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Ashland Speaks

By Lula Anderson I am so annoyed right now. I just spent over an hour typing up my news for the week, and suddenly it's gone. I was just about to wrap things up and I have no idea what I did, but EVERYTHING that I wrote just mysteriously disappeared. I checked my drafts and the only thing left was a y. It's now 3 PM and I have to start all over again. I told you about my lovely birds returning, and what I did, now I will make it short and sweet and go into coming events, as I don't have the words left to write. May is turning out to be a very busy month. Many activities to squeeze into our calendars. Don't forget that Sunday May 12th is Mother's Day. Make it a special day for her! May 10th is the Annual Windham-Hensonville UMC pulled pork luncheon starting at 10:30. $15 May 10th from 2 until 6, the East Jewett UMC will be holding their Spring Rummage Sale at 2252 Rte. 23C and again on Saturday May 11th from 9 - 12. Something for everyone, Lots of seasonal decorations. Soup, Hot Dogs, salads and pies will be sold. May 11th the Prattsville Fire Department will be holding a pork dinner from 4 - 7. Always a great meal! May 13th the Ashland Community Church will be holding it's annual Mother - Daughter covered dish supper in honor of Mother's Day. Remember women, YOU are someone's daughter! All women welcomed. May 18th the Ashland Church will be holding a chicken BBQ. For $15 you will get a chicken half, baked potato, baked beans, marinated carrots, cole slaw, dinner roll and dessert. 2 - 6 or until sold out. Take outs only. And now Memorial Weekend: Several parades, many yard sales, including mine at my house and The Jewett Veteran's Monument committee is having a CHILI COOK OFF to help raise funds for the monument. Please call 518-734-5173 to sign up. I'm sure you have a CHILI recipe that is simply the BEST. Prove it by entering. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Penny Social and 50/50 drawing. A day full of excitement. Come to VFW Post 1545 5565 rt 23 Windham starting at 11 AM . Live music by Bill Holdridge during the day. Don't forget to come see what I am selling at my yard sale to benefit the Ashland Church Saturday June 1 WAJPL Golden Agers will be sponsoring a Blood Drive at the Windham Ambulance building Community Room from 9 - 1. To schedule an appointment call 1-800-733-2767 or www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code WindhamAmbulance. Get a voucher for a free pint of Stewart's Ice Cream. Please join us for Breakfast! All to benefit the WAJ Scholarship Fund! June 9th at the Windham VFW from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM. 50/50 RAFFLE!! Proudly sponsored by the Windham Rotary Foundation Mark your calendars.... WAJ Alumni Association dinner, Sat., 8/10/24, Hunter Mt. Copper Tree Restaurant; $50/each, best price & place. Happy Birthday to Edsel Partridge 80 years old and to Steve Walker's mother 90. Louise Mudge is home from the hospital and is doing well. Sympathy to the family of David Cazzaza from K & J Campgrounds and to the family of Al Price. AS I REMEMBER IT It's spring time and traditionally the time for spring cleaning. Now a days, I just take out my summer clothes and put away my winter ones. But when I was little, the first sunny day, my mother would declare it was time to strip the house. We'd start upstairs. My mother would decide what bedroom to start with, and the men would take the mattress outside to air. Pillows were put on the line to air, and we would start with the bed. We had metal beds and we would take them apart. My mother was scared to death of getting bedbugs, so we would wash the frame down with kerosene, then again with soapy water. The wallpaper seams were checked as bugs would hide there. The rugs would be rolled up and taken out and put on the clothesline to be beaten. Have you ever seen a rug beater? It's a wicker paddle, quite decorative so that you could display it between seasons so it wouldn't get lost. The floors would get swept and scrubbed. Curtains were taken down and washed, windows washed. Summer curtains, which were lighter and let in more air, were put up. Bedding was taken downstairs to be washed and the quilts aired. When the floors were finally dry, the bed would be put together, spring and mattress put back on. Usually, the rugs would remain rolled until the fall cleaning cycle, as they were too warm for the summer months. By the end of the day, the first room was pristine, and smelled like spring. Now it was time to think about what room would come next. I'm so thankful that I don't have to do that anymore. It takes me until fall just to get my summer clothes out now.

May 10, 2024

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H-T Announces Employment Opportunities

By Max Oppen TANNERSVILLE — The Hunter-Tannersville Central School District (HTC) has announced several employment opportunities. Positions range from teaching roles to support staff. Earth Science/Physics Teacher The district is seeking a qualified Earth Science/Physics Teacher for a full-time, probationary appointment beginning September 1, 2024. Candidates must hold current New York State Certification in Earth Science and Physics, with preferred certification in Chemistry. ENL Teacher HTC is searching for an ENL (English as a New Language) Teacher to support English language learners' language development and academic success. Candidates should possess proper New York State English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) certification, with experience in classroom settings preferred. School Social Worker A full-time Social Worker position offers a competitive salary and benefits per the HTTA Contract. The selected candidate will play a crucial role in supporting the social and emotional needs of students within the district. 7-12 Mathematics Teacher Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply for the 7-12 Mathematics Teacher position. This full-time role commences September 1, 2024, with salary and benefits per the HTTA Contract. Speech and Language Pathologist HTC is seeking a full-time Speech and Language Pathologist to join its team starting September 1, 2024. The position offers a salary and benefits as per the HTTA Contract. Teacher Aide The district is hiring a full-time Teacher Aide, and the salary and benefits are as per the Educational Support Personnel Contract. Special Education Teacher HTC is seeking a full-time, probationary, tenure-track Special Education Teacher. Candidates must hold state certification as an All Grades Students with Disabilities Teacher, with a preference for a Master's Degree within five years. Teaching Assistant A Full-Time Teaching Assistant position is open within the district. The salary and benefits are in accordance with the current HTESP Contract. Bus Driver For those interested in transportation roles, HTC is seeking a Bus Driver. Starting pay ranges from $16.00 to $20.00 per hour depending on license class, with additional opportunities for CDL training and extra extracurricular runs. Substitute and Non-Instructional Personnel Applications are also being accepted for the district's Substitute and Non-Instructional Personnel positions. Prospective candidates are encouraged to submit a cover letter and resume to erizzo@htcschools.org for teaching and support staff positions and to Amy Sylak, Transportation Supervisor, for the Bus Driver position. The Hunter-Tannersville Central School District values diversity and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals. For further information and to apply, visit the HTC website or contact the district office.

