The Eastwick Press Newspaper » New Lebanon

Meredith Lukas Is A Finalist For School Girl Queen At The Columbia County Fair

eastwickpress — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:18:11 +0000

Meredith Lukas is among six of Columbia County’s best and brightest young women who have been announced as finalists for the title of School Girl Queen by officials at the Columbia County Fair.
Lukas attends New Lebanon High School and is the daughter of Randolph and Carol Lukas of New Lebanon. Yearbook Club and class fund raisers are on her list of High School activities. She also enjoys teaching gymnastics and traveled to Ireland last summer on a Mission trip. This summer she is planning a trip to Peru.
The six young women will be competing for a $500 grand prize when they meet judges during the

Meredith Lukas.

Columbia County Fair. After each is interviewed, the prizes will be determined based upon the individual with the most personality, poise and best appearance.
The crowning ceremony will begin at 6:30 pm on Friday, September 3, on the Main Stage. After a procession of the participants riding in open vehicles past the grandstand, each will have a brief on-stage interview before the lucky winner is introduced. Presiding over the event will be last year’s winner, Taylor Race from Germantown Central School. The event is sponsored by the Columbia-Greene Community College Day.
More top prize entertainment will follow immediately after the crowning of this year’s winner when “1964…The Tribute” takes the stage for a re-enactment of an early Beatles concert. Rolling Stone Magazine called this band, “The best Beatles tribute on Earth.” Then, on Sunday, more music will fill the air when Craig Morgan brings his brand of down-home country to the Main Stage at 3 pm and again at 8 pm.
Every day there will be plenty of entertainment for everyone, from rodeo broncos to Clydesdale giants, Ferris wheels to the Demolition Derby. Pick a time and find something terrific to do. Eat wonderful food. Laugh at racing pigs. Hug a tortoise. The Fair has been providing great adventures for 168 years.
The Columbia County Fair, on Route 66 (GPS: 182 Hudson Avenue), Chatham, opens at 3 pm on Wednesday, September 1, 10 am the other days, and runs through Monday, Labor Day, September 6. This year, gate prices remain $10 daily, $12 on Sunday. Children 12 and under always enter free. On Thursday, Seniors can enter for half price until 4 pm and youth under 18 can enter free until 4 pm. Admission includes all entertainment and parking.

New Lebanon Foundation Golf Tournament Fund Raiser

eastwickpress — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:36:07 +0000

Whether you are an avid or occasional golfer you are invited to sign up to play in the New Lebanon Foundation Golf Tournament Fund Raiser and support a good cause while enjoying a day on the course. The event will be held on Saturday, September 18, at the Skyline Country Club in Lanesboro, MA, with the $90 registration fee covering the tournament, cart, lunch and dinner at the Skyline. If you are not a golfer you can still support the foundation by purchasing a tee, green or cart sign, by becoming a sponsor, by attending the banquet or by donating a raffle prize. Cash contributions are also welcome.
Visit www.newlebanonfoundation.com for more information and to download a registration form. The entry deadline is September 1. If you have any further questions, call Barbara at 518-794-9490 or Susan at 518-794-9838. All proceeds benefit the New Lebanon Arts and Humanities Fund, a fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

