Wallkill Valley Times Aug. 15 2018

Vol. 36, No. 33 3 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 3 ONE DOLLAR Guide to the celebration Pages 19-21 Pages 22-23 w w w .W a l l k i l l V a l l e y T i m e s . n e t Town seeks demolition of farmhouse Montgomery Historic Commission facing obstacles due to shortage of members By LAURA FITZGERALD [email protected] The town of Montgomery doesn’t have enough members on the historic preservation commission to approve the demolition of the Milleken Farmhouse, a dilapidated building with little remaining historical value. Located at 18 Coleman Rd, the building is old and run-down, an eyesore and a safety hazard since squatters and partiers like to sneak into the building. Town historian John Pennings said the house was illegally divided into five apartments before the Bruderhof acquired the property in 1996. The original doors, ornamental woodwork and central three- floor staircase were removed, destroying the historical value of the house. “I walked through it and as a contractor there’s not much value except for a mantle and a couple things in there,” Montgomery town supervisor Rodney Winchell said. Pennings suggested the house be Continued on page 3 National Night Out Internal conflict Humane Society president, treasurer resign following dispute By LAURA FITZGERALD [email protected] Laura Fitzgerald Several fire departments complete a life-saving demonstration last Tuesday at the Town of Montgomery’s National Night Out at Valley Central High School. Story, photos on Page 38. The President of the Humane Society of Walden (HSW) resigned last Thursday following a dispute that escalated among volunteers and lead to police being called to the Albany Post Road shelter. It began on July 29 with a verbal disagreement between volunteer Pamela O’Dell and another volunteer which then led to O’Dell’s suspension for 30 days by President Kimberly Kimberly Cooper Cooper. O’Dell was blocked from the Facebook page the next day. O’Dell returned to the shelter to volunteer on Aug. 1 and 2 after being told by the shelter manager she was welcome to return. Cooper then called the police to the shelter to have O’Dell removed. The police officers were frustrated when they discovered there was no emergency or disturbance, and concluded it was a waste of police time, O’Dell said. O’Dell left voluntarily. “Not only was it publicly humiliating Continued on page 2 SERVING CRAWFORD, GARDINER, MAYBROOK, MONTGOMERY, PINE BUSH, SHAWANGUNK, WALDEN AND WALLKILL