Wallkill Valley Times Jul. 05 2017

T IMES WALLKILL VALLEY Vol. 35, No 27 3 WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2017 Tech center grads Page 14 Page 19 www .W allkill V alley T imes . net A clock may just do the trick in Wallkill By TED REMSNYDER Continued on page 3 ONE DOLLAR Ballon festival Small town charm A centrally-located post clock can add real flavor and character to a town, and that’s why Shawangunk’s Main Street Revitalization Committee launched a fundraising effort last year to build a clock in the hamlet. The proposed four-sided electronic timepiece would be painted green with gold trimming and stand on a brick base. The appealing post clock combines the latest LED backlighting technology with an old- time, homey flair. The committee needs to raise between $20,000 and $25,000 to pay for the clock and to get it erected, and to date the group has locked down approximately $3,600 in sponsorships from residents and local businesses. With summer in full swing and locals heading outdoors to enjoy what the hamlet has to offer, the committee hopes the fundraising will pick up. “We’re starting our second round of promotion,” Alex Danon, the organization’s chairman, said. “So we have a sign up and flyers up in Town Hall. We have our Facebook page, we’ll be at different events in the town.” The same company that would build the planned Shawangunk clock designed a similar structure for the Town of Wallkill, and Beacon, Ellenville and Brewster have also been bolstered by the addition of old-fashioned timepieces in the middle of their municipalities. “They’re always the focal point and in great spots in nice towns and villages,” Danon said. “So if that’s something we could emulate, that’s what we’d like to do.” 3 Watkins moving on His tenure on the Pine Bush School Board is over, but the Shawangunk Councilman still has a lot on his plate By MELANIE ZERAH Renderings courtesy Alex Damon Shawangunk’s Main Street Revitalization Committee is trying to raise approximately $25,000 to buy and install an antique clock in the hamlet of Wallkill. For Pine Bush Board of Education (BOE) member Matthew Watkins, a year of service to the school district is coming to a close. After his predecessor Eric Meier passed away, Watkins was elected to the seat, making the Pine Bush BOE his fourth public service position. “I’ve always been extremely civic minded,” Watkins said. “I enjoy being able to donate my services and time to different organizations.” Watkins sits as a councilman on the Matthew Watkins Town of Shawagunk Board, as a trustee for the Pine Bush Library and as a professional councilman for the Sullivan County Community Foundation, an organization which aids individuals set up charities for their cause. During his time on the Pine Bush BOE, the main issue facing the board was a hunt for a new Superintendent of Schools. Along with fellow board members, about 10 months of Watkins’ service was dedicated to the recruitment of and interviewing potential candidates for the position. Continued on page 4 SERVING CRAWFORD, GARDINER, MAYBROOK, MONTGOMERY, PINE BUSH, SHAWANGUNK, WALDEN AND WALLKILL