Harriet T. Kane

eastwickpress — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:07:54 +0000

New Lebanon – On August 18, 2010, Harriet T. Kane, aged 92, died peacefully following a long and graceful life.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Harriet was raised in Ozone Park, NY, and attended John Adams High School. She met her husband Richard ice skating and moved to Floral Park, NY, in 1955.
Her four children and her nieces and nephews learned many life lessons from her in the big house on Verbena Avenue. She was employed for several years at the Sewanhaka Central High School District and volunteered in several clubs at Our Lady of Victory Church, including the Catholic Daughters of America and the Holy Rosary Society. She was a member of the Jaycees, which was started by a friend Tetta Body in the 1930s, and the group remained friends throughout their lives until their deaths with Harriet’s being the last. There were 15 to 20 women in the group. Following Richard’s retirement from the New York City Department of Corrections, they retired and moved north to East Chatham, NY, where Harriet and Richard became involved in their new Church, Immaculate Conception in New Lebanon, NY. Following her husband’s death in 1997, Harriet worked as a Church Assistant for the parish.
In 2000, Harriet moved to Monroe. CT, with her son, Richard, and became involved with the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. In 2005, she moved with Richard and Susan to Ocean Isle, NC.
A gracious and generous woman, Harriet touched the lives of all who had the pleasure of knowing her. She was devoted to her faith and her numerous relatives. Her most remarkable feature was her dedication to her family. Her fondest wish was to be reunited with her husband. She is dearly missed.
She is pre-deceased by her husband, Richard A. Kane, her daughter, Eloise, her nieces, Lynne and Agnes, her sisters, Teresa Pando and Teresa DiRocco, and her brothers, Joseph Fallon and Edward Doyle. She is survived by her sons, Richard and wife Susan of Ocean Isle Beach, NC, Brian and June Castellano of Rochester, NY, and Peter and wife Patricia of Scottsville, NY, her daughter, Miriam and husband Dennis Pasquarell, her grandchildren, Diane, Richard, Peter, Emmalee, Vincent, Zachery, Cortney, Rose, Christine, Fallon and Nicolette, and her great-grandchildren, Ryan, Nora, Clare, Lanette, Noah and Grace. She is also survived by nieces and nephews, JoAnn, James, Ellen (Klemballa), John and Barbara Schnurr (Tucker), Teresa Pando (Fitzgerald), Veronica and Christopher and John Fallon. She had many other relatives, including cousins and nieces and nephews, as well as friends from many walks of life.
A Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial was celebrated by Rev John L. Close on Tuesday morning, August 24, at 9 am in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 732 US Route 20, New Lebanon. Interment followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Nassau, NY.
Relatives and friends were invited to the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home 457 NY 43, Stephentown, NY, on Monday from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm for visitation. Memory contributions may be made to the Immaculate Conception Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home office, P.O. Box 9, Stephentown, NY, 12168.

New Lebanon Landfill Issue Resurfaces

eastwickpress — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:56:14 +0000

by Phillip Zema
The highlight of the New Lebanon Town Board meeting on Monday, August 9, concerned the former landfill off of Old Post Rd. The DEC requires that the landfill be closed, but the closing process costs approximately $1.4 million. Unless Columbia County assumes responsibility for closing the landfill, however, New Lebanon may be legally obligated to foot the entire bill.
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s at least ten landfills were closed in Columbia County. New Lebanon and the County’s other townships helped fund the closing costs. It was reported that since 1986, the County has deposited substantial amounts of tires and debris into the New Lebanon landfill. The Town Council is adamant that the County – and not merely New Lebanon’s tax payers – should take responsibility for closing the landfill.
Recently, Town Supervisor Margaret Robertson brought this issue to the County’s Board of Supervisors. No official position was taken at the meeting, but she was pleased with the reaction she got from the other supervisors. There is another Supervisors meeting on August 18, and the issue will be discussed by the County’s legal committee. At that time, the Town may learn more about whether the County will assume responsibility for closing the landfill.
It was suggested that, at the August 18 meeting, the Town present an official memo stating exactly what it wants from the County which is for it to pay the fees and fines associated with the landfill. Council Member Doug Clark made a motion for the Town to prepare such a memo. Jason Shaw, the Town Attorney, was asked to prepare the memo. Councilman Bruce Baldwin, however, was concerned that there was a conflict of interest in having Shaw involved with the issue. Furthermore, he asked that, prior to submission, the memo be presented to the Town Council for review. He also asked that Shaw provide a disclaimer listing who he represents in Columbia County. Robertson suggested that Shaw prepare the memo by August 16.
Shaw replied that he would be a strong advocate for the Town of New Lebanon, especially in the arena of the Board of Supervisors. He added that he has had a working relationship with other County towns and supervisors. So if the Town had to pursue a lawsuit against the County, he said he would step aside in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
Clark said that the Town faced several scenarios regarding the landfill issue. The first scenario involved the Town asking the County to assume responsibility; Clark was satisfied in having Shaw help the Town in this process, especially in submitting the memo. But, if the County refused responsibility, Clark felt the Town should hire a special attorney to present the Town’s case.
The motion, however, failed as only Clark and Robertson supported it; Baldwin voted against the motion and K.B. Chittenden and Allen Livermore were not present. Although the motion did not pass, it was mentioned that the Supervisor still has the authority to present the memo to the Columbia County Board of Supervisors.
The DEC wants at least some initial preparation work performed at the site. The work includes grading, tree and debris removal and other preparatory work. It was suggested that the Town perform at least some of these tasks. Yet Baldwin was concerned that if the Town performed such work, it could compromise their case against the County. The Town should refrain from such work until the County is officially held responsible for closing the landfill, he said.
Local Cleanup Initiatives
Clark reported that the former Hess station off of Route 22 has been cleaned up and looks better. Originally, the Lebanon Valley Business Association contacted the station’s owner with concerns that the property had become slightly disheveled. Clark emphasized that the maintenance served as an example of what happens when community members cooperate and work together, especially regarding zoning issues.
Kitchen Appliances For Town Hall
The New Lebanon Senior Citizens group was recently awarded a $2,984 grant. The funding will go towards purchasing kitchen appliances for the new Town Hall. To receive the money, the purchases have to be made by August 16 so the seniors needed the Board’s approval before going forward. While the Board supported the purchases, the Town does not have a new Town Hall in which to place the appliances. To circumvent this problem, Kathy Murnane was given permission to temporarily store the items.
School Speed Zone Requests
Matt Larabee, New Lebanon’s representative to Columbia County’s Traffic Advisory Council, asked whether the area by the high school and elementary schools could be designated as school zones. If the areas are designated as such, the nearby speed limits would be reduced to 25 mph during school hours. A reduced speed limit would make the area safer for children. For the change to be implemented, the Town would have to submit a request to the Department of Transportation.

