Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , October 5 , 2016 3
Valley Central Education Foundation to hold 5th annual Harvest Reception
The 5th annual Harvest Reception of the Valley Central Education Foundation will be held at the Otterkill Country Club on Thursday , Oct . 6 , at 5 p . m .
Community members are honored under two areas of educational standards : “ Sowing the Seed ”, which focuses on an individual who has had a positive influence on VC students creating an environment for success . This year ’ s honoree is Robert Santo . “ Reaping the Dream ” awards a graduate of Valley Central who has made a difference in the community . The honoree this year is Claire Noorlander Pahucki .
The Valley Cental Education Foundation offers grants to district teachers enabling them to offer their students “ beyond the classroom ” experiences . Last year over $ 5,000 was awarded . Some of the areas covered were science , creative arts , technology , health and community service .
You are invited to attend this year ’ s reception by contacting Chris Ann Harper at 778-3756 . To learn more go to the District ’ s website and access the Valley Central Education Foundation .
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Verizon plan for Crawford draws fire
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“ The south area of town lacks cell service ,” said Holmes . “ Why put the tower in a different area ?”
“ We build on where service is ,” said Olson . He explained that the area included schools where students with cell phones use significant amounts of current cell phone capacity . So Verizon wanted to add capacity to improve service and reduce frequency of dropped calls and inaccessible service .
Holmes also criticized the lack of a five-year-plan from Verizon , needed to comply with the “ strategic code .” “ Give us something ,” he said .
“ I don ’ t want to make it up ,” said Olson . “ At best we can provide a plan through 2017 . Each site depends on the next . Planning is difficult .”
Board members were also particularly concerned with visual impacts on the Shawangunk Mountain Scenic Byway , as a balloon test to gauge effects was done while trees still had leaves . Olson said a test will be done again when the leaves have fallen .
Later , planning board chair Linda Zwart said that visual obstruction of the scenic byway is the “ critical issue ” in considering environmental impact , so the visual test without leaves would be important .
“ After the first balloon test , the town planner was concerned by how many places the tower would be visible ,” she said .
When the trees are bare , she said , large orange balloons will be floated on strings at different heights on the proposed site .
Then photos will be taken from various locations .
As for Verizon ’ s lack of long term plans , although town code requires them , state and federal requirements are less stringent when evaluating plans for utilities , Zwart said .
“ We want to paint a picture that shows why the site was picked , so Rory is saying , ‘ Go back and paint a picture ,’” said Zwart . She also explained that , since the board lacks engineering expertise , town planner Alan Sorenson hired Ron Graffe as a consultant . Graffe said he could not draw conclusions from information submitted .
Zwart said the planning board is not concerned about who the tower would serve .
“ It doesn ’ t matter who it ’ s for ,” she said . “ They want even coverage ,” and nearby cell towers are working near capacity .
Asked about health effects from living in proximity to cell towers , Zwart said she is not sure what conclusions have been drawn . The internet shows conflicting information .
Vincent Ferri , representing the activist group Wallkill Wide Awake , said , “ My observation is that with so few Town of Crawford residences in the immediate area of the proposed cell tower , and the tower being located on the eastern edge of the search circle with most of the search circle to the west and in another municipality , Verizon is not being forthright in expressing the true need for the tower .”
The planning board will review the application again later in the fall .
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