CALLICOON – Pride + Callicoon, a day to celebrate LGBTQIA+ individuals and businesses in the Catskills on June 18, received the municipality’s official  approval to be held within the hamlet of Callicoon by the Delaware Town Board at their regular meeting on June 8 after detailing plans for the event with President of Catskills Pride Dwayne Brown.

The event is scheduled to be on Upper Main in the hamlet of Callicoon on June 18 from 1 to 6 p.m., in which attendance is free to all. Pride + Callicoon is intended to highlight and celebrate over 20 LGBTQIA+ local businesses and countless families, couples and individuals throughout the Catskills area.

The date marks the 20th anniversary of the Day to be Gay celebration.

President of Catskills Pride Dwayne Brown spoke before the Board, explaining what they are expecting out of the event, as well as a brief history of Catskills Pride’s past events, including their monthly socials.

“We [Catskill Pride] are known for going around the county and throwing socials once a month at different venues,” Brown said. “For many years…it was always held at the Forestburgh Playhouse for various reasons.”

“We found that, particularly since the pandemic, a lot of LGBTQIA+ families, people, individuals, couples, are moving up here and we need to move around the county so we can get to everyone,” Brown said.

A Pride Afterparty is being put on by The Callicoon Theater, Litt Home & Book, Stumble Out Bar and The Neon Croissant from 8 pm to 11 pm at the Delaware Youth Center. Admission tickets will cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

Check out their Facebook page for updates, information, and a list of businesses that will be participating in Pride + Callicoon at www.facebook.com/groups/catskillspride.

A notion to alter the noise ordinance

The noise ordinance set in place for the hamlet of Callicoon’s Cal B1 zone may receive alterations to its weekend quiet hours in the future as the Town Board received a request from Building Inspector James McElroy and Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery Director of Orchards and Facilities Bill Hess asking the Board to consider looking into moving the quiet hours start-time from 9 pm to 10 pm.

Cal B1 encompasses the area between the town's Upper Main Street and  includes the property containing Seminary Hill Orchard and Cidery.

Hess noted that the cidery hosts events such as weddings, receptions and live music, all while honoring the current noise ordinance in place.

“We really do need the noise ordinance, if that can be changed during weekends to ten,” Hess said.

“We have around 20 events this year, 12 on the books for next year...nine o’clock is a bit unreasonable to shut down music in the summer.”

Hess noted that in the past, the cidery was unaware of any noise ordinance, but has since worked in accordance with the current quiet hours, sometimes even forcing performers to stop playing.

“We pull the plug on them if we have to,” Hess said.

Although no official action was taken by the Board on the matter, Town Supervisor Scott DuBois said that they will take the plea into consideration.