New Principal For Elementary School

eastwickpress — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:41:27 +0000

by Phillip Zema
At its regular meeting on August 4 the New Lebanon Central School Board and Administration welcomed Rebecca Marzeski to the District. Beginning on August 9, she will become the Principal of Walter B. Howard Elementary School.
Little Impact From State Budget
Although four months late, the New York State budget finally passed. While it is uncertain how much the budget will affect New York State’s schools, the New Lebanon administration was confident that it would have little impact on the 2010-2011 school budget. Accordingly, the 1.48% District tax levy, which was approved by voters in May, will not change. Superintendent Karen McGraw and Business Administrator Carrie Nyc-Chevrier, however, added that the 1.48% levy is only a District average – depending on the town, the tax levy may be more or less. The amount of taxes someone pays depends upon several factors, including how high the town assesses one’s property value. For the coming school year tax levies in New Lebanon and in the part of Stephentown in the NLCS District will be slightly higher than the other towns within the District.
Shared Transportation
Like many schools throughout the area, New Lebanon is looking for ways to cut costs. At a recent meeting among area school officials, it was noted that the District could save on transportation costs, especially when it comes to busing students who attend other schools. In principle, New Lebanon could share transportation duties with neighboring districts, for example, by using only one bus to transport students to the same private school. McGraw noted that the District could share such duties with East Greenbush Central. It was added that sharing such services in the future is a viable possibility, and the resulting savings could be implemented in the 2011-2012 budget.
Taking The Initiative
High School Principal Leslie Whitcomb and Assistant Principal Matthew Klafehn provided the BOE with a discipline report of the high school. They noted that the number of incidents of out-of-school suspension had dropped while the amount of in-school suspensions (ISS) increased. So the number of serious offenses has declined. The ISS room has been used to good effect; it takes disruptive students out of the classroom, but it gives them the opportunity to complete their work.
Whitcomb and Klafehn added that the small school provides a number of advantages. One is that it allows the administration and faculty to be aware of everything going on in the school. The school’s size enables them to be more attentive to each student’s needs. Klafehn also stated that the faculty’s character serves as a role model for the students. It was also claimed that by allowing students to use the gym and athletic fields during lunch, they have the opportunity to burn excess energy and gain an incentive to avoid lunch detention.
Whitcomb stated that there is a direct correlation between poor academic results and misbehavior. He said that studies have shown that students who struggle in the classroom are more likely to cause trouble. Whitcomb added that the administration and faculty can take the initiative by targeting such students and helping them achieve academic success.

Raptors Soar

eastwickpress — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:24:55 +0000

Julie Anne Collier of Wingmasters will present “North American Birds of Prey” on Wednesday, August 18, at 2 pm at the New Lebanon Library. The program concludes the Library’s Summer Reading Program and will be followed by an Ice Cream Social.
Wingmasters, a partnership of Collier and Jim Parks, who are both licensed raptor rehabilitators, care for injured birds of prey. Many of the birds they rehabilitate are released back into the wild. Their presentation incorporates five live birds of prey – or raptors. Raptors include eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. The program is designed to explain predation, the birds’ place near the top of the food web, their different hunting adaptations and their status in a rapidly changing world.
For further information on this free event, please call the library at 518-794-8844.

