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Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , August 31 , 2016

PUBLIC AGENDA

THURSDAY , SEPTEMBER 1 Montgomery Town Board , 7 p . m . Town Government Center , 110 Bracken Road , Montgomery .

Shawangunk Town Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 14 Central Ave ., Wallkill

TUESDAY , SEPTEMBER 6 Walden Village Board of Trustees , 6:30 p . m . Village Hall , 1 Municipal Square . Town of Shawangunk Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 14 Central Ave ., Wallkill Montgomery Village Board , 7:30 p . m ., Village Hall , 133 Clinton Street .

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

The office of the Wallkill Valley Times will be closed on Monday , Sept . 5 in observance of Labor Day . Deadline for all classified advertising and legal notices is Friday , Sept . 2 at 4 p . m . All other deadlines remain the same .

HOW TO REACH US

OFFICE : 300 Stony Brook Court Newburgh , N . Y . 12550

PHONE : 845-561-0170 , FAX : 845-561-3967

By GARY M . AYD

For the eighth year in a row , Dickie Baxter of ERA Curasi Realty in Montgomery led a team of volunteers in the always popular ‘ backpack giveaway ’ at Wooster Grove Park in Walden Saturday .

Although the event ’ s initial purpose was to help those families in need with back-to-school supplies , no child is turned away . The event has traditionally raised $ 4000- $ 5000 worth of supplies to stuff the some 400-500 backpacks given away . Saturday ’ s event looks to hold serve with those numbers .

Last year four android tablets were given away , this year the team upped the ante by one , procuring , through Baxter ’ s private donation five Kindle Fire ’ s to give away . In addition , this year even underwent an expansion of sorts . Not in attendees or volume of book bags , but rather by adding a satellite location in Maybrook courtesy of assistance from village mayor Dennis Leahy .

As he has in years past , Baxter served as the primary MC and was flanked on stage by local master spinner DJ Rob who volunteered his time to the event . Being one of the founders of the event give Baxter a unique perspective on things and has afforded him the opportunity to see the fruits of its labor .

Volunteers : ( l . – r .) Front : Calista Bond , Sandy Magill and Jessica Kurtz ; back : Keith Hunter , Cindy Hunter and Dickie Baxter

“ The coolest thing is seeing some of the kids we gave a bag to get a little older and become volunteers at the event themselves ,” Baxter said . “ It really is like watching them grow up and pay it forward .”

While some of the former recipients may be among the events newest volunteers , much to Baxter ’ s delight ,

others have been there from the start . One example of these eight-year and counting volunteers was Felicia Wehr , a photography enthusiast whose son Jake had received a bag in the past and now was a volunteer .

Countless sponsors and volunteers make the event possible . Keith Hunter of Hunter insurance and Mike Bliss the parks and rec coordinator played pivotal roles in ensuring the annual charity went off smoothly .

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WEBSITE www . timescommunitypapers . com

The Wallkill Valley Times , ( USPS 699-490 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , N . Y . 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . . Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , N . Y . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Wallkill Valley Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . 12550

Volunteers Jake and Felicia Wehr . DJ Robb donated his time to the event .