Contributed photo Kim Ostrander from Grandview Farms stands next to Double Stuffed, ridden by Sarah Lander. (Click for larger image)

Horsing around

NARROWSBURG - On Sunday, June 18, Grandview Farms of Beach Lake ventured to a horse show in Long Valley, NJ Sarah Lander, 10, from Narrowsburg, rode in her first horse show on the Welsh cross pony, Double Stuffed. She showed in the Snowbird Horse Show in the mini/short stirrup division and won a 2nd place ribbon, 3rd place ribbon, and three fourth place ribbons.

By SANDRA DECKELMAN

CALLICOON -Sullivan West at Delaware Valley (DV) held their annual athletic awards banquet on Wednesday, June 7 in the gymnasium at Delaware Valley School. Although some teams were combined this year, the merged district held ceremonies on all three campuses. Seventeen junior varsity and varsity teams were presented with their letters and certificates of participation. Four of those teams were Sullivan West teams, two were teams with reciprocal agreements and ten were Delaware Valley teams. Seven special awards were also given.

The evening began with opening comments by Athletic Director Debbie Owen. Delaware Valley principal and guest speaker, A1 Larson, spoke of the rise and fall of the Western Sullivan League (WSL), which will be dispersed after this year. His reminiscence of the past set the tone for the evening. Many coaches and award presenters spoke of the end of the era.

After 33 years as a teacher, coach and guidance counselor, Jane Buddenhagen will be leaving DV. "Mrs.B," as she is affectionately called, is retiring at the end of the school year. While presenting the Outstanding Service Award to Buddenhagen, Superintendent Michael Johndrow spoke of her many years of service, including 65 seasons coaching soccer, volleyball, track, softball, basketball, cheerleading and SCIL.

The Billy Moran Scholarship, presented by Brent Rosenberger, was awarded to senior Elisabeth Hubert, honoring qualities of citizenship, sportsmanship and grade point average. The student athlete must also have played two varsity sports.

Staff Sargent Brad Burkett,a recruiting officer for the US Army in Monticello, NY, presented National Scholar Athlete Awards to Libby Norden and Rory Carrier. The award is presented to thousands of seniors nationwide who are able to meet the high academic and athletic standards.

Terry Walker, daughter of Coach Stanley Kobyleneski, presented the memorial prize named for her father, set up in 1993 after the death of the beloved DV coach. Previously awarded to one male and one female each year, four awards were given this year. Recipients were Bill Reichmann, Terrance Fink, Alicia Peters, and Erica Long. In keeping with the tone of the night, it was announced that, because of the ending of the WSL, this would be the last year the award would be given. The balance of funds donated in Kobylenski's memory was donated to the Delaware Valley Youth Center.

Finally, the DV Outstanding athletic awards were given to a number of undergraduate and senior athletes based on their ability to be coached, sportsmanship, respect for others, citizenship, leadership and attitude. The athletes must be outstanding members of a varsity team, with at least one varsity letter. Normally, one male and one female are chosen for each set of awards. Receiving the Outstanding Undergraduate Award for this year were Bill Reichmann, Alicia Peters, and Jen Ackermann (Peters and Ackermann tied.). Cody Bojo, Teresa Bauer and Elisabeth Hubert (who also tied) received the Outstanding Graduate Award.

The end of the evening brought the close of the Delaware Valley Eagle athletic history. Although the lineup is uncertain for next year, merging will progress. No longer will the districts teams be separate. They are all Bulldogs now.