by Thaddeus Flint
The New Lebanon Central School District budget easily passed Tuesday, with 231 votes in favor of and 53 against.
The $12,440,790 budget for the 2013-14 school year comes with zero percent increase in the tax levy.
A proposition to renovate the District’s bus garage also passed with 202 votes for the $1.2 million project and 75 against it.
School Board Vice President Raymond Sowalski, who championed the demolition of the historic Union Free School building, failed in his bid for re-election. Sowalski received 121 votes, while Martha Esposito received 175 votes. Tim Lambert and Sharon Putnam each took in 172 votes. Alexis McDonald received 97 votes. Esposito and Putnam will be new to the Board, Lambert served from 2008 to 2011.
Current Board Members, JoAnn Gavrity and David Kroboth, did not run for re-election.
New Lebanon
An Evening Of Classical Music At The New Lebanon Library
Classical musicians Katherine Liccardo and Joseph Gotoff will be performing at the New Lebanon Library on Tuesday, May 28, at 7 pm. They will perform a program of works for violin and cello at this event, which is free and open to the public although donations for the performers are appreciated.
Violinist Katherine Liccardo is concertmaster of the Mannes College of Music Orchestra and an avid chamber musician. She has performed in venues throughout the New York area such as Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Isaac Stern Auditorium and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Symphony Space.
Cellist Joseph Gotoff ‘s recent accomplishments include performances with world renowned composer and pianist Lowell Liebermann and well received concerts in venues ranging from the City Museum of New York to Christie’s auction house.
For more information on this event, please call the Library at 518-794-8844. The Library is located at 550 State Route 20, 1/4 mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.
Rick Leab To Perform At The New Lebanon Library
Berkshire musician Rick Leab will be performing at the New Lebanon Library on Thursday, May 30, from 6:30 to 8 pm. He will be performing a number of works for mandocello, guitar and rhumba box. This event is free and open to the public, although donations for the performer are appreciated.
Leab has been active in the Berkshire County music scene since the 1960s. A renowned drummer, he has performed with Dooley Austin, Straight No Chance and BTUs, among others. Currently he plays with Dublin Porter, a Berkshire trio that performs traditional Irish music.
For further information on this event, please call the Library at 518-794-8844. All are welcome and the event is free. The Library is located at 550 State Route 20, 1/4 mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.
Another Public Hearing On The New Lebanon Sidewalks Project
by Thaddeus Flint
The first public hearing on the New Lebanon Sidewalks Project, held at the Town Hall back in March, was so popular not everyone could get in. Some had wondered if it should really be considered a Public Hearing if only a tiny portion of the public could get in.
While the design firm behind the project, Creighton Manning of Albany, insisted that the requirements for a hearing had been met, New Lebanon Town Supervisor Mike Benson decided to hold a second hearing Monday night, May 13. This one was held in the high school gymnasium, which accommodated everyone, and nobody had to stand out by the bathrooms or in the parking lot like last time.
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New Lebanon Town Board Action – Town Will Not Take Over Road
by Thaddeus Flint
Residents who live in the Covenant Circle development in New Lebanon might feel like they are running around in circles sometimes. One of those times was Tuesday night when the Town Board, at their monthly meeting, authorized a letter to the Covenant Circle Homeowners’ Association basically denying their request to have their road taken over by the Town.
[Read more…] about New Lebanon Town Board Action – Town Will Not Take Over Road
Churchill Cemetery Clean Up
The Lebanon Valley Historical Society IS doing its almost annual cemetery clean up on Saturday, MAY 18.
Help is needed any time between 9 AM through 2 PM, at the Churchill Cemetery at the junction of Churchill and Canaan Roads, New Lebanon.
Please volunteer to help. Bring your own tools if you can. Some tools will be available. A light lunch will be provided.
The rain date is Sunday, May 19. Call 794-9177 for more information.
Stephentown Planning Board Approves Motocross Variances In Split Vote
by David Flint
The Stephentown Planning Board has voted to advise the Zoning Board of Appeals to approve variances allowing a Motocross track in a residential zone. At a meeting Wednesday evening following a lengthy discussion of salient issues, the Board voted 3-2 to issue an advisory opinion to the ZBA that they approve Howard Commander’s application for a use variance for his proposed Motocross park. The project is proposed for a vacant field off of Webster Hill Road. In a separate vote they again voted 3-2 to advise approving also a setback area variance for an earthen berm proposed to be constructed on the west side of the park along a neighboring property line. The berm is intended to cut down on noise from the motocross bikes.
[Read more…] about Stephentown Planning Board Approves Motocross Variances In Split Vote
New Lebanon Memorial Day Parade Route Change
New Lebanon Town Supervisor Michael Benson reports that, as a result of the current NYS Route 20/22 detour, the Memorial Day Parade route that has been changed. It will start at the OTB Facility, continue on West Street, continue on Cemetery Road and conclude at the Cemetery of the Evergreens.
New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School To Host Annual Memorial Day Assembly
On Thursday, May 23, at 9 am, the New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School will be hosting its Third Annual Memorial Day Assembly to honor our servicemen and women and all who gave their lives in defense of our country.
All veterans and current members of any branch of the military are invited to join the American Legion Post #1236 of New Lebanon and the Berkshire Chapter 65 Vietnam Veterans of America in the high school gymnasium as our honored guests. Family and community members are also welcomed and encouraged to attend the festivities in memory of our fallen heroes and in celebration of those who serve.
Tsatsawassa Protective Fire Co. Breakfast
Members of the Tsatsawassa Protective Fire Company, serving Brainard and East Nassau and surrounding area, will hold their final monthly breakfast until autumn on Sunday, May 19, from 8 to 11:30 am at the firehouse located on Firehouse Lane behind the post office near the intersection of Routes 20 and 66N in Brainard.
There will, however, be a breakfast at the firehouse for the benefit of the Cub Scouts on Sunday, June 16, during the same hours and with the same menu so mark your calendars and support the Cub Scouts who are sponsored by the Fire Company.
Breakfast offers your choice of pancakes or French toast served with bacon or sausage, eggs cooked to your order, applesauce and an assortment of breakfast beverages at a cost of $6; children 5 to 12 are served for $3 and those under five are served free.