Wallkill Valley Times May 08 2019

Vol. 37, No. 19 3 WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019 3 ONE DOLLAR The future is female! Meet Wallkill’s top 10 Page 15 w w w .W V T I M ESON L I N E . c om Pine Bush issues measles warnings 24 confirmed reported cases in Orange, none in local schools By LAURA FITZGERALD [email protected] Orange County Commissioner of Health Irina Gelman ordered area school districts to bar unimmunized students from attending school following a measles outbreak in the county. As of May 3, there are 24 confirmed measles cases in the county, according to Deputy Commissioner of Health Chris Ericson. Ages range from seven months to 30 years, mostly in unvaccinated individuals. A letter from Gelman to parents stated that in the event of a measles exposure in their children’s district, students who have not received their first dose of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine (and do not have evidence of serologic immunity) will need to remain home for 21 days after their last exposure in the Continued on page 2 Spring cleanup Laura Fitzgerald Volunteers clean trash from Majestic Park in Gardiner, Saturday, during the annual Riverkeeper Sweep. Story on page 5. Bruderhof appeals demolition denial of farmhouse By LAURA FITZGERALD [email protected] Following the Town of Montgomery Historic Preservation Commission’s (HPC) denial of their request for demolition, the Foxhill Bruderhof Communities will appeal to the town board for a certificate of appropriateness (COA) for the demolition of the historic Milliken Farmhouse. The house was placed on the local historic register in 2006, so any demolition or modification to the house requires approval of a COA from the commission. HPC chair Mary Ellen Matise said the commission had very little to go off for a structural assessment, and town building inspector Walter Schmidt determined the house was not in danger of collapse in an assessment in August of 2018. In the absence of a structural assessment, Matise said the HPC had to follow its mission statement, which is, “to protect, enhance and perpetuate our heritage so as to ensure the quality of life in the Town of Montgomery for present and future generations.” In a meeting on April 28, the HPC denied the COA for demolition of the house, but allowed for the demolition of the barn behind the house, which is newer and Schmidt determined was unsafe. In a letter to the town board, Foxhill Communities President Hans Boller said the Bruderhof hosted multiple tours with town historian John Pennings, town officials, town supervisor Rodney Winchell and all members of the HPC, who appeared to have a general consensus that the building is beyond repair and should be taken down. Both town engineer Mike Aiello, Jr. and Pennings concluded the original Continued on page 2 SERVING CRAWFORD, GARDINER, MAYBROOK, MONTGOMERY, PINE BUSH, SHAWANGUNK, WALDEN AND WALLKILL