May 10, 2024 • 23 views

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Pratt Museum 2024 Events Calendar

EXHIBIT & LECTURE -The Zaddock Pratt Museum is pleased to present the first exhibition of our 2024 season. Whose Folk? features work by contemporary artist Cal Siegel in conversation with a curated selection of objects from the museum’s collection. Siegel’s sculptures and photographs – various ceramic and wooden forms, vessels, and wall hangings all refer back to historical architecture and objects with equal parts reverence, humor, and criticality. When displayed alongside historic artifacts from the Pratt homestead, visitors are asked to consider how the past informs the present. This exhibition is the first curatorial project by Tony Bluestone, a newly appointed member of the museum board. He is interested in how civic life is shaped by history and how cultural institutions deepen community engagement. The exhibition runs from May 25th through July 31st with an opening reception on Saturday, May 25th from 1-3 pm. EXHIBIT -June 22-July 28. “Paint the Town,” Prattsville’s second annual contemporary art event featuring “Views of Prattsville” painted, drawn or photographed by local and regional artists. See Prattsville through the eyes of an artist. LECTURE-June 22- The Mountaintop Merwins’ famous literary connection by local author, journalist, and newspaper reporter Jesse “James” Angelino. Merwin is a name that many folks across the river in Kinderhook and up on the mountain in Jewett and Prattsville, NY know quite well. But did you know that it was a Merwin who inspired Washington Irving’s iconic character, Ichabod Crane, of “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” fame? Enjoy this talk by literary explorer and discovered Jesse “James” Angelino as he takes you on his journey to uncover the Greene County “mountaintop” roots of one of the most famous fictional characters of the 19 th century. Jesse “James” Angelino is a local author, journalist, and newspaper reporter. He has been studying the history of New York City, Albany, and the Catskills for most of his life. He grew up in Palenville, NY and currently lives in Cairo writing for the local newspaper, “Porcupine Soup”. He also has a book published that is available wherever books are sold titled “It Once Was”. A comedy about growing up in upstate NY. LECTURE -July 13 th , 1-3 pm-- Zadock Pratt, Ralph Ingersoll & The Ghost Troops of WWII by former Pratt Museum Curator Suzanne Walsh. Come listen to the recently declassified story about how Zadock Pratt’s great grandson, Ralph Ingersoll was front and center in the smoke and mirrors escapades that saved the lives of thousands of US troops and helped win the war in the operation of the “Ghost Army of World War II”. “Every army practices deception. If they don’t, they can’t win…” (RTD. USA Gen. Wesley Clark). The “Ghost Army of World War II” tells an almost unbelievable story of not just any kind of historical military deception, but one that was audaciously out-of-the-box, due to a big helping of Ralph Ingersoll, himself. Because of the declassification, we now know in June 1944 the United States Army created a new one-of-a-kind secret unit called the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, a regiment formed to deceive and confuse German troops in Europe during World War II into not only believing the US military had far more forces in Europe than it actually had, but also into believing a decoy army was the real one while the real units critically operated on the front lines elsewhere. Come, learn more about this incredible saga of W.W. II history and the history of the Zadock Pratt family in America. LECTURE -July 21 st , 1-3 PM--Second Annual Zadock Pratt Lecture: Lafayette’s Visit to Greene County, NY by Greene County Historian Jonathan Palmer. In 1825, General George Lafayette was welcomed in Catskill, NY with a festive paraded led by On July 12, 1822, he became a Colonel for New York's 116th Infantry. In 1825, he commanded the escort of Lafayette into Catskill on his beloved horse, Prince. EXHIBIT- August 10-October 27. “The History of Prattsville in 25 Objects,” co-curated by Carolyn Bennett, Frank Marquit, and Ruth Pelkey. Even those familiar with the Pratt Museum are often unaware of its large collection of documents, photographs and artifacts connected with the life of Town Founder Zadock Pratt and the Town of Prattsville (1833-present). This exhibit brings together 25 objects from the Museum’s collections to tell the “story” of Prattsville. LECTURE -August 17 st . 1-3 pm – “Zadock Pratt as Art Patron”. An illustrated talk about a little-know facet of Zadock Pratt’s personality by one of the Pratt Museum’s favorite former curator Suzanne Walsh. In this lifetime, Pratt commissioned works by John Vanderlyn, Frederick Spenser, Amos Hamlin, Currier & Ives, and others. ART AUCTION FUNDRAISER -August 24th. Prattsville’s Second Annual “Paint the Town” art auction & fundraiser featuring paintings, drawings and photographs by local and regional contemporary artists. LECTURE -September 21. Looking for Railroad Jack: A Historian's Search for a Long-Lost Canine Celebrity by historian Kelli Huggins. In the 1880s and 1890s, there were few dogs as famous as Albany, NY's Railroad Jack. Along with his contemporary, the Postal Service's Owney, Jack captivated the public with his train-riding antics. When he died in 1893, his body was taxidermied and, subsequently, lost from the historical record. This talk will explain what Jack and fellow animal celebrities tell us about the history of the Gilded Age and will explore attempts to figure out what happened to him. Kelli Huggins is a historian, museum professional, and artist with a penchant for the bizarre and forgotten. Her current book project is about canine celebrity in the 1800s, focusing on Railroad Jack and Owney, two real-life, famous train-riding dogs. She has a Master’s in History from the University of Delaware. FUNDRAISER -September TBA. Second Annual Victorian Tea. Delicious savories. Aromatic Teas. Make your reservations now. 201-388-5103. HARVEST FUNDRAISER -October TBA. Psychic readings, HARVEST LECTURE -Sunday, October 27 th, , 1-3 pm--Greene County Historian Jonathan Palmer will thrill and chill his audience with the second in the Pratt Museum’s Greene Ghosts Series, “The Murder of Sally Hamilton”. Yes, there’s a ghost in the story.

