Burglars broke into at least eight businesses in Schoharie, Cobleskill, Middleburgh and Princetown taking more than $11,000 in merchandise and cash.
The State Police are looking into a series of recent burglaries just after Thanksgiving at six stone and quarry businesses as well as Lenny's Tire in Middleburgh and TAS Sales and Service in Cobleskill.
The burglaries at the quarries and Lenny's were similar, police said. All involved break-ins on the weekend after Thanksgiving in which money was taken from a cash drawer or safe.
Snow blowers, a mower and a generator were stolen from TAS last week. Read more
In the coming weeks, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection will install two massive siphons in the Gilboa Dam, which has been under construction to repair damage sustained during the record-busting floods of Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.
That's good news for those downstream of New York City's Schoharie Reservoir, where local advocates see the siphons as a much-needed means of drawing down water when flooding is in the forecast. But it also means a few weeks of muddy water flowing down the Esopus, where the city's water releases have become a source of fierce local ire, and a political punching bag for county executive Mike Hein. Read more
The latest move from the DEC extends the agency's timeline for finalizing its hydrofracking regulations for another 90 days. Public comment on the current draft will be accepted from December 12, 2012 through 5pm on January 11, 2013.
Above: Santa pays a pre-Christmas visit to the annual Woodstock Holiday Open House in December 2010. Photo by Julia Reischel.
Shopping small and local for the holidays will get you a whole lot more than a warm fuzzy glow of political rectitude. It’ll get you truly one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones, as opposed to the 50,000-of-a-kind items being hawked at the mall or your local big box. It’ll get you feeling appreciated by the local business owner behind the register. And best of all, it’ll get you an outrageously good time spent prowling the decorated downtowns and beauteous bazaars of the Catskills region.
A great many churches, PTAs, animal welfare folks and assorted other good eggs will be hosting craft fairs, and a wise shopper will take heed. The level of craftiness around the entire region being what it is, your odds of finding the Perfect Something for that beloved but impossible-to-buy-for Someone are very good indeed.
There is much, much more happening on local Main Streets in December than any one article could hope to encompass. What follows is our humble attempt at a guide to some of the region's sparkliest holiday highlights. Read more
Above: Morning light shows off the early-winter snow on the flanks of Hunter Mountain today. From Hunter's Facebook page.
The Catskills high peaks got a pretty dusting of snow this week, and local ski resorts are poised to take advantage of it. The Catskills Big Three -- Hunter, Windham and Belleayre -- are all making snow and getting ready for Opening Day.
On Friday, November 23, the New York State Police in Cobleskill and the Village of Cobleskill Police Department conducted an investigation into underage liquor sales in Schoharie County. As part of the investigation, an undercover underage volunteer went to 19 bars, convenience stores and liquor stores in Cobleskill and around Schoharie County and tried to buy alcohol.
One arrest was made during the investigation, at the Countryside Mart on 332 Main Street in Schoharie. 26-year-old Cobleskill resident John Felitti was arrested and charged with unlawful dealing with a child and unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor.
We're hosting another edition of our popular "Facebook for Businesses" class on Wednesday, November 28 from 6:30pm to 8pm. Come by and work off your Thanksgiving pounds with ninja tricks for the biggest of all social media websites.
The class costs $35. It will be held in the classroom at the Delaware County E-Center at 5 1/2 Main Street in Delhi, next to the Pizza Hut. Laptops will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. Get in touch with me at 845-481-0155 or julia.reischel@watershedpost.com to register, or click the "Buy Now" button on the class description below.
Facebook for businesses: A beginner's guide
Make Facebook's powerful free tools promote your business while keeping your private life private. Learn our hard-won ninja tricks. A basic introduction to Facebook for those with little or no experience with social media.
At the end of the session, you will be able to: Read more
Hi, Fresh beef in the cooler! After the turkey, we know the weather changes ... time for pot roasts and stews. We are well stocked with frozen beef, pork, lamb and chicken. Open every Saturday, 11am-3pm.
It's Small Business Saturday! Put your money where your mouth is ... support local businesses and eat local food! Come here, Medusa General Store, I. U. Tripp Antiques. Our holiday goodies are ready ... honey chocolate truffles, honey roasted nuts, honey nut toppings. Chicken liver pate. Honey mustards. New bayberry scented beeswax candles. Pine cone and bees wax fire feeders. Dog biscuits. New honey lip balm! A new batch of Heather Ridge or Bees Knees Cafe t-shirts and aprons are here. The ultimate in recycling and reusing: feed bag tote bags and (new!) feed bag place mats! Read more
As our neighbors in the Greater New York region to continue to struggle with the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, we know that many also suffered upstate, particularly along the Hudson River. The flooding damaged homes, businesses and public structures, leaving many without power for days.
In many cases, Sandy impacted homes and businesses still recovering from the impacts of Hurricanes Lee and Irene in 2011, and brought into sharp focus, the anxieties and challenges our region continues to struggle with as a result of those storms.
For our friends and neighbors downstate who continue to suffer, we have a statewide obligation to provide intensive support and help them recover as quickly as possible, even as we continue to rebuild here at home. We offer our continued thanks to the many emergency responders and other volunteers, who continue to sacrifice their own comfort and safety to protect the lives and property of others.
All of us are also grateful to the many federal, state and local officials who prudently took steps before, during, and after the storm to protect our communities as much as possible. Read more
On his way from Montreal to a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, 
