School budget passes, Hubicki and Herbstritt elected

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

GREENVILLE — The budget for the Greenville school district was approved by voters Tuesday by a vote of 667-290.

The district’s bus resolution also passed easily by a 684-265 vote.

The budgets for both area public libraries also passed easily. Voters approved the Greenville Public Library budget 759-197 and the Rensselaerville Public Library budget by a vote of 693-258.

Three candidates were also on the ballot running for two open seats on the board of education. Kelly Hubicki and Eric Herbtritt were elected.

Hubicki was the highest vote getter of the night with 749; Herbstritt, who is an incumbent member of the board, received 621 votes. Candidate Robert Pondiscio received 388 votes.

Youth fair showcases county’s kids and ag industry

In Events, Events - Greenville, The Greenville Pioneer

July 27, 2022

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

The Greene County Youth Fair opens this Thursday at Angelo Canna Town Park in Cairo. File photo

CAIRO — The Greene County Youth Fair will be in full swing all weekend long.

The fair opens Thursday, July 28, and continues through Sunday, July 31, at Angelo Canna Town Park in Cairo. This year’s theme is “The Wild West.”

The youth fair is one of the few remaining fairs with free admission and entertainment for all. Hundreds of county children will showcase the livestock they raise — from chickens and rabbits all the way up to goats and cows. There will be vendors, kids’ activities, competitions, music and more.

“We have a great variety of animals this year — livestock — and lots of kids showing,” said Alex Johnk, president of the Greene County Agricultural Society, which hosts the fair each year. “We are very excited about it. There are a lot of kids participating this year, so we are very happy about that.”

The youth fair’s opening day will be Thursday and it will continue Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday will be the final day, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In addition to the usual shows and activities, there will be something new this year.

“We will have an amateur logging show on Saturday,” Johnk said. “It will be similar to a timber sports competition but with amateurs. There will be quite a few people competing in that.”

Competitors will chop wood and have chainsaw races, showcasing their skills and speed.

“There are eight different events they compete in — it will be really cool,” Johnk said. “We did a small demo of it last year, kind of as a test run. We planned to do it a couple of years ago, but COVID threw things off. We did the demonstration last year but we have quite a few participants this year so it will be a full-on competition, which will be pretty cool.”

There will also be old favorites back this year, including animals shows, a tractor pull competition, a car show, talent show and musical performances throughout the weekend. A fireworks show will take place at around 9:15 p.m. on Saturday and police and firefighters will be on hand demonstrating their skills as well.

“We will also have a lot of vendors in the tent, as usual,” Johnk said. “There will be giveaways and goodies, and all sorts of groups set up, whether they are organizations that help people here in Greene County or businesses looking to sell their products. There will be a wide variety — we are trying to focus on showcasing Greene County and all the great things it has to offer.”

Earlier this year there was a statewide ban on poultry shows due to the spread of avian flu, but the ban was lifted a few weeks ago and the kids’ poultry competitions are back on.

“That guidance changed about a month ago,” he said. “They opened everything back up and poultry will be back again this year.”

The Greene County Youth Fair, held each year in July, celebrates the accomplishments of local kids and got its start when Alfred Partridge, leader of the Ashland Blue Ribbon 4-H Club, organized a 4-H Club Fair at the Sutton Hollow School in Ashland back in 1949, according to the organization’s website.

“From this small beginning, the youth fair has developed into the showcase it is today,” according to the website.

In the early years the fair was moved to the VFW Hall on Route 23 near Windham, and over the years has grown and expanded. By the mid-1950s the event was renamed the Greene County Youth Fair and in 1957 moved to Durham, where it remained for 38 years. In 1995 the decision was made to move the fair to Cairo, at Angelo Canna Town Park, where it has been held ever since.

From its inception, the youth fair’s focus has remained the same — to showcase the work of local children, particularly in agriculture.

“The fair itself and the raising of livestock is a really great experience that helps kids learn a lot of different responsibilities on their own,” Johnk said. “It’s a great way to teach them a multitude of traits that will help them move forward in their lives, and it’s really cool to be able to showcase the great aspects of agriculture here in Greene County.”

“That is the main focus of the youth fair — to showcase agriculture and what it has to offer here in Greene County,” Johnk continued. “To be able to bring that and the kids together is a really amazing experience.”

For more information about the fair and the schedule of events, visit www.thegreenecountyyouthfair.com.

New Ancram Center for the Arts comes together

In News, News - Columbia, The Columbia Paper

September 23, 2022

“A graceful series of porches and ramps will tie the two structures together to create a visually unified identity,” says the architect’s feasibility study. Design/renderings by Ackert Architecture PC

NOTE: After this article went to press, Ancram Opera House co-directors had to postpone their September 24 kick-off volunteer event and public remarks due to Covid. A new date will be announced soon. Until then, the co-directors say many thanks to those who signed up to volunteer and for all who were planning to come by to celebrate Ancram Opera House and our expansion plans.

ANCRAM—Tucked into the southeastern corner of this rural county, the Town of Ancram is scenic, historic and steeped in farming. Soon, it will add an arts center to its list of notable features.

Ancram Opera House (AOH) co-directors have announced the expansion of the existing premises at 1330 County Route 7, to include a newly-acquired adjacent property at 1326 County Route 7, to be known as The Annex. Together the Opera House and The Annex will be known as the Ancram Center for the Arts.

The Annex, a 1,300 square-foot, two-story post-and-beam structure, dates back to 1780, believed built by descendants of the Livingston family. It has been vacant, but is structurally sound, according to a September 8 AOH press release. The building and .08 acre property will allow the campus to include a community meeting room, outdoor areas for audience gatherings pre- and post-show, and housing for artists and interns.

To get the community involved a volunteer clean-up day and ground-breaking ceremony will be held there, Saturday, September 24.

Volunteers need no experience and can sign-up for shifts from noon to 2 p.m. and/or 2 to 4 p.m. Gloves, dust masks, hard hats (donated by Herrington’s Lumber), water and snacks will be provided. To get involved, email info@ancramoperahouse.org. (more…)

School budget passes, Hubicki and Herbstritt elected

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