May 10, 2024 • 24 views

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BETTER THAN HEARSAY

To EMS Be or Not To EMS Be By Michael Ryan CATSKILL - The next couple of weeks could transform the emergency medical services landscape or leave it stuck in the mud. Greene County Legislature members have approved a resolution calling upon their counterparts in Albany to pass a series of bills that would advance ambulance response into the 21st Century. Those bills were mystifyingly left out of the recent State budget after local lawmakers, along with many municipal officials and EMS personnel statewide, had been led to believe they were a slam dunk. There is a related story in our Legislature Stuff column, this week, revealing mostly that no one seems to know what happened or why. A plea has gone out to State decision-makers to enact the same measures, apart from the budget, prior to going home for the summer. Greene County administrator Shaun Groden, who is generally in the know on these kinds of things says, “I don’t understand why they didn’t pass.” Legislature chairman Patrick Linger, who likewise usually has a clue, has none, saying, “for some reason, they just disappeared.” Many fingers are being pointed at how the perpetually late State budget is finalized, locking the Governor and leaders of each House in a room, not coming out until a deal is done. Whatever the chain of events may be, the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) has authored a letter, beseeching Albany big wigs to come to their EMS senses. It remains to be seen how successful the appeal is although there may be a glimmer of hope, based upon statements made by State Senator Michelle Hinchey in response to the question…”what happened and why?” Hinchey has a reputation for not playing politics and sponsored one of the bills NYSAC wants pushed through by the Senate and Assembly. She was asked for any insight on the fate of the bills - which could still be passed before June 2 - and about a special Task Force she helped establish, two years ago, to study EMS across the State. Hinchey didn’t provide the behind-the-scenes background being sought here but perhaps dropped a hint as to what is on the horizon. “EMS is the frontline of healthcare in rural and medically underserved communities, especially in Greene County which doesn’t have a local hospital,” Hinchey said. “We’ve seen firsthand how long-term underfunding, inadequate reimbursement rates, workforce shortages, and geographic challenges have pushed many of our EMS providers to the brink of closure. “That’s why I created the first-ever Rural Ambulance Services Task Force made up of some of New York’s most experienced EMS professionals, including Greene County’s very own Aidan O’Connor,” Hinchey said. O’Connor is a former county legislature and a helicopter paramedic, being both well-connected and highly-respected in the EMS field. I bumped into him at the recent EMS fundraiser in the town of Ashland, pumping him for information about the Task Force. He played it close to the vest, saying only that their report is close to being made public. Local officials are hopeful Albany is planning a big splash surrounding the EMS bills and that report, tying them together. Hinchey, meanwhile, says the Task Force was created specifically, “so the. State Legislature can take action on solutions identified by the providers who serve our communities. “We’re working to pass a comprehensive legislative package of solutions, many of which are based on Task Force recommendations, and we’re pushing to get it done before session ends. “That includes legislation I sponsor to ensure EMS providers are finally reimbursed for providing treatment on the scene, facilitating telemedicine, and that providers have the flexibility of transporting patients to other healthcare settings, like urgent care or a mental health facility. “It's also imperative we take action this year to recognize EMS as an Essential Service, a bill I co-sponsor and look forward to passing. “It is incumbent we do everything we can to keep lifesaving EMS available and ensure a sustainable future for these essential rural healthcare services,” Hinchey said. Assemblyman Chris Tague was characteristically colorful when asked the same question as Hinchey, saying in a phone interview, “all l I can say is this is something I’ve been pushing since I was first elected in 2018. “Somebody high up in Albany doesn’t want to get it done,” Tague said, not naming names. “It’s very discouraging and what’s really troubling is these bills have support on both sides of the aisle. “We seem to have no problem spending $2.4 billion on people living in our country illegally but we can’t seem to prioritize spending that same money on EMS, volunteer firefighters or on our roads and bridges for that matter. “It is getting to the point in rural, upstate New York that if you call 911 for fire or EMS, they might not show up because there are no personnel or there is no equipment to be able to respond.” Tague, a Republican, rued political realities in Albany (ruled by Democrats) as the root cause of the rejection, saying, “the majority controls everything. “Is it an Upstate, Downstate thing? Ninety percent of legislation is New York City driven. They couldn’t care less about rural, Upstate New York. “These emergency medical services bills are the greatest bills in the world. They would help every person. It makes no sense they didn’t get through.”

