearing gusty winds and up to an inch of snow may appear throughout the entire Catskills region tonight, NWS Albany reports.

Clearly, it's not a great night for travelling. We're already getting reports of crashes and overturned vehicles on Route 28 in Ulster County. Are you seeing crashes and trouble out there? Let us know. Email us or comment on this story.

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The ABCs of snowshoeing

Above: Snowshoes at Catskill Mountain Storehouse. Photo by Tim Luby.

Now that winter has arrived in the Catskills in earnest, it’s time to break out the snowshoes. If you’ve never tried hiking with snowshoes, read on for a guide on how to choose, size and use this winter-weather hiking gear. Remember: If you can walk, you can snowshoe.

One of the first things you need to consider is the type of snowshoes to get. Snowshoes for local parks or trails or the rolling fairways of golf courses have some different characteristics from those designed for the steep terrain of mountain hiking. Forget about those attractive wooden snowshoes with the leather lacing. They belong above the fireplace in your family room or camp.

Size matters: Many retailers or online charts will ask how much you weigh and how heavy a pack you'll be carrying. That combined weight theoretically translates into the size of snowshoe you'll wear. However, unless you belong in the waif category, that formula will have you walking out of the store with a 28-inch or 30-inch pair of foot gondolas.

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Edward Callahan, retired NYPD officer, dies in Andes

Above: Edward Callahan, left, with Joanne Callahan, his wife and co-owner of Callahan Catskill Real Esate, in a 2013 publicity photo for their business. Photo by Joe Damone.

Edward “Eddie” P. Callahan, a beloved figure in the Delaware County town of Andes, died unexpectedly on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016 at 3:30 a.m. He was 55 years old.

Callahan was a former New York City Police Department officer and survivor of 9/11 who moved to the Catskills after his retirement with his wife, Joanne Callahan, a longtime local realtor who survives him. Together, the Callahans ran Callahan Catskill Real Estate, based on Main Street in the Delaware County town of Andes, and are fun-loving fixtures in the community.

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Close race for chairman of Schoharie County

Above: Earl Van Wormer, left, and Chris Tague, right, faced off in a close race for chair of the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Jan. 4. Van Wormer won the position.

Longtime Esperance Supervisor Earl Van Wormer was elected to his ninth nonconsecutive term as the chairman of the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Jan. 4, staving off a challenge from fellow Republican and newcomer to the board, Schoharie Supervisor Chris Tague, for the position.

Tague, a Republican, defeated Democrat Supervisor Gene Milone for the position of supervisor of the town of Schoharie in November.

During an election for the position of chair of the county board of supervisors on Monday night, Tague was supported by six Republicans with a total of 1,169 weighted votes. Van Wormer only barely edged him out with six Republicans supporting him with a total of 1,297 weighted votes.

A third candidate for the chair position, Fulton Supervisor Phil Skowfoe, was supported by four Democrats for a total of 508 weighted votes.

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Government

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Schoharie County Board of Supervisors

Chris Tague

Earl Van Wormer

For the first time, two judges for Delaware County

Above: Delaware County Family Court Judge Gary Rosa, pictured with his wife, Lori, took the oath of office from town of Andes Justice Joseph Grieco. Photo by Robert Cairns.

The main courtroom in Delaware County's historic courthouse was packed on Saturday, Jan. 2 as, for the first time, two county judges were sworn into office.

Former District Attorney Richard Northrup, running unopposed, was elected as Delaware County Judge in November. He succeeds Judge Carl F. Becker, who retired, mid-term, in July.

Margaretville attorney and town of Middletown Justice Gary Rosa won a hard-fought race against Delaware County Attorney Porter Kirkwood to become the first to fill a newly-created family court judgeship.

The role and qualifications of village and town justices was an issue in the family court race, as supporters of Kirkwood raised the claim that Rosa's experience as a town justice did not qualify him to be a “real judge.”

At the ceremony, Rosa paid homage to local judges, many of whom were in attendance, by taking his oath of office from town of Andes Justice Joseph Grieco and in remarks he made after being sworn in.

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Government

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Delaware County

Delhi

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Delaware County District Attorney

Gary Rosa

judges

Delaware County Family Court

Richard Northrup

Feasting eagles

Volunteers with the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS) use wildlife cameras baited with deer carcasses on high ridges around the Catskills to photograph and count golden eagles passing through the region as they migrate each year.

