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Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , October 19 , 2016
Neighbors concerned about Bonnie Plants
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of dirt . The neighboring property was previously at the same level as Balogh ’ s , he said . Making the height difference further problematic , Bonnie Plants also failed to implement simple erosion control measures that had been part of the site plan , he said .
“ Local residents had to bring this to the town ’ s attention ,” said Balogh . “ We are currently waiting for an updated site plan . The only explanation given was that the town is unsure whether the problem came from an engineering error or an excavating or construction error . Both are hard to believe .”
“ They ’ ll have to update the site plan ,” Hayes told them . “ I ’ m surprised the site plan isn ’ t here .”
“ So they ask forgiveness rather than permission , because it ’ s easier ,” said Balogh .
He also expressed concern about concrete trucks being rinsed behind his house and drainage from the greenhouses , possibly including pesticides and herbicides in drainage water .
“ There ’ s no silt fence behind my house ,” said Balogh . “ If they ’ re not doing that , what else are they not doing ?”
“ I don ’ t know ,” said Hayes . “ We ’ ll need to update the site plan .”
Balogh said the group of neighbors is challenging Bonnie Plants now , before construction completion , so they can work with town officials on problems .
“ If we wait until construction is done , it becomes an Agriculture and Markets issue ,” he said .
Hayes indicated that the flexibility Bonnie Plants has in their construction stems from the agricultural easement on the land , as left by previous owners , Hodgson Farms . But Riggi said the building inspector , Walter Schmidt , had been scarce , and when he asked Schmidt about his absence from the site , Riggi said he was told that Schmidt has been busy with new development in the area .
Riggi said that when he asked the site manager to move the outhouse out of the sight line of his dining room , the manager agreed , but the outhouse was never moved .
“ There ’ s no accountability , no one to talk to ,” said Balogh .
Bonnie Plants administrators are elusive , neighbors say . Balogh and Riggi have been unable to reach anyone but the site manager . The company ’ s local employment plans also remain a mystery . Balogh and Riggi get no answers from the site manager , and the company ’ s public relations representative , Joan Casanova , conveyed the administration ’ s unwillingness to provide information about hiring and wages or to answer other questions about the company .
“ We won ’ t stop Bonnie Plants from doing what they do ,” Balogh told Hayes . “ I was excited to see something happening there . Hodgson was a busy farm , and lately it ’ s been a ghost town . But we ask you to advocate for us . My grandparents bought my house 65 years ago , and Vince ’ s parents bought his house . I love my house , but now I don ’ t want to live there .”
“ I ’ ll ask the person I dealt with in the purchase who ’ s responsible ,” said Hayes .
A week and a half later , Balogh and Riggi say Hayes has not responded to calls or emails . Hayes says he spoke to someone at Bonnie plants and has a plan to resolve neighbors ’ complaints . He said he would respond to
Greenhouses at Bonnie Plants in the Town of Montgomery .
Balogh and Riggi when he has the plan in writing .
Bonnie Plants started as a backyard vegetable and herb business for Bonnie and Livingston Paulk in Union Springs , Alabama , in 1918 , subject to the whims of weather . But these days the company has 80 greenhouses around the country , including one in Walden that began growing plants in the spring , said Joan Casanova , Bonnie Plants spokesperson . Bonnie Plants locates their greenhouses strategically to efficiently provide plants wholesale to Lowe ’ s , Home Depot and Walmart , as well as chains such as Ace and Krogers , and 5000 independent garden retailers in the 48 contiguous states , Casanova said .
“ Upstate New York is a big market for us , so we ’ re already in a couple of locations ,” she said . “ We truck plants . We don ’ t ship them . We want to serve clients faster and more expeditiously .”
They grow 250 plant and vegetable varieties , none of which are genetically modified ( GMO ), she said , but added that plants sold for home gardeners are generally not GMO .
She described their business plan as “ unique ” and their working conditions as unusually appealing . “ No one quits . You retire ,” she said . However , asked about wages , numbers of workers who would be hired , and what makes jobs at Bonnie Plants desirable , Casanova deferred to company officials , who declined to be interviewed on the topic . She also said visitors are not allowed on the property because of insurance restrictions .
Hayes said the greenhouse does not operate in cool climate locations in the fall .
“ The growing station manager hires seasonally ,” Hayes said . “ Positions available will be for greenhouse workers , all under cover .”
He said Hodgson Farms , from whom Bonnie Plants bought the property , had an agro-tourism easement on the property , so only some parts of the property can be used for building , while other areas are reserved for growing .
Police Blotter
Walden Police
Demetrios Velentzas 75 of Walden was charged Oct . 4 , with harassment 2nd . He was arraigned in village court and remanded to Orange County Jail
Jeffery Spencer 51 of Walden was charged Oct . 4 , with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd . He is scheduled to appear in village court on Oct . 26 .
Robert Nelson 54 of Walden was charged Oct . 5 with aggravated unlicensed operation 2nd , operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration , fail to surrender license , expired insurance , fail to yield to an emergency vehicle and fail to comply with lawful order of the police . He is scheduled to appear in village court on Oct . 26 .
Ryan Levandowski 20 of Easley SC was charged Oct . 13 with harassment 2nd . He was arraigned in village court
Jose Ramirez 35 of New Windsor was charged Oct . 13 , with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd , fail to surrender license and expired inspection . He is scheduled to appear in village court on Nov . 19
Town of Crawford Police
Cyle A Olsen , 24 , of Marlborough was charged Oct . 3 , with petit larceny . Police allege that on Sept . 13 , Olsen stole items from Hannaford ’ s . A description was broadcast and he was located by the State Police . Olsen failed to comply and fled the area . During the incident he struck a police vehicle and was taken into custody . He was arrested on charges that occurred in Ulster County and remanded to Ulster County Jail . On October 3 , he was taken into custody by TCPD at the jail and appeared in Town Court on the petit larceny charged . He was returned to Ulster County jail .
Franklyn Ferrino waqs charged Oct . 4 , with aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle , Vehicle and Traffic offenses and a Middletown Warrant . Crawford police said Ferrino was observed operating a vehicle on Youngblood Road and was stopped for a violation . A check showed he had a suspended driver ’ s license and a warrant from the City of Middletown . He was processed and turned over to the City of Middletown . He is to appear in Town Court on November 7 .
Douglas Toth , 20 , of Pine Bush was charged Oct . 6 , with operating a vehicle equipped with a police radio device . Police said Toth was stopped after he was observed driving recklessly with a green light activated . He was stopped and charged with having his vehicle equipped with a police radio device and numerous vehicle and traffic violations . Further charges are pending . He was released to appear in Town Court on October 18 .
Angela Weeks-Grasso , 25 , of Pine Bush , was charged Oct . 7 , with Obstruction of Governmental Administration . She appeared in Town Court and was remanded to Orange County Jail on $ 2,500 bail .
David Benedict , 40 , of Bullville was charged Oct 15 , with Petit Larceny Criminal Mischief and Harassment . Police said Benedict stole steal money , damaged property and subjected someone to physical contact . He appeared in Town Court and was remanded to Orange County Jail on $ 250 bail .