WALLKILL VALLEY
TIMES
Vol . 35 , No 13 3
Softball season
Page 40
MARCH 29 - APRIL 4 , 2017 3 ONE DOLLAR
Better late than never
Page 22
www . WallkillValleyTimes . net
VC wants a new Walden school
By TED REMSNYDER
At the same time the Valley Central School District is putting the finishing touches on its 2017-2018 budget , the district is also looking to the future , as Superintendent John Xanthis reported at last Monday ’ s board meeting that he broached the subject of a new elementary school for Walden at a recent Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress meeting . While the prospect of securing the funds for a new school is a distant possibility for now , Xanthis told officials at the nonprofit advocacy group that a replacement for the Walden Elementary School is a top item on the district ’ s big-ticket wishlist .
The district was invited to the meeting by former Sullivan County Executive and Pattern for Progress CEO Jonathan Drapkin , and school officials from Kingston , Monticello and Middletown also attended the gathering .
Xanthis told the group that the district would need roughly $ 10 million to start construction on a new school in the village , and the hope is that someone at Pattern for Progress with influence can pass their proposal up the chain to state officials .
“ Our community in Walden is part of what they represent ,” Xanthis said of the local organization . “ They were asking us how he could help about the budget or Foundation Aid . They were aware of all the good things going on in Walden , and I told them that the last time that we did anything in Walden was 1954 . We ’ ve
Come and meet those dancing feet ...
run out of space there and there ’ s a lot of inadequacies . So I just brought up some global numbers of what it would take . They said ‘ we ’ re not promising , but it would be a great thing for you to lobby and work towards .’”
The Newburgh-based not-for-profit aims to help districts and municipalities grow throughout the region , and Xanthis believes a new elementary school in the village would have a major positive impact for the area . “ I can ’ t imagine anything better for this community ,” he said . “ I ’ m guessing there ’ s a piece of land there they could take over . I ’ m making this up , but maybe they could take over our elementary school and turn it into a community center or whatever , Continued on page 4
Diane Holbert
Arielle Cutroneo and Brendan Cicardo take center stage in the upcoming Valley Central High School production of 42nd Street . Other dancing cuples include : ( l . - r ) Sarandon Shindan with Chaz Whitfield , Kaylah Hew with Jayden Whitfield , Diamond Vasquez with Sean Campbell and Rozanna Sasa with John Newhall , Story , photos on page 21 .
Change in leadership
DePew leaves Valentin holding reins of healthy town
By JESSICA COHEN
As he prepares to leave in April to become Sullivan County deputy supervisor , Town of Wallkill Supervisor Dan DePew led his last town council meeting last week . He announced that Second Ward Councilman Eric Valentin will serve as acting supervisor , and he presided over passage of significant resolutions as well as dramatic goodbyes .
DePew announced an unusual deal with Walmart , which owns 318.5 acres around Stone Schoolhouse Rd . and Route 17K . In return for an ongoing right to develop the property according to current zoning at an undetermined future date , Walmart has agreed to give the town “ a sufficient amount of property surrounding the Shawangunk Kill ” and between that property and Route 17K for a public park and natural resource preservation .
“ It ’ s a big deal for Pine Bush ,” said First Ward Councilman Mark Coyne . “ They ’ ve been acquiring land along the Kill . There ’ s a couple more pieces to go .”
Also , a resolution was passed to implement the Wallkill Cares pilot program that gives drug addicts access to immediate treatment with the assistance of the town police department . The initiative , introduced by Third Ward Councilman Neil Meyer , provides the
Continued on page 2
SERVING CRAWFORD , GARDINER , MAYBROOK , MONTGOMERY , PINE BUSH , SHAWANGUNK , WALDEN AND WALLKILL