May 10, 2024

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Foundations Teamed Up to Clean Windham

By Michael Ryan WINDHAM - It’s hard to imagine anything better than the work of one foundation other than two foundations working together. Nobody was talking trash when the Community of Windham Foundation and Windham Foundation teamed up, this past weekend. Well, they were sort of talking trash but only to get the task accomplished of filling many bags with litter and strewn garbage from along Route 23. The State highway serves as Main Street for the town and the volunteer picker-uppers also prettified a short stretch of Mitchell Hollow Road. Not limiting the Cleanup Day effort to what everyone might notice, jobs were similarly done in the hamlets of Maplecrest and Hensonville. “We successfully filled seventeen bags, keeping Windham beautiful,” said Community of Windham Foundation member Denise Meehan, noting the overall theme for the combined assault is Mission Possible. “This is the first Mission Possible and we are planning a second one for the fall, maybe another cleanup or a project that would help someone. “We are very grateful to everyone who came out, particularly the students from Windham-Ashland-Jewett school and Math teacher Joe Pudlewski, who organized them,” Meehan said. Sophia Dyjak, Ryan Rush and Jack Baldner represented WAJ and “we also appreciate [Windham Movie Theater proprietor] Pat Higgins, offering free Subway sandwiches for all,” Meehan said. “Sam Carpenter picked up the bags quickly for us. Sherry Wack and her grandsons sons pitched-in in Maplecrest and [Community of Windham Foundation member] Annie Jakubowski did a bag in Hensonville.” Everything went off without a hitch…almost. “We will get walkie-talkies next time. Nobody wants to answer their cell phone at a time like that,” Meehan said, laughing. And there was a humorous case of mistaken identity. “We wore our orange vests, for safety, of course. Someone walked over to me and asked me if I was a prisoner,” Meehan said. Inmates are often seen along area highways in brightly-colored vests, gaining good behavior points by assisting with community projects. Windham Foundation president Paul Mutter, following the event, said in an email, “Phyllis and I participated in a wonderful Spring Road Clean-Up,” referring to fellow Windham Foundation member Phyllis Parrish. “It was organized by Denise Meehan and Jeri Miltenberger. We participated on behalf of the Windham Foundation in a show of support for the great work of the Community of Windham Foundation.”

May 10, 2024 • 24 views

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LEGISLATURE STUFF

What the EMS What? By Michael Ryan CATSKILL - Befuddlement surrounds a resolution approved by the Greene County Legislature, last week, related to the rejection by State lawmakers of several bills aimed at the rescue of rescue services. While the local resolution still needs to pass muster by the full board, it is expected to do so later this month, having moved unanimously thru a Health Services committee meeting. The local resolution urges the New York Senate and Assembly to enact a “package of legislation to strengthen our emergency medical services.” Calling emergency medical services a “vital resource,” the local resolution declares that action by State officials “is necessary to the health and well-being of communities across New York.” Surprise and confusion are being expressed by county leaders that the legislation was not included in the recent passage of the State budget, believing it was basically a done deal. “It doesn’t makes sense,” county administrator Shaun Groden said in a telephone interview, suggesting, “politics is rearing its ugly head. “I have no explanation for why these bills got pulled” from the State budget, Groden said. “They had sponsors in both Houses. “If there was only one bill coming out of one House I could understand, but every bill has co-sponsors in both Houses. “And it isn’t like I’m wanting this only for Greene County. With the exception of the five big metropolitan areas, every other county has this problem, especially rural counties like ours,” Groden said. County legislature chairman Patrick Linger was similarly stumped as to why the bills were bypassed by the big wigs in Albany. “For some reason, they completely fell off the table,” Linger said in a phone interview. “I wasn’t hearing objections to them but they just disappeared. “Maybe someone decided there was too much controversy about them and they didn’t want to muddy the budget more than it was,” Linger said. The State spending plan was finalized three weeks late which isn’t unusual but is a continuing source of perplexed frustration for county officials. “By removing these bills from the budget, hopefully it tells me there would be no State money involved so they didn’t belong there,” Linger said. “Hopefully that is telling me they can now be moved through the legislative process. Other than that, I got nothing,” Linger said. The local resolution has emerged from the New York State Association of Counties, exhorting State decision-makers to pass the bills within their normal legislative process prior to recessing in early June. Ambulance services provide, “a wide range of prehospital medical care to sick or injured people in emergency situations,” the resolution states. “The difference between a municipality that provides for EMS and one that does not can often make the difference between life and death. “Despite its vast importance, there is an ongoing EMS crisis in this State, particularly in how it is funded, staffed, and operated. “Much of this stems from a fundamental misconception about EMS vis-a-vis other critical services like police and fire. This is reflected in New York State law, which fails to recognize the essential nature of EMS. “As a result, EMS providers are often undervalued and under-respected for the critical role they play in our communities. “The EMS framework in New York includes an array of private, public or not-for-profit providers that have expanded across the state in a scattered, patchwork approach.” the resolution states, That hodge-podge is, “leaving many New York residents uncertain whether an EMS provider will be available in their community at the time of need… “Which is why we need to create greater flexibility for municipalities to facilitate EMS. To meet unique local challenges represents a critical next step in the provision of EMS,” the resolution states. The proposed bills, if enacted, would do the following: —Allow special taxing districts to be created to fund EMS services. In addition, this legislation would recognize EMS as an essential service and provide reforms to the Emergency Medical Services Council. —Remove EMS services from the real property tax cap, allowing local municipalities to expand and better support their local EMS services. —Authorize Medicaid reimbursement to EMS agencies for providing Treatment in Place (TIP) to a patient at the point of response; as well as Transportation to an Alternate Provider (TAP) —Allow volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers to claim both State income and local property tax credits. —Increase the volunteer firefighters' and ambulance workers’ personal income tax credit from $200 to $800 for eligible individuals and from $400 to $1,600 for eligible married joint filers. —Create a methodology for ambulance reimbursement under Medicaid that more closely approximates the cost of providing the service. —Require the Thruway Authority to issue emergency services permits to EMS vehicles as is already done for fire vehicles, exempting EMS from paying tolls while transporting patients on the NYS Thruway.