These shots, from a camera located in the Delaware County town of Andes, were taken in late December 2015 and early January 2016 and show that golden eagles aren't the only animals attracted to food in the winter. The baiting stations regularly attract coyotes, bear, bobcats, crows and bald eagles.

Thanks to Michael DiBenedetto, one of the DOAS volunteers, for the photographs. For more on the eagle tracking project, click here.

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Where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Catskills

A photo posted by BSP Kingston (@bspkingston) on

Dec 14, 2015 at 3:44pm PST

Above: Just like Times Square, only smaller, Uptown Kingston's New Year's Eve features a ball drop, fireworks, a block party, burlesque, vaudeville, a speakeasy and fireworks. Photo via the BSP Lounge's Instagram page.

Back in the day, bells rang out from town to town marking midnight and the changeover to a new year. Around the Catskills, you can say goodbye to 2015 with everything from accordions and contra dancing to sizzling soul and burlesque. There are ball drops and karaoke jams and feasts, feasts, feasts. Have a look at our five-county guide to the highlights, and see if we can’t lure you from your lair. All events take place on Thursday, Dec. 31 unless otherwise specified.

DELAWARE COUNTY

There’s a dinner buffet and DJ dance party happening at the Hanah Mountain Resort and Country Club in Margaretville, featuring prime rib for the adults, a kids’ menu and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. Seating starts at 6 p.m.; music starts at 8 p.m. in the fireside lounge. Reservations required; call 1-800-752-6494.

O’Neill’s Shire Pub in Delhi will be rocking the old year out with specials and karaoke hosted by DJ Bangkok. The fun starts at 9 p.m. and goes on until 1 a.m. Call for reservations: 607-746-8758.

The Andes Hotel in Andes is throwing a New Year’s bash with a three-course sit-down feast and live music from Blues Maneuver. The festivities begin at 7 p.m. and continue through the “champagne hour.” You can bring the under-twelve-year-olds for half price.

GREENE COUNTY

They may be having a rather unusual season, but Greene County’s ski resorts will be kicking out the jams for the New Year.

At Hunter Mountain in Hunter, fun starts with DJ music at 2 p.m. and continues with music from the Hot Rods, a torchlight parade and fireworks. Van Winkle’s Restaurant will be serving a prix fixe New Year’s dinner--for that part of it you need to reserve by calling 518-263-4223 x3026.

Windham Mountain’s bash in Windham kicks off at 6 p.m. with kids’ entertainment at the Mountain Express Cafeteria. At 8 p.m., Screaming Broccoli will take the stage; at 9 p.m. there are fireworks and DJ Brian will keep it rockin’ after the band’s done. There’s also a Grand Dinner Buffet at Seasons; make reservations here.

Celebrate at the Bavarian Manor Inn in Purling with dinner out and/or an entire night of partying, up to and including spending the night at special holiday rates that include breakfast. There’s a dinner at 5:30 p.m. for those who don’t want to stay for the whole bash, which features the music of Nickel Candy and a free bottle of champagne for your midnight toast.

The Blackthorne Resort in East Durham will host a New Year’s Eve bash with the music of Southbound. Here, too, you can reserve a room for the night and revel to your heart’s content.

SCHOHARIE COUNTY

There will be a grand New Year's Eve Dinner & Celebration at the Bull's Head Inn in Cobleskill. Reserve your seats (call 518-234-1802) for the special four-course dinner being served from 5 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., then enjoy the live sounds of Jay “Diz” Dizacomo from 8:30 until “sometime in 2016.”

The American Hotel in Sharon Springs will be serving a five-course New Year’s Eve Dinner with seatings at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Call 518-284-2105 to reserve a table.

Come out and enjoy an Old World-flavored New Year’s Eve Celebration at A Taste of Europe in Cobleskill.

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Finally, some snow

Above: An inch of snowy, icy slush is cause for celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 29. Photo via the Great Western Catskills Instagram account.

After almost an entire December without snow, the Catskills got its first significant snowfall on Tuesday, Dec. 29. This is great news for the local ski mountains, which have been doing their best to make enough snow to cover the slopes on their own.