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Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , May 4 , 2016
Five candidates seek 3 VC board seats
Police Blotter
By JANE ANDERSON
Three seats are up for election May 17 on the Valley Central Board of Education . Board President Brad Conklin is running to retain his seat ; Board Vice President Fran Fox-Pizzonia and Dr . Matthew Flanagan are not seeking re-election .
In ballot order , the following people have announced their candidacy for one of the three board seats : Chris Ann Harper , Sarah Messing , Conklin , Nicole Estrada and Joseph Byrne .
Here are the candidates ’ statements .
Chris Ann Harper
“ My name is Chris Ann Harper ( O ’ Connor ). I live in the Town of Montgomery and have lived here for the past 16 years with my husband , my two daughters and my Mom . My youngest daughter , Nicole , is a Junior this year and will be a senior in the 2016-2017 school year . My older daughter , Catherine , is currently in Graduate School at Syracuse University . We moved to Montgomery when Catherine was in second grade and picked Valley Central because there was a good school system and the taxes weren ’ t astronomical .
“ I believe it is very important that we provide our children with a good education and Valley Central has provided that to my girls . I believe the education of our children is a partnership between the home , the district , teachers , support staff , and the community .
“ I previously served six years on the Board of Education and three years ago I did not seek re-election . There were several reason for my not running , but the main reasons were that it is very difficult to be an involved parent ( which I am ) and be on the Board of Education and secondly , I decided to devote my focus to the Valley Central Education Foundation ( VCEF ). You lose some of your ability to be a parent while on the BOE . They ‘ teach ’ you about wearing different hats in the trainings , but the truth is , many cannot see past the BOE hat that you wear . It makes it difficult to parent and it makes it difficult to be a BOE member . During my tenure on the BOE I went to several seminars regarding education foundations and I am one of the ‘ founding fathers ’ of the VCEF . While on the BOE I was the liaison to the VCEF . During the past three years I have dedicated myself to the Foundation and have helped it grow . I am currently the Secretary and Longaberger Basket Bingo Chairperson for the VCEF .
“ Besides my involvement with the VCEF , I have been involved in PTAs for the past 18 years . Currently I am the
President of the High School PTSA . I have been a Girl Scout Leader for 9 years and currently I am the Secretary for the local Marion Wilde Girl Scout Service Unit . For the past almost 16 years I have assisted Mr . Bill Carter of Berea Elementary School with his drama production by making costumes . Additionally , over the years I have been a basketball coach , a cheering coach , on the All Night Grad Committee at the HS , coached Odyssey of the Mind and assisted in many other things that came up along the way .
“ Many of my friends and family have asked why I ’ m seeking to be elected to the Board of Education and my answer is simple . I believe in service . I think that my past experience on the BOE and my record during that time will be a great asset as the district moves forward . I do not have an agenda , hidden or otherwise except to provide the best education possible for the students at the best price for the taxpayer .”
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Sarah Bunting Messing
“ I appreciate this opportunity to introduce myself . My name is Sarah Bunting Messing and I am a lifelong Montgomery resident and a 1996 graduate of Valley Central High School . After graduation , I continued my education at the University of Scranton where I received my BS in Nursing in 2000 . After working at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Vassar Brothers Medical Center , I am currently at home in Montgomery with my husband , Matt , and our four children . I have been involved in many school and community organizations including Junior League of Orange County , various youth sports programs , and am currently serving as Secretary of the Montgomery Elementary School PTA .
“ As a mother of four , I am very much aware of the differences in children and the need for providing an education where each child can find success . As such , schools must provide a safe , caring and fair environment where all students can have the opportunity to reach their full potential . Balanced with this goal must be the district ’ s sensitivity to financial constraints within the community the school is serving . I have always placed a high value on education and I am excited about the prospect of serving on the Valley Central Board of Education .
“ I look forward , if elected , to helping to foster a good working relationship and transparency between the board members , the community , the administration and all the staff members . The Valley Central School District has afforded my family and I great opportunities in the past and continues to do so currently with my own children . I look forward to being able to give back to the district and the community .”
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Bradley Conklin
Conklin is a 1999 Valley Central graduate and lifelong Maybrook resident . He and his wife have four children , with a fifth on the way , and he is a full-time stay-at-home father . He is finishing his first three-year term on the board , with the last two years as board president .
“ Before I was elected to the Board in 2013 , the district Continued on page 22
TOWN OF CRAWFORD POLICE Rebecca Crawford , 30 , of Pine Bush was charged April 27 with aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle . Crawford was stopped on Main Street for an equipment violation and a check showed a suspended driver ’ s license and an active warrant out of Sullivan County . She was released on the Crawford charges to return to Town Court on May 2 , and turned over to the Sullivan County Sheriff ’ s Office .
Melissa Klosterman , 27 , Pine Bush , was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle . Klosterman was stopped on 17K for speeding and a check showed a suspended driver ’ s license . She was released to return to Town Court on May 2 .
Gerald Rose , 27 , Bloomingburg was charged April 30 with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle . Rose was stopped on Lybolt Road for equipment violation and a check showed a suspended driver ’ s license . He was released to return to Town Court on May 3 .
Zahra Awadallah , 34 , of Middletown was charged May 1 with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle . Awadallah was stopped on Route 302 for speeding and a check showed a suspended driver ’ s license . She was released to return to Town Court on May 2 .
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY POLICE
Stephen M . Popoli was charged April 30 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle , 3rd degree . He will return to town court at a later date .
Nicholas P . Devine was charged April 30 with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th degree . He is due in town court at a later date .
Miguel A . Sanchez was charged April 29 , with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle , 3rd degree . He will return to town court at a later date .
Ryan M . Sheafe was arrested April 29 for a dog control violation . He will return to town court at a later date .
WALDEN POLICE
Robert Bardsley , 45 of Wallkill was charged April 23 with driving while intoxicated . He is scheduled to appear in village court on May 25 .
Christopher Bender , 27 of Wallkill was charged April 23 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd . He is scheduled to appear in village court on May 25 .
Amanda Pennenga , 23 of Walden was charged April 24 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd , fail to surrender license and unlawful possession of marijuana . She is scheduled to appear in village court on May 25 .
Olivia Brock , 23 of Newburgh was charged with April 24 with 2 counts of petit larceny . She is scheduled to appear in village court on May 25 .
Antwaun Thomas , 26 of Newburgh was charged April 27 with unlawful possession of marijuana . He is scheduled to appear in village court on May 25 .
Brian Reynolds , 53 of Newburgh was charged May 1 with petit larceny and possessing an open container in public . He is scheduled to appear in village court on May 25 .
ULSTER COUNTY SHERIFF
Members of the Ulster Region Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team ( URGENT ) report the arrest of a Wallkill woman for narcotics sales .
Beginning last December , URGENT began investigating cocaine sales in the southeastern Ulster County region . Cocaine was purchased by undercover officers from Amber D . Williams , 26 , of Wallkill in both the Towns of New Paltz and Gardiner . URGENT later obtained an arrest warrant and on April 28 , Williams was arrested by uniformed members of the Ulster County Sheriff ’ s Office . She was arraigned in the Town of Rosendale Court and remanded to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $ 750 cash bail or $ 1,500 secured bond , to return to New
Paltz and Gardiner Town Courts at a later time .