| Watershed Post

Barges, boats, cranes and divers to clean up Pepacton oil spill

Photo of a small tugboat and an oil spill surrounded by yellow booms on the Pepacton Reservoir. Taken on Tuesday, May 15 from Route 30, near the pump station for the East Delaware Tunnel, by Lissa Harris.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced yesterday that a professional environmental recovery crew is cleaning up suspected fuel oil from a spill caused by a mysterious object buried beneath the Pepacton Reservoir.

Preparations for the cleanup, which will involve four barges, three boats, two cranes, a diving team, and a containment boom, began yesterday, according to a press release from the DEP. The plan is for a team of six divers to spend next week removing all traces of oil from the buried object. (A happy Fourth of July to them.)

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NYC Department of Environmental Protection

pepacton reservoir

boating

This Weekend: Celebrating Independence Day early

Above: Independence Day fireworks over the Hudson River, as seen from Poughkeepsie, with the Mid-Hudson Bridge to the left, and the Walkway Across the Hudson on the right. Photo by Flickr user Atomox in the Watershed Post Flickr pool.

In advance of the July 4th holiday, this weekend will see a busy array of activities across the Catskills, including an early Independence Day parade and festival in Tannersville, the inaugural concert at the Arkville Cowdome featuring a Margaretville-based band, Hallow Dog, a sidewalk festival in Roxbury, and a bake sale and raffle in Lexington. To see the complete listings of what's going on, visit our This Weekend link. And for all the parades, fireworks and festivals happening on the fourth, check out our special Fourth of July section.

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Catskills events

This Weekend

Independence Day 2012

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Festivals

Annual horseshoe festival nears

Above: Visitors of the 2011 Hobart Horsehoe Festival show off their skills. Photo courtesy of Hobart Historical Society.

Get your horseshoes ready, ladies and gentlemen.

On Saturday, July 28, the 11^th Annual Hobart Horseshoe Festival will be coming to back to the region, featuring vendors, live music and other entertainment in addition to an amateur horseshoe tournament.

Whiskey Cross, a country western band, and the South Kortright Central School Middle Band will provide music throughout the day, while the Mountain Martial Arts Academy will have a demonstration from 1 to 1:30 p.m. The bookstores on Main Street are also expected to be open.

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Hobart Horseshoe Festival

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Ulster County clerk Karen Binder dies

Karen Binder, clerk of the Ulster County Legislature, died Tuesday morning at the age of 56. Binder had been sick with cancer.

Binder's death prompted an outpouring of tributes from the Ulster County political world.

“Karen was a valued member of our legislative team providing the leadership and support needed to do the important work of the people. She loved her job and provided a commitment to public service that was unquestioned, she will be sorely missed,” said legislative chairwoman Terry Bernardo in a press release that included statements from many of her fellow legislators.

Ulster County executive Mike Hein also issued a statement via press release:

It is with profound sorrow that I reflect on the life and work of Karen Binder, a cherished colleague and a dear friend. Those who knew Karen knew of her tireless efforts and deep commitment to the people of Ulster County, and it was my privilege and honor to know her.

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Ulster County Legislature

Karen Binder

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Government

People

Schreibman, Long win Congressional primaries

With most districts reporting, the Associated Press called the Democratic primary in New York's 19th Congressional District in favor of attorney Julian Schreibman, shortly after 11pm. Schreibman, a first-time candidate, defeated Dutchess County legislator Joel Tyner in the primary.

It was an early night for poll-watchers. About two hours after the polls closed, Schreibman was already making his victory speech -- and looking forward to this November's contest against incumbent Republican Congressman Chris Gibson of Kinderhook, writes the Times-Union:

“Congressman Gibson may be a nice guy, but his votes are out of step with the values of our communities,” said Schreibman. “If you send me to Congress, I will be absolutely focused on the needs of our citizens.”

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Fiery motorcycle crash in Kingston leaves one dead, two injured

A motorcycle accident in East Kingston killed one person and injured two others early Monday morning. Today, the Kingston Police Department released the name of the victim who was killed: 30-year-old Brian Ferrari of Lake Katrine.

Nicholas Saveskie, 27, and Kimberly Dougherty, 28, were taken to Westchester Medical Center after the crash, where both remained today. Dougherty, who was a passenger on one of the motorcycles, is currently listed in critical condition.

The accident was described as horrifying and fiery, according to eyewitness accounts in The Daily Freeman.

Kingston Fire Chief John Reinhardt said his company responded to a call near 1 a.m. on Monday of motorcycles and people “engulfed in flames,” the Freeman reported.

William A. Tubby, who lives close to where the accident occurred at the intersection of First Ave and Kingston Street, told the Daily Freeman he saw flames shooting 6 to 8 feet into the air.

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Tyner and Schreibman face off in Democratic primary today

Joel Tyner (left) and Julian Schreibman, candidates seeking to run on the Democratic ticket for New York State's 19th Congressional District this year.

Voters, don't forget to go to the polls: New York State holds its statewide primaries today.

Here in the new 19th Congressional District, the race is on between Joel Tyner and Julian Schreibman, both vying for the Democratic ticket. The Republican nominee, incumbent Congressman Chris Gibson, has no challenger on the ballot.

Edited to add: Local GOP voters also have a U.S. Senate race to vote in. Three challengers are seeking to run on the Republican ticket against U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand this fall: Manhattan lawyer Wendy Long, Nassau County comptroller George Maragos and Congressman Bob Turner (R-Queens).

The Associated Press is predicting abysmally low turnout in this race. Get out there and prove 'em wrong, folks.

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Oh, the places you'll go

Above: Joe Kessler (left) and Harry Muller, two of Roscoe Central School’s 19 graduates for 2012, moments before their commencement. “It’s unreal,” said Kessler, brandishing a rubber duck with a rubber diploma. Photo by Jason Dole.

Last weekend marked a milestone in the lives of many local students, as schools across the region held commencement ceremonies. Graduation weekend kicked off in Sullivan County last Friday evening at Roscoe Central School.

Roscoe, the first of Sullivan County's schools to hold graduation ceremonies last week, was also the smallest. Nineteen students received their diplomas.

Before that, the grads-to-be gathered in the Superintendent’s office, seeing air-conditioned refuge from the muggy heat elsewhere. They talked and snapped pictures of each other in their blue and white caps and gowns. Valedictorian Samantha Molinari handed out little rubber ducks (themselves in caps and gowns). She explained that the toys honored retiring English teacher Deborah Holland.

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Roscoe Central School

Dispatches from Shandaken: Plumbing the depths of a sewer controversy

Above: Detail of a map showing the location of a proposed Phoenicia sewer district, the subject of negotiations between the town of Shandaken, the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection that broke down earlier this month. Source: Lamont Engineers's 2011 project report on the proposed Phoenicia sewer project.

This column had been on hold, waiting for another shoe to drop. Something was bound to change, and it did: New York City pulled a flawed sewers deal for Phoenicia off the table, while continuing to wave a big stick. By steadfastly ignoring all flies in the ointment it was offering, it readily assigns all blame for failing to seal a deal on Shandaken, and those ornery and ungrateful members of the proposed Phoenicia sewer district – all 200-odd potential members of it.

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Dispatches From Shandaken

From the Publisher: One week left to advertise in the Fourth of July Guide

Photo by Flickr user bayasa (fireworks).

Just a reminder to advertise in our fast-growing Catskills Fourth of July Guide. Our busy intern and managing editor are stocking it with goodies from around the region as we speak. Email me to reserve your spot: [email protected]. Check out our rate sheet here.

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