Shatford Little League Registration

eastwickpress — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:23:05 +0000

Shatford Little League will be holding registration for fall ball on Sunday, August 15, from 11 am to 1 pm at Shatford Park. The registration fee is $30 and the roster is open for players ages 9 to 12. Contact Joe Esposito at 794-6440 for more information.

Community Drum Freak Out

eastwickpress — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:20:51 +0000

Musician and educator Allen Livermore leads the second annual Community Drum Freak Out on Monday, August 23, at 3 pm at the New Lebanon Library. The free program, which offers participants the opportunity to play as part of drum circle, improvise and have fun, is open to all ages and all levels of prior experience. Participants should bring their own drums, shakers, cowbells and other percussion instruments.
Livermore is a certified music teacher who has taught preschool through college. As a saxophonist and drummer, he has performed at clubs, restaurants, resorts, colleges and arts spaces throughout New England and New York.
For more information on this event, please call the Library at 518-794-8844.

Article 78 Filed Against Stephentown

eastwickpress — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:22:47 +0000

by David Flint
An Article 78 proceeding has been filed seeking to annul the recent action of the Stephentown Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) that granted a zoning variance for Howard Commander’s planned Motocross sports park off of Webster Hill Road. As he had promised to do, attorney Lewis B. Oliver Jr., Esq. filed the action on Wednesday morning, August 4, before Judge Eugene Devine in State Supreme Court at the Courthouse in Troy. He was joined in this action by the Village of East Nassau and by residents of both Stephentown and New Lebanon. No one representing the Town of New Lebanon was present at the filing but the New Lebanon Town Board at their meeting on July 26 passed a resolution to file for “Interested Party” status to keep them informed.
In a document of about 150 pages Oliver charged that the Zoning Board in their proceedings had committed multiple violations involving the State Environmental Review Act (SEQRA) as well as Town law and land use regulations. Local attorney Brian Baker submitted an affidavit summarizing his own views on the matter and is acting as Co-Counsel with Oliver.
Oliver requested a Temporary Restraining Order against the ZBA and against Howard Commander. Judge Devine declined to grant that at this time but he did set up a hearing for Friday, August 6, at 9:30 am to consider whether a preliminary injunction should be granted against Commander to prevent any further work from taking place on the site. Arguments or a trial on the Article 78 charges will be heard in court at some future date not yet specified.
The Stephentown Town Board met at a special meeting on Tuesday of this week to appoint Craig Crist of the law firm Dreyer, Boyajian LLP to represent the Town at the filing. Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt, who accompanied Crist in Court on Wednesday, said he hoped the situation would work out without dragging on forever and without costing the taxpayers a lot of money. He hoped, too, that the worst would be that the Town might have to do the zoning deliberations over again.

Johnny’s Barbershop Opens In New Lebanon

eastwickpress — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:48:19 +0000

by Phillip Zema
Once again, New Lebanon has a community barbershop. Johnny’s Barbershop officially opened for business in early June. Master barber John Le Barnes is the owner and barber, and the business is run in the very same shop once used by the late Gaspar Ingui, who ran the barber shop for decades. Nick Ingui, Gaspar’s brother, stated that Gaspar would be pleased that the building will continue as a barbershop.
The building, which is located at 559 Rt. 20, served as a barbershop since the 1950s. The shop still uses the original sink and barber chairs, which date back to the 1920s. A traditional barber pole – featuring a helix of red, white, and blue stripes – is located right by the entrance. These features give the place a classy, nostalgic look.
Over the years, John Le Barnes developed a growing interest in becoming a barber. So when the building became available for purchase, John seized the opportunity. Shortly after the purchase, he went back to school and became a certified master barber.

Frank Gilbert, a resident of New Lebanon, gets a haircut from owner John Le Barnes at Johnny’s Barbershop. (David Flint photo)

Local residents now have a great barbershop right in town. John’s shop serves as a convenient location for area residents, especially those not wanting to travel to Pittsfield or Albany for haircuts. John’s prices are reasonable, and he offers a number of options to his customers. Whether they want a specialty haircut, shave or even a barber facial, customers have a large menu to choose from.
The shop is also easily accessible to residents from neighboring towns, such as Stephentown or Canaan. The old-time styled barbershop provides a friendly atmosphere where customers can relax and receive a top flight hair cut. John said that he is here for the community, town and beyond. He is excited about helping his customers and seeing them pleased with his work.
Johnny’s is open from 4 to 8 pm, Tuesday through Friday, and 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday. For more information, you can reach the shop at 794-0336.