May 10, 2024

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Out Lexington Way

By Christine Dwon Friday, May 10 are the Pulled Pork Sandwiches available from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Windham-Hensonville UMC, Main Street, Windham. Included is the sandwich, coleslaw, chips, soda or water and home baked cookie, all for a $15 donation. Day of sale call 518-734-4122, order three or more and there is delivery within Windham only. There will be a rummage sale on Friday, May 10 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the East Jewett United Methodist Church, County Route 23C, East Jewett. Lots of bargains on housewares, clothing, books, toys and seasonal decorations-Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving. Soup, hot dogs, salads and pie will be available. The annual Roast Pork Dinner hosted by the Prattsville Hose Company will be held Saturday, May 11 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dinner includes roast pork, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, applesauce, coleslaw, dinner roll and a variety of homemade desserts. Adult dinners are $15; children 6 – 12 are $8, under 5 are free. Advance reservations are not required. All are welcome to come and enjoy sit down dinners or takeouts. Don’t forget that special lady on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12. There will be a Mother’s Day potluck dinner at the Ashland Community UMC, 12216 State Highway 23, Ashland, on Monday, May 13 at 6 p.m. Bring Mom, daughter and a favorite dish to share. Tuesday, May 14 is the Soup and Fellowship Kitchen from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Blue Room at the Kaaterskill UMC, 5942 Main Street, Tannersville. Stop in for a free bowl of soup and sandwich and the fellowship. All welcome. Every second Tuesday of the month (May 14) is the Hunter Public Library’s Coffee Klatch from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. with light refreshments, coffee and tea. Ladies Auxiliary of the Town of Lexington Fire/Rescue Company will meet for the monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 7 p.m. in the Firemen’s Room. Wednesday, May 15, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., is the first Greene County Public Health Rabies Clinic for 2024 at the Angelo Canna Town Park, 82 Joseph D. Spencer Lane, Cairo. The clinics are outdoor drive-up only and you must wear a face mask and remain inside your vehicle at all times. Please be prepared with proper leashes, carriers and muzzles (if necessary) for your animals to keep them and others safe. Bring record of pet’s vaccination – the certificate, not the tag –for three-year certificate. If no record is present, pet will be given a one-year certificate. Public Health Law requires all cats, dogs and ferrets to be vaccinated for rabies starting 12 weeks old. If you are feeding a stray, please bring them to be vaccinated. Please call to pre-register at 518-719-3600. Donations please. All proceeds go to Public Health. The next clinic will be June 19. Gayle Hoffman celebrates her birthday on Friday, May 10. Happy wedding anniversary on Monday, May 13 to Nancy and Louie Kizyma. Happy birthday to Susan Simpfenderfer on May 16. May 16 is also John Knapp’s birthday. Best wishes to all. The Greene County Department of Human Services Senior Nutrition Program menu for the week of May 13 – May 17 is as follows: Monday—Chicken Divan, carrot/green bean mix, white rice, tropical fruit; Tuesday—Tortellini with sausage, Italian mixed vegetables, chocolate mousse with whipped topping; Wednesday—Knockwurst with sauerkraut, carrots, baked beans, macaroni salad, cherry bars; Thursday—Cranberry chicken salad, potato salad, marinated vegetable salad, fresh fruit; Friday—Fish Florentine, scalloped potatoes, broccoli, fresh fruit. The menu will be the meal that is delivered to all Greene County homebound meal clients. All persons, age 60 and older are invited to join for lunch. Suggested donation is $4 per meal. If you have a food allergy, please notify us. Allergen information is available for prepared food items. Those wishing to receive a meal must notify the respective location by noon, a day in advance. The number to call for the Senior Service Center at the Jewett Municipal Building, Route 23C, Jewett is 518-263-4392. The annual meeting of the West Kill/Lexington Community Improvement Association will be held Saturday, May 18 in the Community Hall, 141 Spruceton Road, West Kill. Coffee hour at 3 p.m. and the meeting starts at 4 p.m. There will be a Chicken BBQ at the Ashland Community UMC, 12216 State Route 23, Ashland on Saturday, May 18. Details to follow. The Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center, 1378 State Route 30, North Blenheim, is having a Teddy Bear Picnic on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring a bear to the Teddy Bear Clinic, participate in Story Time and Croquet with Alice, Bounce House and lawn games, food and craft vendors. Free admission and parking, rain or shine. The Lexington Farmers Market for the 2024 season begins on Saturday, May 25. You are invited to an open house 90 th birthday celebration for Lois Banks on Saturday, May 25 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lexington/West Kill UMC Fellowship Hall. Food will be provided, but feel free to bring a dish to pass. Everyone is welcome to come and wish Lois a very happy birthday. Would you like to help make lap robes for veterans? Contact Hunter Public Library if you would like to help if you already know how to crochet and knit. If not, come to the knitting/crochet group Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. to learn. All levels and ages are welcome. Piano Thursdays at the Mountain Top Library, 6093 Main Street, Tannersville. Sign up to play the piano or simply come and enjoy the tunes. Call 518-589-5707. Thank you to all law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, healthcare providers, volunteers, veterans and actively serving military, farmers, truck drivers and so many more. Prayers for all who are dealing with loss, illnesses, healing, difficulties, our country, our military and their families, the world. Until next week take care, be thankful, be respectful, be safe and please be kind to one another. Your act of kindness may change someone’s life.

