Wallkill Valley Times Dec. 21 2016

TIMES WALLKILL VALLEY Vol. 34, No 51 3 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2016 Page 27 When the statewide Smart Schools Bond Act was approved by voters two years ago to provide $2 billion in technology and infrastructure funding to districts Page 20 www.WallkillValleyTimes.net Valley Central School District plans security upgrades throughout New York, the Valley Central School District launched a patient plan for how to spend their chunk of the money. With a projected windfall of $3,403,847 from the legislation, the district hired outside firms to conduct a pair of technological ONE DOLLAR Circleville’s got talent Safer schools By TED REMSNYDER 3 and security audits to pinpoint where the district needed upgrades. At its Dec. 12 school board meeting, the district unveiled the first phase of its plan to utilize the Smart Bond Continued on page 3 Mutual aid Building a new bridge Major projects on the way for hamlet of Wallkill By RACHEL COLEMAN Steve Lenz Pine Bush Firefighters responded to the scene of a 2-alarm fire, last Friday at Konefal Avenue in Pine Bush. Mutual aid was provided by Bullville, Walker Valley, Montgomery, Circleville, Walden and Wallkill. The town of Shawangunk is poised for major improvements in the coming year with a $1.7 million sidewalk project going to bid and an approximately $1.4 million bridge project expected to begin next summer. “It’s a big investment in the community,” said Ulster County Legislator Ken Ronk. In September, residents were advised that the Wallkill Bridge (which connects Bruyn Turnpike and Wallkill Avenue) would be closed for approximately five months while Ulster County overhauls the structure that has served the community for a century. The project was prompted partly by safety concerns, as the width of the lanes and the pedestrian sidewalk are not up to current standards, with drivers often drifting into the opposite lane as they cross the bridge. In addition, the nonstandard metal railing installed in the 1930s has deteriorated and is not believed to be “crash-worthy.” The original plan was to simply replace the railing and make a few small repairs to the concrete, but the project was expanded Continued on page 5 SERVING CRAWFORD, GARDINER, MAYBROOK, MONTGOMERY, PINE BUSH, SHAWANGUNK, WALDEN AND WALLKILL