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Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , September 7 , 2016

PUBLIC AGENDA

THURSDAY , SEPTEMBER 8

Montgomery Town Board Audit / Work Session , 7 p . m . Town Government Center , 110 Bracken Road ,

MONDAY , SEPTEMBER 12

Maybrook Village Board , 7 p . m . Village Government Center , 111 Schipps Lane , Maybrook . Valley Central Board of Education 7:15 p . m . Administration building , 944 Route 17K , Montgomery . Town of Montgomery Planning Board , 7:30 p . m . Town Government Center , 110 Bracken Road , Montgomery .

TUESDAY , SEPTEMBER 13 Pine Bush Board of Education . 7 p . m . Pine Bush High School , Route 302 , Pine Bush .

HOW TO REACH US

OFFICE : 300 Stony Brook Court Newburgh , N . Y . 12550

PHONE : 845-561-0170 , FAX : 845-561-3967

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By GARY M . AYD

Sam Phelps , better known as “ Mad Sammie ,” may have passed in 2009 , but his legacy continues to grow thanks to his daughter Debbie . Phelps ’ life has been chronicled in a fourth book penned and compiled by the younger Phelps entitled “ Legacy of Mad Sammie , The Life and Times of Sam Phelps Jr .”

Mad Sammie , through his writing and community activism , earned a reputation as a renowned conversationalist , bird enthusiast , farmer , champion of myriad local political causes .

His writing career began with a letter to the editor of the Walden Citizen Herald on the decline of blue bird houses in the Wallkill Valley . That led to a weekly column in the paper and continued right on through the birth of the Wallkill Valley Times and until the year Sam passed .

From the column came three books , focusing primarily on farming , birds and local politics . His column “ Feathers and Fur ” garnered him a great voice within the community , one which was instrumental in limiting the use of the pesticide DDT .

Sam ’ s passion for birds knew no bounds and was born thanks to a bird house given to him by his mother as a young boy . His stories throughout his writings were always good for color , laughs and deep thoughts . Like the Gray- Horned Owl ‘ Hoochie , that he trained to fly , hunt and survive in the wild .

Sam was born in 1921 and wanted

Sam Phelps Jr .

to enlist for military service during WWII but was told he was not allowed to because he was a farmer and troops needed to be fed .

The 107-page book is scheduled for a September release and those wanting an up-close view of the new work can get it at a scheduled book signing on Sept 18 at the Walden Library from 2-4pm .

“ Volume One of dad ’ s books had over 600-people turn out for the signing ,” Debbie Phelps said . “ He was just taken aback by the attendance at that 2006 event .”

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The Wallkill Valley Times , ( USPS 699-490 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , N . Y . 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . . Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , N . Y . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Wallkill Valley Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . 12550

Three previous books based on Sam Phelp ’ s weekly column