The Hortonville Presbyterian Church played host to a packed house Saturday evening for the 28th iteration of the popular Hortonville Talent Show.

“We initially started doing the show in February as a way to keep us entertained during the cold winter months, and now it's sort of taken on a life of its own,” offered organizer and show organist Jane Orcutt. “We figured back then that if we can continue to bring in enough money doing it that we would do it again the next year… well, here we are 28 years later and it's still an annual event that the folks around here very much look forward to each and every year.”

Though moved to the warmer spring months a few years ago, the show hasn't lost a bit of its cachet, nor has it lost its hilarious, thoroughly entertaining emcee of 27 years' tenure, award-winning photojournalist Richard Ross.

More than $600 was raised Saturday night for the Interfaith Outreach United's (IOU) Callicoon Thrift Shop – also last year's beneficiary – as 17 acts, new and old, performed before judges Jonathan Charles Fox of the River Reporter, Carol Montana of the Catskill Chronicle and Dharma the Wonder Dog, who handed out certificates to all who performed with such distinctions as “The Spirit Award” and so on.

“We have judges but we don't give out first prizes and such… here everyone is number one and it's all in good fun,” said Orcutt, who garnered the “Indispensable Award” for her many years accompanying the show's various acts.

“We generally have different beneficiaries each year and a few years ago we did it for Habitat for Humanity,” explained Orcutt. “Last year we decided to keep the money local and with all the good they do, the Callicoon Thrift Shop was the perfect fit again this year.”

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