May 10, 2024

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Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC

VFW Post 1545 This past weekend VFW District 3 held our annual convention at the Hilton Garden Inn in Clifton Park, NY. The dinner prior to the business meeting gave everyone who attended time to meet members from many Posts throughout the district and have a relaxed dinner and comradeship. At the business meeting the following day officers were formally elected. A good time for all of the members from 40 Posts who attended. The following is a message from our National Commander Duane Sarmiento. In part, he stated some important facts: On April 23, the Senate passed $95 billion in funding to support our allies in Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, an aid package the House worked overtime to pass three days earlier. Many who advocated for this support, to include the VFW, breathed a sigh of relief, as the United States reaffirmed its commitment as a world leader against tyranny. Three weeks ago, I visited our allies in Taiwan and heard firsthand from both Taiwanese officials and VFW members about the importance of this support. Time and again, we see Congress can mobilize in the eleventh hour to support urgent needs — whether it’s averting a self-inflicted government shutdown or waiting until the absolute last minute to reaffirm long-standing and noncontroversial commitments to our allies. They even came together on unrelated legislation, sending a sell-or-be-banned ultimatum to the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok, which they added to the aid package bill based on national security concerns. We rarely see similar urgency to support veterans. The bean counters in Congress will try to smugly dismiss this correlation, obfuscating on how these are different funds for different purposes. Frankly, Americans don’t care about the technical nuance of bureaucratic nonsense. They care about results. While just about everyone in Congress publicly gives support, they privately balk at the purported price tag of a meager $1 billion per year. Think about that. We have $95 billion to throw around whenever we need it, but when veterans ask for a small share to end a glaring injustice, suddenly we can’t scrape together enough nickels to get it done. This is not about the money, it is about the gesture of support to our all-volunteer force, which is a national security imperative in the context of recent recruiting shortfalls. It’s time for Washington to accept that this failure rests with decision-makers and the fundamental disconnect between Beltway insiders and the Americans who volunteer to serve on the front lines. If Congress can get a bill passed that protects American interests aboard and cyberspace at home, then we expect them to show the same urgency to honoring its commitments to Americans who have defended this country by passing the Major Richard Star Act today. Should you agree with our National Commander, please contact your congressperson. As just one veteran’s opinion, getting our still serving troops support and past combat veterans their benefits, this message shows one important fact, that “The VFW Does More for Veterans” . Please keep our troops still serving in your thoughts and prayers to keep them safe. God Bless America. Marc Farmilette, PDC – Commander Post 1545

May 10, 2024

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Windham Town Enacts Noise Law

