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Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , July 25 , 2018

PUBLIC AGENDA

WEDNESDAY , JULY 25 Town of Crawford Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 121 Route 302 , Pine Bush . Village of Montgomery Planning Board , 7:30 p . m . Village Hall , 133 Clinton Street .

THURSDAY , AUGUST 2 Montgomery Town Board , 7 p . m . Town Government Center , 110 Bracken Road . Shawangunk Town Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 14 Central Ave ., Wallkill .

TUESDAY , AUGUST 7 Town of Shawangunk Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 14 Central Ave ., Wallkill . Wallkill Board of Education , 7 p . m . Wallkill High School Library Media Center . Montgomery Village Board , 7:30 p . m . Village Hall , 133 Clinton Street .

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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

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We have made so many wonderful memories there , and now we will be able to recycle our cans and bottles on site ,” Climate Smart Gardiner task force member Suger Rowinski said in a press release . “ The addition of recycling bins at the park will lead to a large reduction of waste going to the landfill from our park , and we are happy to be able to make this small contribution to our community .”

Gardiner is a Climate Smart community , a New York state program that helps municipalities take actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate . The aluminum recycling cans were donated on behalf of the Climate Smart Gardiner taskforce .

One of the elements of the program is to encourage recycling . Taskforce member Kim Mayer said placing the cans in a public place makes all residents more aware of the practice of recycling and teaches a new generation the importance of protecting the environment .

About 80 percent of municipal solid waste in New York ends up in landfills or municipal waste composters , according to a 2009 report from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation . Recycling will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that landfills contribute to the atmosphere . When recyclable products are thrown in landfills , it wastes the raw materials and energy used to make them .

The cans are in the park ’ s playground , skatepark , pavilion , pole barn and baseball fields . Four of the five cans were installed on June 26 .

All five cans and paint , totaling $ 150 , were purchased with private donations from multiple donors and a discount from Majestic Hardware . One little boy , Levi , donated from his birthday money , Mayer said .

The cans were painted by Gardiner resident Whitney Burns . She said she was excited for other people to see her work and show off Gardiner ’ s beautiful places , including the town hall , the baseball field , the skydiving field and more .

“ I ’ m so happy to be able to add something worthwhile and beautiful to our wonderful park ,” Burns said in a press release . “ Hoping that everyone will enjoy the contribution !”

Gardiner ’ s town board also made sure the cans were secured with chains that tied them to the ground and cables that secured the lids . Councilman David Dukler said the low-cost project is a good way for citizens to engage with the community .

The cans were donated on behalf of the Climate Smart Gardiner Taskforce .

“ It ’ s always a plus when community members can step up with a program that benefits the community , the town and this case the environment ,” Dukler said .

The project also funds the Kindness Award , a scholarship given to Liberty Middle School eighth graders for their exemplary displays of kindness . Retired Special Education teacher Sharyn Fogelman created the Kindness Committee , a handful of teachers that recognized students and staff for acts of kindness . The committee also reached out to individuals who were experiencing a hard time or donated shoes to kids in need .

Fogelman realized the amount of money the school was missing a few years ago when she saw janitors taking unsorted recyclables away .

“ I said , ‘ But there are five cents in there ; we can get some money ’. And the answer was , ‘ Well if you wanna do it go for it .’ So , I did it ,” Fogelman said .

Last year , four students received $ 50 scholarships funded from Fogelman ’ s recycling efforts .

Fogelman gathers the recyclables every Wednesday and Sunday and sorts out redeemable bottles . She deposits the rest at Gardiner ’ s transfer station . Fogelman said she has gathered about 300 bottles since she started sorting Majestic Park ’ s cans in the beginning of July .

Fogelman said it ’ s good for kids to be recognized for something other than academics . The kids that receive the kindness awards might not receive many other awards and are often very appreciative of it .

“ We gave it to one young lady and the look on her face was like ‘ Me ?’” Fogelman said . “ I think it really means something to them when they get something like that that they don ’ t see in themselves .”

The Kindness Award will be presented next year and for years to come as long as visitors throw their recyclables in one of Majestic Park ’ s colorful cans .