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Middletown Man Arrested on Warrant

By Matthew Avitabile

DELHI — Sheriff Craig S. DuMond announced a Middletown man was arrested on an arrest warrant.  On Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, Deputies responded to an investigation in Town of Middletown involving a child. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that 36-year-old Ariel Devers of Middletown, New York had endangered the welfare of a child.  On September 30th, 2025, an arrest warrant was issued for Devers by the Town of Middletown Court for Endangering the Welfare of a Child. O...

Jan 9, 2026 • 199 views

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Sheriff’s Office Donates $2,500 in Toys to Delaware Opportunities

By Matthew Avitabile

DELHI — The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce the donation of $2,500 worth of toys to Delaware Opportunities, made possible through the enthusiastic participation of agency members in this year’s Double Down December fundraiser. Male Corrections Officers, Road Patrol Deputies and staff were encouraged to participate by contributing funds (in advance) in exchange for the opportunity to grow beards, and other facial hair and participating female Correction Officers were ...

Dec 14, 2025 • 376 views

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Roxbury: Tax Increase Questioned, Transfer Station Process Reviewed

By Matthew Avitabile

By Mary A. CrisafulliROXBURY - A member of the public called the recent 6% tax increase for the 2026 budget embarrassing at a board meeting on Dec. 8th. She questioned why the board did not do more to increase revenues throughout the year to avoid such a significant increase.The $4.2 million 2026 budget was adopted in November, with nearly $3 million to be raised through taxes. The total tax levy exceeds $2.7 million, which is approximately $93,992 above the tax cap.The resident scolded the boar...

Dec 14, 2025 • 380 views

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Seasoned Social Club Hosts a Holiday Party

By Matthew Avitabile

The Seasoned Social Club hosted a wreath-making workshop Monday at Margaretville United Methodist Church, taught by Meganne Balcom of Cody's Sugar Shack in Fleischmanns. From left: Linda Mead, Joan Lawrence-Bauer and Mary McGrane work on their creations.MARGARETVILLE — The Seasoned Social Club of Middletown township will hold a holiday party on Wednesday, December 17 at 12:30 p.m. in the Margaretville United Methodist Church’s lower-level dining hall, at 55 Church Street.The party will featu...

Dec 14, 2025 • 478 views

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Whiskey Treaty Roadshow Brings their High Energy Sound to Bearsville Theater

By Matthew Avitabile

Whiskey Treaty Roadshow performance benefit for United Way this past August. This Friday performing at Bearsville Theater starting at 7 pm.WOODSTOCK — The Bearsville Theater in Woodstock has always carried a sense of musical pilgrimage. Built from Albert Grossman’s original vision of a creative sanctuary in the Catskills, the theater became an anchor in a landscape that shaped American songwriting through artists like Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin. After its rebirth under Lizzie Vann’s stewar...

Dec 14, 2025 • 241 views

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Pine Hill Community Center Marks 25 Years with a Jubilant Celebration

By Matthew Avitabile

By Robert BrunePINE HILL — Last Saturday’s clear skies and the comfortable late autumn weather seemed to smile on Pine Hill for a milestone in the Catskills. The Pine Hill Community Center celebrated its twenty fifth anniversary, and the main street of this small mountain town was filled with residents and visitors from across Ulster and Delaware Counties. For two and a half decades PHCC has served as a hub for arts and crafts groups, holiday events, live music, community meetings, and winte...

Dec 14, 2025 • 274 views

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Halcott Center Fire Report

By Matthew Avitabile

Write-up by Robert Brune. Photos courtesy Arkville FD.At 1:15 p.m. on Friday, December 5, Arkville Fire Department was dispatched under automatic mutual aid with the Fleischmanns Fire Department to a working structure fire at 105 Route 3 in Halcott Center. Crews quickly established a water supply and initiated both interior and exterior attacks. Thanks to fast action, and the upstairs bedroom doors being closed, the fire was contained to two second-floor rooms.Multiple departments responded, inc...

Dec 14, 2025 • 256 views

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Whittling Away with Dick Brooks - Letter to Santa

By Matthew Avitabile

December 2021Dear Santa,Hello Old Friend, how are you and your Queen?  This year has just flown by, it seems only last week I was writing my yearly missive to you and here I am doing it again.  All is well in our little world, no illnesses to speak of in our immediate family, everyone is busy and productive in their own way.  The Princess is a Therapist in Brooklyn and loves it.  She married a fine young man this summer.  We are proud of her and happy to welcome into our family.  The young...

Dec 14, 2025 • 244 views

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Great Train Extravaganza Packs Them In

By Matthew Avitabile

ALBANY - The Capital District's largest model and historic railroad show, the 2025 Great Train Extravaganza, attracted a huge crowd on Sunday, December 7 at the Empire State Plaza.Photos by David Avitabile.The Schoharie County Model Railroad Association was represented in Albany. From left are, John Valachovic, President John Bollentin, and Andy Jacek.Middleburgh's Bill Morton and Matthew Avitabile check out a layout Sunday.Children -and adults- loved the Lego train layout.Remember to Subscribe!...

Dec 14, 2025 • 237 views

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Looking Back - A Letter to the Mountain Eagle

By Matthew Avitabile

By Wildert Marte ONEONTA — My two semesters working at The Mountain Eagle became one of the most meaningful stretches of my college years. What started as a simple question after Professor Avitabile’s SUNY Oneonta night class “Can I write for the paper?” turned into a full experience where I learned how to research, edit, compare past to present, and understand the rhythm of local news. In my first semester, most of my work lived in history. I spent hours inside old newspapers, reading...

Dec 14, 2025 • 221 views

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Local History by Dede Terns-Thorpe - It’s People Who Make Our History

By Matthew Avitabile

Every day, we all contribute to the future history of the Town of Hunter. As Justine Hommel,  past town historian, wisely said, “It’s people who make our history.” While schools, banks, post offices, churches, businesses, and organizations have always played important roles, it is truly the people who shape our story.As we welcome 2026, I’d like to thank our local newspapers for posting these tidbits of Hunter’s past 212 years. We have an amazing history which the Town of Hunter and t...

Dec 14, 2025 • 236 views

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Animal Cruelty Arrest in Athens

By Matthew Avitabile

ATHENS – On Tuesday, Dec. 9, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbia-Greene  Humane Society executed a search/seizure warrant on Lime Kiln Road in the  Town of Athens, the result of a joint investigation into the health and welfare of  animals at the location. With the assistance of The Mohawk-Hudson Humane  Society, The New York State Humane Association, and Dr. Jerry Bilinski,  approximately 18 dogs, 6 cows, 12 goats, several cats and dozens of fowl were  removed from de...

Dec 14, 2025 • 248 views