By Michael Ryan WINDHAM - The amount of allowable sound has decreased in Windham although a different sort of disquietude is emerging over the possible creation of little league fields at the Windham Path. Town council members, at a recent meeting, agreed to amend the existing Noise Law, lowering acceptable decibel levels from 75 to 60 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 a.m. Government leaders took the action after hearing concerns from residents of County Route 10 about a request from a local wedding venue, back in December, to potentially exceed the maximums during a special event. Co-owners Susan and Barry Smith asked for the variance, leading to a public hearing where complaints were expressed about the regular activities of the business. Susan Smith, prior to the public hearing, had informed the town council that the possible excessive noise, past midnight, would be limited to vendor trucks loading up and leaving the site. It was highly likely the rumblings of the departing trucks would not violate limits, Susan Smith said, merely wanting to abide by the law and utilize variance clauses written into the legislation, adopted in 2022. As it turned out, more than one resident voiced dissatisfaction with the way things already were, dwelling within easy earshot of the Windham Manor. “I’ve been living up there for the past eight years,” one resident said. “I moved there because it was very peaceful. “I enjoy that peacefulness to this day. I don’t understand why this request is being made when they already do what they are asking to do. “It isn’t at every event but this does occur, with loud yelling from guests and the beeping noise from buses backing up, whether it’s after 11 o’clock at night or 1:30 in the morning. “If they are asking for this now, does this mean the noise will be something worse than it already is?” the resident wanted to know. Similar dissatisfactions were shared by other residents, prompting local officials to consider the change, unanimously okaying it after a public hearing where opinions only in favor of it were heard. Noise is allowed at basically any hour, provided decibel levels aren’t exceeded (measured at the boundary line between two properties). The law states, “no person shall make, continue or cause or permit to be made, verbally or mechanically, any unreasonable noise disturbance between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.” In another matter, a petition is being circulated related to a plan by the town to build two little league fields at the popular Windham Path. Nothing is final in terms of whether the project will unfold or how much it would cost, but efforts are moving toward that end, breaking ground in 2025, at the soonest, officials say. Government leaders, this past January, broached the subject after potential parking issues arose at the current itty-bitty ballpark, located for generations along South Street. While the town owns the land where the ballpark is situated, parking areas adjacent to the property are owned by others who, over the years, have allowed it to be utilized for that purpose. That recently changed when one owner wished to create a business opportunity, establishing residential buildings next to the field. There is still ample parking elsewhere and the town, earlier this spring, secured agreements with those owners, at least for this year. Town leaders, however, say they are responding to the reality that those owners could one day pursue different options, eliminating that parking, even while the field would keep being active. In the meantime, officials have asked Delaware Engineering to do research on existing facilities, envisioning fields that might fit Windham. Those preliminary sketches were presented to the town council, last month. Meanwhile, the petition is appearing online (on the Greene County Democratic Party website) and at Higher Grounds cafe. One of the signees is longtime resident Anita Buyers, who in a telephone interview stated, “I am not opposed to the little league or kids. “But I don’t see why we need two ballfields in such a quiet, beautiful, cared-about place. They should find another spot to put it,” Buyers said. The petition, in part, states, “we strongly oppose the Windham Town Board's discussed plans to build a baseball complex within the Windham Path itself. “Taking up as much as 10% of the existing property, the complex would include two ballfields, bleachers, dugouts, bathrooms, and parking. “Building such a sizable complex would cause the disruption of wildlife; and affect the amazing visual appeal and the quiet, serene natural beauty of the “Crown Jewel of Windham.” “We, the undersigned, ask that the Windham Town Board leave the Windham Path, a place of harmony and discovery, in its natural state. “Please allow us to help you find a different location for the proposed ballfield complex!” the petition states. The petition arose following a visit to a town council session, earlier this year, by local business owners Drew Shuster and Nick Bove along with other residents, seeking re-direction of the project.

May 10, 2024 • 26 views

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Patchworkers Thank the Golden Age Club!

Patchworker Vice President, Yvette NcNerney (center) gives a $200 thank you check to the WAJPL Golden Age Club. Accepting the check are President, Lula Anderson (left), Assistant Corresponding Secretary, Judy LoPresti (right) and Treasurer, Mary Louise Leslie (sitting). The Patchworkers wanted to acknowledge the generosity of the Golden Age Club for sharing their new Senior Center for the Patchworkers 50th Anniversary Quilt Show last October.

May 10, 2024 • 50 views

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2023-24 Cairo-Durham High School

Third Quarter Honor Rolls Announced CAIRO – The Cairo-Durham Central School District is excited to announce its Cairo-Durham High School High Honor Roll and Honor Roll members for the third quarter of the 2023-24 school year. To qualify for High Honor Roll, students must record a grade point average of 90 or higher throughout the quarter. To qualify for Honor Roll, students must record a grade point average between 85 and 89. High Honor Roll 9th Grade: Aiden Choinsky, Madeline Gouza, Gianna Lendin, Destiny Mauriello, Aria McCabe, Abagail Multari, Anna Palmieri, Lenor Rhoades, Grace Snedeker, Nevaeh Sprague and Ava Zeun. 10th Grade: Avery Amoroso, Kingston Czajkowski, Amiliana DuHart, Addison Hall, Abby Hartmann, Aaylla Heines, Joseph Kahle, Aylana Merrihew, Emily Moon, Daniel Mutinsky, Nicholas Olivett, Nathaniel Porter, Sophia Rennig, Logan Rhoades, Anthony Roeber, Kaitlyn Russell, Jonathan Saad, Oliver Schrull, Aubree Shultis, Aishwarya Thakur, Grace VanGurp, Candace Vlasaty, Zoe Vogel, William Woodcock, Isabella Zelinsky and Joseph Zindell, Jr. 11th Grade: Connor Alberson, Jessica Baeckmann, Ally Barnett, Andrew Esslie, Kevin Feeney, Rose Fucito, Dylan Galtieri, Danasia King, Rachel Maggio, Natalie McGuire, Sarah Muschitiello, Isabelle Neves, Tenley O'Connell, Jenna Relyea, Kaylan Rennig, Loki Rhoades, Dezaray Riley, Natalie Ruger, Lenesha Sanpal, Gloriannah Santosky, Lindsay Shelhamer, Ryan Shelhamer, Mackenzie Sherburne, William Stallbohm, Loretta Stalter, Lauren Thompson, Drew Warner, Lauren Zecca. 12th Grade: Kennedy Bleau, Marc Cammarata, Nova Conti, Chloe Cunningham, Lance Curless, Joshua Cuti, Morgan Deyo, Minhtri Dinh, Ciara Falvey, Brendan Feeney, Alexander Gouza, Tashana James, Emma Kargoe, Skyler Kelly, Adrian McGuire, Francesco Carter-Miller, Ayla Neves, Jacklyn Nielsen, Cole Partridge, Echo Roe, Zachary Russell, Hailey Schrull, Charles Smith, Rhea Smith, Anthony Sternbach, Joseph VanHolsteyn, Kaylee VanWagner, Zak Wagor and Tatyanna Young. Honor Roll 9th Grade: Kayla Alberson, Tanner Berg, Stephen Brandow, Jr., Ryan Coons, Lilyanne Dauphin, Nia DeRose, Gabriel DiPrima, Brenna Fabiano, Lily Haugh, Matthew Higgins, Aiden Houston, Louis Lamprecht, Raymond LaRose, Phoenix McCabe, Isabel Newkirk, Heidi Nielsen, Angelina Pitcher, Charlotte Rae, Gabrielle Rae and Leia Sorokurs. 10th Grade: Wyatt Cammarata, Shannon Gavin, Alexis Hammond, Chase Kelly, Jade Mancuso, Julian Miller, Andrew Moran, Bridget Murphy, Nathaniel Underwood, Jaide Wolf and Jacob Young. 11th Grade: Kaylee Cassimore, Margo Cochrane, Brianne Frey, Jeremy Halvorsen, Adam Henry, Kaylie Long, Alan Lopez-Agustin, Accalia Maderic, Mackenzie Meacher, Joshua Mulligan, Nicholas Orso, Anthony Panicola, Valentino Rivera, Luciana Ross, Zander Santarelli and Robert Schmierer. 12th Grade: James Dorpfeld, Connor Jackson, Jake Lane, Jose Mejia-Deyo, Kaitlyn Peterson, Axel Rendon, Aidon Stannard, Rielli Webner and Summer Winig.

