Contributed photo Homeowner John Davidson stands on a bank of mud created from run-off from a road-building project on Delaware Lake two years ago. Residents say that during stormy weather mud still flows into the lake, which 10 homeowners use as a household water supply.

Development muddies waters of Delaware Lake

Homeowners clash with developer

By FRITZ MAYER

DELAWARE LAKE, NY—It’s a picture perfect Catskill community of about 20 weekend homes on a lake. But residents say a developer is causing trouble in paradise.

The lake, which some say is really a large pond because of its small size, is located in the Town of Hancock, just above the Sullivan County line in Delaware County. Residents of the weekend homes say the trouble began after the developer, Robert Sanzoverino, acquired the remaining acreage of the Rhinebeck family farm in 1904, which included 25 feet of frontage on Delaware Lake.

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Ukrainians revive historical local landmark

Resort, closed since June, re-opens

By SONIA OWCHARIW

GLEN SPEY, NY—The blue and yellow flag still flies above the Ivan Franko statue at the MountainView Resort on High Road, but the annual Ukrainian festival, which usually brings in thousands of people, didn’t happen this summer. Many factors were stacked against the historical and sprawling Upper Delaware Valley resort. A looming foreclosure in June, a restructuring of the old regime and an array of other structural problems put the traditional festival on hold.

“I’m so excited and happy that the resort reopened, because I have many fond memories especially since my wedding was at the resort,” Glen Spey resident Christine Shablovsky said.

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Farm office will close in Sullivan County

Voices are raised against it

By TOM KANE

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY—Local farmers are going to go down swinging if the federal government closes the Farm Service Agency (FSA) office in Sullivan County.

About 100 local farmers and other supporters gathered at a public meeting on Monday, August 27 to protest the plan to close the existing FSA office in Liberty, NY. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is not providing sufficient budget to maintain current employee numbers in many local offices, FSA officials say.

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Other stories in this issue:

• County commits money for ag preservation
• Pennsylvania Congressman Chris Carney holds town meeting
• What’s in the Delaware River?
• County drug card saves residents $250,000 on prescriptions
• Developer plans conservation development in Tusten
• Slim pickin’s at food pantry

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S