May 10, 2024 • 28 views

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RUPCO Secures Tannersville Housing Grant

TANNERSVILLE — RUPCO received a $10.5 Million Low-Income Housing Tax Credit award from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (NYSHCR) to develop 56 affordable apartments in the Village of Tannersville, with a workforce and senior preference. Located at the site of the former Cold Spring Hotel at 55 Spruce Street, Cold Spring Apartments will be an intergenerational and energy-efficient campus that features three buildings and a community space for residents to gather. The new construction development includes two double-story multifamily buildings that will house (40) workforce apartments and (15) senior apartments for those 55 and over, respectively. The third building will be transformed into a Community Center with an onsite superintendent apartment on the second floor. The development will be home to a diverse mixed-income community that can help enrich the fabric of Tannersville. The workforce homes will serve households earning 50% - 93% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 11 units preferenced for current Greene County residents, and the senior apartments will be affordable to households at 30% - 60% AMI. The project will also include nine homes that are preferred for persons with a disability (6 units) and individuals with a visual and hearing impairment (3 units). RUPCO will employ passive house standards to achieve a LEED for Homes Silver status from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and a PHIUS certification. Building to these standards with the use of a geothermal heat pump system for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water production will reduce our carbon footprint and will provide savings to future residents. Inspired by the beautiful Adirondack and cottage style, Cold Spring Apartments was designed with "mountain lifestyle" needs in mind. Each building features community, wellness, and laundry rooms, with trash and recycling rooms conveniently located on each floor. The community center will provide a multipurpose room with a kitchenette and bathroom facilities, ski and bicycle storage, and a maintenance garage for lawn care and snow removal equipment storage. The funding sources provided by NYSHCR Housing Trust Fund Corporation include up to $990,000 of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), $733,981 of NYS Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (SLIHC), $1,795,000 of New York State Housing Trust Fund (HTF), $ 1,388,317 of Federal Housing Trust Fund (FHTF), $2,900,000 of Middle-Income Housing Program (MIHP), $ 2,340,923 of NYS HOME and $420,000 of Clean Energy Initiative Program (CEI). The project will benefit from a $2.5M Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) award secured by the Village of Tannersville and the Hunter Foundation in 2021. Furthermore, the project has received local approvals, and construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2024. The project development team includes Ashley McGraw Architects and Tern Construction and Development as the contractor. In 2022, RUPCO received an invitation from the Hunter Foundation to develop affordable housing for the local workforce. The agency has also worked closely with the Village of Tannersville, whose support has been instrumental in advancing the project. HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said: "Cold Spring Apartments will be transformative for Tannersville by revitalizing a dilapidated relic of a bygone era to create 55 affordable homes in a region where they are critically needed. This unique project will capitalize on the upper Hudson Valley's rural atmosphere and charm while exemplifying sustainable, eco-friendly development. Congratulations to RUPCO and thank you to Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to tackling the housing crisis in a way that furthers our State's nation-leading climate goals." Kevin O'Connor, RUPCO CEO, said: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to NYSHCR, Governor Hochul, and all our partners for their unwavering support in making Cold Spring Apartments a reality. Together, we embark on a journey to redefine affordable housing that prioritizes current residents of Greene County as well as sustainability, inclusivity, and community well-being.” David Schneider, Mayor of the Village of Tannersville, said: “We are very happy that RUPCO was able to secure funding for such an important and vital project for the growth and economic development of our village. Once completed this will help the village of Tannersville and the surrounding communities with its housing shortages. We look forward to working with RUPCO to see this project through its completion.” Sean Mahoney, Executive Director of Hunter Foundation Inc, said: "This funding announcement for RUPCO's transformative affordable workforce and senior housing project marks a monumental victory for the Village of Tannersville and surrounding region. This project not only tackles the critical need for affordable housing in our community but will also breathe new life into the blighted Cold Spring Hotel property, which has been in ruins for years.” By offering essential and state of the art housing for working people, families, and seniors, RUPCO can create a flourishing community where people from all walks of life will prosper in an impeccably maintained and attractive housing complex. We extend our gratitude to RUPCO for their dedication throughout this long and arduous process, as this project will undoubtedly pave the way for a brighter future in our Town."

May 10, 2024 • 28 views

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